Sorry for the wait… here's chapter 9. I know it's short, but I was afraid to leave ya hangin' too long –Jordyn
Jesse couldn't believe it. He couldn't believe that the good Lord would take his Bo from him. Not like this… not so soon. There had to be a mistake. There had to be.
He jumped from his seat when he saw Dr. Williams coming towards him, fifteen minutes later.
"Mr. Duke, please sit down."
Jesse braced himself for what was coming. Daisy clutched Enos tightly. Luke stood with his back facing the doctor, leaning on the wall with his hand. Tears were running down his cheeks.
"Mr. Duke, I'm afraid your nephew's lung collapsed. We had to…"
"Is Bo… is he...?"
"Yes, sir. He's a fighter."
"Ya hear that Daisy? Luke? Bo's ok!" shouted Jesse.
Unable to find the right words to express himself, Luke let out a yell. "Yee-haw!"
"Oh, Uncle Jesse!" Daisy kissed Enos' cheek, which caused him to grin bigger than he already was.
"Now, Mr. Duke, please understand. His condition has actually worsened."
"Well, Doc, that may be. But ya see, ya don't know Bo like I do. He's fightin' an' we're not gonna give up on him."
"I understand. Now, Mr. Duke, we had to drain the air out from around his lung. That went very well. We are going to observe him and see if his lung will go back to normal on its own… what with all he's been through, I don't want to risk doing surgery unless we absolutely have to."
"Can we see him?"
"Not just yet. We are doing some tests. Why don't you go home… come back in the morning."
"I'm stayin' with Bo," began Luke firmly.
"Now Luke, ya just got outta here yerself an' I have no intention of lettin' ya end up back here…"
"I ain't goin' nowhere."
Jesse felt his face turn red. His nephew was as stubborn as Maudine, the old mule, and twice as ornery.
"Now ya listen here, Lucas Duke…" began Jesse with a tone he seldom used.
Now, I don't know 'bout y'all, but I bet I know how this discussion will end…
"Yes, sir," muttered Luke, recognizing that he had ruffled Jesse's feathers.
"You are not so big that I can't take ya over ma knee right here…
"Now, Jesse…"
"That's Uncle Jesse to you. Now ya listen here… I wanna see yer legs movin' as ya walk down that there hall, through that there door, to that there truck, yonder."
"Uncle Jesse…."
"Get!"
"Yes, sir," answered Luke, walking slowly down the hallway.
"Let us know if there's any change, okay?"
"I'll do that Miss Duke. Good night," replied Doctor Williams.
"Good Night," answered Jesse.
"I hope it will be for Bo," thought Enos, glancing towards Bo's room before turning down the corridor.