runningwild

Another year rolled by without even a blink, or so it seemed. Cassie Morgan had just turned twenty-three years old. The thought of a party made her cringe that's why she hadn't mentioned anything about her birthday to anyone in Hazzard. God, she had been a Hazzard girl her entire life, well except for those good 10-15 years she lived up North with her family. Some things a girl just never forgets and one of those was exactly how Cassie wanted to spend her birthday. Hazzard girls know how to down a beer at the Boarsnest. Because it was her birthday, she did feel entitled to get dressed up. So, she pulled on her favorite dress; the one that hugged all of her curves just the right way. She hadn't dreamed of wearing something so provocative since she left her ex-boyfriend, Harvey. But, she had pulled herself out of her drug-fueled funk and managed to let the hospitality of the South straighten her out. The dress was a deep iris that blended beautifully with her black pumps. She dressed simple, yet knew exactly how to turn heads. Except tonight, tonight she wanted to just sit at the bar and have a beer. Afterall, it was her birthday. The Boarsnest wasn't all that crowded and she figured that it was refreshing not seeing a familiar face so far. She figured that Daisy might have been working, but she hadn't spotted her yet. And, it was a major relief that neither of the Dukes boys had found their way in there yet. She figured she could deal with seeing anyone else, as long as they didn't judge her based on her pill addiction (that she kicked a year and a half ago) or the fact that she got someone killed. Hazzard had managed to welcome her back, but not exactly with the open arms she had hoped. Afterall, it was her birthday so she found a lone barstool and sat down. Her lips pursed before she spoke, "Ted, Honey, can you get me a beer?" He didn't look up from wiping out his glass. He never did. "Sure thing Miss Cassie." (Tag: Anyone. I realized it was my character's birthday and thought that I should try to do something since I haven't written here in like a year. Oh, and hi everyone!!)

Wow. I haven't been on here in a while. I was looking around the different round robins, and I decided that I wanted to get back into it for a little while. I have no idea what kind of story I want to do. I usually don't mind playing a Dukes character, but those that know me know that I do have a tendency to play an original, Cassie. My heart belongs to a nice Luke/Cassie love, tragedy, good ol' Hazzard fun plot line. Or a Luke/Cassie it's been years and the circumstances still ain't right plot. But well, I guess I'm willing to take part in other kinds of stories as well. I might not be that great as a Dukes character, but I sure can pop Cassie in anywhere. So basically, I guess I'm saying someone adopt me. Lol I need some inspiration and practice. I've been out of the game for too long.

Another smile struck Enos, "Well Daisy, you know that I wouldn't want to do that for you. I promise that the next few days will be nothing but good memories for you." They were a foot from the door, and Enos was a little uneasy to enter the house, so he opened the screen door for Daisy, "After you." Enos Strate was a gentleman if there ever was one.

Enos lose himself in Daisy's eyes, which was what he had yet to do since she had arrived. The old Enos would have fallen in love with her all over again, but it took him a moment to gather himself. "I guess you're right Daisy," he offered her a smile. "I'll come in for a spell, then I'll leave soon after dinner." To him, his answer seemed good enough, and he took steps toward the house. "Thanks for being so understanding Daisy. I need this."

Hearing Daisy speak, was heavenly to Enos who felt as if he had experienced the most beautiful symphony. She did seem awfully glad to see him, and she wouldn't try to get him to stay, if she didn't want him too. In the back of his mind, he just wished Cassie was there so that his mind could be settled. "Well Daisy.. I don't know.." He paused, "I just don't like all this fussin'."

Enos looked up at Daisy, "I know Daisy.." He sighed, "Sorry about having to rush out." Straightening up his back, he stood there and slipped his hands in his pockets. In the back of his mind, he knew that Cassie was probably just fine. A few tears shed never hurt her, and he'd caught her many times crying in the back of her store out of stress or frustration of her business. Sometimes she needed a good cry and he understood that. But, he was worried about her just because it was Bo that she had had her stir with.

