Chapter Forty Five
Claude, Texas, early April
Aralyn watched the gas pump gauge running. Tiffany was coming out of the convenience store.
“You about ready to call it a night?” Tiff asked as she reached her cousin.
“Yeah. I thought the southwest was warm in the winter,” Aralyn grumbled.
Tiffany snorted. “There are ski resorts in New Mexico. I tried to tell you-”
Aralyn stuck out her tongue at her cousins and made a ‘pbbbt’ noise.
A low noise behind them made them both turn. The gas station was almost deserted, only one other car was there, in front of the store. To their side was darkness and a trailer park.
“Get in the car,” Aralyn said in a low voice, her hand sliding into her jacket.
Ignoring her cousin’s order, Tiffany opened the back and got the flashlight.
Something nearby fell and made a clanging noise, then Aralyn saw them. A pair of gleaming gold eyes reflected back at them in the light.
“Think it’s a possum?” Tiffany asked.
“I don’t know but those eyes are awfully big. Shut the light off.”
Slowly moving her arm into her jacket where her gun was holstered against her side, she knelt down.
“Come on big guy,” she called softly. “Here kitty, puppy, rodent, whatever you are.”
“It better not be a big rat!” Tiffany hissed, hand on her gun.
“I think it’s a dog,” Aralyn whispered. “I think I saw a big bushy tail.”
Sure enough, a white muzzle came into view, followed by a big, furry gray head with upright pointy black ears and black wolf markings on a white face.
“Is that a wolf?” Tiffany gripped Aralyn’s arm.
“I think it’s a Husky or a Malamute. I don’t think wolves roam in this part of the country. Hey come here, I won’t hurt you,” she said softly.
The large animal half crept, half crawled forward. Crystalline blue eyes stared at Aralyn, the white and gray and black fur was matted, and Aralyn frowned at something stuck in her fur.
“Tiff, she’s hurt!” The dog crawled to Aralyn, fluffy tail tucked down and whimpering.
“Does she have a tag?” Tiffany asked, kneeling down next to the dog.
“No, no collar. Oh, Tiff, she’s got cuts on her. Look at these gouges.”
“Oh, no,” Tiffany groaned as her cousin turned her blue eyes on her, “we’re not taking her.”
“Tiff, look at her!” Aralyn protested.
Tiffany didn’t even try to fight her cousin on it, especially when she saw the long gash marks on the dog. There was no way they could leave the dog.
“She better sleep with you,” Tiffany grumbled.
The girls cleared a space in the back of the 4- Runner behind Tiff’s seat. The dog hesitated at first, put her paws up to get in and whined.
“She might be hurt. Help me lift her, she’s got to be a hundred pounds!”
Tiffany helped Aralyn lift the dog’s back half, and she whimpered, but climbed in settled on the towels Aralyn laid out.
“Hey, let’s go to that Wal-Mart and get a bag of food. I bet she hasn’t eaten, look how thin she is.”
“Good thing we have the car, she never would have made it on the bike,” Tiffany replied with a sigh.
***
The girls took a motel room within the hour, and Aralyn fed the dog, hoping it wouldn’t bark. Tiffany’s trip into Wal-Mart had resulted in food, a collar, leash, shampoo, a brush and some chew toys. Aralyn stayed with the dog, petting her and speaking in soothing tones. The big dog rested her muzzle on Aralyn’s leg, content be there.
“They didn’t have any cages big enough,” Tiffany said, as she returned to the car, “and we don’t have room for one in the car.”
They had smuggled the dog into the motel room, hoping she would behave.
“Will you check for local vets when you check your email?” Aralyn asked, rubbing the dog’s ears as the massive animal rolled on her back for a belly rub. “Definitely female. Looks spayed too, from the scar.”
“That’s always good news.”
I’m really want to get her looked at and they can see if she’s microchipped.”
