Disclaimer: I don't own the Dukes of Hazzard. Not making any money, just cheap thrills.

Warnings: Angst, Violence

Rating: FRT

/ signifies thought.

If You Love Something Set It Free

Chapter 14

"Mrs. Shelton you need to let me go. I know you're worried about your daughter, but this ain't helping none. The judge ain't gonna believe it if Bo changes his story and he ain't gonna do that. Them kids of mine know right from wrong and even with your threats, he ain't gonna do the wrong thing. You want to help Kathy Sue? You need to start by letting me go and forgetting this foolishness." Jesse tried to reason with her, though he doubted it would do any good.

"Well Jesse you better hope that Bo changes his story and the judge believes him, or you won't leave here alive. I meant what I told your nephews, I won't allow your family to railroad my daughter into prison. Not when the only crime she has committed is falling in love and wanting to make a life with the man she loves."

Jesse looked at her, disbelief clear in his eyes. Listening to her words and considering her actions, it wasn't hard to figure out where Kathy Sue had gotten her own warped ideas of love. "Railroad? Kathy Sue isn't being railroaded anywhere, she did every one of them things my boy said she did. I've seen the scars on his body, spent two weeks worrying while he was lost to us, afraid we'd never get him back. You've got the nerve to say she's being railroaded after all she did to Bo! Lady you're as crazy as she is..."

It wasn't the force of the slap that silenced Jesse but rather the sight of Mr. Smith pointing a gun at him. "Don't say that, I am not crazy and neither is my daughter! She only wants to be with the man she loves, but you won't allow those children to be happy. You've somehow convinced Bo to lie about her, I don't know how you did it but I won't let you get away with it. I will see my little girl go free and then we'll find a way to get Bo away from you. I know once he's with Kathy Sue they'll both be happy. He just needs to spend some time alone with her so we can undo the brainwashing you've done." Pamela ranted on, oblivious to the concerned glances Mr. Smith was throwing her way.

Mr. Smith stood in the corner, his gun pointed at Jesse Duke, watching Pamela Shelton pace and rant. He was beginning to have some serious second thoughts about this job. When Pamela Shelton had first approached him, he had thought her story seemed a bit far-fetched. In this day and age, why would a family concoct a pack of lies, just to prevent a romance? Lies that would send an innocent young girl to prison. He had a difficult time believing that anybody would go to such lengths when they could simply wait, knowing that the romance would probably not last. However Pamela was a very convincing woman when she chose to be and he had an even harder time believing that a well brought up girl like Kathy Sue could be guilty of such terrible crimes. Now though, listening to her and watching Jesse Duke's horrified reaction to what she said, he was beginning to wonder if he was on the right side. Deciding that he needed to gather more information, Mr. Smith made his decision. "Excuse me Mrs. Shelton, I believe it would be a good idea if I were to go out and lay a false trail. Make sure nobody can find us here, will you be okay if I leave you alone with him?"

"Yes, of course I will, that's probably a good idea. You be careful though, don't allow anybody to follow you back here," Pamela ordered.

"Of course not, I won't be long." Mr. Smith assured her, taking a last check of the ropes holding Jesse Duke to the chair before leaving.

As they drove through Hazzard, Cooter was watching Bo, as carefully as he watched the countryside for any sign of Mrs. Shelton's car, . Noting the white knuckled grip he had on the steering wheel and the fear in his friend's eyes, he couldn't help being worried for Bo. What would he do if Jesse was hurt or worse by Mrs. Shelton? In his life Cooter Davenport had never hated anybody, but right now that was what he felt. Hatred, not only for Mrs. Shelton, but also for her daughter. As surely as if he were watching a play, Cooter saw the future laid out before him. He knew that if Jesse died, Bo wouldn't be far behind, the guilt and grief would destroy him, and Bo's death would destroy Luke and Daisy. An entire family, some of the best people Cooter had ever known could be wiped out, all because of one crazy girl and her mother. /I won't let it happen! If it's the last thing I do I will save Jesse. I'm not going to let two crazy women cost me the best friends I've ever had./

"It's gonna be okay Bo, you'll see. We're gonna find Jesse and get him back safe, that's a promise buddy."

