A/N: Here is the sequel to "The Diaries of Circle M Ranch!" Beth O'Connell left Enos the Circle M Ranch in her Will as well as all the O'Connell family assets, leaving him a very, very wealthy man. She also sent him on a journey to Wyoming to visit his godparents, Gus and Emily Rafferty, where she revealed certain truths (and more) through her diaries. Now Enos is balancing his life as a Deputy and a wealthy Rancher, trying to repair his relationship with Daisy and track down a dangerous killer at the same time. Please be patient with me, it will take a few chapters to get the plot set up! To get the most of this story, I would encourage you to read the Diaries of Circle M first.

The characters of Agnes Strate and Otis Strate were created by WENN9366 here on FFN in "The Story of Us". Thank you for your support and I hope to create another exciting story for you! Thanks to all who read and/or review! ENJOY!

Chapter 1 – Difficult Adjustments

Just because everything
is different doesn't mean
anything has changed.

~Irene Peter

It was going to be another sweltering August afternoon as Enos parked the truck around the back of the courthouse and headed for the station. He could feel the heat as it radiated from the pavement and it was almost unbearable.

As he walked into the station, he noticed Rosco and Cletus looking at a County map and arguing about where Cletus was suppose to be versus where he had been.

"Cletus! I said at Pond Creek and Hwy. 20! Not Hwy. 14! There ain't no way to set it up at Hwy. 14! Now ya' done wasted all mornin' out there and Boss eventually wants 20 shut-"

"-Hey Sheriff, hey Cletus!"

"Ghit ghit! Ya' dipstick what are ya doin' sneakin' up on us like that! Ya' tryin' to give us a heart attack or somethin'?"

Rosco quickly pulled down the map and started rolling it up in a jumbled mess.

"I'm sure sorry, Sheriff, I didn't mean to interrupt."

"Oh just never mind, I'm finished anyway. Now BOTH of ya', just get out there and find that convertible that's been speedin' all over th' county. It's gettin' to be plum embarassin'!"

"Sheriff? What convertible? I've been off duty for two days."

"ENOS! Don't ya' keep th' radio on at th' house? Ya' ain't heard? That riffraff's been causin' all kinds of commotion 'round here!"

Enos HAD kept the police scanner on at the house, but was rarely inside to hear it. He had so much work to do at the Circle M Ranch that he was working more hours off duty than on. Sam Tucker, his ranch foreman, had been pressing him for weeks to hire two new hands and he hadn't had the time. Balancing his job as a Hazzard County Deputy Sheriff and his new life as owner of the Circle M Ranch was proving to be a rather difficult task.

"I'm sure sorry Sheriff, I've been just swamped at th' Ranch. I ain't heard nothin'. What's goin' on?"

"Oh well see there's this silver convertible and it's been speedin' all over th' County. Put Rosco in th' pond three times on Saturday," Cletus announced somewhat tickled.

"OH HUSH! Whoever is drivin' that thing put you in th' pond twice on Sunday and once Saturday afternoon! At this rate we ain't gonna have no ponds…just holes with patrol cars in 'em! Now y'all split up and find that car! And watch yourselves! We're goin' through cars faster than Cooter can dry 'em out!"

"Yes Sir, Sheriff."

Enos grabbed the keys to Hazzard Two and walked out with Cletus.

"Cletus? What's goin' on at Pond Creek and Hwy. 20?"

"Oh I ain't sure. Somethin' about re-zonin' and road construction."

"I was just wonderin', that's not far from th' Ranch. Hey, tell me more about this convertible, what's it like?"

"It's fast, Enos. I mean REAL FAST!" Cletus took on a look of excitement. "It's a silver convertible, brand spankin' new Mercedes, but th' top ain't never down and we've been getting' calls from upset farmers 'bout it just racin' up an down th' road. Then when we get there it lets us get real close. Saturday afternoon it actually pulled over for me but when I stepped out of th' car, it just took off! I've chased that car three times now and it's just…well let's just say it ain't been easy to catch. I think it's a bunch of kids."