“I’m going to see if she’ll let me bathe her,” Aralyn mused, taking the brush her cousin handed her. Gently brushing out the thick fur, she found more matted blood. “Though maybe I should wait, if she’s got cuts under all this fur.”
Tiffany was booting up her lapotop to look for vets.
“She needs a name,” Aralyn thought.
“Big, gray and hairy?” Tiffany answered.
“Dork,” Aralyn laughed, brushing the dog. “She was definitely someone’s pet. Look how loving she is. She’s totally used to people.”
“I’ll look up Huskies online too.”
“I think she’s Malamute, from her size. I think the ears are a big difference between the two.”
They decided to wait on the bath, and the big dog seemed content to lie on Aralyn’s bed and be petted, after scarfing down a large bowl of food.
Tiffany surfed the web as her Aralyn gently looked the dog over for more wounds.
“She’s definitely a Malamute,” Tiffany said, looking up from the computer. “She seems to match the description better than the Husky. Listen to this, cuz. ‘Huskies and Malamutes are among the two most clever breeds of the canine species. They are true masters of escape’-check out these pictures of them climbing chain link fences! ‘They will plot their escape routes. Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, under any circumstance trust one of these off their leashes, no matter how well trained’. And it gets better. Some trainers charge extra to train this breed because they’re so stubborn. It also says you can’t train them more than ten minutes at a time-they get bored. And when they get bored, they get destructive. IF she eat's my our car, I'm going to be pissed.”
“This pretty thing wouldn’t be destructive, would you?” Aralyn asked softly, rubbing under the muzzle. The dog promptly set about licking her face.
“’They’re good with kids, but not real young kids because of the energy level. Don’t leave them unattended if they’re not in a crate or you’ll come home to newly decorated house-in pieces.’”
“But she’s so sweet!” Aralyn crooned.
Tiffany just chuckled.
“I think we should call her Dixie,” Aralyn said, rubbing the dogs face.
“Dixie?”
“Yeah. Remember Daisy had a jeep called Dixie? And her . . . grandmother or something was named Dixie. We can have a new Dixie.”
Tiffany snorted. “Ask the dog, not me.”
“Hmm. Would you like to be called Dixie, girl? Hmm?” Aralyn laughed as Dixie lavished another round of wet kisses on her. “I think she likes it.”
***
“Claude, Texas,” Tiffany murmured as they pulled into a hotel parking lot. “How much trouble you think we can find here?”
“Plenty,” Aralyn grinned.
After a short nap and quick showers, Aralyn gave Dixie a good walk, and then they went out to find dinner and then head over to the country western club nearby the hotel manager had recommended for fun.
The club was eighteen and over, but only those over twenty one were given fluorescent green paper bracelets to purchase alcohol.
It didn’t take long before they were on the floor with a couple of cowboys that changed every few minutes as the music stayed to upbeat, lively tunes.
Aralyn loved line dancing but had trouble keeping the steps up. She tried to follow Tiffany’s footwork but usually just ended up laughing her way through it.
Finally, the evening wound down and the girls headed out, hot and sweaty. Dixie was crated in the hotel room and no doubt would be ready for a good walk.
As they headed towards the 4- Runner, they passed a group of drunken older men, giant beer bellies hanging well over their waistbands and in wife beater shirts.
“Walk fast,” Tiffany murmured.
“Hey, baby, where you goin’?” one called.
The cousins ignored him and kept walking.
“Hey, I’m talkin’ to you!”
Aralyn cursed when she realized she didn’t have her gun. Not that she intended to use it but just pulling it out was an effective deterrent.
“We’re almost there. C’mon,” Tiffany urged, whipping out the car keys.
“Pretty little things like you shouldn’t be out walking alone,” the beefy man caught up to them, huffing and puffing from the exertion.
"We’re not alone, we’re together,” Tiffany said coolly.
“Well, mebbe I can join you,” he leered. “I like threesomes!”
“On a cold day in Hell, pal. Get lost,” Aralyn snapped, never one for tact.
