EVERY PIECES IN THE RIGHT PLACE
Daisy looks at the woman in front of her: a young woman (almost same age of Daisy) with short raven hair and brown eyes, not a beauty but surely a pretty woman.
The stranger smiles at Daisy, "Hi. I'm Eileen Burke. Enos's my colleague and my friend, so, since I attended a course in Atlanta I decided to come to visit Enos before to go back to L.A. Sheriff Coltrane told me Enos's here. I suppose you're Daisy Duke. Glad to meet you". Eileen looks at Daisy: so she's the woman Enos loves, for sure a gorgeous woman.
Daisy squeezes the hand Eileen's reaching out to her, her heart skipping a beat thinking that, for sure, that woman is goin' to get things even more messy: she hasn't yet found the nerve to talk to Enos (who spends the most part of the day sleeping), Luke's acting strange, and now this woman from L.A. While she shakes Eileen's hand Daisy feels like if she's goin' to cry.
"Enos's friends are our friends. I'm Jesse Duke, Daisy's uncle", uncle Jesse's voice saves Daisy from her shocked state, "Dinner's nearly ready, Miss Burke, so please, come in. Enos's sleeping, it's not been a good day for him and doctor told us to let him sleep a bit, but you can wait with us 'til he wakes up; for sure he'd be happy to see you here when he wakes up"
"Call me Eileen, please", Eileen smiles shaking hand with uncle Jesse, Daisy's eyes pointed on her: she's a cop, Enos's colleague, maybe… A sudden thought hits Daisy's mind: if Doc Appleby didn't say anything 'bout Enos, for sure Eileen knows what happened to him in L.A. But, how to ask her 'bout it?
"So, did you work with Enos, didn't you?", Bo's curiosity makes Daisy hold her breath, hoping he's goin' to ask Eileen the same question he asked her the day after Enos's arriving in Hazzard, a question unfortunately she couldn't answer to.
In effect, after they sat on the couch with a glass of lemonade in their hands, they talked for a while 'bout Enos and Eileen's work in L.A. Eileen smiles sadly, "Enos's really a good cop, everyone's missing him in L.A.; he joined S.W.A.T., and when he's not working in some S.W.A.T. operation (something fortunately rare) he's a great patrolman. So we worked many times side by side, 'til he's got injured"
Finally Bo doesn't disappoint Daisy's hope. "What kind of injury, exactly?"
After Bo's direct question silence fills the living room as Eileen looks thoughtfully at the empty glass in her hands.
"Gunshot wound", Eileen closes her eyes, again those images coming to her mind. The woman starts to tell Dukes everything 'bout that day, like a sort of therapy for her, a spell to force those images to go out her mind; she talks 'bout everything: how incandescent that day in L.A. was, her and Harry in front of that door, Enos and Steve coming with the search-warrant, the door opening and the barrel of a gun between the door and the doorpost, the shot and Enos falling down, streams of blood from his chest, then the ambulance and the surgical operation; she doesn't say anything 'bout Enos calling Daisy while he lied on that floor, something too much tricky to tell them. Eileen doesn't spare them even his staying at the hospital and the consequences of his injury, so Dukes know that maybe Enos's not goin' to be a S.W.A.T. officer anymore, something they know for sure is hurting him in a ravaging way.
Dukes listen to her silently; uncle Jesse looks thoughtfully at the door of the guest room, Bo stares at Eileen shaking sometimes his head, and Luke glances at Daisy who's turning pale. Eileen too glances at Daisy, remembering Enos's words at the hospital ("I don't want she worries for me. I don't want she sees me as someone to worry for") and wondering what's the relationship between Enos and that woman.
"Chest wound? Gunshot?"Daisy's voice is almost a whisper as she remembers the terrifying nightmare she had during that summer, a nightmare that was coming true in L.A.
"But, why did nobody call us?", Bo is the first one to ask that fundamental question.
Eileen looks at them a bit embarrassed, "Uh, Enos enjoined to call only Sheriff Coltrane in case of his … death, and nobody in case of injury"; she understands what she's saying can hurt them, but she can't lie 'bout it.
A deep silence fills the farm after Eileen's words. Uncle Jesse rubs his beard thinking of what Daisy told them after Enos coming at the farm ("maybe we all should show him we REALLY like him") and wondering what exactly happened before Enos left Hazzard. Bo too is thinking of Daisy's words that day, his arms folded and a sort of disappointment on his face; Enos's always been their best friend, so he can't understand how he enjoined to call Rosco (Rosco!) instead of them in such a case. Luke's sharp mind is doing a more step on analyzing Daisy's face after Eileen's words; after she's turned pale now she's turning red, and Luke bets, as he's already supposed, she's really the reason why Enos left, and now she's feeling responsible of everything happened to him. He sighs: Daisy's feeling responsible for Enos's destiny is something that could bring only problems.
