Chapter 5 - Knots In The Family Ties

"We must act out passion before we can feel it."

~ Jean-Paul Sartre


This was not his place.

Drake MacFarland knew better than to turn down the Duke's driveway. As he approached the farmhouse, he recalled being a nine-year-old boy who never missed fishing on Saturday mornings with his older brother, Finn. They were out for glory and determined to catch the biggest fish in the loch.

Drake's rod had broken last week after twenty minutes of reeling in The Big One became too much for his equipment. He'd never catch that beast with a stick and a string, so Finn had suggested an easy solution: "Just use the numpty's pole."

Under normal circumstances Drake would never take Jaxon's prized pole without permission, but luck was with them. The twins were gone for the day at a horse show and Gran was working at her bed and breakfast. Logic whispered a subtle temptation, 'He willnae ken it was gone.'

Twenty minutes later, the boys had set the gear and were breaking out Gran's blueberry scones when The Big One made his very brief appearance. The fish hit the bait and swam for deep water like a runaway train.

Jaxon's treasured rod and reel flew from it's rest, hit the deck with a single whack and sailed into the lake with a mocking splash of finality. The boys stood in wide-eyed horror as it disappeared into the murky depths of the loch.

Later that evening, Drake confessed all to Jaxon with Finn by his side. His little brother flew into a rage fueled tantrum that ended with two bloody noses, three black eyes, and one humiliating kick to the groin.

Mam had grounded them all. Drake earned an additional punishment of cleaning the toilets for the next week. He had learned his lesson. Never mess with Jaxon's prized possessions.

Yet here he was, approaching the Duke Farm at the wee hours of dawn and all for the sake of Numpty. His goal? Steer Daisy's romantic notions another direction ... far away from Jaxon.

Drake believed in his reasoning. It was for Jaxon's own good. Besides, Daisy didn't belong to either of them, although Jaxon might not see it that way.

Drake frowned. He certainly had no claim on her after what he'd done in June.

To reinforce the brick wall around his heart, he'd run out on the budding relationship and burned the bridge behind him. Drake had spent the time away cursing, beating, and berating the part of him which desired an intimate connection. In fact, he wouldn't be here if it weren't for his brother's ridiculous crush.

Or would he?

Drake shoved that thought aside.

He parked beneath the oak tree, cut the engine, and continued his mental debate over why a fickle, fiery vixen like Daisy Duke was wrong for Jaxon.

The list was a mile long, but it boiled down to one thing. Daisy had kissed Drake that morning at Bear Creek. It did not matter that she was injured and thought he was Enos. The way she acted last night proved that she remembered their kiss. Maybe she even fantasized about it. Often.

Drake was also convinced that Daisy knew the kiss had been with him.

That added up to trouble for Jaxon.

Only one tiny problem tickled his brain. Drake couldn't get that kiss out of his head either. He couldn't forget all those peaceful hours spent in Daisy's company after the shooting, or the sound of her voice as she read to him.

He especially recalled the little things about her, like the gentle touch of her hands as she changed his bandages, or fluffed his pillow, or tucked him into bed, and many other things he didn't have the right to ponder anymore ... like her smile when she greeted him each morning.

He grimaced.

She wouldn't smile at him anytime soon.

He didn't like the nervous energy firing deep in his belly, but he could get through this, despite the saucy wench nearly toppling his self-control just a few months ago.

Drake was a trained professional; adept at keeping people off-kilter and on the safe side of his brick wall. He was here for one purpose, to make sure the fiery vixen didn't burn his little brother to ash.

If Daisy wanted Jaxon, she would have to prove her sincerity...

...on Drake's terms.


Inside the farmhouse, Uncle Jesse sat at the kitchen table reading the Capital City Daily and sipping a steaming cup of coffee. Big Levi Johnston's mugshot was plastered on the front page, right above the article detailing the events of last night.

The article claimed, An anonymous tip led to the FBI's dramatic rescue of the injured deputy. His rescue was secured by Agent Chuck Ferguson, who volunteered to serve as hostage negotiator after learning of the incident.

"That's a big load of baloney," Jesse mumbled, knowing that the story couldn't possibly be true. Chuck Ferguson was at the command post all night. It was all a big cover up and Uncle Jesse knew the truth.

The family patriarch had been very upset with Daisy for running off last night without telling a soul. After hearing her story and seeing the tears in her eyes, he didn't have the heart to make it an issue.

Earlier this morning, he had walked past her room and heard her muffled tears through the closed door. He doubted she had slept at all. Now she was up and dressed, cleaning and re-organizing the house as she moved from one chore to the next.

Jesse had seen it before. Daisy would search high and low for anything she could find to keep busy as long as it kept her mind off Enos and how much she was hurting inside.

The steady rumble of a motor drew his attention to the kitchen window. Jesse stood and pulled back the curtain to watch a well-kept beige Scout slow to a stop and park near the tree.

"Daisy Mae, are you expecting anybody this morning? We got us some company."

A puffy-eyed Daisy walked around the corner carrying a basket of unfolded laundry. "Chuck was supposed to come by today to take my statement for the FBI, but I don't think he would show up this early in the morning. Should I wake the boys?"

"They've gone to install the tinhorn in the irrigation ditch before it gets too hot." Jesse pulled the curtain further aside. "That sure doesn't look like Chuck Ferguson. Do you recognize that fella? I've never seen him in these parts before."

Daisy set the laundry on the table and peered through the window. Her mouth dropped open when she saw the International Scout parked outside. She stomped her booted foot loudly and said, "Oh! How dare he come here!"


Daisy was livid. At first, she didn't want to believe it, but there was no denying what she saw. If the Montana plates on the Caveman Conveyance weren't a big enough clue, the big lug behind the wheel was a dead giveaway.

The Neanderthal was here.

After everything Drake had done and his rude behavior last night, what on earth was he doing here now?

"He's got some nerve!" she said.

"Well, I reckon that means you know the fella." Uncle Jesse dropped the curtain and returned to the table to finish his coffee.

"Oh, I know him all right and he ain't stayin'. I'm on my way to the barn to do chores, so I'll send him back to whatever hole he crawled out of!"

Forgetting that she was halfway through a load of laundry, Daisy picked up the milk pail, walked out the door, and sailed off the porch, her heart thumping rapidly.

By the time her boots made the dust rise from the dirt packed drive, Drake was leaning casually against the front of his Scout in an oh-so-cool pose. His muscled chest filled out his tan chambray shirt nicely and one foot was crossed over the other, the toe of his boot resting in the dust.

A haughty tilt of his head gave him a playful, sexy appearance while the rest of his body simultaneously projected something dangerous and powerful. His mere presence sent her pulse skyrocketing.

Was he trying to emanate that kind of potent sex appeal?

Yes, of course he was.

Feeling the lack of sleep and eager to dispatch her unwanted guest, Daisy turned to face him. She used her fury like impenetrable armor and stared at him with an ice cold expression.

"Och!" Drake said with a wince. "Yer a bright ray of sunshine this morning. Off to a grand start now, aye?"

She didn't utter a sound.

