Chapter 4: Guardian

Bo had a heck of a time waking Luke that morning - usually it was the other way around. Camped out at Jesse's old still site #8, it was several hours after dawn when Bo's efforts finally had some effect. Quite unexpectedly, Luke jerked awake at the sound of his cousin's voice, and he stared up from the flat of his back, turning white as a sheet.

"You okay, cuz?" Bo asked with concern. "You look like you seen a ghost!"

Luke scrambled to his feet, looking around wildly and backing away from Bo.

"What…what…" Luke stammered, blinking hard. He stopped and took a deep breath. "Remind me again…what's going on…?"

Bo looked him over carefully, then said slowly, "Some thieves robbed Boss Hogg's place…Rosco pinned it on us…so we hid out here until this morning, an' now we gotta go catch them at their hideout."

Luke blinked hard again. That's right, that's what it was…

By now Bo had packed the last of the camping gear back in the General, and he was starting to climb into the driver's seat.

"Comin', Luke? If we hurry, we can get back home by lunch."

Luke was staring hard at the General, trying to piece things together. He looked up at Bo, waiting expectantly behind the wheel.

"Yeah – but let me drive."

Bo frowned. "Luke?"

"Bo, let me drive."

"Quick, Luke, they're turning onto the Ridge Road!"

"I see 'em, I see 'em!" Luke looked briefly across at his little cousin, who was grinning in the excitement of the chase. Luke wasn't smiling. His heart pounded in his chest. He knew how this day would end. "Bo, grab your helmet, and strap into the racing harness."

"What?.! Luke…!"

"Bo, just do it!"

"Alright, alright!"

Luke pressed the General onward, loving the feel of the road and the steering wheel and the wind on his face. Bo fumbled into the harness and helmet, looking worriedly across at Luke instead of at the chase. The grim determination in his cousin's eyes was fearsome.

Then the General swung around the corner with Enos and Dixie close on his tail, all three hot on the heels of the gray sedan, and the shooting began.

The End