me: this chapter has a tissue warning. myfriend read this and started to cry. so fair warning.
Bo: boy a sad chapter. hope no one died.
Luke: well read it to find out cousin.
Bo: ok i will.
me: well read and enjoy!
Jesse, Luke, and Yeller were coming to the intersection of Old Mill Pond Road and Ridge Runners Road, when Yeller recognized the way he had come from and where Bo was at. Not even waiting for the truck to come to a complete stop, Yeller jumped out of the bed of the truck and nearly fell when he landed since he only has the use of three legs and the truck was still moving. He took off running as fast as he could despite his injuries. Luke saw Yeller jump out of the truck and immediately told Jesse to stop.
"Uncle Jesse! Stop the truck!" Luke yelled. Jesse jumped when Luke said that but immediately put his foot down hard on the brake peddle.
"What in tarnation do ya yell fer?"
"There goes that crazy dog. He jumped out of the back of the truck and took off running. Quick, let's follow him. He may lead us to where ever Bo and the General are." Luke said. Jesse nodded and took off down Ridge Runners Road after the old yeller dog who was going cross-country. Luke kept his eyes on the dog who was now running on the side of the road due to the ditch and steep hill that was up ahead. Suddenly Yeller took a right turn and went down the hill.
"Uncle Jesse! Yeller just went down the embankment. Back up and pull over."
"Ok Luke just say when to stop." Jesse put the truck into reverse and slowly backed up.
"Ok stop here." Luke instructed. Since they were up on the road they couldn't see the wreck of the General Lee below. Luke jumped out of the truck before it came to a complete stop and ran over to the edge of the road. He looked over the side and what he saw at the bottom made his heart drop to his feet. There at the bottom was the General Lee upside down on its roof. Nothing could prepare him for what he would see when he got to the bottom.
Jesse came around the truck and stood beside his nephew and turned his head to see what Luke was looking at. What met the old mans eyes made his heart skip a beat and then drop to his feet. Without making a second thought about the subject, Luke took off down the embankment as fast as he could intent on finding his cousin.
Nothing could prepare even the bravest marine for what Luke was about to see. There at the bottom lying down was Yeller snuggling against Bo. Bo had woken up just as Yeller came back, and had his arm resting on Yeller's back, his hand rubbing the dog's shaggy head. Luke saw his baby cousin pinned under the General petting Yeller as best as he could. When Luke got closer, he could hear Bo talking to Yeller softly. Luke was surprised to see his cousin awake and petting a dog and talking to him at the same time. Luke rushed over to Bo and knelt down beside him.
"Bo! Oh God Bo. What in the world happened to you?" Luke said trying to hold back his tears. Bo looked up at his older cousin whom he considered to be more of a big brother to him then an older cousin. Luke could see the pain and fear in his cousin's hazel-blue eyes. A lone tear escaped Luke's eye and slid down his cheek.
It hurt him deeply to see his baby cousin laying there in so much pain. Luke wished that he was the one under the General instead of his best friend. He also wished that he could take away Bo's pain, but he knew that he couldn't. Luke looked up to where his uncle stood at the top of the hill on the side of the road. Luke looked back down at his cousin and into his pain and fear filled eyes.
"I'll be right back ok Bo. I'm gonna go call the ambulance."
"L-Luke… P-please don't… l-leave…" Bo whispered in a raspy voice the pain he was in was clear in his voice.
"I'll be right back I promise you. Yeller will be here with you until I get back." Luke said reassuringly. Luke tried to put on a brave face for Bo and tried to hide the fear in his voice so he wouldn't worry Bo anymore then he already was. Bo knew what Luke was trying to do, but decided to not say anything about mostly due to the fact that he was in to much pain and he knew Luke would deny it.
Bo nodded his head as best he could. Luke got up and took off running up the hill as fast as he could towards the pick up. Jesse saw Luke running up the hill and run pass him towards the truck. Luke pulled out the CB mic.
