by: Kristy Duke

Raw emotions heavily ripple through my numb body as I stare heavily at the old farmhouse that doubles as Landon’s  hideout, my thought remain upon what I had just witnessed an hour ago. Of Shawn angrily telling Bo that his killer should have finished his job, that it would have been good for Hazzard. How dumb can he possibly be? I feel a small smile cross my face as I think of Luke’s quick and harsh reaction was towards Shawn’s outburst, of Jesse’s anger toward what Shawn had said. But better yet, was watching and listening into Shawn quickly trying to take back all that he had said once he realized exactly what he had done. Of the heavy fear in his eyes as Luke boldly accused Shawn of attacking Bo in the barn while he acted hurt and insulted of the accusation in order to persuade his old friend that he didn’t do the exact thing he had done. Of the little that I know of Luke, one thing is sure: he’s protective of Bo and he’ll do everything in his power to find out whoever wronged Bo. Whoever wronged Bo, was in for a nasty surprise when Luke found them as makes sure whoever did it, paid at full price for what they had done. And now that someone is his old friend, Shawn Graham. Deep down, I know, give Luke a few days he’ll find out it was Shawn who attacked Bo. Will find out who Shawn really is.

Thinking of that sends fear and worry deep down within me, because deep down, I know once Luke finds out it was Shawn, Shawn will start fingering me as being part of his gang. Not fear or worry of Luke, I didn’t wrong Bo, Shawn had. But fear and worry in knowing once Shawn goes down, so will the rest of his gang, which would also include me because I had so boldly walked up and forced them to accept me into their gang. Which I don’t dread. I dread the fact that Shawn is as dumb as he is and he will greedily take everyone down with him to ensure that he’s not the only one who pays for the crimes. It’s just who he is. Greedy, coward, dumb, and confident; all at the same time. Yet, Landon approves of Shawn and all is ‘mistakes’ that is costing the whole gang with each passing day, despite his anger outburst and putting me as Shawn’s ‘babysitter’ he seems to look upon Shawn as a younger brother. Protective of him. But in a different way than Luke is of Bo. Luke is more forgiving than Landon would ever be.

Climbing off of my motorcycle and begin to walk across the muddy driveway, I silently muse on whether or not Landon will be so forgiving now that Shawn has slipped up again.

“There’s Garrett,” Landon greets me with a large smile and I am surprised not to see the anger from him as I was expecting and I glance around the large room to find Shawn leaning against the back wall, talking freely to Cliff and Darrell. “Shawn was guessing you lost your way here, but I told him to give you time, you’d make it here.”

“Of course I’m here,” I state, eyeing Shawn and back to Landon, “Y’all didn’t hear or see what he said at the farm an hour ago?” I ask the unnerving question.

Landon nods. “Shawn and I  had our discussion about that already. Think we came to an understanding…to terms. I know, you probably expected him to be tied back up and I’d be upset,” he pauses slowly as he begins to pace the floor again, “don’t get me wrong, I am upset that he was dumb enough to let a big slip up like that. But he did pretty well trying  to recover himself. And Bo did a great job of convincing his old uncle that it wasn’t Shawn as well. Give your stupid brother that much credit,” he stops pacing as he offers me a cigarette and I cautiously take it from him where he lights up a black lighter to help me light it, “Not my pack…but Darrell’s that I found lying around. Thought you deserve some sort of payback for all you did.” He hands them to me with an ornery grin. “Next time he won’t leave his junk lying around upon my desk, in my space,” he shakes his head at me and begins pacing once more, “Anyway, I have to take some blame in all of this. I should have seen it coming when Shawn agreed to come back to his old home town. To hang out with his old friends to keep tabs of everyone. Should have known the past would haunt him and pull him in. As I told him, this is the last time we’re going on one of his ideas that has anything to do with his past.” He pauses as he continues to pace, “With that said, all of this in Hazzard is almost ran it’s length. We’re ready to move on. We just have to come up with a plan on what to do with that brother of your’s and his family. Hope you realize, we can’t leave witnesses behind and thanks to Shawn, Bo’s a witness. As is his family.  Your family.”

I slowly nod as fear explodes within me. I may not get along with any of them, but would never forgive myself if I allowed them to hurt any of them any farther than they already  have. Leaving me with little doubt that I have to do something to stop them without giving myself away to get myself in trouble. “Of course,” I shrug, trying to give an attitude that I don’t care.

“Which also means,” he comes to a halt as he gives me an appreciative grin for accepting what he had said, “that we are about to pack up and leave town. You coming with us? You know, as Shawn is full aware of now, that once you leave with us, there is no turning back.”

I give a sarcastic laugh. “I hate this small hick town. Everything about it,” I pause as I inhale a deep breath of smoke to give me a slight adrenaline rush, “I’d love to get out of this hick town and not to look back.”

He gives a laugh of relief. “Good. I’m glad you feel that way,” he places a hand upon my shoulder,
“because if you said no, I’d have to remind you that if we left you behind, that’d leaving behind a witness. And we don’t leave witnesses behind. If you know what I mean.”

“Perfectly,” I nod, fearing he would say that to leave me wondering what I am to do to stop them from going through their plan. If there is anything I can do without giving myself away. “So what’s up next?”

“Well, we’re glad you asked,” he puts a hand upon my shoulder and begins to guide me towards Shawn, Cliff, and Darrell, “we were just discussing our options when we saw you pull up. Perhaps you could help us perfect our plan for our last deed in Hazzard.”

“Of course,” I nod while giving him a smile before I throw down the butt of the cigarette and step it out with my boot.

 

***BRODY***

 

“Brody,” a strong familiar voice abruptly catches my attention as I slowly step out of my old car and I quickly turn around to find Cooter quickly approaching me. His crazy brown eyes glance up at the darkening gray clouds and then back at me as a look of concern seems to spread across his face.  “There yaw are. I’ve been keeping an eye on the place to look for your car,” he shrugs as he comes to a halt a foot in front of me, “startin’ to figure you skipped town or something.”

I force a smile at him before I lean over to pull the thick plastic bag of books Bo had given to me a couple of hours ago, before I had stopped by my parents’ house to help them with their broken sink. Standing back up, I give him a shrug of my own. “I can only wish,”  I slowly reply as I follow his look down upon my bag with a questioning look in his eyes, “but nah. I didn’t go anywhere. Ma called and said her sink wouldn’t stop dripping and you know how she is…any little thing annoys her. So I stopped and helped her with it.”

“Ah what a nice son you are,” he grins up at me, his eyes go back to the bag, “I don’t want to pry, but what you got there? Your mom send you home with some home made pie or something?”

