Welcome, friends, to Hazzard County. I know you think it's a might peculiar to see ole' Jesse Duke sittin' on the stoop at the back door there just lettin' the rain fall all over him, but I want to assure you, there ain't nothin' wrong. Ya see, most city folks resist things of nature. They have a whole collection of umbrellas and they take a bar of soap to their hands ever chance they git. But if ya really want the feeling of peace, then try sittin' out next time there's a soft fallin' rain. Ain't nothin'll relax you quicker, and it's a might cheaper that them massages they offer in them fancy salons. Ya might even stop thinkin' us country folks are as funny as ya thought.

"Hey Uncle Jesse." Daisy offered in greeting, appearing in the doorway behind him. "You're up early."

"Hey yourself." Jesse replied. "Guess I could say the same for you."

"Well it sure wasn't easy. Can't nothing lull you back to sleep better than that soft rain fallin' on a metal roof." Daisy stated. "But rain or no rain, it ain't gonna change the fact that there's breakfast to be made and clothes to be mended."

Uncle Jesse frowned. "I thought J.D. had you goin' in to the Boar's Nest today to help repaint his office."

"Oh he is, that's why I got up early to attend to everything here."

Jesse sighed, closing his eyes and lifting his face toward the rain one more time before rising from where he sat. "Well in that case, you start on the mendin' and I'll take care of the breakfast. Don't look like we're gonna be able to work the field today anyway."

Daisy nodded in agreement and settled into Jesse's favorite easy chair where the sewing was already set up. She held up a needle and threaded it before picking up a pair of jeans that belonged to Luke. Looking at the gash in a lower leg, she recalled how it had gotten there—the fight at Oldfield Cemetery.

It was odd thinking about the fight between Luke and escaped convict Horace Mantooth one week earlier. In a certain sense, it seemed like ages ago while in another, it seemed only moments.

As Jesse dabbed his face of the rain water and began banging around in the kitchen, Daisy looked up when she heard the door to the boys' bedroom open.

Luke gingerly stepped out, closing the door softly behind him. Tiptoeing away a bit, he rubbed some stiffness from his bare shoulders before offering Daisy and Jesse a ….

"Mornin'."

"Good morning." They replied.

"Glad to see you're fixin' my jeans there, Daisy." Luke nodded. "The pair I've been wearin's a might too small, been cuttin' into my sides."

"Most of the gash is right in the seam." Daisy commented, holding them up so Luke could see for himself. "Once I get 'em fixed most folks won't be able to tell there was anything wrong with 'em to start with."

As Luke nodded, Jesse threw in. "Wish we could go out 'n just get cha a new pair, but that probably ain't gonna happen 'till harvest time comes along."

Luke shrugged his shoulders. "Don't fret over it, Uncle Jesse. We've had a whole week of peace and quiet. Apparently even ole' Boss's kept Rosco and Enos outta our hair. Now a week without trouble, that's gotta be Duke record, so don't ruin it by sweatin' the small stuff."

Jesse smiled. "I suppose you're right." But then he frowned. "How's that leg of yours?"

Luke walked around a bit to show that his limp had all but disappeared. "Almost good as new."

"And, Bo, did he sleep good last night?"

Luke sighed. "See, there you go again. Tryin' to find somethin' to worry about."

"Well I can't help it." Jesse snarled. "It's unnatural not to have somethin' to fret over in this family."

Luke chuckled. "Well in that case, yes he did. I'd say it's the best night's sleep he's got since the whole---- incident, 'least if them logs he's sawin' in there's any indication."

"Well if he's sleepin' good, let him be for awhile."

Luke grinned. "So is ya head all clear now? No more worries?"

"None for me, but Maudine and the chickens are liable to work themselves into a tizzy if they don't get their vittles soon."

Luke nodded. "I'll get to it."

Not wanting to wake Bo yet, Luke opted instead for the oversized rubber barn boots that sat outside on the porch. Slipping inside quickly, he opened the door and started trudging toward the barn, enjoying the rain that danced on his shoulders.

As he walked, Enos pulled up in his patrol car. Luke thought about how just a few weeks ago, the site of Enos would have put a knot in his stomach, because it usually meant that Boss had sent him their way to arrest them on some trumped up charge. But ever since a deaf dog named Goldie had become an unintentional matchmaker, Enos- and his patrol car- were now just part of the landscape.

"Mornin' Luke." The deputy greeted him, exiting the patrol car.

"Hey there Enos. You're a might early. Daisy ain't due at the Boar's Nest 'till ten." Luke advised him as Enos had taken to driving Daisy to work every day.

"Oh I know that Luke, I'm here for breakfast. Daisy just called me on the CB a few minutes ago."

"Ah." Luke nodded. "Well she's in the livin' room right now. You go on in and say hi. I've gotta git over to the barn and feed the livestock."

" 'k Luke. See ya in a few minutes!"

As soon as Enos was gone, Luke did as he said, first feeding Maudine. As he poured oats in her bin, she pressed her nose against his arm, rubbing up and down. Luke smiled and petted the old mule who was looking for a little affection. He then turned his attention to the chickens.

Soon he was called into the house to eat. Going back onto the porch, he discarded the barn boots and grabbed a shirt from the laundry basket Daisy had left lying in a chair. After he had buttoned it up, he entered the house.

"That sure smells good, Uncle Jesse." Luke commented, the aroma of bacon wavering through the air.

"Well sit down and we'll see if it tastes as good as it smells." Jesse suggested as Luke sat down. Jesse then took his seat at the head of the table while Enos and Daisy sat together on the side opposite Luke.

"Wait a minute, aren't we gonna wake Bo up?" Luke asked.

Jesse shrugged. "Don'tcha think it'd be better if he slept? I mean, it's his first good night, and we can always wrap up a plate for him."

"He may almost be awake anyway. He's slept a long time." Luke pointed out.

Jesse nodded. "Well, won't hurt to ask, long as ya do it real quiet."

Daisy smiled. "I'll go find out." She offered before getting up, pausing long enough only to plant a kiss on Deputy Strait's cheek.

As the men waited to pray, they prepared to eat, pouring out the milk, unfolding the napkins and such.

"UNCLE JESSE! UNCLE JESSE!" Daisy yelled frantically.

The way in which she yelled quickly grabbed their attention. Simultaneously, they all jumped up from the table and rushed to her.

"Uncle Jesse, somethin's wrong!" Daisy wailed, looking in the boy's bedroom with both hands over her mouth.

Luke, Enos, and Jesse all peered in the bedroom, each responding with identical looks of shock.

Don't ya'll go lookin' at me ta find out what's goin' on. I been sittin' right here the whole time.