"Do ye greet all yer guests so warm and neighborly?"

"You ain't my neighbor and you weren't invited," she said. "I have nothing to say to you!"

"Come now, Lass. Ye can no stay quiet even when ye want to. Ye talk so much yer mouth has an independent IQ."

She fired a challenging glare his way and gestured to the gate. "Since you found the place, you can find the way out. Goodbye, Drake."

Daisy resumed her walk to the barn, giving her hips a little more sway than usual. She sensed the very moment he pushed away from the Scout to take up his pursuit.

"Come now, dinna be that way!" he called after her, clearly pleased with himself. "Ye go tae milk the cow with that face and it will sour in the pail."

Dumbfounded, she turned to confront him but could only stare.

Drake visibly preened.

Spinning on a heel, Daisy resumed her quick march to the barn without a word.

"Och, Daisy! Slow down and hear me now! It willnae take long. I just came by to talk!"

"Talk?!" Daisy whipped around, her hair swinging wildly in the process. She flipped the brown curls out of her eyes and pointed an accusatory finger his direction, halting his pursuit. "After all this time, you want to talk now?! You disappeared months ago without so much as a goodbye! You didn't even have the common decency to say thank you to me! That was a terrible thing to do, Drake MacFarland!"

"Aye, I suppose yer right," he sighed, waving a dismissive hand through the air. "I ken it was bad form, but I had no choice. I thought ye would understand that."

Daisy drew in a deep breath, puffing it out in frustration. "Well you were wrong and I do not understand! You had a choice! There is always a choice! You just made a lousy one!"

He shrugged broad shoulders in a way that almost made him look innocent.

Almost.

"I did what I had to do," Drake said in his defense. "There were ... circumstances."

"Circumstances," Daisy scoffed.

"Aye."

Purposely blinking rapidly, she prodded, "And..."

Drake looked completely bamboozled. "And... What?"

"I could just..." Daisy raised a fist, then dropped it, unwilling to let him see her frustration. "And maybe an explanation or an apology is in order? But, noooo. You're too proud and obnoxious and rude. Didn't your mother teach you any manners?"

Drake stiffened. "I'll thank ye no' tae talk about me mam. If ye want an explanation, just hold yer wheesht for two seconds and I'll-"

"You should know by now that I say what needs sayin' when it needs sayin'! Especially when it comes to protecting family and friends from people that might hurt them! Like that no good sister of yours who ran off and left Enos and you, her own brother, to die in a pool of blood!"

"Careful..." he warned, slowly drawing out the word.

Daisy ignored the way his voice had gone cold and ominous. "I'm talking about being there, Drake. Uncle Jesse raised us to treat people with kindness and respect. The Dukes don't walk out on the people we care about. Apparently, you and your sister grew up in a cave! Neither one of you gives two licks about anybody but yourselves!"

Drake bristled and his Scottish burr went thick. "First, do I look dead to ye? Second, git aff wi' yer assumptions! Ye doona ken m' family!"

Delighted that she'd struck a nerve, she fired another shot. "Sugar, when it comes to family, you don't even know the meaning of the word. From where I'm standing? There are so many problems with your kin you would need a list before you could even start fixing them all."

"And yer blootered aff yer head if ye think my family has a list of problems!"

Daisy gasped, putting a hand over her heart. "Did I say list?" She dropped her hand and smirked. "I meant book. Like the Manual of Mental Disorders would be a good one. Get lost. I'm busy."


Drake's aura of power fizzled when Daisy turned and marched into the barn like a runway model. He forced his wall back in place and went after her ... a man with a plan.

"For Numpty," he grumbled.

The smell of animals and hay were pungent, but not unfamiliar to him. Their family had always owned livestock, although the barn back home was a bit different. He missed the familiarity of it all.

Several chickens squawked and flapped their wings wildly as his heavy footfall sent them scurrying out of his path. Drake entered the barn as the cow bellowed her discomfort. Daisy was near the stall gathering her milking tools.

The woman had a tongue that would scorch the devil himself, but when she bent over to retrieve the milking stool ... very slowly ... and lingered in that provocative position longer than necessary, Drake tipped his head and bent to the side to appreciate the view. His body reacted immediately.

Drake mentally chastised himself and shifted uncomfortably. He was here for Jaxon, not his personal gratification.

Ignoring the beauty in front of him was tough. He couldn't seem to erase the image his out of control libido had conjured of those long legs wrapped around him as he...

Drake smacked himself in the forehead, took a hearty breath, and cleared his throat to announce his presence.

Daisy retrieved a rope from a hook on the wall and kept her back to him while she tied a knot in the end. Finally, she said, "If you aren't going to leave and you aren't going to explain why you left, then why did you come here at all?"

He muttered a curse and leaned against a post. She was so pretty when she was mad. It was a struggle to keep his voice in the sardonic range. "I already told ye. There is something we need to discuss. Surely you remember. Despite what ye want me to believe, I dinna think there is anything wrong with yer memory today."

The emphasis placed on 'today' caused Daisy to jolt like a bolt of electricity had traveled through the air with the word. She quickly checked herself. "I suppose you want to do this here? Right now?"

"Of course now," Drake replied. "I was out of bed at 4:00AM fixing the Scout so I could come speak with ye. I ken yer upset wi' me, but can we no' have an honest conversation to clear the air between us?" With a low chuckle, he said, "Perhaps ye remember things all too well. Is that the problem, lassie?"

Daisy dropped the rope into the pail and placed both on the ground with the stool. She turned to send a murderous look his way. "I don't have a problem. I've said my peace. You came to talk with me. This is my home."

"Aye. It was the logical place to look."

That murderous expression returned. "What did I ever see in you?"


The words had no more than left Daisy's lips when her subconscious began to answer the question in all the wrong ways. Drake wore a snarky half-smile as he relaxed with his shoulder against a post. He was freshly shaven and looked incredibly handsome. His knee was bent, stretching his Wranglers taut over a thickly muscled thigh. She'd forgotten how well-built he was. She felt downright dainty in his presence.

Daisy eyed that muscled thigh longer than planned. She licked her lips, missing the heat that flared in his gaze as she did. The man was built like a warrior ... a very tall, very magnificent warrior. As she cautiously raised her eyes to his, she was stricken by the fire smoldering behind that powerful green gaze. Conflicting emotions instantly tossed her heart around like a flower petal in a flooded stream.

The sexual chemistry between them was explosive and hard to contain, but other than The Kiss, which she would never again acknowledge, their relationship had been very platonic.

The way they danced around their feelings reminded her of the ying-yang she once had with Enos, except that she knew nearly every detail of her best friend's life, or did until recently. She knew precious little about Drake and almost nothing about his past.

Drake had been a mystery from the start. She didn't even know what he did for a living before he went on the run from Wallace Monroe. Luke thought he had been in the military. The bullet wounds he suffered in June weren't the first he'd acquired. His upper body had at least a dozen scars in different shapes and sizes, each giving silent testimony to a violent past.

Daisy had always assumed that Drake had been attacked by Monroe's men once before. The thought of him injured caused her heart to soften towards him a little more. What would happen between them if he truly opened up to her?

