Luke Who?
by
Chapter 1
It was late, almost four A.M. , and it was dark. The young man stumbled down the road guided more by instinct than anything else. He was a handsome young man in his mid twenties with finely chiseled features, sapphire blue eyes and dark brown curly hair. Six feet tall, he had lean muscular build and was casually dressed in brown cowboy boots, blue jeans and a blue plaid shirt.
Reaching a dirt driveway, he walked around to the back of a weather beaten two story frame house with a screened in back porch. A white pickup truck and a white jeep CJ7 with the name Dixie written on both sides of the hood with a golden Eagle painted in the middle were parked in the barnyard between the house and the old barn.
The young man stumbled up the steps to the porch and entered the house through a back door that opened into the kitchen. Without bothering to turn on the lights, he made his way through the darkness to the stairway and climbed the steps to the second floor. He opened the door to the bedroom at the top of the stairs and went inside. Ignoring the single bed directly in front of him, he crossed to the second single bed in the room. He collapsed across it, face down, without bothering to get undressed.
Jesse Duke was up at five thirty just like he was every morning. The day starts early on a farm. He was a gentle bear of a man in his early sixties with snow white hair and a full beard. He quickly dressed and then went across the hall from his room to wake up his niece, Daisy, so she could start breakfast. He tapped lightly on her door and heard her answer in seconds, “I'm up, Uncle Jesse.” He smiled faintly as he continued on down the hall. Daisy was the easiest of his three charges to awaken in the morning.
He opened the door to the room that his two nephews, Bo and Luke, had shared since childhood. Walking over to the window, he pulled up the blind letting the early morning sunshine into the room. “Alright, Boys.” He said cheerfully “Time to get up.”
Bo, who slept on the bed closest to the door, mumbled in his sleep but didn't awaken. He was usually the hardest of the three cousins to wake up. Normally, Jesse woke his oldest nephew, Luke, up first and then let him take care of waking up Bo. But this morning, he noticed that Luke wasn't waking up very easily either.
Frowning Jesse walked over to Luke's bed and looked down at his nephew who was sleeping face down and still fully clothed. Luke must have gotten in awfully late last night, something out of character for Luke he was usually the more responsible one of the two boys. Jesse reached down and shook his shoulder gently “Luke,” he said firmly “It's time to get up.” Jesse knew the boys played as hard as they worked but he didn't allow them to slack off their work just because they'd stayed out a little too late the night before. When Luke still didn't wake up, Jesse shook his shoulder again, harder this time. “Luke, I said it's time to get up!” he said a little louder and just as firmly.
Finally, Luke groaned and rolled over onto his back. His eyes opened and he looked up at Jesse with a startled expression on his face. Jesse stepped back and looked at his oldest nephew with a puzzled expression on his face. He could only describe the look he saw in Luke's eyes as fear, pure fear. Thinking that Luke had simply been having a nightmare and was still not quite awake, Jesse said quietly “It's time to get up, Luke.”
“What?” Luke mumbled almost incoherently, as he swung his legs over the side of the bed and sat on the edge of the mattress. He looked at Jesse with the fear still showing clearly in his eyes. His next words sent a chill through the old man's heart “Who are you and where the hell am I?”
“Luke….what's the matter, son?” Jesse said slowly, still not sure why Luke was acting so strangely this morning.
“Don't call me that!” Luke snapped sharply “I don't know you! Where am I and how did I get here?”
Bo muttered something under his breath and opened his eyes, awakened by the voices of his Uncle and his cousin. Blinking sleepily, he yawned and sat up in bed, running his fingers through his thick blonde hair. He turned his attention to his Uncle and his cousin wondering what was going on and why Luke hadn't woke him up like he usually did the mornings.
“Luke….just calm down…” Jesse said in a soothing voice, sensing that Luke was ready to bolt at any second “It's your Uncle Jesse, son….”
“I don't know you!” Luke said angrily, his sapphire eyes flashing fire as he glared at his Uncle.
“Uncle Jesse,” Bo said, wide awake now and stunned by Luke's words. “What's the matter with Luke?” He felt a sudden surge of panic but he wasn't entirely sure why.
“That's what I'm trying to figure out.” Jesse told his youngest nephew without taking his eyes off of Luke. “Now listen to me, son…” he told Luke calmly “Your name is Luke Duke. I'm your Uncle Jesse and this here is your cousin, Bo.”
Luke shook his head stubbornly “I don't know either one of you and I never heard of any Luke Duke!”
“Uncle Jesse!” Bo said, bouncing out of bed and really starting to panic when he realized that there was something wrong with Luke.