“My name’s Billy Lee, baby and I think I need to teach you some country manners. You Yankees sure do seem to be missing them,” he growled.
They had reached the 4- Runner and Tiffany opened it remotely. Aralyn turned to the man and stepped towards him quickly, startling him. Pulling herself to her full height of six feet tall, she spoke in a low voice.
“Get lost, pal, before I rip your balls off and feed them to my dog,” Aralyn snarked.
Billy Lee paused, surprised, and Aralyn turned and hopped into the 4- Runner. Tiffany backed out quickly, almost hitting him.
“Perfect way to ruin a good night,” Aralyn sighed, then grinned. “Did you see the brunette I was dancing with that last song?”
***
The following morning, Aralyn walked out to the 4- Runner to start packing their bags into it. She had just tossed her bag in the back when the hair on the back of her neck stood up. Turning, she gasped and sidestepped as Billy Lee stood before her.
“What do you think you’re doing here?” she demanded.
“You little Yankee hussies come strutting around her and think you can treat us country boys like trash, so I’m gonna teach you a little lesson,” he snarled, spitting tobacco to the side. She could smell the alcohol coming off of him in waves and was surprised he could stand up. She wondered if he had been out here all night, drinking and working himself up.
Aralyn winced at his stench as the wind blew it at her. Where the Hell was Tiffany with Dixie?
“Listen, we’re not looking for trouble, buddy. We’re just passing through and wanted to dance a little bit last night.”
“You’s a little slut from that big city and we don’t take kindly you treatin’ our boys all rude like!” He advanced towards her menacingly. “You big city girls ain’t got no manners when it comes to gennlemen.”
Aralyn snorted an her temper flared. “Show me a gentleman around here, and I’ll show you some manners.”
He lunged towards her and Aralyn swept her leg out and hit him in the ankles. The big man hit the ground but he got up quicker than she expected, snarling.
“You jackass, this is ridiculous! Stand down!” Aralyn snapped.
Billy Lee faked to the left and Aralyn fell for it. He grabbed her and backhanded the girl before throwing her to the ground, and smacking her head on the asphalt.
Aralyn saw stars for a brief second and realized he was coming at her again. Rolling to the side she tried to trip him but her aim was off from being dizzy. Realizing he wasn’t giving up she reached into her jacket and whipped out her gun. Clicking it off safety she aimed it at his chest.
*
Inside the hotel room Dixie began to whine and scratch at the door.
“Dixie! Stop that!” Tiffany shoved the rest of her clothes in her bag.
Dixie began to bark and whine and howl.
“Do you really need to pee that badly?” Tiffany demanded, zipping her bag. Grabbing the leash she hooked it onto Dixie’s collar and opened the door.
*
Outside, Aralyn got to her feet and held the gun steady.
“Stop right there, Billy Lee.” Aralyn was praying he would listen. She had never thought she’d actually have to bring the gun out. She wanted this fool to be smart enough to realize he could get shot. She didn’t want to fire. She didn’t. The gun was heavy in her hand, steadily aimed on her target.
Billy Lee wasn’t smart enough.
“Little girl ain’t gonna shoot me. You dumb city-Yankee bitches can barely hold a gun, let alone fire one and hit anything!”
Billy Lee made one more plunge and without thinking, Aralyn pulled the trigger.
The blast echoed in her ears as she fell back against the car, and slid down to the ground, stunned.
The shot made the world go silent for a moment, and Billy Lee stared at her for what felt like forever. He looked down at the red stain spreading across his chest closed his eyes for the last time, and his body crumpled to the ground.
Aralyn slid down to the ground, shocked as a streak of gray and white came tearing in front of her and leapt on the body, snarling and barking. Aralyn’s grip loosened on the gun as she stared numbly at the body in front of her. Her ears were ringing from the blast.
“Aralyn!” Tiffany shrieked, running to her cousin. It took only a second to understand what had happened.
