Chapter 15 - Buried Secrets

"The face is the mirror of the mind, and eyes without speaking confess the secrets of the heart."

~ St. Jerome


Being in jail was never a pleasant way to pass the time, but usually Bo had his cousin to keep him company. This was a brand new kind of miserable and he paced his cell like a caged lion. He trusted Uncle Jesse to come up with a way to get him out, but as he listened to the argument escalate upstairs hope began to dwindle.

"J.D., you know Bo had nothing to do with the collapse of that bridge! I can prove it! Cooter and Sam found clean cuts in the pilings and this here rope. Somebody used it to finish th' job!"

Boss replied in mock appreciation, "Well I'm sure Rosco thanks you for your fine detective work, Jesse. I'll just take that rope. We found th' other end in the General Lee."

"Dag-nabbit, J.D.! I ain't gonna stand for this!"

"Rosco caught that boy fair and square! Now, you just go on home, Jesse. Judge Druten will be back next week and then you can post bail."

"There ain't nothin' fair and square about your schemes! Get outta my way! I ain't leaving until I see my boy!"

Jesse's footsteps echoed in the stairwell and Bo's stomach took a dive when he appeared in the doorway. Every additional worry line ate away at his conscience. His uncle was alone at the farm without help.

Bo swiped his forearm across his eyes to alleviate the stinging pressure behind them. "I'm sorry, Uncle Jesse. I'll get outta here somehow and finish that irrigation trench before we lose the crop."

"Just slow down, son." Jesse reached through the bars and put a firm hand on Bo's shoulder. "Don't beat yourself up over something that ain't your fault. Chester Miller is bringing his boys over in the morning to help out, so don't worry about th' crop. I plan to talk to him about this road construction project. Something fishy is going on."

"It's like I said, Boss is after Enos's ranch. We gotta call Wyoming and warn him."

Jesse checked over his shoulder for unwanted company. "I called Gus this afternoon," he whispered. "Enos ain't made it to Wyoming yet."

Bo went rigid and fixed wide eyes on Uncle Jesse. "Why not?"

"Take it easy. They're fine, just had some mechanical trouble. They should be there tomorrow. Now listen. Gus heard about the bridge from Sam. He called Atlanta to talk with Tom Grady. You remember him?"

"Yeah. He's th' lawyer who came to see Enos this spring about Beth O'Connell's probate."

"Right. Enos kept him on retainer. Tom will be here tomorrow morning. He's gonna deal with the bridge and demand Judge Potts step in for Judge Druten so we can at least get ya' out on bail. He's pretty sure they'll drop these cotton pickin' charges."

"A lawyer sounds real good, but ain't no way we can afford that."

"Tom's gonna handle your charges as a special favor to Enos. This ain't th' time to look a gift horse in th' mouth. We'll get to th' bottom of this. You stay put."

"But Uncle Jesse-"

"Don't 'but Uncle Jesse' me. My family is scattered all over creation and I ain't gonna toss one more out in th' cold." He bounced a finger on the cell and narrowed a wise eye. "I want your word as a Duke that you'll stay right here. It's just one more night. If ya' add escape charges to th' list it's just gonna complicate matters."

One very long night. Bo sighed. "Alright, Uncle Jesse. I'll stay put. Dukes honor."


Twenty miles north of Ogallala, Luke held the wheel steady as the truck chewed up the last few miles of the day. The flat plains transitioned to gentle slopes and curves, providing occasional views of Lake McConaughy's blue-green waters.

Tonight the group would layover at an equestrian campground on the north shore. There'd been no sign of a tail since leaving the rest stop, but they weren't taking any chances. Tomorrow morning, instead of continuing northwest to Scottsbluff, they would backtrack south and make the final push west through Laramie and Cheyenne.

Daisy shifted her gaze from the passing scenery to the backseat where Drake had fallen asleep after relinquishing the wheel an hour ago. His chestnut hair fell in messy strands over his forehead, giving him an innocent, boyish appearance. She swallowed uncomfortably and looked back to the horizon, again contemplating their strange relationship.

She wasn't pleased that he'd pulled away from her, but now that she'd dried her tears, she understood his reasons and saw the situation in a different light. Drake cared for her, deeply cared for her. A man interested in a passing fling wouldn't mind being second best.

At times Drake looked at her with such hunger and possessiveness that the world around them dimmed in comparison. It was feral, as if he would lay claim to her at any moment and take her to heights of pleasure she never knew existed. A wild part of her wanted to flirt with that look, satisfy it over and over, just to see if it was as endless as the mystery that surrounded the man.

