by: Essy Jane

When at last Bo got into see the doctor, he was covered up in a lot of blankets. They had warmed up IV bags dripping lukewarm saline into his veins. Bo had a cut on his leg that went to the bone. He had to get stitches. Of course Bo tried to be a man when that lady doctor walked in but in the end, well let’s just say he cried a little when the needle went in.

Other than a broken nose, Bo had mostly scratches and scrapes on his body. Bo was really lucky. If he had hung there any longer, the doctors were more than sure that poor ol’ Bo would have died. “Are you satisfied? I have two IV’s in both of my hands,” Bo grumbled.

“You’re only going to be here for a couple more hours. Isn’t that better than being dead?” Luke asked him. Bo sighed. He looked up at his cousin who was concerned.

“Yeah but I missed my date. I was gonna trump around mad for a while and then go out with Essy. I bet she’s plum mad. I wouldn’t be surprised if she shoved a bean-shooter up my nose and pulled the trigger.”

“Oh Bo, come on. This is kind of a good excuse.”

“Oh you say that now.”

“Look, by now she knows where you are.” Luke pulled up the blankets on Bo as he tried to throw them off. Bo’s eyebrows lowered. He crossed his arms under the blanket. “You were a Popsicle Bo. Just be thankful we got you here on time.”

“Oh I am but I wish this didn’t happen.”

“You know what cousin?”

“What, Luke?”

“I wish it didn’t happen either.”

“I guess some good came out of it.” Luke straightened himself out. Bo took a deep breath and let it out real slow. “Cooter could have been…and I would have never forgiven myself.”

“I guess you were supposed to be there. Sometimes things happen for a reason. Even if we don’t like where we are, we’re still put there. We have all have trials to overcome but we face them.”

“I know. Hey you know what else I know?”

“What, Bo?”

“You were supposed to find me.”

“Good thing huh?”

“Yeah but it still doesn’t change how mad I am. I mean shoot, I should be able to have some sort of fun.”

“You will, Essy ain’t going anywhere right now, Bo. Miss Tizdale’s still sick. Essy loves her aunt to pieces and she loves the mail system.”

“I know. I guess I’m jealous.”

“Of me?”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t be, you’ll get your chance soon enough.”

“How was it?”

“The race, oh it was extraordinary! Essy drives just like Uncle Jesse and Miss Tizdale put together.” Bo started laughing. He pulled his arms out from under the blankets again and put them under his head. Luke cleared his throat, trying to signal Bo to put them back under the blankets. “I won’t say another word until they’re back under the blankets.”

“Luke…”

“Now, Bo.”

“Fine, Luke you win.” Bo put his arms back under and Luke pulled the blanket back over his cousin. “Now tell me more about your date.”

“It wasn’t really a date with Essy. She pulled all sorts of tricks and knew how to get ahead. I almost beat her but she was just too darn fast. Uncle Sam has a few more parts than the General.”

“How was she?”

“She was—I don’t know how to describe it. Essy was everything I wanted in a girl. Kind, willing to show her own personality…sweet and wild yet so kind, yep, that was Essy. I have never seen anyone like her. I don’t know—I feel like I knew her from somewhere before.” Luke glanced over at Bo. He was sound asleep. Luke smiled. “Goodnight cousin.”

Luke walked out of Bo’s hospital room and made his way into the hallway. He watched as nurses and doctors leisurely strolled passed him. Luke shook his head and sighed. He went into the hospital’s waiting room and sat down gradually.

Luke closed his eyes tight for a minute. He look another deep breath and let it out slow. He pushed his hair back with his hands, shaking his head ever so lightly. Luke shoved the tears out of his eyes like they hurt him in some way.

The Duke boys were always close and that’s the truth. Luke really felt for his cousin. They were funny kids those two. When Bo got a licking, Bo wouldn’t cry at all. Instead, Luke would cry. If Luke got a spanking, Bo would cry. Jesse could never quite understand it.

Right now, poor Luke didn’t want to show his fear. He couldn’t believe how Bo was acting. His cousin was pretending to be brave yet he was hurting. Luke just wished he could do something for Bo. What could he do though? Bo was in the hospital bed and there was nothing ol’ Luke could do about it.

