by: Essy Jane

Now what was wrong with this picture? Duke walking beside Steele and talking until the cows come home. Something about the picture seemed strange. However, Jesse was the type of guy who accepted things at a faster rate. The girls were home and when both saw Jason Steele, they screamed. Soon, he too was accepted like Coy and Vance were.

Bo still didn’t approve of this Jason Steele but he would only be around for a few more months. He got his life back again. Everything that he had lost was back in his hands. Jason wasn’t about to stay around here and dwell on old thoughts. He was about to go and live his life in a cool climate, Alaska. It would be a chance for him to get away from all the heated hostile air.

Jesse and Jason walked along the new fence that Jose was working on. He broke it with the General; it was only fair that he fixed it up real nice. Jose was taking a break and of course Jesse had to go and poke him with a stick. It was too funny when he snorted and rolled onto his side. It seemed like he was almost a young infant. Jesse laughed silently to himself.

Something about those two made a perfect match as if it was made in heaven. Bo and Luke had the same bond. They would tell each other almost everything. They were closer to brothers than most were. It was a happy time in their life when they would just go fishing. The Dukes always did have a heart of gold.

They would tease but at times things had to be serious. The long distance relationship was no different than if he were right in Hazzard. If either of them had a problem they were on the phone calling the other; well not lately. Luke hadn’t been calling. Every time Bo would call Maria would say, “He’s not in.” That wasn’t usual…not even for a Duke. Something was wrong and Bo knew it.

Now Jason and Jesse continued walking down the long stretch of grass. “How much do you remember about your past…I can remember back to when I was three years old. I remember Jo coloring the walls and I took the blame for it. I didn’t want her to get in trouble,” Jesse commented.

Jason wasn’t really paying attention. Jason remembered back when he was younger. His family wasn’t always perfect but they were always there for each other. He missed them a lot but knew that it would be better if he stayed away. Jason had a fight with his father and promised never to speak to him again. It wasn’t the best choice the young man could have made but something in him stood by the very promise that he wouldn’t see his dad. Now his father was most likely gone…Jason didn’t even hear about the funeral. Instead, the man submersed himself in work.

Jesse snapped his fingers. “Sorry Jess, I wasn’t paying attention. You know what? You’re lucky you have family…never abandon them,” Jason commented. He took in a big breath of air and touched his cotton shirt. The weave was tight making it feel softer than most. As he let it out, Jason pulled out the tattered picture of his family. It had been all over the United States with him as he was forced to live a hitch hiker’s fantasy.

“How could I abandon them? My mom is having babies…more children for me to love. I can’t believe that she’s having kids at her age,” Jesse replied.

“Some people do miraculous things. Nancy and Bo are meant to be parents and you know that.”

“Yeah of course I do…everyone always told me I had the coolest parents.”

“Boy do you ever.”

“Some parents put on this act for company. Mine are the same way all the time. Sure we have our rules and such but guess what? I have the best deal, parents that love me.”

“You sure do. I wonder sometimes about mine. I didn’t even go to their funeral.”

“Why not?”

“I didn’t think they would want me there. Jason sighed. He continued walking with Jesse. Both suddenly looked up at a large shaded hump lying in the middle of the field. They would have thought of it to be a rock but it was moving.

“It has got to be an animal of some sort.”

“Don’t walk over to it, the thing could have rabbis. Kid, you know I am right. Your father would kill me if you got anything like that.” Jesse ignored Steele and continued walking. “Come on kid! Don’t do it Jesse. You’re being stupid.

“Maybe so but I wouldn’t feel good leaving whatever it is over there to die.”

“You’re a fool.” As he got closer, he could hear a low moan. Jesse knew that it wasn’t an animal at all. He raced towards the person.

“My goodness.”

“Jesse, come back!” From even the backside, Jesse knew that it was really a he. The hair on the man was wavy and brown…it looked like it hadn’t been cut in weeks. The shirt was tattered and blood stained.

“You got to help me Jason.” Jesse rolled him slowly. To his horror, the person he saw was Luke. His breathing was heavy.

“Jesse…don’t call an ambulance…they’ll find me,” Luke whispered. He reached his hand out for Jesse’s face but it falls as he faints.

“Jason!” Jesse exclaims.

Within the hour, Annie Green was here. She was the one that helped Bo get out of the wrath of Jason the second time he came to Hazzard. Annie was now married but still remembers Bo as a wonderful person and would help him out at any chance she got. She is beside Luke trying to treat his wounds. At Luke’s request, Bo didn’t call an ambulance.

“Bo, he should be okay for now. He’ll need plenty of bed rest for the next several days,” Annie commented. She closed up her emergency kit and walked into the living room. Bo sat beside his cousin who just opened his eyes.

“I knew I would be safer here,” Luke whispered. He tried to sit up but the pain of it all caused him to lie back down. Something about this was fishy…Bo had to find out what it was. He sat closer to Luke and mopped his forehead with a dampened cloth.

“Luke, would you care to tell me what’s going on? I don’t mean to intrude on your personal life but I ain’t ever seen anyone brought in that bad of shape…well I have but certainly not you. Luke, you have always been one of the top fighting men I have seen. Now my boy finds you in my fields? What happened?” Bo babbled.

“Bo, they got paroled…every last one of them.”

“Those police officers that…?”

“Yes Bo, those cops that I got thrown in prison and now they’re after me. I have to do something…but I don’t know what. They want me to feel the pain that they did in prison.”

“What were they planning? Exposing your secret to the public wouldn’t get them anywhere. You have done service to the police force for years. The guards we had are probably beyond retirement and don’t even remember us.”

“Rosco was paid and isn’t about to say anything either. I think they’re just after me. They want me to pay them for what they have done for me.”

“Luke, get some rest okay? If I catch you out of bed I will put you over my knee. If Uncle Jesse did it when we were 20 I can certainly do it now.”

“Okay Bo…okay.”

“You have a good one okay Luke? Oh, I don’t want to hear another peep out of you either.