Bo was worn out and fighting a losing battle to stay awake. Usually he slept better at night, but all he could do the night before was watch Layla as she slept in his arms. Bo's head fell forward and landed on his arms. He figured he could take a small nap as this day in Hazzard was slow.
Darcy wasn't bothering Nathan and the ;last anyone heard from Rick was that he was visiting a relative. Bo had contacted the prison just a few minutes ago and they had said that Rick would go back to prison if he made any contact with Bo or Layla as it was in violation of his restraining order.
Bo wished he felt better about the whole thing, but some feeling was nagging him. Something just didn't feel right.
Layla felt helpless as Rick kept the gun on her and drove the van. Layla had simply told the kids to behave and do what Rick asked them to. Rick was behind the steering wheel and happy to have Layla back. Now that the Sherrif man wasn't here, they could have some happiness. Only main problem was, his children were in the back.
Layla glanced at Rick and at the gun. Her mind was terrified of all the possible things that could go wrong in this car ride. She silently prayed he wouldn't harm the children and would spare them. Layla should have seen this coming! She felt like a terrible mother that she couldn't protect the children right then, and she only hoped they didn't blame her for this.
Rick drove in traffic for awhile and hummed along to some country music on the radio. He was playing some Johnny Cash music. "I just love Johnny Cash", he said. Then he looked at his new family. "We're going to stop and eat lunch soon, anyone want some Mcdonald's?" he looked at Layla and the kids, he didn't want them starving on such a long ride.
Layla looked at her children in the back who nodded and hadn't said a word since they left the house this morning. Layla saw that Amy and Danny was concerned for their mother and her unborn twins. "Food sounds great", said Amy tagging along knowing her father would want her to be brave and tough.
Layla looked at Rick "You heard them, they want Mcdonalds" Layla then slid her cell phone underneath the car seat so that Amy could text her father. She slid it under so Rick couldn't see.
Amy picked up the phone and held her breath as she typed in her father's private message on it. She hoped that whoever it was that had taken her, her brother, and mother wouldn't her the dial tone or the panel as it beeped.
Bo was startled awake as his phone beeped. Rubbing his eyes he flipped it open. "Daddy, help." Bo started in shock at the two words on the phone.
Bo bolted out of his seat and picked up his gun and holster. Whatever was going on one of his kids was in trouble. He needed to get home and find out what was wrong. Did Layla fall downstairs and hurt herself? And why wasn't Amy or Danny calling him by telephone? Also why weren't they at school?
Bo only hoped that Rick hadn't taken them. The last time he had Bo had nearly died.
The man and Mommy came back to the car. Mommy held two happy meals in her hands and two small drinks. Judging from her face she looked as if she was going to start crying. Mama handed the food and drinks to Amy and Amy handed her brother his food as the man started the car. Apparently he had told Mama to hand him the keys; which she did.
Layla had sighed as they pulled out of the McDonald's parking lot. She hoped that Bo had gotten Amy's texted message. And, Layla hoped that Bo remembered to wear a bullet proof vest, and brought backup this time with him besides trying to take Rick down on his own. If he got Will and Luke to help, they could take Rick down with no problem.
Layla just hoped that Rick didn't do anything to harm the children. If anything, Rick should let them go free, and just take her since she was all he really wanted. Layla knew that Rick didn't want the kids, he would just kill them later on the trip and Layla wanted to spare them if possible.
"Rick, why don't you just let the kids go? It's me who you really want, not them". said Layla.
Rick thought about what she had said. It was true, he didn't want the kids, and they would just be in the way and try anything to rescue Mommy, and he couldn't let that happen. Looking from Layla and to the kids, Rick didn't want to hurt them and he didn't want Layla to be hurt. He just wanted to be with her. "Okay, I'll let them go in one condition that I get to keep you".
Layla swallowed hard. She hated to do this to Bo, but she had no choice. She had to spare her children and plus a gun was pointed to her at all times. She knew once the kids were let go, they
would contact their father with the cell their mom gave them, and they would be able to provide the police Bo and Will all the info they need to find their mother. "Okay, you can have me, Rick". Layla gave in knowing her heart was breaking.
