The Search
"Uncle Jesse!" Daisy called as she came running out of the house,
both Luke and Jesse came running up to see what was wrong. "What is
it Daisy, what's got you so upset?" Uncle Jesse asked.
"Oh Uncle Jesse, Enos just called on the cb, he found your truck over on Cottontail Lane but there wasn't anyone around."
"Bo wasn't there?" Luke asked as he headed to the cb in the General.
Daisy shook her head as Luke grabbed the mic and began to speak. "Enos,
this here's Luke Duke, does it look like the truck broke down?"
"Hi Luke, no the truck's fine, it started right up when I tried it.
Daisy said Bo driving it but I don't see no sign of him." Enos replied.
"Yeah that's right, he was headed to Capital City, listen can you wait there for me? I'll be there in a few." Luke asked, the worry for his cousing coming through in his voice.
"Sure thing Luke, I'll be here." Before Luke could leave Uncle Jesse
approached him, "Me and Daisy'll stay here in case Bo calls or comes
home, you let us know what you find out. And Luke you be careful." Luke
nodded in response and tore out of the yard in the General, he quickly
arrived at where Enos had found Jesse's truck. Climbing out of the car
he was joined by Enos as he began looking around. Trying to find something,
anything that would tell him where Bo was, but there was nothing. No
blood, no signs of a struggle, there were no footprints going down the
road, so he hadn't simply walked away from the truck. What had happened
to his cousin, it was as though he had just vanished into thin air. Luke
radioed the farm and told Uncle Jesse and Daisy what he'd found or hadn't
found was more like it. In no time at all they had organized a search
for the missing young man. As they searched it soon became apparent
nobody had seen Bo that day, they searched the rest of the day, returning
home only when it became too dark to continue.
Uncle Jesse helped Daisy fix a quick supper while Luke paced the living room. "Luke," recieving no answer Jesse tried again this time a little louder, "Luke!" Luke turned to his Uncle surprised to see him in the doorway, "Yeah Uncle Jesse what is it?"
"Supper's ready why don't you come and eat something?" Uncle Jesse sighed when Luke shook his head. "I know you ain't hungy boy, none of us are but we got to eat. We have to keep our strength up if we're gonna find Bo, and we will find him" Uncle Jesse finished with conviction.
"I want to believe that Uncle Jesse I really do. But I'm...I'm scared,
people don't just vanish like this so someone took him. I just don't
know why or what might be happening to him." Luke said, swallowing hard.
"I know Luke, we're all scared, but you got to have faith that God will help us and He'll look out for Bo until we can find him. Now come on let's eat and then we'll do chores before bed and start fresh first thing." Jesse said as he placed a hand on Luke's shoulder and gently nudged him towards the kitchen. The meal was a quiet one, nobody felt much like talking, although Daisy had fixed a good meal none of them ate much either. They were all too worried about Bo to eat, as soon as they finished Luke and Jesse went outside to tend to the animals, while Daisy straightened the kitchen. No one slept much that night, about an hour before daylight Jesse and Luke headed out for morning chores so they could start searching again at daybreak. By the time they'd had a quick breakfast the first strands of light were beginning to show in the East. They soon picked up the search again, all of them concerned for Bo and trying not to show it. They had no way of knowing at the time, but three days would pass before they found Bo in the last place they would have expected. By that time though they would all be exhausted by worry, which would only worsen the shock they were in for.