Jesse held up a hand to silence Bo. In a quiet, calm voice he told Bo over his shoulder “Go call Doc Pedicord and tell him to get out here right away.”
“Yes, sir.” Bo said, leaving his room dressed only in his boxers as he hurried to do as his Uncle instructed.
As Bo left the room, Jesse reached out intending to touch Luke's shoulder. Hurt filled the old man's eyes when Luke pulled away from his hand and looked at him warily, suspiciously, the distrust showing clearly in his eyes. Jesse let his hand fall to his side and looked at his nephew sadly wondering what had happened to Luke that was causing him to act this way. “Why don't you come downstairs with me?” Jesse said gently “You can have some breakfast while we try to figure this thing out.”
Luke hesitated and then slowly shoved himself to his feet. He followed Jesse out of the bedroom and down the stairs to the kitchen. The smell of bacon frying and freshly brewed coffee filled the air. Daisy turned to look at her Uncle and Luke as they came into the kitchen. Jesse knew from the look on her face that Bo had filled her in on what had happened upstairs. Bo was standing by the sink, eyeing his cousin worriedly. “Doc said he'd be here as soon as he can” he told Jesse
Jesse nodded to acknowledge Bo's words and told him “You better go get dressed.” As Bo left the kitchen, Jesse turned his attention back to Luke who was still standing in the archway between the kitchen and the living room, watching them all cautiously. “Why don't you sit down?” Jesse said “And Daisy can get you something to eat.”
Luke hesitated again but finally sat down at the table, taking Bo's usual chair. Daisy quickly prepared a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon and toast, sitting it on the table in front of Luke. She also poured him a cup of coffee, black the way he usually drank it.
“Well go on….” Jesse coaxed Luke gently “Eat….” The suspiciousness in Luke's eyes tore at Jesse's heart. Something was wrong, very wrong and Jesse didn't know how to fix it. He hoped to god that Doc would be able to tell them what was wrong with Luke. Still watching Jesse and Daisy warily, Luke finally began to eat but he did it slowly almost cautiously. The look in his eyes reminded Jesse of a cornered animal just looking for a chance to escape.
Bo came back into the kitchen and fixed himself a plate. Glancing at Luke and then at Jesse, he sat down beside Luke in the chair that Luke normally used. Disturbed by the morning's events, he began to eat trying to make sense of what was going on around him. The family had almost finished with their breakfast when Doc Pedicord arrived.
Jesse met Doc at the front door and in a quiet voice told him about that morning's events and Luke's strange behavior. Doc nodded and accompanied Jesse into the kitchen.
“Good morning, Luke.” Doc said pleasantly “I'm Doc Pedicord. Why don't you come with me for a few minutes and we'll try to figure out what's going on here?”
He noticed the suspiciousness in Luke's eyes too and the hesitation before Luke finally shoved himself to his feet and voluntarily followed Doc out onto the front porch. The rest of the family exchanged anxious glances as they waited to hear what Doc had to say after he finished examining Luke.
“Uncle Jesse, what's wrong with Luke?” Daisy asked anxiously
“I don't know, honey.” Jesse told him, reaching out to pat her hand reassuringly . “Let's hope Doc can tell us.”
“Hey!” Bo said as he happened to glance out the window into the barnyard “The General Lee's not out there!”
“What do you mean The General's not out there?” Jesse said, jumping to his feet and hurrying to the window over the kitchen sink and looking outside.
“It's not out there.” Bo repeated unnecessarily since Jesse could see that for himself.
“Then how did Luke get home last night?” Daisy asked in a puzzled voice.
“He must have walked.” Jesse said. He looked at Bo “Where was Luke going last night?”
“He had a date with Mary Anne Cummings.” Bo told him
“Well, let's wait to see what Doc has to say and then we'll try to figure out where the General is.” Jesse said
A few minutes later the front screen door banged and Doc came back into the house. He walked into the kitchen where the other three Dukes looked at him anxiously.
“It looks like Luke's suffered a severe blow to the back of his head and as a result he has amnesia.” Doc told them “It's probably only temporary but right now he's very confused and very frightened because he can't remember anything.”
“Is he alright otherwise?” Jesse asked “You said he had a blow to the head.”
“Yes but other than a concussion I'd don't think there's any other damage. Now, there are some marks on his wrists that makes it look like he's been tied up at some point.”
“Tied up?” Bo exclaimed “Who'd do something like that to Luke? And why?”
“If we find that out, then we might find out what happened to Luke and where the General Lee is.” Jesse said. He looked at the doctor “What can we do for Luke till he starts to remember things himself?”