Rick looked at the kids "You two are free to go, but I get to keep your mommy understood?!" he said in a firm tone. Both kids nodded and got out.
Bo, Luke, and Will went down the highway. Knowing people like Rick he would take Layla and the kids over the state lines. Bo had found out that Rick had hailed from Florida so that's where he'd take Bo's wife and the kids.
Bo braked hard as he saw two small forms trudging down the road. "Daddy!" Amy shrieked and both kids ran to their father's open arms, nearly bowling him over.
"Are you two all right?" Bo asked, pulling his son and daughter back to look them in the eyes.
"Yes, Daddy, but that man took Mama," Amy protested as Will and Luke stopped their cars and joined Bo and the kids.
"He didn't hurt you, did he?" Will asked his young cousins.
"No. Mama told him to let us go. That he wanted her. He did what she asked," Amy said, sniffling as tears rolled down her face.
"It's all right, Sweetheart," Bo said, wiping her face gently.
"Daddy, he scared me. He held a gun on Mama," Amy whimpered as Bo took her in his arms and hugged her tightly.
"I know, but you have to be my big girl now. Can you tell me which way they went?" Bo asked, looking first at Danny and then Amy.
"Yes, Daddy," Amy and Danny both said. All of them then got into the cars and followed the road that Amy pointed out.
Layla nervously watched Rick as he drove ahead happily humming along to the radio. As long as he stayed happy, Layla would stay alive and her life wasn't in any real danger. She missed Bo and the kids so much it made her want to cry all over again. But she couldn't start crying in front of Rick now.
"Where are we going?" Layla asked after he got through finishing his favorite song. Rick replied "We're going to Florida, I got a place there that is real nice for us, it's a two story house, but first, I want to stop somewhere and get some fresh air, don't you?"
Layla just nodded she hoped and prayed that the kids would be alright and that Bo had already found them. She was glad that Rick let them go, she didn't want any harm to come to them. "Rick, I'm glad that you let the kids go. You really didn't need them, you know that?" Layla started a conversation.
Rick nodded "Yeah I know I really didn't want to hurt em they were really well behaved kids. You and Bo brought them up well. I can't believe he is making you have more". he asked indicating her pregnant stomach.
"BO didn't make me have children, Rick. We both wanted children", she said looking at Rick. Rick just shrugged and pulled into some woods that had a road in it. There was a park nearby, and some benches and lake "Lets go check this place out". HE went to Layla's side and opened the car door out.
Bo pulled into the park. He had managed to catch up with the SUV that Layla drove shortly after he, Luke, and Will had picked up the kids. Bo looked over at Amy. She was sound asleep, her small head on Bo's knee.
Bo stopped the car and opened the door soundlessly, so as not to wake up his daughter. Amy was a very light sleeper. Bo exited the car, praying silently as he made his way through the trees. Bo froze as he saw his wife and Rick. Rick wore a gun and was walking with Layla. Layla had a scared look on her face as Rick talked to her, stroking her face gently.
They finally got close enough to where Bo could hear their conversation. "Layla, all I wanted was you to marry me," Rick said.
"You have a funny way of showing love, Rick. You beat me and when I do get married you threaten and beat me and try to kill my husband and children," Layla said, her voice trembling.
"I just wanted you. You hurt me. It hurts me to see you pregnant," Rick commented, indicating Layla's swollen stomach.
"Rick, I love Bo. he has done more for me than anyone has done in my life. I think you need to get over it and get on with your life. It's not too late to walk away," Layla said, the desperation obvious in her voice.
"How could you love him? You married him the day after you met him!" Rick protested, wrapping a strand of Layla's hair around his fingers.
"I just do. He married me because he loves me. He said he was doing it because you beat me and he wanted to protect me. Every day he shows me that he loves me for more than that. That was something that you never showed me. You used to beat me to where I nearly died," Layla said.
Rick didn't have much of a chance to say to that. Bo then decided then was the chance to jump out of the bushes.
