runningwild

As he drove, Luke cursed under his breath. Things just couldn't ever seem to turn out like he wanted. Even though he understood every decision Cassie had made, he still cursed her for not letting him help her. Then, he asked God to take that back because he knew her intentions were good because she would rather risk a criminal's life than the man she loves. Luke had been traveling faster than he thought, and, before he knew it, he was pulling up to the front of the Boarsnest. On the other hand, Enos after ten minutes had managed to find something to fasten his pants. He had heard the whole conversation over the CB. Being the kind of friend he was, he hadn't jumped at the first chance to tell Rosco there had been a jailbreak. After hearing what he'd heard, he didn't have the heart to tell the Sheriff at the moment. Sighing, he sat down at his desk and wanted to give Luke time to get to the Boarsnest, before he confronted him. It took Cassie a matter of ten minutes or so to get herself to her house and inside it. Of course, there was police tap around the outside, which didn't stop her from going inside. Everything was like she'd left it, but Rosco and Enos had cleaned up the place a little. And, by cleaned up she meant they'd taken anything that could've been evidence. Sighing, she went into the kitchen, which didn't look like anything had been touched. There sat the glass Sawyer had used to drink his moonshine out of before he left. She could almost have bet her life that all the moonshine in the cellar was gone and in the possession of Boss Hogg. Cassie turned to the sink and reached out to touch a tile that lined the counter. Unsurprisingly to her, it came away from the wall with ease, revealing a secret cubby. In this secret place, held a bottle of pills. Her lifeline. Without a word, Luke had got out of the truck and headed inside. His usual seat at the bar was open, which meant that the bartender knew why he was there. Luke didn't have to say anything before he had a mug of cold beer infront of him. Nodding to the bartender out of gratitude, he took a long sip from the mug and sighed.

Luke took in everything Cooter had said and without a word hung up the receiver. He didn't know what he could say after that. What was there to say? Cassie looked shocked and hurt all at the same time. "I've hurt your family enough.. please take me back." Slowing the truck, he pulled to the side of the road. "Cassie, I've hurt my family enough..but still I can't.." He fell quiet, "Everything's a mess. Just a big mess." She looked at him, "Don't let me make it any worse.." In truth, Cassie didn't know what her options were. However, she did know that she'd either go to jail for only God knows how long or live her life without the people she held dear. Luke sighed, "I can't blame you.. you know for what happened. I just can't.. I know Bo got hurt real bad and we lost Jimmy, but that was Sawyer.. not you. That kid didn't have to let him out just because you told him too. I'm looking for excuses.. and I'm just so frustrated." "Luke, let me go.. you're hurting and I'm hurting, but your life could be so much simpler, if you just let me walk away from this." Cassie had tears swelled in her eyes. He didn't say anything. "I'm sorry Luke.. I'm truly sorry," she leaned over and kissed him softly on the cheek. Pulling away, she opened the truck door and slipped out. "I'll be seeing you.." Giving him a small wave, she headed the opposite way down the road. Her family's old home was only a block or two in this direction. Luke wanted desperately to go after her, but he couldn't. Instead he picked up the CB, "Cooter, Bo, Uncle Jesse, Daisy or whoever's listening.. you want to hear it. You were right.. I let the bird fly the coop." There was a sadness in his voice that anyone that was listening in Hazzard could pick up on. "I'll be at the Boarsnest, if anybody needs me." Putting the car back in drive, he sped off down the dirt road in the direction of the Boarsnest. Cassie on the other hand planned on stopping by her house. She had other plans that needed to be taken care of.

Hitting his free hand hard on the steering wheel, he regained composure and kept driving. "You don't think so, huh? You know that's alright, Cooter. I can't expect anybody to get caught up in this." He sighed and let off the button. Cassie looked at him, "Luke you're risking an awful lot. Just take me back." "No," he shook his head, "You made a mistake.. you shouldn't be punished for that.. you don't deserve this." He was thinking logically, but couldn't understand why no one else would understand why she did what she did. Sighing, he hit the CB button one last time, "Cooter, tell Uncle Jesse I'll leave his truck a quarter mile east before you get to Dry Creek..that's on the edge of the Neilson property." Now, Luke was insinuating that he was abandoning the truck and any of hope assistance from his family or friends.

