EPILOGUE

ATLANTA MEDICAL CENTER

A fresh hand touched his burning skin. Enos opened his eyes despite a dull pain pulsing behind his eye sockets.

"Hey Enos." Daisy smiled and slid her hand from his cheek to his shoulder.

He forced his low voice out his dry throat, "Hi Dais."

Her soft lips touched his ones. He closed his eyes and slipped again into a confused state of sleeping and wakefulness, a cream-colored ceiling above him.

When he moved his right leg, a stabbing pain cut his breath off and made him open his eyes wide. He caught his breath and then let it go with a soft moan.

"How do you feel, Enos?"

Enos turned his head to the man sitting by the bed's side, "I am fine, Jesse. Don't worry." He looked at the room, looking for Daisy, "Where's Daisy?"

"Daisy, Bo and Luke are talking with police officers. They witnessed Nick Russell trying to kill you, and they have to answer police officers' questions."

Enos sighed, "If Bo and Luke hadn't arrived – "

"Don't think 'bout it, now." Uncle Jesse stood up and walked to the table near the bed, he filled a glass with water, "Drink some water. You need it."

Enos accepted uncle Jesse's help, the older man's arm around his shoulders while he sat up, and drank the fresh water. He finally collapsed on the bed, "Thanks, uncle Jesse." He had a deep sigh and looked again at uncle Jesse who was sitting on the armchair near the bed, "How did Bo and Luke find out 'bout Nick coming to Gilmer County?"

Uncle Jesse caressed his beard and relaxed, "Well, it's a long story. Are you sure you want to hear it or do you prefer to rest a bit?"

Enos shook his head, "I don't want to rest. I want to know everything. Please."

Uncle Jesse smiled and nodded, "Ok." He rested his hands on his knees and started talking while Enos listened to him, no questions interrupting his long talk. He finally had a deep sigh, "You know, everybody in Hazzard is shocked 'bout Mr Russell. Everybody thought of him as a kind man and caring husband."

Enos averted his eyes from uncle Jesse and looked at the ceiling, "Sometimes people look really different than they really are. Sometimes devils act like angels while blaming other people for being evil, or crazy, or weird." He felt the eyes of the older and wise man on him, and waited for the question he knew upcoming.

"You knew 'bout Mr Russell abusing her wife, didn't you? Josephine Russell told us 'bout her attempt to report his husband and her changing her mind; you understood it and you decided to keep an eye on her and Nick. Unfortunately, you forgot of everything after Nick hurt you in Yellow Creek."

Enos nodded, his eyes still focused on the cream-colored ceiling while he waited for uncle Jesse's conclusion.

"Enos, I know what you are thinking of, now. Nick and Josephine recall you of your aunt Iris and your uncle James. I guess your talking 'bout devils acting like angels and blaming other people for being evil or crazy isn't because of Nick and Josephine Russell. You recognized the devil behind Nick Russell's mask because you met another devil and his victim when you were a child. Am I right?"

Enos blushed, "Did Daisy tell you about my talking of aunt Iris and uncle James?"

Uncle Jesse smiled sweetly, "Yesterday Daisy asked me about your aunt and uncle. So, I asked her why that question and she finally told me about your talk. She didn't want to betray your trust, Enos, but she was really shocked about Nick and Josephine Russell, she was shocked to hear Josephine talking of her life with Nick – Daisy talked a lot with Josephine, yeah - and she linked Nick and Josephine's kind of relationship with your aunt and uncle's story." He stared at the younger man and waited patiently. He finally had a deep sigh, "If you don't want to talk 'bout it, I am not goin' to force you, but remember you can talk about it whenever you want."

Enos nodded, "I know. Thanks. But… actually I don't want to talk about it." He closed his eyes, "I think I am having a fever, again."

Uncle Jesse gently touched Enos' forehead with his right hand, "Yeah. You're having a fever. Have some rest, Enos."

Daisy sat on Enos' bed and caressed his hair, "Oh sugar. You are still burning with fever."

Emerging again from his sleeping state, Enos looked at Daisy and smiled, "I am fine, don't worry, especially if you caress me this way. Your hands are so fresh, Dais."

Daisy laughed and pinched his cheek, "You are really sweet, sugar."

Bo walked near the bed and smiled, "I am glad you're fine, buddy."

Enos turned his head to Bo and then to Luke, "You saved my life. And Daisy's life too. Thanks."

Luke patted Enos' shoulder, "You're welcome. You would do the same for us. You know, Josephine and her friend Ellen came to visit you, few minutes ago, but you were sleeping. Josephine is planning to come back to Hazzard. She wants to start things from a new Shop and a new house for her. She has realized she can have good friends in Hazzard," he winked at Daisy, "doing the job she likes the most and being an independent woman."

"Really?" Enos smiled, "I am happy to know Josephine is fine. And since she is goin' to own again the Florist Shop, I'd like to ask her…" he blushed and glanced at Daisy, "… to provide the flowers for the wedding." He stared at Daisy, "Daisy Duke, would you marry me? I haven't forgot my promise."

"I can't wait for bein' Mrs Enos Strate!" Daisy hugged him tight, unable to hide her happiness and excitement, while Bo and Luke clapped hands showing their own happiness.

Uncle Jesse stood up and walked to the table near the bed, "I agree with you. Josephine is goin' to provide the best flowers for your wedding." He caressed the violet-blue flowers inside a small pot, "Josephine brought these flowers to you, Enos. Bluebells: they symbolize gratitude."

Enos stared at the flowers, their color reflecting into his tear-filled eyes. He smiled: the sense and the reason for his being a cop was in those blue-violet flowers.

THE END

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