(72 Hours Before)
"Come on Uncle Jesse we need to get on to the courthouse if we are aiming to get that little old paper." Daisy sang out as she rushed to the drivers' seat of "Dixie". She quickly buckled her seat belt as Uncle Jesse walked out of the front door to the farm and walked to the passenger side and climbed into the jeep.
"Now don't you start until I'm in, now you hear?" Jesse said a little rougher than usual as he got into the seat and buckled his own seat belt.
"Now Uncle Jesse, no one is chasing us; so we can take it nice and easy." Daisy said with a laugh. She turned the key to the engine and started the jeep and peeled on out of the driveway leaving dust in her wake.
"Wonder what they are in a hurry for?" Coy said wiping the sweat off his forehead as he watched "Dixie" zoom down the road. "At least they could have told us where they were going and all."
"I don't know." Vance shook his head. "Uncle Jesse just told us that he and Daisy had to get to town for a bit; and that we are to remain here to finish the morning chores is all."
"Wonder why they didn't want us to join 'em. Sounds like they are making a trip to the courthouse for a little old paper." Coy said with a slight frown on their faces. "If they are going to the courthouse than they need us as back up in case Rosco and Boss Hoggs decided to play a dirty trick on 'em." He nodded towards the General. "Come on Vance; let's follow them and make sure they are safe."
Vance shook his head. "No can do; Uncle Jesse told us to remain here. He told me that if we followed them than he would take each of us behind the woodshed." He slammed the axe down onto the piece of wood that was on the chopping block. "They don't need us, Coy, when are you going to get that threw your thick head, they don't need us to run interference for them. We are not Bo and Luke." He continued to slam the axe deep into the piece of wood that he was chopping with every word he said. He worked up even more of a sweat than he had before.
"Why do you have to be so down whenever we are not included on Daisy and Uncle Jesse's outings, Vance? Man I'm getting so sick and tired of hearing you pitting yourself." Coy shook his head as he bent down and picked up another pile of firewood and walked over to the stack and placed them on top of the pile.
Vance slammed the axe down hard on the block. "Well, than you don't have to listen to me. I'm heading out to the fields to get some real work done. This is women work any ways." With that he stormed over to where the tractor was sitting and climbed aboard and started it and drove it towards the west side of field that Jesse had said needed working.
Coy just sighed deeply as he continued to stack fire wood. He still wished that he was in the General speeding along after Jesse and Daisy; perhaps he could have been playing dog teaming with them.
AT THE COURTHOUSE
Daisy pulled into a free parking spot right smack in front of the courthouse; she saw Boss Hogg's white car parked next to her. She grinned as she realized what a fit he was going to throw when she walked in and paid the mortgage off the farm with the money that he had paid her the previous day. She giggled as she thought that the money that was going to finally pay off the farm was from Boss Hoggs himself. She couldn't wait to get inside. "Come on Uncle Jesse, let's us have a fine ol' time."
Jesse unbuckled his seat belt and climbed out of the jeep and walked around the jeep to the front hood where Daisy was waiting jumping on the balls of her feet and a huge smile on her face and her blue eyes twinkling. Jesse hadn't seen this look on Daisy since the moment that Luke and Bo had decided to leave Hazzards. He sure had missed this child like excitement of Daisy's. "Come on let's get our selves a farm." He said wrapping his left arm around her shoulders and the Uncle and the Niece walked side by side closely up the courthouse steps and into the building.
"Hello Boss." Daisy sang out in a giddy voice as she saw Boss Hogg was in the corner pointing his cigar at Rosco's chest and was talking intently to him. "We have come to do some business with ya." She winked her right eye.
Boss sighed deeply as he suddenly realized what sort of business Daisy Duke had in mind for him. He very well knew that he couldn't get out of accepting the full amount for the rest of the mortgage to the Duke Farm any longer; not seeing how one Daisy had the money to pay him; and two the mortgage would be paid on time for a change. Not only on time but a week ahead of schedule. With his own money never less. Boss put his cigar in his mouth and bit hard causing the end of the cigar to fall off and ash on his suit as it feel to the ground.