"Don't Cooter. You can't make a promise like that and if anything happens to him... I ain't gonna let that happen, I'll do whatever I have to if it'll keep him safe," Bo replied.

"Bo what are you planning?" When Bo didn't answer him, Cooter reached for the cb, planning to contact Luke.

"What are ya doing Cooter?" Bo asked, grabbing his friend's arm and pulling to the side of the road.

"I'm calling Luke, if you won't answer me I know you'll answer him." Cooter told him, pulling from Bo's grasp and reaching once more for the mic.

"Stop Cooter! Alright I'll tell ya, ain't no big deal. She wants me to tell the judge I lied and if we don't find Uncle Jesse, then I will. I don't care if Kathy Sue goes free, heck I'll even go back to her if that's what it takes to keep my family safe. That's all that matters," Bo told him, hoping that Cooter would understand.

"Bo ya can't do that. I know you want your family safe, I'd probably feel the same way. But, Bo do you really think that Luke, Jesse or Daisy would want you suffering to keep them safe? What do ya think it would do to them? 'Sides Judge Avery ain't stupid, he'd know in a heartbeat that something was wrong, especially when he didn't see Jesse in the courtroom with ya. So ya see it wouldn't work anyway, no Luke's right we just got to find Uncle Jesse and make sure that Mrs. Shelton don't get the chance to hurt him. Now you just stop this foolish talk and let's go find him," Cooter said, giving Bo's shoulder a supportive grip before leaning back in his seat.

"What if we can't?" Bo asked, not even attempting to hide the fear he felt.

"Told ya already buddy, we're gonna find him and we're gonna keep him safe. Now what do ya say we getting moving and find Jesse," Cooter said, sighing in relief when Bo nodded and started the car.

Mr. Smith had made his way into town and headed to the newspaper office. After telling the lady at the desk that he was a writer doing a story on small-town America, he soon had what he needed. Sitting at a small table, he poured through the back issues of the Hazzard Gazzette, looking for any information he could find on the trial. Though the paper was careful not to mention names, if you knew what you were looking for it didn't take long to figure out who the people involved were. Reading the articles detailing the abuse that Bo Duke had suffered from Kathy Sue Shelton, he came to the sickening conclusion that he was on the wrong side. /How could I have been so wrong? George, you've been an idiot/ He continued to berate himself as he read the local paper. Knowing that he couldn't continue helping Mrs. Shelton with her plans, but not wanting to go to prison, he did the only thing he could. He thanked the newspaper lady for her help, walked outside, got into Mrs. Shelton's car and headed out of Hazzard.

Bo and Luke, with help from their friends had spent the day searching for Uncle Jesse. Not having any luck they were finally forced to call it a day and return to the farm. Pulling into the yard, both boys winced when Daisy came running out of the house. Neither of them wanted to tell her the news, but they knew there was no choice. So steeling themselves they climbed out of the cars and began to tell Daisy of their failure to find Uncle Jesse. She took the news surprisingly well, and like Luke she refused to allow Bo to blame himself for Mrs. Shelton's actions. Insisting that Cooter and L.B. join them, Daisy soon had all four men in the kitchen and sitting down to a hearty meal. Though none of them really felt like eating, they made an effort, knowing they would need their strength for the next day. As soon as dinner was finished the Davenport cousins left, promising to return at first light to resume the search.

"So where do you want me to search tomorrow Luke?" Daisy asked, having already decided that she wasn't going to be left out of the search.

"Now Daisy I don't think that's such a good idea..." was as far as he got.

"Luke Duke don't you dare try to keep me out of this. He's my uncle too and I got as much right as you and Bo to help find him. Besides y'all are too polite to hit Mrs. Shelton, so ya need me. Now where do you want me to search?" Daisy asked once again.

Realizing that arguing with her wouldn't get him anywhere, Luke had the good sense to give in. That didn't change the fact though that he didn't want her out there alone. "Daisy, would you mind working with somebody?"

