Chapter 2

Luke awoke from a restful sleep. Though he had not opened his eyes yet he was awake and thought of how strange it was to feel this rested after spending the night in jail. Normally, he would sleep lightly, if at all, and wake up several times during the night. He could tell it was day light even with his eyes closed. He knew it wouldn't be long before Rosco would be waking them for breakfast, to see the Judge, and his Uncle Jesse. He decided he may as well get up and get Bo awake. Luke opened his eyes to see a bedroom, his bedroom at the farm. He looked to see what time it was from habit, but his clock wasn't on the dresser. In it's place was a pitcher and wash bowl. He turned to his night stand and where the lamp normally set was a lantern. He set up on the side of the bed and for the first time noticed he was not on a steel bunk, nor his mattress, but a feather tick mattress! His jeans and boots were in their normal place by his bed, yet the jeans had suspenders on them. He stepped into the jeans and boots then reached for his shirt. As he rounded his bed he reached out of 'habit' for something else, ...... his gun belt. 'Gun belt?' Luke thought. Yet it seemed the most normal thing for him to do on this familiar, yet very different day. He looked at the bed beside him. Yes, indeed Bo was there and as usual still asleep. "Bo. Get up, Bo. Something is a little strange in here."

Bo frowned, "What's strange about waking up on a Saturday morning in jail?"

Luke grinned a bit and thought, 'At least if I'm going nuts, I'm not alone.' then he said, "Well, why don't you open you eyes and get dressed and we'll talk about it."

Several minutes later, Bo opened his eyes expecting to see the all too familiar sight of the County jail. When he saw the room that Luke had seen, he rubbed his eyes, blinked a few times, and he looked at Luke in confusion, "Ahh, Luukkeee, WHAT IS going on here?"

"Bo, I'm really not sure." Luke said. "Better get dressed and we'll see if we can figure it out."

Bo looked around again before saying, "Ahh, yeah."

Luke watched as Bo set up, reached for his jeans, put on his boots and then as if on automatic pilot reached for his own gun belt hanging on the bed post at the top of the bed. Bo then put on his shirt and stretched before asking, "Luke? This is OUR room right?"

Luke nodded and replied, "It seems that way Bo."

"But, didn't we get arrested at Hazzard's 100th year celebration last night?" Bo questioned.

Luke sighed and gave Bo a slight grin. He had no clue what was going on but it sure beat waking up in Rosco's jail. "I'll admit that I was expecting to wake up as Rosco's guest this morning too. But, beggars can't be choosers and that bacon sure smells better than any jail breakfast we've ever had. Come on."

Bo followed.

The boys entered the kitchen. It was the farm's kitchen fully equipped with all the modern stuff for the day; a hand pump to pump water from the well into the house, a wood stove to cook on and a coffee mill to grind the coffee grounds.

Uncle Jesse said, "Breakfast will be ready by the time you finish the chores. Bo hand me a jug of milk before you get started."

Bo looked around. There was no refrigerator. He looked at Luke who shrugged his shoulders in question. After a long pause Bo replied, "Sure thing, Uncle Jesse? Where is it?"

Uncle Jesse turned to look at his youngest nephew and said, "I know ya'll have been gone a lot but I still keep it in the box over the stream where I always have. Maybe if the 'recipe' keeps going so good I can get one of those new ice boxes, but the stream has kept things fresh for years."

Bo stuttered as he tried to sound like he knew what he was talking about, "Right. Box in the steam. Sure thing." He pushed Luke out the door in front of him. Once outside he asked, "You know anything about a box over the stream?"

Luke sighed and replied, "No, but I think we better find it." He started off toward the stream. Sure enough they found a box in a shaded area that covered the stream. Luke opened it and found a board with several cut out holes where milk and other jars could be put so that they were cooled by the cold running water under the board. "Here. Guess we learned something. Now, take this to the house and I'll try to figure out what we need to do for chores."

Bo nodded, "You got it."

Luke and Bo had done their best to get the needed chores done. They were not really different from their normal chores. As breakfast was over, Uncle Jesse said, "Well, we best get the buggy hitched up and your all's mounts saddled so we can be there to meet the stage. I'm sure you both want to be there to greet your cousin Daisy." Jesse added, "You boys just remember, you have been gone awhile and Hazzard has changed. Whatever you do, stay away from the Davenport girls. They are nice enough girls but their father seems to get rid of any young man who even looks their way and right now I need ya'lls help around here."

Both nodded and quickly left to ready the horses and buggy.

On the stage still hours from the settlement of Hazzard found a young maiden, Daisy Duke. It wasn't often a young lady traveled alone in these times but Daisy Duke was different. She could give any Southern Belle a run for their money, but being raised in the hills of Kentucky, she could out shoot most any man and though it wasn't very lady like, desperate times gave way to desperate measures. Her father was sending his only daughter to his brother to help around the house after his wife had passed away. Miss Daisy Duke had already contacted the settlement of Hazzard about a teaching position which looked promising. John Duke took no chances with his only daughter and had seen to it that she was armed with a brand new Colt 45 for the trip which was stored in her hand bag.

A bearded young man appearing a bit older than Daisy had boarded the stage at the last stop. After traveling several miles with only the one young woman as company and no conversation, he decided to try to start a conversation, "Traveling far, Miss?"

Daisy had only stole couple of quick glances at the man before he spoke to her. She replied, "I'm going as far as the settlement of Hazzard. I believe it should be the next stop."

The young man replied, "Yes, it should be, but is still several hours away."

Before Daisy could reply, a large jolt sent the stage sliding across the roadway instead of rolling. Quick thinking by the experienced stage coach driver managed to bring the stage to a halt.

