Okay…Okay… I tried to update sooner and make it longer too. Now please read and review. Thanks!
"Tie him up," stated the large man as they carried Bo into the small, sparsely furnished motel room.
"But Mr. Jackson, he can't go anywhere. Why…"
"Because I said so, Pete."
"Yes, sir." Pete, the larger and heavier of the two bent down and carefully tied Bo's wrists and feet. "He's lookin' pale, Mr. Jackson. He's real cold, too."
"Well, give him a blanket. Can't have him die on us… least not 'til we're done with him."
Pete covered Bo with a warm blanket. As he turned around, Bo let out a soft moan. Pete turned around and watched as Bo's eyes fluttered open. "Luke? Luke?"
"Shut him up," ordered Mr. Jackson.
"But, sir, he's…"
"You heard me."
Pete nodded. "I'm sorry, fella," he said to Bo as he punched him in the stomach. Bo moaned in pain and was answered with a right cross to his head, causing blood to pour from his nose and knocking him unconscious once more.
Pete stared at the blood on his hand. "I ain't doing that anymore, Boss," he said shakily.
"You won't have to. After this we'll be free and clear."
Luke sullenly turned the wheel of Enos' car down the main street of Manistee. He glanced quickly at the tan envelope next to him full of money. Thank God Boss came through for us, he thought. Luke suspected that Boss either wanted something or was feeling guilty about something and trying to compensate. Right now though, the reason Boss gave the money didn't matter. In fact, the only thing that mattered was Bo.
Luke pulled into a parking spot not far from the beach. Putting the envelope in his pocket and grabbing the walkie talkie, he got out of the car and shut the door.
It was show time.
"Sure is a beautiful night," said Luke to himself as he looked at the stars above and the waters of Lake Michigan shimmering from the moonlight shining down. It was the type of night that, had they been back home in Georgia, Bo and Luke would be stretched out on the hood of the General Lee, staring at the stars and talking or maybe sitting on the front porch, guitars in hand, and picking and singing until the wee hours of the morning. "Only difference is the cold," added Luke aloud with a shudder as he saw his own breath. He buttoned up his coat and hoped to God that these fellas had sense enough to keep Bo warm. Somehow he doubted it and thought, with satisfaction, how fortunate it would be that the ambulance would be standing by.
Luke could see the large dock stretched out over the water. An old lighthouse stood sedately at the end of it, a symbol of hope and safety. Luke sighed. He couldn't see whether or not there was anyone on the dock, and he felt a twinge of fear in his stomach. What if Bo was worse? What if Luke was too late altogether?
He felt the anger rise within him as he made his way down the wooden dock. Bo had better be alright, thought Luke, or there'll be hell t' pay.
Waves were crashing against the rocks alongside the dock as the wind picked up speed. Luke felt himself being sprayed with mists of water. It reminded Luke of the last time he and Bo had washed the General Lee…
It was an unusually warm day, and it seemed like the heat had been getting to everyone. Bo and Luke had gotten into a fight and, even though no punches were thrown, threatening glares and harsh words were exchanged whenever they saw each other. Daisy had declared she wouldn't stay in the house with them any longer and left for work early. Jesse was mighty disgusted and ordered both of them outside.
"Ya both need t' get the stink blown off o' ya," began Jesse.
"I ain't goin' anywhere with him!" stated an agitated Bo.
"Like I wanna be seen with a sore loser like you," sneered Luke.
"I saw her first, Luke. I told ya…"
"Stop! Both o' ya! Or I'll have me a couple o' hides to tan!"
"But Uncle Jesse, he told…"
"Bo, ya need yer hearin' checked , boy?"
"No, sir."
"I said 'stop' and I mean it."
"Yes, sir."
Luke laughed and Jesse's finger went to his face. "Don't think I ain't talkin' to ya either young man…"
Luke stopped laughing and faced his uncle silently.
"Now you two are gonna wash the General Lee together. And you are gonna keep quiet. If I hear one peep outta either o' ya… well, ya better hope I don't."
"Yes, sir," replied the boys simultaneously.
Jesse nodded and walked to the living room. When he was out of the boys' sight, he peeked out of the window with a large, expectant grin on his face.
Now I wonder what he's waitin' for…
Bo and Luke had walked outside in tense silence. Luke grabbed a bucket and filled it with soap and rags while Bo turned on the hose and began spraying off the General.
Five minutes later, the boys were both absorbed in the task before them: Luke washing and Bo rinsing.
"Will ya stop sprayin' me with that thing, Bo?"
"I ain't doin' it on purpose, Luke."
"Yeah, you are."
Bo grinned mischieviously. "No, cousin. If it was on purpose I'd be sure an' get ya good. Like this!"
He sprayed Luke full-force with the nozzle. The sight of his cousin, soaked to the skin and the look of surprise on his face when the water hit him was too much for Bo. He couldn't stop laughing.
Luke shook water from his drenched hair and his blue eyes twinkled at his cousin. "Shouldn'a done that Bo."
Bo didn't hear Luke come up behind him, lugging the pail full of dirty water. But he sure heard Luke laugh as he dumped the pail on top of Bo's head.
Bo jolted up angrily, but after seeing Luke laughing and realizing that he had it coming, he just laughed alongside with him.
"Well, cousin… we're wet anyways… you thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?"
"Hazzard Pond here we come," agreed Luke and the two hopped into the dripping General and drove off, to spend the rest of the afternoon skinny-dipping.
Jesse watched the General leave and grinned
Lukeapproached the end of the dock when, out from the shadow of the lighthouse stepped two masked men. One held a gun drawn on him. The other dragged Bo's lifeless body into Luke's sight.
"Bo! My God what…" Luke instinctively ran forward, only to hear the cock of a pistol and the words, "Get one step closer and ya both die."
Luke gulped, staring down at his baby cousin. A stream of blood trickled down the side of his face.
"Why's he bleeding?" asked Luke, attempting to control the rage that burned within him.
"Your cousin sure picks a bad time to wake up."
"What!" Luke was so furious he was visibly shaking.
"You must be Luke? He asked for you," smirked Mr. Jackson.
"You... you…"
"Well, now that we have exchanged formalities, perhaps you'd like your cousin back? Set the money down and back up ten steps."
Luke did as told, keeping an eye on Bo.
"You know," began Mr. Jackson thoughtfully. "It may be that your cousin is able to see now. Oh my… well that isn't good. Ya see," he continued in answer to Luke's wry stare, "if he saw us, he could identify us. I'm sure you understand that we don't wish to be known." He motioned for Pete to lift up Bo, which he did.
"Say goodbye to your cousin, Mr. Duke."
"Please, sir, don't…" pleaded Pete.
Now hold onto yer hats… this is gonna move quick…
Mr. Jackson pulled a second pistol from his pocket and cocked it. "Do it or die."
Pete sighed, but obediently threw Bo into the icy-cold water.
"No!" screamed Luke, racing towards them. Jackson fired his pistol, but missed Luke narrowly. "We got our money. Let's go!" he shouted as they raced to their getaway car.
Luke dove into the water, the cold piercing through him and his fear of swimming underwater coming to surface. He pushed against the current, searching desperately for his cousin, but there was no sign of him. Luke came up for air, and, wishing that he was the swimmer Bo was, dove down again, deeper this time, searching frantically for his cousin. He was beginning to fear that Bo had already gone to the bottom when he saw movement out of the corner of his eye, near the dock.
There was Bo, ensnared in a torn crab net hanging from the dock.
Things sho' aren't lookin' good for our boys. Stick around…