"Awful expensive car for kids. What about th' Duke boys? They ever run into it?"

"Not that I know of."

"Thanks, Cletus. I'll head out towards Old Post Road, ya' wanna go th' other way?"

"You just wanna go see Daisy, don't ya!" he smirked and slapped his shoulder.

"Ding dang it, Cletus! I'm goin' to see if th' Duke boys will keep an eye out! Have ya' talked to Cooter?"

"Why?"

"Well, it's gotta gas up somewhere," Enos rubbed the back of his neck.

Sometimes it just wasn't easy having to play dumb.

"Oh. Yeah. Ya' want me to talk to him?"

"I'll do it. I need him t'look at a truck I got at th' house anyway."

"Ya' got two trucks now? What are ya' doin' with two trucks? Ya' can only drive one at a time."

"It ain't exactly mine, but when Gus and Emily went back to Wyoming it wouldn't start. I've been too busy to look at it so when I talk to Cooter about it, I'll have him keep an eye out for th' convertible."

"Oh! Good idea. Ya' learn all that in L.A.?"

No. Kindergarten…

"Yeah…detective course. See ya'."

Enos headed for the patrol car and dropped the keys fumbling with the lock on the driver's door.

"Ding dang it…"

He bent down to pick them up and then saw a pair of high heels appear to his right … tall red ones … with long tan legs attached.

Oh no…not again!

He swallowed the lump in his throat and stood without making eye contact.

"H...Hey Margaret, how are ya' doin' today?" he finally unlocked the door but just as he opened it she slipped in front of him, blocking him from getting inside.

"Hi Enos. Sure is hot this afternoon. I was wonderin' if ya' wanted to go out to th' pond later and…cool off. We could go swimming or somethin'," she batted her eyes. "I made some sandwiches and some peach cobbler. Want to go with me, I got a new swimmin' suit!" She leaned in close and whispered, "It's real cute!"

Her voice was impassioned and deep…it made his skin crawl. Enos took a step back like she was some wild animal about to rip him apart for lunch.

Margaret was one of what he now called his "top three barracudas." Margaret, Cindy Lou and Lori Jean. They had no shame and had yet to get the message that he was not interested. They hadn't given him the time of day until he inherited all of the O'Connell assets. Some of their tactics were becoming downright scary. With his natural affinity to be kind and not hurt anyone's feelings, he was struggling with how to get his point across yet not be rude. But he was beginning to lose his patience and wasn't going to tolerate much more.

"Um…excuse me Margaret, I'm sorry but I'm on duty and I have to go. I got important police business to deal with."

"Oh…Enos," she pouted as she looked down. She was in a tank top that had to be two sizes too small. "Wait! I know how ya' can make th' time! Why don't ya' meet me at th' pond on your break?"

"I can't…I told ya' Margaret! I'm real busy! I just don't have any free time!"

From behind him a shrill voice interrupted his excuse.

"MARGARET! You shameful HUSSY! Ya' need to just stay away from him!" Lori Jean saw the two talking and was quickly headed their direction.

"WHAT did ya' call me ya' LITTLE TRAMP?"

Margaret moved away from the door and started towards Lori Jean. Enos was just about to get in the car and drive off when he heard the two girls screaming at each other.

This ain't ever gonna get better!

He walked over to them and pulled them apart before things degraded further. There had already been one catfight between Cindy Lou and Lori Jean last week, complete with hair pulling and screaming. In the end, HE ended up being the one getting smacked upside the head when Cindy Lou threw a shoe at Lori Jean.

"Margaret! Lori Jean! STOP IT! Ya' can't keep actin' like this! Now Margaret, go home. Lori Jean? Where's your car?"

"WHAT! You're gonna walk Lori Jean to her car and just make me walk home ALONE!?"

"Margaret, I can see your house from where I'm standin'! Go home! NOW!"