Daisy's cheeks flushed and she turned up the air conditioner. This was more than sexual chemistry. Drake awakened a part of her soul that had been dormant her entire life. She couldn't walk away from that emotion until she put a name to it. To do that, she needed to know more about him and where he came from.

Jenny's comment ricocheted in her mind. "He's been through things you can't imagine…" The key to understanding this mysterious man would be found amid the tragedy of his past.

While she dug into his history, she would try to let go of Enos, but that didn't mean she'd let Jenny have him. There were too many things that she felt needed to be addressed before she'd approve of Jenny MacFarland as Enos's…whatever she was.

Luke tapped her forearm and said, "Daisy, take a look at Drake. Something's wrong."

She turned to the backseat. "He's awful pale."

Drake was also horribly restless. Distressed creases marred his brow and he muttered in his sleep.

Luke turned the truck into the setting sun. "Can ya' make out what he's sayin'?"

"No, it ain't English. He's shivering though." Daisy clicked out of her seatbelt and leaned over the seat. "Mercy, I can already feel th' heat."

She reached out and brushed his hair back to check for fever, pressing her palm to his forehead.

"No!" Drake jerked awake and snatched her wrist, shoving it away. "Don't touch me!"

Daisy pulled back, stunned. "Good grief, Drake! I was just making sure you were okay! You're-"

Her words caught in her throat. Drake's eyes were filled with a haunting anguish unlike anything she'd ever seen before. Then he blinked and whatever demon tormenting him faded like a wraith in the mist, leaving only profound emptiness and that familiar sorrow in its wake.

"Are ya' alright, sugar?"

"Aye." Drake sighed, remorsefully. "I'm sorry. I dinnae mean to frighten ye."

"I'm fine, but I think you're running a fever, sugar. Will you let me check?"

When she reached out again, he tensed and sagged deeper into the seat. "Just leave me be, girl. Let me sleep."

Drake produced a bottle of aspirin from his pocket, shook a couple out and swallowed them dry before Daisy could offer him water. He then rolled over, effectively shutting her out.

"Stubborn ol' so-and-so." Daisy turned around and took out her frustrations on the seatbelt, tugging it angrily.

Luke took her hand. "He'll be alright. Are you okay?"

"I don't know." Daisy spoke in cautious whispers. "I'm worried, Luke. He had this look in his eye, just for a second, like he didn't know me, or was someplace else. He's done that before when I touched him and he wasn't expecting it."

"Have ya' ever asked him about it?"

"That's ain't an easy subject to talk about."

She'd been trying not to touch him for days.

"He's fine, Daisy. It's because he ain't feelin' well. You know how Bo gets when he has a high fever. Just let him be for now."

Daisy wasn't convinced. He hadn't been running a fever that morning in the barn. "You talked to Gus about th' MacFarlands, didn't ya'? How much did he tell ya' about their past?"

Luke pulled a face.

"C'mon, Luke. Haven't ya' ever wondered what they do when they ain't running from Monroe? How do they manage without jobs? Where does their money come from? They have to survive off something! Help me out."

"I'd like to, but I don't know anymore than you do. As for the money, Jaxon said they worked for their father's company."

"Yeah, but they never talk about him. Don't you think that's weird? Where's their mother and what made her leave th' family?" She raised her hands and declared, "I don't even know where they grew up."

"Daisy…" Luke tapped his thumb on the wheel in a sign of irritation. "They grew up in Scotland."

Daisy pursed her lips and said curtly, "Luke Duke, don't get smart with me. I know that, but where and how did they come to live in the States? The twins barely have an accent. If they all grew up together, why does Drake sound so different?"

A grouchy voice rang out from the back seat, "Blimey, girl. What kind of question is that?"

Daisy flipped her hair back as she swiveled her gaze to Oscar the Grouch. Drake propped himself up on an elbow and arched a perturbed brow. She pictured a green muppet in a matador's costume, waving a long red cape at the bull.

She snickered and charged.

"Drake MacFarland, I'm gonna jar your preserves if ya' don't stop bein' such a sourpuss. It's a good question. I don't know anything about your past. If I'm gonna be stuck with you under foot for the next three weeks, at least tell me something about where ya' came from."

He narrowed his eyes and stared.

She stared back.


Drake considered rolling back over, but couldn't pull his eyes from her fiery blue gaze. Letting her into his past when she was still confused about her feelings would be a colossal mistake. She'd run for the hills. Maybe if he answered just part of her question, she'd back off and concentrate on her safety.

"Alright, lass. We grew up on a private estate thirty minutes from Inverness. The twins left Scotland at twelve to study abroad and I was sent to Edinburgh. I eventually earned my masters from Edinburgh University and joined the twins in America. That's why we sound different."