Boss stalked over to where Jesse and Daisy were standing and he hissed. "If I didn't know better Daisy, than I would have said that you worked me over yesterday with your tears and your traveling back in time." He shook his fat finger in her face. "Well give me the money than,"
"I want the deed with your signature on the deed first, and I want the signed deed in my hands before I hand you over the money, Boss." Daisy said sweaty.
"Don't you trust me? Would you think I would try to pull a fast one you are something," Boss said wide eyed innocent.
Daisy and Jesse just gave him a look; Boss sighed and walked over to where the desk was and where he kept the deed to the Duke farm at whenever he was at the Bank. He had a feeling that Daisy Duke would come and pay off the mortgage of the farm at some point; so he had moved the deed from the bank over to the courthouse. Boss wasn't that dumb after all. Why waste time and all when all he had to do was sign it and file it at the courthouse. After he signed the deed and handed it over to Daisy he couldn't help but laugh a little.
"What's so funny J.D.?" Jesse looked at him with a frown.
"Even through you will file the deed here in Hazzard; you still have file it at the land deed courthouse in Atlanta." Boss said with a smile. "You won't get the final paper work for at least a month now." He took the money that Daisy held out for him to take. "Have a nice day now folks, nice doing business with you ya'll. You come back now you hear." With that he walked away counting the money to make sure it was all there.
Daisy turned to Jesse. "So would you like a quick trip up to Atlanta so we can speed up the paper work?"
"We can CB the boys and tell 'em that we won't be home till dinner. We'll let them know they can go chasing girls after all the chores are done." Jesse said with a nod. "But let's get these papers filed here before we rush off to the city."
"Of course Uncle Jesse." Daisy said walking over to stand behind the three people who were waiting for their turn to talk to the man behind the counter.
(68 Hours Before)
Daisy pulled into the parking spot in the parking lot of the Atlanta City's courthouse. "Lets get that paper, Uncle Jesse." Daisy hopped out of the driver's seat and quickly did some stretching to work out the kinks of her back from the two and half hour drive to Atlanta.
"Well let's get these filed so we can finally eat." Jesse said with a slight frown on his mouth; his stomach had been crawling since they had left Hazzards; but he knew how excited Daisy was to finally get the legal paperwork for the farm, so he didn't say that it could wait for a bit while they sat down and ate their lunch. But now that they were in Atlanta and at the darn courthouse; he had no problems telling Daisy that they weren't going to be sidetracked anymore. No sir no way; they would go into the courthouse, go to the land office, and file those papers and than they would go and eat lunch.
"Yes Uncle Jesse." Daisy said as she followed Jesse up the steps and into the building. They read that the land office was up the stairs and down three hallways. They walked up the stairs quickly and down those three hallways and they each prayed that there wasn't too much of a line. Jesse opened the door and to the relief of both they saw that there was no line to stand in.
"How may I help you?" The smiling blond woman asked behind her desk.
"We came to file this land deed." Jesse said pulling out the land deed for the Duke Farm out of his coat pocket. He handed the paper work over to the woman.
"I see that you filed them at the Hazzard court house this morning." She looked up with a smile. "Why didn't you just let them mail them to us and we would have filed them and sent them back to you. You didn't have drive all the way to us."
"We just have been waiting ever so long to have the farm paid off once more is all, that we don't want to waste another moment when we can finally have the deed filed in our name." Daisy said leaning against the counter. "Have you ever dealt with Boss Hoggs before?"
The woman raised her eye brows.
"She means Jefferson Davis Hoggs, J.D. for short." Jesse said. "You are new here aren't you?" He hadn't seen the woman around the Atlanta Courthouse before and he and the family had been to the city just four months ago.
"Three months today." The woman smiled as she put the stamp on the deed. She got out of her chair and walked over to the photo copy machine and made a copy. She walked over and handed the copy of the deed over to Jesse. "Here we go; and I'll just go and file this for you right now." She walked over to the file cabinets and opened it to the Hazzard section and filed the Duke farm in the Duke's name there.
"Thank you." Daisy said standing up once more and slipping her arm through her Uncles and after Jesse thanked the woman himself they left the room.
(66 Hours Before)
"Why don't we just head on over to the University here in Atlanta and just sign you up for those courses of yours." Jesse said as Daisy was about to turn down the street that would lead to the highway back to Hazzard.