“Just try to be patient with him and try not to let him get too upset or agitated. Right now, as I said he's confused and scared and he's very frustrated because he can't remember. Otherwise, just do what you'd normally do….there's no way of predicting what might start triggering his memory again.” Doc said “And I wouldn't leave him alone right now. Make sure someone is with him until he feels comfortable being here.”
“You don't think he'll try taking off, do ya?” Jesse said
“No, I don't think so. Right now the whole area is strange to him so I don't think he'll venture too far by himself. The most important thing is to just keep reassuring him that this is where he belongs and that he's safe here.”
“If he'll let us.” Bo said remembering how Luke kept denying all morning that he didn't know them or anyone named Luke Duke.
“I know it's hard for all of you too but that's all you can do right now. I already told him that he was Luke Duke and that you were his family and this was his home but I'm not sure he really understands that right now. It'll take some time but he'll come around.” Doc told them “If you need anything else just give me a call.”
Chapter 2
After Doc left, Jesse went out on the front porch to check on Luke who was sitting on the porch swing staring at the horizon. Jesse stayed by the door not wanting to spook Luke even though what he really wanted to do was to take his oldest nephew in his arms and give him a hug. But he remembered how Luke had shied away from his touch earlier and he sensed that Luke would do the same thing if he tried to touch him now.
“Uh…you alright, Luke?”
Luke turned to look at Jesse his eyes still full of distrust and fear “I guess….” He said quietly. His mouth turned up in a humorless smile “I don't have much choice, do I?”
“You wanna come back in the house?”
Luke shook his head. “No, I'd rather stay out here for now if you don't mind.”
“No, I don't mind. If you need anything, just let me know.”
Luke nodded and went back to staring off into the distance. Jesse sighed and went back into the house. Daisy and Bo looked at him questioningly as he walked back into the kitchen. “He's okay for now.” Jesse said somberly “Let's just give him some space….don't try to push him.” He looked at Bo “Bo, you call Mary Anne and see what time Luke dropped her off last night. Then we need to call Rosco and tell him that the General Lee's missing.”
“What good is that gonna do?” Bo said sarcastically “Rosco ain't gonna care.”
“He's still the only law we got in Hazzard and something bad happened to Luke last night so we need to report it.” Jesse told him
Bo shrugged his shoulders and went to the phone to call Mary Anne. When she answered, he said “Hey, Mary Anne. This here's Bo Duke. I just wanted to ask ya what time Luke took you home last night.”
“Took me home?” Mary Anne said in an aggravated voice “He never even showed up last night.”
“He didn't?” Bo said in a surprised voice
“No and I waited for him until almost ten o'clock before I finally gave up and went to bed. Listen Bo, you tell that cousin of yours that the next time he can ask somebody else out!” With that Mary Anne hung up the phone.
Bo hung up and looked at his Uncle. “Luke never picked Mary Anne up last night.” He told him
“What time did he leave here?” Jesse asked
“Around seven o'clock I guess.” Bo told him. “He said he was gonna pick up Mary Anne and go to the Boars Nest for awhile.”
“So something must've happened after he left here and before he got to Mary Anne's house.” Daisy said
“But what?” Jesse said in an annoyed voice “Nobody knows that but Luke and he can't very well tell us. I don't like this. I don't like it one bit! I'm calling Rosco.” Jesse grabbed the phone and dialed the sheriff's office.
“Sheriff's Department. Deputy Enos Strate speaking.” Enos wasn't just a Hazzard County Deputy Sheriff; he was also a close friend of the Duke family. He'd had a huge crush on Daisy ever since the third grade.
“Enos, this is Jesse Duke. Is Roscoe there?”
“No, sir. I'm sorry, Uncle Jesse, but he went with Boss Hogg over to Capital City this morning.” Enos told him
“Well, we got a little bit of a problem out here at the farm. Luke had some kind of accident or something and can't remember nothing not even his name and the General Lee is missing.”
“Possum on a gum bush.” Enos said using one of his favorite sayings “Is Luke okay?”
“Well, Doc Pedicord was just here. He said it looks like Luke got hit on the head and it also looks like somebody had him tied up. You haven't heard nothing about no trouble in Hazzard last night have ya?”
“No, sir” Enos told him “But I'll sure ask around and I'll keep an eye out for the General Lee too.”
“You do that, Enos. Much obliged.” Jesse told him, hanging up the phone. He looked back at his youngest nephew and his niece. “Enos ain't heard nothing about anything unusual happening last night but he's gonna ask around and keep an eye out for the General Lee too.”