"A masters." Daisy gave an unladylike snort. "You have a masters. You're kidding, right?"

"The MacFarlands are no' daft. Jaxon has two. I studied International Business. Satisfied?"

"Not even close. So, where are your parents, sugar?"

He should tell her to pound sand, interrogate somebody else, or mind her own bloody business, but it was an innocent question. Innocent. Unlike the sinful things that went though his mind when he looked at those lips, or imagined her soft hair splayed across his bare chest.

"Drake? Was there a divorce?"

"No-o-o," he drawled, reclining back to relieve the pounding pressure in his skull. Maybe it was the fever, or the fatigue, or maybe he just didn't want to disappoint her that caused him to say, "Father wanted us to have the best education and training, so after our brother died, he made sure that happened."

The surprised look in her eyes shifted to an endless, shimmering compassion. "I'm sorry, sugar. That must have been horrible. I didn't know you had another brother. What was his name?"

"Finn. He was fourteen. We did everything together. The family was no' the same after he died." A ball of ice formed in his stomach. Daisy was too easy to talk to.

"That's why you're so close to th' twins. What happened? Was he ill?"

There it was. The proverbial brick wall. He couldn't tell her, even if he wanted to.

"Must ya be such a chatterbox, girl?"

"I'm trying to be your friend. Getting information out of you is like wrestling Boss Hogg for a bucket of fried chicken. I've told ya' about my parents and how I came to live with Uncle Jesse and th' boys. Why don't ya' ever talk about your mother?"

Luke cautioned, "Daisy, maybe you should-"

"I'm just asking, Luke."

The ball of ice formed jagged points and began to turn. It was time for defensive measures. "We doona talk about Mum because she dinnae bother to stick around. Now hold your wheest so I can sleep."

Disappointment fell in a grey curtain across her face, but he hardened himself against the remorseful ache it created. Only Jenny and Jaxon were allowed inside that memory.

"Sugar, I'm sorry for what you went through. If you ever need to talk, I'm here. Okay?"

Drake answered with an odd grunt and covered his eyes with his arm. Talking about it wasn't an option. The past had a way of reaching out with wicked fingers, wrapping around his soul and dragging him back into the depths of Hell.

He spent years reliving the horror in vivid Technicolor. When Cynthia died, he went through it all over again, suffering alone until he was able to locate the twins. He didn't dare open that dungeon door.

Not even for Daisy Duke.


Monroe's men were on edge. Tonight was their last chance to torch the trailers, but they were having trouble keeping track of the caravan without being spotted. They parked the Ford Fairlane on a hill above Highway 92 and waited for the MacFarlands to catch up.

Wade crouched behind the car and lifted his binoculars to the East. "We got trouble. Check this out."

His partner, Mack, lifted his binoculars and peered into the distance.

The trucks made an unexpected turn towards the lake. Mechanical crossing arms stood sentry as the trailers rumbled over the railroad tracks and headed towards a campground down the hill.

Wade swore and said, "They're staying here tonight. In the trailers. Now what do we do?"

Mack stood and opened the driver's door. "We call Monroe for instructions. If Matt Duncan is ready in Wyoming, maybe we can just go straight there and stake out the ranch. Either way, we've done our jobs. Let them enjoy their last night of peace. It's all going to end when they reach the Rafter G."


The campground was a pretty little place with RV sites and horse pens tucked in a small copse of trees. The bathrooms were clean, the grounds were well maintained and best of all, being mid-week, the road-weary travelers had the entire place to themselves.

Supper had been an uncomfortable affair. The animosity between the girls hung in the air like a wrecking ball on a thread. While Jaxon and Enos set out to check the perimeter, Jenny bridled the horses and asked Daisy to join her for a ride to clear the air. It was turning out to be a rotten idea. She suspected Daisy only agreed to come along because Luke insisted.

Jenny kept a light hold on Abby's reins as the horse picked along a rocky portion of trail. She glanced to her right. Seeing Enos's ex-fiancé on Tag ignited a frightening emotion she could only call jealousy.

The setting sun created a halo around Daisy's flawless figure as she stared ahead. She was the perfect girl-next-door, beautiful, tall, with an independent streak that rivaled her own. Enos once loved this woman … and told her so. Repeatedly.

Jenny hadn't received a verbal pledge of love from Enos. She tried not to let it upset her, but at times like this, literally sitting in the shadow of his long-legged ex, it gnawed at her confidence. It would be nice to hear him say it.

They reached the end of the trail and looked out over the water in uncomfortable silence. The world glowed like a waning fire, signaling the end of the day in deep shades of orange. While the horses munched on tall grass, Jenny tried to make peace.

