by: Essy Jane

Bo was just buttoning the last button when Uncle Jesse walked in that morning. He looked at his uncle and smiled. “Boy, you’re going to bed when you get home,” Uncle Jesse said. Bo shook his head.

“You know, if I would have said that to you when you got out of the hospital you would have whooped me,” Bo answered. He looked at Uncle Jesse and winked with his good eye. Bo’s other eye looked like a round plum.

“I hadn’t gotten beaten up by two thugs with guns.”

“Well, I hadn’t just had surgery when I got out of the hospital. You know Uncle Jesse, I do believe your condition was way worse than mine ever was.” Bo smiled as he stood up Uncle Jesse growled at him. “Come on, I just want to help.”

“Okay, Luke wants to use you in his plan.”

“Alright…”

“He wants you to go to Darren, his old friend from the marines.”

“Oh you mean the one who moved here to get some time off?”

“Yes.”

“The one who was the police artist before he retired?”

“Bo, he’s one and the same person. Luke wants a picture of these two men who beat you up.”

“Alright, I can handle that. Then what?”

“You’re gonna go to bed.”

“Uncle Jesse, can’t I do something more?”

“Nope.”

“Why not?”

“Think about it Bo, you were just beaten up.”

“I may have been beaten up but I can still do things.” Uncle Jesse shook his head. He looked at Bo with his big caring eyes. Bo smiled and put his eyebrows up, tucking his chin to his right shoulder. He clasped his hands together and begged. “Oh come on Uncle Jesse.”

“Bo, you’re more stubborn than a mule. My goodness, can’t you listen to reason?”

“If I could, I wouldn’t be a Duke.”

“I guess I have to take that one into consideration. Bo, humour me a minute, close your right eye.” Bo did as his Uncle told him. “Now, how many fingers do you see?” Bo tried to open his bad eye up more.

“Three.”

“Okay, you’re fine.” Bo smiled and let out a yee-haa. He grabbed his Uncle and swung him around the room.

“You’re awesome. So, what is ol’ Luke’s plan?”

“Daisy’s gonna be running the garage when these fools come back and we’re gonna use her to get to them.”

“Put her in danger? Uncle Jesse, I don’t think that I am up to something like that. I don’t want my cousin…”

“We’s gotta catch these guys before they run off and I ain’t gonna have them find you or Cooter. They’re gonna go right back into jail where they truly belong.”

“Uncle Jesse, they’ll kill anyone who is a friend of Cooter.”

“Luke has got an eye on Daisy at all times. He’s up in the small apartment above the garage. Bows and arrows included. He won’t let anything happen to her.”

“Are you sure it will be okay?”

“Oh yeah, Luke made sure of everything.”

“These guys are crafty but I found their weakness. One of the boys doesn’t want to actually do any of the things the older one wants him to do. He wants to go to Mexico. Maybe we can use that against them and me.”

“Why you?”

“Well Uncle Jesse, think about it. If the one guy that’s so dang worried about Mexico talks to me, he’ll use it as an excuse to stay.”

“Bo, I ain’t putting you in jeopardy either.”

“Why not? It’ll work.” Jesse rolled his eyes. “You know, I have a better plan than Luke for once.”

“Oh you think so?”

“Nope, I know so. Luke’s plan is interesting but I know of a way to get them where we want them without all the hassle of pretending Cooter’s gone. I think I can get Essy’s help with this one.”

“Essy?”

“Yeah, if she’s anything like her Aunt she’ll be the perfect candidate.”

“You better tell me what you’re planning here Bo.”

“Well, when we’re all together I will.” Now, Bo and Jesse went over to Cooter’s garage and pretended like they were getting their car fixed. Uncle Jesse went over to see Essy-Jane to take her over to Bo so he could finally hear Bo’s big plan. Uh huh, complicated ain’t it? I told you Hazzard ain’t like any other County.

Jesse knocked at the door, fiddling with his overalls and tiding his hair. Essy answered the door. She looked at Jesse standing there. “Why Jesse Duke, what a surprise, Auntie Emma will be tickled right pink when she sees you here. I was about to finish my Gumbo Filé. You should Come on in,” Essy said with enthusiasm.

“Sure Essy-Jane but I can only stay a few minutes,” Jesse mumbled. She looked into his eyes.

“Okay, what’s wrong?”

“Bo has some sort of plan to catch the guys that beat him up.” Essy rolled her eyes.