I give him a sarcastic laugh. “I wish on that too. But no pie for me. A friend just sent it home with me,” I shrug, not wanting to tell him what Bo gave me. If Bo wanted Cooter to know, he’d have gone to Cooter. “What can I do for ya today, Cooter?”

His smile drops and he grows serious. “Luke tol’ me Bo forced himself into The General to go see you at the caves,” he slowly states, “I know Luke and Jesse were upset. They have a right to be. Bo shouldn’t be anywhere near The General with his leg or be going anywhere for that matter. But,” he goes silent for a long moment in thought, “I think we all know Bo well enough to know that there is more than what he is saying for why he climbed into The General to meet up with you.”

When he goes silent, I eye him questionably before asking, “And you want me to tell you why he went to the caves for.”

He shrugs. “More or less. I asked Luke,” he pauses momentarily, “and he said no one thought of asking you. So I thought I would.”

I sigh heavily as small rain drops begin to fall from the dark clouds. “Look Cooter, I want to help you out and all,” I slowly begin to say, backing up towards my apartment stairs, “but you’ll have to ask Bo. He says he wanted to get out of the house for a bit, then that’s why he went to the caves. To hide out.”

“C’mon Brody,” he whines as his hand lands upon my shoulder, “we’re all friends, we trust each other. I just got a feeling or two that something is going on with Bo and he’s trying to hide it from us for some reason.” He goes silent, eyeing me in expectancy and when I don’t say anything, he continues, “If you ask me or Luke, it has something to do with his attack in the barn a couple of weeks ago. Was it?”

I sarcastically laugh and shake my head at him. “You aren’t listening, are you?” I sigh heavily, “Look, he really didn’t say anything to me other than that he had something for me. That’s all. He didn’t say anything about the attack, in fact, he seemed like he was trying to avoid talking about it.”

He eyes the bag. “Did he give you that, then?” he finally asks, “What he give you?”

“Maybe he did give it to me and if you want to know what it is, you’ll have to ask him,” I pause, biting my tongue from saying it’s only a bag of books. He’d find that just as suspicious as I did. “Look, I haven’t really had a look in the bag myself. Once he gave it to me, Jesse arrived  yelling at him and that was followed by Luke and Shawn. I didn’t have time to really look at it, I was going to do that once I got into the apartment.”

He shakes his head in disappointment at me. “Well, OK,” he sighs heavily, “I was just worrying about what all was wrong and what y’all’s meeting was about. Luke’s worried that whoever attacked Bo in the barn may be back to finish his job if or when he learns that Bo’s still alive. And with Bo not saying anything to anyone about it, it’s kinda hard to know what to look for. If you know what I mean.”

I nod slowly, thinking about what he had said as it sinks fear deeply within me to think that whoever did it to Bo may be back for more. Something I had never even thought of before. “Well, as I said, Bo didn’t say anything to me about the attack or who had attacked him or why. He didn’t say anything about it,” I pause heavily, the books growing heavy in my arm, “but if he does, I’ll try to talk him into going for help with it. I’m sorry I am of no help to ya, Cooter.”

He shakes his head at me while forcing another smile at me. “Nah you’re fine. As I said, I don’t mean to pry. Just worried is all,” he goes silent as he looks across the street where his small garage is, turning back to me, he says, “well I better go give LB and Ethan a hand before they think I ran away. Troy Meltzer’s old truck is giving us all a fit in there. I’ll see ya around.”

I nod. “See ya around, Coot,” I slowly say as he pats me on the back before he turns and begins to run across the street before I turn to slowly walk up the cement steps up to the top floor of the apartment building.

Reaching my closed door, I quietly unlock it to slowly open the door to be greeted by the darkness that resides within. Taking a deep breath, I slowly step in to turn on the lights to chase away the darkness before closing and relocking the door to be greeted by my own thoughts. Thoughts of meeting up with Bo and all that he had said and all that he hadn’t said. It is no secret that Bo hates to read, hates books, and everything about them. No matter if he is stuck at home with nothing to do, he’d never even think of picking up a book to read. Not alone to read them all and think that I would enjoy them, would like them. Only to leave me thinking that there was some sort of unspoken message he was wanting me to read out of his statement. Out of the bag of books he brought.

“Look, I didn’t think I would like it either, but I had to do something or else I was going to go crazy locked inside. So I gave it a try and enjoyed them. Believe it or not,” Bo had said as he had eyed me with wild eyes filled with fear and desperation, “and I thought you may like it as well. You’d be surprised at what you find in between the covers of the books. I know I was.”

“You’d be surprised at what you find in between the cover of the books. I know I was,” I state, speaking the last sentence of his statement that rings clear in my head, haunts me deeply and I quickly rush to the couch. Sitting down upon the holey and old couch, I slowly dump the bag of books upon the cushions to find several of the books to be romance and a couple of them looking to be some sort of criminal novels. “No way would you be interested in these,” I shake my head as I pick up paper back novel with a picture of a woman and man hugging upon the cover to slowly fan through the pages. Coming up empty, I set it upon the scarred coffee table to begin fanning through another paperback with a gold shield covering most of the cover. Once again, I come up empty and pile it back  upon the other book I had sat upon the coffee table.

Growing impatient in going through books, with little to no clue as to what I am looking for, I throw down the fifth book back onto the pile of books on the coffee table. “Don’t be messing with me, Bo. You’re wasting my time,” I gripe alone to cut through the piercing silence that surrounds my apartment. Silence that don’t normally bother me, but now with worry and fear over what may be happening with Bo, it digs deeply within me and seems to intensify the deep emotions that my meeting with Bo had brought upon me. Breathing in heavily, I grab the sixth book that holds a woman sitting on a lawn chair on the beach with a shadow of a man covering her upon the cover. Another romance novel. Definitely Daisy’s. Holding it tightly in my hand, I glance back down upon the couch to find that I have three more novels after this one to go through. Turning to the book in hand, I slowly begin to fan through it to find deeply buried three fourths into the book a small folded up piece of paper. “Bingo,” I say aloud to no one as I grab the paper out of the book and throw the book upon the coffee table with the rest. Unfolding the torn half sheet of notebook paper, I rest back upon the back cushion before reading the small note that was quickly scribbled upon the paper.:

 

Brody-

               

Meet me at our old fishing spot tomorrow morning at nine. I would deeply appreciate it if you would keep ALL of this to yourself and not to tell anyone about what was said and given to you in the barn and what may happen tomorrow. I know I can count on  you. Thank-you in advance for all of your help – I’ll owe you big time once all this is said and done!

 

I know all of this makes no sense to you right now and you probably feel like I am sending you on a wild goose chase for very little reason at all. Trust me, Brody, once ALL of this is said and done, I will explain everything to you and hopefully it’ll make sense to you then. As I said, I’ll owe you big time for this!

