"Wonder what's taking so long?" Daisy said as she, the boys, and Cooter were all waiting in a private room for word on Jesse's surgery.
"Just relax, Daisy, the doctor should be in any minute to let us know something. They took him back two hours ago."
"Luke, what do you reckon Jesse's gonna say when he finds out what we did with General Lee?" Bo pondered.
Daisy's eyes widened in astonishment. "You didn't sell him to that Billy Kay, did you?"
"No, but we did have to borrow some money against him." Luke confirmed. He then decided to fill Daisy and Cooter in on what they had done.
"And Boss expects delivery of the General just as soon as possible." Bo added.
Daisy sighed. "Jesse's gonna be so upset to hear what you did. He knows how you two love General."
"You're right Daisy." Cooter confirmed. "The Duke boys and the General Lee go together like bees and honey, like peanut butter and jelly, like…….."
Luke held up his hands. "I get the picture. Of course we'll miss General Lee, but we were in a hurry, we did what we had too. We love Jesse more and he'll be there to see the day we get him back. That's what's important."
"Mr. Duke?"
"The group turned to see Dr. Wilson standing there. His smile spoke volumes.
"I'm happy to report that your uncle is out of surgery and doing very well."
Everybody smiled and started hugging each other, interrupted only by one of Bo's 'Yee Haw's'.
"When can we see him?" Daisy asked.
"Well, he has to spend about 10 more minutes in recovery, then we can move him out to a room. You can see him then."
"Uncle Jesse?" Daisy whispered a few minutes later as the four of them stood around his bed.
"Oohh." Uncle Jesse mumbled as he began to stir. "Where am I?"
"You're in the Tri-County hospital, Jesse." Luke replied. "Seems you had a bad case of appendicitis. How do you feel now?"
"I feel like I got kicked by Maudine." Jesse replied, referring to his mule.
Bo laughed. "Don't worry, Jesse. The doc says you're doing very well."
"I don't call being kicked by a mule doing very well." Jesse muttered, still under the haze of anesthesia. He then groaned and grabbed his right side.
"You alright, Jesse?" Daisy asked with concern.
"Just hurtin', need something for the pain."
"I'll get the nurse." Daisy replied, pushing Jesse's nurse button.
A few moments later, the nurse walked in. Bo grinned at the shapely blond who looked to be about 24. "Can I help you, Mr. Duke?"
"Why you sure can." Bo said, sliding up beside her. "You can help keep the passenger side seat warm in my car tonight when we go over to the drive-in in Capitol City together."
"He's hurting and needs something for pain." Daisy replied, bringing the nurse's attention to Jesse.
The nurse picked up his chart and studied it for a few moments. She then put it down and shook her head. "Mr. Duke is already on a highly concentrated morphine drip. It's the strongest stuff they'll let him have."
As Jesse flinched in pain again, Daisy looked back to the nurse. "Then there's nothing you will do?"
The nurse put her hand on Daisy's shoulder. "I know it's hard, but we can't get him dependant on painkillers. I've seen a lot of patients just like him in here before, and the next day they didn't even need anything for pain anymore. Just give it some time."
The nurse turned to leave when Bo approached her again. "Hey, how bout that movie tonight?"
"Well." She replied. "You would have to check with Dr. Wilson."
"Dr. Wilson? Why? He got you working late?" Bo asked as Dr. Wilson walked into the room.
"Well, I can see he's stirring around a bit. That's always a good sign." Dr. Wilson commented, taking the chart from the nurse and smiling at her.
"Honey." The nurse said, giving Dr. Wilson a prolonged kiss on the lips. "Mr. Duke's nephew over there wants to ask you something."
"Oh he does?" Dr. Wilson asked as Bo's face fell and began to take on a red tone.
"Uh huh. I'll see you in a bit. I've got to call Mom and check on the baby."
"Aren't we going over to her house for supper tonight?"
The nurse nodded. "She's making lamb chops, one of your favorite. Don't forget Mr. Dukes question now."
"See you later, Mrs. Wilson." Dr. Wilson replied as the nurse sailed out the door, smiling at Bo.
"Now what did you want to ask me, uh…" he flipped through Jesse's chart and pointed to it. "….Bo."
"Uh…." Bo replied amidts the uncontrollable laughter emitted by his cousins and his best friend. "I was just wondering….ah…I was just wondering when Jesse could go home." He grinned at the end, happy to have found a legitimate question packed away in his mind.
"If all goes well, he should be out of here the day after tomorrow." Dr. Wilson replied.
"Doctor, are you sure there is nothing else he can have for pain?" Daisy asked one last time.
Dr. Wilson shook his head. "He'll be fine. I'll be back in the evening to check on him one more time before I leave." With that, he turned and also left the room.
"That was real smooth, Bo." Cooter laughed, punching him on the arm.
"I'm glad ya'll enjoyed it." Bo muttered. "She didn't look quite as pretty goin' out as she did comin' in. Probably something to do with her attitude."
"I've heard that before. Only, them girls was talking about you at the time." Luke grinned to which Bo replied with a smirk.
Jesse groaned again. "Something for the pain." He commanded softly.
"I'm sorry Jesse, they won't give you anything else." Daisy replied, stroking his hair.
"Shine….under the sink…..at the house." Jesse replied.
"Now Jesse, I don't think Dr. Wilson would take too kindly to us givin' you alcohol whilst you's still in the hospital." Luke pointed out.
"I don't give a flip what them doctors think. I said I wanted my shine and I want it now!" Jesse demanded, some of his spirit coming back to him.
Luke arched his eyebrows. "Yes sir. Me and Bo'll go back to the farm and get it. Cooter, you want to hang out with Daisy and Jesse a little while longer?"
"No problem." Cooter confirmed.
The next shot we see an empty Duke farm. Moments later, a man arrives on foot, running quickly to the barn where he closes the door. It is the man in the black leather jacket that we saw in the FFA building who overheard Boss's conversation. Moments later, the General Lee slides to a stop at the kitchen door entrance.
"Boss sure is being pushy, ain't he?" Bo announced as they slid out. He went over and kicked a big rock across the yard in frustration.
"If we'd been smart, we'd have never answered that C.B. call."
"Well you's the one who answered it!" Bo exclaimed.
"I thought he's gonna ask how Jesse's doing. I had no idea that he would insist on taking General today."
"Well that's Boss for ya." Bo sighed. "I guess we made a deal."
"Yeah, and if we don't see to our end of it, there's nothing to stop Boss from calling over to the hospital. They would kick Jesse out in no time."
"You're right, but that don't mean Boss has to get everything. Let's get the tools and the spare out of the trunk before we take it over."
The boys opened the trunk and took out everything that wasn't attached and couldn't be loosed from the car. They then began walking toward the barn.
"Where should we put this stuff, Luke?" Bo turned to ask after he kicked the door open.
"Bo watch out!" Luke exclaimed.
Bo didn't even have time to turn. The butt of the gun came down hard on the back of his head, knocking him to the ground, out cold. The man then turned his gun on Bo. "Don't try anything funny or blondie here gets it."
"Okay mister, just relax." Luke replied, laying down the stuff he was carrying and holding up his hands. "What is it that you want?"
"The keys." The man replied, holding out his hand.
"Keys to the house?" Luke asked.
"No hayseed, the car. I want the keys to your car!"
(Picture freezes with the man holding the gun on Bo and his other hand out to Luke, waiting for the keys.)
Friends, do ya'll realize this all got started 'cause Bo was driving a little too fast on his way into town?