"Daisy, I'm sorry for keeping the details from you about the shooting. I had my reasons at the time, but I was in the wrong. I didn't think it through."

Daisy sat quietly for a moment before she answered, "I understand and accept your apology. I know we should bury th' hatchet for Enos's sake. All I want is what's best for him."

"I sense a 'but' coming."

Daisy nodded. "I don't trust you."

"I can respect that." Jenny didn't like it, but she could understand. "There's more to it. I can see it. Whatever you say stays between us. Let's get this over with and hash out our differences."

"I agree with you." Daisy turned Tag to face her and said, "And I'm gonna be blunt. Enos is family. Us Dukes have always watched out for him. It's going to take a lot to convince me you were right to come back into his life. I think you're dangerous and selfish. I won't stand by while you hurt him all over again."

Jenny sat ramrod straight. Sensing her tension, Abby began sidestepping. She relaxed her seat and moved fluidly with the distressed animal, even though she was inwardly seething. Enos spoke so highly of his friend and she wanted Daisy to like her. It appeared the woman hated her more than she realized. It was an isolating moment of rejection.

Jenny raised a hand, shading her eyes from the sun. "I'm sorry you feel that way. May I ask why?"

"Because I watched him walk around like a zombie all summer after the shooting. You hurt him by not calling. Drake didn't have you under lock and key, did he?"

"No, but-"

"Then why didn't you call him when you recovered and at least put his mind at ease?"

"That's none of your business." Jenny cringed at her defensive tone and tried to soften it. "I'm sorry. It wasn't that simple. Drake needed me."

"More than Enos needed you?"

Abby snorted and pawed at the ground. The answer was yes, but Jenny wasn't free to open Drake's can of worms. There were plenty of reasons she hadn't called, like putting Enos back on Monroe's radar. He was safe at the time. Calling without being able to say when or if she'd be back would've been torture for them both.

"That's another problem." Daisy said, pulling no punches. "I don't like all these secrets. If you really care about him, you would tell him everything. You never should've put Drake before him. He deserves better than that."

"They aren't my secrets to tell and I do care about Enos." Jenny didn't have another answer that would appease. She was Drake's emotional anchor and that was the end of it. Her answer added fuel to the fire.

Daisy's blue eyes held a condemning look that caused Jenny's skin to prickle. "So, I'm right. Drake will always come first."

"No, I never said that." Jenny wanted to point out how long Enos waited for Daisy. She bit her tongue until she tasted copper instead.

"Your actions said it for you." Daisy said. "If you're want to be with Enos, he deserves the number one spot. I get that you're close to your brothers. I really do. I'm protective of Bo and Luke, too. When Aunt Lavinia died, I tried to fill her shoes just like you did with your mother, but they aren't kids anymore, sugar. Neither is Drake. He's old enough to take care of himself."

The statement hurt like a shotgun blast to the middle and a salty pressure built behind her eyes. Jenny crossed her wrists over the saddle horn and looked into the sun. Daisy didn't understand because she didn't know what Drake went through. Jenny wasn't free to enlighten her.

Below them, gentle waves caressed the shore with an ancient, peaceful sound. It was a direct contradiction to the turbulent memories whirling in Jenny's mind of another lake in a faraway land.


Daisy had a pang of remorse, but she was fed up with Jenny's generic explanations. "I'm not trying to be mean, Jenny. I just want to be honest with you about my feelings. Drake had other options."

"No, he didn't."

"Then help me understand. What happened to Drake?"

Her question was met with more stubborn silence.

Daisy pushed harder. "Sometimes he zones out. If I touch him unexpectedly, he backs away like I'm on fire. Does it have something to do with Finn, or your mother?"

Sadness rippled across Jenny's face and momentarily flashed in her eyes. A slow blink erased any trace of it, turning her expression cold and stoic.

Jenny said, "I'm sorry, but if you want to know what happened, you need to talk to him. You said you've always looked out for Enos. I've always looked out for my brothers. I know you love your family more than anything in the world. Don't condemn me for loving what's left of mine."

"I'm not condemning you for loving them. I'm saying secrets can be dangerous. What if I could've helped Drake? Enos wouldn't have had to suffer."

"You couldn't help him back then. You might be able to in the future, but only if you let go of Enos." Jenny pinned her with a ruthless stare. "Let him go, Daisy. He's mine now."

Daisy gasped, "I ain't letting go of him until I know he's with the right person."

"And that's exactly why Drake won't let you inside his nightmares. You have no right to judge me so harshly when you can't make up your mind about which man you want."

