Chapter Eight

The phone rang at the farm and Jesse immediatly picked it up.

"Duke farm, Jesse Duke speaking." He said.

"Mr. Duke, my name is Sarah Archer and I must say how dissipointed I am in you." Sarah said.

"What in Sam Hill are ya talkin' about?" Jesse asked.

"I am talking about you're nephew, Bo Duke!" Sarah replied.

At the mention of Bo, Uncle Jesse became quiet.

"You know where he is?" He asked.

"I do, but I'm not going to tell you where he is. The boy has been through so much, he needs love and comfort, some things I had expected you to give him! But, lo and behold I find that you have not given him these, in fact, you have put him in second place. Never giving him what he needs, always taking care of your other nephew and not Bo!"

"Well I.." Jesse began.

"Furthermore, I was very dissipointed in how Bo looked. Malnurished and feverish. I am dissipointed in you Jesse Duke. I thought you knew how to care for a child." Sarah said.

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From his old bedroom, Bo was listening to the conversation.

He loved every minute of it because he had never heard anyone tear into Uncle Jesse like Mrs. Archer was doing!

In a momentary lull in the conversation, Bo decided to speak up.

"She's right Uncle Jesse." He said simply.

"Bo? Is that you?" Jesse asked.

"It's me. The reason I left was because I didn't feel like I belong anymore. You always takin' care o' Luke and leavin' me the scraps." Bo said.

"I didn't mean to Bo." Jesse said.

"Save it. Ya had yer chance an' failed. I'm home now, an' nothin' you say or do will get me ta come back." Bo said before he slammed the phone down.

Jesse jumped as the line disconnected.

The tears ran down his face as Bo's words sunk in.

'Ya had yer chance an' failed.'

"I'm sorry Bo, but yer cousin needs things too." Jesse murmered.

He tried to think back to the time when he had last got anything for Bo.

Not once single situation came to his mind.

Sure he had bought old, hole filled shirts for Bo, but Luke always got the newer things.

'Failed.'

"Who was that on th' phone, Uncle Jesse?" Luke asked as he walked in to the room.

"It was Bo." Jesse replied sadly.

When Luke looked at him questioningly, Jesse continued.

"I think I have made a terrible mistake. One that I don't know if I can fix." He said.

"Why try?" Luke asked.

"Because it's the right thing ta do." Jesse replied as he rose up from his chair.

"Where ya goin'?" Luke asked.

"Ta bring Bo home. Back where he belongs." Jesse answered.

"He belongs whereever he is right now." Luke shot back.

Jesse whirled on Luke and yelled, "LUKE DUKE, GET YER BUTT OVER TO THAT BARN!"

Luke shrank back, wanting to run, so Jesse grabbed the boy and pulled him out the door and nearly dragged him to the barn.

"How dare you, how DARE YOU SPEAK ABOUT YER COUSIN LIKE THAT!" Jesse roared.

"Like what?" Luke asked.

"Like he's some kind'a vagrant, an orphan whom we don't have no business with." Jesse said.

"You do!" Luke shot back.

"I know, and I'm sorry I did, but you...You!" Jesse stumbled over his words, to mad to speak clearly.

"When we find Bo you are gonna apologize ta him or I am gonna spank ya till the middle of next week!" Jesse warned.

Luke shrank back and replied, "Yes sir."

"And, you are grounded till further notice. That means no bike rides, no campin out with friends, no nothin' that don't involve yer cousin!" Jesse said.

"But Uncle Jesse!" Luke whined.

"You want me ta make it permenant?" Jesse asked.

"No, sir." Luke said.

"Good, now get to that truck!" Jesse ordered.

Luke took off for the truck at a dead run because he didn't want to feel the wrath of Uncle Jesse's hand.