Enos nodded and smiled, "I'm sorry, Luke. Thanks for understanding." He started to turn and go down the steps, when he paused and looked back at his friend. "I know we don't exactly belong here any more, Cassie and me. I never thought I'd ever say that." He seemed to linger for an extra moment, before heading down the stairs and back to his car. Still he managed to call over his shoulder on a few feet from Luke, "Remember you were me once.." Enos knew that Luke didn't care about Cassie, but he had to remember when so many years ago that he would be the one going out to find her.

Even out of Bo's anger, Enos didn't get mad. Maybe frustrated was more of the word he wanted to use, but he still smiled at Luke. "You ain't got to apologize for him Luke, I know he didn't mean too." After a moment of thinking, Enos spoke again, "Just tell Bo that he wouldn't agree with me arguin' with Sammy, then leaving her by herself on by the road. I'm liable to give him a piece of my mind, but I'll just have to save it for when he ain't mad. The Cassie you use to know, your friend, she's in there Luke. I know she is because boy does she shine out in California. Her past is behind her.. and if she's misunderstood by ya'll even today, then give her a try when you can." He sighed, "After Sara, I know you don't want too, but when you're ready maybe you can see the Cassie you remember.. the Cassie that I know. She's truly extraordinary." Looking down, he spoke again, "I know you didn't want to hear that but I thought you should know. Now, I don't know if she knows about Sara because I didn't tell her. So, don't take it too personal when she's friendly.. I know that even now she misses talking to you. She won't tell you that, but she does. I don't believe she loves you anymore.. not like that. After so long, that just goes away.." He spoke as if he knew. "It's a fond memory.. and you find someone else to pass the time with." Enos indirectly was speaking about himself, even though he was explaining Cassie to Luke. It wasn't his place to explain her to him, but he had lived a good portion of Cassie's life with her, and he knew what she felt. He also knew what Luke had gone through without knowing what he was going through internally. He couldn't believe what all had went on while he was making a few phone calls back to Los Angeles. Cassie was just out there, and he didn't have a clue where she would go. In the back of his mind, he figured she might head back to the hotel, but he couldn't be sure. Right now, he was really concerned about what was going on, and he wanted more than anything to know what she could've said to make Bo so angry. "I better go.." His voice drifted a little, "Tell Sammy I'm sorry that I'll have to miss out on her good cookin'."

Now, Enos didn't exactly look mad about what he had heard, but he was very concerned about it. "She went another way? You just let her go?" He spoke calmly, "That just don't seem like Cassie to argue with ya Bo, but then again you two never got along, even as kids." Looking from Luke, who seemed uneasy, to Bo, Enos shook his head, "Now, I don't agree with you walking off and leaving her.. no matter what she said because anything could happen to her. I know she gets under your skin.." He paused, "What'd ya'll argue about?" Enos stood solidly before his friends, but he was anxious to find Cassie. There wasn't any sense in her having to spend the evening alone, if she didn't have too. Obviously, she had wanted a little company or she wouldn't have invited herself over at the Dukes.

Enos shook his head amused at the girls' reactions. Being a man, he knew when it was time to step aside and let the women do their things. So, he decided to slide past them and join Bo and Luke on the porch. He approached them shaking his head, "Sure is glad to see two women so excited to see each other." Pausing, he chuckled to himself, "Speaking of that.. Cassie hiding inside?" Cassie was the one thing he always kept a watchful eye on because he didn't want anything to happen to her. It was much like Bo and Luke being so protective of Sammy but because of different circumstances. Enos cared about Cassie and it would forever be a "she's with me" kind of thing.

Enos noticed right off that Daisy hadn't changed at all. She was still as beautiful as he remembered her, and he knew that that would never change. Every part of him was taken over by excitement to see her. "Oh, I'm doing great too. LA's been good. Same as always, but never dull." The grin that he carried showed that he was delighted to just be in the presence of Daisy. It had been so long since he had seen her. So many times he had asked her to come visit, but she had always been so busy with school. No matter how disappointed he had been, Enos was so proud of her for sticking with something and making a name for herself. Working at the Boar's Nest, Daisy would've never gotten her name out of Hazzard. It just goes to show that you've got to leave the nest to find the best. Maybe that sound truth applied to other things as well. "My my, you're looking mighty pretty Daisy," he spoke smoothly. Enos just wasn't as nervous as he use to be. Now, he could tell her without jitters and awkwardness.