Daisy turns red as she struggles against tears coming to her eyes. She can't burst out crying in front of that woman, but Eileen's words are such a torture for her 'cause now, knowing what really happened, she has finally to face her responsibility: she can finally understand how much she hurt Enos and what he suffered in L.A. Moreover, she can finally understand how important is to make things clear between her and Enos.
That deep silence is broken by Enos slowly coming out his room, rubbing his hair and yawning, "What a good smell. What are you cooking, uncle Jesse?"
Uncle Jesse stands up rushing to the kitchen, "Dinner's ready"
Eileen too stands up like as if she's spring-loaded, her eyes sparkling, "Enos, how are you?"
Enos freezes, puzzled, "Eileen?", then he smiles happily, "Eileen!"
Eileen approaches him hugging him tight, her arms wrapped around his chest and her hands grasping his shirt, a way to hug someone that makes Daisy start on the couch, the sudden consciousness that Eileen loves Enos hitting her like a lightning during a sparkling day.
"I had that course in Atlanta with Turk, then, since I've a couple of days off, I decided to come to visit you. Atlanta's not so far, for sure nearer than L.A."
"And what 'bout Turk?"
"He had to come back to work, no days off for him, but he'd have liked to visit you"
"And what 'bout Anna? And Harry? And…"
While Enos and Eileen keep on talking 'bout their common friends, Daisy can't help but keeping on staring at them; they aren't hugging no more and they're at arms length, but Eileen's hands are tightly clasped on his arms, and Daisy's now struggling against the urgency to stand up, grabbing Enos's arm and dragging him away from Eileen.
Bo and Luke are carefully looking at that scene. Bo's still thinking 'bout Eileen words, and he'd like to stand up, dragging Enos out the farm to ask him if Rosco's more important than Dukes to him, and why. Luke notices the different kind of red on Daisy's face and Eileen sparkling eyes while she looks at Enos, knowing very well what that kind of red means on Daisy's cheeks (rage) and what that sparkling means in every woman's eyes (love); Luke sighs again: only problems on the horizon.
During dinner nobody talks 'bout what Eileen told them, but they simply talk 'bout innocuous things, like too much times lately. When Eileen comes back to the town with her rented car, heading to the Boarding House where she's staying before to go back to L.A., everyone goes to bed, even if nobody (except Enos who's lately always sleepy) can sleep.
The next day Dukes pretend to have forgotten Eileen's words since they decided to bring Eileen to visit Hazzard County before she goes back to L.A., so they have all that day to enjoy Eileen's presence, postponing to day after Eileen's departure any further discussion: everyone needs, for different reasons, to talk to Enos.
After a day spent to show Eileen almost every river and every pond in Hazzard, enjoying the sunny day, they decide to have a drink at the Boar's Nest.
"So Daisy's waitress here", Eileen looks at the Boar's Nest thinking of that night in L.A. when she drove Enos back home after he got drunk. She remembers the pain in his eyes while he's looking at the waitress in that L.A.'s pub, and she remembers too him whispering Daisy's name while he was sleeping at his place. Now he's smiling, a glass of buttermilk (why not a beer like in L.A.?) in front of him, and Eileen realizes how different he's now from the man she knew in L.A.: again the consciousness that no matter how much she tries she simply can't reach him 'cause his eyes are totally on Daisy, he sees only Daisy.
Daisy looks at Enos, thinking of everything Eileen told them the previous evening; "Tomorrow I'm goin' to tell him everything. I can't stand this wait anymore. But… how? When?".
"Are you OK, Dais? You seem a bit silent today", Enos looks at her with a mix of sadness and worrisome.
Daisy starts as his voice wakes her up from her thoughts, "Sorry Enos, I'm only a bit tired. I need some fresh air, don't worry, I come back soon, sugar", so, smiling, she stands up heading out the Boar's Nest, Enos looking at her, Eileen looking at Enos, and Bo and Luke looking at both Enos and Daisy.
Out the Boar's Nest Daisy inhales evening's fresh air, "How can I explain him everything? I'm not able to talk to him as I did in that letter. It's too … hard"
Again a voice makes her start, but this time is John Morton's pesky and drunk voice.
"Seems your well trained puppy is back home. I heard he had a hard time in L.A., but for sure he's having a great time here in Hazzard 'cause you're comforting him in your personal way"
Daisy freezes, her features tight, "John Morton, get away from me. I don't want even see your face, you've already done too much mess 'round here".
John looks at her furiously, "I don't know how you can like that coward. It'd have been better for you if he'd died in L.A."
This time John grabs Daisy's wrist before she slaps him. His grab is tight, and Daisy feels a sharp pain in her wrist, "JOHN, YOU'RE HURTING ME"
"I'M NOT GOIN' TO LET YOU SLAP ME AGAIN, DAISY DUKE", John starts to shout.
