EPILOGUE: WHITE DRESS

Daisy came back home the day after the fight with Scanlon.

Every day Dukes went to the hospital; doctors didn't let them see Enos until he was in intensive care unit, but they informed them 'bout his condition.

Every day Daisy thought of Enos, praying for his recovery. Every day she was eager to see him again, touch him, caress his cheek as usual, waiting for his wide smile.

Every day seemed a month.

A week passed, and finally Enos was transferred from the intensive care unit to a little room, so doctors let Dukes visit him.

When they opened his room's door, Enos was sitting on his bed, backed on two pillows, and he was talking with two men, but those men left when Dukes entered the room.

"Bye, officer Strate".

Those two words ("officer Strate") made Daisy wince remembering Scanlon's cold voice.

Enos smiled at his friends with a faint and tired smile, "LAPD", answering Dukes' questioning look.

Luke patted gently Enos on the back. "Hey buddy roe. How are you? You scared us, do you know it?".

Enos smiled at him, "I also was scared, Luke".

Bo sat on Enos bed, "But now everything is OK. Anyway, how do you feel?"

Enos shrugged in his usual manner (a gesture his friends knew very well), "I have pain in my left shoulder and I can't move it, and my chest burns when I try to breath deeply. But I'm alive, and doctors are giving me sedatives to lower pain and to make me sleep". He finally smiled, his naive and wide smile.

Uncle Jesse noticed Daisy was standing near the door, silent, looking at the ground. She didn't come next to Enos as her cousins did, so uncle Jesse took her hand, "Come on, honey. Enos is OK".

She nodded, but her legs were trembling; happiness? fear? embarrassment?

Bo and Luke stared at their cousin. They knew her behaviour was strange: usually Daisy was sweet to Enos, hugging him or caressing his cheek, and sometimes kissing him gently, whereas Enos was so shy he froze when she was near him.

Bo and Luke turned towards Enos, and they saw he was blushing. Bo opened his mouth to ask something, but uncle Jesse stopped him, "Come on, boys. Let Daisy and Enos talk a bit".

Finally alone, Daisy came near Enos, taking his hand,"So we are alone, Enos".

She looked at him, smiling, and he smiled back at her. Daisy felt her heart stirring, and she rested her head on his chest, "Oh Enos. I was so scared. I thought you were dead".

Enos caressed her hair, "I'm fine, Daisy. Don't cry, please. I don't want to see you crying".

Daisy nodded, hugging him. "I love you, Enos."

"I love you, Daisy"

Daisy raised her head from his chest, and she tried to kiss him, but he turned his head away, rejecting her kiss.

"Why, Enos?"

"Sorry, Daisy, but…", he kept on looking away from her.

"Honey, what's the problem?"

"I killed a man, Daisy"

"Oh Enos. You had no choice. You were defending yourself, and me. You saved me. It's not your fault, but Scanlon's fault. You are the sweetest man I've ever known, don't blame yourself. You did your duty".

He kept of looking aoutside the window, avoiding her eyes.

Daisy knew him better than anyone else in Hazzard, and she felt that there was something else wrong, "What else, Enos? What are you wondering about?"

"That night… well…..", he blushed, "… you were upset, and frail. I feel like I played on you. I had to stop you. Sorry"

Daisy smiled. "Enos, sugar, I wanted it. I wanted it so much that night. And I want it again, and again"

Enos smiled embarrassed, "Oh Daisy. It isn't a good idea. I'm under sedatives, so I don't know if… well, I don't know if I'm able to….. And if uncle Jesse and the boys come in?"

Daisy burst out laughing. "Enos, I'm not saying I want it NOW and HERE"

Enos blushed, becoming almost red like a tomato, "Uh, not now? What a shame", then he laughed.

They kept on laughing, as usual. Daisy felt they were still friends, and even if their relationship grew up to another level, that night, their friendship was still there, deep and calming as always.

When they stopped laughing, Enos became serious. "Daisy, would you marry me?"

Daisy hugged him strongly, "Of course, Enos. And, what 'bout your hives?"

"Oh, don't worry, I'll ask doctors for something to help me. I survived after two shots, so I can endure hives"

Finally, Daisy wore again her white dress.

Hazzard was waiting for their wedding almost since they were children. Everyone was there, and Lulu was crying. Uncle Jesse too felt tears in his eyes, but he didn't cry. And the boys… well…. they were happy Daisy was marrying their best friend.

Daisy was beautiful in her white dress, and Enos, despite the hives, was beautiful too.