“Maybe me and Daisy should take Dixie and check out some of Luke's usual spots. Maybe we can find the General.” Bo suggested
“Why don't you do that?” Jesse agreed “I'll stay here with Luke.”
The two cousins hurried outside and climbed into Daisy's jeep with Bo behind the wheel. The chickens in the barnyard scattered as Bo pulled out of the driveway. Bo started checking out all the spots in the county where Luke liked to go, either to make out with girls, fish or just when he wanted to be alone. It was a long shot but he hoped that maybe they'd find the General at one of them. He decided to check out Lover's rock first since it was the closest to the Duke farm but they didn't find anything there. Next he drove to Widow's Peak but came up empty there too.
So they kept looking. For the next two hours they went from one spot to another. Jenson's Holler, Hazzard Pond, the old Indian Caves , Lookout Point, Hunter's Ridge. He even checked out Jesse's old still sites. But each place they looked they didn't find any sign of Luke being there or of the General Lee. Bo was starting to run out of places to look and he was getting more worried by the minute.
“Where to now?” Daisy said, starting to get worried herself. She knew that Luke would never have left the General Lee just sitting some place voluntarily. The boys co-owned the orange stock car and they had built it themselves. It was their pride and joy. And everybody in Hazzard County knew who the General Lee belonged to so it was doubtful if anyone would try to steal it. Not unless they wanted to tangle with the Duke boys and nobody in their right mind who knew the Dukes wanted to do that.
“I don't know.” Bo said trying to think. Suddenly, he snapped his fingers “Henderson Ridge.” He said “That's close to Mary Anne's house and Luke takes girls up there sometimes.”
“You two sure have all your hiding spots down pat, don't ya?” Daisy said with a laugh.
“Very funny.” Bo teased back “As I recall you have a few favorite spots of your own that you like to go to.”
Ten minutes later, Bo turned into the dirt road that curved around through the woods until it dead ended at Henderson Ridge, an isolated spot that was perfect if you were looking for a place to make out where you knew you wouldn't be disturbed. As they got closer to Henderson Ridge, Daisy yelled “Look!” and pointed her finger ahead of them. Bo saw the sunlight reflecting off the bright orange of the General Lee's paint job. He grinned happily, they may not know for sure what had happened to Luke to put him in his present condition but at least they had found the General.
Bo pulled Dixie up behind the General and the two cousins climbed out of the jeep. Bo started to check out the General to make sure nothing was wrong with the vehicle that had forced Luke to leave it where it was. Suddenly, Daisy screamed and almost scared Bo out of his skin. “Daisy, what's wr….” He said, stopping in his tracks as he ran around to the front of the General Lee and saw what had made Daisy scream.
Lying on the ground a few feet away from the car was the naked body of a young girl. Blood streaked both of her legs and a rope was tied so tightly around her neck that it had cut deeply into the skin. It was obvious that she had been viciously raped and murdered. Bo swallowed hard to keep his breakfast from coming back up and pulled Daisy into his arms protectively. She was shaking violently and crying softly. Neither one of them had expected to find anything like this.
Chapter 3
Instinctively, the first thing Bo did was grab the CB and call Uncle Jesse. “Lost sheep to Shepard. Come in.” he said into the mike “Uncle Jesse, it's Bo. Let's listen to some country music” Country music was the Duke's code telling Jesse to switch to Channel 6 which was the private channel the Dukes used when they needed to talk privately without the rest of Hazzard County listening in. Bo reached in to change his CB to channel 6. “Uncle Jesse, you there?” Bo said
“This is Shepard.” Jesse said over the CB “What's wrong?'
“Well….we found the General up at Henderson Ridge….but that ain't all we found. There's a dead body here too….”
“What?” Jesse yelled into the CB
“Yeah….I ain't sure who she is but it looks like she's been raped.”
“Oh my god…….” Jesse exclaimed in shock. “Well…I guess you better call Enos and git him out there….then git yourselves back here as soon as you can.”
“Yes, sir.” Bo said. He hung the mike and turned to Daisy, who had joined him on the driver's side of the car so she wouldn't have to look at the girl's body. “Guess we best call Enos like Uncle Jesse said…..”
“Bo….you know that Rosco is gonna try to find a way to pin this on Luke….” Daisy said
“He'd better not try nothing like that!” Bo growled “I don't think even Rosco could hate Luke that bad…..”
“But what's The General Lee doing here?” Daisy asked “Luke must have been here too….”
“Daisy, now you know Luke didn't have nothing to do with anything like this!”
“I know that, Bo Duke!” Daisy said, angry that Bo had thought even for a minute that she would even consider such a ridiculous idea. “But he might know something! Whoever killed that girl might have intended to kill him too!”
