by: Essy Jane

Bo was right, she wasn’t as bad as she seemed. We spent almost the whole day talking about everything. I knew her now better than she knew herself. Essy was quite the dreamer. She wanted to do so much but put plenty of her dreams away. She couldn’t wait to get married.

I talked to her about so many things. Essy didn’t mind at all I even told her about the little experiment Bo pulled on me. When she heard about that, Essy smiled. “What?” I questioned her.

“He likes you,” Essy replied.

“Why Essy-Jane Tizdale, you take that back, he doesn’t like me at all. If he did, he would say something.”

“No I mean it, Bo loves you.”

“Essy, now why would Bo even think about going out with me? I am his best friend’s daughter.” Essy laughed. She elbowed me softly. I wondered what was going through that head of hers.

“Why not go out with someone you’re more familiar with?”

“Now just what do you mean by that?”

“If you truly have your father’s personality, he would like you naturally.”

“I don’t have any of my father’s qualities, sometimes it is hard to talk to him.”

“Would you stop trying to change the topic? He is in love with you.”

“He honestly didn’t say anything to me.”

“No, men don’t often say something.”

“Judd did.”

“Look Nancy-Lou, I was lucky. Judd just up and said he loved me. That was all there was to it. When he made me say yes to marry him, I wondered if I did the right thing by saying yes.”

“And…”

“And, although I see a more mature Bo, he’s exactly the same.”

“He is not.”

“Ah and you notice that?”

“How he talks, it just blows me away. Before I thought he was nothing more than a child playing tricks on me.”

“And now?”

“Now, I wonder who he is. Bo confuses me. I never know what’s going to come out of his mouth. One minute he’s reading my thoughts and the next he is looking out into the distance trying to find some sort of peace yet for some reason he doesn’t get it.”

“Yet he is still the same Bo. The same car jumping Bo and Nancy, he will always be that way.” I shook my head. I didn’t know why she couldn’t see through his adventure. Bo was more than just a cowboy. Bo was—I don’t know, Bo was someone really special who just deserved a chance. “What, you don’t approve?”

“I think Bo has a lot to offer the world.”

“Yes he does.”

“But you don’t see yourself marrying him?” Essy shook her head no. “It’s a pity. How he looks at you…he makes you laugh.”

“Just because he makes me laugh doesn’t mean he’s the one.” Essy turned away and looked at the ground. I could see her push away the tears. “Why are you making this so difficult?”

“I want to know if you’re sure.”

“I have never been surer of anything in my life. When Judd knocked into me, all I wanted to do was slug him.” Essy turned around. You could see the frustration in her eyes as she tried to get the words out. “He wouldn’t let me get away with it.”

“Get away with what?”

“Pushing him away, Judd just wouldn’t let me push him away. All I wanted to do was run and hide.”

“We all want to do that sometimes, Essy.”

“Well for me it is a little more constant.”

“Oh?”

“All I wanted was to be left alone. Maybe get back to a normal life. With Judd, things were anything but normal.”

“You think so?”

“Even our first kiss was out of the ordinary.”

“Oh?”

“We sped through everything.”

“No you didn’t, love isn’t a race at all you see, love is a feeling.”

“Well that feeling has grown everyday since then. I can’t be without him another minute.” Now it was my turn to cry. “Nancy what’s wrong?”

“When will I find him?”

“Who?”

“My knight who will shield me from the world, sweep me off my feet and look into my eyes. Who will make me laugh every day without trying…I want to find him Essy. I didn’t think I needed anyone. I was always like my father. Stubborn and strong willed…I never dreamed of settling down. Now it’s all I dream about.” Essy laughed as she wiped the tears away.

“You know, I think you’ll find him here.” I smiled and rushed over to Essy for a hug. She smiled and returned the favor. “Don’t give up on finding him and don’t think of Bo like a friend I think you two would be great together.”

Nancy-Lou Duke…now imagine that. I don’t think it would work between us two. Never ever! Bo and I are just too different. Sure, I love the country and so does he but do you really think that he could ever be the one? I had to think on this. Bo and I were just really good friends. I think Essy was just fooling with me. How could she be serious about such a thing?