"But Uncle Jesse, it's getting close on dinner time, and I know that you are aiming for some of that stew that I have on the stove." Daisy said with a shake of her head as she continued down the road. "Honey my courses can wait through the mail; I ain't in any hurry …"
"Stop this jeep right now young lady." Jesse said shaking her right forefinger at Daisy's profile.
Daisy obeyed her uncle, she managed to find a spot between two parked cars and she carefully scooted "Dixie" in between. She turned off the engine and turned so she was facing her uncle fully in the face.
"Now what have I thought you kids through out your life? Do not put off what you can do today. Now you just drive yourself over to that here University and see about signing yourself up to those them courses that you are bent on taking." Jesse nodded his head and watched as Daisy turned back around and started the jeep and turned around and headed to the University.
BACK AT THE DUKE FARM
Vance drove up to the house with a very smoky tractor. He banged his hand on the black steeling wheel "Damn it, now what am I opposed to do now. I can't fix this fool old piece of junk." He hissed as he saw that "Dixie" still hasn't returned. He did see that Coy had finished not only cutting and stacking the firewood; but he had finished working in Daisy's garden for her.
He jumped down from the tractor and kicked the tire with his right boot and he suddenly winced and jumped around. "Dane it." He shouted as he brought his right foot up to his hands and he did the square dancing moves trying to get his dane foot to stop hurting.
Coy walked out of the barn and just grinned as he watched his older cousin doing the dance solo. "I don't see how you can do a proper square dance without a partner, Cuz."
"Shut up." Vance growled deep in his throat as he stopped hopping around and he slammed his boot back on the ground, he winced and bit back the cuss that had about to come out loud and clear.
"Something wrong with that there foot of yours?" Coy asked pointing down at Vance's hurt foot.
"Naw nothing that a swift kick at the dumb ol' tractors tire wouldn't do." Vance hissed through his teeth. "Where are Uncle Jesse and Daisy? Have they returned to town yet?"
Coy shook his head. "Nope. They CB three hours ago and told me that they were heading out to Atlanta …"
"Atlanta! What in the blazes are those two doing in the city?! Why didn't they invite us to come along?" Vance demanded hotly as he turned and stormed towards the house where he banged up the scene door and slammed it shut in Coy's face.
"Why are you in a horrible mood today Vance?" Coy shook his head as he opened the door and shut it with much better car than Vance had moments before.
"I'm not in a horrible mood." Vance growled. He slammed his hand on the table. "So what if I'm, it's my right to be in horrible mood from time to time. I'm human after all." He sat down in Luke's chair. "Did they tell you what time they were coming home from their city trip?"
Before Coy could speak the CB radio cranked up.
"Little Bo Beep calling long lost Duke Cousins, come in guys if you got your ears on." Daisy's voice carried into the kitchen.
Coy walked over to the CB and picked up the handle. "We are here Daisy, what's going on with you two?"
"Uncle Jesse and I are still in Atlanta and we are going to be here for a bit more, I can't tell you right now; but when we get home later one tonight I'll tell you two the two surprises that we have. I just wanted to let you know that the stew on the stove should be done in another hour, if you boys are hankering for your supper." Daisy said.
"Thanks Daisy, it sure does smell good." Coy said finally smelling the stew that Daisy had begun to make this morning after they had eaten break feast. "We'll see you when you get home than." Coy said goodbye and put the CB back in its handle. He turned and faced Vance. "That answers your question."
"Wonder what the surprises are." Vance's eyes lit up in excitement. He had calmed down a bit when Daisy's voice had ranged out on the CB and he fully realized why he was in such a sore temper that day; and it just wasn't fair to take it out on Coy. So he made up his mind to just relax and get in a better mood to enjoy a quite evening at the farm playing checkers with Coy.
(64 Hours Before)
"Uncle Jesse, I never realized how much it cost just for one year of course work. And I'm not talking about actual attending the actual University it self." Daisy shook her head as she looked down at her receipt for three years of corresponding courses at the University. "Three years plum took out all my money." She looked up. "Good thing that these classes don't start for three months; because it's going to take a good two months salary to pay for all my books and things."