Another thing that really was bothering Luke was when Bo wanted him to leave and get help for Cooter. Here his cousin was shivering and shaking. Bo was cold to the bone and he was begging Luke to help Cooter. What if the younger cousin died that night? That was something Luke couldn’t accept.

Daisy wandered into the hospital, looking around for a familiar face. Her eyes were sunken. Daisy wore her hair up in a ponytail, something she hadn’t done in a long time. When she saw her cousin just sitting there, Daisy approached him. Luke didn’t look up once. He kept breathing softly. Even when Daisy sat beside him, Luke didn’t look up.

The young woman tapped Luke’s shoulder ever so slightly. Luke jumped and looked up at Daisy, relieved it was her. He sat with his elbows on his knees. Both of Luke’s fists were clenched, holding up his face. Daisy pulled Luke’s arms down. She pulled her cousin’s face up to her level. “How is he?” Daisy asked.

“He just fell asleep,” Luke answered.

“Poor guy.”

“Yeah, I can’t believe what he’s been through. I knew something was wrong.”

“One great thing about our cousin is he never gives up.”

“Yeah right, Daisy.”

“Luke, Bo’s a strong guy.”

“Yeah I know.” Luke shook his head. He looked right into Daisy’s eyes. “You know, if it wasn’t for me, this wouldn’t have happened.”

“That’s not true. How were you supposed to know that Bo would end up over there when two bad dudes were trying to…”

“I told him he was stupid. I should never have done that. I didn’t mean to say it either.”

“He knows that.”

“No, I don’t think he does.” Luke turned away as the tears started to push their way forward. He took a deep breath and let it out real slow. Daisy put a hand on his shoulder. She took a quivering breath, trying to be the strong one. “I let him down—that’s worse than anything I could ever have done to him.”

“Luke, because of you, Bo’s okay.”

“Thank goodness for that huh? I am no hero.” There was a sudden silence between the two of them. Daisy sighed. She looked out the shadowy window of the hospital.

“You know, I have always hated hospitals. They bring on so much pain. It’s funny though, your life seems to start out in a hospital nowadays.”

“Not Bo and I. Uncle Jesse delivered us both.”

“Okay, I was born in a hospital.”

“Yep you were and we’re all glad everything went well.”

“Anyway, they’re born in hospitals and the little sun spots are so beautiful. These babies grow up to have a mind of their own.”

“Yeah and babies like me hurt babies like Bo.”

“Luke, you’re family. Bo loves you no matter what. He’s adored you from the minute he met you. You two were always joined at the hip. In fact, sometimes I was jealous when I was younger.”

“Daisy…”

“Then I realized that you and Bo will always have a special bond no matter what. You and I have a different bond.”

“We weren’t exactly nice to you at first.”

“I was so different compared to you two. You had known each other since Bo was born and I was a newcomer. Me and my piggy tails flying. Bo took one look at them and began tugging.” Luke chuckled.

“Yeah, that sounds like him.”

“Luke, you were Uncle Jesse’s official peace maker. You always were kind to me—even when Bo liked to play those tricks. You always made sure I was okay.”

“Well at least I did right to you. Not like the way I have messed up tonight.”

“Will you stop beating yourself up Luke? Bo is okay. You said it yourself, he’s sleeping.”

“I can’t help it, I feel so dang bad.”

“Luke, in the same way you made sure I was alright, you always made sure Bo was okay.”

“Then why do I feel as though I let him down?”

“Bo knows how much you care about him.”

“Are you sure about that, Daisy?”

“Oh come on Luke think about it, you two were raised up like brothers. The only one he wanted to be like was you. When you went to Vietnam, he was plum worried. He wanted to be there.” Daisy smiled and looked at her cousin. “You know, Bo was so thrilled when he got the mail. A letter was there from you telling him that you were coming home. I never saw a smile so big on his face.”

“I had a lot of problems back then.”

“Oh he didn’t care, he wanted to be there with you. He would have walked through fire for you.” Luke smiled.

“Thanks Daisy.”

“You’re welcome.”

“You always seem to know what to say.”

“Oh, by the way, Uncle Jesse told me to tell you that Cooter’s okay. We’re gonna take care of the garage while he’s gone. Do you think we’ll find the perspective killers?”

“With Bo’s help, of course we will but we’re gonna need you too. You’re gonna be in the garage. We’re gonna convince them that Cooter’s on vacation.”

“I like the sound of it already.”