Maybe Essy was saying this to get Bo off her back. You never know with people like her. She’s so free spirited. No, I’m over reacting, Miss Essy-Jane Tizdale seems like she’s someone who would do anything for people. I think she would lock two people in a room together just to get them to fall in love.

If there was one thing I did notice about Essy was her devotion to mankind. When we were buying the dresses, Essy noticed a man who was just passing through Hazzard. She looked at his tattered clothes. Essy saw the gunny sack he was carrying on his back. She gave him some money and her lunch she had packed.

She didn’t like to hurt people. That’s one thing I did start to notice as the day went by. Essy-Jane didn’t like the bride’s maid dress that Daisy had picked out but she didn’t tell her. Instead, Essy said, “Hold onto it…maybe that’s the one.” I could tell she didn’t like it when Daisy walked further into the store. She turned away as the dress was flashed in front of her. Essy smiled at me and winked.

Daisy did have good taste however, Essy had a style all her own and wouldn’t yield to anyone. I thought Daisy’s clothing choices were great. Essy found beautiful dresses after all. She wanted a red sleek dress with bell sleeves. I thought it was tacky but Essy adored the dresses so much. Daisy didn’t mind one bit. The dress looked better on her…I think it was the dark hair.

After Daisy left, we walked down Hazzard square. I was embracing the country side once again, staring into the Texas like scene Hazzard reminded me of. I couldn’t believe how wonderful it truly was just to stare into the alluring arms of this country.

Soon, Essy and I got back to talking. Why this particular person came up in conversation, yet again, was a total mystery to me. Just the same, I had to open my big mouth.

“So what are you going to tell Bo?” I questioned her, completely off guard. Essy looked at me, bewildered beyond all capacity. “Well you have got to tell him something.”

“I would assume he knows who I love considering I am wearing a ring,” Essy replied.

“And you said you know men.”

“I do know men.”

“Look Ess, Bo is so in love with you. Every red hair, every freckle he seems to memorize. He lives for your personality.” Essy giggled. I couldn’t help but smile. “He wants to hold your hand, he wants to be there for you.”

“HE is just going to have to get over himself.”

“Judd already had THE talk with me.”

“Yeah, I heard about THE talk when I was on the phone with him. Judd was upset, he didn’t want to hurt you either, Nancy.” I sat down on the park bench and took off my sandals. I rolled my feet through the grass and smiled.

“You know what’s funny?”

“What?”

“Bo and I both needed THE talk. You would have thought at least one of us would have been smarter.” Suddenly, that orange car rolled through Hazzard County. Bo and Luke got out of the car and walked over towards us. Bo had a hand behind his back. He walked casually over towards us with his cousin. Luke and Bo were teasing each other on the way over. It was so nice to watch.

I kept thinking, if only my twin sister had lived. It would have been nice not to be the only child. I wish I could have someone to talk to like I’m talking to Essy—well maybe without the drama. Bo and Luke seem to keep it simple. They were like brothers in so many ways. They even fought like brothers. It was funny to watch them, always was.

I really couldn’t help but wonder, would be the same with my twin sister or is every relationship different? Would my sister have been happy to be near me or would we have fought over clothes and boys. Hard to be sure of what the future would have held, especially when staring at these two fine young men.

They looked at us and smiled. Luke shoved his fists into his jean pockets. He looked up at both of us with that casual Luke Duke stare. Bo grinned uncomfortably. “Hey y’all, what’s going on?” Luke questioned.

“Ah nothing much,” Essy commented. She swallowed hard. “Actually, Bo, I need to talk to you…alone.”

“No need, Luke already did,” Bo cut in.

“Bo and I talk about everything together,” Luke added.

“Yeah, Essy now I know that it has been hard for me to let go but I want give this to you.” Bo pulled out a painting of Essy. It had her and Judd, standing beside her good old trusty car, Uncle Sam. They of course were hugging. When the young woman saw this, she couldn’t help but show her emotion…no matter how tough she truly was.

Essy’s eyes welded up. She gave Bo a big hug. Bo winked at her after he let her go. Essy couldn’t believe the workmanship of this painting. She touched Judd’s face. “Where did you get this?” Essy asked.

“I painted it,” Bo answered.