Daisy inwardly groaned. She could not risk going down this road. Losing Enos had been a crushing blow and the events of last night brought all of that pain back. She ached to her core, yet something new fought for life anytime she thought of Drake. Maybe she should give him one last chance ... if only to explain his actions.

"Alright, I give up," she sighed. "I'm listening. What do you want to discuss?"

Drake stood tall and replied, "I came by to tell ye I ken ... er, I know what yer on about. Ye can no' hide it from me."

This was getting her nowhere. "Remember what I said about that book?"

While Drake muttered in a foreign language, he stalked towards her like a predatory animal. Daisy went to mush inside. By the time he stopped his advance, she could see the details in those mysterious green eyes of his. Dear god he seemed massive from this perspective. He took one more purposeful step until their toes nearly touched. The move forced her to look up to see his face.

"Now Daisy," he said, "Let's no' play games. Ye know good and well what happened between us."

"Nope, ain't got a clue," she said. Of course, she figured it out the first time he dropped a hint, but she wouldn't, couldn't, tell him she remembered.

"Daisy..." he scolded.

Sticking to her guns, she said, "You're off your rocker, Drake. Half the time I can't understand what you're saying and the rest of the time I don't have the slightest idea what you're talking about. I gave you a chance to explain yourself, but now you're just wasting my time. I have things to do. Don't scare the chickens on the way out or they'll stop laying eggs."

Daisy turned back to the cow, but not before catching a glimpse of a perturbed raised brow. She reached for the latch just as two hands slapped down on the wood rail, one on either side of her. Drake towered over her from behind, having easily boxed her in. Daisy froze, instantly responding to his non-verbal command.

A thrill of forbidden passion shimmered in the air around them and Daisy was captivated by his raw masculine power. His aftershave was pleasantly light, mixing seamlessly with the soap he had used that morning. She could feel his eyes on her like tender fingertips, touching her here and there. Then Drake lowered his head to hers, his breath powerful and hot against her cheek. She gasped as a pulse of pure lust ricocheted through her body.

He buried his nose in her hair and inhaled deeply, then moved to the other side to repeat the process, taking in her essence with every sense but touch. It was intensely erotic. Daisy's breath caught when he lowered to her shoulder, inhaling again while his hair tickled her face. The thick chestnut locks were incredibly soft, a surprising contradiction to the hard planes of his body. Daisy forgot herself, existing in the moment and wondering what his lips would feel like against her bare skin.

He paused at the thin strip of fabric at her shoulder, then slowly moved up the curve of her neck until his lips brushed tenderly against her ear. A tiny vibration was spreading across her body and she barely caught herself before a blissful sigh escaped. Then he smiled against her ear as he chuckled, a deep rumble she felt more than heard.

"Allow me to refresh yer memory," Drake whispered. "Bear. Creek."


Daisy spun around so fast, she would've broken Drake's nose if not for quick reflexes. Drake whipped his head back, keeping his feet and hands right where they were.

It was rather amusing, but he swallowed the laugh and intensified his gaze. He was here for a purpose. If he could just remember what it was.

Drake was taken in by her eyes. They were remarkably blue, like the center of a peacock feather, or sapphires, or blueberries…

"Look," Daisy said, dramatically. "You know I had a head injury and I don't remember a thing. When you rescued me, I thought you were a real hero, like a guardian angel, but not anymore."

"Lass, I'm no angel."

"That's the truth," she said. "You aren't even a gentleman. You're a mess, Drake. You have tattered wings and a crooked halo! Now get out of here and don't bother me again, or I'll ... I'll..."

"Oh, bollocks. Spit it out now. Just what will ye do?"

Daisy stood on her toes and declared, "I'll tell Jack!"

Drake snorted a laugh. "Oh, well now! Go ahead if ye must, but I doona think Jack wants to hear about the way ye kissed me at Bear Creek."

"See what I mean!?" Daisy smacked him in the chest with both hands. "That's exactly what I'm talking about! You're impossible!"

"Nae, lass," he replied with a touch of arrogance. "I'm sincere." Drake leaned in a little closer, forcing her to lean back against the rail. "I'm direct. I need no one to approve of my choices."

"Sounds just like a two-year-old, huh."

Drake growled and pressed closer, his face mere inches from hers, but the girl held her ground. Oh, she was angry and her eyes flashed like lightning. She was glorious. A wildcat with beauty and grace balanced by a sharp tongue and claws. He couldn't resist seeing how much more she would take.

He loomed over her, still not touching her, "Ye tell me the truth, lass. Are you sincere?"

"About what? I-I don't know what you mean."

"Aye, ye ken what the word means. Are ye sincere about Jack, or is he yer new toy?"

Daisy gasped and tried to slap him. In a flash of movement she barely saw, her wrist slapped against his hand and was firmly held there by a powerful grip. He accomplished this feat without breaking eye contact or changing his expression. When he didn't immediately release her, she went perfectly still.

"Oh. My." That was all she could seem to manage.

Drake took on a fascinated look and said, "Daisy, ye dinna hit me at Bear Creek. Ye had other things on yer mind. So why hit me now?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Daisy tried to tug her hand free but he held her firm. "You are a mean, obnoxious, worm! Jack would never treat me this way! He is a nice man! He respects me!"

Drake's brows drew down in a scowl. Hearing her mention his brother reminded him why he was here. He was determined to break through to the truth … for Numpty. The fire she held was exhilarating but too dangerous for Jaxon's battle-weary heart and sensitive ways. To protect his youngest sibling, he would walk right through the flames and he was about to turn up the heat.

"Enough now. I ken ye remember. I can see it in yer eyes. Ye remember kissing me at Bear Creek and I think…" Drake's eyes darkened with passion as he hovered over her. "I think ye liked kissing me. I think ye liked it so much ye dinna want to forget it. In fact, yer thinking about kissing me again. Right here. Right now."

"If that's what you think, then you're crazier than I thought!" Daisy snarled in her best disguised disgust and said, "That ... kiss ... only happened because I wasn't in my right mind! Why did you wait all this time to bring it up?! You could've said something earlier! I wouldn't kiss you now if you were the last man on earth!"

"Now we're getting somewhere! Since ye obviously remember, does that mean yer in your right mind now?"

"Of course I'm in my right mind!"

In a swift move, Drake moved her captured wrist behind her back and pulled her body hard against his. Caught off balance, Daisy's free hand splayed across his chest ... his very solid, warm chest.

"Tell me ye doona think about that kiss and I'll walk away. I give ye my word. If it's what ye truly desire, I'll never darken yer door again. Allow me to caution ye before ye give an answer. Be sure, lass. I'm a man of my word."

Daisy looked up, awestruck. What had he said? Something about her right mind? She was far from it now. When he mentioned never darkening her door again a part of her howled in pain. His eyes were dark green pools of desire as they gazed into her soul. He continued to stand over her in a dominating, but oddly non-threatening pose, oozing all things male.

