I would like to take the time to thank everyone who reviewed my story. But a special thankyou goes out to "Alone In The Solitude Of Texas" who gave me more reviews than anyone. Thanks so much.

Now, this chapter is a little bit longer but I figured ya'll might need a little suspense.. LOL

Starting at this point it does get a little more dramatic but I hope I still have the characters down.

I have been writing this story for well over a year now and there's tons more to post on here but I'm still not finished with the ending so if by the end of all my chapters, you guys have any ideas you'd like to give then I'd love to hear them.

Remember, I don't own any of the Dukes. I only write for fun. It keeps me sane cause' lord knows the real world can drive ya nuts! LOL

Well, hope you like it and PLEASE REVIEW... I'd like so many reviews that I couldn't possibly read em' all in one day.. I know there are at least that many people on this site and more...

See ya in the storybook...!

Luke and Heather finished up the barn chores and were just coming out the barn door laughing when Heather looked up and saw Cherokee walking up over the knoll through the field toward them. She could see the look on Cherokee's face and knew something was wrong.

Luke kept his eyes on Cherokee as he spoke to Heather "What's goin on ?"

"I don't know" Heather replied.

Just then Cherokee reached Heather and grabbed ahold of her.

"Heather we got to get packed. We need to go."

"Go Where? Cherokee, Calm down. What's Wrong?"

Cherokee looked behind her to see Bo coming up over the knoll. She became even more upset. "We can't stay, we gotta go……"

"What? Why?" Heather tried to ask but Cherokee started walking toward the car that Cooter had loaned them until theirs was fixed.

While this exchange was going on Luke had turned to watch Bo walk toward them.

Bo was looking at the ground when Luke first looked at him and then all of a sudden Bo lifted his head and Luke looked directly in his eyes.

What he saw there did not please him.

Bo was always so carefree. He had always had a spring in his step and his smile always reached way beyond his bright blue eyes. That was part of what made Bo so special. His childlike excitement.

Luke saw no childlike excitement in Bo now.

Gone were the carefree steps and the smile that reached beyond his eyes.

Luke looked from Bo to Cherokee and back to Bo. He didn't understand, Cherokee was almost in tears and begging to leave. And Bo was draggin his heels up over the knoll like he had nothing left to live for.

Luke looked to Heather in question, Heather just shrugged her shoulders and took off after Cherokee.

Cherokee was already in the car when Heather caught up to her. "Cherokee, wait a minute. What's wrong?"

"He wants me to get involved with him"

"Well what's so wrong with that? He's a great guy"

"Heather, are you forgetting why we left home and every other town between here and there?"

"No Cherokee I haven't, but we've been here 3 weeks and he hasn't found us. And besides, this is the best place we've stopped so far"

"He won't give up. I know him and I don't want to take the chance of hurting their family." She said as she nodded toward the boys.

"I think they'd be more hurt if we left"

"In the long run they'd be grateful"

"Cherokee please, I already told Luke that I want to stay. I just said I needed to talk to you first. We were here waiting for you to get back so we could ask you about it. I really like it here and I really like Luke. "

"I like it here to. I'd love to stay but you know full well that we can't and you know why. You also knew all this before Luke asked you to stay." Cherokee said with a little agitation in her voice.

Heather caught on to it and got a little defensive. "Now wait a minute, You were the one who wanted to come to this town. And if I recall correctly, Bo and Luke Duke were part of the reason"

"Well, that was just to meet the legendary Duke boys. I never expected to fall in love with him"

Cherokee stopped in mid sentence as she realized what she'd just said.

Heather stared at her shocked but finally said in a much nicer tone.

"If you love him then give this a shot, we'll deal with the rest as it comes"

"No, It's inevitable. So why make it worse than it has to be." Cherokee said as she shook her head and started the car.

"Where are you going?" Heather asked.

"I need to be alone right now"

"Cherokee, wait"

"Listen, I know they are going to ask questions when I'm gone. Don't tell them anything. All they need to know is that it has nothing to do with them. It's not personal. Especially Bo. Will you tell him that for me? Please?"

Heather nodded sadly.

"Thanks, I'll be back later." Cherokee hollered as she sped away leaving Heather watching in a cloud of dust.

Bo and Luke watched all this in wonder while Bo told Luke all about what had happened between him and Cherokee. Luke just took note of it all and wondered when the last piece would fall into place. The girls just seemed to have more and more skeletons popping out of the closet and Luke aimed to find out what they were.

