"I don't know what you're talking about. All I did was save her from some creep who was looking at her in a way that I didn't like. I'm supposed to protect my baby sister from people like him," Bo said, not taking his eyes from the TV.

"Bo, don't you think she's old enough to make that decision on her own?" Daisy asked.

"Right. She doesn't know the first thing about defending herself and if I leave her with Mark chances are she'll come home with her virginity gone and pregnant," Bo said, rolling his eyes.

"Bo, you give my cousin way too little credit. She would never do anything like that," Daisy said, sounding annoyed.

"Not on purpose, but that boy could rape her and then I would kick myself because I didn't stop him," Bo said somberly.

"Bo, do you really think he'd do that?" Luke asked, jumping in the conversation.

"I see boys like that every day and plenty of young girls who are wishing they had a big brother to protect them and kept it from happening. As long as I'm Megan's legal guardian she won't be allowed to see Mark. I won't give him the chance to hurt her," Bo said firmly.

What none of the cousins realized was that Megan had heard every word. Bo looked up sharply as Megan came down the stairs, her face flushed and her eyes full of anger.

"Bo Duke, I would never let a boy do that!" Megan all but shouted as she stormed over to him.

Bo stood quickly to his feet. "Megan, I know you wouldn't, but being a police officer I've seen a lot of girls that were raped and said that it wouldn't happen. There's just something about Mark I don't like or trust. I wouldn't say this to hurt you. I'm trying to help you," Bo said, reaching out and stroking his sister's face tenderly.

She looked at him with a pianed expression. "Bo, I wanted you to like him," Megan said, all the fire out of her voice.

"Well, it might have helped if you had prepared me a little bit. If you had told me about him in advance I could have met him with an open mind," Bo said, taking his sister in his arms and hugging her tightly. Megan hugged him back, burying her face in his shoulder.

"Bo, I'm sorry. Am I forgiven?" Megan said, looking up at him with her beautiful blue eyes.

"Of course I do. You're my baby sister and I love you," Bo said, gently brushing her cheek with his lips and hugging her tightly. megan had forgiven him for trying to protect her, but Bo didn't know what to do about Mark. As he hugged his sister and stroked her blonde curls and back he felt more confused than ever.

"I love you to Bo', said Megan and she meant it. She really did love her brother even though sometimes he could be a pain. But she knew he was only trying to protect her. After saying goodnight to her brother and cousins, Megan went upstairs to bed.

The next day started off much better. They all had breakfast and sat around and talked. Jim and Mandie, Bo and Megan's parents currently had no place to live. They wanted a place of their own so that Megan and Bo could live with them, but they couldn't find one they could afford. They explained this to Uncle Jessie.

Jessie listened with a kind heart. "Why don't you stay here with us? There's an extra room down the hall. I'm sure Megan and Bo would love to have you stay". The Dukes thought abotu it for a few moments. Then they turned back to Uncle Jessie. "Sure we can stay here". they both said. Megan excited, hugged her parents. "As long as you want us to that is", Jim said as he smiled at his daughter.

Megan couldn't be happier. Her family (a real family) all under one roof! They could all be a family again. She went upstaits later that day to go online and check her email. Even though she was away from the music school during the summer, she still kept in touch with Mark and with several new friends she had made. As she logged on, she found an email from Mark. Great! At least he was still talking to her. Getting excited, she opened the email it read:

Meet me at the old mill on Shirley Rd at 7. And wear that outfit of yours I love so much.

Love, Mark

Megan smiled he still wanted to see her! Megan went over to the closet to find her favorite outfit. A black silk skirt and cream colored blouse with ruffles on it. Once she was done, she opened the window and looked out, no one was outside.

She did love her brother. But, in order to see Mark, she had to sneak out. Megan climbed out the window forgetting to shut her Computer off.