"Anyone got their ears on? This here's Luke Duke. I need a wrecker and an ambulance down on Ridge Runners Road. There's been an accident and please hurry."
'I hear ya Lukas. I'll be there in two shakes of a lamb's tail. Over and out.' Cooter replied.
"Thanks Cooter. Over and out." Luke said all the while hiding his fear in his voice. Jesse wasn't convinced by Luke's attempt to hide his fear.
"Luke tell me how bad is it?"
"Oh God Uncle Jesse. He's in so much pain. I can see it in his eyes."
"Tell me Luke how bad is it?"
"He's pinned under the General's roof. Yeller's still there with him. I'm going to go back down and stay with him until the ambulance gets here."
"Ok. I'll wait here for them." Jesse said. Luke nodded and ran back down the hill to his cousin. Once Luke was back down with Bo and Yeller, he sat down next to Bo. Luke knew there was no way he could get Bo out from under the car alone without hurting him more which is what made Luke feel so helpless. The only thing he could do was try and keep Bo awake and try to comfort him and wait for Cooter and the ambulance to get there.
"Hey Bo. How ya holdin' up?"
"L-Luke it h-hurts." Bo whispered as a tear slid down his cheek.
"I know Bo. The ambulance is on their way. They'll get you out." Luke said trying to keep from crying in front of Bo. He knew he had to be strong for Bo's sake.
"Wh-where's Y-Yeller? Is he o-okay?" Bo asked Luke.
"He's right here. Don't worry he's fine. He's sitting on the other side of me." Bo nodded his head. Luke noticed that Bo's eyes were drifting shut.
"Bo keeps your eyes open." Luke said. Bo didn't respond. "Bo Duke you open yer eyes right this instant. Don't you dare fall asleep on me." Luke said in a firm but gentle voice. Bo's eyes snapped back open. He looked up at Luke and gave him an 'ok, ok I'm awake' look.
"That's better. Now you just stay awake ya hear me?" Bo nodded his head.
A few minutes later Luke heard the sounds of sirens in the distance.
"The ambulance is comin' Bo. Just hang on okay." Bo gave Luke a weak nod. The EMTs came rushing down the hill fast but carefully. Luke moved out of the way so they could help Bo. After what seemed like an eternity, they got Bo out from under the General Lee and got the car sitting back on four wheels. Once the EMTs got Bo up the hill Luke ran over to his uncle's side with Yeller right on his heels. One of the EMTs came over to the two Dukes.
"One of you can ride with him to the hospital if you would like."
"I'll go." Luke said. He looked over at Jesse to make sure that it was okay with him. Jesse nodded at Luke.
"I'll take Yeller home and get him patched up and then I'll be at the hospital. I'll also let Daisy and Jess know what's going on." Jesse said as he tried to fight the tears that were threating to fall.
Luke nodded his head and bent over and patted Yeller on the head. The dog sat there looking at the ambulance whining. Luke walked over to the back of the ambulance and climbed in. the EMTs closed the doors and started down the road towards Tri-County Emergency.
Jesse looked down at the yeller dog at his side and felt bad for the dog. Yeller just sat there looking at the road and the disappearing ambulance whining. Jesse finally couldn't hold the tears back anymore and they started to fall like a fountain. He patted the dog on the head and started towards the truck. Before he got in, he whistled to Yeller.
The dog heard him and slowly limped his way to Jesse. Jesse lifted the dog up and gently sat him in the truck. Jesse then got in and started up the truck and turned around and headed for the farm. He had no idea how he was going to break the news with his nieces. Jesse just hoped that his youngest nephew would pull through this alright. He just couldn't stand to lose his youngest nephew. Jesse thought back to the day that Bo came to live at the Duke farm after his parents were killed in a car accident.
It had been raining all week. Jesse Duke sat in the living room with his niece and nephew reading a book to them before bed. His wife Martha was in the kitchen fixing cookies for the kids. Some time later after everyone was in bed the phone rang. Jesse rolled over and looked at the alarm clock that was sitting on the night stand next to his and Martha's bed.