"But it's worth it." Jesse said leaning forward across the table and took Daisy's shaking hands that held the receipt. "You done good girl, I'm well proud on how you decided to use your hard earn money."
Author's Note: I was going to save this author's note till the very end of this chapter; but seeing how I have some explaining to do now; I thought I would break into my own chapter and explain myself.
I know that it costs a lot of money for at least one year of University and really after paying the rest of the mortgage off the farm; Daisy wouldn't have enough money expect for half a year let alone three solid years. Well folks this is Daisy Duke we are talking about here so she would have made a lot of tip money from a lot of males who were total appreciate Daisy's kind smile, and her outward appearance after all. They would have gladly tipped huge for a look at Daisy. Now wouldn't you?
Daisy looked up into her Uncle's kind eyes and she allowed her tears to fall down her checks. "Do you image my dad and mom would be proud of me also?" She couldn't help but whisper.
Jesse leaned forward and kissed the tip of his niece's nose. "They would have been mighty proud of you, little darling. Not just for going to school; but on how you are living your life." He leaned back in his seat.
"Oh Uncle Jesse," Daisy whispered and brought her right hand and began to gently wipe away her tears from her right check. "Are you sure." She couldn't help not truly believing her Uncle.
"Have I ever lied to you girl?" Jesse asked with a twinkle in his eyes. He very real well recognized this look in Daisy's eyes as she thought about her parents. They had died when she was only two years old and she barely had any memories of them. She used to remember the smells of her parents hands; and she remembered her father's laugh real good. But as the years passed those her memories left her. As memories were too happen to wee children.
"No sir." Daisy whispered as she half laughed and half sobbed. "I'm sure you thinking I'm being all female and everything. Perhaps I am. But just the thought of my parents …." She couldn't go on because she had a large lump in her throat and she couldn't speak around it.
"May I take your order?" The waitress suddenly asked coming to the table, she looked at Jesse and than over at Daisy. "Do you some water miss? Or perhaps a Kleenex?"
"A water would be just fine for my niece. Thank you kindly." Jesse said with a nod as he pulled out his very own hanky and handed it over to Daisy who gratefully took it and managed to wipe away her tears and blew her nose delicately. When the waitress came back with the tall glass of ice water, Daisy nodded her thanks and picked it up and took a few sips. "Thank you kindly. I don't usually lose it in a middle of a restaurant." She smiled softly up into the waitress eyes.
"Oh no problem, miss, I completely understand." The waitress said. "I overheard a little of your conversion as I was walking by towards my other tables. So no need to feel ashamed or anything."
"Thanks." Daisy laughed gently to hide her humiliation at being caught crying in public.
"My name is Anna Taylor. And I have also lost my folks when I was a little kid. I was eight when they were tragically killed." The waitress said softly.
"Oh I'm sorry to hear that. I'm Daisy Duke. This here is my Uncle Jesse. I was two when my parents were killed. I barely remember them and the things I had remembered I don't remember any more." Daisy shook her head. "On days like today when I have great news I wish my parents were still alive so I could tell 'em." She sighed deeply. "I guess I'm lucky that I got to have the barest of all memories of my parents, my younger cousin Bo, he doesn't remember his parents, on account that they died when he was six months old. But in a way perhaps I would be more upset if I had a lot of memories of my folks; like my older cousin Luke; whose parents died when he was eight." She shook her head. "I don't know."
"No matter how many memories of your parents you have, it's still hard to lose your parents when you are still only a kid." Anna softly said placing a hand over Daisy's shaking ones. "It's just plain rotten for children to lose their parents, at any age."
Daisy nodded. She shook her head. "Thank you for what you said." She looked around at the restaurant and saw the full tables. "I don't want to take you away from your work any more."
"Don't worry about honey." Anna said softly. "I just want to make sure that you are all right."
"Thank you Anna, I'm fine now." Daisy said with a firm nod of her head.
Anna looked deeply into Daisy's eyes and read the truth. She removed her hand and took out her pad once more. "And what would you folks like for supper this evening?"
Daisy and Jesse placed their order and Anna walked away from their table.
(62 Hours Before)
"Thank you for the wonderful meal Anna. And also thank you for not kicking us out." Jesse said as he paid for the meal and left a generous tip for Anna.
