Chapter 5:

Bo laid awake thinking 'bout what had happened that mornin' in the barn with Ben. He knew he had been in the wrong and had deserved what he got, but still it made him mad. He felt like he was old enough to make the choice of goin' to the saloon if he wanted to. Shiftin' around on the bed, he was soon reminded that he was the only one that felt that way. 'Dang that man's got a strong arm.' Smiling, he figured, 'Shoot, surely I ain't gonna get caught twice in a row.' Gettin' up from the bed and dressin' quietly, he eased open the bedroom window.

'One thing can be said for those Duke boys is that they're as stubborn as a Missouri mule. You'd think a hangover the size of Atlanta and a sore behind would be enough to stop him… but then again we are talkin' 'bout Bo… ain't we.'

Easing around to the front of the house, Bo was careful to be as quiet as possible. He wanted nothin' more than to wake Little Joe to go with him but figured he wouldn't be able to talk him into it, least not this soon. Grabbin' the nearest limb of the tree he swung out. It was no sooner than his feet left the roof that he heard the limb began to crack.

'Ya ever noticed just how high that there roof is? I got a feelin' this is gonna hurt.'

Ben and the boys were awaken by the sound of Bo's scream as he fell to the ground. Runnin' out the door they saw the still form lying just beyond the hitchin' post. "Adam, send one of the hands for the doctor." Ben ordered as he rolled Bo over. Hoss gathered the boy up in his arms and moved him inside.

It wasn't long until they heard Doc. Martin drivin' up in his buggy. The Cartwrights waited downstairs as he attended the young man. After nearly a half-hour the doctor joined them. "Well Ben, he's had a nasty fall."

"Yes, no doubt sneaking out again to go to town. I guess that discussion we had this morning wasn't strong enough."

"Is he gonna be alright?" Joe asked.

"Well, he's unconscious right now. We won't know anything until he wakes up."

"So we just wait?" Adam asked.

"That's all we can do."

'Do you get the feelin' like ya done been here before? It's a good thing those Dukes have such hard heads.'

Luke walked into the hospital room later that day with Jesse, feelin' as nervous as the only chicken in the barnyard with the preacher comin' for supper. He smiled sheepishly at Cooter and Daisy.

"How ya feelin' buddyro?" Cooter asked.

"As useless as a milk bucket under a bull."

As Jesse and Daisy talked to Bo, tryin' to get some response, Cooter walked over to where Luke stood. "Ya head hurtin' much?"

Rubbin' the back of his neck, he smiled at his friend. "Among other things."

Getting' the message, Cooter let out a low whistle. "Sorry 'bout that, but I couldn't lie to Uncle Jesse."

"I know that. Besides, we talked a little. Made me feel better 'bout things."

"Good. Ya had me kinda worried last night."

"NOOOOO!"

Turning to the bed, they all saw that Bo was thrashin' around dreamin'. "Bo… come on son, open ya eyes." Jesse softly ordered.

They watched as slowly the boy opened his eyes for the first time in three days. "Hey kiddo." Luke smiled.

"What happened?" Bo asked.

"I want you to think about it son and tell me if you remember anything." The doctor said as he moved to the side of the bed.

Bo closed his eyes and thought back to the last thing he remembered. Realizing what had happened; he slowly reopened his eyes and looked only at the doctor. "I… ah… wrecked the General."

"The General?"

"Yes sir, mine and Luke's car." He answered softly.

"Can you tell me how the accident occurred?" the doctor asked.

Jesse noticed that Bo was stallin'. "Go on Bo, we already know what happened. Now tell the doctor."

"Yes sir." Bo said and told the doctor all 'bout how he had taken the car when he wasn't allowed to and jumped the creek he been told not to.

"All right young man. I want you to try and rest. If you're doing alright in the morning you can go home." The doctor said patting the boy on the leg. "I'll leave you with your family."

"I'm sorry Uncle Jesse." Bo said, lookin' at the covers instead of the man that raised him.

"Look at me, son." Jesse ordered and waited until Bo did as he was told. "We'll discuss all of this later, when you're better. For now, you just do as the doctor said and rest."

"Yes sir."

"You sure had us worried, sugar." Daisy said kissing the boy on the cheek. "I'm so glad to see those pretty blue eyes again."

"I am sorry I worried ya. I didn't mean to."

"I gotta get on back to the garage." Cooter said as he walked over to the bed. "You stay in that bed and do as ya told for once, ya hear? I don't wanna hear ya done gone an tried to jump from this buildin' to the next."

"See ya Cooter." Bo said and watched as his friend walked out the door.

"Come on Uncle Jesse, let's go and get some coffee while the boys talk." Daisy said takin' her uncle's arm.

"I'll be back in a little while, Bo. Luke, ya let me know if'n he gets out of that there bed."

"Don't worry, I'll make sure he don't." Luke said, as he watched them leave. Turnin' back to his young cousin, he could see the boy wouldn't look him in the eye. "What's a matter, Bo?"

"I'm sorry Luke. I shouldn't of took the General, not an it rainin' like it was."

"No you shouldn't of."

"I shouldn't of tried jumpin' the crick neither."

"No you shouldn't of."

Looking up at Luke, Bo sighed. "I guess ya really mad at me ain't ya?"

"I was scared." Luke replied.

"Why?"

"Bo, look at ya. You was hurt bad. Hell, ya been outta it for three days. Why wouldn't I be scared?" Luke stated hotly. Seeing the boy drop his head again, Luke sat down on the edge of the bed. "Bo, look I'm sorry I yelled, but I thought I done lost ya. That's somethin' I don't think I could stand."

"I'm sorry I scared ya so bad, Luke."

"I know kiddo. I'm just glad ya gonna be alright."

"For now anyways." Bo said frowning.

"Huh?"

