runningwild

Luke looked up when Bo arrive. Just watching him try to get a sun tan made Luke laugh to himself. What was his cousin doing? Standing up he headed over to Bo's car. "Alright Pretty Boy, where's Uncle Jesse and Daisy?" The entire time that he'd seen Bo he tried to be light hearted even if it was uncalled for. Somehow he just wanted everything to be back to normal with him and Bo.

Jesse just shook his head and sighed. As he picked up the basket of eggs, he could hear Bo pulling out of the yard. He hoped that the boys could straighten things out among themselves because something this big could ruin them for life. Luke had looked around the site a little while, before finding him a place to sit. Luckily for him, there was a set up like a chair that he could use as his seat. To him it seemed like Bo was gone forever, but the thought never crossed his mind that his cousin wouldn't come back. That's because he had that kind of faith in Bo, but he didn't know if he could set things straight with him. He figured that once Bo got back he'd try to talk to him.

Jesse gave his nephew a stern look, "Well don't beat him to death, before you get things straightened out." He shook his head only because this was exactly what he expected from the boys. It didn't appear that Luke had hit him back so that was a good sign. "I'll get Daisy and bring her up there. She'll be home soon. Go on and see what Luke's plan is, but don't lose your temper. To be fair, let him ask you about Cassie if he wants. He hasn't been able to hear much about her and I ain't had the heart to tell him, when he asks." Cassie had pulled through her surgery, but had sustained a long recovery. The entire process had been a medical rehab for her. It had been painful and an experience she never wanted to go through again. Finally, Cassie Morgan was sober and miraculously out of jail. However, she had only managed to get out because of Sawyer. He had done just what he said and so smoothly that no one knew that the real criminal had set the girl free. Whatever evidence he submitted was enough to clear Cassie on her charges. There was no reason for Luke to know she was out.

"Bo, that's the best thing you can do. I'm going to try to help you through this because I know you understand even when you don't want to. I'll tell you like I told Luke before it's his life and if he feels like there's a place for Cassie in it, then so be it." Jesse paused and stared at Bo stricken with grief. The sight of him tore Jesse's nerves up and he knew that he had to be strong for Bo. There was nothing that he could to to immediately take the pain away, but he would if he could. "I'd like to think that Luke could be happy with Cassie and that's because I want Luke to be happy. But, I know you're hurt Bo and Luke did promise the blood brother pact with you. This is just one bump in a dirt road, Son. Be civil to Luke, like you said, and I know things will patch themselves up." He paused, "Now, do you wanna go back to site? You can't just leave'm out there no matter how mad you are at him. If a part of you didn't want to forgive him, you wouldn't have gotten him out of jail."

Uncle Jesse just stared at Bo almost in disbelief. The gears in the old man's mind were turning and he wanted to try to say just the right thing to his nephew. However, he was finding it hard to make an argument right off hand because his heart ached for Bo and it ached for Luke. "Bo, just listen to me," he started off softly. "Now, I know things over the past year have been crazy around here. I know Cassie made a mistake, but I know her side of the story and I see her point. I will say that I thank the good Lord every day that didn't want to risk you boys in her problems with that Conrad fella. I respect that and that makes her a decent person." He paused knowing that Bo wouldn't like his comment, "However, I also see your side to things Bo. She was you friend since you'ns was little and she in a way betrayed you. That's something that you can't forgive overnight. Cassie let that fella out of jail and she took Luke from you. She got herself into a whole mess of trouble, and I do hope that she can straighten things out for herself. If I didn't know any better, I would've sworn as a child that she was your sister. You and her were both pistols." Jesse sighed taking a few steps and grabbing Bo softly by the shoulder. His big dirty hand clasped Bo's shoulder and he looked him right in the eye. "Luke loves her and because he loves her he refuses to see anything but the good in her. Right now, he has to try hard to see that good, when you are oblivious to it, Son. I know you're hurting over what's going on between you and Luke. But, you've got to show him that you sympathize with what he thinks just a tad or you're going to push him away forever. Luke told me a hundred times, while he was in jail, that he wished that he'd been the one shot not you. That he wished he could make things right with you, but that he knew that he couldn't because you had left and he was going to be sitting in that jail cell for a long, long time. I can only imagine what went through his mind when he saw you today. I know it must've cheered him up, Bo. You two are practically brothers and what is a man without his brother?" Letting his hand fall off of Bo's shoulder, he added his last thoughts. "Luke's love for Cassie isn't going to just go away overnight. He's going to ache for her for years. Don't preach to him about Cassie. He doesn't want to hear it. You said so yourself and everybody knows that. If she's gone, then his healing will start. Don't be angry with him Bo. Because if I know Luke, he would take the bullet for both of you in the street so that he would never have to see the two people he cares about the most hurt."