"No problem." She took out her pad and quickly wrote something on it and than handed it to Daisy. "Here is my number and address, keep in touch and we can get together sometime and talk."
"Oh Anna, we aren't from Atlanta. We are from Hazzards." Daisy said with a shake of her head.
"No matter. We'll keep in touch via phone and letters than. Oh and my CB handle is Mama Anna."
Daisy tore off a piece off the pad and took out a pen and quickly wrote out the farms address and phone number. She handed the piece of paper up to Anna. "My handle is Bo Peep." She smiled. "I have a thing about the lambs."
Jesse and Daisy got up from the table and after another good bye to Anna they left the restaurant and went to "Dixie" to finally start for the farm. Daisy picked up the handle "Bo Peep calling the lost Duke Cousins, you got your ears on boys?"
"We are here, Daisy." Vance said. "Are you almost back home?"
"No we are still at Atlanta. We had a long dinner. We are just heading home now. So expect us some time after ten. If you boys are too tired to stay up; don't worry I'll fill you in my two surprises tomower at break feast."
"Ok. And Daisy the stew was delicious. Thank you for cooking dinner for us." Vance said kindly and his voice held a new tone in it that neither Daisy nor Jesse had heard in Vance's voice before.
"You are quite welcome cousin and Vance …. I love you. And Coy too." Daisy said with a smile.
"I love you too Daisy." Vance said in a pleased voice. "Coy sends his love your way too."
Daisy placed the handle back in the cradle and she started up "Dixie" and drove out of the parking lot and quickly turned down the street that would lead them to the highway. "Lets get on home, Uncle Jesse; I'm ready for a good nights sleep."
(60 Hours Before)
Daisy pulled into the dirt driveway and turned off "Dixie" and she switched the headlights switch off as she leaned back in her seat and turned to face her Uncle Jesse who was sitting back in his seat with a contented look on his face. "We are home Uncle Jesse." She said softly so not to startle him as he looked to be deep in thought.
"So we are." Jesse said with a nod. "Time to get on inside to bed. We have an early day tomower. I want to work in the west field and we need to be fit as fiddles to do it."
"Yes sir." Daisy said unbuckling her seatbelt with her left hand and she climbed out of her seat just as Jesse was climbing out of his own. She walked around the front of "Dixie" and wrapped her right arm around her Uncle's back as they made their way to the front scene door to the house. Jesse opened it and allowed Daisy to pass before him and allowed the scene door to shut behind him. He followed his niece into the house and found that the kitchen had been cleaned top to bottom and that it was actually shinning; they walked into the living room and found the exact same thing. Coy and Vance were asleep on the couch with their heads on the back of the couch.
"Hey boys, time to wake up." Jesse gently tapped his nephews on the knees.
Vance and Coy slowly opened their eyes and said "Surprise." Together. They smiled sleepily, "Welcome home."
"I didn't expect you to clean the entire house to shine, boys. But thank you. I'm sorry that it took so long for us to get back home. I didn't mean to leave my chores for you to do." Daisy said setting down on the couch end. "We just had things to handle in Atlanta was all and I was too excited to put it off."
"No problem, Daisy. Ummm actually we need you to take a look at the tractor tomower. It plain broke down on me this after noon as I was trying to get a head start in the west field." Vance shook his head. "I'm sorry that I couldn't fix it myself; but I was never good on fixing tractors."
"Me either." Coy said with a shrug of his shoulders.
Daisy smiled. "Seems to me that none of the male Dukes cousins are good on fixing that old tractor. Bo and Luke couldn't fix it either; Jeb almost fixed it once when he was visiting us; but he had to throw in the towel." She giggled. "I guess it just takes females touch is all." She lifted her right hand finger nails and blew air on them.
"So what are the surprises that you have for us?" Vance asked sitting forward to stretch his back.
"One the farm is finally paid off and officially in our name both here in Hazzard and in Atlanta." Daisy said with a laugh.
"How is that even possible? I thought you all had at least four more years of backed up mortgage?" Coy raised his eye brows. "Did you rob the bank or something?"
