DaisyMaeDuke

Luke walked quietly with her, not saying much of anything at first, just enjoying the quiet of the night.

Luke smiled too. "S'been a while," he said offering his hand. He wasn't just talking about the weather.

Luke nodded and, ever the gentleman, opened the door for his younger cousin. The rain offered just enough coolness to the sultry Georgia night, steam rising up off the ground. Frogs began to croak as the moonlight shne down all around them.

Luke nodded softly, walking to the door, waiting for his cousin to join him. It was a thing she had begun doing when she first came to the farm...Bo was never able to follow after Luke in the rain due to his asthma, but Daisy had no such limitations. Over the years, it had become a tradition between them. While Bo and Luke shared the General Lee, their room, and countless other things, walking in the rain was one thing that was strictly a connection Luke and Daisy had. They would talk about anything or nothing on these walks together, just enjoying the closeness of one another and the bond of brotherly and sisterly love.

Luke nodded looking out the window as he heard the slight patter of raindrops. It called to him like a beacon in the night. "I'm gonna go for a little walk...wanna come?" Luke had always loved to walk in the rain. He supposed it started with fond memories of his parents, playing with him out in the rain. Back then he had been a romping, laughing four year old...with no cares in the world. After they died, he had taken to walking in it. In his child's mind he assumed that the light gentle rain was just a soft reminder that his parents were still watching over him, still nearby though he couldn't see them. To be sure Aunt Lavinia scolded at first, sure that the oldest boy would catch his death-a-cold walking around in the rain like that...but he never did. In fact, more often than not, he would return to the farmhouse more calm, if not happier, than when he left it. After a while she stopped scolding, but insisted on Luke taking his jacket with him. It was a habit he still had today as he reached for his jean jacket, the only one he had, tossed in a chair in their room. It was silly to take that jacket really... it soaked up the rain like a sponge. But he supposed it was better than nothing.

I think he did Roger...you best take that young whippersnapper out to the toolshed an' teach him some respect!

Luke nodded a little. "Thanks Daisy," he said softly. It was nice to know he wasn't totally without support, no matter what came of it. "I don't know that Bo would wanna talk t' me though...he sure didn't tonight."

me too

Another One Bites the Dust-Queen

Speaking of shows we remember from when they originally aired, there are three episodes that I remember quite well: My Son Bo Hogg, Brotherly Love, and Play It Again Luke....it's funny the little things that as a kid stick out in your memory. For instance, I remember the TVGuide teaser for the Friday that "Brotherly Love" would be aired. It read: "Luke risks his life to save his long lost brother from killers!" Why I remember that so many years later I have no idea but I know I watched it that night (and recorded it with my trusty tape recorder since waaaay back then we didn't have VCRs). I also remember that when Play It Again Luke aired I was Up North with my great grandmother who was in her mid 80s. We watched Dukes together and I remember her saying how "He's got a good voice" referring to Tom Wopat. I didn't know it at the time, but that was the last time I would see her-she passed away later that year. It's funny the things you remember...

Luke nodded. "Guess you're right," he said softly. Besides, there was still a chance that they would deny him. He didn't want to even think about that.

"I hate this," he muttered softly. "I hate this Daisy." He didn't know what to do. All he knew was that, for what could potentially be the biggest decision he ever made the one person whose blessing met the most was not giving it.

Luke ran a hand through his hair. "How can I be happy if no matter what I do, someone is gonna be upset?!"

Luke sighed, closing his eyes. "Why didn't he tell me?" he demanded though he wasn't all sure he wanted to know.

"Wh-what..." He held on as long as he could? Luke could read betweebn the lines easy enough. "He...he fell off..?"

"Then tell me what's goin' through his head Daisy...cuz I don't know!" he exclaimed softly. It hurt that he didn't know. It used to be he knew Bo better than he knew himself. "Please..."

Luke sighed. "I'm sorry...I wanna know...I'm sorry I snapped atcha Dais."

"no...he said t' never mind about him....so I didn't," answered Luke shortly getting the feeling that Daisy was about to tell him something he did not want to hear.

Luke stared at her in shock. "What the heck are you talkin' about?"

Luke frowned. "Bo snapped at Judd?" Bo had a temper, that was for sure, but he didn't generally snap at people he just met... "Why?"

"Yeah...well...I remember wakin up..." answered Luke. It had been a confusing and scary moment- Bo holding his hand, tears falling rapidly down his face as he begged Luke to wake up. Luke swallowed, remembering how scared he had been to wake up in a hospital, scared of the way Bo was near sobbing...scared...that his brother being alive had all been a dream.

"Yeah," answered Luke softly. "Course I do." Of course he remembered. One day he was there...less than a week later he was gone. Oh there was still the occasional phone call, the greeting card at Christmas Time. But that was it. Luke shook his head. He never quite understood why Judd would spend all the money he supposedly spent trying to find his family. Luke figured now that that was just a lie. Maybe he had known where Luke was all the time. Maybe he just came to him when he needed help. One thing was certain- he hadn't stuck around long enough for Luke to find out.

Luke sighed as she spoke, but nodded feeling as though, at this point, he had nothing more to lose. "Okay," he said quietly.

Luke swallowed but nodded a little. "Got my word as a Duke," he promised, though he wasn't sure what it was Daisy was about to tell him.