by: Essy Jane

When I got home, I had to talk to someone about this. I didn’t want to bother the Dukes, they already had enough on their mind. I dialed zero. “Hello operator, how can I help you?” A female voice came on the phone.

“Look, I don’t want to place a call, I want to talk to someone,” I explained. I must have sounded like a total moron but she didn’t complain. “Look, I met this guy a while ago and it seems like I have known him forever and it has only been our second encounter.”

“Well honey, by the way you’re talking it does sound like you’re in love.”

“That’s the funny thing though. After two meetings, how do you know? This is moving way too fast. We’re having our first real date in two hours and I don’t know what to do. I feel like I am doing everything wrong and I don’t have anyone to talk to about this but you.”

“Hey sweetie, it’s okay. Trust me, it has happened before. Look, I will give you some advice my mother once gave me. Follow your heart. Don’t put rules on a relationship. It goes as fast as it needs to.”

“Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome honey, now get ready for your date.” I hung up the phone and looked at my closet. I wanted to show him I was prettier than I had looked in the past. I wanted to be stunning, elegant and smooth. I wanted to be someone else. I didn’t think I could do it. You know what? I could. I could go out with Judd. The operator was right. I didn’t have to put rules on our relationship.

I got ready. I put on my black dress with bell sleeves. It was a dress I wore on casual dates. I knew Judd would want me to be myself. I pulled up my pantyhose and put on my black shoes. I did my makeup ever so carefully. I curled my hair and looked at myself in the mirror.

The reflection looked like some sort of model. My lips were rounded and soft. My eyes were dazzling and enthusiastic. I didn’t know what was going to happen but I knew that I was going to have to do this. If not for him but for me. I had to be the person I was born to be and no one could stop that.

I walked out of my building with a coat on my arm and a black strapless purse in my hand. I gradually made my way down the stairs, trying to get the hang of the high heeled shoes I hadn’t worn since I gave up acting. I strolled down the street indifferently but inside, my heart was clashing firmly against my chest. I continued to walk slowly, taking deep breath after deep breath, wondering what I was doing.

I finally approached the small café. There he was, sitting by the window. I flinched this time. I pulled onto the brick wall and tried to collect myself. I didn’t know what to do or even what to say. I had to walk in there, even if it was one step at a time. I couldn’t believe this, I was scared. I had never been scared around him before, why was I fretting now.

I had to do this. I walked into the café, the little bell on top of the door rang. Judd looked up and saw me. He stood up and walked towards me. His black suit really looked classy on him. He took my hands and directed me to the table, staring into my eyes. I couldn’t stop looking into his. We didn’t let go of one another’s hands for a single second. We continued to search into each other’s eyes.

This feeling of warmth rolled across my whole body. I didn’t see him as the clumsy guy who knocked me over or the man who challenged me at every turn. I saw him as a friend, well more than a friend. It felt right. I had become lost again, this time in his eyes. I truly loved him and wanted him. I had to have him. How can you describe that feeling? True passion and love for one man.

Going back to Hazzard would have been the easy way out. Dating Bo would have been safe but I know now I would have regretted it. As much as I love the Duke family, I could never be a part of it if I wasn’t happy. I guess I fell in love with their family and so wanted to be a part of it.

But at this very moment, Judd made me feel carefree. A joy I hadn’t felt since I had left Oklahoma. I was over the moon in love with Judd and he had been right under my nose. The young man sighed and got comfortable in his chair. Judd always looked at me with these kind and gentle eyes. Only now I could see his true intentions. Judd made them very clear.

He cleared his throat. “Tell me everything about you, your first broken arm…everything,” He mumbled softly.

“Well, I was born and raised in the state of Oklahoma. We were a farming family. My Mama and Papa died in a horrible car crash,” I began.

“I’m sorry for your lost.”

“Be sorry for the drunk driver not for me. The poor fella literally cries himself to sleep in the prison.”

“What happened to you afterwards?”

“My sister and I were given to my dear Mama’s sister, Carrie Paterson. My sister, Megan hated being in Chicago. She got mixed up with some bad people and almost dragged me down with her.”

“I can’t see you as the original bad girl.”

“Imagine me with black hair and one bad attitude. Megan got herself arrested for second degree murder. I blamed my Auntie for it because she told on her. I was on the same road, about to make the same mistakes. When I was sixteen, Auntie Carrie told me I was going down to Hazzard. I thought, oh great, Auntie Emma has never had kids. Now I am going with her.”

“You liked Hazzard.”

“Correction, I loved Hazzard and I still do. I changed my name to Susan while I was down there.”

“Essy suits you better.”