"But Enos…I made peach cobbler and everything!"

"Don't eat it Enos…it's probably got Margaret cooties in it!"

The girls started slapping at each other and he was right smack in the middle.

"OW! You two just …just… STOP IT NOW! Geez! What's wrong with ya'?"

"Enos? Can I help?"

The girls stopped when they saw Doc Appleby walk up.

"Margaret, now I know your daddy wouldn't be very pleased with you bein' out here acting like that! You just walk with me and I'll take you home," he took her arm and moved her away from Enos. Then, with a sad expression he tried to reason with the young deputy. He still hadn't spoken to him and it had been months now.

"I'd sure like to visit with you, Enos. I hate that we can't at least talk. Would you please come by my office later? I've cleared my appointments this afternoon."

"I appreciate ya' walkin' Margaret home Doc Appleby, but I don't see where we got nothin' to discuss. Excuse me," he glared at him then having spotted Lori Jean's car he sighed and began to lead her to it.

Doc Appleby had no choice but to let him be as he walked Margaret home.

"You're so sweet to walk me to my car, Enos!" she spoke with a sugary voice.

"Lori Jean, I'm on duty and if you and Margaret don't stop this bickerin' I'm gonna…I'm gonna…ya' just stop actin' like a couple of teenagers," he was exasperated.

She gasped then got a silly smile on her face, "Ya' mean, ya' might arrest me Enos?"

Okay, this was beyond creepy. He opened her car door and pushed her inside, slamming the door behind her. She just leaned out the window, smiled and giggled at him.

"Anytime ya' want to see a movie ya' just give me a call!"

"Lori Jean! Go home!" he turned on his heels feeling the need to find soap.

He headed back to his patrol car hoping he could actually get inside of it before Cindy Lou popped up from behind the bushes somewhere.

Thankfully she was nowhere in sight this afternoon and he headed over to Cooter's Garage and parked before quickly heading inside. If fortunate, he wouldn't have any more problems with those two today.

"Cooter? Ya' here?"

"Hey, Enos! What's goin' on buddy?" Cooter slid out from the car next to him. "Did ya' see what Margaret is wearin' t'day? I gotta tell ya', since ya' inherited all that money…on behalf of all us men…we wanna thank ya' for improvin' th' scenery. If ya' know what I mean," he burst out laughing.

"Very funny Cooter! I feel like th' last perch in th' shark tank!"

"I'm just teasin'. Whatcha' needin'?"

"I need a favor. There's a truck out at th' ranch that won't start. I ain't had th' time to look at it and I need it runnin' soon. I gotta find somebody to drive it out to Wyoming in September."

"Ya' got two trucks?"

"Well not exactly."

It had been a difficult transition. Everybody wanted to know every little detail of his new life. The shiny red truck that sat in the driveway of his house belonged to Jenny MacFarland. She had left it for him to help transport the horses home from Wyoming before her brother Drake took her away.

"Enos? Ya' all right?"

"Uh...sorry, Cooter. Yeah, just distracted."

"Margaret, huh!"

"NO! NOT Margaret! Listen have ya seen a silver convertible come in lately to gas up?"

"Ya' mean that one everybody's been complainin' 'bout?"

"Yeah that's th' one."

"Nope…ain't seen it. Heard a lot 'bout it and had to pull Cletus and Rosco out of ponds about six times this weekend."

"I know that Cooter, that's part of why I'm lookin' for it. We need to catch it b'fore somebody gets hurt. If ya' see it, call me would ya'?"

"Ya' not sleepin', Enos? Ya' look awful tired and ya' seem cranky. I'll call ya' if I see it buddy roe. I'll go out an' take a look at your truck later this afternoon."

"Sorry, Cooter. I'm just tired. I appreciate ya' lookin at th' truck for me today, I put th' keys in th' floorboard."

"No problem! See ya'."