“And they might think that they already did. That could explain the bump on Luke's head.” Bo said putting two and two together.
“I don't like this!” Daisy said “If they meant to kill Luke and they find out that he's still alive, they could come after him again and we don't even know who they are.”
“And neither does Luke.” Bo reminded her somberly “Luke doesn't even know who Luke is right now.”
“You better call Enos and git him out here so we can git back home with Uncle Jesse and Luke.”
“Yeah, I guess you're right.” Bo reached back in through the window and grabbed the CB mike, turning the channel back to channel 22. “This is Bo Duke to Enos Strate. Enos, you got your ears on?”
“This is Enos, good buddy.” Enos cheerful voice came over the CB “What do ya need, Bo?”
“I need you up here at Henderson Ridge right away. It's an emergency.”
“You okay, Bo?” Enos asked in a concerned voice
“I'm fine just get here as soon as you can.”
“I'm on my way.”
Daisy and Bo leaned against the body of the General to wait for Enos to arrive. Neither of them said much, each of them lost in their own thoughts. The last time there'd been a murder in Hazzard County had been over fifteen years ago when Charlie Martin took a shotgun and shot his cheating wife and her boyfriend. But there had never been a violent murder and rape like this appeared to be.
Enos pulled in behind Dixie fifteen minutes later. He got out of his squad car with a huge grin on his face “I see you found the General Lee.” He said cheerfully as he walked towards the two cousins.
“That ain't all we found.” Bo told him, leading him around to the front of the car.
“Oh my goodness!” Enos said when he saw the girl's body lying on the ground. He immediately shifted into his lawman mode and knelt down beside the body, his eyes scanning the surrounding area and committing details to memory. He noticed the pieces of rope lying on the ground nearby and made a mental note to make sure and mark it as evidence. He let his eyes sweep over the girl's body, noting her injuries and the rope that had been used to strangle her. Standing up, he walked back over to Bo and Daisy and said, “I can't be sure but I think that's little Angie Baker.”
“Angie Baker?” Daisy exclaimed “Why she's only thirteen years old!”
“I'm sorry, y'all but I'm gonna have to ask you to come back to the office with me so I can get a statement from you.”
“Enos, Uncle Jesse's back at the farm with Luke. We need to get back there with them.” Bo told him in an anxious voice that clearly conveyed his worry to the deputy.
“Well, I guess I could come out there to get your statements. I'm gonna have to talk to Luke anyway.”
“Enos, you can't talk to Luke.” Bo reminded him patiently “Luke can't remember anything right now, not even his own name.”
“Oh, that's right.” Enos said “I forgot about that.”
“So can we go now?” Bo asked impatiently
“Yeah…… but you can't take the General.”
“Why not?” Bo asked starting to get irritated
“Because I have to impound him as evidence at a murder scene. I'm sorry y'all.” Enos said his sincerity coming through in his tone of voice.
“Alright.” Bo said gruffly “Come on, Daisy. Let's get out of here.”
“I'll be out to the farm later.” Enos called after him as Bo and Daisy climbed into the jeep. Bo raised his hand to acknowledge that he'd heard Enos as he turned on the engine and backed up, turning Dixie around so he could head for home.
Back at the farm, the two cousins hurried into the house where they found Uncle Jesse sitting in the kitchen. As they pulled into the drive they noticed that Luke was still sitting on the front porch in the swing. That was good at least they could talk privately to Uncle Jesse about what they had found at Henderson Ridge.
“Now what in tarnation is going on?” Jesse demanded as soon as they walked in the door.
“We don't know Uncle Jesse.” Bo told him “We were just checking out some of the spots where Luke likes to go looking for the General Lee and when we found him at Henderson Ridge, we found the little girl's body too.”
“Enos said he thinks its little Angie Baker.” Daisy told him
“Jim and Macy's young'n? Why that child's only thirteen years old!”
“It was terrible Uncle Jesse.” Daisy said “You could tell she'd been raped.”
“Yeah, she was lying right there on the ground in front of the General Lee.” Bo told him
“Well, what the devil was the General Lee doing there?”
“I wish I knew……it'll help if Luke could tell us.” Bo said grimly
“This isn't good….not good at all….” Jesse said
“Uncle Jesse….Bo and I figured that if Luke was there then whoever killed Angie probably meant to kill him too….” Daisy said slowly
“Which is how he got hurt.” Jesse said somberly, glancing worried towards the front door.
“That's what we figure.” Bo told him “And we also thought that maybe whoever did it thought they killed Luke too……And if they find out he's still alive…..”