“Auntie thought it was a horrible name also. At sixteen, I was home schooled. Bo and Luke were sure I was in my late 20’s. I wore more makeup then I should have. I pretended I was way out of their league. I even concealed my southern accent. Oh but Auntie Emma talked some sense into me that’s for sure.” Judd laughed softly.

“I stayed in Hazzard for a year.”

“Only?”

“Yeah, I went back to live with Auntie Carrie until I was 18 years old. Doing all the boxing I could of course.” Judd smiled. “Come on, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“What did you do when you after that.”

“I moved back to Oklahoma and became the new postmistress. I had an assistant who was older than me but I was smarter. Auntie Emma got sick and well, I had to go and help her. My hair was red again and Bo was tripping over his tongue.”

“That’s when you went back to Hazzard. Luke told me about it. You saved Cooter’s life.”

“Yeah, after that, I came here. Tried acting for five years. I got parts in movies. They weren’t very big parts. I also acted on stage here in California. I didn’t mind it. Well that is until one guy tried to make me loose my dignity to become a star. I not only gave acting up but I also gave the head honcho a black eye.” Judd smiled.

“I went back to school. They said if I didn’t use my scholarship soon I would loose it. So I went and boxed. Not to mention studied. I haven’t been back to Hazzard since but I was planning a trip real soon.”

“Don’t you miss the boys?”

“They’re two of my best friends. You know what though?”

“What?”

“Bo and Luke ain’t nothing compared to you.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Judd, not even Luke has the guts to challenge me like you do. You never seem to give up.”

“That’s my warrior heart.”

“Ah, I get it now.”

“My mama always said that’s what made a warrior. He didn’t have to be the tallest fellow or even the brightest. If he had a heart that pressed forward no matter what, that was a warrior.”

“You know, your mama was right, you are a warrior, the conqueror of my heart.” Judd smiled.

“You really mean that don’t you.” I nodded softly. He seemed bewildered by something on my face or was it my face?

“You know, you’re not just a stranger. You really do know me.”

“You bet your booties I do.”

“I really did think it was creepy that you followed me but then I realized…” He put his finger over my lips again.

“Shh, you don’t have to explain.”

“I guess—I don’t.” I leaned in and gave him his first kiss from me. It lasted a couple of minutes. As he kissed back, I felt a jolt of energy. I shivered all over. It was beautiful. We stopped kissing. He pulled off a ring that was sitting on his pinky finger. He put it onto my left ring finger.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have…”

“No, I want to go steady with you.” He smiled and looked me right in the eye. We kissed for the second time. The second one was even better than the first.

“I love you.”

“I know.” I cleared my throat. “I mean, I love you too.” Judd laughed.

“There’s that innocence I love about you.” We kissed again. As I said, with each kiss, my love grew stronger. “Hey, you want to see a late night show? My treat.”

“Of course I do.”

“Oh, one more thing, I have got to tell you something, something my mother said to me before she died. I didn’t want to tell you before because I wanted you to fall in love with me first.”

“You’re not an alien are you?” Judd laughed. He pulled his curly hair back.

“No, nothing like that.” He looked at his watch and then stared at the rain as it was coming down.. Judd wasn’t about to let his girl friend go out in the rain. I liked the sound of that. Girlfriend, I was Judd Kane’s girlfriend and he was my boyfriend. It was as if it was meant to be. “I’ll tell you on the way to the theatre otherwise we’ll miss the show.”

“Alright.”

“I love you.”

“Not half as much as I love you.”

“Isn’t this more fun than the question game?”

“Oh you better believe it! Now, get going, we’re going to be late.”

“Now remember, I got to tell you about it, it will just sway your decisions in my direction.”

“Will you get out of here already,” I laughed. He saluted me like I was a soldier in his army. I had to laugh. Judd could be such a goof at times. I really liked that about him.

As he crossed the street to get the car, one swerved around the corner. It didn’t stop, it just kept going. What was going on? Why wasn’t the car stopping? No, the man was waving Judd to get out of the way and honking his horn. Judd looked up just as he got hit.

I screamed out in agony and ran outside to where the car had hit him. How could this happen? Why was this happening? His head was bleeding. I didn’t know what was wrong. He looked sore all over. I couldn’t help him. I kept screaming for someone to call 9-1-1 but would they? I needed them to. “He’s bleeding” and “He needs help” were two of the phrases I couldn’t stop saying.

No, it wasn’t fair…it wasn’t fair at all. How could this happen to him? We were going to see a movie. Just the two of us. And now we were both in the street, the two of us surrounded by a large crowd of people. This wasn’t supposed to happen to him. Now what was I going to do without him?