“Dixie, no!” Tiffany wrestled the dog off Billy Lee and into the 4Runner. The Malamute barked and snarled from inside the truck and began to howl.
“Oh, God,” Aralyn whispered, the gun hanging limp in her hand, “oh God, what did I do?”
“Defended yourself,” Tiffany replied, hugging her cousin. Aralyn clutched her cousin with one arm, her hand still gripping the gun.
“We’ve got to get rid of the body!” Aralyn hissed wildly. “Tiffany, we have to get rid of it!” Her voice was rising in panic.
Tiffany grabbed her cousin by the shoulders and shook her. “Are you kidding me?” Tiffany demanded, incredulous. “Aralyn, our dads are federal agents! You know we can’t just dump a body somewhere! I’ll call the police.”
Aralyn started to shake as Tiffany whipped out her cell phone and dialed 911 as the hotel manager came out to see what the ruckus was.
“I need the police. A man’s been shot. He attacked my cousin! The Super 10 hotel on Highway 287 and Dysart. Hurry, please!”
Tiffany knelt over Billy Lee and gently felt for a pulse as the manager hurried over, puffing on a cigar.
“What in god’s name happened?” he thundered.
“He attacked me,” Aralyn, white faced still sat on the ground, holding the gun.
“Police are on their way. Don’t touch anything, this is a crime scene!” Tiffany snapped at the manager who nodded, staring in disbelief at the body in his parking lot.
***
Luke Duke had just settled in at his desk with a new case file and his third cup of coffee when his cell phone buzzed. Realizing it was his daughter he grinned as he answered.
“Big Daddy Luke,” he answered.
“Daddy!” Tiffany almost shrieked.
“Tiff? What’s wrong, Princess?” Luke’s heart sunk as he listened to his hysterical daughter, writing notes. “Tiff, I’ll charter the jet and me and Bo’ll be there in a few hours. You hang tight and don’t talk to no one without a lawyer. Same for Aralyn, you hear me? I’ll send the Texas Marshals out there with one of our lawyers. They’re in Amarillo, it shouldn’t take them long.”
“Yes, Daddy,” Tiffany whispered.
“You sit tight, wait for the Marshals to get there. Remember, say nothing until our lawyer gets there. Make sure Aralyn knows.”
Luke almost ran into Bo and Dan as they was heading inside, coffee in hand and laughing.
“Bo, we gotta go. The girls are in trouble.”
Bo went rigid, knowing the answer to his question. Dan felt his heart constrict. He loved those two as much as his own.
“Which one?” Bo demanded, but he already knew.
“Yours.”
***
Natala Belden found herself having lunch with Dean at a small street side café, several weeks after he pulled her back from being hit. It was their fifth date.
“So there I was, standing—hey are you all right?” Dean demanded.
Natala felt the wave of cold rushing at her, and clamped her hands over her ears as she heard a scream, and a gunshot. Her dream, coming right now, in the middle of the day, while she was wide awake.
“Natala? Natala?” Dean was shaking her gently.
“Take me home,” she whispered.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, worried.
“Take me home, Dean. I’m needed at home. It’s happened.”
But half way there she told him to go to Trixie’s instead. As she did, her cell phone rang. It was Trixie, asking her to come stay with Sean for an emergency.
“I’m sorry about this, I’ll call you later,” she undid her seatbelt and was racing up the driveway before Dean could answer. Dean shut the engine off and followed her.
Pounding on the door, she was startled when Trixie opened it suddenly.
“Something’s happened with Aralyn,” Natala blurted out.
Trixie nodded and let her niece in.
“I know. Bo just called me—did you see it?” The color left Trixie’s face and Natala caught her aunt as her knees went out. Dean shut the door behind them as she helped Trixie to the couch. Trixie told them what had happened.
“Can you pick up Sean and the twins?” Trixie asked weakly. “I need to get to Aralyn.”
Natala bit her lip. “I can’t drive Trixie, I don’t have a license yet. Should I call Hallie?”