Enos walked back to the patrol car and headed out toward the Duke farm. As he drove along watching the mirage from the heat come up from the road on the horizon, he thought of Doc Appleby. Today was the first time he had dared approach him since their ugly confrontation several months ago. Part of him wondered if he should speak with him or not. Another part of him was still so angry at him over all the lies. He felt robbed of precious time. He had known the truth and had prevented him from saying goodbye to Beth. He knew EVERYTHING and kept him in the dark, taking his choices away.

Then he was reminded of Jenny. Her choices had been taken away more than once in her life. He was so excited when Jaxon MacFarland showed up at the Circle M several weeks ago. He was the last person he expected to see on his doorstep, especially after the horrible fight he had with his brother Drake. He realized who he was after recognizing his mannerisms. He was so much like his twin, Jenny, and he said he had come to help.

"…you need to read this. Then we should have a talk about Wallace Monroe … and my sister."

"JAXON?!"

"Hello Enos, it's nice to meet you."

Enos stood and hurried down the porch steps to talk to him face to face, he was both excited and a little concerned that he might follow Drake's lead and not let him see Jenny.

"Jaxon! Wh…where is Jenny? Please don't tell me I'm forbidden from talkin' to her...you have to know what Drake is doin' is wrong! I don't understand why he won't let me see her!"

"One step at a time, Enos. Like I said, I'm here to help. Come on. Let's go sit down out of this heat."

Enos invited him in the house where they sat down at the kitchen table, then he handed him an envelope.

"Take a look at that."

He quickly opened the envelope pulling out the letter inside. It was a report on the shooting that happened at his house several weeks ago; but it was addressed to Monroe.

"You can read the details later, but these are almost impossible to come by. Too bad it wouldn't hold up in court against Monroe. It's just a random piece of writing by an unknown person. Trust me though…it's real. Skip to the bottom and read the recommendation."

Enos quickly scanned the report and found it at the bottom:

Recommendation:
Targets Protected
Abandon Hit At This Time

Drake had told Enos after the shooting that they would be seen as protected by the MacFarland siblings, but he still didn't know why Monroe had come after Daisy, Boss or him in the first place.

"How did ya' get this? It says 'At this time' so does that mean they could come back?"

"It's my job to know these things. I promise you, if anything changes, if you or Daisy or anyone else is in danger, I'll know. I just wanted you to have reassurance."

"Jaxon, please tell me about Jenny. Is she ever coming back? I need to see her!"

"Jenny wants to come back, but she's scared for a lot of reasons. She doesn't want to make you a target again and Drake is putting a lot of pressure on her."

"Drake told me she was shot at the ranch that day! Is she all right? I just have to talk to her, I want to see her! Jaxon please, can you help me?"

"Be patient, Enos. She's doing just fine now. Give it time. Is there anything you want me to tell her?"

"ABSOLUTELY!"

But now his excitement had turned to an impatient yearning. He felt helpless as he waited day after day to hear something, anything, only to go to bed each night without any word. He only saw her now in his dreams and occasional nightmares.

He focused back on his duty and finding the silver convertible that was racing across the county. He made the turn off Old Post Road to the Duke farm. Hopefully, the Dukes had seen the car, or at least they could help catch up to it with the General Lee. If the convertible was as fast as Cletus said it was, none of the patrol cars would have a chance, they would have to out drive it.

He felt the knot in his stomach tighten again as he pulled down the drive. Daisy's jeep was in front of the farmhouse and while they were trying to repair the damage to their friendship, somedays were more difficult than others.

The silver Mercedes was carefully hidden. It's driver waiting patiently for the right moment. Tonight would be the night. The last two days had been a total waste of time. The patrol cars the convertible engaged had not been the one. Losing them in pursuit had been simple. Watching them go in to various ponds … six times … had been hilarious. This town might as well have a special traffic sign made, one with waves and a police car above it.

It was time to get down to business. The information was clear and the correct patrol car had been located. The scanner in the little car was on, it's driver focused on the call signs and each location. Under the cover of darkness, the car would make its move.