Layla saw Bo jump from the bushes armed with a gun. She just hoped that this time, he wore his bulletproof vest. She couldn't risk losing him again, she just couldn't. Layla's feet began to hurt her and she began to feel sick being with Rick.
Rick noticed Bo too and suddenly grabbed Layla in a hostage position and put the gun into her side, threatening her life, and the kids too. Rick stood near the edge of the cliff near the waterfall a wild crazy look in his eyes. He showed Bo he meant business.
"She's mine Bo Duke! Always has been since the beginning, you just stole her from me the day you met her at the fair and knew she was taken!" his hand shook with the gun.
Layla gulped as fear creeped into her eyes. She was held hostage once on the airplane when Bo and Will were on there and things went fine and she escaped, however she wasn't feeling very brave this time. What if her and the children were put at risk?!
Will watched from the bushes as Rick held Layla in his arms, the gun pointed at her. Without thinking what should be done Will jumped through the bushes and tackled Rick. He pushed Layla aside before she tumbled over into the falls.
Bo caught his wife in his strong arms and held her against his chest, stroking her hair as Will handcuffed Rick.
"Bo, I was so scared," Layla whimpered as Bo's lips went all over her face.
"I know, Darlin.' I was too. He didn't hurt you, did he?" Bo asked, cupping her face gently.
"No. Bo, I thought he would really force me to marry him this time," Layla said, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.
"It's okay. I'm here now, Sweetheart," Bo said, kissing her lips gently. Layla kissed him back and gasped in the middle of the kiss, touching her stomach.
"Layla, what's wrong?" Bo asked, touching her shoulder gently. He hoped it was nothing to do with the children. But judging from the pained look on her face it probably was.
Layla gasped again "Bo, I think I'm in labor, my water just broke, and i keep getting sharp pains!" Layla grabbed his shirt holding back the pain that obviously hurted her.
They both watched as Will arrested Rick, and put him in the back of the squad car. Layla was glad that Will had followed Bo she would hate to think what happen to Bo if Will had not come along.
Layla gasped in pain again as the pain in her grew worse "Bo, we need to go to the hospital, now!" Layla yelped in Pain holding her stomach. Layla thought to herself, it couldn't be good that her children were coming right now. Layla prayed silently they would make it.
Bo had moved his sleeping daughter to Luke's car. Luke would take care of both kids so Bo could drive Layla to the hospital. Layla was breathing hard as she pressed her hand against her stomach. "Hold on, Darlin.' Just breathe deeply," Bo ordered his wife calmly, touching her face with his rough hand.
"Bo, just drive," Layla said, screaming as another contraction hit.
Bo did as his wife wanted and drove, looking at her at intervals through the thirty minutes that it took to get to the hospital. He wondered if he could talk her through her pain. They had recently rented the movie "Amazing Grace" and William Wilberforce's wife had talked him through his laudanum addiction by talking about their baby.
"Remember that movie we watched the other night? What are the babies' names?" Bo asked, trying to control his breathing.
Layla looked over at Bo wondering what he was getting at. Then she remembered the movie and what the characters did through the pain. "Calleigh and Lauraanne". said Layla smiling at the thought of her two girls that would be with them soon if she could handle the pain that is. She looked at Bo trying to smile again.
"Okay. How are they going to look?" Bo asked as Layla squeezed his shoulder with her hand.
'They'll have blonde hair and blue eyes. Bo, it hurts," Layla said, clutching his shoulder spasmodically.
"I know, Darlin.' Just keep talkin' to me," Bo said, kissing his wife's lips when they stopped at a traffic light.
"I love you," Layla said, as a contraction went through her again.
"I love you too," Bo said, taking one hand off the wheel and gently touching her face with his callused palm.
Bo timed her contractions as they talked and each one would hit. It was twenty minutes apart now. Bo looked at his wife as she huddled close to his side, whimpering with pain.
It seemed as if they would never reach the hospital. Bo stopped the car and lifted his wife in his arms. He all but ran to the entrance, praying that Layla and the babies would be all right.