Author's note – Thanks for reading everyone! This chapter wasn't supposed to exist at all but you're reviews gave me an idea and now you get more story! See, reviews really are helpful! And much appreciated! Thanks again!

Chapter 3

"Now by midmorning word about Bo had spread throughout Hazzard and folks from all over were makin' their way over to the Duke farm to offer their love and support. Y'all don't know what a good neighbor is til ya lived in Hazzard County."

For the second time in two days, Sheriff Rosco made his way to the Duke farm only this time instead of bringing bad news he was bringing muffins. The basket of muffins, which nearly took up the entire back seat of his patrol car were a gift from Boss Hogg who had decided to stay in town and wait for his wife, Lulu, to return from her sister's house that afternoon before coming out to the farm as well. Thinking of last night's conversation with Boss though, Rosco figured that feelings of guilt were also keeping his friend from coming out to offer his sympathies…

Last night when Rosco had arrived at the police station he had found Enos sitting outside on the steps crying. "Aww, Enos. Ya dipstick," he had said sympathetically and offered his hand to help Enos up. Together they had gone inside to find Boss Hogg in his office staring blankly at the wall.

"Boss?" Rosco said gently.

JD looked up. "Rosco, what happened?"

"Well now the police in Atlanta weren't able to tell me much Boss. They know that Bo's pickup had been speeding through traffic for quite some time before it tried to make a wild right turn, flipped and…exploded." Rosco closed his eyes as he finished hoping to block out the image he saw in his head. It didn't help. Behind him he heard Enos let out a small sob.

Boss Hogg covered his mouth with his hand. "My God. This is all my fault," he said in a near whisper.

Rosco frowned. "Now Boss I was with you all day and I know you were never in Atlanta. So you see this ain't your fault."

Boss stood up suddenly feeling the need to pace. "No, no you don't understand! You see I…" He glanced over to where Enos stood by the door realizing that before he said another word he needed to get the Deputy out of the office. "Rosco! Has anyone told Cooter yet?" he asked.

Rosco shook his head. "The only ones I've had time to tell are you, Enos here and well, the Dukes of course."

Boss nodded. "Fine, fine. But the Dukes are gonna need their friends right now. Enos, why don't you head over to Cooter's and…well, have a talk with him."

Enos nodded sadly. "Yes sir Boss, sir."

"And when you're done with that," Boss said walking over and handing Enos a small wad of cash. "Go on over to that bakery in the square and order the biggest basket of muffins they have. We'll take it to the Duke farm in the morning." As soon as the door shut behind Enos, JD turned to look at Rosco.

"Ooh muffins! That is a real nice gesture Boss." Rosco said.

"Oh never you mind about the muffins, Rosco! Muffins don't come close to making up for what I done."

"Yeah, about that Boss. Just what is it that you done?" Rosco asked.

Boss Hogg put a hand on Rosco's shoulder. "Now Rosco, you got to believe me when I say that I never meant for any of this to happen. All I wanted was for Bo to be a little delayed in getting back to Hazzard so that he would get here after midnight and we could throw him in jail for breaking his probation. So I hired Jake Baxter to ummm, keep Bo occupied for a short time."

Rosco frowned. "Jake Baxter? Boss, isn't he the one who swore revenge on you after you short changed him last month?"

Boss glared. "Of course not you dodo head! I would never hire anyone who swore revenge on me! Unless they came cheap of course."

Rosco would not be swayed. "No Boss, I'm sure Baxter is the guy that you bought that stolen truckload of calculators from but you only paid him half of what was promised because you said you were gonna sell them as buy one get one free. I remember him because he got so mad the vein over his left eye looked like it was gonna pop!"

Boss gasped horrified. "My God you're right! I plumb forgot about that. Oh Rosco, this really is all my fault! Bo was probably running from Baxter when he had his accident!" Boss Hogg sank down into his chair. "We can't ever tell the Dukes this Rosco. You hear me? Jesse'll never forgive me."

The two sat in silence for a few moments each lost in their own thoughts when finally Boss said, "I have to do something to ease my conscience otherwise I won't be able to sleep tonight!"

Rosco thought a moment. "How about an anonymous gift to the Dukes?" he suggested.

Boss smiled. "Yeah, yeah! An anonymous gift!" He jumped up and paced the floor thinking. "I know! I'll pay off a month of their mortgage!"

Rosco shook his head. "A stingy gift like that won't be anonymous. They'll know it's from you."

Boss glared. "Alright then peabrain. What do you suggest."

Rosco shuffled his feet nervously. "Well, I was thinking you could give them the deed to their farm."

"The deed! Rosco, are you out of your mind?"

Rosco shrugged. "Just wait til you see the look on Jesse's face tomorrow. And Daisy's. And Luke's." The thought of his conversation with the Dukes just hours before was enough to break his heart all over again and he sighed sadly. "The Dukes will find very little comfort in much these days Boss, but you could help them to keep from worryin' about keepin' a roof over their sad little heads."

Boss sank back down into his seat again. He opened his desk drawer and pulled out the deed to the Duke farm and stared at it lost in thought. Finally he sighed and handed it over to Rosco. "The deed it is then," he said solemnly…

The thoughts of the previous night faded from Rosco's mind as he turned up the road toward the Duke farm. He glanced behind him at the basket of muffins and smiled slightly. The Dukes would have to eat a lot of muffins before they found Boss's real gift at the bottom of the basket. Placing the deed to the farm at the bottom of the basket had been Rosco's idea and he only wished he could be there when they found it.

As the farm came into view Rosco was amazed at how many cars and neighbors were already there. He found a place to park and struggled awhile trying to get the hefty muffin basket out of the backseat. He walked awkwardly under the weight of the basket to the front door where the widow Bluebaker held the door for him eyeing the basket with a look of amazement. The small farmhouse was jampacked full of people and several women had to make room on the table already overflowing with caseroles and baked goods for Rosco's muffins. Once free of that task, Rosco walked through house nodding in greeting to friends and neighbors as he tried to spot anyone of the Dukes. Finally on the back porch he found Enos and Cooter both looking off towards the barn.

"Hey Sheriff," Enos said sadly.

"Hello Enos. Cooter," Rosco greeted. "How are things?"

Cooter shook his head miserably. "Not good. Not good at all."

"Folks, things never are good at a time like this now are they?"