“They could come looking for him to finish the job.” Jesse said finishing Bo's sentence “Dang it! We need to find out what happened last night!”
“But how are we gonna do that when Luke isn't able to tell us what happened?” Bo asked in a frustrated voice.
“I don't know.” Jesse admitted “I just don't know. But we can't leave Luke alone right now that's for sure.”
Chapter 4
The Dukes decided that there was no point in saying anything to Luke about the discovery of the girl's body. Since he couldn't remember anything, they agreed that the news would only upset him needlessly. But the discovery of the murder made the circumstances surrounding Luke's own injury more sinister. To protect one of their own, the family would close racks around Luke and do whatever they had to do to keep him from any further harm.
Since Daisy had to go to work and Jesse needed to go into town for a few things, Bo would have to stay at the farm with Luke, who had been sitting on the front porch swing ever since Doc left after examining him that morning. Grabbing a couple of glasses of lemonade, Bo went out on the porch to join his older cousin. Luke accepted the glass of lemonade without comment and took a drink, still staring off into the distance.
“Ya know, cousin, the scenery don't change much.” Bo said trying to lighten up the noticeable tension in the air.
“I wouldn't know.” Luke told him “I don't remember ever seeing it before.” There was a certain flatness in Luke's tone that set Bo's nerves on edge. He wasn't even acting like Luke. The two boys had always been so close, ever since they were kids. Luke had also been more like the big brother that Bo looked up to, admired, and wanted to grow up to be just like. But their bond went beyond that, it was almost psychic in nature sometimes. They could sense when the other one was in trouble or in pain and often finished each other's sentences or thoughts. It could be unnerving to be around when that kicked in for someone who wasn't used to it. Except last night. Last night Bo hadn't sensed any problem with Luke the way he usually could.
“Dang it, Luke…” Bo said “I don't know what I'm suppose to say or how I'm suppose to act…..I keep forgetting you can't remember nothing…”
“Why should you care? It's not your problem.” Luke said in that same flat tone that was grating on Bo's nerves.
“Well, I do care!” Bo said more sharply then he intended but only because Luke's words hurt his feelings. “You're my cousin and I love you! And I'm worried and just as scared as you are.”
“I doubt that.” Luke said with a thin smile and a humorless laugh.
Bo frowned. This wasn't getting them anywhere. It was hard to carry on a conversation with someone who didn't remember you or the bond that you shared. Someone who treated you like a stranger. Bo had always been the type of person who got frustrated easily. He wanted to reach out and shake Luke, snap him out of this strange state he was in, but he knew that wouldn't do any good. And, unfortunately, patience had always been one of Luke's strongest traits, not Bo's. Bo was much more impulsive, acting or reacting first and then thinking about his actions or the consequences later.
“Well, how about helping with the chores since we didn't get ‘em done this morning?” Bo suggested “Unless you got a problem with that. It's better than just sitting here all day.”
“Sure, why not?” Luke said shoving himself to his feet. “Just tell me what you want me to do….”
“You know wh…” Bo caught himself when he remembered that Luke really didn't know what needed to be done. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Okay, let's go to the barn and I'll show ya.”
The two boys walked around the corner of the house and across the barnyard to the barn. Bo paused trying to decide which chores to have Luke do. Finally he decided to just let him do the easiest one first. He had handed him a basket and said “Here, you can gather the eggs while I feel Maudine and the goats.”
Luke stood there for a minute with a faint smile on his lips. Finally, he said “You wanna show me where they are?”
“Uh…yeah…sure.” Bo said cursing himself for forgetting again that Luke couldn't even remember that. He led him around to the side of the barn and showed him where they kept the chickens. He left him to gather the eggs while he went to take care of the goats and the mule. As he started feeding the goats, Bo found himself wondering what it would be like one morning to wake up and not be able to remember your name, where you were or even recognize your own family. To totally lose your entire identity. He couldn't even begin to imagine what Luke must be going through. Bo knew that he would be going crazy and knowing Luke as well as he did, he figured that was probably pretty close to how Luke must be feeling about now.
By the time he finished feeding the goats and Maudine, Luke had finished gathering the eggs. Next it was time to milk the two goats and the cow. Thankfully Luke remembered how to milk them even if he didn't remember having done it a hundred times before. After finishing the milking, the boys went into the house to find something to eat for lunch. Bo rummaged through the refrigerator and found some left over ham so he made them both a couple of sandwiches and poured them each a glass of lemonade.
They ate in silence, a rarity for both of them. But neither of them seemed to know just what to say to each other. Luke because he couldn't remember anything to talk about and Bo because he was afraid of saying the wrong thing.
