Daisy smiled contentedly as she finished clearing away the remnants of the previous nights party, looking out the window every so often just to check that the barn was really standing good as new in its place. She couldn't help but love Cooter and love living in Hazzard at that moment; anything that happened in Hazzard was noticed by everyone, not just those closest to you and Daisy couldn't think of a better place to live in.
She looked back from the window as she heard soft footsteps behind her and greeted Uncle Jesse good morning as he sat at the head of the table. She placed a warm breakfast in front of him and sat at her place, bowing her head as he started to say grace but had to stop as the phone rang.
"Hello, this is Jesse Duke speaking."
"Hey Uncle Jesse, you said your mornin' prayers yet?"
"Bo! Is that you!"
"Sure is Uncle Jesse."
Jesse smiled as the cheery voice of his youngest charge greeted his ears and he sat gently at the table and leaned in to let Daisy hear it too. The voice that came down the phone, Jesse reflected, sounded a lot more like the Bo they knew and loved, rather than the one they had left staring listlessly out of a hospital window, looking at nothing but a bleak future in the horizon. He knew that Luke and Bo were extremely close, but just how much they affected one another never seemed to cease to amaze.
"How are you talkin' to us, I thought you's wasn't allowed out ya bed."
"Well I managed to persuade the good doctor to bring a phone into my room so's I could talk to my family."
"Well it's good to hear you soundin' so cheery."
"Yeah, Luke's a regular ol' miracle worker ain't he?"
Jesse could hear Luke's deep laugh on the other end of the line and could imagine his oldest ruffling the blond curls that adorned Bo's head.
"I'm mighty glad you called Bo, was there a specific reason?"
"Well…actually….I know this sounds kinda….kinda stupid but…well me and Luke's just got our breakfast here and…well….I was wonderin' if you'd want to say grace for us…I kinda miss it…"
Daisy bit gently on her bottom lip, smiling as Jesse's eyes welled up with tears too.
"O'course that's not stupid Bo…I'd be happy ta."
"Alright Uncle Jesse."
Daisy bowed her head again, the wide smile on her face growing as she heard Luke hiss something at Bo which sounded an awful lot like 'Just 'cause he can't see ya reachin' for ya food, doesn't mean I can't.'
"Dear Lord, we thank thee for these bounteous meals you provide for us and for keepin' Bo safe. Amen."
The three cousin's could be heard repeating the last word and soon they were all tucked into their meals, Bo chattering endlessly to them about some of the pretty nurses he noticed walking by and the fact that hospital rooms were really bleak and boring. Eventually however, the line went silent.
"Bo….Bo ya still there?"
"Uncle Jesse, this here's Luke. The doctor's have just come in to check on him is all."
"Oh right…is he really as ok as he sounds?"
"Well he seems to be. Me and him had some talks last night and he's startin' to handle things pretty well. The whole ringin' and askin' to do grace at breakfast was his idea 'bout everythin' bein' as normal as possible for him."
"And how are you holdin' up?"
"I'm fine."
Jesse frowned as he detected the slight tenseness in Luke's voice, and he knew that he was lying. He had a feeling that the conversation between the pair wasn't exactly terribly productive for the guilty feeling eldest. He looked to Daisy who nodded to confirm what he suspected and was about to say something when a loud 'YEE HAWWW!" erupted down the phone that made Daisy jump.
"Boys? Boys what's goin' on?"
It wasn't too long before Bo's voice was back on the line, sounding like he was close to tears.
"Uncle Jesse! I…I'm comin' home!"
"Wh…Bo what d'ya mean?"
"The doctor's…they just said that there ain't much else too wrong with me and I can come home as long as I promise to rest up a whole lot!"
"But…but you…you had internal injuries and….and broken ribs…"
"Yeah but they said that there want much more they could do here apart from run up and even bigger bill for care I could get at home! Uncle Jesse, I thought you'd be happy!"
"Well I am, I'm real happy for ya Bo, it's just I'm concerned about ya."
"I know but…I mean ain't it great!"
"It sure is Bo, and we can't wait to have you back."
"Thanks I can't wait to get back. Oh here, Luke wants to talk to ya; I gotta go have a shower."
"Alright Bo, we'll be seein' ya later on."
Daisy knew what Uncle Jesse was thinking, and why he wasn't oh so ecstatic about the news because she was thinking exactly the same thing; and apparently so was Luke. After a few minutes of silence he finally came on the line.
"Now Uncle Jesse, I knows what you's gonna say."
"Well what are we gonna do? As soon as Boss and Rosco hear tell of Bo being released they's gonna be onto him like bee's is to honey."
"Exactly, if they hear tell."
"What d'ya mean if?"
"Well ya see Uncle Jesse, it's like this…"
It sounds like ol' Lukas has a plan up that checked sleeve o'his. And once again we don't get to find out. Ain't it nice to feel appreciated? Looks like even ol' Enos is in on it too.
Enos walked into the jail house, keeping a look out for Rosco or Boss, even thought he knew that they would be down at the Boar's Nest at this time for Boss' lunch, and into Boss' office. He closed the door quietly behind him and headed over to the desk, quickly skimming through pages of paper scattered all over the desks before turning to the drawers.
He heard a 'pssst' come from the open window and looked over to see Cooter's face peeking up from behind the bushes. He shook his head and continued his search, yelping slightly as he trapped his fingers.
As soon as Luke had told him what was happening with Bo, Enos was hesitant about helping the Dukes out. He cared for them all like they were family because they had been close friends for so long, and they had helped him out so many times. But the law always came first for him, it was his duty and he pointed out to Luke that by letting Bo go with him knowing would be a breech of his sworn duty.
But, when Luke had pointed out that Bo had been unfairly arrested, and Enos knew he had, Luke had shown him that by placing Bo under arrest he was breaching his sworn duty anyway. So, either way, no matter what he did he was put in the same situation.
Did y'all catch that?
And so, Enos now found himself succumbing to Luke's confusing logic and searching Boss Hogg's desk for the details of the two Atlanta thugs he knew that the Boss had on file. He was just trying to frantically remember where he had seen it. He jerked when he heard a car door slam and saw a signal from Cooter.
"Possum on a gumbush! He's back!"
He quickly slammed all the remaining doors shut and headed over to the window when he saw a piece of paper lying on the ground by his foot. He quickly picked it up and glanced at it, moving to put it back on the desk, when he finally registered what it was. Laughing out loud he crammed it into his pocket and climbed quickly out the window as Boss and Rosco entered the office.
Cooter quickly grabbed his wrist and dragged him back to the garage, making sure that he couldn't be seen by Rosco.
"Did ya get the details?"
"Yeah I did, I dunno why Boss kept 'em on the floor though…"
"Don't worry 'bout that, just get them back to Luke so as he can get our buddy out of hospital quicker will ya!"
"Sure thing Cooter, I'm gone!"
With that, Enos sped round to the back of the garage, taking a hidden route back up to Tri County Hospital, feeling immensely proud of himself.
So Bo's gonna be getting' out of Tri County, Luke's got a plan to get him out safely and Nigel and Ronny are still on the loose…friends, I have a baaaaad feelin' about this…