Holy crap guys, next time this happens, gun me down or something. How did I let two months go without updating this? Yes this chapter was incredibly hard to write but it should've only taken me one month at the most. Not two. I hope ya'll stick with me anyway and forgive me for my absence. Please review even if it's just cause you're really mad at me and you want to chew me out. I hope you like this chapter, and I don't blame anyone who wants to read the previous chapter because they forgot what's going on . . .
Chapter 14: Assault and Battery
The next morning was Wednesday, the half-way in an already long week for the Duke family. Bo quickly noticed that his excrutiating headache he went to bed with the previous night had been reduced to a dull throb. After making sure Lois was awake, he sleepily plodded into the kitchen, where Jesse sat reading the paper and Jamie stood at the counter, cooking. Luke came in from outside a few seconds later. He grinned upon seeing his younger cousin.
"Hey Bo, yer just the guy I wanted ta see," said Luke. "After you conked out last night, Enos an' me came up with a plan. Once ya git Lois ta school, we're gonna have some fun."
Bo raised an eyebrow at the dark-haired man. "Okay, I can't wait ta hear whatcha got up yer sleeve this time."
Once Lois came out, dressed and ready for school, the family sat down for breakfast. There was no discussion about the "plan" during the meal, so Bo figured it might not be suitable for his young daughter to hear. So after breakfast, he quickly ran his daughter to school and rushed home, where Luke was waiting. Enos, Daisy, and Charlie had come, too.
"All right, come on, Enos, let's go," Luke said as he noticed his cousin pull the General up the drive. "We'll take yer car an' make it official." Once Bo hopped out of the General, question etched on his face, Luke led him to Enos's car. "Come on, Bo, we'll explain our plan on the way. This should git the Martexes off yer back fer good."
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Bo knocked soundly on the door, Enos and Luke on either side of him. He stood proudly, black eye and all, waiting for Brad Martex to answer his knock. Luke clapped a hand reassuringly on Bo's shoulder. "Just let Enos do the talkin' fer a minute."
A few seconds later, the door swung open and out stormed Mr. Martex. He glared down at Bo, who bravely glared right back up.
Enos cleared his throat nervously. "Uh, Mr. Martex, I need ta speak with ya 'bout some official police business. Mind if we come inside?"
"We can talk just fine out here," Brad growled. "What do ya'll want?"
Enos took a shaky sigh. "Now, uh, I gotta couple a witnesses who'd be willin' ta testify fer assualt an' battery against ya from yesterday afternoon at about 1:30 or so against Bo here."
"Mm-hmm," Brad said. "Ya mean a little five-year-old girl who don't even know what assault an' battery means?"
"My Uncle Jesse was watchin' too," Bo cut in. "He was waitin' for us out in the car. He was the one who drug my hide back home after the aforementioned assault an' battery."
Luke pulled a piece of paper from his shirt pocket. "Now Bo here will be willin' ta drop the charges against ya if ya sign this nice legal agreement sayin' that neither you or yer family will go near Dukes again. An' if ya do, we'll find out about it, an' you'll be behind bars faster than you can say 'Okeefenokee.' Either sign this now, or go to jail. Choice is yers."
Brad sneered greatly at the three other men. Finally, he snatched the paper from Luke and asked for a pen. Enos gladly handed him one, and Brad signed the paper.
"Thanks, Martex!" Bo called as they walked away from the porch. "That's greatly appreciated!"
"Lousy son of a bitch," Martex muttered.
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After picking Lois up from school, Bo heard about further torture from Jason. He smiled though, as he informed Lois that Jason would be in big trouble if he did it again. His grin widened when Lois smiled at the news.
Once Lois was at home and under the care of Jesse, Bo took a walk. Before he knew where he was going, he ended up at the Duke cemetery, where every Duke since the beginning of Hazzard County had been buried, including Michelle. Bo sat down in front of her tombstone.
"Ya know, this week would have been a lot easier if ya'd been here," he said. "I still really miss ya, Shelly. Ya know that, don't ya?" Tears were beginning to well up in his eyes. "I love ya. I always will love ya."
Bo remained in his place for a few more moments letting the tears fall before he finally muttered a goodbye and turned away. He slowly trudged home, his mind heavy with thought. Once he made it inside, he looked in the kitchen and found Jamie and Luke drinking coffee together and talking. Luke looked up at his younger cousin and instantly knew where the blonde had been.
Luke stood up, smiling sadly at his cousin. He wrapped an arm around Bo and brought a hand across his tear-stained cheek. "I'll be right back, Jamie."
Jamie nodded. Luke led Bo outside where they sat down on the porch. "Hey buddy, things is okay. I know ya miss her. But she's still with ya, remember that."
Bo sniffed. "I know. It's been five years, but that don't mean it don't hurt no less. Not when ya love 'em. An' boy did I really love her. I think about her everytime I look at Lois. That kid may got my hair, but she also got everything else of Shelly's."
"I unnerstand, Bo. I know ya love her, still. But it's okay. Ya still got a family an' a daughter that really love ya, Bo. Just remember that."
"Thanks, Luke, " Bo said. "You remember that too. I know things ain't easy fer you either. Are ya'll gonna try again?"
"That's what we was talkin' about," Luke said. "I think we're gonna, pretty soon."
The two cousins sat talking for a long time, before Jamie called them in for dinner. The five residents of the house clamored to the table and they ate dinner, lively with chatter. Things once again seemed to be okay at the Duke farm.