Sitting on his bed in his and Luke's room again, Bo couldn't get rid of the sinking feeling in his stomach. The silence around him only aggravated that feeling for him. Something was wrong, and he was gonna find out what it was.
Thumping on the other side of the house alerted Bo to someone's presence. He had been trying to figure out what that Dupree fella had meant by what he said in the barn. Something about Luke not being on the farm for long. He remembered the way he had said it, and immediately knew it wasn't meant in a friendly way.
Raking his hand through his curls, he knew there was only one thing he could do, tell Luke… And from the sounds of it, Luke was back from the Boars Nest.
Jumping up from his bed, Bo nervously made his way into the small living room, only to see Daisy sitting at the table, sowing one of his torn shirts.
"You cleaned up nice Bo," she said with a twinkle in her eye.
Nodding absentmindedly Bo looked around the room, not finding any sign of Luke.
"Is Luke back yet?" he asked, his eyes still roaming the house and the outside.
Daisy's carefree smile slowly disappeared from her face. She'd heard about the fight from her uncle, but hadn't thought very much of it. The boys often had disagreements, but they always solved them soon after. Now Bo was looking like he was on edge, even a little angry.
"No, I guess he's with that friend of his at the Boars Nest. They probably have a lot ta talk about…" Daisy said thoughtlessly, noticing the deepening of Bo's scowl.
"What's wrong sugar?" She asked, putting down the torn shirt and patting the seat next to her.
Bo sat down, his eyes far away, as if he was deep in thought. Putting her own hand on top of his fidgeting ones, Daisy turned Bo's chin so he was facing her.
"Talk ta me…"
Tears came to Bo's eyes, as the feelings he felt hours ago all came rushing back.
"He told him Daisy… He told him all these things he never wanted ta tell me…" Bo gulped. Now that he could say what he felt to someone who wouldn't judge, there was no stopping him.
"He hasn't even seen the guy for years, but they talked about things he would never talk ta me about… I asked him… Asked him bout the girls and stuff, but he jus' closed up. Now that Dupree fella comes bargin' in and he has ta ask once, and Luke's like a waterfall, tellin' him all this stuff…"
Out of breath, Bo noticed Daisy's understanding gaze, and continued, "I even asked him bout some of his missions, an' the scars I see sometimes, and I really do understand why he didn't want ta tell me, but I don't understand why he did talk ta Jason Dupree…"
"Bo…" Daisy started, knowing what this was all about, "You know yur just bein' jealous don't ya?"
Bo nodded, he knew that, but he also knew he was angry at Luke, for choosing someone else over him.
"An' yur probably angry that Luke chose someone else ta tell all those things instead of you, right?"
At this, Bo had to chuckle, "Daisy, you read my mind or somethin?"
Shaking her head, Daisy continues seriously, "Bo, ya need ta understand, they both were there. They both saw things we will never see, and will never want ta see. I guess that creates a bond. Not a bond like you an' Luke have, but more like an involuntary bond. Ya know what I mean?"
Bo thought about that for a while, and knew his cousin was right. But still…
"I know that Daisy. I mean, my mind knows that. But my heart feels somethin' else, and I can't change that…"
Putting her hand on his shoulder, Daisy nodded, knowing what her cousin meant. He always was the one who did things according to how he felt about it. Letting emotions lead him.
"Aw, Bo, it'll just be for a few days. It'll be good for Luke, maybe he'll get some things off his chest, and maybe it'll give him the strength ta tell us someday…"
Seeing Bo's scowl come back again, Daisy felt confused. Something was still wrong.
"There's somethin else, isn't there?"
"I kinda overheard somethin' Jason was sayin when he thought he was alone…"
Daisy's eyes turned big, "You were eavesdroppin?"
"No, I was in the barn, but Jason didn't see me…" Thinking about what he said for a minute, a smile graced his worried face, "I guess I was eavesdroppin…"
Daisy couldn't wait anymore, what had been so bad that Bo was still so worried and upset about?
"I heard Jason say somethin bout Luke not bein on the farm for long. And he didn't say it in a friendly manner either…"
Seeing Daisy's thoughtful expression, he knew he had someone on his side.
Well, if Daisy's on yur side, ya could defeat an entire army…
"Ya hafta tell Luke…" she responded firmly, crossing her arms in front of her chest.
"I know, but will he listen?"
Hearing the pick up pull up Daisy perked up.
"Yur about ta find out…"
Seeing the frown on Bo's handsome face, Daisy wondered how her other cousin was gonna take this news. Luke usually trusted Bo and his opinion, but the elder Dukeboy could also be as stubborn as a mule and hearing someone accuse an old friend of his could fall badly. Yet, Bo had to tell what he heard, no secrets could be kept on the Duke farm, even if they involved supposed friends…
Bo wanted to run to his room, lock the door and just forget this whole thing, but he just couldn't ignore his feelings. He was always the one who acted on his emotions, and he would keep doing that, even if he risked Luke being mad at him. He was sure Luke would believe him though...he was his cousin, after all…
Seeing the door opening and Luke coming in alone, Bo felt some of the tension slip away, beginning to think that maybe he could talk with Luke without putting them both into an awkward position...That was, until Jason Dupree followed him in with a big grin on his face.
"Jeez Luke, I didn't know a small town like this has girls like thát. I'm tempted to move here, 'specially after meeting Mary Ann…"
Luke didn't respond though, he was too busy focusing on Bo. He had seen Bo sitting on the couch, noticing his younger cousins expression and knew quickly that something was bothering the boy, and it wasn't their recent fight.