“He would try to show off after not being able to show up for the date.” Essy shook her head and sat down. “I can’t believe him, Bo’s so stubborn, and he never will change.”

“What do mean never change? I knew you’d been here before. Sure, when you were really young but I mean recently. Diana Grayson?”

“Cat’s out of the bag.”

“Bo and Luke both thought you were out of their league.” Essy laughed.

“Yeah I know. Now, come on in and say hi to Auntie while I finish this here dinner for her.”

“Alright, I might as well.” Jesse walked up the stairs slowly. He took a deep breath and let it out slow. Now friends, remember what he told the boys, Jesse is a shy man when it comes to Miss Emma Tizdale. Anyway, the aging man looked at her door and swallowed hard. He knocked on it softly.

“Who is it?” Emma said, in a soft voice.

“It’s me Emma, are you decent.”

“Ooh Jesse, you sweet man, come on in here,” Emma’s voice perked up. She tidied up her hair and sat up in the bed. Jesse opened the door as gentle as he could. He looked up at Emma with her hair down in wisps above her forehead. Her eyes shone through her glasses.

“Why Miss Emma, for a sick person you look pretty good today.”

“Doctor says I’ll be out for the barn bash. Oooh Jesse, I would be tickled ninety shades of pink if you’d ask me.”

“Emma…”

“It would do me proud.”

“Emma, I can’t resist your charm. Of course I will take you.” Jesse seals his date with a kiss. Essy stands at the door with a tray in her hand. She smiles at the dear couple.

“My, my, Auntie, you’ve got a date,” Essy announced. Jesse went red in the face. Uh huh, that’s real love my friends. After giving Miss Tizdale her soup, Essy-Jane went over to the garage to see what this plan was. Bo and Luke were shooting arrows and Daisy was keeping score.

“Bo, you’re out shooting him by two,” Daisy commented.

“Yeah and I even have a bad eye,” Bo added.

“So, what’s this plan of yours, Bo?” Luke shot another arrow into the bull’s eye. Daisy ticked it off on the score board.

“Well Daisy, it’s close to Luke’s plan but with differences.” Bo shot his arrow and split Luke’s. Daisy laughed. She ticked down another for Bo. “Daisy, you’re gonna run the garage.” Luke aimed for the target. “Instead of Cooter going on vacation, he got banged up by his girl.” Luke lost concentration and missed the target all together. The arrow ricocheted off a hub cap on the wall and hit the tools on Cooter’s wall which was behind him.

“Cooter doesn’t have a girl friend right now,” Luke grumbled. Then he smiled. “Which is why you’re gonna use Essy.”

“Yep,” Bo answered.

“Oh no, what if something goes wrong? Do you think for one minute Essy can handle it?”

“You didn’t let me finish my plan.” Bo finished explaining to Luke what was gonna happen. Now that Luke knew the whole plan, he liked it. He was sure it was gonna work. Bo was thrilled Luke was pleased with him. “So you don’t mind?”

“Mind, I love it. Bo, you know what I said to you earlier…”

“Luke, don’t, you already apologized.”

“No, Bo I mean it. You ain’t dumb.”

“Why thank you.”

“Bo, I think you ain’t usin’ your head. This is gonna work sure but you ain’t exactly in shape. Now Bo, why do you have to put yourself in trouble?” Jesse asked.

“It’s for Cooter, besides, I think I deserve a little bit of that old fashioned revenge for what they did to me. Making me miss my horse back riding was a crime to my friend Miss Essy here.”

“Bo, put your manhood aside. Maybe your Uncle is right,” Essy mumbled.

“You don’t believe in me do ya Essy?”

“No, I just don’t want you getting hurt.”

“You really do care about me don’t you?”

“You better believe it bub.”

“Well, that’s sweet but Essy?”

“Yeah, I know, you’re still gonna go through with this but let me give you one thing.”

“Oh and what’s that?”

“Something for luck.” Essy leaned in and gave Bo a kiss on the cheek. Bo and Essy stared at each other for a minute before moving on.

“Wow.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Bo, I want you to be careful.”

“Oh you better believe it. There ain’t no way I’m gonna miss my date with you this time.”

“Can y’all hurry this up? I have got to close up my garage,” Daisy said. Everyone began laughing. Okay y’all now you better get some sleep, we’re gonna have some real action coming and I don’t want you to fall asleep. If you don’t have any sheep to count we will provide.