Jesse just looked at Bo it was as if he was studying the young boys face. There was no sign of excited, but it was washed out in apathy. The old man couldn't understand it; yet, at the the same time he understood everything fully. "You plannin' on leavin' him up there?" Uncle Jesse asked out of curiosity, "because that tone you're carryin' doesn't seem that you came much." He shook his head slowly, "Bo, I don't blame ya for how you feel, you can't help that. I just wish you boys could work something out. I knew you wouldn't stay on the farm forever, but its hard gettin' use to not having you boys around much less knowin' that you're fussin'." The whole situation sadden Jesse Duke because he watched the boys fall apart between each other and then each one separately. "I'm not asking you to understand Luke's side of the story, and I ain't askin' ya to forgive him neither. But, I think both of ya need to find some common ground to stand on whether its the back 40 or whatever'n ya choose." Falling quiet for a moment, the old man spoke again. "What do ya want from him Bo? Specifically, what'do ya want? I know Luke don't know how to make things right with ya. He told me that a million times in jail and the only advice I could offer him was that in good time you would come to forgive him. But, that's only when your ready too, which by the looks on your face, Bo, seems to be in another lifetime."

Jesse Duke looked up from gathering the eggs, "Bo! It's good to see ya." He looked rather jolly, but paused because Bo didn't look equally as cheerful. "Is everything all right?" The old man held onto his basket and didn't reach for anymore eggs. What matter to him was the well being of his nephew and that was the only thing on his mind.

Uncle Jesse found some kind of busy joy in his heart to whistle a tune softly to himself while in the barn. It helped to pass the time while he gathered the eggs and made sure that everything was tended to that needed it. Since Luke and Bo wasn't around to have extra sets of hands, he found himself doing a good amount of the outside work, while Daisy tended to the house. Jesse was a humble man and even if he was down on his luck he still did it with a smile. He was old, but not out so he could get by if need be. The money that Bo sent was a big help, but it just didn't make up for the long hours he pulled everyday. Right now, Daisy was at the Boar's Nest putting in a few extra hours. They could use the extra money. Luke pushed around some of the dirt around him with the toe of his boot, then he decided to take a look around. The site looked like he always remembered it, but still it was a new world to him. Jail can do that to a man so can women. He may have been infatuated with Cassie, but it seemed to go that much more deeper than that. So deep that he would hold her above anyone else because in his heart her love for him was just as good as family. There was no making Bo understand that though because he was a stubborn fool. But, Luke knew that there were times when he should've considered Bo, Uncle Jesse, and Daisy over Cassie. He wanted to save her, but that crossed his name out of Bo's book. Luke could only wish that Bo could have been in his shoes so that he could make the decision to save the love of his life, if he had the chance.

"I know, but I still respect you enough to be grateful that you did it at all." Luke got out of the car, but before he closed the door he replied, "Okay, just try not to leave me stranded out here." Closing the door, he looked around and remembered the old still site. It seemed like forever since he'd been out there. Still the site was memorable and he was just glad to see something familiar that didn't hate him.

"You're right, Bo. I guess all that thinking I got done in my cell didn't include logical thinking much." Luke nodded mostly to himself. "Hey, thanks for busting me out back there."

Luke just ignored the fact that Bo didn't answer. Sometimes he could just be hardheaded like that. "That sounds like a good spot. You planning on radioing Uncle Jesse once we get there?"

"I know you've always had asthma Bo, but I didn't know that it'd gotten worse." Luke looked concerned, "You never needed the inhaler before on one of our usual high speed jail breaks." Resting his elbow on the inside the door panel, he looked out into the countryside. This was the first time that he had been able to breathe fresh air in a long time. "Where're we going anyhow?"

Luke had to resist the urge of jumping through the window. Instead, he gathered himself and calming opening the door getting in. "Fancy ride." He looked the interior over once, then his eyes rested on the inhaler. "Since when?" That's all he knew he could say about the inhaler. Enos had already realized that the Dukes had pulled a fast one on him and was running back up the stairs. "Sheriff! Sheriff! Luke's been sprung! Sheriff!"

Luke could hear Bo and could only wish he could see the job he was doing. Making sure he was out of sight, he waited for a moment. Before he knew it, Enos came stumbling down the stairs to inspect. "Luke! Luke!.." He blew past Luke and was in such a fuss that he didn't realize at first that there was no one in the cell. Luke crept back up the stairs and then took off for it. "Come on!" He whispered and hurried through the jail and out the front door. "Which car's yours?"