 

I’ll see you tomorrow at nine at our old fishing hole!

 

Thanks again!

 

    Bo Duke

 

I reread his note a couple of times in attempt to read between the lines before I stiffly stand up to shove the note into my back pocket as my worry and fear for my best friend increases wildly within me. Fear and worry about what the note implies and all that could be so important for him to be sending me vague notes that are hidden in books he would never think of even looking at. Fear and worry that sends my imagination running wildly within me as to what our meeting tomorrow will hold and for all the reasons behind it may be. Despite my lack of knowledge of what is going on behind his urgency and secrecy behind it all, I know I will call in late for work tomorrow to meet Bo at our old fishing hole and will do anything he may ask of me to do. No matter what.

 

 

***LUKE DUKE***

 

Silently following Shawn in between the thin maze between the chairs and tables that are occupied and scattered across the old bar and restaurant, my thought remain fixated upon today’s earlier events. Of returning home to find The General and Bo no where in sight, of Jesse’s intense worry and anger, and to finding Bo at the caves with Brody. Knowing he was in the wrong, Bo hadn’t once attempted to defend himself against Jesse’s angry wrath or my own angry lecture that had only echoed Jesse’s, yet he had eyed us both with hurt filled eyes. It was more than just physical pain that had resided in his eyes, the pain had also been emotional from seeing Jesse so disappointed and upset at him. His hurt filled eyes had brought my own anger at him for what he had pulled to an abrupt halt and had sent my anger into feeling bad for him and the position he finds himself in. It had also sent my thoughts from what he had done to what I would do if I was in his position. Would I be able to stay home while everyone else was out doing chores? Would I be able to stand to stay home while everyone hovered over me in worry and fear? Or to deal with everyone’s constant questions regarding what had happened and to how I felt? Would I be able to stand everyone’s constant help and protectiveness over everything I did?

Only to come to the quick conclusion that it would drive me up the wall and I wouldn’t be able to stand it all for very long myself if I was in Bo’s position. And knowing how stubborn and proud Bo is, I’m sure it only intensifies everything for Bo than what it would be for me. So how could I blame Bo for trying to escape from the farm? From his family and their constant help and  over protectiveness? Bottom line is, I can’t blame him for what he had done. I would have done the same thing if I was in his position. No matter how much pain it had brought upon me. Despite his horrific nightmares the attack has brought upon each sleeping moment he has and his refusal to talk about anything related to the attack and his attempt at escaping, Bo has done a lot better dealing with it all than I had expected

Shawn comes to an abrupt halt in front of me and I quickly look up to find us to be at the table where Cooter sits with his mug of beer in front of him, his crazy brown eyes quickly going to Shawn and to me. I eye Shawn for a long moment as he makes his way past Cooter to sit besides him to send my thoughts upon how he had treated Bo once we had arrived at the farm, of his harsh words he had spoken to Bo when Bo had reacted to what Shawn had said to him. Shawn knew Bo was upset as it was and had to make to take advantage of Bo’s anger to give him a hard time. Knowing it would only upset Bo worse than what he had already. What else did Shawn think Bo would do? As Shawn’s harsh words he had yelled at Bo when I shoved him aside yell back at me from within, my anger towards him quickly is reborn once more. Anger that sends my thoughts questioning Shawn and what would make him say what he had and his actions for supposedly saving Bo in the barn during his attack. Had he saved Bo after all? Or was it him who had attacked Bo? They never got along and was constantly fighting with one another…

I shake my head at myself to shake the thoughts out of my mind. Shawn may pick on Bo and give him a hard time, but he would never attack Bo or hurt him as bad as Bo’s attacker had.

I sigh heavily as I slowly take my seat across from Cooter just as Daisy approaches us with her tray. As she gets to us, her eyes widen as she looks at Shawn’s ugly bruised right cheek and worry crosses her face. “What happened, Shawn?” she finally questions and Cooter slowly turns from me to look for himself.

Shawn eyes me for a long moment, his own anger towards me still apparent in his green eyes before he breathes out heavily and looks back up at Daisy and over at Cooter. “Let’s just say, I got what I deserved,” he pauses for a long moment before he motions towards me, “if you want to know more about it, ask Luke about it. Sure he’d be glad to fill in the details for you.”

I feel both eyes turn towards me. “I’m glad you are able to accept and acknowledge that you got what you asked for, but how cowardly is it of you to expect me to tell them what you said,” I shoot back at him before I take my eyes off him to look up at Daisy and over at Cooter, “Look, what was said and done earlier, is over with and I’m sure it won’t happen again. Will it Shawn?” I eye him expectantly.

He shakes his head. “Of course not. I already said that,” he goes silent for a long moment, “I’m fine, Daisy. Thanks for your worry. It’s just a bruise.” He goes silent before a small smile crosses his face, “But since you’re here, I’m wanting to order a mug of beer. Sure Luke would want one too.” He grins expectantly at me as if waiting for me to thank him for it.

“Yeah of course,” Daisy nods, eyeing his bruise before eyeing me questionably as she turns around to walk back towards the bar to leave us in an awkward silence.

“Wow,” Cooter breaks the silence before he takes a drink from his mug, “never thought there would be a day that Luke there would be angry at you enough to give you a bruise like that. Damn,” he pauses heavily, “he’d even let you pick on Bo. Something he would never let anyone else do. You musta done something real bad to get him that upset at you.”

Shawn gives a nervous laugh. “As I said, I got what I deserved,” he finally states before looking up as Daisy comes to the table to set down a mug of beer in front of me and one in front of Shawn. Shawn takes a drink of his and puts it heavily on the table as a look of sadness seems to cross his face. “Well, y’all, drink all that you can tonight. Tonight’s on me.”

We both eye him wildly. “We can’t let you do that,” I slowly state, “no matter what happened earlier. We all said it is over and done with. Time to move on. I’ll let you buy the first round. That’s it. You bought us a night’s worth a couple of times already and we haven’t even paid a night’s worth of drinks for you yet.”

“Y’all don’t have the money to be doing so either. Trust me, everything is on me tonight,” he pauses heavily, “I’m sure Bo will love hearing this and maybe after today, you will too, Luke,” he goes silent as he eyes me heavily, “but day after tomorrow, I’m having to pack up and go back to Atlanta. Afraid I used all my vacation time up at work and no matter how bad I’d love to stay down here, I’d never survive Hazzard. Not after the luxury and all I have waiting for me in Atlanta.”

Cooter nods sadly. “Guess we should just be grateful for the time we had together. It was a great surprise seeing you again, Shawn. After twelve years of not hearing a word from you, thought our graduation day would be the last we saw of you,” Cooter drains his beer, “am glad we were wrong. Hope you come back to visit sometime…and soon.”