It read 4;30 AM. Jesse got up before the phone woke up the kids. he had no idea that the news that was on the other end would devastate his life. Jesse walked into the living room where the phone was. He picked up the phone and said his greeting.
"Duke Farm, Jesse Duke speaking."
'Mr. Duke this is Dr. Petticord at Tri-County Emergency. There was an accident earlier this morning involving your brother John, sister-in-law Annie and nephew Beauregard Duke." Jesse's face went white at the news.
'I'm sorry Mr. Duke, but Annie and John didn't make it. They were killed instantly. Seems that they were hit by a drunk driver after picking up their son at the babysitters.' Jesse was speechless at the news. After a minute he managed to get out a few more words.
"How's Bo? Did he survive?"
'Yes he was lucky to have survived. He came away from the crash with only minor cuts and bruises and a broken arm. Other then that he's doing fine. We are going to keep him over night to make sure nothing else happens. If he checks out fine you can come pick him tomorrow. I will call you tomorrow to let you know when you can come get him.'
"Thank you Dr. Petticord."
'I'm extremely sorry for your loss Jesse. If there is anything me and the misses can do for you and your family please don't hesitate to ask.'
"Okay. Thanks for the news. I'll see ya tomorrow then."
'Ok Jesse. I only wish I could've given you better news.'
"That's okay. Take care."
'Thanks Jesse. You too. Bye.'
"Bye." Jesse hung the phone back up. He walked over to the couch and sat down heavily in it. Martha had been woken up by Jesse's conversation. She walked out of the room and saw her husband sitting in his chair. Because of the dim light in the room she couldn't see how pale his face was. She sat next to him on the arm of the chair and put her arm around his shoulders.
"Jesse dear what's the matter? Who was that on the phone?" Jesse looked at his wife with tear filled eyes.
"John and Annie… they were in a accident this morning. They, they didn't survive. We have to go to the hospital tomorrow and pick up little Bo."
"Oh no that's terrible. Is Bo alright?"
"He just has a few cuts and bruises and a broken arm but other then that he seems to be doing okay. They are keeping him over night to make sure nothing else is wrong with him. They will call us when he's ready to leave." Martha couldn't think of anything to say. Her and Annie were real close friends. She couldn't believe that her and John were gone.
"C'mon Martha dear. We best be getting to bed so that we are awake tomorrow when we go get little Bo. We'll tell Luke and Daisy tomorrow when they get up." Jesse stood up and took his wives hands and lead her down the hall to their room. Neither one got much more sleep afterwards.
The next day Jesse was up before anyone else. He had been wishing that last night was just a dream. About an hour after he got up he got another phone call.
"Hello Jesse Duke here."
'r. Duke. This Dr. Petticord again. I'm just calling you to let you know
that you can come get Beauregard. He has not shown any signs of
permanent injuries or other serious problems. You will need to sign some papers when you get here.'
"Thank you doc. I'll be there in a little while to get him." With that they said their goodbyes and hung up the phone. Jesse walked down the hall to his and Martha's room.
"Martha dear. I'm going to go get Bo. I'll be back in a little while."
"Ok dear. I'll get breakfast on then and if you don't mind I'll let the kids know that Bo is coming here."
"Okay dear. I'll be back in a little while."
With that Jesse walked out the door and over to his old moonshine car, Black Tilly. He got in and started the car up and drove to hospital to get the only thing that he had left of his brother. His only child, Bo.
Jesse pulled back out of the memory once he got back to the farm. He didn't know how he was going to explain to Daisy and Jess. He got out of the truck and helped Yeller out of the truck. They both walked up the steps and in the house about to give his nieces the bad news.
me: well thats the end of chapter 5!
Bo: man that was sad. you made me look like a little kid
me: oh you'll get over it
Luke: well 'til next chapter!
all(Bo, me, Luke): SEE YA NEXT CHAPTER!
Yeller: WOOF!