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me." Jenny wheeled Abby around, but halted abruptly to look over her shoulder. "One more thing. Think you hate me now? Try using either of my brothers to get over Enos. Jaxon told me about the flirting. Hurt them again and you'll find I'm not as forgiving. As for Enos, stay out of our relationship."

Daisy's cheeks burned hot with anger. She'd reached the end of her rope. "Do you really think Enos is happy?"

Jenny answered with unabashed confidence, her fierce expression daring anyone to make a challenge. "Absolutely. He said he's never been happier."

"Then why isn't he broke out in hives?"

More words slipped out before Daisy could stop them.

She told Jenny how handsome Enos looked in his tux, how the whole town had gathered on short notice for the wedding of the decade and how a case of hives from happiness postponed their nuptials. When she finally reined in her tongue, a sour feeling in her stomach expanded in sick waves, causing her head to swim.

Jenny frowned bitterly, but Daisy caught the doubt creeping into her features. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears and she popped her reins, taking off for camp at a dead run.

Daisy watched her go with a feeling of impending doom. One of these days, she'd learn to keep her big mouth shut. She'd learn it even if it killed her.


Hidden away in the remote Wyoming wilderness, every part of the windowless hunting cabin had been carefully renovated and camouflaged. Matt Duncan, Monroe's lead gun-for-hire, climbed down steep stairs and clicked the button on the garage remote in his hand. A fluorescent fixture hummed in the ceiling as it flickered on, filling the space with bright light.

The basement turned out to be perfect for his needs. He'd spent weeks making the cavernous space sound and light proof. The floor was cement, the walls were cinderblock and a row of iron bars drew a line between captivity and freedom. Just this morning he bolted the chains with iron manacles to the walls.

Tomorrow Wade and Mack would be here to assist and fill the cell with playthings. Matt planned to enjoy as many demented play sessions as possible before handing the twins and the cop over to Monroe. He'd avenge his brothers death and prolong his twisted pleasure until Drake MacFarland and the Duke girl begged for death. An evil grin twisted his features and he rubbed his itchy palms on his thighs. He had so many plans.

There were only a few more preparations to be made. Matt climbed the narrow stairs to the privacy of his room. Before shutting the hatch in the floor, he turned off the lights and placed the remote on the top step.

There was a knock on the door. "Matt? I know you're in there. Mr. Monroe is on the phone for you."

Monroe's whore arrived three days ago, drugged into unconsciousness and wearing a provocative strapless gown. She thought she was here to make sure he behaved himself, but the joke would ultimately be on her.

Since she didn't know where she was and couldn't make outgoing calls, her temper was short. It was wearing on Matt's patience, tempting him to end the rouse.

"Matt?" The knob twisted, but the door was locked. She knocked harder. "Matt! Hurry up! He doesn't like to be kept waiting!"

"Impatient witch! I'm coming!" He threw an old braided rug over the hatch, hid the keys and flung open the door.

Gidget jumped and took a step back. It was the first sign of fear he'd seen since her arrival and he was quick to exploit it. She'd crossed the line trying to barge into his room. Monroe didn't want her to know about his toy box in the floor. He moved closer, raking his eyes over her with a lewd sneer.

She straightened her spine and spoke through clenched teeth. "Back off, Matt. Mr. Monroe's instructions were clear. If you touch me, I'll tell him. Now don't keep him waiting any longer."

"Let's test that theory." Matt grabbed her face with a beefy paw. A porcelain vase fell from the credenza and shattered on the wooden floor when he pined her against it. He covered her mouth with his palm and dug his fingers into her cheeks while his free hand twisted her arm behind her back.

"I'm done being bossed around by a tramp. Stay away from the keypad on the front door. If I catch you near it again, I'll tell Mr. Monroe you're trying to escape." He pressed harder against her, bending her backwards. "Think he'll care if I touch you then?"

He felt her tremble and terror filled her now wide eyes.

"I always did like the short, curvy ones." Matt gave her a hard shake. "Think he'll care what happens to you if you cross him?"

A tear slid down her cheek and she shook her head.

"That's right." Matt threw her to the floor and she cried out when her shoulder cracked against the hard surface. He stood with his arms crossed and watched her stumble to her feet while holding her injured arm. "Clean up this mess," he said. "When you're done, fix my supper and make sure it's hot."

Gidget dropped to her knees to gather the broken pieces of porcelain. He'd made his point. If she messed up again, he'd add her to his toy box until it was time to kill her off.

Matt cackled loudly and went to take his call. The MacFarlands must be close and he would soon head to the ranch to collect the bait. Everyone adored Emily Rafferty. They'd do anything Monroe asked to get her back.