DaisyMaeDuke

"Well...why not it up here...keep me company?" invited Luke.

Luke swallowed. "How old are ya Troy?"

"She left you? What dya mean she left ya?" asked Luke feeling his heart ache for this little one.

Luke frowned. "I know...I don't wanna stay here neither...but I bet your mama an daddy are worried boutcha..."

Luke shook his hand. "Why ya runnin?"

Luke held out his hand. "Name's Luke...nice t meet ya."

Luke smiled. He was a cute little guy. "What's your name?"

Luke's first thought that whoever it was had taken hairstyling tips from Bo as a youngster a sthat was what the curly mop reminded him of. "Hey there."

"Whoever you are...it's safe t come out now..." called Luke.

Luke swallowed not sure of what was under his bed and unable to bend over and peek.

Frank and Jesse sped after her on their horses, shots ringing through the air.

Luke just sighed softly, staring after her.

Frank chased after her, jumping on his horse and riding off.

Luke gave her a charming smile. "I'll be waitin'" Not that he could go anywhere if he wanted to....

"Oh you will...if you ain't for us...you're against us....and if you're aainst us...you die...ain't that right Jesse?"

"Will you...will you come back?" he asked.

Frank snarled at her. " We finish the job we came for...then we finish the Dukes."

Hank heard her yell to her horse but didn't move. He didn't care...not anymore.

Luke gave her a hurt look, but there was smile behind it.

Hank woke up in the middle of the night after crying himself to sleep. Making his way to the barn, he cuddled up to Fly, knowing she would never hurt him like Lorraine did.

Hank Duke had never been known to carry his heart on his sleeve. In fact, he had kept it so safely hidden away that some people wondered if he had a heart at all. Since his fiancee Rebeccah had been killed, he found it easier to not care about people. That changed somewhat when he came to the farm, but still the only one who knew Hank intimately was Fly. He had thought that maybe Loraine might have been the one to help his still mourning heart,and like a fool he had let his defences down. He should have known...

Luke couldn't help but smile at her. "I thought doctors were s'posed t be merciful and sympathetic?" he said giving a small pout. He couldn't do it as well as Bo, but when needed it often came in handy.

"Yeah...I know. " He looked at his foot. "Stupid Mule."

Luke nodded. "It takes all of us to run that farm."

"No...just hard bein laid up is all..." he answerd honestly. "I ain't one t' stay still."