"She's telling you to let her go, John, are you deaf?", Enos's voice behind Daisy is cold as ice; it's a rare event in Hazzard to hear that kind of tone from Enos Strate instead of his usual childish pitch, but everyone knows that it's better to run away when he talks like that. Unfortunately John is too drunk to fear Enos's rage, and Enos is too weak to face John's fury (and fury from a drunk man is difficult to face even if you're not in convalescence).
John lets Daisy wrist free, dashing at Enos, his head down like a ram, so he hits Enos right in his stomach. In his best days Enos for sure would have stop that sort of attack, knocking John down, but these are not Enos's best days, so he falls down to the ground on his back, John seated astride his stomach. Having all John's weight on his belly and John's legs tightly clasped on both sides of his chest, Enos can't even breath, and he can only raise his arms to cover his face and to protect himself from John's violent punches.
Daisy rushes inside the Boar's Nest, "BO, LUKE, HELP ME. JOHN MORTON AND ENOS ARE HAVING A FIGHT"; after her words that silence surrounding her, all customers' eyes on her, all those opened mouths, like several months ago.
Bo, Luke and Eileen run out the Boar's Nest heading to John who's keeping on punching Enos. Bo and Luke grab John dragging him away from Enos, while Eileen and Daisy kneel at Enos's side.
"Oh my God, Enos", Daisy looks in shock at his bloody face, "Come on, we're goin' to bring you to Doc Appleby. Can you stand up?".
Enos nods, he slowly stands up thanks Daisy and Eileen's help, then they slowly walks to Daisy's jeep, heading to Doc Appleby.
While Enos, Daisy and Eileen are entering Doc Appleby's home, Bo and Luke are having an interesting talk with John.
John raises his hands, "Two against one. It's not fair"
"It's not fair to hit a cop in convalescence, or a woman", Bo pushes John against the General Lee parked outside the Boar's Nest.
"Come on, only few punches. If he can't defend himself, for sure he's not the right man for Daisy, and you know well too"
Bo glances at Luke then he looks again to John "What? Are you drunk John? Oh sorry, obviously you are drunk"
John snorts, "Everyone knows you tried to stop Daisy from marrying that idiot since you too know she deserves someone better than him. So I really don't understand how you can let them two having a roll in the hay"
Bo grabs John's shirt collar, "What are you talkin' 'bout John?"
Luke stops Bo, a firm grip on his younger cousin's shoulder, his voice cold, "I'd like to know more 'bout it, John"
John roughly removes Bo's hands from him, "My cousin Mary told me 'bout your chatting that day. Everybody in Hazzard knows 'bout it. Daisy was marrying Enos for pity and you and uncle Jesse were trying to stop her from wasting her life", a devilish smiles appears on John's face, "Enos too knows everything".
Bo and Luke stand like salt's statues as John walks away from them, again that smile on his face.
"So, now we know why Enos left Hazzard. That day I was right, Luke", every piece of that messy situation is now in the right place in Bo's mind, especially why Enos enjoined LAPD to call only Rosco in case of death on line of duty and nobody in case of injury, "So, Enos left Hazzard after he knew Daisy doesn't love him, and he also thought we underestimate him. We'd talk to him 'bout it, I don't want him thinking we don't like him; he distorted what we're saying that day"
Luke nods at Bo's words, thoughtfully. He remembers very well Bo's words 'bout Enos leaving to set Daisy free from her promise to marry him: in effect it explains why Enos suddenly left Hazzard and why he didn't call anyone (especially Dukes) since he left. Like usual, Luke's quick reasoning adds a further piece: for sure Daisy too knows the reason why Enos left, and it's why she's now so upset and why she acts as she's responsible of everything 'bout Enos. And in Luke's mind, this is not good.
FLASHBACK
Daisy is beautiful in her wedding dress.
Luke's eyes are almost sparkling with emotion, "You look great"
Uncle Jesse is looking at her overwhelmed by sweet but at the same time painful memories, "You look like your aunt Lavinia"
The three men Dukes look each other with a worried look on their faces, 'til uncle Jesse has the nerve to talk 'bout the matter, "Daisy we wanna talk to you"
Luke looks in Daisy's eyes, "We're being trying to figure out why you're gonna through with this"
Bo nods, "Enos won't go to jail anymore"
"And if you're marrying him just to keep promise, it won't be fair to him nor to you", uncle Jesse expresses perfectly what they're thinking 'bout Daisy's wedding.
Daisy approaches her uncle and her cousins, on her face a resolute gaze, "Uncle Jesse, if I call off the wedding now, what will Enos think? He would think that the only reason why I ask him to marry me is to save him from jail. I can't do that to Enos, no matter what. And if any of you has the notion to speak to Enos 'bout it, you just forget it".
A knock at the door interrupts any further Dukes discussion.
Luke snaps out of his thoughtful state, "Come on, Bo. Let go check how's Enos", then they head to Doc Appleby's home.
Thanks to everyone reviewed this story, it means a lot to me. And thanks too to all readers out there, I hope you're liking it.
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