Drake was waiting to hear the magic words. Anything from 'No' to 'Stop' or 'Leave me alone' would work. Her attempt to slap him didn't count. She had two hands to get the job done and the other should've taken over the task. Right now, that hand was doing dangerous things as it subconsciously kneaded and caressed his chest.

He tilted his head and moved his lips to hover above hers. She'd protest anytime now, but just to make sure, he had one more move. One that would cause her to react from the heart.

He barely brushed the tip of her nose with his and in a masculine voice, dripping with passion, he said, "Darlin' girl, kiss me."

Daisy whimpered. Her lashes lowered and she swayed into him.

The memory of that incredible morning called to him and his plan slipped out of focus. Drake crashed down on her lips in a powerful kiss.

It was just like he remembered, explosive, hot, super-nova hot. The kiss grew hungry and he began to wonder if she was going to protest at all. When she didn't, feelings crashed through his wall and the plan went out the window.

He went further, deeper, pressing her against the wooden railing and parting her lips with his tongue. He plunged into blissful softness with dominating skill and she squealed with bizarre angry pleasure.

A growl of approval emanated from his chest and he released her wrist to have full use of both hands. He wanted, dear god he wanted and his hand moved up her back to grasp a fistful of hair. The other found softness and began tugging at the fabric in his way.

Daisy was utterly lost in the moment and she moaned with desire. This was the man capable of tender gestures and mind-blowing kisses. Her arms were trapped against his chest and her hands ached to explore, but it took all of her focus to stand on her wobbly knees. She clung to him as his hands ... his very skillful hands ... drove her higher as they boldly explored and took what they wanted. The feel of his mouth blending with hers was the stuff of fantasies.

He was so awful and wonderful and annoying and irresistible and she freed her arms just enough to take his face in her hands. The moment she touched him, Drake recoiled with a vicious jolt and stepped out of her reach.

Daisy was left breathless and grabbed the stall to keep from falling.

"Drake? Oh, sugar you're going pale!"

She stepped forward, concerned he was ill, but he suddenly stood tall and shook himself out.

"I willnae keep ye from yer chores any longer." Drake turned and stiffly moved toward the open barn doors. As he walked out, he called over his shoulder, "Good talk."

Daisy was flabbergasted. Good talk!? He showed up on her doorstep, kissed her, touched her like … that … and now he was just going to walk away!? As he disappeared from her view, she heard him whistle some random tune.

He was not getting away with this!


Drake was still whistling when he reached his SUV. It was his way of calming the surge of panic before it got out of hand. After all that work, running away and denying his feelings over the long summer months, a single touch from Daisy ... and a scorching hot kiss ... had cracked the foundation of his protective brick wall and placed his heart in a vulnerable position. It was frightening to think he could move on from Cynthia so quickly. The loss was still raw ... or was it?

Now he was reacting purely on survival instinct. He had to get out of there as fast as possible without losing it in front of the entire Duke clan.

When he reached the Scout, he heard Daisy call his name. Plastering a forced smile on his face, Drake turned around and watched her close in on him at a hurried, angry clip.

"Drake MacFarland!" she shouted. "You don't have the manners the Good Lord gave a donkey's ass!"

Drake rolled his eyes and fell back to his snarky attitude. "And I thought ye said I was the rude one?" Turning back to his waiting conveyance, he realized he couldn't leave things on such an awkward note. "Och, I'm sorry, lass. Allow me to give ye a proper goodb-"

An echoing clang rang out like a gong and Drake bounced off his Scout before hitting the ground like a century old tree. The milk pail whacked him a second time before coming to rest in the dirt next to him. He was staring at the high tree limbs when Daisy appeared above him with her hands on her hips.

"I've been kissed by better men than you!" Daisy harrumphed and retrieved her pail before proudly gliding back to the barn, her beauty queen walk full of sexy confidence and carefree grace.

Once she was gone, Drake pulled himself up and brushed himself off, whirling with confusion and pulsing with need ... despite the pain in his head. It took all his willpower to climb into his Scout instead of going back in that barn to finish what he'd started.

Daisy was perfect for him. She was independent, strong, and so beautiful. She wouldn't be afraid of his rather voracious sexual appetite. She was a fighter, a woman that could match his passion for life and share his love of nature. Daisy Duke was exactly the kind of woman who could change his future from the dismal outlook it was now into something rare and precious.

Drake smacked himself in the forehead for the second time today. What had he been thinking!?

This was supposed to be for Jaxon, but he screwed it all up. Now he wanted Daisy more than ever. If she hadn't touched him, he would've stripped off her clothes, found the nearest pile of hay, and shown her what he wanted to say, but couldn't express in words. The idea sent another pulse of unsatisfied need surging through his body.

He whacked his pounding head on the backrest as a distraction. Twice.

Drake cursed a Gaelic blue streak and started the Scout. Driving away from the farm, he wondered what in the world he was going to do now.

Okay, he could fix it. All he had to do was stay away from her. That was it. Simple. He'd just have to repair the brick wall around his heart. He was a master at shutting people out and that is exactly what he would do.

A sense of sadness shook that brick wall as Drake realized the woman who brought him back to the world of the living with a single kiss, would never be his.

Or his numpty brother's.

If Jaxon ever found out what he'd done, it would be far worse then the fight over his fishing pole.


In a small private room at Capitol City Memorial Hospital, the first light of dawn woke Jenny from her restless slumber at Enos's bedside. She sat back in the visitor's chair and took a quick glance at her watch. It had been a mere half-hour since she'd fallen asleep holding Enos's hand.

It had taken hours to stabilize Enos's condition and even now she wasn't sure if he was unconscious or merely sleeping. Being careful not to disturb him, Jenny lovingly cradled his hand in her palm and tenderly stroked his long fingers. Traces of dirt and blood had caked beneath his nails, a painful reminder of his futile attempts to escape Levi's brutality.

Enos's handsome face was marred by more evidence of the assault. His left eye was terribly swollen, surrounded by angry bruises. A horrid laceration left a row of stitches running upward from his eyebrow to his hairline and small cuts covered his left arm.

Hidden beneath the blue hospital gown were more bruises to his ribs, abdomen, and back, including a particularly nasty one above his left kidney in the perfect shape of a boot.

Jenny took a calming breath to maintain a firm hold on her composure, unwilling to release all the rage she'd held in overnight. The fury over what had been done to Enos and the suffering Levi had caused created a constant battle to remain calm. She didn't want to be a puddle of tears when Enos regained consciousness.

"Hey," Jaxon whispered, breaking her thoughts. He was slouched in a chair near the foot of the bed. "He'll be fine. He's tough. Once he regains his senses and knows you're staying in town, he's going to be back to himself in no time. Now stop worrying. You two will be able to talk before the Dukes show up."

"I'm not worried about the Dukes," she said, quietly. "Although, after seeing the way Daisy looked at me last night I'm not exactly eager to run into her again, let alone have that talk about Mon-" Catching herself, she turned her focus back to Enos. "Well, you know, other things."

"We don't need to have that particular conversation right away." Jaxon replied.

Enos moaned in his sleep and Jenny tensed, her eyes snapping to his battered face. His forehead wrinkled in pain and his breath began to race. Clearly distressed, he took a couple of short, quick breaths in his sleep and weakly called out, "N-no ... please, Levi no..."