Luke let out a hard breath of relief, "I've got in my possession a little bird that whistling a different tune." He paused, "Mind if I bring it by?"

Luke was feeling despair because he didn't know how what he should do. So, he stared through the bars at Cassie. "Remember that time.. when we were just kids and riled Bo up so much by tearing his new pair of pants." Cassie nodded slowly and couldn't for the life of her figure out why Luke was bringing it up. "Yeah, we were about 5 or so.. just before I left. It was an accident, but quite funny at the time." Enos chuckled to himself, "Bo Duke caught with his pants down. I remember that. How'd you managed to actually get 'em like that. Ya'll were just kids." In Cassie's mind a light bulb went off, she smiled. "Well Enos.. he'd made me mad for some reason. And, as he was walking away from me I grabbed the only thing I could." Luke cut in, "Oh come on Enos let her out so she can show you. It was the funniest thing back then. She was a pistol." Being caught up in the laughter, Enos didn't question the motive. "Just for a second, I can't have Rosco finding out about this. But, don't try anything funny Luke, you promise?" "Scouts honor," Luke smiled. Removing the keys from his side, Enos opened the cell door and stepped out of the way for Cassie to walk out. "Now, hurry up we'll all have our laugh and I'll have to meet the Sheriff at the diner." Cassie nodded, "Well Enos," she stepped out of the clearance of the door. "Bo started to walk away from me, and I wasn't one to be walked away from back then. See he'd thrown a rock and hit me, so I snatched him up by the front of his britches." As she spoke Cassie, simulated on Enos. When her hand grasped the front of his pants at the button, he blushed. "Then, before I knew it they were down around his ankles." She noticed that Luke cut his eyes at her and nodded his head in the direction of the door. "Like so," in one swift movement she had broken the button and tore down the zipper. As Enos scrambled to gain composure of his pants, Cassie and Luke bolted for the stairs. Enos yelled, "Cassie come back here!" He couldn't keep his pants up, "Luke you promised!" Luke called over his shoulder, "Sorry Enos I'll make it up to you." He lead Cassie out of the jail and to Uncle Jesse's truck. She slid in the passenger side and he jumped in the driver's seat. In a matter of seconds, they were speeding off. Cassie sighed, "What a rush I never thought we'd do something like that again. I appreciate it, but you shouldn't have busted me out of jail." "We've got to make some things right," Luke said sternly. "Just be grateful you're not rotting away in that jail cell." Picking up the CB he hit the button, "Crazy Cooter this is Lost Sheep 1, you got your ears on?"

Rosco cursed under his breath, "Ms. Morgan isn't taking any visitors right now. It's time for Enos and I to get something to eat. Jail's closed." He started towards Luke and the door, "Now get!" Enos shook his head slightly, "But Sheriff.." "But nothing Enos! I said Luke's not seeing Cassie and that's final." Rosco stormed out of the jail. "Get out or get locked up, Luke," he called over his shoulder. Luke sighed, "Can I see her Enos?" He sighed, "Just for a second Luke.. I shouldn't even be doing this." Shaking his head, he lead Luke downstairs. "Cassie you've got a visitor.." Cassie perked up and looked. Her heart once again raced, as she saw Luke coming down the stairs. "Luke.." Moving to the bars, she stared at him. Luke didn't smile, "Are you alright?" "I'm fine," she nodded slowly. Enos stayed back, but kept his eye on them. "Enos," Luke turned to look at him. "Let me bail her out. Let me do something." Cassie's eyes widened, "No, you can't do that." Luke ignored her and watched Enos, who replied, "You can't Luke." He sighed out of frustration, "What can I do?" "Nothing," Cassie whispered. "I'm a bad person and this is where I belong." "Stop saying that!" Luke raised his voice. "I'm tired of hearing that you're such a bad person." Enos stepped in, "Luke maybe you should go."