Shawn gives Cooter a sad smile. “I will, but when I do, it definitely won’t be for a month and a half as I had this time. I was spoiled with vacation time saved up from over the years,” he states, “plus we had one of the boss’ sons volunteer to take over. Wanting the pay, gave me the opportunity to take off like this. But got the call saying he has to go back to Florida to take up summer school. So I’m scheduled back to work in three days. It’s been great, y’all.”

I nod. “It has been great and no I’m not loving the fact to see you leave. I agree with all Cooter had said. It’s been great to catch up with old times with each other, to see you once again,” I go quiet, “and we owe you a huge thanks for all that you’ve done for us. You not only saved Bo’s life by walking in when you did during his attack, but you also kicked in and did Bo’s share of his chores. You’ve been a huge help to us all. Thank-you.”

He nods. “I may not always get along with that cousin of your’s, but hate to see him in such pain and to see what he had to go through. I hope whoever did that to him will be stopped,” he pauses as he takes a long drink of his beer, his eyes going down to the table. Putting the mug down, he looks back up and says, “and I enjoyed working back on the farm. Never thought I’d enjoy it, but I did. And Ms. Daisy,” he grins up at Daisy, “you sure have turned out to be a lovely lady as I knew you would. You are going to make some guy very happy one of these days. Just make sure it’s the right one.”

Daisy grins and blushes at the same time. “Don’t think Luke nor Bo would allow me to do so to the wrong one,” she slowly states, “but seriously, Luke’s right. We owe you a big thanks for what you did and all your help. It was great having you at the farm the past month or so. The farm’s not going to be the same without you.”

It goes silent for a moment. “Well I’m glad I got that done and out of the way. Cheers,” Shawn smiles raising his mug half filled of beer, “to our unknown future. May it be filled with happiness, love, and great health for us all.”

We all raise a cup and clink them together. “Cheers,” we say in unison before draining the rest of our beers.

“Guess that means y’all are ready for some more,” Daisy laughs nervously as she takes a step back from our table, “I’ll go get you some more…and a pitcher. Y’all want to celebrate while you can.”

“Thanks Daisy,” Cooter calls out after her, “Damn, we’re gonna miss you, Shawn. Guess we all knew this  was coming and that you wouldn’t be here forever. Guess we should be glad for the time we had together.”

“Yep,” Shawn agrees before eyeing me questionably and puts an open right hand out across the table at me, “After this afternoon,” he slowly states with watery eyes, “we still friends?”

I force a smile at him, still feeling a little upset at how he had treated and talked to Bo, but at the same time wanting to believe and accept his apology. “Of course we’re still friends,” I slowly state as I shake his head and as we let go, I sternly state, “just don’t let it happen again. Ya hear?”

“Loud and clear,” he smiles and nods at me before looking up as Daisy returns with our drinks, “you know what we should do tomorrow?” We all shake our heads at him. “Go fishing one last time. Never get to do that in Atlanta.”

“Well, it’s your last day in Hazzard, so,” Cooter states as he helps  take the drinks off of Daisy’s tray to  pass them around, “I think we should take you fishing one last time. See if we can send any fish up with you when you head back to the big city.”

“That’d be great. Though we’ll have to make it in the afternoon, around one or so?” Shawn looks around the table and we all nod in acceptance, “I told Shane I’d fix breakfast and watch the kids in the morning. Guess him and the wife have somewhere to go in the morning. Told ‘em it’d be a great way for me to spend some time with them before I leave and all.”

“One it is then,” I smile at him as I watch Daisy place the pitcher in the middle of the table.

“Daisy,” Shawn states to gather her attention, “I’d be honored if you would join us. That is if you like to fish and all.”

She nods. “I’ll be there. As long as I won’t be intruding,” she smiles.

“Don’t be silly,” Shawn waves at her, “we’d love to have you. Last time we didn’t have any luck catching a single thing. You may just be all the luck we need at catching that big one.”

Daisy laughs and nods before stating, “I’ve got to get to work. See you at one, Shawn.”

It goes silent as we all watch Daisy slowly walking away before she goes behind the bar to disappear back into the kitchen. “Hey, you hear?” Cooter breaks the silence and we both look at him.

“Hear what, Coot?” I slowly ask, taking a drink from my beer.

“Hogg is calling for a mandatory town meeting here tomorrow morning at eight thirty,” he goes silent for a moment, “says it’s to discuss all that’s been going on in town in the past month or so. The robbery here, Bo’s attack, and his robbery at his house. Is convinced their all related and if we are to catch whoever is doing it before they attack again, that we all need to get together and come up with a plan to defend ourselves. To defend Hazzard.”

“Mandatory?” I question.

“Mandatory. As in, if anyone eighteen or up isn’t there, that’s a Hazzard citizen, Boss’ll send Rosco out to arrest them or write ‘em out an expensive ticket. Something like that,” Cooter answers as he grabs a bright green flyer from the table next to him to hand it to me. Hogg’s round chubby face is on the upper front of the page while all that Cooter had said is posted below. “So, Lukas, I guess I’ll be seeing you at the meeting. As well as your brother, Shawn.”

Shawn nods. “It’d make sense, I guess,” Shawn states.

“Guess I will be seeing you then, Cooter…be interesting to see what all this is about,” I slowly state, “though he better be making an exception on his ruling for Bo. Despite his brave adventures today, I can almost be certain, Jesse won’t be letting him out of the house tomorrow.”
“Eh, the meeting’s going to be about his attack…well a third of it is anyhow,” Cooter starts, “Boss’ll have to understand.”

I nod as I finish my beer before I fold up the flyer to put into my back pocket to show Jesse. “Hopefully he’ll be smart enough not to try to escape again,” I slowly state again before silence once again falls over our table.

 

***BO DUKE***

 

Lying awake, I silently listen to the soft footsteps out in the kitchen before the door squeaks open and I listen into three sets of footsteps walking out of the front door before both doors are silently closed. Silent, yet audible through my closed bedroom door. Sitting up in bed, I am once again filled with premature relief as my thoughts turn to the mandatory meeting Jesse had told me about last night; that they all would be made to attend the meeting. To leave me alone. Which had ultimately given me the perfect opportunity to sneak out once more to meet up with Brody before they return home from the meeting; something I had been worrying deeply about ever since returning home from the caves. With their intense anger towards what I had done and their watchful eye upon me, I had feared that I wouldn’t be able to find a way to escape again to meet up with Brody. To give me no chance of  seeking help from Shawn and his hidden plans he holds for us, for Hazzard. But now with everyone gone to the meeting. . .