Trixie snorted. “No, would you call Di? And Honey. Oh god, Honey doesn’t know—”
“I’ll take Nat to pick up the twins,” Dean offered.
“Thank you, Dean,” Trixie gave him a grateful smile.
The phone started ringing and Natala answered, spoke for a few minutes, then hung up and checking the phone number list, dialed Diana Belden.
“Honey’s on her way, Luke just got off the phone with her,” Natala relayed to Trixie, who nodded.
Diana agreed to pick up the twins and Sean, and take care of them. Bo, Luke and Dan were on the way to the airport. Honey and Trixie would follow in the second Wheeler jet. They would be coming from Sleepyside, the men were already in the city and closer to the airport. There was no time to waste.
Natala also called Brian to keep him in the loop. Within the hour the entire Clan would know what was happening.
Natala made Trixie some tea, but by then Trixie had regained her steadiness and was throwing clothes in a suitcase; there was no telling how long they would be. Honey would be here soon, her son Jace was to be picked up with the twins.
Honey arrived within minutes, along with Daisy Mangan and Diana Belden. They would split the kids between them until Honey and Trixie returned with the men and their daughters.
Di rushed off to pick up Sean, who would stay with Natala and Brian, where it was quieter and calmest. Trixie called the twins’ school to request they be pulled from class immediately, along with Jace Duke, and were to be picked up by Natala. Natala would fill them in. Trixie didn’t want to alarm all of the cousins just yet.
Trixie hugged Natala tightly on her way out the door.
“Thank you,” she smiled at her pretty, dark haired niece.
Honey gave Natala a warm hug, which she shyly returned. She knew Honey had been her father’s first love, and she still felt shy around the sophisticated woman.
Natala just nodded as the family split to take care of each other.
***
In Claude, the police arrived in a hurry, first one, then two, then three cars were there, then an ambulance, lights flashing, tape being wrapped around the scene, and the coroner arrived. Aralyn’s gun was taken as she and Tiffany produced their concealed weapons permits, and Aralyn was taken into custody. Billy Lee was pronounced dead and the girls were being taken for questioning.
Tiffany was allowed to drive their 4-Runner with Dixie since she wasn’t an eye witness but Aralyn was taken in a patrol car. She offered no resistance, spoke only to give her name and request her lawyer.
An hour later, Aralyn sat huddled under a blanket in a freezing cold interrogation room. She wouldn’t tell them what happened, Tiffany had given her Luke’s message. Tiffany lawyered up as well and finally, a tall, young man with a blond ponytail hurried in, flashing his badge. He was accompanied by an older, short, stocky man with a beard and graying hair.
Tiffany was in a waiting area with Dixie sitting at her feet, alert and watchful.
“I’m here for the Duke girl,” the stocky man announced. “US Marshal Cliff Orld.”
The lady at the desk pointed to Tiffany, who stood when she heard ‘Duke girl’.
“I’m Tiffany Duke.”
“Well, now you ain’t Bo’s girl,” he drawled, “but you’re a right site prettier than Luke.”
“Luke is my dad,” she said shyly.
“Then you must look like your mama. I remember her being a pretty little thing,” he smiled and introduced himself and shook her hand. “This here is Marshal Alex Manning.”
Tiffany smiled shyly at the handsome young man, who gave her a curious look and then a bright smile. Dixie eyed the newcomers warily. She had been allowed to stay with Tiffany after she howled and raised such a fuss when they tried to separate the pair. Tiffany wasn’t allowed to stay with Aralyn so she sat in the squad room, waiting.
“Now, honey, we got our lawyer on the way, he should be here any minute. How are you?”
“I’m all right but it’s my cousin who’s in trouble. They want to put her in a holding cell but she’s really claustrophobic. That interrogation room is small enough that she could freak out. Please help her,” Tiffany pleaded.
“I’ll go check on her. Marshal Manning will stay with you,” Orld hurried down the hallway. Tiffany sat back down as the Marshal joined her.