It almost surprised Cooter that Bo had waited. He approached the driver's side window of the General Lee. "Think long and hard about what you're going to do. I don't need another friend making any mistakes." Cooter paused and then his lips broke into a grin, "Now, go on and tell Uncle Jesse I said Hello."

Cooter cursed under his breath, "Bo!" He called after the youngest Duke. Getting up he sat his glass down and headed down the stairs towards the General Lee. "Wait a second!" Now, it was up to Bo whether or not he'd wait. Enos shook his head, "I'm still following the law Sheriff. Cassie Morgan is downstairs in a cell. I might not agree with it, but she's there." Luke looked at Enos, "Thanks Enos, for understanding." Rosco was getting angry, "Luke get out of here! We don't need no Duke coming in here telling us how to do our job." Luke spoke, "I'm not telling you how to do your job Rosco.. I'm here to as a visitor to your criminal."

Cooter stared at Bo, "I understand, Bo. I really do." The whole conversation was hurting ol' Cooter to hear, but he had to let his friend talk. What he had thought about the situation wouldn't mean a thing, right now. Still he wanted to take up for Luke, but still be there for Bo. The man was torn between two friends. "I don't think Luke's choosing Cassie over his family..." He sighed, "She's done some things that can never be taken back, but that's not worth talking about again. Luke's like your brother, Bo, and ya'll are just going to have to find a way to deal with each other. You should just talk things over with him, before you go making any decisions. You owe each other that."

Cooter just stared at Bo, "Okay, well look at it this way. Maybe he loves her and maybe he wants to help her. He's not abandoning Cassie because she made a few mistakes. Granted that they were huge mistakes, but I see where you're coming from." He sighed and started again, "I'm not going to encourage you to leave your family, even though you are welcome to stay here. I know that you're still hurting from what happened. Everyone is, but you have to realize that people change Bo. They change real fast. Do you remember when we were all about knee high and Cassie would just laughed and play? Ya'll were at each other like cats and dogs, but you still were her friend even after she broke your bow and arrow that Uncle Jesse gave you. She went away and came back.. there had to be something about her that kept you hooked. You slept with her Bo. Not a lot of people know that, but you took her on a drive and ended up on some back road and that was it. Now, the last time she came back.. I know she caused a ruckus, but you do know that she had been influenced terribly in her decision making process. Luke talked to me briefly about it not to long ago.. she was messed up on drugs and a man that haunted her. She did let Sawyer out of jail, after he'd been put in there for shooting you, but she wanted Sawyer to kill to her ex-boyfriend and then after he wasn't able to. She responded to the APB put out on him to have him locked back up." Suddenly, Cooter fell silent and just stared at Bo. "After a lifetime together.. you'd abandon Luke? He's not abandoning you Bo.. he's trying to save somebody's life.. and he's making a sacrifice even though he knows that its hurting you. He's counting on your help." Rosco started over to where Luke stood, "Was that a threat Luke?" Luke shook his head, "No, it wasn't Rosco, but she don't belong in there." He sighed. Enos looked at Luke and then to Rosco. "He's right Sheriff." "You're a danged fool Enos! She's a criminal." Rosco shouted. Cassie heard this from downstairs and shuttered slightly. Jail was a dark place to be which was ironic considering that she had a window to pour sunlight down on her.

Cooter's eyes widen, "What?" He paused, "Bo, why'd you wanna move in here? Uncle Jesse's really needs your help on the farm.." In truth, Cooter didn't know if he could tell Bo no, but he wanted to figure out why he'd even consider that. "Come on.. looks like we need to talk my friend." Enos just stared at Luke, "Bail? For Cassie?" Before Luke could answer, Rosco interrupted them, "There's no bail for Ms. Morgan. Boss said she is to remain in jail until her trial, which could be weeks from now." Luke shook his head, "There's no reason for her to stay in there that long." "Well no.." Enos said softly. Rosco shot him a look of intimidation. Sighing, Enos spoke again, "She has to stay Luke.. she's caused too much trouble." "Well.. I hate to tell you Enos, but if you don't let her out, then there's going to be a whole lot more trouble for ya'll to deal with."