I sigh heavily as I close my eyes, hearing Jesse’s stern voice while seeing his worried and authoritive crystal blue eyes as he had sat down next to my bed last night and explained about the meeting. “Don’t think for a minute that I have forgotten about what had happened earlier today or that I trust you,” he had hung his head for a moment before he had looked up with hurt filled eyes, “if I had my way, I’d leave Luke behind to make sure you didn’t go no where. But we all have to go. Everyone, but you. So I am forced to trust you and that you learned from what you did earlier. I know it must be frustrating to be in your place and stuck home while everyone else is able to go about their normal lives and do as they wish. But it is for your own good that you stay put and follow orders. And your orders are to stay home. Don’t go outside for anything. Understand?” he had eyed me suspiciously and I had boldly nodded, knowing that I would use the opportunity to meet up with Brody. Sometime soon, he’ll understand I had no other option. That I am doing what I have to do. “Good. We’re taking the jeep into town, but I’ve got the keys to your car as well as my truck. You even think of hotwiring and going anywhere while we’re gone, there’ll be hell to pay when we return. Ya hear?” I had nodded and muttered an “yes sir,” to him.

Guilt washes over me at the thought of lying to my uncle, to my family, as I have been ever since the attack in the barn. And yet, what choice do I have?

Shaking my head to attempt to get rid of Jesse’s warning and his worried eyes as I stiffly stand up from my bed with the help of my crutches to send pain slicing through my leg and I bite my lower lip from crying out in pain. Breathing in deeply, I make my way across the room to grab the pants and shirts I had thrown on the floor last night. Not caring what I wore. I slowly carry them out of the room and across the living room and into the bathroom to quickly begin to get dressed while ignoring the throbbing pain in my knee and in my head.

 

*                                              *                              *

 

Staring ahead through the mud and bug splattered windshield at the familiar Hazzard farm scenery passing by, I  fight back the tears of pain that threaten to fall as the pain trapped in my leg and head intensifies. Only to send anger and regret within me towards myself for not taking time to take my medicine that Jesse had sternly told me to take once waking up. The medicines that I had intentionally walked past on my way out of the house, intentionally ignoring the pain and my medicine in attempt to save time. The sooner I meet up with Brody, the sooner I’d return home. If my luck stuck, I’d be home before the meeting got over and  they’d have no clue I was gone. But now as the pain grows steadily worse, I become full aware that I should have taken the time to take my medication to hush the pain.

Looking into the rearview mirror, I temporarily forget my pain and my regret at leaving the medicine behind as I notice the same red Mustang to be following me that I had noticed following behind us on our way home from the caves yesterday. The brand new and expensive looking Mustang that no one in Hazzard could ever afford to drive not alone to own. It could be a new visitor in town or a friend or family member of someone in Hazzard that is in town visiting, yet deep down I know it’d be too coincidental to only be a visitor. Too coincidental to be happening at the same time as the attacks and burglaries. Too coincidental to be happening with Shawn in town and causing trouble. He has to be connected or with Shawn. Perhaps one of the other guys that was shown in the newspaper article about who had robbed and killed the mayor in Atlanta.

Sighing heavily I take a sharp right turn, that would force me to go out of my way to  where I am to meet Brody, and watch as the Mustang quickly take the turn to speed up to pace with me. Only to force me to laugh and shake my head at whoever the driver is at how obvious he is being following me the way he is and had yesterday. “Well,” I speak up to interrupt the silence within The General, “good thing I took you today and not Jesse’s truck.” I talk to The General as I tried to argue myself into taking Jesse’s truck, knowing it’d be easier in and out for me than The General, but my strong desire to get behind the wheel of The General once again has won against reason.  “You got to lose him and quick. I’m counting on you, General.” I pat the steering wheel as I step harder upon the accelerator to only to intensify the pain more so, ignoring the screaming pain, I quickly turn  off road to be driving on the grass.

Feeling the powerful engine beneath me, I glance in my rearview mirror to find the red car to quickly be following me,  the dark shadow of the driver in view. I force a smile through my pain as I push The General faster as the large gap in the land comes into view; he grassy ground coming to an abrupt drop off with a wide creek below before the rocky ledge climbs back up to where the other ground ends. Ten feet separating the two drop offs of the land. The General could easily make it, but can I? Biting my lower lip, I push harder upon the accelerator, knowing I must go forward if I am to meet up with Brody. If I ever wish to seek help for my family, for Hazzard. Tears of pain streak my face before I feel the front tires hit the ramp of dirt that had been dug near the edge and as the General begins to fly above the thick and heavy creek, I close my eyes while concentrating upon my breathing. Landing harshly on the other side on all four of The General’s tires, I accelerate hard while opening my eyes to glance ahead and then behind me as I see the Mustang attempt to do the same. I shake my head in disbelief as I lift my injured leg from the accelerator and my car slows down as I watch the Mustang fly half way across the gap before it begins to fall, it’s front tires crashing against ledge before falling down the rest of the way.

Stopping The General, I glance back at the empty land behind me once more as I fight with whether I should turn back and check upon the driver that had attempted to follow me across. Only to press upon the accelerator once again, to move forward, acknowledging that I don’t have time to go back. Any time wasted on checking on the enemy may be time that Shawn and his friends could be attacking once more, hurting more people. I have to do something and do it now.

Several quiet moments pass before I reach a road and I slowly estimate the length of it to the old fishing spot that I am to meet Brody at. Eyeing the lake, I slowly park The General behind several trees and a couple of large rocks before I painfully force my way out through the open window by pulling with my hands and kicking with my left foot; my uninjured foot.  Once outside, I slowly take my boots off as I am reminded of the warning note and I know I must not take any chances as to wear my boots or use the crutched; anything that  they could place a bug in. Hesitantly, I throw my old boots into The General’s passenger seat before eyeing my crutches, fearing the pain and damage the walk will do upon my injured leg. But this is my only chance.

Slowly and silently I begin to walk on the side of the dirt road, half way walking with my bad leg and half way letting it drag behind as much as possible to relieve some of the pressure. Fear and worry build within me as I look across the lake and behind me and all the open land, knowing if they were anywhere around, they’d see me. Up ahead the dirt road curves largely, the road disappearing around the curve, and I reassure myself once I reach the curve and follow it around, I will be meeting up with Brody. “Almost there,” I mutter to myself as I limp forward, reminding myself all the long the way why I am doing this.

“Bo!” Brody exclaims several minutes later as I round the curve and he comes into sight near the lake, his car parked only feet in front of me. Fear, worry, and surprise floods his dark brown eyes as he runs towards me and as I reach his car, I collapse into it. “What’re you doing? Where’s your crutches? Your boots? Where’s The General at?”