As he got out of the car, a big grin washed over his face. "Daisy!" He stepped forward and pulled her into a gentle hug. "How've you been?"

The drive for Enos was just another stimulator for him. The excitement and relaxed feeling he felt at the same time was his signal that he was home. Rolling down the window, he drove with one hand and let his elbow rest on the window's edge. He was letting himself drift back into the experience of Hazzard. Los Angeles had harden Enos a little, but he was still just as gentle as ever. Unknowingly, he had pasted the exact spot that Cassie had been taking in the woods. Her trail hadn't been as well kept as it normally was, but that didn't stop her from traipsing back to the hotel that way. She had heard a car passed and convinced herself that it was Enos. He fly down the country road, and not along after his departure, he had arrived at the Duke farm.

Cassie had begun her personal adventure through the woods, which was common in her younger days, but now seemed out of place. Taking a deep breath, she loved the scents that mixed together and the occasional rustle of the leaves. The argument with Bo hadn't set well on her nerves, and she hated that he thought she had an agenda. The walk she took was slow, but she knew where to go to come back out by the hotel in town. This way no one would see her until she stepped foot back on pavement. For now, she could only wonder why things were back to square one with her. Had things really not gotten better for her? Not in her eyes. Los Angeles had created a new Cassie; maybe she couldn't say her name out loud anymore, but she did not forget it. Amara Daylen had morphed into the Cassie that would've been given life, if she hadn't met Harvey when she was eighteen. Now, she was city girl with southern values and that made her distinct. Sometimes she wished that she hadn't made it to be this old, but she knew that no one ever got those kinds of wishes just by wishing. Sighing, she continued to trudge back to town. Hurt. Enos checked his watch. He conversed with himself what his options were for the afternoon. Being excited about going to dinner, he questioned whether or not he should leave then just to be early. Finally, he lost the battle with himself and decided that being early would be the best thing to do. Slipping on his suit jacket, he patted the right side pocket absentmindedly. Something very valuable was being kept there until he had a chance to give it up. He wasn't sure, but he thought that he'd be able to get rid of it very soon. After heading outside, he got into his rental vehicle and sped off to the Duke farm.

Enos had spent a good forty-five minutes on the phone with his office back in Los Angeles. He thought that he could at least leave for a few days without any problems, but boy was he wrong. If he wasn't yelling for paperwork to be found, he was talking one of his younger colleagues through how to handle a simple situation. Still he rarely lost his patience completely and was as friendly as he ever was. Upon hanging up the phone, he sighed out of relief. He checked his watch hoping that it was closer to time for to leave for dinner at the Dukes' place. Truthfully, Enos just wanted to enjoy his vacation time away from work and surrounded by friends.

Having sat there for a little while by herself, Cassie hadn't crossed paths with anyone. She had sat by that dusty road, dirtying her dress and silent. Even if a few angry tears streamed her face, no sobs escaped her lips. Maybe she cared more about Luke than she ought to, but she thought she owed. She did owe him. Taking a deep breath, she sighed out loud. Suddenly, with all the strength she could muster, she forced herself on to her feet. Cassie could've just stood there or walked back to the hotel or did anything she wanted at that moment. So, she turned to lose herself in the patch of woods behind. Truthfully, she wouldn't have been lost, but she wanted to just take a walk where no one would notice her. Things had changed, but she figured that they hadn't changed enough that she wouldn't know where she was going. Plus, the walk would be peaceful..

Cassie had let Bo get far enough away, before she sat down on the edge of the road. She sat in the dirt and all. The past five minutes just hadn't been fair to her at all, but what else could she have said. Nothing she said to Bo seemed to make any sense to him and all he could get was angry at her. Maybe he hadn't understood what she really meant by what she said. There was no maybe to it the stubborn jackass hadn't understood and didn't want to. Yet, she was suppose to understand him completely. She hated him for that because it is not the way she pictured their conversation going. A little more understanding would have done them well on both ends. Running her hands in the loose dirt, she retrieved a small rock. Clenching it tightly in her hand, she then tossed it cross the road. Regardless of the skirt she was wearing, Cassie pulled her knees to her chest. Luckily, her skirt was long enough to cover everything. Silently, she rested her face on his knees and hugged her calves. The emotion had overwhelmed her but she refused to cry. All she would allow was tears to swell in her eyes.