Enos turned around so fast in his chair that he nearly lost his hat. Clinging to his hat with one hand, he stood up. Obviously, he was flustered mostly because that's how Enos usually was. "What is it Bo?!" His other hand went to his gun and he dashed for the door to the stairs. He stopped at Bo just so he wouldn't run him over going down the stairs.

"Oh," Luke muttered to himself as he stepped back into the shadow that was usually casted in the basement. "Well this goes without saying, but make it believable Cous--, Bo." Luke had managed to catch himself before he let it slip.

Luke shook off Bo's cold shoulder. "Okay, well.." He thought for a moment and before he knew it he had a plan. "Now, bear with me because I know you ain't up to taking no direction from me right now, but you need to go upstairs. Get Enos all wound up thinking that whoever that fella was that was down here with me done something to me. I'll stand back here in the shadow, then once Enos is past me I'll jet up the stairs. You just wait for me at the top." He paused, "I'll apologize to Enos about this a little later. Is the General out front?"

Luke took his jaw into his hand and laughed it off a little. "Fair enough, Bo. See I do think about more than just Cassie." Stepping forward after a second, he shook the punch off. " In trying to keep the mood light he smirked, "You still hit like a girl." There was a pause, "Now, who's upstairs that we've got to get past?"

Regaining his feet, he stood before Bo shaking his head. "It meant everything!" He showed Bo his own palm and gasped for breath. "Maybe I did see the outline of the tape, Bo! But, you have no idea what I'm thinking about ever. I thought you'd be safe out there racing. You'd be out of sight and traveling so I didn't worry about you. Now, you're here and who's out there to protect you. You can hold your own, but I couldn't protect you from Sawyer before. I'd risk everything to protect you this time, Cousin!" He paused and let his voice lower, "So, stop being a selfish jackass and get me out of here so we can straighten things out. Cassie's in jail for all I know now. I don't get much word down here. But, you're standing there as a free man and you're fair game to a killer. So, just get me out of here and we'll take care of Sawyer. You've got the tape and I've got the plan." With his last few words he smirked knowing that's exactly how he and Bo worked. Bo was the muscle and Luke thought up the plans. Only Duke cousins could work together like that.

Luke yelled, "BO!" He gritted his teeth, "If I'm not still your cousin, then why did you record Sawyer? Huh? I saw you. I saw you and I didn't even let on because I thought maybe this was my chance." He paused, "So don't walk away from me! Let's figure something out so that we can put that bastard back where he belongs because I sure as hell don't belong here!" Enos flinched at Luke's booming voice that traveled upstairs, but he didn't say anything.

Luke just sighed and tightened his grip on the bars. "If that's how you want it Bo, then fine we're not cousins. We don't share the same blood." It seemed so funny to Luke that Bo would cast him off even now. "I've been trapped in this cell for weeks. I've had time to do a lot of thinking. I wondered when you were going to bust me out. Or, when I was going to hear the General's horn outside of the window in the square?" He sighed again looking Bo right in the eye, "I'm still the guy you grew up with. More so now than ever, Bo. Why would you say I'm not? Is it because of Cassie? Think about it Bo. The guy you grew up with could see the good in people because that's how Uncle Jesse raised us. She's a good person deep down and I want her to get her second chance. Don't good people deserve second chances? Don't I deserve a second chance, Bo?"

Luke looked up at the second sound of foot steps that had descended down into the basement. The sight of Bo made Luke freeze in time, which was something that Luke hadn't found the time to do. Inwardly, Luke was almost over joyed at seeing the sight of his cousin, his brother. But, he wasn't sure if he should show that to Bo. He wasn't sure if things between them had gotten any better. "What brings you to this neck of the woods, Cousin?" Luke was unaware that Bo had heard what Sawyer had talked to him about. Sawyer shot Bo, or maybe he had forgotten that, which would never have helped Luke's case. Sawyer smirked to himself as he walked past Enos and out into the sunlight. He had already busted Cassie out of jail. Luke didn't know that but what did it matter anyway. Lucas K. Duke was going to be behind bars because of Sawyer. If anyone had taken the time to look at the situation, everyone was innocent except for Sawyer, who was the real criminal.