I shrug as I attempt to stand up and he quickly helps me up to walk over to large rock that lies several feet away. As I sit down upon it, I look up at him and slowly respond, “Thought it’d be a nice day for a walk and this damn brace wasn’t too comfortable with my boots,” I lie as I go quiet, thinking of an excuse as to not use the crutches before deciding to drop it.  I slowly lean forward and Brody quickly helps me as I pull the envelope out of my back pocket. Looking back up at him, I say, “Look, Brody. I know all of this doesn’t make any sense, but I promise you, that when all this is over with, I’ll explain everything. It’ll make sense. I promise you.” I pause once again as he nods in understanding. “I appreciate all of your help. You coming to the cave, coming here. No questions or objections and yet you know don’t why or what you are doing. Once this is all over with, I’ll owe you big time.”

“Look Bo,” he states once he knows I’m done, “I’m here to help in any way I can. Just tell me what to do, and I’ll do it. I know you. I trust you. And I know in order for you to be doing this, it is something pretty damn important and that you’re not saying anything for a good reason or another. So just tell me what you want me to do, I’ll do it.”

I nod and force a smile at him as I hand him the large and thick envelope. “Thanks Brody,” I begin to say before being thrown into a coughing fit, “This is going to be the last thing you will need to do for me…it’s a huge favor though.” I pause shortly, “Once I leave, I want you to open the envelope. Inside the envelope there is a piece of paper and another closed envelope. Don’t open the second envelope, don’t try to look in it. The piece of paper in the outside envelope is for you. What I need or want you to do with the other envelope. It’s a huge favor, I’m asking a lot. But it’s important. As I said, I’ll owe you big time.” I go silent again as I nervously look around. Looking back at him, I state, “Please don’t tell anyone about any of this…except the person I told you to talk to. That’s on the paper. Please do as I instructed. I know I can trust you, Brody. Thank-you.”

He nods. “I’ll do whatever it says for me to do on the paper,” he slowly states as his worry worsens on his face, “You OK, Bo? You look pale.”

Breathing deeply and painfully I force a nod. “I’m fine, but I have to be getting home now. Hey, aren’t you suppose to be at that mandatory meeting?” I ask him, “That’s where everyone else is at. That’s how I was able escape a second time.”

He nods. “Yeah, but I’ll be glad to pay the fine that’ll entail missing the meeting for. As I said, I know you well enough to know that you’re in some sort of trouble or another and that all of this is important. So here I am,” he shrugs at me, “look, you want a lift home?”

I shake my head. “The General is just ‘round the corner there. I have to take him  home,” I slowly state and Brody helps me up and we walk together to his car, “but I’d appreciate a ride to my car, though.”

“Sure thing,” he grins as he helps me to the passenger side and opens the door for me to slowly sit down in the seat and as he closes the door behind me, I close my eyes in attempt to block out the pain.

His harsh green eyes dance vividly as he looks at me and then over at Luke where he sits tied next to Jesse, Daisy, and Cooter, a heavy hand gun is gripped tightly in his hand as he points it at Luke. “Who should I shoot first?” Shawn questions as he moves the gun from Luke’s head to Jesse’s, “Perhaps you should chose, Bo. This is hard.”

                He moves forward and places the gun to Jesse’s head, Jesse eyes me with disappointed eyes and takes a deep breath. “I thought I raised you better than this,” he states, tears falling from his eyes.

                Shawn laughs as he moves the gun to Daisy’s head. “Perhaps sweet little Daisy should be the first one,” Shawn laughs.

                “We trusted you, Bo,” Daisy says through her tears, no longer fighting Shawn, surrendering to the fact that Shawn is going to kill her, “you let us all down.”

                “No, no, no,” I hear myself stutter as the  ropes dig into my flesh, “I tried to stop him. I did. You all wouldn’t believe me.”

                “Liar!” Cooter yells as the gun reaches him, “You never told us it was him who attacked you! If you said it was him, we’d know enough not to trust him. We would have stopped him before it came to this. But now we’re all going to die. BECAUSE OF YOU!”

I shake my head at him. “You wouldn’t have believed me if I did tell you. Never have in the past. Why now?” I question him, “You wouldn’t have believed me. I thought I was protecting you by not saying anything. He said -”

                “Shut up already, Bo. You held their fate in your hands and this is what you did to them. Now you are going to watch it all!” Shawn laughs hysterically before he moves back to Luke, “I hope you know how sorry to have to do this to you, Luke. To Jesse, Daisy, and Cooter too. I didn’t want it to come to this. I really didn’t. But I have to do what I have to do.”

                Luke eyes Shawn. “I know you are. It’s not your fault, Shawn,” Luke states to send questions through me. How could Shawn not have a part in this? How could Luke not see that? Shawn held the gun to their heads. Not me. And yet they all eye me as if it were me with the gun to their head, as if I was I that was going to kill them. Does Shawn have that much power over them that they still believe in him? Still believe what he has to tell them over what I say? “It’s all your fault, Beaureguard!” Luke hisses at me with hateful eyes, “You are killing us. I should have known you’d turn on us. That you would be too much of a coward to do the right thing! This is all your fault!”

                “It’s Shawn. Look at him! He has the gun…I didn’t say anything, because he said he’d kill you all if I said anything. He lied again!” I cry shaking my head at him, no longer able to stand the hurtful looks they are all giving me.

                “Time to say adios to….”Shawn states as  he moves the gun back and forth to each one before placing the gun to Jesse’s head, “poor ol’ Uncle Jesse.”

                “No!” I hear myself scream as Shawn eyes me with cold green eyes, gives me a wicked smile, more before he turns around and his index finger slowly moves against the trigger. “No!”

 

“Bo!” I hear Brody’s voice as something heavy lands upon my shoulder before I am abruptly thrown awake to send  confusion rippling through me as I glance around to find myself inside of Brody’s car with Brody behind the wheel. “You must have had some dream. . .” Brody forces a worried smile as my thoughts slowly fall back to handing him the envelopes, to closing my eyes to block out the pain. I must have fallen asleep.

Reaching into my pocket, I yank out my emergency inhaler as I feel my attack worsening as it always does with my nightmare before going through the motions of using the inhaler. After several quiet moments, I place it back into my pocket before looking back at Brody. “I’m sorry. I must have fallen asleep,” I slowly state as I glance out to find The General where I left it, “I only meant to close my eyes for a minute, I must have fallen asleep instead.”

He nods. “No need for an apology. I was just worried about you,” he states as he gets out of the car and runs around the hood to open my door and as he helps me up, he continues, “you must have been having a nightmare or something. You kept yelling no and shaking your head. You sounded like you were having a hard time breathing…that’s why I woke you up.”

