Chapter Three: Always the Protector

September 7th, 1962

The house was busy, a small farm house that had once been peaceful in the mornings, a three year old stood in the kitchen screaming, a five year old was running around crying because she couldn't find her socks, and the almost eight year old Luke Duke sat at the table trying to coax his Uncle into letting him go fishing this weekend with Cooter.

Martha Duke was a strong woman, she liked to think so; however this morning was rapidly swinging out of control and she was dreading the idea of spending the rest of the day with a cranky Beauregard. Deciding first thing was first she looked at the toddler who was obviously going through his terrible twos and threes stage. "Beauregard Jesse Duke!" she spoke in a firm and demanding tone.

Immediately all sounds stopped, three sets of blue eyes were trained on her, all the children knew better than to defy that tone, especially from the normally soft spoken woman. "You will quiet down and eat the food we have placed in front of you. Another word from you and I will take you over my knee. You cannot go to school with your cousins cause you aren't old enough. No more screaming you're a big boy now. Daisy Mae Duke, stop running around the house like a chicken without a head. You will come sit down at this table and have breakfast; I will go find your socks. Luke simmer down your Uncle and I will discuss a fishing trip, if you don't want to be in trouble for your eighth birthday I suggest you get to eatin' that food 'fore you're late for school."

Jesse had to hide his smile, Martha was truly a natural when it came to motherhood, and seconds after she spoke all three children did exactly as they were told. As promised Martha handed a pair of socks to Miss Daisy, who thanked her quietly. Chuckling Martha dropped a kiss to the girl's head, "Don't you worry now sweetheart, you're going to have a wonderful first day."

"Okay kids, let's get ya'll to school," Jesse stood up and put on his favorite red hat, leaning down he kissed Bo on the head, "You be good for Aunt Martha okay."

"Wuke!" cried the baby.

Luke sighed and reached out to hug his little cousin, "I'll be home same time as always Little Buddy, you know the routine." with a brief hug to his Aunt the boy hurried out to the truck. Martha chuckled, Luke was becoming more of a man every day, and it frightened her how quickly he was maturing. A part of her knew that no boy should have the mentality of a twelve year old at eight. But he did, he was the big brother of the family and he took to heart the task of watching out for his cousins.

A tugging at the edge of her pants brought the woman from her thoughts. Daisy stood before her aunt with watery eyes. Martha chuckled sadly and lifted her niece into her arms, "its okay Daisy, I'll be here with Bo when you get home. Your cousin Luke will be there with you the entire day in a class down the hall."

"What if they don't like me," she whimpered as Martha carried the girl outside, vaguely aware their toddler was following her.

"Hey what's not to love about you," Martha whispered in reply as she kissed the girl's cheek, "Be your bright sunny self sweetheart. They can't dislike someone who is honest."

Jesse smiled at the sight of his wife cuddling Daisy, leaning over he scooped the girl from his wife's arms, "Now Daisy everything will be fine."

Sitting with Daisy between himself and Luke they made their way into town. Daisy had glanced through the back of the truck, watching as Bo struggled to catch up with the truck. Pulling in front of the elementary school he watched as Luke easily slid out of the truck. "Come on Daisy Girl," Jesse offered as he too slid out of the car and carried his five year old niece into the school.

Luke said a quick goodbye when he spotted Cooter and they headed to their classroom along with a couple of their other buddies. Jesse, having put Daisy down on the floor, walked her to the room she'd be in for the next year. The girl was practically clinging to her uncle, he smiled at Miss Jones. "Howdy Miss Jones," he greeted the young woman.

Missy Jones smiled as she saw Uncle Jesse with Daisy in his arms. She couldn't believe it was already time for Daisy to start school, she remembered when Jesse was talking about her being just an infant. She'd only had Luke three years ago. It didn't seem like time should be going so fast. "Well howdy Uncle Jesse, an' who is this beautiful little girl?" She'd discovered it was easier to win over the girls by complimenting them.

"Daisy," whispered the child looking at the teacher.

"Howdy Daisy, I'm Miss Jones, would you like to come color with me and a few of the other children? We're going to start story time in a few moments."

Daisy's eyes lit up at the word story time, her Uncle Jesse and Aunt Martha read to her all the time. "Story?"

"Yep, I believe someone has chosen Dr. Seuss, you like Dr. Seuss right?"

The girl's face went from a shy smile to a full blown grin, "Green Eggs an' Ham is my favorite."

"Well then perhaps we'll read that today, come on let me introduce you," She offered, leading the small girl from Jesse. The Uncle watched the woman for a moment, thanking God for giving this school someone so sweet and kind as their first teacher. She was obviously good at what she did. He waved at the younger teacher before slipping out of the room.

Missy led the middle Duke child over to the table where another girl and a boy were coloring. "Daisy I'd like you to meet Enos Strait and Betsy Mae, Betsy, Enos this here is Daisy Duke. Can she color with you?"

The boy's deep blue eyes grew wide, "Sure thing Miss Jones!" he practically giggled as he scooted over to make space at the table.

o0o

The final bell of the day rang and Daisy just couldn't wait to get out of class and tell her cousin all about it. She hurried out of the classroom with all the other students, only to find the hallways crowded and frightening. It hadn't seemed this hard with her Uncle Jesse.

"Get out of the way!" growled a voice, a moment later Daisy found herself on the floor and her tears welling up as two older boys glared down at her. "Stupid little babies think they belong in this school," the two boys laughed as Daisy tried to scoot away.

"HEY!" came a familiar scream. A moment later a body went flying at the two, "Get away from my cousin!" Luke came rushing in and shoved the bigger of the two boys away from the small girl.

"You wanna start somethin' kid!" growled the boys.

