Thank you all for the comments.

Uncle Jesse looked around the room at the Duke cousins. Daisy sitting on the edge of hs bed waiting expectantly for him to speak. Coy and Vance with an arm round each other looking

solemn. Bo fidgeting from one foot to the other trying to decide whether to put his hands on his hips or fold them in front of him.

Jesse smiled to himself. 'That boy never could stay still' He thought.

Then there was Luke. Standing stock still, eyes focused and arms folded tight across his chest like he was trying to keep out the world.

"I don't know what y'all are doin' here." Uncle Jesse began slowly. "Not that it ain't good to see all of you's. But y'all have got your own lives to be gettin' on with"

"We'd've all come sooner, Uncle Jesse, if you'd told us you were sick" Daisy said gently.

"Yeah, I guess ya would." He sighed "And that's exactly why I didn't say anything. Not that here's much to tell you all now... 'Cept I'm proud of ya"

"That's all we ever wanted" Vance spoke up.

"Yeah we only ever tried to live up to the way you taught us" Coy agreed.

"Uncle Jesse, what is this all about?" Bo piped up. "How long you been sick? What's wrong with you? Why ain't the doctor doin' anythin'?"

Uncle Jesse wearily raised a hand and closed his eyes. Luke shot Bo a look. Uncle Jesse gave a weak smile as he opened his eyes again.

"Slow down there, Bo." He breathed deeply "It seems that the good Lord has finally seen fit to call me on to be with my beloved Lavinia"

Daisy gasped and put a hand to her mouth before Uncle Jesse had even finished speaking. Coy and Vance gripped each other tighter as Luke remain motionless apart from the twitch in

his cheek as he clenched his jaw tight..

"What about the Doctors? Ain't there anythin' they can do?" Bo pleaded. Luke put a hand on his shoulder to steady him.

"They've been tryin'. But ya gotta understand that this happens to all of us one day. ...And if it's the Lord's askin' then we ain't to be questioning him."

Tears started to roll down Daisy's face "But Uncle Jesse...?"

He patted her hand "Now Daisy...We ain't none of us gonna live forever...You kids are all grown now and can take care of yourselves...You don't need an old codger like me hanging

around."

They all began to protest that it wasn't true, but Uncle Jesse raised his hand again asking for quiet before continuing.

"All I ask is that y'all take care of each other and wherever you go remember, you's Dukes , apart from the farm, family is all we got and it'll be up to you kids to make sure that you stay in

touch and all get together once in a while."

Daisy sniffed "We will, Uncle Jesse. You can be sure of that"

Bo stepped forward and put a hand on her shoulder "What is it that's wrong with you anyhow Uncle Jesse"

"Enough questions now. It's a beautiful day. You kids get out there and have fun"

They were all about to protest when there was a knock on the door. Luke went over and opened it enough to speak to Cooter who had been waiting outside.

"Roscoe's here" Cooter said quietly.

"Well, send him in then" Uncle Jesse called over "You kids git while I have me a talk to Roscoe."

Reluctantly they all moved out slowly with Daisy stopping long enough to give him a hug.

As Luke went to follow he was called back. "Luke!" He stopped but didn't turn round to face his elderly Uncle.

"You may be the oldest but don't take everything on yourself. They's all big enough to take on things of their own."

Luke dropped his head but didn't speak.

"Luke! Ain't ya even gonna face me when I talk to ya" Uncle Jesse said gently.

Luke could be ten years old again for the way he felt right then. When Aunt Lavinia died he wouldn't face anyone for weeks. Slowly he turned around and locked eyes with his Uncle. The

defiance Jesse had seen there so often was replaced with a pain that Luke could not hide. "Luke, it's just my time. But you gotta do what needs to be done for you"

"I will Uncle Jesse" Luke gave a quick nod as Roscoe appeared in the doorway.

Jesse smiled "Now git. And I expect to hear the General fired up before supper" He called after Luke as he made his way out. Roscoe patted his shoulder as he passed.

The subdued feel to the living room was apparent by the hushed sound to house full of Duke kids and not one of them speaking.

Daisy sobbed into Bo's shoulder as he held her tight, tears wetting his own cheeks. Vance stood staring out the window across the yard. Luke walked through before any of them could

gather their wits and approach him. Coy sat at the kitchen table staring at his hands, tears filling his eyes as Cooter gave him a manly hug with one hand on the back of his neck.

Luke kept walking.

.

Bo walked across to the barn to find Luke with his head under the hood of the General and grease on his hands as he worked. He stood and watched for a moment as he tried to figure

his older cousin out.

"Luke what're ya doin'? Uncle Jesse's dying in there and you're out here fixin' up the General" Bo spoke with an edge to his voice.

Luke winced at the words and the anger Bo spoke within them. "Uncle Jesse wants to hear it runnin'." Luke should have guessed that Uncle Jesse wanted to give Luke something else to

focuss on too. "How's Daisy?" He asked without looking up at Bo.

Bo shrugged "With Cooter. Cooking up a storm"

Luke glanced up at Bo as he went uncharacteristically quiet. He stood with his hands on his hips his eyes filling with tears again.

Luke straightened up and wiped his hands on a rag.

"What're we gonna do Luke?" Bo said plaintively.

"Ain't nothin' we can do" Luke replied sympathetically. Before hugging his younger cousin tight.