“You paint?”

“Among his many talents, yes,” Luke announced.

“Well that is when I can sit down long enough and think of something to paint. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have seen this.” Luke smiled. He knew his cousin didn’t love a lot of praise and often put himself down because of it. Luke never liked when Bo did such things.

“Bo’s one lucky individual, I can’t draw stick people very well.”

“You’re full of beans Luke, I have seen you draw designs for engines.”

“Yeah, as long as I have a ruler in my hand.” Bo rolled his eyes. Luke couldn’t take praise any better than Bo could. I wonder why they’re so modest. Both of them are smart and talented—neither one of them want to admit their good points.

“The General is great because of you.”

“And you.”

“You’re very smart Luke.”

“Yeah but you’re the genius.”

“You’re the one that thinks of all the great plans.”

“You boys are both great,” I butted in.

“Thanks Nancy-Lou, I’ll store that in my compliment bank under ‘miracle compliments’ sub folder ‘unlikely constituents’. Yeah, that has a nice ring to it.” There he goes again! I am in the sidelines once again. How does Bo do that to me?

“Bo, you’re impossible.”

“I am not, I am very full of possibilities, you said it yourself.” Luke began to laugh, right along with Essy. I just stood there and marveled in his comments. “You know, one of these days I think they will study my brain capacity.”

“Bo, don’t be so full of yourself, they couldn’t study your brain.”

“And why not?”

“You wouldn’t be able to sit still long enough for them to do it.” Finally, I got one on him. Took me long enough. Bo sneered at me. “Oh come on, I was only joking. I found Essy and Luke whispering to each other. I didn’t know what they were saying then but I later learned.

“Now wouldn’t they make a good couple?” Essy asked Luke, softly whispering in his ear. Luke shrugged.

“Essy, you ain’t goanna try and set my cousin up are you?” Luke whispered back.

“Luke, now you know they look cute together.”

“They sure fight a lot.” Luke stared over at Bo and me as we were still at it. Essy laughed and shook her head.

“So did Judd and I. Now look where we are.”

“Yeah, about to get married.”

“I have got to see what I can do with this.”

“Well do it after your wedding, you have enough to worry about.” Essy nodded as she gave Luke a hug.

“What in the world are you two whispering about?” Bo questioned. Essy and Luke both shrugged. “Oh don’t you do that to me, I can see through you two like I can see through a glass. You two were talking about something that you didn’t want me to hear. Now spill it.”

“Uh…” Luke began. Essy snapped her fingers. Luke stared at her. Now if it were up to Luke, he would tell Bo everything. However, Essy-Jane seemed to be in charge here. “Well you see—we were talking about…”

“The weather,” Essy replied. Bo crocked an eyebrow. He knew that something was going on. Call it Duke Radar if you will. Now if you know anything about a Duke, you would know they could smell a cover up from a mile away.

“Why would you whisper about weather?” Bo asked.

“You two were busy talking. We didn’t want to interrupt you.”

“Oh Essy-Jane, when I find out what you were talking about with Luke…”

“You won’t.”

“Why not?”

“I won’t tell you, that’s why,” Luke replied.

“Oh come on Luke, you know…”

“That you love hearing secrets.”

“Yeah, you’re right I really do.”

“And…”

“And…?”

“And I am not going to tell you.”

“Oh come on Luke.”

“Alright, I will tell you. Essy…” Essy shook her head no. “Essy and I were talking about…” She shook her head again. “We were talking about weather.”

“You two are full of it.”

“Yeah, full of ideas,” Essy commented. Luke snickered. “You see, even Luke thinks I am funny.”

“Well I don’t.” Bo stretched out and put his arms around both Essy and Luke. He looked both of them in the eye. Essy turned away almost immediately. Luke smiled and winked. Now Bo knew that something was up. “Personally I would like to know what is going on.”

“You’ll find out tomorrow’s weather another day.”

“You two are…”

“Intolerable?”

“Yes, very Intolerable. I could find a lot of other words for it but that one seems to work just fine.”

“Good, now, what do you think about the weather?” Bo shook his head and I laughed. Though when I saw Luke stare at me and then at Bo, I began to want to know this secret myself.