Luke took one look at them and easily guessed they were probably fifth graders. "Well if you'd rather pick on little girls then yeah I do," he hissed.

A moment later the two boys were moving towards Luke, "Get away!" growled two more voices. Luke looked up to see not only Cooter, but another boy no older than Daisy standing beside him. Daisy sat on the floor crying, Luke and one of the fifth graders were the only two to come away with any marks on their bodies. Miss Jones stepped in before they could give each other more than a black eye.

"Hughie! Michael, I would have expected better from you two," she pulled the fifth graders away and sighed, "I'll be calling your parents tonight don't you worry now hurry home before I decide to do worse than that." The two boys, still annoyed by the girl and her family glared one more time at her before hurrying off. Neither one would ever speak about how Hughie got a black eye from a third grader.

Miss Jones sighed and gently lifted Daisy off the ground; she immediately shook the woman off however and ran to her cousin. Luke reacted immediately and took the younger Duke safely in his arms. "You're safe Daisy Mae," he murmured.

"Boys, I'm afraid I'm going to have to tell your parents. You know you shouldn't be fighting. Don't get me wrong your intentions were honorable but students can't hit other students. Come on I'll drive you all home."

It was a long car ride; the Dukes were the furthest from school. the whole ride Daisy remained curled at Luke's side. Cooter's family seemed to handle the news fairly well, they apologized for the trouble but were silently proud of their son for sticking up for a friend, especially a girl against a Hogg. Enos' family would probably pass on punishing him this one time since he was obviously enamored by the Duke Girl.

The Dukes were going to be as easily persuaded. Martha wasn't in the most pleasant mood already by the time the kids got home, she'd been worried when they didn't come home on the bus; Bo had been cranky all afternoon and the tractor was breaking again.

"He did what!?" Jesse stood stunned in the living room looking between his two eldest children and the first grade teacher.

"To be fair Mr. Duke he was only trying to protect Daisy," Miss Jones offered.

Jesse nodded, "Be that as it may, my children are taught never ever to throw the first punch or hit someone. Thank you for bringing them home. I'll handle this."

She nodded, at least she'd tried to get the two out of trouble she patted Luke on the shoulder and ruffled Daisy's hair, "I'll see you tomorrow Daisy. Goodbye Luke."

"Bye Miss Jones," Luke replied stoically as if he wasn't terrified his uncle was going to spank him.

Jesse waited until the teacher was gone then glanced at his wife, Martha was holding Bo against her hip watching expectantly. "Why don't you give Bo and Daisy their baths, I'll handle Luke and then we can have dinner."

She nodded, "Come on Daisy honey."

"Lukas," Jesse spoke clearly. His nephew glanced up, then with slumped shoulders the child headed out to the barn.

Jesse sighed as he followed his eldest out to the barn, he didn't condone hitting anyone, nor did he truly condone hitting children. But spanking was a different story, and Luke needed to learn that attacking someone first wasn't the right response in the heat of the moment even if he was trying to defend someone. "Luke pants down please."

"Yessir," whispered Luke. Less than two minutes later he was buckling his pants back up and tears were streaming down his face.

"Son, I'm not giving you a spanking because I'm angry about defending Daisy. Family is the most important thing to us Dukes, I gave you five swats on your behind because you threw the first punch. The Dukes is a peaceful people Luke. We don't hit 'less we was hit first. You do everything you can to keep from hurting someone. An' you never ever hit out of anger, understand?"

"Yes sir," the boy whimpered trying to wipe at his face.

Jesse sighed and pulled his nephew into a tight hug, letting the child cry into his shoulder, "I'm sorry Uncle Jesse," he cried.

"I know ya are boy, I still love you. I'll always love you. Come on let's go inside, get you washed up and ready for dinner."

o0o

That evening Luke took a bath then went straight to bed after supper. Bo was already fast asleep in his big boy bed they'd bought a few months back. Luke, still wide awake and reading quietly jumped when he heard a knock on the door. He'd been expecting Aunt Martha or Uncle Jesse, instead however his Daisy poked her head in. Her face was red as if she'd been crying. "Daisy Girl what's wrong?" He questioned, quiet so not to wake his baby cousin. She looked upset as she stepped inside the room. He rolled onto his side, well aware that his red bottom still ached.

The poor five and a half year old girl looked at the floor as she closed the door behind her. "Come here Daisy," Luke gingerly sat up in his bed, forcing back a grimace. He gripped her hands and pulled her close as she was directly in front of him. "You're my cousin, an' that means yer blood kin. Now Daisy, Uncle Jesse says there ain't nothin' more important than family."

"I didn't mean to get you in trouble—"

Luke reached out and tilted her chin up so he could look into her eyes, "There ain't nothing I wouldn't do for you Daisy. Yer like my little sister an' as yer big brother an' cousin I'm s'posed to protect ya."

"Luke hows come they were pickin' on me?"

He shrugged, "Well you're small than them, so you're an easy target. They're just jealous cause you're so pretty. Don't worry bout them anymore sweetheart, ya got yer Cousin Luke here now, an' I'll take care of you."

The middle Duke smiled and curled further into his arms, she sighed for a moment before she allowed sleep to take her. Luke listened to her deep breathing for a few moments before he allowed sleep to overcome him as well. He smiled as well, thinking of all the fun they had, all the life they still had yet to live. He could deal with a million days like today if it meant having his two cousins at his side for them days.

Jesse Duke stepped into the room later that evening; he hadn't seen his niece leave and wasn't at all surprised to find her curled up on one side of Luke. What did surprise him however was on the other side of Daisy was Little Bo. Each relying on the other, he smiled softly at the sight. These kids made his life worth living every day. Made an old moonshiner appreciate the simple things in life, "Goodnight kids," he murmured pressing a kiss to all three cousins' heads.

TBC