I nod. Hoping that no is all I had said aloud in my nightmare, not wanting to give anything away to him. “Thanks,” I nod at him as I attempt to block out my nightmare with little success, “for everything. I owe you big time. I better get going. Perhaps I’ll beat them home.”

“You’ll be Ok to drive?” Brody asks, worry in his eyes and I silently nod as I force my injured leg into the open window before pulling the rest of me in. “Well, OK. Take care, Bo. Don’t worry about a thing -”

“I’m not, Brody,” I quickly interrupt him as for him not to say anything that could be overheard, “I’ll talk to you later. Bye now.”

“Bye,” he waves as he looks at me questionably before he steps back and over to his car and I quickly turn on the car before driving past him, on my way home.

 

 

***SHAWN GRAHAM***

 

Shawn Graham silently walks up the old thin wooden steps up the old front porch of the Duke farm before he comes to a halt to look over the white painted railing, looking out over his car and the dirt road at the farm scene that lies in the distance. Farm scenes he had taken for granted before he had packed his old car and left for Atlanta, scenery that he had considered ugly and boring while growing up. Now looking  out across the farm scenes he sees a scenery of calmness and unique beauty; a calmness and beauty that he now realizes that he had missed while in Atlanta.  “Too late now,” he whispers to himself to break the still silence that covers the old farm now that everyone has long evacuated the farm. Reminding himself to move forward as he forces his thoughts from the past to the present, of the plan Landon had been planning and going over for the past day now.

Sighing heavily, Shawn slowly turns around and for a moment he eyes the old barn that seems to be barely standing through the thin wooden walls; silently reliving his attack upon Bo and the damage he had done. And has so far have gotten away with it. Shaking his head in disbelief that the youngest Duke has been able to be quiet about the attack  as he had always been the one to run and tell on him in the past. Over anything and everything. ‘And everyone wonders why I hate him so much. . .’ the thought screams within him as he turns to the door where he slowly opens the spring door before he tries the wooden door and smiles as he finds it unlocked. “Almost too easy,” he quietly says to himself as he shoves the scratched thick wooden door open.

Stepping into the farm’s shadow filled kitchen, old memories of the past abruptly explode within Shawn of the past; of growing up in Hazzard and of all the times he had walked within the front door of the old Duke farm. Of Jesse’s warm and welcoming smile to Daisy’s flirty smile and her eagerness to hang out with him and Luke, of Luke’s friendship and acceptance of who he was. Only to enforce guilt within him for what he is about to do to them all. But what all choice does he have? Either to fall to be Landon’s next victim or to prove that he is still one of them. If only he hadn’t tried to hide the money in the Duke barn. . .

Closing the wooden door behind him, he swallows heavily as he attempts to shove his old memories away as he forces his thoughts upon the plans they had worked out. What he is suppose to do to fulfill Landon’s plans. To pass the test that Landon had made for him. “It’s all up to you, Shawn,” Landon had clearly said to him last night and again an hour ago, “You don’t do your part of my plan or if you even hesitate, we’ll know you are no longer one of us. You no longer one of us, means you’re one of them. And we’ll take care of you as we’ll take care of them. Understand? You got us in this position, it is up to you to get us out of it.” Landon had evilly smiled at him, a smile that had sent chills up and down his back each time. “This’ll be your test to pass. You fail the test, you’ll be meeting your maker.”

More chills rush up and down his back as he re-listens to Landon’s warning as Landon’s strong cold voice haunts him from within before Shawn forces himself to relax his tense body. Making his way to the small window that lies besides the fire place, he hugs himself against the wall next to it to begin peering out of it. Keeping an eye out the window, he silently goes over his part of the plan over and over again in hope of passing the evil test that Landon had created for him to take in order to prove himself.

 

***BO DUKE***

 

                Exhaustion and relief thickly falls upon me as I pull to a slow halt in front of the old farm and for a moment I sit silently behind the wheel, feeling the throbbing in my knee exploding within me. Despite the pain, relief fills me to see that the jeep and Shawn’s car is both gone to mean that I’m now alone at the farm. That Jesse, Daisy, and Luke are still at Hogg’s meeting and won’t have any knowledge of my leaving the farm. Only to force guilt within me at my attempt to continue to lie and hide things from them. But it is for their own good. . .

Sighing heavily in attempt to calm my thoughts and emotions, I slowly pull myself out of the open window of The General to stand on my good foot to lean in and pull out my crutches. Leaning against The General and eyeing the silent house, my thoughts swiftly fall upon what I had just done; what I had just put into action by giving Brody the envelopes. Fear and worry quickly envelope over me as Shawn’s voice becomes audibly clear in my head, telling me harshly of all that would happen if I were to say one word about what had happened. I would be forced to watch him execute my family, he’d kill them to make me suffer. I hadn’t told anyone about what had happened, yet I am sure what I had just done would equal the same consequence as if I had. I violently shudder at the thought of my nightmares becoming a reality as I force myself to accept the fact that I did what I had to do. No matter what. Ignoring the fact that Shawn had killed the mayor and his guards could easily equal up to the same consequences of telling the law of what they did. I had to do something. . .

I shake my head at myself in attempt to clear myself of Shawn’s evil voice, of  his violent threat, before I slowly move forward to the porch steps. Slowly and carefully making my way up the wooden steps, an eerie feeling of someone watching me falls upon me and as I climb upon the porch, I come to a halt. Staring over the weak porch railing I eye the familiar scenery as if expecting to see someone standing nearby, watching me. Yet find no one near by or anything out of the ordinary. Breathing in deeply to send pain slicing through my lungs I assure myself of my reasonable worry and paranoia before I turn to the front door. Leaning upon my crutches, I slowly open the front screen and wooden door before walking into the kitchen; leaving the wooden door open in order to allow some of the warm air into the hot house. With exhaustion melting through my numb body, I hear my bed calling my name.

Slowly making my way out of the kitchen and into the living room, I hear myself yell out in surprise and fear as I nearly run into Shawn who stands around the corner. “Hello Bo,” a large smile crosses his face and my attention falls upon his hand that holds a large hand gun pointed at my chest, “I figured on how upset Jesse and Luke were at you yesterday for leaving the farm, you’d have learned not to do it again. Guess you’re dumber than what I gave you credit for.” He grins at me, pointing the gun steadily at me and I am reminded of the article I had read. “Damn, Jesse’s gonna be mad when he finds you left after he told you not to. Too bad he’ll have other things to worry about by the time he learns you left while he was gone. Would give almost anything to see him that upset at you again.” He laughs evilly at me. “Tell me, Bo. Where you go?”