"Shhhh, I'm right here," Jenny said softly while squeezing his hand and stroking his cheek. "You're safe. Rest easy now, my sweet. I've got you."

Jenny began to softly hum the same tune she'd repeated all night. Without fully waking, Enos's face relaxed as he drifted into a more peaceful slumber. She ended her calming melody and flopped back into her chair, exhausted from the stress of the past several days.

"At least he didn't get sick this time. That's an improvement." Jaxon said.

"Definitely." Jenny said through a yawn. "Where were we?"

"Daisy," he replied, carefully keeping his voice low. "Since Drake and I are already looking after her safety, I don't see a reason to tell her anything just yet. When the time comes to tell the Dukes about the situation, I'll be the one to do it. Besides, Enos should be told first and he won't be in shape for that for a few days. Just let me handle things."

"Oh, would you?" Jenny's relief was palpable. "It would be a real load off my mind."

"Jen..." he chided, gently. "You don't have to do everything on your own. Give yourself the time you need to be with Enos. The two of you have a lot of catching up to do."

"We do," she affirmed. "I just hate seeing him in so much pain."

"Listen, forget about all the other things for now." Jaxon smiled at her. "Focus on breakfast. Hot tea. Romance. Anything but the press, his ex-girlfriend, and Wallace Monroe. Drake and I will get you two through this. Just take care of Enos. He will need all of your love and support."

Jenny swallowed anxiously and stared at the far wall, her mind consumed with dark thoughts. "Jaxon, if we had been any later reaching him..."

"But we weren't. Let it go, Jenny."

"I'm trying. I guess I'm just a little shaken by it all."

"I'm going to get you something to eat." Jaxon sat upright, grimacing as he lifted his stocking feet off Enos's bed. Like Jenny, he hadn't changed clothes and they both looked like they'd seen better days. "Who designed these chairs?" he complained. "Next time I need a torture device I'll know where to look."

She chuckled quietly over his attempt at humor. "Would you call Gus and Emily again while you're out? They should be up by now. We need to give them another update."

"It's on the top of my list." Jaxon pulled on a hiking boot and made quick work of the laces. "I'll see what I can do about a change of clothes, too. Earl Grey or coffee?"

"Neither. Chamomile tea, please," she replied. "By the way, it'll be shift change soon. Remind the nurses to hold any calls at the desk. The next reporter that calls is going to drive me over the edge. Oh, and call Sam to see what we can do to help out at the ranch."

Jaxon stood, releasing the tension in the air with his easy smile. "I'm at least four steps ahead of you. Relax. Anything else?"

"Just one more thing." Jenny pulled her gaze from Enos to look up at her twin. "Thank you for coming to stay with us last night. If Drake hadn't taken care of things with the authorities, we might all be sitting in the Hazzard County jail. I don't know what I'd have done if you hadn't been here to handle all the questions from the FBI. It meant the world to me."

"You would've managed." He strolled over and bent down to embrace her, placing a kiss on top of her head. "Love you, sis. You just stay right here and try to rest. I'll be back in a few minutes with food. Have the hospital page me if you need anything."

"I will. Thanks."

Jaxon's boots made a soft thumping sound as he moved to the door. Just before leaving the room, he looked back over his shoulder in concern. Jenny gave him a brave smile and made a "shooing" motion. He winked at her, opened the door, and was gone.


Alone in the room with Enos, she again took his hand. This time Jenny wilted, yearning to hold him close and cradle his head against her breast.

Her mind conjured the image of Enos covered in blood and struggling to save himself. She wanted to crawl onto the bed, curl up beside him, and sleep until he woke, but the fear of causing him more pain held her back.

Exhausted, Jenny lost the precarious grip on her tears. She lowered her head and used the mattress to muffle the sobs as she cried herself out.


The more Enos tried to make sense of the images that flickered through his mind, the more confused he became. His fractured memories consisted of a miserable night in the ER surrounded by brief glimpses of unfamiliar faces. He thought Jenny was there, but even now his head hurt so badly he didn't know if that had been real.

He remembered the baseball bat though and Jenny standing up to a drunken monster. Had that been real? Where was she now? Enos tried to open his eyes, but they were still too heavy to respond to his command.

Far away voices broke through the high pitched ringing in his ears and a few words reached the coherent part of his brain. Enos again struggled to open his eyes and join the conversation. When that failed, he took comfort from the soft object in his hand and listened, hoping to hear Jenny's voice amid the muffled conversation.

"It isn't unusual after a head injury like his. That will improve as he recovers. Let me know if you have any questions after the consult today. I recommend that someone remain with him for a few weeks after his release."

"We will make sure he's not left alone," said a familiar male voice. "Thank you, doctor."

"You're welcome," he replied. "Let's see how the day goes. I'm cautiously optimistic."

That voice was familiar, too. Doctor Howard maybe? The pain swelled, making itself known in other parts of his body. His head throbbed and his left arm ached miserably. In fact, the left side of his body hurt like he'd been thrown against a brick wall.

Enos tightened his hold on the object in his hand. It was silky and warm. Jenny? He had to wake up before circumstances made her run. He couldn't lose her all over again. He couldn't! Why was he unable to wake up?!

Panic began to take over and somehow he managed to call out, "No ... don't go. Jenny, please don't leave."

"Easy now. You're safe, Deputy." Jenny's voice was clear and tender. Soft fingers stroked his cheek as she said, "I'm right here. Just focus on my voice and follow it back."

Enos did just that. When his vision finally cleared, he was greeted with a beautiful smile.

"There you are." Jenny's face competed with the sun for the brightest thing in the room. "You're going to be just fine."

Enos kept his eyes locked on Jenny, so full of emotion he didn't know where to begin. "S-stay. Stay ... with me."

Seeing his distress Jenny moved to sit beside him in the bed and cupped his cheeks with her hands as if feeding him all her strength. "It's alright. I'm not leaving your side. Try to be still now. You're going to need time to heal."

"How bad?" he asked, weakly.

"It could be better, but your going to recover." Jenny's eyes grew misty as she explained. "You have a skull fracture, multiple cuts and bruises, the worst black eye I have ever seen, and..." she paused as her voice caught in her throat. She placed one hand carefully over his heart and took his right hand with the other before she said, "Levi broke three ribs and dislocated your left elbow. Doctor Howard was able to put your elbow back in place without surgery, but you're going to be sore for awhile."

"My elbow? I don't remember how that happened."

"Maybe when Levi pulled you out of the car? It could be a defensive injury, too. Maybe you tried to protect your head."

"Maybe so. Everything is still ... fuzzy. When can I take you home with me?"

"An ophthalmologist is coming up from Atlanta to look at your eye. It's just a precaution. But, if all your tests go well this morning you should be able to go home in a few days. Wait, what did you say?"

Enos didn't care about his condition, the pain, or anything else. It had been the longest, loneliest summer he could remember since Beth died. He wouldn't let this opportunity go to waste.