Heather sighed as she walked back toward the boys. How was she going to explain all this?

Bo looked at her expectantly, "what was that all about?"

"I wish I could explain but she asked me not to"

"Why?"

"All I can say is that she wants you to know it's not personal. It has nothing to do with any of you"

"Who does it have to do with then?" Bo asked heatedly.

"I can't tell you."

Luke spoke up "Come on Heather, what's goin on here? First you act funny about Bo fallin for Cherokee and now she runs off when Bo tries to get close to her. As Rosco would say there's a flaw in the slaw somewhere. What gives?"

"Luke, I 'd like nothing more than to tell you everything I know but it's not up to me to do that. This is Cherokee's business and I'm her best friend. I have to let her tell you in her own time. I'm sorry."

"Is she in trouble with the law?" Luke asked.

"No, not the law."

"Well who then?" Bo asked.

"Please Bo, I've already said to much. I promise you'll know in time"

"Well if Cherokee's in some kinda trouble then she shouldn't be out drivin around all by her lonesome. It could be dangerous. I'm goin' after her." Bo said as he started to walk toward the General.

Heather stepped in front of him "No Bo, she'll be ok. She wants to be alone"

"Lady, I don't cotton to bein rough with girls but if'n you don't get outta my way, I'm gonna move you myself." Bo said sternly.

Heather's eyes reflected shock and fear. She took a step back just as Luke stepped up and put one hand on Bo's shoulder and one on his chest.

"Hold up Bo, It's late and she ain't had any trouble so far. I think the most that will happen is she'll get lost and if she does then all she's gotta do is holler on the C.B. and we'll find her. She knows that"

"But Luke"

"Now Bo, if you go chasin after her she's only gonna run again. Let her come to you"

"Luke, I care about her. I can't just sit here while she's out there all alone. And in danger of god knows what or who for that matter." Bo said glaring at Heather.

"Well getting mad and pushy with us ain't gonna help. Besides, look at Heather. You scared her half to death." Luke advised.

Bo looked at Heather and although she was no longer scared, she was still visibly nervous. Bo sighed as he made his plea.

"I'm sorry Heather. I never meant no harm and I certainly would never do anything to hurt you. I just get upset sometimes. Forgive me?"

"Yeah, it's alright. Just do me a favor and let Cherokee deal with this"

Bo shot a questioning look at Luke who nodded his head in agreement with Heather.

"Alright, you win" Bo sighed "But if I see one sign of danger. I'll make it my business right quick"

"Fair enough, Thank You " Heather replied.

Bo eyed her warily before finally turning away. Luke gave Bo a pat on the back as he headed toward the farmhouse.

Heather and Luke watched until Bo's tall lanky figure disappeared into the house. The minute Bo's shadow was gone from sight Luke turned to Heather

"I'm sorry about that. Bo just blows his top sometimes, especially when it concerns someone he cares about. He would never hurt you or Cherokee. You know that don't you?" Luke asked looking at her questioningly.

"I know, he just startled me is all. I'd never heard him talk like that before"

"Yeah, he can get a little hot under the collar sometimes but he's harmless"

"It's alright, I worry about her too. I know where he's coming from"

"So, what went on over there? Why'd she take off like that?"

"She just needed some alone time"

"You sure she doesn't need any help? She seems pretty high strung"

"She's fine. At least for now. I promise if she needs help I'll make sure ya'll are the first to know"

"Promise?"

"I promise"

"Alright let's git in the house before the bugs eat us alive." Luke said as he put his arm around her and together they walked to the farmhouse. Both momentarily forgetting the urgency in convincing Cherokee to stay on in Hazzard.

Meanwhile down at the Boars Nest Daisy was serving drinks to 2 city boys from out of town. She watched them walk in and look around nodding their heads and wrinkling their noses. She overheard the bigger one say

"A redneck hick town. It figures"

Daisy didn't understand the comment but figured it was none of her business. The boys sat down as Daisy walked over to take their order with her usual sweet disposition in tow.

"Howdy, What can I get for ya?"

The tall one with black hair spoke up "We'll take a couple of in house specials and some information"

"What kind of information?" Daisy asked.

The short black haired man spoke up.

"We're looking for a couple of friends of ours. We wondered if maybe you'd seen them? They were supposed to be traveling through here"

"What do they look like?"

"Well, It's a couple of girls. Both about 5 ft. 7 in. Both got sandy blonde hair with brown tints. One has her hair permed, the other straight. They go by the names of Ann and Dawn."

