JUST A MATTER OF JEALOUSY

Enos walked to his desk and placed his hat on it, then he turned to the Dukes entering the Police Department, a worried and confused look on his face, "I guess someone out there wants me dead, someone who lives in Hazzard. It's what you too are thinking of, aren't you?"

Luke nodded, repeating Daisy's previous words, "We have kept an eye on every stranger coming to town, but…" he had a deep sigh and shook his head, "… unless some stranger is hiding somewhere out there, waiting for a new chance to hurt you, we should take into account the possibility that someone in Hazzard has a score to settle with you."

Enos looked at the floor, his voice a whisper, "Why? I have never hurt anybody. I don't understand why someone hates me so much."

Bo walked to Enos and patted his shoulder, "It's what we are goin' to find out, buddy."

Enos looked at Bo and smiled sadly, "I really appreciate your help. Thanks."

Bo smiled and flicked Enos' cheek, "You would have done the same for us, Enos."

Rosco raised his fist and shook it, "Nobody can hurt one of my deputies and get away with it!"

Cletus nodded, "Well said, sheriff!"

Daisy came closer Enos and rested her hands on his shoulders, "We're goin' to protect you, sugar." She stood on her tiptoes and gave him a soft and brief kiss.

Enos blushed and glanced at the men around him: his shyness allowed him to kiss Daisy in the privacy of his apartment but not in front of people.

Daisy grabbed his hand and squeezed it, "Enos, please, come to the farm for the night. I can't sleep peacefully if I think of you stayin' at the Boarding House."

Luke folded his arms and stared at Enos, "Daisy is right. After what happened this morning, you shouldn't stay alone."

Enos nodded, "OK. I'm goin' to stay at the farm for the night, but I'm goin' to do my duty too. I'm goin' to work every day, helping you to find what's goin' on. I don't want to be put aside."

Luke patted Enos' shoulder, "We need your help, buddy. Now, we're goin' to talk with uncle Jesse and to think of a plan. See you." He turned round and walked to the door while Bo and Daisy followed him. They needed a plan, they needed an advice; uncle Jesse was their mentor and their farm was the calmest place where to think of what to do.

"Die?" Uncle Jesse opened his eyes wide and stared at his nephews and niece, "On Enos' patrol car?" He thoughtfully scratched his beard, "It isn't good. Not good at all. You have kept an eye on any stranger coming to town…" He glanced at Bo, Luke and Daisy, sharing the same conclusion in his mind.

Bo sat at the kitchen's table, "Yeah. It looks like someone in Hazzard wants Enos dead. And we have to find it out before it's too late. But I can't imagine who could hate Enos so much. I mean… Enos! Nobody can hate a guy like Enos. He has never had any fight with other guys, here."

Daisy sat in front of Bo, "You, Luke and Cooter are the ones who are usually involved into the many and many brawls at the Boar's Nest."

Bo smiled amused, "You're right. Since when we were young, I don't remember Enos involved in any brawl. Even before he became a cop, he was usually the one who tried to stop me, Luke and Cooter. And he usually ended up with a black eye or a bump because of us, 'til he decided he wasn't goin' to try to stop us anymore." He turned serious, "But he has never hit anybody. So, I can't think of anybody holding a grudge because of a fight."

Daisy nodded, "Neither because of his job. For sure some folks hold a grudge against Boss and Rosco because of their tricks, but not against Enos."

Uncle Jesse sat at the head of the table, "Right. Enos is the only honest lawman in Hazzard, and everybody knows it, though he has to follow Boss and Rosco's orders."

Daisy turned to uncle Jesse, "What if someone hurt Enos 'cause he is the Hazzard's deputy? A sort of warning to Boss and Rosco." Her heart rejected the idea that someone in Hazzard could hate Enos, and her mind was trying to please her heart.

Bo shook his head, "I don't think so. If someone had tried to send a message to Boss and Rosco through their deputy, Enos would have been injured during his duty instead of during his time off duty, and that word – die - would have been painted on Rosco's car or on the Hazzard Police Department's building. Everything looks really personal against Enos, not against the Hazzard Police Department."

Listening silently and thoughtfully to his family, Luke stood with his back against the cupboard and his arms folded. He finally spoke, "Now, think of the main reasons in the whole World why people kill each other," he unfolded his arms and raised his right thumb, "First, money: economic reasons, as inheritance, for example, and so on. And I don't think someone holds a grudge against Enos because of money." He raised his right forefinger and glanced at Daisy, "second, passion and jealousy."

Daisy, Bo and uncle Jesse turned to Luke, his words slowly settling in their minds.

Bo glanced at Daisy, "Passion and jealousy… You are talking 'bout Enos and Daisy, aren't you, Luke?"