"Guess I'm in a heap of trouble, ain't I?

"Oh yeah, little boy, but it'll havta wait til ya better." Luke stated, wincin' at the thoughts of his encounter that same mornin' with Jesse.

"Uncle Jesse's pretty mad, huh?"

"Yep, and he ain't the only one you gotta worry 'bout.

"But Luke…"

"Don't you 'but Luke' me, boy. You took the General knowin' it was wrong, and then went and tried jumpin' him, knowin' I done told ya not to do that. Don't ya think I have a right to be mad?" A nod of the boy's head was the only answer. "If it wasn't for the fact ya got a cast on that leg of yours I'd turn ya over my knee right now."

Bo's head shot up as he took in the look on his cousin's face. "You wouldn't do that… would ya?"

"Why wouldn't I?" Luke asked.

"Cause Uncle Jesse's already probably gonna whip me."

"They ain't no probably to it. I am gonna take my switch to ya, just as soon as ya better." Jesse said walkin' back in the room with Daisy. "But ya disobeyed Luke too, so I'll let him decide on if he wants to whip ya tail too."

"Yes sir."

'Poor ole Bo just can't win fer loosin'. Maybe if he'd just hit his head again, he could show up on Walton's Mountain. Then he could hang out with John Boy. Seems to me he never did get in no trouble.'

"Sugar, can I ask ya somethin'?" Daisy said comin' to place her hand on the boy's arm.

"Yeah."

"What was ya dreamin' 'bout?"

Rememberin' all that had happened, Bo looked at each of them and shook his head. "Ya wouldn't believe me if'n I told ya."

"Try us anyways." Luke said, sittin' carefully on the edge of the bed as Daisy and Jesse sat in the chairs.

"Alright." Bo said as he began his story. "Well, that's just about it." He finished. "I told ya, ya wouldn't believe it."

"Well, it makes sense if ya think on it." Luke said standin' and walkin' around to the window. "See, Bonanza was the last thing ya watched that night, so it stuck with ya."

"But it all seemed so real. I'm mean right down to the way they all acted."

"Well, I think Bo here needs to get some rest tonight, so he can come home tomorrow." Jesse said pullin' the blanket up around his nephew's shoulders.

"Luke, will ya stay with me?" Bo asked, softly.

"Course I will." He answered. Turnin' to Jesse, he continued. "And I'll bring 'em home in the mornin' if they let 'em leave."

"Fine, if ya think ya can get 'em in the General." Jesse said.

"It's fixed?"

"Yeah, Bo, Cooter fixed 'em up good as new."

'Sure 'nough the next mornin' the doctor let Bo go home. He spent the month gettin' over his broken arm and leg which was none to easy on any of 'em seein' as how he couldn't even use crutches. Finally the day came that the doc declared 'em fit as a fiddle.'

Drivin' back from town, Luke looked over at Bo. "How ya feel?"

"Better without those dang casts. They was startin' to itch somethin' fierce."

Thinkin' back on what had happened, Luke decided that one way or the other he had to make the kid see he was to listen to what he told 'em. He thought of how close they had come to loosin' the boy. His mind made up he turned down the road that led to the pond. "Where ya goin'?"

"I gotta somethin' to do before we go home." Luke said pullin' the General over. "Come on." He continued as he climbed out of the window.

Bo shrugged his shoulders and climbed out to join his cousin. He limped over to where Luke stood leanin' on the hood of the car. He watched as Luke took out his knife and opened it. "Whacha doin'?" he asked.

"It's time to finish somethin'." Luke said, walkin' over to the nearby tree.

Bo watched as his cousin reached up and cut a long thin limb from the tree and began to clear it of any leaves. It was then that he realized what Luke had meant. "Luke?"

"I told ya, ya had this comin' when ya was better. Well ya better now, so let's get this behind us." He said walkin' toward his baby cousin.

"Ain't there some other way? Come on Luke, ya ain't really gonna whip me with that… are ya?"

Smilin' at the boy, Luke took hold of his upper arm as he propped himself on the hood. Pullin' Bo across his left thigh, he said. "Now come on Bo, why else would I go to the trouble of cuttin' the dang thing if it wasn't for whippin' ya tail. Now hold still."

"Luke, don't do this. I promise I'll do like ya say from now on." Bo begged.

"Good. I'm glad to hear it, but I wanna make sure." Luke said as he popped Bo's behind with the switch. After ten lashes, he stopped, still keepin' the boy across his lap. "Ya gonna do as ya told now?"

"Yeah."

Poppin' him again, Luke asked. "Where's ya manners?"

"Yes sir… I promise, I will."

Luke pulled Bo up and held him by both arms, lookin' at him. "Bo, I want you to understand that I only tell ya what to do cause I care 'bout ya. I don't wanna loose ya kid. Ya know we're supposed to start runnin' Uncle Jesse's shine soon, and I need to know ya gonna listen to me."

Sniffin' back the tears, Bo looked up at his older cousin, "I know and I'm sorry… really sorry 'bout what I did. Please don't be mad at me no more."

"I ain't mad at ya. As far as I'm concerned, everythins' forgotten." Luke told him.

Smilin' Bo asked. "Luke, can I drive home?"

Shakin' his head, Luke laughed. "As long as ya stay away from the cricks."

After easin' down in the seat, Bo started the car. Turnin' to look behind him he spotted somethin' on the backseat. Pickin' it up he smiled.

"What's that?" Luke asked.

"Just a gift from a friend." Bo said, as he hung the black neck scarf around the mirror. Givin' a rebel yell to match his cousins, they headed for home.

'Well I hope ya'll enjoyed the trip ya took along with me and Bo to visit Virginia City and the Cartwrights. But for now, I guess things have returned to what passes as normal here in Hazzard. Ya'll come back now, ya hear.'