Daisy thought for a minute before shaking her head and saying "Nope sorry, they don't sound familiar"

"Thanks anyway" The tall one said.

"Sure thing sugar. I'll get those beers for ya now." Daisy said as she turned to go. The two men watched her walk away.

"I told you they wouldn't be here" Danny, the short one said.

"Calm down. Just because one person doesn't recognize their description, doesn't mean they didn't go through here." Kevin the tall one replied.

"Face it Kev, we're never gonna find em' . They split from that last town long before we got there. If it hadn't been for your damn brother we might of caught em' but now… I think their long gone"

"Well Danny, You ever thought that maybe you think to much?" Kevin sneered.

"I'm usually right"

"Well not this time. I'll get her if it's the last thing I do"

Unbeknownst to the 2 city boys, Daisy stood quietly by the bar listening. She didn't know who they were looking for but she hoped for their sake that they were long gone from Hazzard. If they'd ever been there at all.

She tucked all this information in the back of her mind and went back to work. Soon after finishing their beer the 2 city boys left. Daisy wasn't able to see which way they went.

Cherokee drove aimlessly as the last light of day slipped away. She had to much on her mind to notice that she was out in the country away from civilization and she no longer had the light of day to guide her. She couldn't get Bo out of her head. She kept picturing the look of disappointment on his face when she'd told him they could never be. And then the look of shock when she'd walked away from him. And then that look of hurt as he came up over the knoll. That was the one that bothered her most of all. She'd never meant to hurt him. That was the last thing she'd ever want but when she came here, Yes she'd wanted to meet the Duke boys but she'd never intended to get so involved. Things just happened way to fast and before she knew it, she was in to deep.

Cherokee wanted to stay and be with Bo but she knew if and when Kevin ever found her, he'd kill her and Bo both. Her for running off and Bo for taking what Kevin considered his property.

She couldn't get the Dukes into such a mess. It wasn't right.

Her thoughts turned to Heather, How Heather could fall for Luke and agree to stay so quickly knowing that Danny would most definatly find her was beyond Cherokee's thinking.
No, Danny was not by nature a mean man. However, he did what Kevin told him to without question and Kevin was mean. Cherokee had the bruises to prove it.

Without even realizing it Cherokee let her mind slip back to a memory from a year earlier.

( Cherokee was nervous as she cleaned up the house. She was trying to keep herself busy as she waited for Kevin to come home. She knew he would not take the news well but she never expected what was about to happen. She jumped as she heard the door open and Kevin hollered "I'm home"

Cherokee ran to meet him "Hi, how was your day?"

"It was ok, Where's dinner?"

"On the table, but I have something to tell you." she said as she followed him to the kitchen.

"What?" he said through a mouthful of food.

Cherokee hesitated.

"Well, speak I ain't got all damn day" Kevin said heatedly.

"Well, I'm…………. uh……….I'm pregnant." Kevin stopped and stared at her

"What did you say?"

"I'm gonna have a baby"

"Who you been sleepin with?"

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. Who you been with?"

"You"

"Don't you think for one second that your gonna trick me into taking care of someone else's brat"

"What?" Cherokee said shocked.

"You always were a loose woman" Kevin sneered.

"I have always been faithful to you"

"Yeah right, I believe that about as much as you believe that I've been faithful. It just ain't so. So first thing tomorrow morning you can get yourself down to the free clinic and get yourself an abortion. And then you get your ass back here where it belongs"

Cherokee's mouth dropped in horror.
"I will do no such thing. I don't have to take this anymore." She said as she headed for the bedroom.

Kevin followed her "Where are you going? I'm not through with you"

"Well, I'm through with you. I'm leaving" She said as she pulled her suitcase out from under the bed.

"The hell you are. Your not going anywhere"

"You can't stop me"

"The hell I can't" Kevin said as he grabbed the suitcase out of her hand and shoved her back against the wall.

All it took was 2 or 3 hard blows to the head and Cherokee lost consciousness. When she had awakened from that ordeal she was in the hospital. She had been informed that after severely beating her Kevin had went out and got drunk leaving her to die on the bedroom floor. Fortunately for her Heather had stopped by and found her, taking her to the hospital. She learned that Kevin had been found and sent to jail for 30 days. That didn't bother her she only wished it had been longer. As soon as she was well enough to be released she packed her things and her and Heather set out for a bigger and better life away from Kevin and Danny. )

Cherokee snapped back to reality and found herself crying. Not because of what had happened to her but because of what had happened to her baby.

