Friends 'Til the End
Chapter 6: Reunited
After receiving the good news, the search teams headed back to the base. Luke's team was the first to arrive, since they were closer, while Rosco's team came back about ten minutes later.
"Alright, everyone gather 'round." Luke said, motioning for everyone to form a circle around a table that had been set up. "Now that we know Bo's in Chickasaw and he's alive and as well as can be, we're going to need to split up and check every single house, cabin, barn, and any other building that Bo could be in. Since Sheriff Big Ed Little runs that county, me, Uncle Jesse, and Daisy will check the wooded areas with Boss and Rosco. And the rest of you will check the towns and populated areas. Any questions?" Luke asked once he finished explaining what everyone had to do. After seeing there were no questions, everyone was dismissed and split up.
Luke took the General, Daisy took Dixie, and Jesse took his pickup while Rosco, Enos, and Boss went in their own cars, and the other folks who had been helping, took their own cars. Within no time everyone was on their way to Chickasaw County.
While everyone had been celebrating the good news, Katie had been watching from the bushes.
"So blondie is alive. Looks like I'm gonna be busy again." She said to herself. She waited until everyone was out of sight before leaving the cover of the bushes. She then headed down the road, all the while thinking of how she could get Bo out of the way so she could spend more time with Luke, instead of Luke spending his time hanging out with Bo.
Meanwhile, in Chickasaw, Bo was resting, completely unaware that his family and friends, and even a couple of people he considered enemies, were out looking for him, and getting closer with each passing minute. While Bo was napping, Tim and Sammy were out enjoying a peaceful walk along the river.
"Sure is a nice day for a walk, ain't it boy?" Tim said to Sammy. Sammy looked up at his master and wagged his tail and answered with a happy bark. Tim smiled and patted the hound on the head. After walking almost a mile down the river, Tim and Sammy decided to head back, knowing it'd be close to dinner time when they got back.
After walking for a half hour, they finally reached the cabin. However, when they headed to the front door, they noticed an odd colored car coming down the road. Tim stopped at the corner of the house, Sammy stopping right behind him. Tim waited until the car stopped and a dark haired young man, who appeared to be in his early to mid twenties, climbed out and walked up to the door. Not giving the young man time to knock, Tim walked out from around the house.
"Who are ya and what do ya want?" He said in a rough voice. The young man nearly jumped out of his clothes when the old man spoke.
"I'm sorry to intrude, but I was wonderin' if'n you've seen any sign of a young man with curly blonde hair, and stands about 6'4"." The younger man said after he calmed himself down.
"What's yer name? And you'd best be someone with a name I know or else. 'Cause I don't take kindly to strangers on m'property."
"My name's Luke Duke, and the reason I'm here is…"
"Yer lookin' for someone, ain'tcha?" Tim asked, interrupting Luke.
"Yes sir, how'd you know?" Luke asked.
"Follow me." Tim said as he led Luke inside the cabin. Tim ordered Luke to wait in the kitchen while he went to the living room. Walking over to the couch, Tim gently shook Bo's shoulder.
"Time to wake up, son. Got someone here who's been lookin' for ya." Bo shifted a little and opened his eyes. He blinked a couple of times to wake himself up more, before slowly sitting up. Tim smiled and motioned for Bo to stay put while he went back to the kitchen.
Luke was standing near the door, looking around when Tim came back in. He motioned for Luke to follow him, and led him to the living room. Luke's eyes nearly popped out of his head when he saw his cousin sitting on the couch, fumbling with a button on his yellow shirt. A large smile spread across his face before he walked over to his cousin, who was still busy trying to get his shirt buttoned.
"Bo! I'm so glad your ok." Luke said as he hugged Bo, not even realizing he'd spooked the younger man. When Luke let his cousin go, Bo looked at Luke for a moment, not saying anything. Finally after a minute, Bo threw his arms around Luke's neck and hugged him tight. Luke quickly returned the hug, glad that his baby cousin was alive and safe.
"God Bo, you had me so worried. I'm just glad you're alive and safe." Luke said. Bo buried his face in Luke's shoulder and let the tears fall. Luke didn't care that his shirt was getting wet; all he cared about was his cousin.
"I was so scared. I thought I was gonna die." Bo choked out, his voice making him sound like a scared child. Luke rubbed Bo's back, trying to calm him down.
"Shh, it's alright Bo." Luke said his voice soft.
Tim watched from the doorway of the living room, a smile on his face at the sight of the cousins. Finally after what seemed like forever, Bo finally calmed down. Looking down at him, Luke saw that Bo had cried himself to sleep. After a moment, Luke looked up at Tim and gave him a grateful smile.
"I don't know how I can ever repay you for saving my cousin." Luke said.
"Don't worry about it. Just be sure to tell Jesse Duke that Big Tim said hello." Tim replied, finally remembering why the name Duke sounded so familiar. Luke found it odd that his cousin's rescuer knew Jesse, but decided not to ask questions.
"Will do, and once again, thank you so much for saving Bo. I don't know what I'd do if he wasn't around."
"Like I said, it's no problem. Now you best get going, yer family probably thinks you got lost." Luke nodded his head and carefully picked Bo up and carried him outside, all the while being careful not to wake him. After Luke got Bo in the General, he ran around to the driver's side and jumped in. He looked over at his sleeping cousin and smiled before starting up the General and heading back to the base so he could inform everyone of the good news.
It took Luke nearly an hour to get to Hazzard, since he had to take all the back roads, and drive slower then usual, so he didn't wake up Bo.
Once he got to the base, he quickly called everyone on the CB and let them know he'd found Bo.
Everyone quickly headed back to the base, all of them going way over the speed limit. After awhile, everyone was back at the base, surrounding the General. The loud chatter from everyone was enough to wake up Bo. Opening his eyes, Bo jumped a little.
He hadn't been expecting to find several people looking at him from every direction. He quickly looked over to the driver's seat and was relieved to see that Luke was still with him. Luke reached over and patted Bo's shoulder before climbing out of the General just enough so he could sit on the window frame.
"Alright ya'll, I'm gonna take Bo back to the farm. You can follow the General back to the farm if ya want." Luke said to everyone. Not surprisingly, everyone wanted to follow the General back to the Duke farm. Even Boss Hogg and Rosco wanted to go along.
Smiling, Luke got back in the General and started him up before honking the horn, sending the sound of Dixie through the air. Everyone moved out of the orange Charger's way as Luke headed back to the farm. Everyone else quickly got in their cars and followed the General Lee.
Inside the General, Luke looked over at his cousin, who hadn't said a word since they left Timothy's cabin.
"Somethin' wrong, cuz?" Luke asked. Bo smiled at Luke and quickly shook his head.
"Nope, everything's good now. I'm just so glad to be back home." Bo replied.
"And it's great to have you back home. You have no idea how boring it was with out you causing trouble."
"Cute."
"I know I am." Luke joked. Bo play punched Luke's arm. Luke looked over at Bo and gave him a fake hurt look. Bo just rolled his eyes and soon started laughing. Within seconds, Luke was joining Bo, laughing more then either of them had for nearly three weeks.
"It's good to have ya back cuz'." Luke said with a smile.
"It's good to be back." Bo replied with a smile of his own. All the way back to the farm, both boys joked and laughed with each other.
That's good that Bo's back in Hazzard where he belongs, but I'm still worried about that Katie girl, and what she has planned this time. Don't none of ya'll go anywhere's, otherwise you might miss what happens next.