by: Marty Chrisman

            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.