Bo's recovery was going slow. It hurt to walk, or do pretty much anything at all, but he didn't let the pain get to him. He knew he had more important things to do. Since the day he'd gotten out of the hospital, Bo disappeared into Hazzard's swamplands every day to search for Luke, Daisy, and Rosco. With a borrowed horse from the Davenport farm, and Brutus following close behind, he was determined to make every second count.
He was doing the same thing today, except Georgie had decided to come along this time. While Brutus led them through the trees and water, they conversed briefly. Georgie sat atop a scruffy, undersized Fjord. The horse had been brought to the Davenport farm by a poor couple who'd just lost their farm. Cooter bought the horse from them, knowing the money would go a long way in their hands. The horse was named Madison, after the United States president of five foot four, and a little over a hundred pounds.
The horse Bo had borrowed was Cooter's first, and only horse. Named Blackjack after Jefferson Davis's horse, it was a black Appaloosa with a white and black speckled patch on its haunches. He towered above Madison, but had become known for being a gentle giant.
Brutus knew his mission right from the start. There were three people he had to rescue, his master, a war hero, and a damsel in distress. Nothing was going to stop him, not if he had any say in it. This was what it meant to be a real K9 officer. This was Brutus's dream, ever since he could remember. Since before Hollow Hill, before Russel, before any of this ever happened. Years ago, when he was just a puppy out on the streets, he saw a woman being mugged by a masked man. Out of nowhere, a Bloodhound tackled the mugger. From his studded collar to his bulletproof vest, Brutus knew then and there that it was a police dog. He thought about it for a long time, and decided that that was what he wanted to do, but Russel had gotten to him first.
Now, Brutus weaved around, sniffing intently. He recognized the smell of gunpowder from the sheriff's gun. It had slowly spilled out of the barrel, a trail only a dog could follow. The sheriff had known exactly what he was doing. The smell of rotten eggs burned Brutus's nose, but he forced himself to continue. This was it, today was the big break, he would finally find them.
The smell grew stronger, the gunpowder had spilled out faster here. They were getting close. Rosco knew they were getting close, he had to empty the barrel more efficiently. They were so close, just a little farther. Wait, yes, this was it, the end of the trail.
Brutus lifted his head quickly, ears alert, and probing for any sound. His nose twitched, smelling for any signs of human activity. There, he could smell smoke just below the ridge. It was coming from a small, rundown house nestled in the dry riverbed.
Bo and Georgie each dismounted.
"Well I'll be… Brutus done found 'em all by hisself." Georgie mused.
"Be on the lookout for moonshiner traps. You never know where stills are, and where they used to be." Bo ordered.
"Got it."
They poked around for a while. This was definitely the place.
"Alright, now there ain't nothin' left to do but tell the others." Bo remarked.
Georgie sighed, and dropped his gaze. "Man, this really makes me nervous… you know?"
"Yeah, I know, I'm right there with ya."
Bo and Georgie relayed the location of the house to the rest of Hazzard's finest. Not entirely meaning the police department, but it did include Enos and Cletus. They all agreed it had been long enough, and so prepared themselves to liberate their friends and family. Bo in the General Lee, Jesse in his white pick-up, Cooter in his tow truck, Enos and Cletus in a patrol car, and Boss Hogg in his white Cadillac.
They set back out into the wilderness at dusk, the larger, tougher vehicles blazing a path for the smaller, more delicate ones. It was soon that all the vehicles were stationed above the ridge were Blackjack and Madison had been standing earlier that day. The six of them stayed low, stalking in the trees, keeping a close watch on the house.
Luke stepped outside. He had only come out to get wood for the furnace, but found an interesting surprise. Above the ridge that sheltered the small house was a flash of bright orange paint in the trees, the unmistakable orange tone of the General Lee.
Bo appeared a ways in front of the treeline, he began to make his way down into the old riverbed. Luke didn't dare make a sound, but knew he had to warn his cousin. He picked up a cut branch from the woodpile, and flung it at Bo's feet. It landed inches away from his right foot, and a steel bear trap sprung up, chomping down on the piece of wood. Bo glanced down at it fearfully, before looking back up at Luke. The older Duke shook his head slowly. He turned, and picked up an axe that had been leaning against the house.
Bo quickly scooted back up the ridge to where everyone else had gathered near Jesse's truck.
"What happened down there?" Cooter asked.
"The riverbed's littered with bear traps. It'd be like walkin' through a minefield down there. I think we might have to circle around, and take 'em from the front." Bo explained.
"I dunno, it's kinda a tight fit towards the South side, I don't think you could fit a vehicle in there, much less do it without gettin' it stuck." Jesse remarked.
"I think I know a way."
"How?" Enos asked.