"Anytime Bo." Cooter just sighed as Bo walked past him. Luke, on the other hand, was heading into town. To no surprise, he let the truck pull to a stop infront of the jail. Right now, he just wanted to talk to Enos. There's where all the answers would lie. Getting out of the truck, he headed inside. Enos looked up from his desk, "Hey Luke.." He wasn't sure why Luke was back, but he wanted to keep their conversation as business-like as possible. Rosco was going through a filing cabinet grumbling something about Boss Hogg. Hearing someone come in, he smirked when he saw that it was Luke. "What are you doing here Luke? I haven't arrested you yet." Shaking his head, Luke sighed, "You ain't got anything to arrest me for Rosco. I'm here because I've got some business to tend to." Enos shook his head, "What can I help you with?" Luke took a deep breath, "Let's talk bail."

Cooter nodded slowly, "You can go on in, if you want. Lay down. Nobody'll bother you. Or, I can go in and you can sit out here. It's whatever you want to do, Buddy." In Cooter's eyes, Bo looked bad and he didn't know what to say to him just yet. Luke just kept driving and he wasn't doing his usual speed, but something that was slower. It was the speed limit. He had a lot on his mind and no place to go. He wanted answers, but didn't know how to get them. Maybe where ever he ended up would do him a world of good.

Luke nodded, "Uncle Jesse.. I'm in a no win situation. I'm already beat down enough.. I don't know how much guard I have to keep up." Taking a breath, he looked at his uncle for a long moment. "Thanks for the truck." Turning with a beat, he headed for the old pick up. Cooter sighed, "You can stay here Bo, but you can't hid from Luke forever." Looking at the younger Duke cousin, Cooter shook his head, "You aimin' to talk or do you want me to leave you be?" Cranking the engine, Luke sped off down the dirt road in the direction of town. Where he was going, in truth, was still a mystery even to him. Still he figured that eventually everything would make sense.

Throwing up his hand, Cooter nodded. "Hey Bo." He paused noticing the somewhat exhausted and frustrated look on the Duke's face. "You still stuck in the rough spot between you and Luke?" He asked only out of concern and for the fact that he was a friend of both of the Duke boys. Luke heard Daisy over the CB, "Bo Peep this is Lost Sheep 1. Everything's alright and I'll have to catch you up later." He didn't want to be the one to have to tell Daisy that Cassie was back in town. "Trust me.." With that he hung up the receiver. Daisy sighed and decided not to fight Luke, "Alright Cousin, but if you need any help let me know." Luke looked at his Uncle, "Can I borrow your truck?"

After leaving Bo and Luke to the street, Cooter had headed back home to see what he could get done around there. He was a man that could multi-task and had millions of things that he had to do. Still he found time for everything and could accomplish numerous tasks in one day. Right now, Cooter was sitting on his front porch, taking a few long drink from a glass of sweet tea. Every man needed a break now and then. Daisy who was on her way home from the store had caught what Luke had said. Biting her lip, she picked up her own CB and spoke, "Bo Peep to Lost Sheep.. Bo Peep to Lost Sheep." She didn't know which boy would answer, but either of them would do for now.

Luke let out a heavy sigh and clicked the CB one last time, "Look Bo we need to talk.. all of us." With that he let go of the button and hung the receiver up. Turning to his Uncle, Luke spoke, "By all of us, I mean Cassie too." Jesse shook his head, "Do you think that's the right thing to do?" "What else is there to do?" The old man sighed and nodded slowly. He understood Luke's motive, but he also didn't know how Bo and Daisy would react to this.