"Nope. Need too. Boss finally saw fit to pay me all my back pay and my tip money that he had held back since I had started working at the Boars Nests when I was eighteen years old." Daisy said with a smile. "Only thing is don't let it out that Boss had been nice to me and given me my pay; or that he'll be giving me my full pay and tip money from now on."
"No one would believe us if we did told 'em." Coy said with a laugh. "So what's the second surprise?"
"Well boys; I'm finally going to get my college education." Daisy laughed gently.
"You are leaving the farm?" Vance gently frowned concerned at his older cousin's words.
"No. I'm going to be taking corresponding courses through the mail. I only have to go to the University whenever I have to take a major exam is all. Which should be about six times in the course year." Daisy explained. "I have all ready paid for three years."
"How much back pay and tips did Boss hold out on you?" Coy asked with wide eyes. "I mean you paid four years mortgage for the farm; and you paid in full three years of college. College isn't cheap you know."
"Folks around here tipped me pretty nice sums because they knew that I could use the money." Daisy frowned. "Of course they didn't image that Boss kept more than half of the money for himself. They still don't know. But I'm not worried about it now on seeing how I get my full tips." She smiled. "Plus all the out of town men tip big."
"No wonder." Vance said moving his right hand from his knee and reaching over and lightly tinkling Daisy's left knee. "Look at what they get to look at."
Daisy blushed. She suddenly had to yawn and she just managed to cover her mouth before yawing huge.
"It's time we all go to bed; we need to get up early to get work on the west field." Jesse said walking over to Daisy and holding out his hand for her to take and he helped her to her feet. Daisy wrapped her right arm around his waist and leaned her head against his chest. "Seeing how Daisy needs to take a look at that tractor; I'll need you boys to drive the pick up and the tools while I ride May belle."
Vance and Coy stood to their feet and stretched their arms over their heads and stretched their backs. "Yes sir." They said together. They stood straight once more and walked passed their uncle and cousin who seemed content to remain the way they were for a bit more.
"Time to get to bed Dais …." Jesse said leaning down and brushing some hair out of his niece's face where he could see that her eyes were closed and he bent his head down and he could hear her slightly even breath. He smiled as he thought on how this wasn't the first time she had fallen asleep in this position. If she had been younger and he had been thinner than he would have picked her up and carried her to her bed, but as they way things were now he would just break his back. "Daisy. Wake up sweetheart. It's time for you to get into your bed sweetheart."
"Yes Uncle Jesse." Daisy murmured as she lifted her head and opened her eyes. "I am more tired than I thought."
"We had a long and busy day darling." Jesse held out his arm for her to take and he led her to her bedroom, he opened her door and watched as she made her way into her room. "Now Daisy I want you to get out of them clothes and into your night things, I don't want you being uncomfortable while you sleep tonight. You hear?"
"Yes Uncle Jesse." Daisy said softly.
"I'll come and check on you in ten minutes and than I'll tuck you in for the night." Jesse said shutting the door softly.
Ten minutes later Jesse lightly tapped the door and opened it. He looked over at the bed and found Daisy sound asleep on top of her covers in her long pale yellow silk night grown, the one that the boys have given her on her sixteenth birthday. He walked over to the bed and gently lifted his niece up so he could pull back the covers from over her pillows and past her back. He laid her back and moved to her waist where he gently lifted her torso up and pulled the covers back from underneath; he set her torso back onto the bed. He moved down to her feet where he could lift them high enough to pull the covers past her legs. He set her legs back on the bed making sure to sleep her feet underneath the covers. He pulled the covers up to cover his niece and he bent down and kissed her forehead. "I love you Daisy, and I pray that you have a good night's sleep darling." With that he stood straight one more and left the room switching of the light as he went. He softly closed her door.
END CHAPTER THREE
Author's Note: I know that I'm covering a lot of stuff and not really going into much details in these beginning chapters; but there is a reason. I am writing the first five chapters as the hours before Daisy is attacked and left for dead. As soon as Daisy is attacked the time will slow way down.
Plus everything I have written for the hours that are taken place will play into the story later on; so I'll be adding flashbacks to the situations and I'll be adding a lot more details as I go along.
Also keep your eye out for the character Anna Taylor she'll be playing a huge role in Daisy's recovery process.