“You hanging in there?” he asked.
The tenor voice wrapped around her easily and she found herself smiling at him, noting the lively dark brown eyes, nice jaw line, she thought absently.
“Yes, thank you. I’m just worried about my cousin.”
“Well, if you girls are anything like your old men, I bet you’re both pretty tough,” he smiled.
He had dark eyes, she noted, something that was a rare trait in her family.
“Aralyn’s the tough one,” she said softly. “I wouldn’t have been able to pull the trigger. And it was supposed to be me,” she whispered, her hazel eyes filling with tears. “It was my turn to pack the car.”
“Now darlin’, don’t you go blaming yourself for this,” he said gently, handing her a handkerchief, which she used to dab at her eyes, “that guy was white trash trouble no matter who it had been. And don’t say anything more about it until we get our man here.”
“You don’t understand. It was my turn to go out and warm up the car, but Aralyn went instead. I would have just froze up but instead she, she pulled her gun,” Tiffany whispered.
“Well, then it’s a good thing it was her, otherwise we’d have a worse situation on our hands,” he said softly, putting one arm around the slender girl. “Now, you just hush for a bit. But this isn’t your fault, not at all.”
Orld had hurried to the interrogation room, walking in without knocking and flashing his badge.
“Now you’d I’d know anywhere,” he beamed at the girl, “you’re the spittin’ image of your daddy.”
Aralyn just looked at him blankly. Orld began to ask questions of the local officers who were irate that Aralyn wouldn’t talk.
Orld returned to the lobby and saw the young Marshal comforting the Duke girl. Orld heaved a sigh. The girl had apparently inherited her daddy Luke’s charm.
The blonde worried him. She wouldn’t talk, just sat and clutched a cup of now cold coffee, her eyes glassy. Both girls had concealed weapons and registered guns. Thankfully, a law had been passed recently allowing concealed handgun licenses issued from New York, to be legal and valid in Texas.
He glanced up as a tall, lean redheaded man hurried towards him. “Sorry it took me so long to get here.”
Orld shook hands with Johnny Holt. “That’s all right. The girl’s pretty traumatized, emotionally beaten up. She’s a young one, nineteen. It’s pretty clear it was self defense but the local yocals might be causing trouble. Dead guys’ family is trash from the word go and they’re screaming for a murder charge. The deceased is a local trouble maker, and a drunk. Little girl had a good aim, hit him right in the heart. Her cousin’s out there with the dog and Manning.”
“All right, good. I’ll get to the cousin in a minute. I want to talk to the other one first.”
“Don’t be surprised if we have the Duke boys showing up here soon. It’s Bo’s girl.”
Holt winced. He had met the hotheaded Duke cousins years before working on a case, and never forgot it.
“Lead me to her.”
Once alone with Holt, Aralyn told the whole story from start to finish. Holt gave her a cup of fresh coffee and made plenty of notes. The girl was bright and articulate, and he could see the fear and trauma in her face from shooting a man. She had followed her cousin’s order to speak only to him and words spilled out of her in a jumble at first.
“Slow down there, darlin’. Now, take a deep breath, and start at the beginning, how you met this man.”
While Aralyn was telling Holt what happened, two more Marshals had appeared, making the precinct chief wince. Rookies were intrigued as to why there were so many Marshals here suddenly. The Marshals were trying to contain the situation so it wouldn’t leak to the press.
Word moved quickly. The daughters of US Marshals Bo and Luke Duke were in custody for shooting Billy Lee Watson. Most of the local police officers knew Billy Lee and privately applauded the girl.
Unfortunately a bored reporter was hanging around and had gotten on the phone to her station pronto.
The local officers were uncomfortable with Orld around, and then the two new Marshals came strolling in to check on Aralyn and comfort her until Bo arrived.
Yet another Marshal appeared to sit with Alex and Tiffany. Dixie was in heaven, receiving attention from everyone and Tiffany began to relax. Like with local police, the Marshals were a family, and would rally to each other side regardless of location.