"I just meant that I didn't want to lose him you Jackass," Cassie yelled. "You don't think I don't know that I messed things up? I don't want Luke back.. I wouldn't want him to take me back if he wanted to." She took a long breath, "If you get a chance, tell him.. tell him that I wanted to fight for him." Turning, she started walking back towards town; however, that wasn't before she called out to Bo one last time. "Because by God, I wouldn't be afraid to say something like that too him." Never in her life had she felt so angry, so betrayed, so hurt. If she felt like it would fix things, she would swear up a storm. All she wanted to do was really sit down just somewhere and just sit. Bo Duke had no idea what she had meant no did he care. He was still bitter and she couldn't blame him. Her good intentions could never exist, not in Hazzard.

Suddenly, Cassie came to an abrupt halt, as she shook her head. "Because I want to try until I'm blue in the face. I want to snap him out of it. I don't want to just give up because I'm suppose to keep quiet for him to never work out that sadness. He'll take that to his grave. I want him to hurt, and I want him to hit the bottom because then I am willing to pick him up brush him off and let him get the most out of life." She sighed loudly, "I'm sorry that I keep trying. I'll stay quiet, if that's what you want Bo. I won't even speak to him. I think he'll like that too." Continuing to shake her head, she turned, "Abi will only continue to suffer, as long as Luke continues to suffer. I would rather I break him now, while I've got the chance, then leave knowing that things will never change." Cassie look Bo straight in the eye, "You might be mad as hell at me right now, but I don't care Bo. I don't care.." Her voice broke at the end. "When Enos is gone, I want to have a reason to come back here.. "

"That's too bad," she grinned. Cassie just continued to walk beside Bo quietly. The chuckling had subsided and nothing but silence was shared between for some time. Outside, the weather was nice, but then again, there were few rainy days in Hazzard. "One last thing.." She paused. "What's the right thing for me to say to Luke to ease his nerves? I need the magic words because I still care deeply for that man, and I can't stand to see him suffer like this," she looked over at Bo. "I know I don't have that kind of magic with him anymore, but Bo there's got to be something I can do. I know you said that I just had to be gentle and be normal, and I am, but.." She stopped talking and looked away from him, "Once you go where we've gone, then you can't just turn your back on each other when the other one's hurting. The attraction, the lust, the love may fade, but that kind of heartbreak doesn't. And it breaks my heart to watch him hurt."

Cassie understood and felt horrible for Bo. "That does sound rough. I couldn't imagine getting the family I've always wanted and then not having it all the time." Sighing, she kept walking and used her hands to wipe her face. The habit wasn't unusual for her if she was frustrated, and in truth, she was frustrated with how things turned out for her. "I keep waiting for the day that Daisy sweeps Enos away from LA, then I'll have no one." The idea of that happening scared her, but was what she wanted to happen eventually. "Are you ever able to take a break from racing? Just call in sick? I mean I know you need the money, but could you ever do that?"

The walk reminded Cassie of the life she always dreamed of in Hazzard. Despite how lost she may have been for a while, her heart still lied here. She had always assumed that she would venture back to Hazzard, which she did, then call her hometown her home again. However, because she had made poor choices, then her dreams in life had moved elsewhere. "Bo, what's having a family like?" She spoke softly and seriously, then she left she didn't speak. After the long pause, she decided to elaborate, "I always thought I'd be just like you. I'd be here in Hazzard with a kid or two.. cooking and cleaning.." Cassie sighed, "I guess I can't complain though.. I've got a wonderful job, and the money is great. I'm a fashion designer.. what more could I ask for?" Shaking her head, she spoke once more, "I just thought I'd be here.." Where Bo took her soft rant was up to him.