To Keep A Promise

Disclaimer: I don't own the Dukes of Hazzard, not making any money, just cheap thrills.


Warnings: Angst, Disturbing Themes, Mild Language


Rating: FRT


italics and/or * indictates thoughts


To Keep A Promise
Chapter 2


"Where's your cousin?" Jesse asked the next morning when Luke came into the kitchen alone.


"Sleeping, I thought I could do his chores for him today."


"He still not feeling well?" Jesse asked, moving towards the boys' room to check on his youngest.


"Uncle Jesse it's not that," Luke quickly spoke up, stopping his uncle in his tracks.


"Then what is it?" he asked, turning back to his nephew.


"He had a nightmare, he didn't tell me what it was about but it sounded pretty bad. I don't know how long it took him to get back to sleep, but I woke up a couple hours after his dream and he was still awake then."


"Oh, well I guess it wouldn't hurt to let him sleep a little late for a change. At least he ain't got school today, I don't want you making a habit of this though."


"Don't worry Uncle Jesse, I won't," Luke assured the older man. "Uncle Jesse?"


"What is it Luke?"


"You got any idea what Bo might be having nightmares about?"


"How would I know?"


"That's not an answer Uncle Jesse, what's everybody hiding from me?"


"You're right son, it's not an answer but I can't tell you what I think the answer is. For one thing I could be wrong, but mostly it just ain't my place to tell you." Patting the younger man on the shoulder as he passed him, Jesse headed towards the back door, "Come on now, them chores ain't gonna do themselves."


"Yes sir," Luke said, following after his uncle.


An hour later with the chores nearly completed, Luke joined his uncle where he sat milking the goats. "Uncle Jesse, I know ya can't tell me what's wrong with Bo and I ain't asking. I just want to know, is he in some kind of trouble?"


With a heavy sigh, Jesse sat the milk bucket aside and turned to his older nephew. "He ain't in trouble Luke, but something did happen while you was gone. Like I already told ya, it ain't my place to say what, I can tell ya that it had a pretty big effect on your cousin."


"It wasn't a good thing was it?"


"No son, it wasn't," Jesse confirmed.


"Thanks Uncle Jesse," Luke said. Going back to his chores, he quickly finished them up before heading inside to clean up.


A short time later, Luke stepped into the room he shared with his cousin. Looking at the younger man, he couldn't help noticing the dried tear tracks streaking Bo's face. *Aw Bo, I wish you'd tell me what's wrong.* Moving to the bed, he sat down on the edge and gently shook his cousin's shoulder, "Bo, time to wake up."


"Lemme alone," Bo moaned, rolling over and pulling the covers over his head.


"Can't do that Bo, I already let ya sleep late but now ya got to get up," Luke said, reaching again for Bo's shoulder.


"Just five more minutes," Bo whined.


Chuckling lightly, Luke grabbed the cover and pulled it from his cousin's grasp. "Nope, sorry kiddo ya got to get up." His laughter stopped when he saw the look on Bo's face as he scrambled off the bed. "Bo?"


Bo glared at his cousin as he tried to get his breathing under control, "Dang it Luke, what'd ya do that for?"


"I'm sorry Bo," he apologized. He hadn't meant to upset his cousin, especially after last night.


"What time is it anyway?"


"Seven thirty."


"What? Why'd ya let me sleep so late?"


"Why do ya think?"


"Oh, well I appreciate it cousin, but I'm not feeling sick anymore."


"There was that too, but the real reason I let ya sleep was cause I knew ya didn't get much sleep last night," Luke explained. Stepping aside, he waited for Bo's response as the younger man moved to the dresser for his clothes.


"It was just a bad dream Luke, I was asleep fifteen minutes aft..."


"Don't lie to me Bo."


"I ain't lying," Bo protested, avoiding his cousin's eyes as he rummaged in his dresser.


"Bo," Luke said, waiting for Bo to look at him before he went on. "I woke up a couple of hours later and you were still awake."


"Oh," Bo said, moving his glance towards the floor, unable to bear the disappointment he could see in Luke's eyes.


"Why'd ya lie to me?"


"Didn't want ya to worry is all."


"Too late," Luke replied. Moving over to his cousin's side, he took Bo by the shoulder's and turned him until they were facing each other. "Bo, please tell me what's going on?"


"Nothing's going on Luke, it was just a bad dream," Bo protested.


"Dang it Bo! Do you think I'm stupid or something?"


"No Luke," he mumbled.


"Then tell me what's happening with you? I know something happened while I was gone, Uncle Jesse..."


"He told you?" Bo interrupted, clearly upset at the thought.


"No, but he did confirm that something happened and that it had a big effect on you."


"Oh," Bo said, sounding both relieved and disappointed. "It ain't something I want to talk about it," he insisted. Pulling away from his cousin, he grabbed his clothes and headed for the bathroom.


"Oh no you don't cousin," Luke said, stepping in front of the door and blocking Bo's path.


"Move Luke."


"No, not until you tell me what's wrong."


"I ain't telling you Luke, get that through your thick head!" Stepping closer, he tried to shove his cousin to the side.


"I ain't moving Bo," Luke said. Planting his feet in a wide stance, he refused to be moved.


"Fine," Bo sullenly replied. Moving away from the door, he surprised Luke when he suddenly opened the window and climbed outside.