"I want you to come home with me, Jenny." Enos held her hand tightly. "You told me once that time is precious. I don't want to lose any more time with you. I have plenty of rooms at th' ranch for three more people. Bring your brothers, too. Stop running and stay with me where I can keep you safe and we can be together."

"Oh, Enos..." she breathed, gently. "I want to. I really do, but it would be wrong for me to accept your offer without discussing the issues we have with Monroe. You need to rest first."

"No, we've talked about Monroe. You know how I feel."

"Yes, I do know how you feel." Jenny pulled back a little, the pain in her eyes a clear sign of her inner struggle. "Maybe we should talk about this later, after you've had time to recover."

"No, we're gonna talk about it now."

"But the stress isn't good for you. You need to rest."

"The only stress I'm worried about is the one where you don't come home with me." Enos cradled her cheek with his hand. "Hon, I'm in danger every time I put on my uniform. Hasn't Monroe taken enough time from you? From us? Let me give you a safe place and a normal life. I hated not knowing where you were this summer and thinking we might never have this chance. I won't let you be taken from me again. Tell me you're staying with me. Please."

"Oh, you silly, sweet, wonderful man. Is this your way of asking me again for that first date?" Jenny's eyes sparkled with mirth. "Dinner and a shootout with a possible arrest for dessert?"

Enos giggled, then hissed from the pain.

"Oh, Enos," she said mournfully. "I'm so sorry. Look at what he's done to you."

The tears pooling in her eyes made tiny tracks down her face, but Enos thought she had never looked more beautiful. He whisked them gently away with his thumb and said, "Don't worry. I'll be okay. This is our chance. Take it and be with me."

Smiling, Jenny carefully draped her arms over his shoulders and gently kissed him. "Yes," she said. "I'll stay and take that chance with you."


It was noon and the heat was already unbearable when Jaxon returned to the hotel. He tossed his keys on the sofa table and called for his brother, but the cranky response he expected never came.

The maid service had tidied up the mess left in the wake of their midnight dash to Hazzard, leaving Jaxon unable to determine if Drake had been back to the suite. There was no telling what his brother might be up to now.

He quickly dismissed the instinctive concern. Sure, his brother was acting a bit odd ... like fixing his SUV at four in the morning ... but if Jenny thought it was something to really worry over, she would've let him know by now. Whatever happened at Bear Creek must have really knocked his brother off-kilter.

Jaxon had a lot to do at the ranch today. In addition to interviewing Enos's job applicants, there were security issues to handle. He hurried through the shower, shaved, and dressed in a pair of dark jeans and a clean, button-down plaid shirt.

As he fastened the buttons, he went over the task ahead of him ... and thought of Daisy. She was heartbroken last night. Maybe he could make time to swing by the Duke farm and check on her. Jaxon smiled. The idea was quite appealing.

Where was Drake? Jaxon's visit with Daisy depended on his brother retrieving the trailer of high-tech surveillance and security devices from the airport.

By sundown tomorrow, Enos's home would be the safest place in the southeastern United States.

A home.

Jaxon still couldn't believe Enos had actually opened his house to all three of them. It had been a long time since he had lived with his siblings as a family. Despite the danger, he was ecstatic about living at the ranch and being surrounded by people he could trust.

There would be no more long weeks traveling aimlessly alone or sleeping in a strange place night after night. He wouldn't constantly worry about Drake and Jenny's whereabouts or if they had been killed by Monroe. They would continue to protect one another while they protected Enos ... and Daisy.

He would not allow his siblings or new friends to suffer under Monroe's sadistic control the way he had during his time in captivity. When he was taken, it had been weeks before anyone even knew he was missing.

Jaxon's blood suddenly ran cold as he recalled a bitterly frozen night last February. Monroe's henchmen had found him among snow-covered gravestones, just outside a small kirk near their family home in Scotland.

Monroe's men had blindsided him. It took five of them to take him down. Jaxon had fought with all that he had, killing two of the men before they beat him into submission. He could still see the snow around him stained red with his blood.

Jaxon survived that beating and the ones that followed. When it all became too difficult to manage, it was Gran who came to his rescue. She always arrived at precisely the moment he feared he couldn't go on. They talked about his future, the family, the wee folk and Scottish folklore ... her favorite proclivity. It was all fine and good, except that Gran had died years ago ... before he started college.

It was ironic. Monroe had tried to push him over the edge, but the long, drug-induced hallucinations with the matriarch of his family had saved his sanity instead.

By the time Drake had rescued him, Jaxon had been in captivity for four terrible months. He could barely walk on his own and looked like a skeletal prisoner of war. Jaxon had spoken to no one about Monroe's men torturing him repeatedly, or the drugs they had used on him inbetween. Only Drake knew the truth, but to his credit he'd done what was necessary and never mentioned it again. Not even Jenny knew how bad it had been.

He'd been fortunate that a doctor was staying at the Rafter G Ranch when he arrived. While Drake raced off to rescue his sister, Jaxon endured the worst part of his withdrawal under a doctor's attentive care.

It had taken months to regain the healthy weight and muscle that had wasted away, but his body was doomed to carry the other scars for the rest of his life. He supposed he would always be afraid of small places that shut out the light or went underground.

Jaxon crushed his back teeth together. Never again. He would die before allowing himself to be captured again.

Turning his thoughts back to the day's tasks, Jaxon finished packing and swept the rooms for anything left behind. When he was done, he sat down at the small desk in the front room to write Drake a note. That's when he heard the lock on the door and the handle jingle impatiently.

Edgy from his memories, Jaxon dropped the pen and reached for the pistol kept in his shoulder holster. "Who's there!?" he shouted, leveling his weapon at the door.

"It's me, ye numpty fool!" Drake finished struggling with the lock and walked into the room carrying the bag of dry cleaning. He draped the clothes over a chair and kept his back turned on his brother. "How is wee Jenny and her Lawman?"

"Better," Jaxon replied, returning his gun to its holster. "I need to share a few things before we leave. Hey, what happened to you? You have dirt all over the back of your shirt."

Drake slowly turned to face him, attempting to hide the giant red lump above his eye with his hand. Jaxon choked back the fear when he saw the second mark. A raised, crescent-shaped line ran from his eye to his upper lip on the opposite side of his face.

Jaxon was out of his chair and beside Drake in a flash. "What happened to you? Was it-"

"No, Numpty. It isnae Monroe this time. I'd prefer it if ye just let it go, aye?"

"Did someone insult your Scout again? Really, Drake. You have got to stop getting into arguments over that thing. Who the heck hit you? Or should I say what? Or have you neglected your smile so long it jumped from your mouth to your cheekbone?"

"Shut yer pie hole, Numpty. I'm no' in the mood to discuss it wi' ye."

"Alright, fine. But you and Enos are going to have matching shiners if you don't put some ice on that eye."

"Jaxon..." Drake warned, adding a stone-cold stare. "I said, I dinna want to discuss it!"

"Okay, okay." Jaxon held up his hands, palms out, but didn't try to hide his amusement. "You need to make a final sweep of your room. I took care of Jenny's. We're checking out. Can you to pick up the trailer from the airport?"