Enos' face was overwhelmed with happiness, at the mention of Daisy's name. "She's fine.. now, I can't guaranteed how well she'll be when she finds out you're in town." Cassie's frown deepened. She had taken a few bites out of the sandwich she'd been given. "I'm not so hungry anymore.." Shaking his head, Enos just sighed. "Keep it down here. I'll be back later to get it incase you change your mind." With that he got up and headed out of the cell, closing the door behind him. Luke stared at Uncle Jesse for a long moment, "Thanks, Uncle Jesse." It was all he could say to show how grateful he was for the old man. Reaching down, Luke picked up the CB, "Lost Sheep 1 to Lost Sheep 2.." he paused, "Lost Sheep 1 to Lost Sheep 2." He didn't know where Bo was but he hoped that he could hear him.

Cassie was sitting on the bunk in her cell. As her legs dangled slightly, just so she could keep the circulation going, she heard someone coming down the stairs. "You hungry?" It was Enos. Thinking it over, Cassie nodded slightly. Enos smiled and opened the door, "It's not much, but I kinda knew what you liked.." The only reason that he knew was because he'd seen her in Los Angeles. Currently, Enos was back in Hazzard to serve for a little while because he wasn't sure that the City of Angels was the place for him to be. Graciously, Cassie took the food and started neatly placing it on her lap. "Thank you, Enos." She offered him a warm smile. "Don't worry about it our prisoners have to eat," he chuckled softly. "I haven't seen you since Los Angeles," he said this and sat down beside her. Cassie took a sip of her drink and paused. "I know," she couldn't look at him. Enos had actually busted her in Los Angeles for possession of drugs and prostitution. Being the kind of man he was, he helped her get on the right track. Then, he headed back to Hazzard County. "Are you still doing alright?" He tried to look her in the eye and realized that he was failing miserably. All she did was nod. "I can't make things right with Luke can I?" Enos sighed, "Cassie, drugs are what was killing you. It'll be hard, but I think you can. I think he wants to." Faintly smiling, she looked at him, "How's Daisy?"

Luke nodded slowly, "According to Enos, Bo saw her and started yelling at her. Some big commotion.. you know those two. They can never get along." Sighing, Luke was torn and he didn't know what to do. On one hand there was the love of his life and on the other was his cousin, who was basically his brother. "I just don't know what to do Uncle Jesse. I want to try to make things right with Cassie.. I do. I would never tell Bo that because he'd tell me I was being stupid for wanting to trust her." He paused for a long moment, "What do you think I should do? I mean is Cassie worth it?" (Sorry for not posting a whole lot lately. Things have been crazy with my birthday and school; plus, for a while I couldn't get the forum to let me log on and reply. I'll try to get back into the swing of things.)

Luke sighed and sat back; he knew that his uncle was disappointed in him. "I know you don't approve of what I was doing.. Uncle Jesse you just don't get it." He paused gathering his thoughts so that he could make his uncle understand. "Last time, well it was hard.. very hard. I mean she busted a criminal out of prison.. had her ex-boyfriend trying to find her.. then her criminal friend, who let me remind you had shot Bo, which was why he was in jail in the first, shot and killed Daisy's boyfriend." His statement was a long winded breath, "And, on top of all that she told me that this fella kissed her. I mean that should be the least of my worries after all that, but it just keeps piling on, Uncle Jesse." This was Luke's chance to get it all out without any interruptions and he was taking full advantage of it. "She's beautiful.. I mean she is skin and bones.. the drugs are killing her. I mean if she's not taking pills only God knows if she's still into the hard stuff. But, she's still beautiful. Her personality blows me away, but her judgement from past experiences is clouding it. I love her.. but I can't trust her..I've never had a woman get at me like this before. Usually I would just leave this kind of thing alone, but I saw her today; I mean really saw her and she looked bad.. you have to really look at her to notice, but where ever she's been wasn't the best place for her to be."

Luke heaved a heavy sigh, "Uncle Jesse.. do you know who I saw today?" The old man's head shook slightly, but his face remained emotionless. In his mind, Luke questioned whether or not he should tell his uncle, but thought that it'd be for the best. "Cassie," he said her name and the tone he carried was helpless. "Her being here just stirred up so many memories.." Picking up his glass, he took a long drink from it. Beer was drowning his sorrows once again.