Bo heard a car pulling into the drive. Shoving himself to his feet, he walked over to the sink and glanced out the window. Dang. It was Enos. Bo had forgotten about him saying he was going to come by the farm for a statement from Bo and Daisy. “Uh…hey, Luke…” he said “I gotta go outside for a minute…so why don't you just go in the living room and watch TV or something?” Without waiting for an answer, he pushed open the back door and went outside just as Enos was climbing out of his squad car.
“Hey, Enos.” He said
“Hey, Bo.” Enos greeted him with friendly grin. Enos always seemed to have a smile on his face. He was just one of those people who seemed to be cheerful all the time.
It could get downright annoying sometimes. “I thought you should know that we identified the girl. It was little Angie Baker.”
“Gee, that's too bad. I'll make sure and let Uncle Jesse know.” Bo said “Did you find anything else?”
“Well, it looks like there were at least two other men there, probably three. And somebody was definitely tied up. I found the pieces of a cut rope with the knots still tied in it.”
“That had to have been Luke.” Bo said “Doc said he had marks on his wrists that looked like he'd been tied up.”
“That's still not enough to clear Luke as a suspect.” Enos said
“Oh come on, Enos!” Bo said sharply “You can't believe that Luke had anything to do with what happened to that poor little girl!”
“Of course not….” Enos said, shocked that Bo would even think that he would even consider such a thing. “But I still have to be able to prove it.”
“When can I get the General back?”
“I don't know, Bo….maybe a couple days. I have to go through it yet looking for evidence.”
“What kind of evidence?”
“Anything to prove that there were other men in the car besides Luke or that Angie was in the car.” Enos told him “I promise, Bo….I'll find a way to prove that Luke didn't have nothing to do with it.” He glanced at the house nervously “Is Luke here?”
“Yes, he is…but you ain't talking to him.” Bo told him firmly “He can't remember anything anyway and you're not gonna upset him any more than he already is.”
“I'm gonna have to talk to him sooner or later, Bo.” Enos said. He chose his words carefully, he knew that Bo had the Duke temper and he didn't want to set him off “Well you ain't doing it right now!” Bo said sharply, his eyes flashing with more irritation than anger “And Uncle Jesse will tell ya that you need a warrant anyway.”
“Well, I guess I better go. I'll talk to ya later, Bo.” Enos said uneasily. Bo and Luke were his friends and he didn't like being in the position he was in either. But he took his job seriously. It was the only thing he had ever wanted to do with his life.
“Later, Enos.” Bo said. He stood there and watched as the deputy climbed back into his squad car, then he turned and went back into the house. He wandered into the living room and joined Luke who was watching a movie on TV.
Chapter 5
When Uncle Jesse returned home, Bo filled him in on the visit from Enos. Jesse agreed that considering Luke's present condition, it was best to keep Enos away from him too. At least for the time being. Although Luke wasn't as skittish as he'd been that morning, there was still cautiousness in his eyes as he watched the family interacting around him. It hurt Jesse to see the mistrust in his oldest nephew's eyes but he knew that if he was in Luke's place, he'd probably feel the same way. He understood how scared and confused Luke had to be.
Since Daisy was at work, Jesse made supper that night. While he was cooking, the boys went outside to do the evening chores. Just like earlier Bo had to tell Luke which chores needed to be done. But once he knew what to do, Luke did it willingly and without complaining. He still didn't talk much to Bo or to Jesse for that matter. After the finished the chores, they went in the house to eat the good old fashioned country supper that Jesse had prepared. Luke listened to Bo and Jesse's conversation but ate his own meal in silence. His silence was unnerving to both of the other Dukes but Jesse soon discovered (Like Bo had earlier) that it was hard to carry on a conversation with someone who treated you like a stranger.
After they had eaten, Luke excused himself and went to his room. Bo started to follow him, but Jesse gestured for him to let Luke alone for now. In the bedroom, Luke paced the floor anxiously. In his mind, he didn't know these people or recognize this place. He felt a strange detachment both from himself and from his surroundings. He wished he could remember something, anything but it was like his mind was a blackboard that had been wiped clean. He sensed that something bad had happened, really bad, but he just couldn't remember what it was. He was scared, confused, and angry as hell. He just wasn't sure where to direct his anger. It wasn't fair to direct it at the people who claimed to be his family. He felt nothing but love from them even if he couldn't return that feeling. Exhausted from the days events, he stripped off his clothes and lay down on the closest bed, which happened to be the one closest to the door. Soon he was sleeping soundly.
