"H...how..." Zack asked desperatly as he stayed huddled in Luke's arms. It hadn't been alright for as long as he could remember...he didn't see how one person could promise to make it ok again when so many people had already tried.

Luke said nothing but his mind was humming like a well-oiled machine. "I promise...I'm gonna fix things for ya...one way or the other...I promise Zack."

Zack didn't know what to think. It was hard enough to keep accepting that maybe his parents weren't ever going to come back for him, but it was harder still to accept that maybe this stranger had all the answers. He still didn't understand why it was Luke wanted to help him so badly, all the guy had done was make promises that he would make everything ok. Coming from out of the county, across the line in Chickasaw, he'd never heard of the Duke family and so didn't know about their reputation. However, there was something about Luke, something about the peacefulness of the farm that made him feel secure....and besides if the people at the orphanage had let him go with Luke so readily he couldn't be a bad person. Even at his young age he understood how these places worked....he had been bounced around enough of them.

"You gettin' hungry Zac? I think there might be some cookies on the table that my cousin Daisy made....no one can beat her at making cookies..." invited the dark haired Duke.

Zack swallowed gently, looking up at him.

"I aint allowed cookies before dinner..."

"Well...I won't tell if you don't tell... 'sides, George looks a little hungry t' me." he added.

Zack looked down at the monkey in his arms, running his small fingers over the soft fur gently. Some of it was worn away now due to the amount of times he had been hugging him since he had got him. Biting his lip, he nodded a little.

"George is..."

"We-ell then," drawled Luke. "What say George have some cookies...an you eat what he can't finish...aint no rule against that is there?"

Zack shrugged a little, looking up at him.

"Don't think so..."

Luke nodded, going to the loft ladder and climbing down. "You wanna toss George down t' me...then you can climb? I'll catch him...I promise."

Trembling a little, Zack looked down at his beloved cuddly toy once more, clinging to him a little before carefully holding him over the edge and dropping him down to Luke.

Luke caught the stuffed monkey easily, setting it on a haybale and saying, "Sit right there george...we gotta wait for Zack." Then lifting up his hands on either side of the rail, he motioned Zack to climb down. Don't worry...just climb down...I wont let ya fall."

Zack trembled just a little, swallowing hard before starting to climb down every so slowly. His little hands gripped the rails so tight his knucles turned white, inching down to the ground and the safety of Luke's arms.

"There we go." He handed George once more over to Zack before offering his hand to lead him inside.

Once more, Zack gripped George tightly to him as Luke handed him back before taking Luke's hand carefully and walking with him to the house nervously.

Luke opened the door for him inviting him inside. "There we go. There's cookies on the table. Help yerself."

Stepping inside slowly and cautiously, Zack glanced around as he followed Luke into the old farmhouse. It was cosy and inviting, the plate of cookies on the table looking even more so. Still he didn't go to take one, still nervous and unsure about who else was in the house and if he'd get in trouble for having some despite what Luke said.

"There they are...comeon..." With that Luke picked up the small boy, monkey and all, and set him on a chair handing him a cookie. "Want some milk?"

Zack bit his lip as Luke picked him up and put him on a chair at the table, clinging onto George a little tighter but nodding a little to Luke's question.

Luke smiled going to get it for him. "Help yerself."

Gingerly, the little boy reached forward and took a cookie from the plate, first giving it to George before eating some himself.

"Thanks..."

"You're welcome," answered Luke setting the glass of milk in front of him, just watching him quietly.

Zack continued to just 'share' his cookies with George quietly, only taking a couple more and sipping some of his milk.

"I suppose...I oughta get ya back home..." began Luke not sounding too excited about it.

Zack nodded a little, not looking up as he did.