Taking a deep breath, he needed to get everything off of his mind. Without giving it a second thought the eldest Duke cousin made a bee line for Daisy's Jeep. Once he'd started it up, the gas pedal was too the floor and he was on his way to the Boar's Nest. Maybe a beer would calm him down because is emotions were running high. Cassie was still in mild shock and questioning whether or not seeing Luke had just really happened. Slamming her foot into the iron bars, it made a loud noise. She was upset, "Enos!" The blonde yelled up from her cell, hoping that the Deputy would answer her. Killing the engine, Luke hopped out of the Jeep and headed inside the bar. Because it was still early afternoon, there weren't many people in there, but it wasn't deserted either. A few people greeted him and he nodded. Picking his favorite seat at the bar, he ordered a beer. (cue: ANYONE. Quite frankly, I'm tired of playing every other character, including mine, except for Bo. I also apologize for waiting so long to reply; I had hoped that someone would help the story along without butchering it. Enjoy.)

Cassie had came through the hospital to try to gain some confidence to visit Luke after she heard what had happened. However, her already purposely delayed trip to his room got delayed even more. She heard a commotion coming from a room down the hall. Slowing her pace, she could hear the entire thing. Being the person she was, Cassie stepped into the doorway of the room, "Excuse me, could ya'll keep it down. I can hear you clear down the hall." Hearing Luke's name in the conversation made it of interest to her. It's like her ears had perked and she wanted to find out all she could.

Luke just stood there for a second contemplating how she should react. "What brings you back to Hazzard?" He slowly approached the door to her cell. Her fingers wrapped around the bars to her door, "I figured there was money to pay on my family's old house.. I didn't want Boss Hogg to take it from me." He knew her answer was honest enough, "You've looked better." Luke's eyes had given her the once over. "What can I say? It's rough sometimes," Cassie was now self-conscious. Where was this conversation going? Luke was thinking to himself and he figured that Cassie was still shocked to see him standing there. "You're too skinny.. I mean you were skinny before, but now there's nothing too you." "I make bad choices sometimes.." Calling her out, Luke sighed, "You do. Drugs, drinking, and getting caught up with the wrong people. Cassie what were you doing?" Cassie looked down and whispered, "Killing myself." "What?" Luke didn't understand. "Do you know how happy I was to find Harvey, then how quickly that changed when I found out he was wrapped up in all this organized crime. When you can't get away from being made into a whore for profit and being abused by all these men.. what was I suppose to do? I did drugs to ease the pain..I drank to forget.." She fell silent. Luke stared at her emotionless, "Because of your negligence someone was killed." Letting go of the bars, she let her arms fall to her side. "You don't think I know that?" She had raised her voice. "I would never have let him go, if I would've known he was going to shoot someone." Enos winced upstairs, as he heard Cassie speak up. Thinking it over, he thought that it'd be best to just wait before going to find out what was wrong. "He shot Bo, Cassie. That's why he was in jail in the first place!" Luke's voice drowned out Cassie's. Stepping forward, he grasped the bars, "I would've helped you.." "I didn't want to risk you getting killed.. I couldn't. So, I decided that based on the fact that this man shot Bo he could protect me from Harvey. If he died, then that wouldn't mean anything to me.." There was a bout of silence between them. Luke didn't know what to say to her. "I know I'm a horrible person and I know that I hurt you.. but I didn't mean to," she stepped forward. Putting her hands on his, she smiled faintly, "I love you." For a long moment, he stared deeply into her eyes. Suddenly, he took his hands off of the bars and stepped back, "I can't trust you.. and I didn't know it was possible not to trust someone you loved." With that he started back up the stairs. "Luke.." Cassie called after him, but he wasn't stopping. Enos stood up, as Luke surfaced and searched his face for any indication of that was said. "Everything alright?" "No..." Luke didn't stay to talk he just headed out of the jail and out into the crisp Hazzard air.