Disclaimer: I don't own the Dukes of Hazzard, not making any money, just cheap thrills.
Warnings: Angst
Rating: K+
Italics and/or indicates thoughts
Trouble On The Horizon
Chapter 2
Lavinia spent the next hour searching the immediate area with no luck. Finally admitting to herself that the kids weren't here, she got back into her car and drove to the nearest phone. After calling the sheriff's office, she dialed the phone with trembling fingers.
"Duke farm, Jesse Duke speaking."
"Jesse...it's Lavinia, I have to tell you..." Lavinia broke off. Covering the mouthpiece with her hand, she tried to hide the sob that escaped her throat.
"Lavinia what's happened? Has something happened to one of the kids?" Jesse asked fearfully.
"Jesse I'm so sorry, I thought they'd be fine while I ran to the store, but then the storm..."
"Storm? What storm and what happened to my kids?" Jesse demanded, becoming more afraid with each word from his sister's mouth.
"It's been raining off and on all day Jesse, guess it's missed Hazzard so far."
"Lavinia..."
"I had to go to the store and Bo was asleep, I honestly thought they'd be fine, I swear I did. Jesse, I don't know how to say this...there was a tornado while I was in the store."
"WHAT? Lavinia, how bad are the kids hurt?" Jesse growled, terrified to hear the answer.
"I don't know Jesse...the trailer's gone and I can't find the kids anywhere," Lavinia tearfully explained.
"Have you called the sheriff's office?"
"Yeah, right before I called you."
"Alright, I'll be there as soon as I can. Where are you gonna be?"
"I'll be out looking for them Jesse. The sheriff's office said they were setting up a command center at the grade school, so I guess you should check there first. I'm sorry Jesse, I can't tell you how sorry I am," Lavinia said, barely getting the words out.
"I know Lavinia, I just don't know if that's enough," Jesse replied. "I'll be there soon, bye." Hanging up the phone, Jesse turned towards the bedroom, startled to see Martha in the doorway.
"Jesse, what is it?" Martha asked, holding herself up on the doorframe.
"You need to get back in bed Martha," Jesse said, taking her arm and helping her back into their bed.
"Jesse, you didn't answer my question," Martha reminded him, laying a hand on his arm as he tucked the covers over her.
"There was a tornado over to Cedar City..."
"Oh Lord, the children!"
"Lavinia was at the store, when she got home the trailer and the kids were gone." Drawing his sobbing wife into his arms, Jesse did his best to comfort her. "Hush, shhh now Martha dear, we'll find them. I'm going to head over there now and Lavinia already has people looking for them."
"Jesse Duke you let me up right now, I've got to find them," Martha cried out, struggling to get up.
"Martha stop it now, you can barely stay on your feet there's nothing you can do out there. I know you want to help sweetheart, but the best way you can help right now is to stay here and rest. Please Martha, if I know you're here resting, it'll be one less thing for me to be worrying about," Jesse explained as he held her in his arms.
"Alright Jesse, I'll stay here but I won't be resting until you bring my babies home," Martha replied, lying back against the pillow.
Giving Martha a gentle kiss, Jesse again pulled the covers over her before standing up. Stopping in the doorway, he turned back for a moment, "There is one thing you can do to help Martha...pray." With a sad smile Jesse walked into the kitchen and out the back door, praying he wouldn't lose all of his children today.
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Bill Pruitt walked through the woods searching for any signs of the missing Duke children. Running a hand through his short brown hair, he couldn't help hoping that he wouldn't be the one to find them. The thought of seeing a child's mangled body sickened him. Unwilling to turn his back on a child, even if he could only return the body to the family, he searched on.
"Mister," a voice called from over Bill's head.
Looking up and not seeing anything, Bill was sure he had imagined the voice. "Man Pruitt, you are really losing it," he muttered to himself, shaking his head at his own imagination. Turning back to the path, he began to walk away.
"Mister, please don't leave," a small voice cried out from above.
Taking several steps back in the direction he'd come from, Bill looked up again. This time he spotted her; hidden in the crook of the old oak tree was a little girl. "Well hi there sweetheart, how'd you get up there?"
