runningwild

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.

Shaking his head and grumbling, Luke entered the jail and spoke directly to Enos who was sitting at his desk. "Where is she?" Enos laughed nervously, "Howdy Luke, how's everything?" "Enos," his voice raised. "Downstairs, but Luke I can't let you see her if you're going to do something you'll regret I already had Bo lay into her earlier." Luke nodded, "I just want to talk to her," he sighed. "Give us some time.." Nodding, Enos watched Luke walk downstairs to see Cassie for the first time in a while. Silently, he prayed for a wreckoning for the two of them. Hearing footsteps, Cassie perked up to see who it was. As she approaching the bars, her eyes widened when she saw that it was Luke Duke. He slowed as he stepped off the bottom step and froze staring at her. This was a moment that would be forever embedded in their minds. "Hi.." Cassie spoke weakly.

Luke just stared at Bo in disbelief, "How fair was that, Bo?" He followed him, "And what makes you think I want to be with her again after everything?" His voice was bitter and hushed once again, "Don't even pretend like you don't know.. she told me that ya'll slept together a few years back.. or did you forget?" Cassie had come to visit her aunt while Luke was in the Marine's. He was going through training and they weren't dating nor had they even considered being a couple. So, getting the next most eligible guy in town to show her a good time, Bo did just that. Frustrated with his cousin, Luke turned and just stormed off from the General Lee and Bo. Since he wasn't that far from the jail that's exactly where he was heading.

Cooter spoke up, "And, now the people start to stare.." Luke looked at Cooter and then noticed a few people who had slowed to watch the Dukes talk. "Maybe she was her and her damn problems, but I'm the one that was drinking and wrecking my life over a woman." He had hushed his voice a little. "The Cassie you saw and the Cassie that I knew were two different people Bo. Why do you think it was so hard for me?" Sighing out of frustration, he didn't know what to do. The only thing on his mind was a beer.

"That's understandable," Luke nodded regretting that he had even checked to see what she looked like. He already had a hunch that by Bo yelling at her he'd already made her angry. That's just how she was. Cooter had shoved his hands in his pockets and was finding it hard to stand still with all the tension rising. "It's all complicated," he was talking about how Bo remembered how rough Luke had it. "You can't blame her for things I did, Bo. I can swear up and down she's the reason, but that doesn't justify it. That doesn't even come close." Sighing, he shook his head, "I reckon you didn't talk to her then... do you care to?" He was being too kind and too forgiving, but what else could he do?

Luke considered this, "That's good," he seemed to be calming down a little. "If she's got charges, then she should be locked up. That a good place for her to sit for a while." He looked at Bo, "Sorry Cousin, I didn't mean to yell. I'm probably causing quite the scene." Cooter tried to laugh, "That you are my friend," this time he put his hand on Luke's shoulder. "What are you going to do with your newfound information?" "I.. don't know," he was hesitant in answering. "Bo, you seen her right? Did she look alright?" Everyone that knew Cassie distinctly remembered her appearance the last time she was in town. She came in a fresh daisy, but the more you stared at her the more you realized that she was really "coked out", if that was a valid description.

Luke's face quickly changed from chipper to serious. "Cassie's back?" He had to repeat it outloud just so he would believe it. After a few moments, of silence between the three, he looked Bo straight in the eye, "Where is she?" Cooter saw that Bo had had enough of answering questions that he should fear to answer, so he spoke up. "She's in the jail." "She's where?!" His voice boomed. This was enough to make Cooter shut his mouth and let Bo handle this. In truth, Luke was hurt by Cassie. He was hurt so bad that he struggled with himself for a while, but at the end of the day he still loved her. Uncle Jesse told him that you always loved the person that hurt you the most and Luke abided by that. His own personal experience proved his uncle right. No matter how angry he was with her for what happened he had slowly over time started to forgive her in his heart. Luke didn't tell anyone that he was forgiving her.

"Of course not, then that would leave me to do all the hard labor on the farm," Luke grinned. And, checked out Bo's pale face, "I didn't think I'd scare you that bad, Cuz." Cooter laughed uneasily, "Must me that discrete Marine training put to practice. You really snuck up on us." Nodding, Luke considered this to be the reason, but still he remembered that Bo hadn't answered his question. "So, let me try again. What am I not suppose to find out?" Cutting his eyes to Bo, Cooter didn't know how the younger Duke would get out of this. Neither of the Dukes nor Cooter knew that Cassie could see them from the window in her cell. She smiled she when Luke snuck up on Bo because it warmed her heart. That's what you do when you see someone you love; you smile. Still her smile was faint and it ached her heart.

Luke had come out of the convienence store and spotted Bo just up the sidewalk talking to Cooter. This would be the perfect time to give his cousin a good scare because Bo didn't know that Daisy had let Luke borrow her jeep to take to town. Coming up behind him quietly, he caught some of what Bo had said. Slamming his hand down on his cousin's shoulder he spoke, "Don't let Luke find out what?" He seemed rather chipper. Cooter jumped and looked to Bo who instantly turned white in the face. He didn't dare say anything because he wanted to follow Bo's lead in answering Luke.

Cooter looked shocked, "Now, Bo, you don't mean that. You're lettin' your anger get the best of you." Firmly putting a hand on his friends shoulder, he hoped that Bo would rethink what he was saying. "Have you even talked to her about what happened? I mean I know she wasn't the most social person in Hazzard after it was over. I saw her at the Boarsnest every night." Sometimes Cooter could surprise you with how wise he was. Enos lead Cassie into the oourt house and Rosco almost jumped ten feet when he saw her. "Enos!" Rosco was hurrying over to the duo, "Where'd you pick her up?" Stammering slightly, he answer, "Just outside the courthouse Sheriff." Cassie nodded, "I was coming to see about my house. Didn't know I had new charges against me." Rosco gave her a sly look, "Shame shame shame Missy, you got somebody killed, of course there's going to be charges. This was serious and Rosco wasn't giving his usual snicker. "Come on Cassie," Enos let go of her arm and ushered her downstairs to her cell. Sighing, she followed him, "Enos, am I going to get out of here?" He had opened the cell door and started to remove her handcuffs. Shaking his head, he sighed, "Cassie, I don't know." "I didn't mean to, you know that... I never wanted any of that to happen," she had already stepped inside the cell herself. Enos stared at her for a long moment, "I know; time will tell." With that he closed the door behind her and headed back upstairs.