Meanwhile…
Jesse Duke woke the next morning to find Luke already up and, by the looks of things, the chores had already been done. His oldest nephew was stood by the lounge window, leaning on the window ledge and staring out at the yard as if waiting for something to magically appear in front of his eyes…he knew of course what it was Luke wanted to appear…well more who…
He had witnessed the fight from the barn, had heard what was being said between the two boys and could easily understand both points of view on what was going on with Jason Dupree. But at the same time…he got the feeling that actually it was Bo that was right…it was extremely rare that either of his boys lied about anything, and rarer still that Bo lied. It just wasn't in Bo's nature…him and guilt really didn't mix very well and he had a feeling that Luke was starting to feel that way too…if Bo had been lying, he would have returned to the farm by now – full of guilt – and apologising profusely to his older cousin…
Bo hadn't even called the farm.
Jesse sighed and gently crossed to Luke, putting an old weathered hand on his shoulder and squeezing it gently to which Luke responded by sighing and shaking his head, asking quietly.
"What have I done Uncle Jesse?"
Jesse's response was nothing but a sigh as he turned Luke away from the window and sat him down on the couch beside him, putting a hand on his knee and saying gently.
"You defended a friend who has, more than once, proven himself to be loyal to you…you finally found someone who you could confide your deepest fears and most horrific memories with, knowing he's gone through the same thing and won't be scared off by what you're telling him…"
"Yeah, but at what expense?! Doing that has cost me my friendship, my brotherhood with Bo…after a fight he usually comes right back an' we talk things through but…Uncle Jesse he ain't been home once since an' he ain't called…"
Luke's voice seemed to have gained a definite edge of concern and he could see the hidden fear in Luke's eyes that this time he and Bo really had taken things too far and their relationship simply would not be the same. He didn't talk, he just let Luke continue to spill out his fears.
"I should have trusted Bo, taken into account what he was saying…there are just times with Jason when I see something more behind a smile but I ignore it…all for the sake of having a friend who I could confide in…I had one all along Uncle Jesse an' now I've gone an' blown it…"
Jesse couldn't hide his frown as he looked to Luke properly, whose gaze was averted to the floor as – he was sure – Luke fought back tears he didn't want to shed. It was then that Jesse could see just how torn up inside Luke was…it was such an uncommon thing for Luke to be crying that when you saw it happen, you knew something was very very wrong. He reached over and gently pulled Luke into a comforting hug, rubbing his back with one hand.
"Now now…Bo can be very hot tempered an' everyone knows his emotions can run away with him sometimes…but he'll come back ta ya Luke…you two has got a bond I ain't seen between two people in a long time, an' that includes married people…that ain't somethin' that can be destroyed by a fight…"
Luke bit his lip and looked up at his uncle, asking gently with eyes that pleaded for a straight answer.
"But can it withstand a betrayal…"
"You ain't betrayed him Luke…"
"Yes I have! Yes I have!" Luke exclaimed, wrenching himself away from Jesse as anger started to creep in. "I have betrayed him, I betrayed his confidence in me that I would always stick by him and trust him no matter what…I promised him that and yet as soon as he starts sayin' somethin' I don't like, I turn against him…"
Jesse could do nothing but watch as Luke started to pace the living room…you could practically see the battle raging inside Luke's mind, the emotions that he felt clashing together and overwhelming him so they all mixed together in one ball of anger at himself.
"Its never too late Luke…Bo said he was staying over at Cooter's…why not go over there an' straighten things out with Bo…hear what he has to say about this Jason character then make up your mind…chances are by now, he's had a good nights sleep and had time to cool off a little bit…"
Standing by the fireplace, Luke continued to look down at his feet and process what Jesse was saying…and as much as his heart screamed at him to do as Jesse said, his head was telling him something else.
"No…Bo needs to come back in his own time…I need to focus on Jason an' figure out what he's up to…if everything Bo has said so far is true…I wanna confront him.."
"Now Luke you just be careful…Jason has obviously changed a great deal since you were last together years ago, there's a good chance he's manipulated you two to go against each other…"
Luke nodded as he headed for the door; he needed to pick up Jason anyway as they had been planning on going on a small drive to talk some more and have some fun together before Jason had to leave the next day.