She had lost her baby that night, Kevin had made sure of it.

Soon after she had left town, Kevin had been released from jail and had been following her ever since. She couldn't hide, he always found her and when he did, he would smack her around and try to drag her back home. But sooner or later him and Danny would fall asleep, and as soon as they did her and Heather were right back on the road again. Determined to escape someway, somehow. Cherokee considered her and Heather very lucky to have escaped from them this long. They never would have made it out of the last town if it hadn't been for Kevin's brother Ben. Ben was a good friend to them both and he usually knew where they were. They trusted him. Ben had given them a call and told them that Kevin and Danny had found them and was headed down to get them. So they packed and hightailed it. And 2 weeks later, they had ended up in Hazzard County. But Cherokee knew it wouldn't be long before they caught up to em' . They always did. And the thought of Danny or Kevin doing anything to harm the Dukes was more than she could handle. She couldn't let that happen. She made a promise to herself to keep the Dukes as far out of this as possible. She only hoped the Dukes would allow her to keep her promise to herself.

If Bo ever saw the bruises on her, that would be it. Bo wouldn't rest until he'd found out where and why she'd gotten them.

Heather didn't have to worry about Luke. The bruises that Danny inflicted would last forever but no one would ever see them. They were on the inside.

Cherokee on the other hand had bruises that would never go away and she also had some fresh ones that were still sore. All Bo had to do was put his arm around her just right or catch a glimpse of skin that her clothes usually covered and he would know. Cherokee was going to do everything she could to keep that from happening. She thanked god that the doctor hadn't said anything in front of the Dukes while they were in the hospital.

Finally she wiped the tears from her eyes, sighed, prayed "Lord give me strength", and started the car.

She looked out and realized she had no idea where she was and worse yet, no idea how to get back to the Duke farm. She thought about calling back to the Duke farm from her C.B. but decided that would not be a good idea considering the way she flew out of there a few hours ago. So, she drove on down the road aways where she saw a man leaning over the open hood of a car. His tow truck not far from him with the lights shining so he could see what he was doing. She stopped, got out, walked toward the person, and prayed that no one would notice that she'd been crying. The man lifted his head at the sound of Cherokee approaching him. " Howdy, Can I help you?"

"Um yes, I'm new in town and I'm a little lost. I wondered if you could point me in the right direction?"

"Well sure, where ya goin?"

"The Duke farm"

At the mention of the Duke farm the man stepped out of the blinding light from his tow truck to get a better look at her. "Cherokee?"

"Cooter? Oh boy am I glad to see you" Cherokee sighed in relief at the familiar man.

"Shoot miss, you're a long way from the farm. What are you doin out here all by your lonesome?"

"Oh, I uh… just needed to be alone for awhile and I guess I wasn't watching where I was driving because all of a sudden I looked up and it was dark and I was lost"

"Well why didn't you just give a holler on the C.B?"

"You know, I never even thought of that" Cherokee said acting like she felt stupid for not thinking of it.

"Well that's no problem, I'm on a call here so let me just git this here car put back together and I'll load yours up on my tow truck and give ya a ride back to the farm"

"Oh I don't want you to go to all that trouble for me, if you could just give me directions I can make it back just fine I think"

"No trouble at all ma'am. I got to go right by there on my way back to town anyhow. And sides' I never miss a chance to see my buddies." Cooter smiled at her.

"Ya'll must be real good friends" Cherokee commented thinking of how she had seen the boys along with Daisy and Jesse treat Cooter as if he were part of the family.

"Yes ma'am, the best. There ain't nothing I wouldn't do for them and they'd break their backs for me to if'n I asked em' to"

"It's wonderful the way you all get along. I admire you."

"Shoot, it's just the way life is down here. An unspoken trust of sorts"

"Yes, I see that."

"She's all set" Cooter said as he closed the hood on the car. As soon as he did Cherokee took one look at the car and about fell to the ground. She would have if Cooter hadn't caught her.

"Cherokee, you alright?"

Cherokee collected herself and stood back on her own two feet. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just got a little dizzy is all."

"You sure?"

"Yes, Thank You"

"Ok, I'll load up your car and we'll be on our way" Cooter said as he headed toward her car.

"Thank You" Cherokee replied as she watched him walk away.

He loaded it up and opened the door for her to climb in the cab of his truck. Once she was comfortably settled inside, they were off.