"The tormado dropped me," the little girl calmly answered. "Mister, can you get me down? I want to go home now," the little girl told him, ending with a sob.
"I sure can, you just hang on a minute sweetheart," Bill told her, beginning to climb up the branches of the oak. Reaching the bend, where two large limbs shot off in different directions from the center, Bill gently took the child into his arms and climbed down. Carefully setting the girl on her feet, Bill knelt down beside her, "Well aren't you a pretty little thing? My name's Bill, what's yours?"
"Daisy Duke."
"Hello Daisy, you know I've been looking for you?"
"You have?"
"Yep, me and a whole lot of other people," Bill told her.
"Can you take me home now? I want my Uncle Jesse and Aunt Martha," Daisy whispered, tears streaming down her freckled face.
"I'll tell ya what Daisy, first I need to take you to a doctor and then we'll call your uncle and see about getting you home, okay?"
"Okay," Daisy agreed, lifting up her arms, silently asking to be carried.
Bill was no doctor, but from what he could see it didn't look as though the girl was hurt much at all. Thank you Lord for this miracle, Bill silently prayed, grateful that he would get to bring joy to the Duke family, rather than sadness.
Jesse pulled into the parking lot of the Cedar City elementary school and hurried inside. Inside the building was organized chaos, and there were tables lining the hallway. Some tables were being ran by the Red Cross, helping to determine what people needed in the way of clothing, food and shelter. Some were being staffed by nurses, questioning people about their injuries and figuring out who needed to be seen by a doctor first. The more serious cases, Jesse knew, would have already been sent to the hospital. Stepping over to one of the tables, Jesse cleared his throat. "Miss, my name's Jesse Duke..." he didn't get any further as the young woman at the table jumped up.
"Oh my yes Mr. Duke, I've heard about your situation, what can I do for you?" Jenny Mays kindly asked.
Looking down into kind brown eyes, Jesse suddenly found himself fighting back tears as he realized the enormity of the task ahead. Swallowing hard, he forced himself to remain calm, knowing that his kids couldn't afford for him to get upset. "I was just wondering who I should see about the search?"
"Of course, right this way. My name's Jenny by the way," she introduced herself as she led him to the auditorium. Leading Jesse over to a middle-aged man in a dark blue jacket, Jenny tapped the man on the shoulder, getting his attention. "Mr. Schnell, this is Jesse Duke. Mr. Duke, this is Mr. Schnell, he's in charge of the search," finishing the introduction, Jenny left the men alone.
"Well Mr. Duke your timing is pretty good," Robert Schnell told him, the smile on his face surprising Jesse as much as his words confused him.
"How's that Mr. Schnell?"
"Come with me Mr. Duke," Robert instructed, leading the way through numerous cots and a crowd of people.
Following Mr. Schnell, Jesse stopped suddenly as the other man stepped aside and Jesse saw the reason for the other man's smile. "Daisy!" Jesse nearly yelled, rushing forward and sweeping the five-year old into his arms.
"Uncle Jesse!" Daisy cried out excitedly, eagerly returning her uncle's hug. For several minutes, Daisy snuggled into Jesse's embrace, finally feeling completely safe. As the excitement of seeing her uncle again began to fade, Daisy looked around the room, a concerned look on her face. "Uncle Jesse, where's Bo and Luke?"
Swallowing hard past the lump in his throat, Jesse gave the only answer he could. "I don't know baby, but don't you worry we'll find them," he assured the young girl. Looking over to the exam table where Daisy had been, he noticed the young doctor standing next to it. "Doc, is Daisy gonna be okay?"
"Yes sir, she's a very lucky little girl. I'm happy to say, other than a few scratches and bruises, her most serious injury is a broken finger and a cut on her foot that required four stitches."
"Thank the Lord," Jesse whispered, looking up to the heavens with tears in his eyes. "Where was she found?" Jesse asked, turning back to Mr. Schnell.
"She was found in the woods just a mile from where her aunt's trailer was, sitting in the crook of an old oak," Robert explained.
"The tormado put me in a tree Uncle Jesse, maybe it thought I was a bird," Daisy solemenly told him. "Do you think it thought I was a bird?"
"I suppose it might've, or maybe it thought you were a squirell," Jesse lightly teased.