"I will be Uncle Jesse, I'll CB ya if I need any help…"
Without waiting for his Uncle's reply, he headed outside and got into the old pickup truck, heading for town. About halfway there however, he hissed and put his hand to the back of his neck as a quick burst of pain shot through the muscle there, just behind his ear. He frowned deeply, rubbing it as he found it soon wore away but a lingering sense of worry was nestled deeply into his mind.
It didn't take him long to reach the town and the hotel, frowning a little as he saw Jason outside on the street talking to someone in a car, who quickly sped away upon seeing Luke behind him. Jason straightened up with a smile and headed over to Luke, getting into the passenger seat of the truck and strapping himself in as Luke pulled away from the curb.
"Mornin' Luke, how you feelin'? You don't look like you got much sleep.."
Luke shrugged a little, shaking his head.
"I was worried about Bo…he didn't come home last night or this morning…"
Jason nodded a little, the glee in his head not plain anywhere on his face, at the thought that Luke's meddling little cousin might come in handy after all.
"Well...I'm sure he'll come back as soon as he's had time to cool down…"
"Yeah I suppose…hey Jason do you mind if we pull up somewhere…I kinda want to talk to you…"
Jason frowned a little but nodded, his mind whirring. He knew by the look on Luke's face that the game was over and it was time for the real action to begin. Bo's words and his disappearance had gotten into Luke's mind and started to make him a little more aware of what was really going on…with Bo in Jason's hands, it wouldn't take too long to put his own plan into action.
As Luke continued to go along the dusty back roads, both his and Jason's minds were working overtime on what was to happen next…but both plans were very different to the others. Luke, being ever the diplomat – trying to talk their way out instead of fighting – was more than willing to hear out Jason's side of the story and from there figure out what needed to be done. Jason however, only had thoughts of revenge and greed underlying his plan of action and usually, whatever Jason planned to do usually got put into action.
Eventually, the two men stopped by a small secluded part of the lake where they would not be overseen or overheard. Luke turned off the ignition and at back, taking a deep breath before looking to Jason…
"Jas…"
He didn't get much further in his partially planned speech however, as he came face to face, not with a man…but with the barrel of a gun. He swallowed and raised his hands to shoulder level, looking past the gun to Jason's smirking face with a horrible sinking feeling in his stomach…as always…Bo had been telling the truth.
"Now Luke…this is what's going to happen…and you better follow my instructions very carefully…see I have something very valuable that belongs to you…"
"What have you done with Bo…you hurt him!"
Jason chuckled a humourless laugh.
"Oh nothing too bad yet…just a nice little bump on the back of his head…you know its such a shame he stuck his nose into all this…the little cousin trying to look out for his older, blind brother…it's a tragic tale…"
Luke was using all the restraint he could to keep himself from lunging at Jason. He knew that at this close range, there would be no way he would survive the bullet…and Bo needed him. He wasn't about to let his baby brother down a second time…so instead he clenched his jaw and continued to listen to what Jason had in mind for him.
"Here's what's going to happen…you're going to rob the Hazzard County Bank…you'll go in, no mask and with a gun…rob the bank and bring the money out to me…you'll hand me the money through my car window…and I'll drive away…while you get left behind to take the rap…otherwise…you can guarantee your Uncle will never see either of you boys again…"
Luke swallowed hard, but somehow managing to keep his voice steady, level and calm.
"How do I know that Bo's alright…that he ain't hurt worse than what you say he is…"
Jason leaned over to the CB, keeping the gun pointed on Luke.
"Rob…you there?"
It wasn't long before another voice came over the radio, one that Luke didn't recognise.
"Yeah Jas' what's going on?"
"Put the blonde on the line…"
With that, Jason handed Luke the CB and gestured for him to talk, which Luke did.
"Bo…you there buddy?"
"Luke…"
Luke's heart thumped painfully as he heard the fear and panic residing in his younger cousin's voice, finding it hard to keep himself under control hearing it.
"Bo…its alright cousin, everythin's gonna be alright…they hurt ya?"
"No…not yet…got a…pretty sore head but…other than that I'm alright…these chains an' handcuffs is a bit tight but…"
Luke's free hand clenched tight…they had him chained like some animal.
"Don't you worry cousin…I'm gonna come get ya…I promise…an'…I'm sorry…"
"S'okay Luke…"
Jason snatched the CB off Luke and called down it.
"Rob, put him into position…"
Luke's eyes widened, as he looked between the CB and Jason.
"What're you doin'?!"
Jason smirked, looking back to Luke as he replaced the CB.
"Just a little insurance…now…lets talk about how this is going to work out…"