Drake rolled his eyes. "Aye, I'll get it. Hold on, what's in it and where are we staying next? And, I'll thank ye not to put us at another roach motel like the last dump."

"The trailer," Jaxon replied, "is full of surveillance and other security gear. It's for Enos's ranch. He has invited us to stay at the Circle M. Indefinitely."

The look of shock on Drake's face was priceless.

"We're staying at the Circle M? All of us?" His elder brother leaned against the highback chair with a shrewd look. "And just where does he plan for all of us to sleep?"

"He's giving you a stable in the barn," Jaxon said, deadpan. "I know what your getting at, but Jenny can make up her own mind. For now she will have her own room next to mine."

There was a long beat of silence as the brothers stared at one another, each waiting for the other to flinch first. Drake's scowl deepened and his eyes narrowed, but Jaxon simply raised questioning brows under his scrutiny.

"Och, ye oof-looking gomeril. Leave off with yer stories and dinna be insulting me Scout."

"Took you awhile that time. You're a little nervous about this," Jaxon said as he retrieved the dry cleaning. "This is a good thing, Drake. Living in Enos's home will give the two of you a chance to work out your differences. You owe it to Jenny."

"Aye, I'm well aware that I've been a right arse. I'll give her what I promised."

"Good. We need to get moving. Enos is going to be laid up for awhile and we need to help Sam with the ranch chores. I'll be interviewing wranglers this afternoon then starting the security setup.

Drake shook his head, "No, I'll handle the security. The sooner the gear is in place the better. Did ye speak with Da?"

Jaxon frowned. "No, I went through Aiden. I don't have anything to say to our father."

Drake let out a long, tired breath. "Alright. When do ye plan to tell Enos about Hogg's letter to Monroe?"

"That's up to Jenny." Jaxon moved across the room, unzipped a long garment bag and added the dry cleaning to it. "I'm afraid the shock could set him back if we tell him now. I'll have to tell Daisy and Boss Hogg the consequences of it, but not until Enos knows. We'll just have to take turns shadowing Daisy until the time is right to tell her why."

"Numpty, about Daisy. I saw the way ye were with her last night. I ken how tempting it is to come to her rescue, but it's best if ye let her be."

"Let her be?" Jaxon put the last two suitcases on the luggage cart and confronted his brother. "She needs somebody, Drake. She was crushed last night and barely spoke on the drive to the Duke farm."

"Exactly," Drake said, pointing a finger his direction. "She's still in love with Enos. I would no' want to see ye hurt. Rebound relationships dinna end well."

Jaxon quietly paced to the balcony doors, his features tense. "I know she's in love with Enos," he said. "That's why I haven't asked her out. I thought, maybe we could just enjoy each other awhile. It wouldn't be anything serious."

Drake joined him by the doors and looked out across the busy city. "She is no' the one for ye, Jaxon. Ye deserve a girl who only has eyes for you."

"I know that," Jaxon scoffed, not really sure that was true. "I'm not looking for anything serious. She's just nice to be with. Whether she's in love with Enos or not, she's still a great girl."

"Aye, she's a great girl, but she's a fickle creature. Ye say yer no' interested, but I ken how hard it can be without a special woman to care. Ye had a rough go lately. Your heart is vulnerable, brother."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Dinna misunderstand me now. It isn't what ye think. It's because yer lonely. Why don't ya take a break and visit Katie in Boston? She's a great girl, too, aye?"

"Katie's the best," Jaxon's heart warmed unexpectedly as he reached for the doors to the balcony. "But things with Monroe are too hot to visit Boston again so soon. Why are you against me seeing Daisy? Don't you trust me?"

"Jaxon, brother, there is no future in it. She does no' ken who ye truly are." Drake gave him a mind-drilling look. "Convince me yer no' settling for the first girl to show ye interest since college and I'll leave ye be."

Jaxon shuffled his feet and stared at the floor. His brother had hit the proverbial nail on the head and had pounded it home. "I can't," he replied. "Besides, Daisy hates Jenny. She will hate me, too, when I tell her Jenny is my twin. I'll be the last person she wants to spend time with."

"Dinna be discouraged, Jaxon." Drake cleared his throat and said, "Tia was worth waiting for. In time the right lass will come along. Now, I'll check the suite and walk down wi' ye. Why don't ye call Katie while yer waiting for me?"

"Katie is in Italy with a friend," he replied, sadly.

"Perhaps it's for the best. Let's finish wi' Monroe before we put anymore people we care for at risk, aye?"

"Agreed," Jaxon said. He waved his hand in the air as if brushing away the heavier emotions. "Go on, I need some fresh air." He reached for the latch on the balcony door.

Drake slapped Jaxon's shoulder affectionately and retreated to the back room.


Jaxon stepped out on the balcony and the heat hit him like a blast furnace. Flirting with Daisy was fun while it lasted, but maybe it was time to back away. Drake was right. There was no real substance in their relationship, if that's what it could be called. There were too many things working against them, not counting his identity, or what came with it.

Jaxon had thrown himself into work after college for the affirmation his siblings couldn't provide. There were no romantic relationships. After Finn died and Mam left, every spare moment of his life had been mapped out and planned. There were no more sports in the competitive sense, no horse shows, movies with friends, or other things normal kids got to do.

His life wasn't normal.

Drake found an exceptional woman and lost her because of Monroe. Jenny had found an exceptional man. The woman that would accept him would have to be extraordinary to see beyond his scars … if she even existed.

Feeling down, he opened his wallet and found the smiling face he was looking for. Katie's light blue eyes smiled up at him as her strawberry blond hair framed her youthful face. He thought of her more and more these days. Maybe his extraordinary woman would be found in an unexpected place.


"What do you mean he wasn't there?" Daisy paused from hanging the wet laundry on the line and turned to face her cousins. The news they just delivered didn't make any sense. "Enos was in horrible shape, Luke! I saw them load him in the ambulance last night!"

"I didn't say he wasn't in the hospital." Luke exchanged an uneasy glance with Bo. "I meant he wasn't in Tri-County. When the ambulance didn't show up at Tri-County, Doc Applebee called Enos's next-of-kin. They refused to let Doc treat him. That's why Enos was taken to Capitol City Memorial."

Daisy gasped in shock. "His next of kin? You mean his ma? Agnes!?"

"Nope," Luke replied. "Apparently Enos made some changes this summer. It was Gus and Emily Rafferty's decision."

"How did they find out so quick?" Daisy looked back and forth between the boys, but neither were willing to answer. That told her all she needed to know. "It was that Jenny MacFarland!"

"Now Daisy, the reason Enos is in Capitol City has nothing to do with her. She just did what Emily asked her to do, which was what Enos wanted done if he couldn't speak for himself."

"But, why would Enos go all the way to Capitol City when there is a perfectly good hospital right here?"

Luke said, "I think it has something to do with the scene Enos had in town with Doc Applebee and his ma earlier this summer."

"Get this," Bo said. "Enos ain't said two words to Doc since June. Daisy, you still haven't told us everything that happened last night."