I eye him for a long moment, weighing my options. “Fishing,” I spit at him, resting upon my crutches as my anxiety and fear begins to send my asthma off again. As it had in the barn and I am quickly reminded of the barn. Of Shawn’s attack and how good his aim was as he shot my inhaler in two.

“Oh yeah?” he questions, his grin planted upon his face, “Catch anything?”

I nod at him as I force a smile of my own at  him. “Of course I did. And damn was it big,” I state confidently as I abruptly lean upon my left crutch and swing my right crutch harshly into his right hand that holds the gun. He yelps in surprise as he lets go of the gun and the gun clatters upon the wooden floor a few feet from his right foot to send a harsh and angry look towards me. As he slowly bends down to reach for his gun, I swing my crutch back up to hit him squarely upon the face and he yells out in pain before falling backwards upon the floor. Feeling my lungs and right knee swelling up in  pain, I quickly push the gun with the foot of my right crutch to watch it scatter across the floor before it disappears beneath the couch. Looking back at Shawn, I find him standing up with blood dripping from his nose and hatred thick in  his green eyes and as he rushes at me, I quickly thrust the end of my crutch into his chest and he yells out before he angrily rips it out of my hand.

“No, no,” I hear myself say in fear and he grins at me before he lifts the crutch up to grab it by the end of it before he harshly swings it at me and I attempt to duck only for me to lose balance. The arm piece of the crutch painfully hits me in the right temple as I fall harshly upon the wooden floor to draw an evil laugh from Shawn.

“Oh yes, yes Bo,” he grins down upon me before quickly kicks the other crutch away from me before I can attempt to use that one as a weapon against him. “You know, Bo, I’ve been looking forward to this. To be able to finish you off once and for all. To better this world once and for all.” He laughs again as he swings the crutch at me as if swinging a gulf club and I yell out as it hits me once again in the head he laughs once more. “Better toughen up, Bo. It’s only going to get worse from here. At least for you.” He grins and shakes his head at me as he slowly walks over to the couch and as he bends over to retrieve his gun from under it, I slowly pull upon the edge of the kitchen entry to help pull myself to my feet. Standing back up with gun in hand he grins and says, “Good, glad you stood yourself up. Now I don’t have to make you do it.”

I eye him for a long moment, watching him getting closer to me as I an consumed in fear in realization with my knee the way it is and no support, I have no option, but to do what he wants me to do. No option, but to allow him to beat me until he has no use for me. I have little option as to defend myself against him and his violent plans he has for me. At least, by now, Brody should be on his way to Atlanta. No way should he be getting away with it at least. The thought gives me little relief as he finally reaches me to press the cold metal barrel of the gun to my temple. “What do you want, Shawn?” I force myself say, hearing my breathing turn wheezy, meaning that my attack should be coming up shortly.

He grins. “Now there’s the attitude I’ve been wanting from you since the day I met you. Too bad it took til now for me to get it. Now it’s too late for you,” he coldly states as he plays with the trigger with his finger. “You see Bo, today is your day to die.  But before you do, I get to have myself a little fun. So,” he pauses as he pushes it tighter against my head, “for now you are going to slowly turn around,” he waits until I do so and he places the gun to the back of my head, “and we are going to go back out to the barn. Right where I left you at after our attack. Thought it’d be ironic if all this were to end up where it started.  I’m in control here, ya understand? One false move and I’m pulling this trigger and watching your head and that small brain of your’s to be blown into even smaller pieces. If that’s possible. You understand?”

When I don’t say or do anything he removes the gun from my head only to hit me in the back of the head with the butt of the gun. “I under-” I begin to say before coughing momentarily, “understand.”

“Very good,” he breathes on the back of my neck as the muzzle goes back to the back of my head, “now get moving. Nice and slow. My finger is itching to pull the trigger, don’t give me reason to do so.”

I nod as I slowly pull myself off the edge of the entrance way only for my right leg to cave out and I fall back upon the wooden floor. Shawn yells something at me and I glance up at him as he harshly places a hand upon my upper right arm to force me to my feet. “I can’t do it without -” I begin to say before breathing once more becomes difficult.

“You better learn how to, I ain’t helping you!” he yells as he lets go and I slowly nod as I force my right leg forward and then my left to send pain scorching through my bad knee. “See! You do it just fine!”

I force another step forward and as we walk into the kitchen, the closet door is quickly thrown open and a tall muscular man steps out, holding another large gun pointed at me. “C’mon Shawn! We need to get him outta here before the rest return!” the man yells as he quickly approaches us and as he catches me  eyeing him, he quickly smacks the butt of the gun across the forehead before he grabs my shirt and throws me into the kitchen table. I yell out in pain and fear as I land onto the table where the table concaves under my weight and I land back upon the floor with half of the table on top of me.

“I got this, Cliff!” Shawn yells at the other guy and I look up in time to see the other guy holding a wooden chair over his head before he swiftly swings it down upon me and I yell out in pain as it hits me in the face and shoulder before splintering all around me.

“Boss tol’ me to give you a helping hand to make sure he gets out there. Looks like you need it,” the guy he called Cliff hisses back at him and my thoughts flash back upon Boss, wondering what he has to do with all this. He don’t approve of violence…

I am heavily paralyzed in fear as Cliff kicks a piece of the chair away before he harshly grabs me by the shirt to yank me up and off of my feet. “No. Please -” I begin to beg him before he throws me into the wooden counter and he grabs me before I can fall back upon the floor and I begin kicking weakly at him with my left foot. “Leave me alone.” I finish and he grins at me before he sends an elbow into my nose and he drops me back onto the floor. I yell out in pain as he kicks me in the back a couple of times with thick leather work boots before he forces me to roll over on my stomach with a heavier and more powerful kick.

Picking me back up by the back of my shirt with one hand and  yanking me up by a thick handful of my hair he hisses into my ear, “Wish we could do that, but orders are orders and we’ve been ordered to take you to the barn before your hick family gets back.” He goes silent for a moment as I struggle to kick back at him in my vague attempt to get to him, knowing I have little hope of getting away from him and Shawn. Little hope of surviving beyond today. “Better say goodnight, hick.” Cliff laughs into my ear before he quickly walks me over to the edge of the counter where he painfully yanks my head back with pulling my hair back before he harshly throws my head forward by pushing my head quickly forward and my forehead pounds forcefully into the sharp edge of the counter. I hear myself yell out in intense pain as a bright yellow light seems to flash in front of my eyes before he follows that up with a second powerful blow against the edge of the counter before I feel myself being dropped back upon the floor. Hearing them talking nearby I attempt to yell out in pain and fear before I am abruptly engulfed into darkness and fall into unconsciousness.