A few weeks sitting in the same jail cell did a lot for a man. Luke looked older and more worn with his beard thick and dark hair shagged. He was always grateful to see Daisy and Uncle Jesse, when they stopped by. That was about his only means of conversation except for when Rosco or Enos brought him his meals. Sometimes Enos would stay an extra few minutes and strike up a conversation, but Rosco hadn't done much to try to make the stay easier for Luke. Uncle Jesse had mentioned once that it had been hard for the first few days, but he thought that Daisy and him could take care of the farm. With two less mouths to feed, they could get things paid. Bo had written to Uncle Jesse telling him that he'd send money just as soon as he got enough that seemed fit to send. But, he hadn't mentioned anything about Luke. He wasn't exactly bitter, but more apathetic to his cousin. Yet, still in the back of his mind he always wondered what jail was like for him. Most days, Luke spent a few hours sitting on his bunk with his back against the wall. Sometimes he'd hum to himself, but mostly he let himself drift into deep thought. A lot had happened in just a few short weeks with Bo leaving and Cassie showing up and then having her stay in the hospital. By now, Luke figured that if she'd made it, he hadn't heard if she had lived through her surgery, then she must've been spending time in the state prison. On occasion, Luke would scratch a few words on the tablet Uncle Jesse had dropped off for him. Mostly, he wrote letters to people with no intention of delivering them. A lot of his letters were titled "To My Dearest Cassie" which meant that his heart was still with her. To this day no one could understand that and he knew deep down that they never would. Cassie had survived her bout with death in the hospital. Up until now she had been pretty bad off, but she was strong which meant that she could survive. Nothing could happen to Luke until Cassie was set for a court date which is why he had been in jail for so long. Luke was innocent and the only thing that Cassie was guilty of was aiding a criminal in his escape. She would do anything to see Luke. Now, she was clean and had the right head on her shoulders. The door to the jail opened and in walked a well-dressed man with a smirk on his face. "Hello there." His voice was directed towards Enos. Enos looked up from his desk, "Can I help you with something?" "I'm here to see a Mr. Luke Duke," he stood patiently. "May I ask your name, Sir?" Sawyer smirked, "Sawyer Holloway. I'm here on legal matters with Mr. Duke." He lied through his teeth well. Contemplating the information for a second, Enos nodded and directed Sawyer downstairs to Luke's cell. "You can talk to him through the bars." Sawyer nodded and proceeded down the steps. The sound of footsteps alerted Luke and he was curious as to who they belonged to since no one ever visited him this time of day. As soon as the man came into view, Luke looked suspicious. "Who're you?" A cracked grin let a chuckle escape through Sawyer's lips, "I come bearing news." He stepped into the light so that Luke could see him. Luke recognized him after a hard look, "Sawyer. What're you doing here? You're the reason I'm here to begin with!" "Calm down. Calm down. Like I said I bring news." "What that you're planning on killing me right here? That's what you are isn't it? A killer?" Luke stepped forward. "No, not at all. I thought that you would like to know that I heard wind of Cassie's mishap and I don't want her to take the heat for what I done." Sawyer seemed genuine in what he was saying. Luke narrowed his eyes, "That seems to nice of you." "The girl's a life changer what can I say?" Sawyer nodded slowly. "I figure that I can get her out and you can rot forever." This angered Luke, but he considered what Sawyer was saying. "How do you suppose you're going to get her out?" Right now, that was all that was important to Luke that Cassie could live her life right. Sawyer sighed, "Anonymous tip that I saw solely you involved in the whole thing and she was no where in site. Fair enough?" Luke thought about this for a second. This conversation seemed strange to him, but promising all the same. "Get her out." Sawyer nodded and turned to go up the stairs. Before he made it to the top he stopped, "That girl can make any man do crazy things." With that he headed through the door. Luke sighed and let his fingers grasp the bars. Maybe what Sawyer said was true, but there was no way of him knowing that just yet. All he wanted was for Cassie to be safe. He didn't care what happened to him.

Nodding to herself, Daisy answered him, "Fair enough. Do the Duke name good." She paused, "I know you'll win. I'll send Uncle Jesse your love. Oh and Bo, don't be a stranger." With that Daisy let go of the CB and hung it up. For now, that was all she could say to Bo.

Daisy held her breath for a moment. It would be wise for her to choose her words carefully. "I understand that Bo. I really do. But, Honey Cassie hasn't been able to make it out of the hospital. She's had a few complications. Luke's been trying to give up the thought of her because he knows that she's gone. Nobody's had the heart to tell him her condition. If she's guilty she'll get what's coming to her soon enough and if she's not well then I guess it's out of our hands." Pausing, Daisy refused to let her finger off of the button. She wanted Bo to get the full effect of the tone of her voice. She was being as calm and serious as possible. "He knows your gone Bo. I visited him the other day and the most he could say was how he'd lost the two people in his life that meant the most to him. He paused and then asked me how it happened. Sugar, that's not a question I'm fit to answer, but I can tell he's beating himself up about it. He regrets a lot, but I know he wants you to keep racing because you're finally able to do something you love." It was at that moment that she finally released the button for Bo to have the chance to speak. She wanted him to take everything in.