The young man was quick to jump out of the stage to see what had happened. It seemed the axle of the coach had broken. He offered to ride to Hazzard and send back the need parts for repair, but the stage coach driver would have no such thing. He opted to go to Hazzard himself instead of trusting one of the stage lines horses to a stranger, fearing that the horse would be stolen and no help sent back to him. He saddled one horse for him to ride and took the other as a spare which both left the young man and woman without transportation and gave him an extra horse to insure he made it to get help.

Daisy looked at the young man as the stage coach driver rode off, "Do you think he'll send help back?"

The young man replied, "He had better. My father is the blacksmith in Hazzard and the coach lines depend on him to keep running."

Daisy asked, "Does he know that?"

The young man replied seriously, "He will when he reaches Hazzard without me." He then added, "My father isn't one to be reckoned with and he has sent for me to help him with a large order."

"I see." Daisy said. For once glad she carried the hand gun in her purse. Just in case. "I'm sure my Uncle and cousins won't be happy with the delay and likely will come looking for me when I'm late." She could only hope she was right.

The young man explained, "Delays are a part of stage travel Mrs. ? ...."

"Miss. Miss Duke." Daisy explained.

"Miss?" Cooter now appeared a bit flustered, "I'm sorry, Miss Duke, it's just that it is nearly unheard of for a young lady traveling alone out here."

Daisy blushed a bit and said, "My father was unable to escort me to Hazzard. He trusts both my judgment as well as my ability to protect myself."

The young man found himself wanting to back up just a bit at her reply, "Yes, Ma'am. I'm glad he has such confidence in you. I'm Cooter Davenport. My father is, as I've said the blacksmith for Hazzard. I assure you that I'll see you reach your family unharmed." He let his right hand rest on the butt of his pistol in it's holster.

Daisy replied, "Thank you, but I assure you, I can take care of myself."

Cooter replied, "There is no doubt in my mind, but it does me good to see your safety and honor intact when you reach your family."

Even though Daisy knew she could take care of herself she responded, "Thank you. Sir."

Night fell and yet there was no one at the sight of the disabled stage. Cooter decided that it was best not to stay near the stage coach over night. He had found a cave carved out in the hillside. "Miss Duke, I think it is best you stay in the cave I found and I'll stay outside here to insure your safety as well as your privacy."

Daisy had grown up in the woods, yet she felt a certain bit of uneasiness, whether it was from the new surroundings or the young man who accompanied her. Timidly, she replied. "Alright, but I'd really feel better if you came with me to check it out."

Cooter replied, "I checked it out hours ago."

Daisy blushed and stated, "I remember......."

The young man smiled at her innocence. Then, said, "I'll go first." Leaving his bed roll and small fire burning outside he entered the cave where he built a small fire and made a pallet for the young woman to sleep.

As Cooter was about to leave Daisy so she could rest he saw her lung forward. She had tripped over a rock in the dim lighting of the cave. He reached out and grabbed her arms to steady her and keep her from falling. As he touched the young woman it felt as if he'd stuck both hands in a swarm of bees as a tingling sensation traveled through out his body.

Daisy gasped at his touch. She too felt a jolt of electrical current when he touched her. Neither could speak as they both experienced a magnetic attraction between each other. Later, neither would be able to explain what had happened or why, all they both knew was that they had to be together that night. It was as if they could not get close enough to each other even as they laid in each others arms.

As dawn made itself known through the small cave opening, Cooter opened his eyes and found the beautiful maiden curled naked against his own flesh. He had been with more saloon girls than he would admit in polite company but this was a proper lady, or was until a few hours ago. He knew exactly what he had done and thoughts of it only made him want to repeat his actions, but he knew he had taken liberties with the woman that could put all his plans on hold if she pushed the issue or heaven help told her cousins and uncle, who would be sure to. Now, Cooter had a promising future as a blacksmith, but he wanted to be established and have something to call his own before he even considered a wife. 'Yeah, where were those thoughts last night?' he asked himself as he dressed. Just then he heard riders getting closer to the cave. He knew getting caught in the cave with the woman meant a LOT of trouble for them both, so he hurried to the mouth of the cave and began picking up his blankets as the riders rode up.

The sound of the horses as they rode up woke Daisy who set up quickly and found that she was alone in the cave. Memories of the night before rushed through her mind, bringing both memories of ecstasy and embarrassment all at the same time. She had of course never been with a man before and had no plans of being until she was married, but what had happened to convince her otherwise the night before?

Jesse Duke, along with his nephews Bo and Luke had smelled the smoke from the fire and then saw the cave near where the stagecoach driver had said he had left the two. As they approached they saw a young man outside the cave rolling up his bed roll. Jesse spoke first as he neared the cave, "Morning. You wouldn't be Cooter Davenport, would you?"

Cooter almost thought twice about answering truthfully, but said, "Yes, Sir. That would be me."

Jesse smiled, "So then my niece should be around here somewhere?"

Daisy heard the conversation as she quickly dressed and tried to straighten out the messed appearance of her traveling outfit as she heard Cooter reply, "Yes, Sir. She is at that. She slept in the cave last night and thus far I haven't heard her stir this morning." He told the half truth as calmly as he could.

Daisy took her brush from her bag and began to brush her very messed hair as she replied for the men folk to hear, "I'm up and just freshening up a bit. I'll be right there." Had the group known her better they would have likely heard a hint of nervousness in her voice, but what young lady would not had been a bit nervous at meeting her kin folks under these circumstances?

After the introductions and gathering up their things the small group finally headed off to the small township of Hazzard...............