"That depends, who?" Daisy asked suspiciously.

"Well, I was thinking we don't want the law involved. Can't risk it getting back to Mrs. Shelton that we're looking, so Enos is out. Do you think Jerry would be willing to ride with you?"

"Jerry?" Daisy was a little surprised by Luke's suggestion. However realizing that it made sense to have help, she gave him a call. When she asked him to come to the farm he agreed and ten minutes later he was there. As soon as he knew what was happening, Jerry was happy to help. Telling them he would be back at first light, he went home to get some rest, while the Duke kids went inside to do the same.

The day was nearly over when Bo saw it. A light at the old Perkins place, he had passed it by earlier when he didn't see any cars there. With no place to hide a car, he had been sure the place was empty. Not wanting to waste prescious time on a bum, Bo convinced Cooter that they should check it out before calling the others. Carefully making their way up to the house on foot, Bo motioned for Cooter to go around back, while he looked in the front windows. Looking inside, he saw his uncle tied to a chair with Mrs. Shelton pacing in front of him, waving a gun. Searching as best as he could, he saw no sign of Mr. Smith, as he watched he could hear Mrs. Shelton ranting. From what she was saying he was sure that her hired gun had deserted her. He was just about to go find Cooter when a hand on his shoulder startled him. Turning around he saw his friend grinning back at him. "Looks like that Mr. Smith took her car and left her here," Bo whispered to Cooter. "She's in there ranting and waving a gun, I don't think we should wait for the others. It's just her, we should be able to take her and then we'll call Luke and Daisy."

"I don't know Bo, Luke ain't gonna like that. Why don't we go holler at them on the cb and then we'll..." the sound of a gunshot silenced him. Jumping to his feet, Cooter raced after his friend, hoping that Jesse was still alive.

Inside the house, Pamela Shelton had been pacing for hours, furious that Mr. Smith had taken her car and deserted her. It didn't help that Jesse Duke kept trying to convince her that Kathy Sue was sick and needed help. No matter how many times she yelled at him to shut up, he wouldn't. He just kept talking , trying to tell her that she should give herself up, insisting that her plan wouldn't work anyway. Finally having enough she fired the gun. As the bullet tore up the floorboard next to Jesse's feet, she smiled in satisfaction when he immediately quit talking.

"Uncle Jesse!" Bo yelled as he barreled through the door, heedless of the danger. His only thoughts were of his uncle and the fear that he had just lost him.

The sudden shout and the sound of the door slamming open startled Pamela badly. Turning towards the sound, her finger jerked on the trigger. She watched in horrified fascination as the force of the bullet threw Bo backwards into the wall. As he slid down the wall, a red stain spreading across his chest, Pamela began to scream. Knowing that she had lost her only chance to save her daughter had her reeling. But the realization that Kathy Sue would never forgive her for killing Bo, that she would hate her was devastating. With these thoughts running through her mind, Pamela Shelton ran screaming from the house, oblivous to the shouts of Jesse and Cooter as they reacted to the shot.

Rushing inside behind Bo, Cooter was just in time to see his friend slide down the wall. He was vaguely aware of Mrs. Shelton screaming as she fled the house, but all he could focus on was Bo. Though it felt like an eternity, it was really only a moment later that Jesse was able to get his attention.

"Cooter cut me loose quick. I'll tend to Bo, you go call for help, hurry now!" Jesse ordered, taking control of the situation. A moment later, the ropes fell to the floor and Jesse Duke stumbled over to where his nephew lay bleeding on the floor. "You hang on Bo. You hang in there boy, Cooter went for help. You're gonna be okay. Ya got to be okay. Please Lord, don't let my boy die. After all he's been through, ya can't let him die like this. Please God, please?" Jesse begged, tears running down his face. Waiting for Cooter to return with help, Jesse used his own shirt to keep pressure on the wound, praying that it would be enough.

TBC

A/N: Jerry is the bartender from the Boar's Nest.

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