"Bo! Come back here!" Luke yelled out the open window at his cousin's retreating figure. Sitting back on his bed, he was more worried now than ever. *What could be so bad? Why would he run away from me like that? Damn it! How am I supposed to help him, if he won't tell me what's wrong?*




Bo ran to the front of the house and back inside. Creeping towards the bathroom, he expected his cousin to stop him at any moment. Reaching the small room, he stepped inside, sighing with relief when he found himself alone. *I can't tell him. I know I should, but I just don't know how. What if he hates me? He probably will, and he should.* The thoughts raced through Bo's mind as he stepped into the shower. As he washed, he tried to ignore the small voice that reminded him that he had no choice. *I don't have to tell him. If you don't somebody else will. No they won't. What about Dale Richardson? I'll just have to make sure that Richardson doesn't get the chance.* Turning off the shower, Bo reached for a towel and began to dry himself off. Getting dressed, he started thinking about how he could make sure that nobody told Luke what had happened. He knew that most folks were on his side, even felt sorry for him and probably wouldn't tell Luke. The problem was the people like Dale, so all he had to do was keep his cousin away from the ones who would tell the older man.


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They had spent most of the day working on the racing engine they were building, leaving Bo pleased that his plan was working.


"Time for a break," Luke announced, wiping his hands on a rag and slipping his shirt back on.


"Huh?"


"Break, you know a rest? We've done enough for today Bo, how about we go to the Boar's Nest?"


"The Boar's Nest?" Bo asked, hoping his cousin wouldn't hear the fear in his voice. "I don't know Luke, maybe we could go by Cooter's instead," he suggested hopefully.


"Yeah, I guess we could do that," Luke agreed, choosing to ignore Bo's obvious fear.


"Great," Bo said enthusiastically, wiping his hands and pulling on his own shirt. Grabbing the tarp, the two of them quickly covered their engine.


"I'll just go let Uncle Jesse know where we're going," Luke said, walking towards the house.


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"Hey y'all, what brings you here?" Cooter greeted, looking up from the car he was working on.


"Hey Cooter, just thought we'd come by and hang out for a while," Luke replied.


"Instead of the Boar's Nest?"


"Didn't feel like watered down beer is all," Bo explained.


"Can't blame ya there buddyro, but we got us a problem," Cooter said, looking over his shoulder at the younger man.


"A problem?"


"No beer," the mechanic replied.


"We could go get some, couldn't we Luke?"


"Sure, I guess so," Luke agreed as he pulled out his wallet to check the contents. "That is as long as you're okay with the cheap stuff," he said when he saw the small amount it contained.


"Fine with me, what about you Cooter?"


"Tell ya what, how about I throw in a little and we get the little bit less cheap stuff?"


"Alright!" Bo answered, clapping the mechanic on the shoulder with one hand, while holding out the other for Cooter's contribution.


A few minutes later, they were leaving the garage and heading over to Rhuebottom's for a couple of six packs. Halfway across the street, Bo froze in his tracks.


"Bo!" Luke yelled, grabbing his cousin and jerking him out of the path of an oncoming car. "What the hell is wrong with you?"


"Sorry, I got distracted," Bo apologized, not wanting to tell his cousin the real reason. Reaching the door of the general store, Bo stopped again. "Why don't you go on and get the beer Luke, I'm just gonna sit down here."


"You okay?"


"Yeah, guess I'm a little shook up though. You go on and get the beer, I'll be fine," he encouraged, hoping to get his cousin inside before they reached them.


"You sure?" Luke asked, still not convinced that leaving Bo alone was a good idea.


"I'm sure, go on now, the sooner you get it the sooner we can get back to Cooter's."


"Alright," Luke finally agreed, moving to the door and stepping inside.



"What are you doing here?" Dale sneered at Bo, as his buddies stepped to either side of the younger boy.


"None of your business Dale," Bo snapped, trying to step away, only to find a wall behind him.


"That your cousin with ya?"


"Leave me alone Dale."


"He know about what you did? Nah of course he don't, he wouldn't be here if he did," Dale answered his own question.


"I didn't do anything," Bo protested.


"Hah, who you trying to kid Bo? Everybody in town knows what you did, well everybody but your cousin." Stepping forward, he crowded Bo until the younger boy was up against the wall, with no more room to move. "Wonder what Luke would say if he knew?"


"Rosco if Richardson and his friends aren't out of here in ten seconds, arrest them," Boss ordered, startling them all.


"No need for that sheriff, we're going. This ain't over Duke," he snarled before leading his friends down the street.


"You okay Bo?" Boss asked, concerned by the paleness of the younger man's skin.


"I'm fine Boss, thanks," Bo replied.


"You don't look so good, maybe ya better sit down for a minute," J.D. kindly suggested.


Luke stepped out of the store at that moment, "Bo! What's wrong?" Moving to the younger man's side, he sat the beer on the sidewalk and led Bo to a nearby bench. "What did you do to him?" he snarled at the fat man in white.


"Me?" J.D. asked indignantly.


"You better watch how you're talking to the Boss, or I'll cuff ya and stuff ya," Rosco threatened.


"Luke?"


"It's alright Bo," Luke soothed, shooting a glare towards Boss Hogg.


"He didn't do anything Luke, he was just making sure I was okay."


"He didn't? You sure?"


"I'm sure Luke," Bo assured him.


"Well then why are ya white as a sheet?"


"Um, guess almost getting run over bothered me more than I knew," he suggested.


"Bo," the tone of Luke's voice making it clear he was suspicious.


"Well what else could it be?" Bo asked defensively.


"Why don't you tell me?"


"I don't know what you're talking about Luke," Bo protested.


"How about you Boss?" Luke asked, turning back to the Commissioneer, only to find that both he and sheriff had disappeared. "Where'd they go?"


Shrugging his shoulders, Bo stood up and stepped back to the sack Luke had put on the ground. Picking it up, he started back towards Cooter's. Walking away, he wasn't surprised to hear Luke huff in frustration before following him. *Thank God Boss came along when he did. Now I just have to figure out some way to keep Dale from telling Luke.*


TBC


Hope y'all enjoyed it. Please feed the muse and let me know what ya think.