Aralyn, however, was on pins and needles. Someone else had trickled in after Holt was done with his questioning, now the room was too full. Three marshals, the lawyer and two local cops were adding to her claustrophobia, which Orld had forgotten about. She knew they meant well but the room was getting hot and she was having trouble breathing.
Outside, a rookie saw a US Marshal SUV pull up and four men got out. One was tall, lean and blonde, the other slightly shorter, stockier and brunette. The other was somewhere in between, dark haired, lanky and frowning. The driver was young, with dark blue dyed hair. The fourth wore an expensive suit, tall and lean, with dark hair and sharp eyed. The rookie knew immediately who they were and hurried inside to the phone.
“Chief, four more Marshals just arrived, and I think it’s the Duke boys.”
The Chief winced.
Bo threw the doors open, striding in. “Where’s my daughter?”
There was scrambling among the local officers and Bo was in the lead and short on temper.
“Bo! Dan!” Tiffany appeared with Alex and Dixie. Rushing to Luke, she flung her arms around him. “Daddy!”
Luke held her tightly. “It’s ok, Princess. Your mama’s on the way, with Trixie, on the second jet. They’re about an hour behind us. Where’s your cousin?”
Alex answered instead. “Interrogation room, sir. Marshal Alex Manning. May I say it’s an honor to meet you both. If you follow me, I’ll take you to your girl,” he shook hands with Bo and Luke and they headed for the interrogation room, Luke’s arm around Tiffany.
Aralyn heard the commotion outside and winced. If anyone else came in this room she’d scream bloody murder. She wanted Bo. All she wanted was her Daddy to come and take charge. When she skinned her knee learning to ride a bike, it was Bo who scooped her up and hurried inside to treat the wound. When Regan’s horse threw her off, it was Bo who was there to pick her up and put her back on, despite her bruised butt and pride. When she balked at bunjee jumping, he had taken her hand and they jumped together. Bo was always there when she needed him. Bo, who had supported their cross country trip, and the rest of her reckless adventures. Bo who had been the first one up in the middle of the night when she was sick as a girl, holding her hair while she threw up half the night.
The door flew open and the two locals jumped up in surprise. Dixie was barking on top of the voices out in the hallway. There was too much noise, Aralyn clamped her hands over her ears until she heard a familiar voice ordering the room to clear out.
“Daddy!” She leapt to her feet but here were too many people to get to him. Hopping up on her chair and then the table she scrambled over it and jumped to the floor, then flung herself into Bo’s arms.
“I’m sorry,” she sobbed, “I didn’t have a choice. He was bigger than you even-”
“Shh, shh, baby. I’m here,” Bo held his only daughter tightly as she wept. “We’ll get this straightened out.”
“It’s hot in here, Daddy, I can’t breathe,” she hiccupped while shaking. Her daddy was here. He’d take care of everything.
“Y’all clear out except for the lawyers, Orld and Luke. She’s claustrophobic and y’all are making it worse!” he snapped. “Dan?”
“Got it, cousin. Move it out, people!” Dan Mangan took charge, shuffling everyone out of the room and directing Alex to take Tiffany somewhere quiet. He had seen the admiring look on the young marshal’s face towards the pretty girl.
Dan remembered another night, over twenty years ago, but eerily similar, involving another female he loved dearly.
"You just put that little toy down," Earl ordered. "You's gonna hurt yourself."
Daisy stared at the man she had dated for so long. Her green eyes moved to the man she loved, huddled on the floor and covered in blood. Her blood boiled faster.
"Daisy, you gimme that gun!" Earl said sharply.
Anger raced through her as she raised the gun towards him.
"Girl, you put that gun down!" he snapped.
"I'll shoot you Earl," she said softly. "You take another step forward and I swear I'll blow your damn brains out."
"Stop being stupid, girl," he growled.