"Uncle Jesse, I ain't no silly squirell," Daisy cried out, with all the indignation she could muster.
"No, I guess you're not baby. Daisy honey, I need you to do something for me," Jesse began, hating the thought of leaving her again so soon.
"What's that Uncle Jesse?"
"I need you to be a brave girl for me and stay here with these folks for a little while so I can go find Bo and Luke. Can ya do that for me honey?"
"Why can't I come with you?" Daisy asked, hands on her hips, obviously not happy at being left behind.
"Daisy honey, you've had a big day already and besides, what if somebody else finds Bo or Luke? You know if they do they'll bring them here, don't you think it'd be nice if there was somebody here they know?" Jesse asked, knowing that the kind little girl would do anything for her cousins.
"I hadn't thought of that," Daisy replied, a serious look on her face. "I guess I could stay here, but you'll be back right?"
"Of course I will baby," Jesse assured her. Setting her on a nearby cot, he looked to Mr. Schnell for confirmation that it was okay.
"Don't you worry Mr. Duke, we'll take good care of Daisy while you're gone," Robert assured him.
"Thank you," Jesse replied. Turning back to Daisy he gave her a long hug. "Now you be a good girl Daisy and I'll be back soon," Jesse told her, reluctantly pulling back and walking away.
Jesse discussed with Robert Schnell where it would be best for him to search. They soon reached an agreement and Jesse was given a search area to cover. Stopping at Jenny's table, he asked for a phone and called home to let Martha know that their girl had been found and was safe.
"Duke farm, Martha speaking."
"Martha dear, I've got some good news," Jesse began, a sad smile on his face.
"The children? You found them," Martha cried out excitedly.
"Martha sweetheart they didn't find all of them, but they have found Daisy."
"How is she Jesse? Is she alright? Should I come down there?" Martha threw the questions at him so fast he didn't have a chance to answer.
"Honey calm down and I'll tell ya...she's fine Martha, scratches and bruises mostly. The only serious injuries are a cut on her foot and a broken finger. Well I think her pride might be a bit damaged," Jesse said, smiling as he recalled the conversation with Daisy.
"Her pride?" Martha asked, confused by her husband's words.
"Seems the tornado left her in a tree, she has this idea that it thought she was a bird," Jesse explained.
"Thank God she's not hurt badly," Martha whispered, her voice thick with unshed tears. "What about the boys?"
"No word yet, but I'm heading out now to look for them," Jesse replied.
"You do that Jesse Duke, you find our babies and bring them home," Martha softly ordered, praying they would be found alive.
"I will Martha, I've got to go now. I love you Martha girl, bye."
"I love you too Jesse, bye," Martha replied, hanging up the phone and lying back in the bed. "Thank you Lord for seeing Daisy through this safely. I appreciate it more than I can say and I don't want you to think me ungrateful. But please Lord, could you make sure the boys find their way safely home too. Thy will be done, Amen." Martha quietly prayed as she lay in bed, the silence of the house pressing down on her like an unwelcome weight.
Walking forlornly down the quiet country road, the young boy mindlessly took step after step, desperately searching for his cousins. Holding his left arm against his chest, he suddenly stopped when pair of legs appeared in front of him. Looking up, the young boy couldn't believe his eyes. "Uncle Jesse?" he asked. When the man knelt down in front of him, he threw himself forward into the safety of his uncle's arms.
"It's alright now boy, you're gonna be okay," Jesse assured the trembling boy he held in his arms. "Son, do you know where your cousin is?" Jesse softly asked, hating to upset him, but needing to ask.
"No sir," came the answer Jesse had feared he would hear, "I'm sorry."
"That's alright son, don't you worry we'll find him. Come on now let's get you to shelter, it'll be dark soon and Daisy'll be wanting to see you."
"You found Daisy?"
"Yep and she's fine," Jesse replied as he strapped the boy into the seat. Driving back to the make-shift shelter, he thanked God for the second miracle of the day. He couldn't help wondering though, as he realized his other youngin would be out here on his own overnight, if God would grant them a third miracle?
TBC
I know y'all want to know which boy is still out there. Well you know how to do that, feed the muse with reviews. Thank you.