Daisy's heart skipped a beat.

Luke nodded, "This is one of the main reasons of murders: men jealous of other men because of women. We read and hear 'bout it every day in the newspapers and on TV. Sorry for sayin' so, but everything turns 'round money and sex, in the World. Daisy has always had a lot of suitors, it isn't a secret."

Bo smiled sweetly at Daisy, trying to ease her discomfort, "She is a Duke, and Dukes have always had a great success with the opposite sex. It isn't a secret."

Luke kept on his idea, "Enos and Daisy nearly got married two months ago, and since then people think they are officially engaged, whereas in the past their relationship was more… foggy. Maybe a guy who has always had a crush on Daisy is now eaten up by jealousy, hating Enos because he's goin' to have Daisy."

Uncle Jesse nodded thoughtfully, "I think this is a realistic possibility, for sure more realistic than someone hating Enos because of his job or because of a personal revenge. Enos is an honest cop, he is a kind guy and he has never hurt anybody, so his relationship with Daisy could be the reason why someone hates him. Just a matter of jealousy."

Bo looked at his hands on the table, avoiding Daisy's eyes on him, "The list of the men who have desired or have had a love affair with Daisy is really long."

Daisy's cheeks burned in embarrass, "Stop talking of my love affairs. I had several crushes and flirts in the past, OK, but fleeting crushes: I wasn't really involved, except maybe with Jamie Lee Hogg," she felt her cheeks burning both of embarrassment and shame, thinking of her worst mistake in judging a man, "I wasn't really involved, neither the guys I dated. Sincerely, I don't think of Jamie Lee or… someone else… trying to kill Enos 'cause two months ago Enos and I nearly got married!"

Bo smiled, "Jamie Lee is in jail, like that guy who pretended to be a Duke, Gaylord Duke… or that guy, Earl Beckett, you helped him to find a job at Cooter's but he…"

Daisy casted an angry look at Bo, "BO DUKE! Stop it!"

Bo's sweet smile calmed her, "I'm simply sayin' you had a terrific taste for guys, Daisy."

Luke chuckled at Bo's statement then he turned serious, "Let's focus on guys who live in Hazzard and not on guys who stayed in Hazzard just for awhile. For example… what 'bout Darcy? You dated him for several months, two years ago."

Daisy stared at Luke, "Darcy? Are you really thinking that Darcy would hurt Enos? Come on, Luke! I dated Darcy for several months, OK, but it happened before he left Hazzard for a course; he stayed away from Hazzard for nearly one year, he met a girl, a pilot like him, during that course, he came back to Hazzard with his girl and he is goin' to marry her. Darcy is happy with Emily, and Emily is happy with Darcy. Beside, you, Darcy and Enos were in the same classroom at school, and you have always been good friends, maybe not close friends but good friends."

Luke nodded, "OK, discard Darcy. What 'bout John McGuire? Sonny Watson? Tom Clark?"

Daisy opened her eyes wide, "John? Sonny? Tom? LUKE! I dated those guys when I was 14 year old! Just innocent dates, at the 'Ice Cream Parlor' for an ice cream! Nothing else! Anyway, John, Sonny and Tom are happily married and with children, now." She folded her arms, "Do you really remember all my love affairs?"

Luke shrugged, "I have a big memory, and I have always taken an eye on you… and on the guys hanging around you! I know what guys want from girls!"

Bo laughed and winked at Daisy, "Luke is over-protective."

Daisy stared at Bo, "And you aren't less over-protective than Luke. You and Luke have always driven me crazy because of your bein' so over-protective."

Bo nodded, smiling, "You are right. I also recall you dating John, Sonny and Tom, though I was just a child. It was during the time Enos was at the Police Academy."

Daisy looked down at the table.

John… Sonny… Tom… and the 'Ice Cream Parlor'.

… the 'Ice Cream Parlor'…

FLASHBACK

"Do you like it?" Enos smiled shyly, as usual.

Sitting at the table inside the 'Ice Cream Parlor', Daisy swallowed the ice cream, "Yeah. I love it." In her large overalls and boots, her long hair in a ponytail, she looked like a tomboy. She looked at Enos and smiled.

He looked down at the table, his fingers nervously folding a napkin, "Uh… Daisy… I have already talked 'bout it to Luke and uncle Jesse, and it's time to talk to you too."

Daisy rested the spoon on her napkin and stared at Enos.

He scratched his short hair and glanced at her before to focus again on the napkin, "I'm goin' to leave Hazzard. I want to become a cop, so I'm goin' to live at the Police Academy for the next two years… but…" he glanced again at her "… I'm goin' to come back to Hazzard during holidays, and at the end of the Academy I'm goin' to ask Boss Hogg to hire me as deputy."