"Now what?" he heard himself saying, immediately chastising himself for the tone he used. He was just tired and wanted to go to bed and forget their previous fight.
"Luke, can we talk privately?" Bo heard himself say softly, eyeing Jason Dupree who still wore that smug smile on his face. Luke was very tempted to say No, that whatever needed to be said could be said in front of Jason - knowing from the glances Bo was giving his old friend, that that was who Bo wanted to talk about. However he also noticed the soft and pleading tone his cousin used, however slight, and his mind quickly slipped from saying that. He nodded slowly and both boys walked outside, Bo closing the door behind them while Luke settled down on the porch stairs.
"Bo-"
"Luke-" both boys started at the same time…chuckling nervously Bo motioned Luke to continue.
"Bo, I'm sorry for yellin at ya…" Luke started softly, "I understand how ya felt bout me tellin' Jason all those things. But ya gotta understand, you are my cousin, and you always will be. There's nothing anybody can say or do that is gonna change that relationship between us. You closer to me than any brothers could be...Jason...he's just a good friend, he even saved my life. There's just things I can't talk to you about, things that only other Marines can understand…"
Luke fell silent, seeing Bo's nervous face lighten up a bit. He knew Bo acted on his emotions, and he also knew Bo was the one who forgave the easiest.
"I know that Luke. It's just that…" Bo trailed off, his normal waterfall of words stuck in his throat. He didn't want to admit he had been jealous… That Duke stubborn streak was something that was embedded inside of him, just as it was with the entire family...Turning his eyes down Bo mumbled his own apology, making Luke smile.
"Excuse me? I didn't quite hear that one…"
Smiling a full blown smile, Bo's head shot up and he repeated his words, "I'm sorry too."
Ruffling Bo's hair Luke felt relieved things were alright and he was about to stand up when Bo's voice stopped him.
"There's somethin else…"
Sitting down again, Luke noticed Bo's stern expression, and wondered briefly where that had come from...it was a very stark contrast to the smile he had seen lighting up Bo's face just a few moment ago.
"What's wrong?" Luke asked, curious to what was still bothering his younger cousin.
Rubbing his hands together in the cool night air, Bo gathered the courage to try to tell Luke everything he had heard in a gentle manner, but somehow when he started talking the words just jumbled out.
"When you left the barn, I was still sittin there and Jason came back in. He didn't see me, an' seemed ta be talking to himself… Luke, he said you wasn't gonna be on the farm much longer, an' he didn't say it in a nice way…" Bo ended, not daring to look at Luke as only the sound of crickets filled the air around him. When the only word his cousin spoke was, "So?", Bo looked up in surprise.
"So? Luke, the fella has somethin planned, I know it!"
Standing up, Luke immediately defended his old friend, all thoughts of their truce made only moments ago, forgotten. Bo hadn't been listening to him at all.
"Now you listen here, you ain't got no right accusing him of somethin you don't even know of. Ya musta misunderstood him. Maybe he wants ta go out camping or something."
Bo, whose nerves were a little strung also jumped up, he knew what he heard, and it wasn't good.
"I know what I heard Lukas, an' he meant what he said. He is plannin somethin' and he wants ya off the farm!"
Standing nose to nose, two pair of blue eyes burned into each other, neither one wanting to back down and both holding on to their train of thought.
Luke's voice got lower and lower as he continued to speak to Bo, a warning tone creeping in to his voice.
"Jason Dupree is my friend. He saved my life and did nothin but be my friend for years. Now you tell me ya heard him say somethin...I can't take you seriously when you're just jealous that I told him things I never told you. For once I wish you would just act your age Bo…"
Bo saw red after that remark. Luke knew how much he hated to be the youngest, and he knew Bo admitted to being jealous. To accuse him now, that he had made it up was waving a red flag in front of a bull.
"I am acting my age! If I wasn't I wouldn't 've told ya, would I!" Bo's voice rose with every syllable, "But if you want to leave this farm so bad, just forget I said it!" he ended, pushing Luke away from him.
Loosing his balance, Luke bounced against the wooded railing, his temper flaring.
"Maybe I do! If it means gettin away from yur whining!" he answered with a push of his own.
Bo had grabbed on to him however, and both boys took a tumble from the Duke porch, landing in the sand below.
All of a sudden, no more words were spoken as the boys wrestled in the dirt. Not the playful wrestling they had done earlier that day. This was serious.
Finally, Luke managed to push Bo's long limbs away from him, panting slightly. Briefly he wondered how things had gotten so out of hand, so quickly.
Bo stood up, panting just as hard, holding a sore arm as he looked at Luke's form still sitting in the dirt. A decision formed in his mind instantly. He didn't want to be here, not with that Jason Dupree in there too.
Standing up straight, Bo took one last look at the house, and turned around.
"I'm gonna stay with Cooter till that so-called friend of yours is gone…"
Looking up at the retreating figure, Luke just shook his head. His anger forgotten, he stiffly rose from the sand and rubbed his aching back. That boy would always act on impulse, but he also knew he would be back. They would talk then…
The powerful engine of the General Lee roared into the night, pulling Luke from his thoughts.
Turning back to the house, he didn't see the grinning form of Jason Dupree turning from one of the windows as he plotted the next step of his scheme.