by: Essy Jane

Bo walked for a very long time just thinking about how much thought he really put to what he did back there. Now Jesse always told the boys that they needed to slow down and think. Bo was never really at ease with that advice. No matter how much he tried to slow down, his mouth was always three steps ahead of him.

Bo was sort of glad that Luke didn’t catch up to him at first. It was nice to walk around and see the scenery. Nothing could really hurt him there. Nothing bad could happen…or so he thought. Bo was walking in the woods. He saw smoke from a distance and being the Duke boy it was normal to go help people. Bo didn’t know what trouble was in store for him.

He stumbled in on a conversation that would make all the difference in his day. “You think he knows we’re here Tate?” One of the men asked. Bo looked at their faces; there was nothing really familiar to them.

“Look Deke, I think I have had enough of this game of cat and mouse. I want to find Cooter and kill him,” Tate replied.

“I know you’re mad at him but that’s no reason to rush into this.”

“I have been waiting 12 years to get Cooter and now I have my chance.”

“Cooter…”

“Cooter should have been the one to go to jail not us.”

“Why? We were the bank robbers.”

“If we would have just kept him…”

“Tate, I don’t know how wonderful you found it but I thought it was a nightmare.” Bo’s eyes widened.

“I didn’t like prison. I didn’t like worrying about a fight going on.”

“You were always into them though.”

“Yeah, to fight for my very own life if that’s what you mean. I would rather live than die.”

“We were good at fighting though. What else didn’t you like about prison?”

“I didn’t like asking to go use the porcelain you know what. I didn’t like being hit for being so tired. You think it wasn’t hard on me either? Well let me tell you Deke, I had a horrible time.”

“It’s his fault we’re here…but it’s kind of your fault too Tate, you said to let the hostage go.” Tate stood up and glared violently at Deke.

“It was a long time ago! I can’t believe you still blame me.”

“You were supposed to be my partner.”

“I didn’t want to do it in the first place. I blame you on the whole matter.”

“Me? You chose to do it.”

“I became desperate and I would have gone with anything you said and I did. I robbed a bank, went against all my principals. Now here we are, escaped prisoners ready to seek revenge on a guy for picking us out of a line up. How do we know it was him?”

“Cooter Davenport was the only one who saw our faces.”

“Exactly, but instead of running off to Mexico and trying again, we’re here. Haven’t we learned anything?”

“If we’re found before we get to Mexico, he’s the one who will help us get back to prison. I am thinking.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” Tate’s head lowered. He didn’t want to do it, just like he didn’t want to do it back then. Now if you need a little background, let me enlighten you. They were robbing banks.

The brothers used to rob small town banks with small security systems. Deke was power hungry and very angry. He decided to rob more and retire after a while. Cooter was his hostage and a very smart one at that. He managed to pick the two men out of a line-up. They didn’t know his name at first but soon it was evident.

Now they were out of prison and Cooter was about to get nailed. Bo wasn’t about to let that happen. Warning Cooter was the only way to get him out of this. He went to go back to town when Bo stepped on a branch. As it snapped, Bo wished that Luke had come after him. They pointed a gun at his back.

“Uh…Parlez-vous français?” Bo asked trying to cover up. His accent in French wasn’t as clean as it should have been but he hoped it was enough to get out of this situation.

“What do you think Deke?” Tate asked.

“I think he looks too—country to be French,” Deke replied as he pulled out his gun. Bo put his hands up.

“I’ll tie him up.” Tate grabbed his rope and tied Bo’s hands onto a strong thick branch. Bo struggled to get out but this man obviously was good at what he did. “Are you a friend of Cooter?” Bo didn’t answer. He didn’t want to get Cooter out here. Tate slapped Bo across the face. “Tell me now!” Bo spit on Tate. Deke kicked him in the nose.

“Big mistake pal. Now give us the right answer. Do you know Cooter Davenport?” Bo felt the blood run down his face.

“I wouldn’t tell you even if you was a cop,” Bo answered.

“I won’t ask again!”

“Good ‘cause I won’t tell you again.” They hit Bo in the face four times and looked at him. Bo shook his head a couple of times trying to keep from fainting.

“Now are you gonna answer me or not?”

“Not.” Deke kicked Bo in the stomach. Tate grabbed Bo by the hair and hit him under his chin. Bo began breathing hard.

“Why are you doing this to me?”

“You have a big mouth that’s why.”

“You know what they say, better to have a big mouth and a big brain then to have a small mouth and no brain.”

“This guy is getting on my nerves! You either tell us or you’re going to regret it,” Deke commented.

“The only thing I am regretting right now is your bad breath and his stench ain’t the smell of roses either.” Tate clenched his fists. He looked at Deke and smiled. Tate whispered in his ear. They walked back over to Bo and ripped off his shirt and took off his pants. “What are you doing?” Deke punched Bo in the stomach.

“We’re leaving you to die.” Bo’s eyes widened.

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“Oh wouldn’t I? We’re hardened criminals remember?”

“No, look I…”

“You’ll tell us what we want to know?”

“Of course not, I wouldn’t tell you even if my life depended on it…Mr. Criminal.”

“Well your life does depend on it. Do you know the guy or not?” Bo sighed as he nodded. “Good, I am glad you could finally admit it.” Deke and Tate began to walk away.

“Hey, you said…”

“The animals are gonna pick up your scent—your blood and your sweat. Boy, they’ll get you better than we could.” Bo tried to get out of the rope but it was too tightly tied.

“If the animals don’t get you, the hypothermia will. Hazard may be a warm place but it can get awful cold at night,” Tate reminded Bo.

“You’re too far in the woods for anyone to see ya.”

“Don’t do this!” Bo screamed. He was punched in the stomach again.

“Any friend of Cooter’s ain’t a friend of ours,” Tate said as he pulled out his bandanna. He gagged Bo and walked over to the car. Deke grabbed a role a of duct tape and ripped a long piece off. He put it around Bo’s hands and feet. “There, good luck warnin’ your friend now.” Both laughed. Deke smiled as he packed up the camp. Bo continued to struggle but soon, he lost strength.