Daisy was shocked, "A cop? YOU?"

Enos Strate a cop? The son of a moonshiner? The son of one of uncle Jesse's closest friends? Thinking about it, Daisy realized it wasn't so strange: Enos has always had a strong honesty, sense of justice and total inability to lie, coupled with his being a pretty good driver and good at shooting because of his father's teaching. She couldn't think of him as moonshiner because of his inability to lie, otherwise he could be a good and honest cop, so exploiting his driving and shooting skills.

"What did uncle Jesse and Luke tell you 'bout your decision?"

Enos shrugged, "Uncle Jesse understood my choice whereas Luke is a bit angry 'bout it. Uncle Jesse is a moonshiner, and Luke and Bo probably are goin' to be moonshiners too, whereas I'm goin' to be… at the other side of the barricade," he smiled sadly, "but it doesn't mean we can't be friends anymore."

The ice cream's taste turned bitter in Daisy's mouth, "And what 'bout me? Who is goin' to offer me an ice cream, from time to time, while you are away?"

Enos looked at her, in surprise, "Bo and Luke, of course! And Cooter! And… I guess that a lot of guys want to offer you an ice cream, Daisy."

Daisy blushed, "You are so kind, Enos. But Bo is still a child, he is only 11 year old."

In that moment, the 'child' entered the 'Ice Cream Parlor' with a young girl, he came closer the counter and he ordered two ice creams, for him and for, his words, his 'baby'.

Enos turned round, "Hi Bo."

Bo smiled, "Hi Enos. Hi Daisy."

Her eyes wide open, Daisy stared at Bo and the little girl leaving, then she stared at Enos, "Did he really call that girl 'BABY'. Really? Where did he learn it?"

Enos shrugged and smiled, "I guess… from Luke and Coot."

Daisy frowned and folded her arms, "I hope no man is goin' to call me 'his baby'! It's disrespectful. It's impersonal, like talking of an object. I should explain it to Bo, Luke and Cooter, some day or another."

Enos looked down at the table, "I don't think it's disrespectful but just… protective. Anyway, if it makes you happy, I won't ever call you 'baby'."

Daisy forgot her previous disappointment and laughed, "Oh Enos. I wasn't talking of you, I was talking of a man… MAN. Do you understand what I mean?"

Enos smiled shyly, "Uh… yeah."

Daisy rested her right elbow on the table and her chin on the palm of her right hand, "If a man can use 'baby', what 'bout a woman using…" she looked around and finally at the sweet ice cream in the glass in front of her, "… for example… 'sugar' or 'honey'? Would you like me calling you 'sugar' or 'honey', Enos?"

Enos blushed, "You can call me using whatever word you prefer, Daisy. Every word coming out your lips is beautiful."

Daisy laughed: cool thing, calling a boy 'sugar' or 'honey'.

… the 'Ice Cream Parlor'…

Daisy smiled, "You're right, Bo. I dated those guys during the time Enos was at the Police Academy. At that time you, Luke and Cooter were too much busy in chasing your 'babies' instead of offering me an ice cream." She turned to Luke, her look now serious, "And you too were goin' to leave and to reach the Marines, but I don't want to talk of that time." She stood up, "I'm not happy at the idea that someone hates Enos because of his relationship with me. I want to find out who is this guy, "she folded her arms and she moved her proud eyes from Luke to Bo and finally from Bo to uncle Jesse, "I'm goin' to find him! I'm not his 'baby' and I'm perfectly able to choose the man I want to date and marry, no interferences 'bout it. If he thinks he could have me after killing his rival, he's totally crazy!"

SOMEWHERE, IN ATLANTA

The brunette looked at the city outside the window: Atlanta was a so big city if compared to the small Hazzard.

She gently touched her ring finger, caressing it and thinking of what was missing.

She couldn't stand it anymore, and it was the reason why she left Hazzard, but she wasn't proud of her choice 'cause it was just a getaway; if she had really been brave, that day she would have talked, that day she would have told everything to Enos Strate.

She could feel his warmth and his scent while she buried her face against his chest and cried. She could feel his hands on her elbows in his attempt to free himself from her grasp.

She could even hear his words:

"Please, I don't like to see a woman crying. It scares and saddens me. Tell me how I can help you, Madam."

But she didn't talk, just a pitiful lie to justify her tears.

And when she started to realize she was falling in love with that young, honest and sweet deputy, she understood that staying in Hazzard was dangerous… for him and for her.

THANKS for your reviews! I'm really happy you are liking it, hope you liked this chapter too, a longer chapter but a new piece of the puzzle, here.