Something sparked in Daisy. Stupid was one thing she wouldn't tolerated being called. She was Daisy Duke, the belle of Hazzard County, no one, no one, messed with her menfolk.
"Get out of here, Earl." The firmness in her voice surprised Earl and he stared at her.
Earl lunged and Daisy fired. The shot echoed loudly in the room, too loudly, she thought. Stunned, Earl looked down at his chest where blood was rapidly spreading through his shirt, then up at Daisy, and pitched forward to the ground.
Dan had pushed himself up with one arm, the other holding his 9mm. Blood streamed down his grimly set handsome face. The loud echo had been from his gun going off as welll.
Blood seeped through the back of Earl's shirt. Dan had fired at the same time.
"Dan," Daisy whispered, stepping over Earl and kneeling next to him. "Oh Dan!"
Dan pushed himself up straight, keeping his back against the wall for support, and pulling Daisy into his arms. Sirens could be heard approaching.
"Dan, I'm so sorry," she whispered.
"Hush," he said softly, running his hand over her hair as she cried into his chest. "I'm here. Everything's ok. Shh," he soothed her.
The sirens grew closer as the next song played, the song that would always be theirs.
I am the man who would fight for your honor
I'll be the hero you're dreamin' of
We'll live forever
Knowing together that we
Did it all for the glory of love
Dan held Daisy tightly as the police swarmed in.
It had come full circle, Dan thought. Another Duke girl. He could only be a little thankful it wasn’t his girl Dana, but that thought didn’t really make it any easier. He adored Aralyn and Tiffany just as much as Dana.
The other officers hurried to acquiesce, and soon it was just Holt, Aralyn, Luke, Bo, one of the arresting officers and the man who had arrived with the Dukes. Tiffany recognized him as Mr. Claren, one of her grandfather’s personal lawyers. Matthew Wheeler must have sent him, she figured.
Alex pulled Tiffany aside with Dixie as the Marshals congregated, swapping stories they had heard about the Duke boys. Alex took Tiffany to a quiet room and brought her ice water.
“Thanks,” she murmured, sipping it.
Dixie sat at her side, muzzle resting on her knee. The crystalline blue eyes studied Alex as he sat close to Tiffany.
Alex couldn’t help but be drawn to the Duke girl. Her big hazel eyes were full of fear and concern, and her hands trembled slightly. He knew her father had married a wealthy socialite, and figured she must have gotten her shyness from her mother. There was nothing shy about either Duke boy, according to the stories.
“They’re going to want to talk to you in a few minutes,” he said gently. Tiffany shuddered. “I’ll stay with you if you’d like.”
“That would be very kind of you,” she said shyly, finally studying the handsome young man next to her. She knew he was a little taller than her, and he was lean like Bo, not quite as broad in the shoulders. His dark eyes were friendly and he had a quick smile. “They let you wear a pony tail?”
Alex laughed and it warmed her. His platinum blond hair was pulled back into a short ponytail.
“They’ve relaxed the dress standards over the years. We’re even allowed to wear jeans most days.”
Tiffany almost smiled.
“How long do you think they’ll keep her?” she asked.
“Until they’re satisfied they have all the information. From what the officers on the scene said, it looked pretty clearly to be self defense. I think there will be a good case for her not to be charged. ”
Tiffany nodded. “My grandfather sent one of his top lawyers.”
“See, then? I think she’ll be in good hands,” he smiled encouragingly at her, but Tiffany couldn’t squelch the cold fear inside.
Meet the cast in full & see the family tree!
***
Author’s Notes
- A huge yeee-haa to Ronda, my lovely editor who helps keep me on track!
- Well, now Aralyn's in a fine mess, ain't she?
- Yes, Dixie is semi-based on the BFD, my Siberian Husky HRH Iolie.
- The flashback scene Dan recalls can be found in its entirety at Down The Road, Chapter 3.
- "Glory of Love" is still Dan and Daisy's song.
- Word Count, 5,513
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