"Yeah, how did you manage to find Enos and the MacFarlands?" Luke chuckled and elbowed Bo. "Uncle Jesse told us Drake was here this morning."

"Oh that's right!" Bo affirmed, giving her a sidelong glance. "I hear you, uh … whalloped him good for his vanishing act after the shooting."

Bo snickered and Luke's chuckles got out of hand.

"Hmph," Daisy threw a pair of wet jeans at Bo and said, "Y'all best watch it or both of you are gonna be rewashing your own darn britches. I ain't in the mood for your teasing today."

"Yes ma'am," Bo moved to the line and hung the pair of jeans as he apologized. "Sorry, Daisy. So what really happened last night?"

Daisy tossed a pair of overalls over the line and started pinning as she explained. "I followed Jack thinking he had been contacted about a ransom, but I was wrong. I still don't know how he's mixed up with Drake and Jenny or how they knew where to find Enos, but they were all together in Jack's car. It doesn't make sense. He's too nice to be involved with Loser 1 and Loser 2."

Bo laughed and said, "I take it you aren't cutting Jenny any slack?"

Shooting her youngest cousin a look she said, "Anyway, like I was saying, when I caught up with Jack he was at Tucker's Hollow. Drake and Jenny were already confronting Levi."

Pausing from her chores she sighed deeply and looked up into the clear blue sky, wishing she could go back in time and change one mistake. Just one was all she needed.

Luke stepped up and asked, "You okay, Daisy?"

"I don't know. I just can't believe it. Jenny is back and Enos is still in lo ... I mean, he's still infatuated with his rebound. He's gonna get hurt."

"She might be here now, but that don't mean she's staying," Bo said.

"Now Bo..." Luke warned. "Don't you think it's best if we just stay outta Enos's business?"

"Wait a minute," Bo said, raising his palms in defense. "Enos is our friend. I'm just voicing my opinion. Hangin' around the MacFarlands is just askin' for trouble. From what y'all said about this Monroe fella, Jenny can't stay in one place too long. Maybe you're reading the situation all wrong."

"Bo, don't ask me to repeat what I heard," Daisy said. "But last night, Enos took her back like nothing ever happened. Y'all know he's been waiting for this like his whole world counted on it. She's not leaving anytime soon."

Daisy resumed her chores as familiar tears burned her tired, red eyes. "I was hoping to have one last chance, but now I stand to lose my friendship with him, too." She choked on the emotion swelling in her throat. "I could let him go to another women, but not that woman. Not after the way she's hurt him. I can't let this happen, but I don't have any idea how to stop it!"

"Aw, Daisy." Bo rushed over to put an arm around her shoulders. "Don't talk like that now. You can't just give up on him. We'll think of something."

"Just slow down and back up a minute. Something isn't adding up," Luke stuck his thumbs in his pockets and continued, "This Jack you mentioned, you mean Jaxon, right?"

"No, I mean Jack," Daisy said. "Jack Young. He's that real sweet guy I told y'all about? He's been comin in to the Boar's Nest off and on all summer. He's some sort of financial strategist. I saw him talking to Enos just yesterday."

"Oh, no," Luke groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I thought he looked familiar."

Bo's eyes snapped to Luke, looked back to Daisy and again to Luke. "Uh-oh," he said.

Daisy crossed her arms, "What am I missing?"

Luke stepped up to take her shoulders in a comforting gesture and said, "Now Daisy, try not to get too upset."

"What!?" Daisy pushed him away. "Luke Duke, I've had enough surprises lately. What's going on?"

Luke shifted his weight uneasily and said, "Daisy, I don't know how to tell you this. After the shooting, when you were spending time with Drake, did he mention his brother?"

"Once or twice. He doesn't talk about his family much at all. I don't recall him even mentioning his name."

"I reckon Luke is tryin' to tell ya' that his name is Jaxon." Bo's tone clearly reflected his disgust over the situation.

"Jaxon? I wouldn't know Jaxon if I met…" Daisy's eyes narrowed to slits. "No."

"Yeah, I'm afraid so." Luke said. "Jack Young is an alias. Gus told me Jenny was using Young as a cover name at the Rafter G. I'm pretty sure this Jack Young is really Jaxon MacFarland."

"MacFarland." Daisy's arms fell slowly to her side. "My Jack is really Jaxon MacFarland, Drake and Jenny's brother."

"He's ... um," Luke cringed, "Jenny's twin brother."

"Twin?! He lied to me?" Daisy's eyes went wide with disbelief then turned dangerously dark. Her face heated with anger and her skin turned red. "Unbelievable! So let me get this straight, the oldest brother is an insensitive jerk, the sister is a man-stealing tramp, and the third one is a pathological liar."

"Hold on, now." Luke back-peddled. "Thats a little harsh. They're good folk, Daisy. Jenny risked her life trying to find you when Reid kidnapped you in Wyoming."

"Good folk?! I-"

Luke swiped an arm through the air effectively silencing her and continuing his speech. "Drake was the one who kept Reid Duncan from killing you! Jenny and Drake both saved you from that hit team in June. For pity's sake Daisy. Drake took a bullet saving your life! Maybe you could cut Jaxon a little slack. I don't think he meant any harm. Didn't you say he would explain things today?"

"Yes, that should be interesting," she replied, unimpressed with his plea. "Luke, I know I should feel more gratitude towards the MacFarlands and I am thankful that they saved Enos and me, but I can't just ignore all the hurtful behavior that comes with them. Jack, I mean Jaxon should've told me the truth."

"Maybe he thought it was too upsetting for you to hear last night," Bo offered.

"That doesn't change the fact that he lied to me for months. Excuse me, fellas. I'd like some time alone."

Daisy dropped the pillow case she was holding and walked into the house, her eyes brimming with tears. Jack had been the last bright spot in her romantic life. Now even that had been snuffed out.

Looking back, she wondered, how could she have missed all the signs? She saw Drake's brother very clearly now. The confidence in his walk and the strong shoulders, but she would never see him the same way again. She wanted nothing to do with Jenny's twin.

Why did this have to happen? Why now? Just as her hopes to marry Enos were crushed. Daisy had to find a way to cope with the agony of seeing him with Jenny before she lost her friendship with him, too. Reality hit her like a speeding train.

Drake had asked, "Are you sincere, or is Jack your new toy?"

Jack had been a diversion to alleviate the pain over losing Enos and to soothe the heartache over Drake's cruel rejection. How could she possibly be sincere about Jaxon when she didn't even know who he was!

Her stomach flipped over. What was she thinking kissing Drake today? Then again, it was all his fault. What had he been trying to accomplish? Drake knew she was devastated over losing the love of her life to another woman ... his sister. Was he really concerned about his brother? Or was he jealous!?

Did any of it matter?

Drake took advantage of her. In the end, she won the battle and reclaimed her dignity. She hoped he still had a raging headache. "Among other things," she said to herself with great satisfaction.

Daisy returned to her room and again muffled frustrated tears in her pillow. In a few hours, she would be forced to face the world and answer probing questions as she grieved over lost love.

Daisy thought about Emily and yearned to talk with her again. She needed a woman's perspective.

Things in her love life were out of control.