Bo nodded to the General. "General Lee's the only vehicle small and strong enough to get through the South side. I'll take him down there, and get Rosco, Luke, and Daisy out."
"I'm comin' with you." Cooter growled, stepping forward.
"Alright, c'mon, we ain't got a moment to lose." He and Cooter quickly climbed into the General Lee. "We'll be back in no time y'all." Bo called out.
The Charger's mighty engine roared to life, the car backed up, before disappearing deeper into the trees and brush. It circled around, heading South towards the front of the small house. It creeped forward ever so slowly. Just a few more feet, then they'd have enough room.
"That oughta 'bout do it." Cooter said in a low voice.
"Here we go." Bo replied.
The General Lee's engine screamed as it tore forward. It crashed through the front door of the small house, and the whole Southern wall for that matter. Bo and Cooter quickly climbed out. Russel rose from the rubble, lumbering forward. A rebel yell emanated from Cooter's voice as he lunged at the behemoth.
Through the smoke and the dust Rosco and Daisy emerged. They made a beeline for the General Lee, quickly climbing inside where it was safe. Bo rushed forward, just barely able to make out the silhouette of his oldest cousin. As he got closer, he could see two people.
"Not another move, ploughboy." A voice growled, the unmistakable accent of a heavy Texas drawl.
Texas had Luke by the arm, his gun pressed against his jaw. Bo didn't dare make any sudden movements. Red and Benjamin stood off at a distance, Benjamin kneading his hands nervously. Cooter threw a few punches into Russel's face, sending him reeling back. Russel fell hard onto the floor, he didn't get back up. Cooter turned, massaging his knuckles. He stopped short upon seeing the scene laid out before him.
"Now don't you move either, or I'll blow his brains out!" Texas snarled. He jammed the muzzle of his gun into Luke's temple.
"C'mon Texas, it's over, let's just go." Benjamin said timidly.
"It's not worth it, man, let's go before we get ourselves killed." Red warned.
"You cowards go if you want, but I ain't backin' down." Texas growled in a maniacal tone.
"They're right you know." Bo said calmly.
"Shut up."
Just then, the first twelve notes of Dixie rang out over the small crowd. Texas became distracted, trying to determine where the sound had come from. Bo took the open opportunity, and grabbed the gun from Texas's hand. Luke quickly pulled away from him, and Bo chucked the gun into the swamp. Luke made it to the General Lee, but remained on stand-by just in case.
Lightning flashed, and thunder rolled. Rain began pouring from the sky. Texas began laughing maniacally. He reached into his inside coat pocket, and drew another, smaller handgun.
"First rule of life, always carry a spare gun. Second rule, knoweth thy opponent." Texas said, an evil smile playing on his lips.
Bo glanced behind him, the General Lee had been backed out of the rubble. Luke and Cooter stood close to the car, unsure of what to do next. Bo didn't know what to do, he didn't want to get shot, but he didn't want anyone else to die, even if it meant sacrificing himself. It was a split chance, but he knew he needed to keep Texas's focus on him. With that decided, Bo turned and ran. Texas's small handgun spoke, pure lead and smoke, then seventeen inches of flame. It then spoke once more not a moment after.
Bo ran as fast as he could across the muddy ground. He heard the two gunshots, then two burning, stinging holes in his back. His face lost all expression as his body went limp, Luke rushed forward, catching his youngest cousin in his arms. Bo could taste the blood in his mouth, feel his cousin's arms around him. It was getting harder and harder to breathe. Was this it? Was this what eighteen years had come to? Lying there, two bullets that'd gone right through him now lost to the world. No, this was his choice, not exactly what he wanted, but it would do.
Benjamin covered his mouth with his hand. "Oh my God."
"Texas! ¿Qué demonios te pasa?" Red shouted.
Texas just stood there, his facial expression clearly indicating that he didn't care. He'd killed before, this was nothing new.
Daisy screamed. Cooter grew numb. Rosco pulled his lips back in a snarl, glaring at Texas. Luke pulled Bo close, looking into his dull eyes. A drop of blood rolled off his lips, and down his chin.
"Bo?" Luke ventured fearfully.
Bo could feel his eyelids getting heavy, hear his cousin's worried voice. His eyes slowly closed. Goodbye.
"BO!" Luke yelled. He shook his shoulder, trying to wake him. He turned to the others. "Call an ambulance."
They all stood, frozen in fear.
"Now!"
Luke could feel the tears welling up in his eyes. No, it couldn't end like this, it couldn't. A lifetime of memories came flooding back. Bo was like a brother to him. They'd been through a lot together. Luke silently urged him to wake up, to just open his eyes, and tell everybody he was alright. Life didn't work that way, he knew it didn't. Two bullets to the back, yeah, it was over.