In the dream, he kept hearing a girl's screams and could see the terror in her eyes. He could feel his own fear as he stared at the blood on his hands. Then there was nothing but silence and he was stumbling through the woods searching for something but he couldn't seem to remember what.
Luke moaned in his sleep caught up in the dream but didn't awaken. As the dream lost its grip on his mind, he rolled onto his side and relaxed still sleeping soundly. Bo frowned when he went to bed later that evening and found Luke asleep on his bed. He decided that it was no big deal he could sleep in Luke's bed for one night. It wasn't like he hadn't done it before a few times. He stripped off his clothes and crawled under the lightweight blanket. Soon he was sleeping, snoring softly. Night settled over the farm and the slumbering family. None of them realized that this was the last peaceful night's sleep they would have for awhile.
As was his habit, Jesse was the first one up the next morning. He knocked on Daisy's door to wake her up and then went down the hall to the boy's room. He was only slightly surprised to find Luke in Bo's bed and Bo in Luke's bed. Luke had obviously just gone to bed the night before in the first empty bed he saw. Jesse's heart ached for his oldest nephew. He wanted to help him but he didn't know how. Jesse was a simple man and all he had in this world was his family. He just hoped that whatever was going on wouldn't end up tearing the family apart.
Changing his normal routine, Jesse shook Bo's shoulder and woke him up first. When Bo finally opened his eyes and looked up at his Uncle sleepily, Jesse said quietly “I think we'll let Luke sleep in for a while this morning. You can wake him up later.” Bo nodded and yawned as he swung his legs over the side of the bed. As Jesse let the room to head downstairs to make the morning coffee, Bo quickly pulled on his clothes and quietly left the room without disturbing Luke.
During breakfast Bo grumbled about having to do all the morning chores by himself. “Now, Bo” Jesse told him sternly “We need to give Luke some space right now…some time to figure some things out for himself without us trying to push him too hard.”
“I ain't been trying to push him, Uncle Jesse.” Bo said
“I know you haven't, son….but right now, Luke just needs a little extra understanding…from all of us.”
“Uncle Jesse, what am I suppose to do when he can't even remember where the hen house is to gather eggs….or which bed he sleeps in at night…..” Bo said, his voice breaking with emotion.
“I know it's hard….it's hard for all of us to see Luke this way.” Jesse told him in a comforting voice, reaching out to touch his youngest nephew's hand. “But we just have to be patient….a little while longer….till Luke can start remembering things on his own.”
“I know,” Bo said apologetically “I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't complain about having to do his chores too for a few days. It's just that it tears me up inside when he looks right through me like he's never seen me before.”
“I know.” Jesse told him “We all feel the same way you do but there ain't nothing we can do about it right now except to be there for Luke if he needs us.”
The conversation stopped as the Dukes heard a car pull into the driveway. Daisy stood up and looked out the kitchen window. “Uh…oh...” she said “It's Rosco.”
“Now what does that Ninny want?” Jesse blustered, shoving himself to his feet.
He went out onto the back porch, followed closely by Bo and Daisy. “What do you want, Rosco?” Jesse growled as Rosco climbed out of his car.
“Now, Jesse…I'm here after Luke…..and I don't want to argue with you none about it.”
“You ain't taking my boy nowhere, Rosco.” Jesse said in a quiet voice that still carried a definite warning.
“Now, Jesse….he's a material witness in a murder investigation and maybe even a suspect ….I gotta take Luke in.” Rosco sputtered
“What!?” Jesse exclaimed “Rosco, you jack ass! You know Luke would never do anything like what was done to that poor little girl!”
“Ain't no never mind, Jess.” Rosco said “I still gotta take ‘em in until we git this here mess all cleared up.”
“Daisy,” Jesse said coldly “Get my gun.”
“Now Jess….” Rosco said nervously “I told ya I don't want no trouble.”
“Git off my land, Rosco or you're gonna have more trouble than you can handle.” Jesse told him.
“Alright, Jess…if that's the way you want it. I'll be back with Enos and Cletus. Then Luke will have to go with us one or the other.”
As the sheriff climbed back into his car, Jesse hurriedly ushered Daisy and Bo back into the house. “Bo, go git Luke up and get some stuff together. I want you to git him out of here until we figure out what to do.”
“I'll pack y'all some food.” Daisy said
“Where do you want me to take him?”
“Take my truck and go to still site number 7.” Jesse told him “Wait there till ya hear from me.”
“Yes, sir.” Bo said hurrying to do what Jesse told him to do before Rosco came back with reinforcements and tried to take Luke from the house by force.