To Keep A Promise

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


Warnings: Angst, Disturbing Themes, Violence


Rating: FRT


To Keep A Promise
Chapter 9


"Aw Bo," Luke said, pulling his cousin up and wrapping him in a hug. "It's okay cousin...ain't none of what happened your fault," he soothed.


"I...want to believe that Luke and I guess I do most of the time, but then..."


"Then somebody does something like that thing in the barn and you start thinking it is your fault."


"Yeah," Bo whispered. Sitting here with Luke's arms around him, Bo hadn't felt so safe in a long time, and he wished he could stay here forever. "Guess I can't though," he mumbled under his breath.


"Can't what Bo?"


"You heard that?"


"Yeah, now what is it you can't do?"


"I was just thinking how safe I feel right now and wishing I could just stay here."


"I wish ya could to Bo...I'm home now though and I promise I ain't never gonna let you get hurt again."


"Stop it Luke...don't do that," Bo snapped.


"Bo?" Luke asked, confused by his cousin's outburst.


"Don't make me promises ya can't keep. You can't be with me all the time Luke, and even if you were standing right next to me it doesn't mean I wouldn't get hurt."


"I'm sorry Bo, I didn't mean to upset ya," Luke apologized.


"I know ya didn't Luke and I appreciate the thought, really," he assured his older cousin.


"Bo...are ya gonna be okay now?" Luke quietly asked.


"I guess...why?"


"I need to talk to Uncle Jesse about something," he explained.


"Okay...think I'll go take a shower then."


"That's probably a good idea kiddo...ya starting to smell like a goat," he lightly teased.


"Can't hardly help that Lukas...seeing as how I share a room with an old goat," Bo teased, giggling at the look on Luke's face. Jumping off the bed, he raced to the bathroom before Luke could do anything to get back at him.


Chuckling over Bo's words, Luke smiled to see his baby cousin bouncing back a bit from his ordeal. With a heavy sigh, he stood up and headed out to the kitchen looking for his uncle. "Uncle Jesse, can I talk to you?" he asked from the doorway.


"Of course ya can son, what's on your mind?" he asked while continuing to help Daisy with breakfast.


"Why didn't you tell me?" Luke demanded, hurt and angry that something so important had been kept from him.


"Wasn't my place to tell you, and Bo didn't want you to know."


"You should've told me anyway...what if I'd done something to cause a flashback?"


"So I should've done something your cousin didn't want, is that what your saying Luke?"


"It ain't the same as what that teacher did Uncle Jesse, you would've been telling me to help him, not hurt him," Luke insisted.


"Doubt Bo would've felt like that," Jesse pointed out.


"Did he think I wouldn't understand? Is that why he didn't want me to know?"


"No that wasn't it son...you were the only person in his world that didn't know and I think he needed that. He needed to feel normal and with you he could do that, because you didn't know," Jesse explained.


"I hadn't thought of that...sorry I came in here demanding answers like that," he apologized.


"It's alright Luke, this time," Jesse added, not wanting the boy to think he'd stand for it all the time.


"What do we do now? We gonna call the sheriff?"


"About that dummy in the barn...wouldn't do any good, since there isn't any way to prove who did it."


"But you know who did it," Luke protested.


"Knowing and proving are two different things Luke. We all know it was Dale Richardson and his friends, but we can't prove it was him. I know it's frustrating Luke, but there's just nothing we can do except try to keep Bo safe and pray that Dale will come to his senses."


"What if he doesn't? Is Bo supposed to spend the rest of his life looking over his shoulder?"


"Well I don't know what else to do Luke, do you?" Jesse demanded, angry with himself for failing to protect Bo.


"No sir...not yet," Luke sullenly replied. "I'll be outside," he said.


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"Now what do we do Dale?" Roy asked as they sat in the woods, watching the Duke farm.


"Nothing."


"Nothing? Ya mean you're done tormenting Bo?" Roy asked, secretly relieved.


"Yeah I'm done tormenting him...now it's time to really make him pay."


"Huh? What do ya mean Dale? What are you gonna do to Bo?" Roy asked, worried by the other boy's tone.


"I ain't gonna do anything Roy...Bo is," Dale replied.


"What do ya mean by that?"


"Nothing...don't mean a thing by it Roy." Slapping Roy on the back, he stood up, "Come on, let's get out of here."


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The next few days passed uneventfully and Bo was beginning to relax again. Though he hadn't wanted Luke to know, it was actually a relief to have the secret out. At least now he didn't have to worry about somebody telling his cousin about it.


"Hey Bo, ya want to go fishing?" Luke asked, inwardly cursing himself when Bo jumped.


Startled by the unexpected voice, Bo jumped, turning around quickly, "Luke," he breathed, relieved. "Fishing? Yeah, sounds good, I'll get the poles," he eagerly agreed.


"Already got them, they're in the pick-up," Luke told him. "So, ready to go?"


"You bet," Bo replied, hurrying to the truck.


Climbing behind the wheel, Luke started the truck and pulled out of the driveway. A short time later they had arrived at their favorite fishing spot and were settled in for a relaxing afternoon of fishing.


"It's so peaceful here," Bo quietly said as he lay on the bank, letting his line dangle in the water.


"Yeah...ya know I never appreciated it until I was in Vietnam, guess it's true what they say."


"What's that?"


"Absence makes the heart grow fonder, never really understood that before."


"Was it really awful Luke?"


"It was a nightmare Bo, only there wasn't no waking up from it," Luke replied. "I'm just glad I made it home and I don't plan to ever leave Hazzard again."


"Don't it seem awful small and boring now?"


"Nope, seems cozy and peaceful and believe me that's something I've been needing. I think you probably been needing some peace too."


"Yeah, it's better now that you know. I never should've tried to keep it from ya, I'm sorry," Bo apologized.


"It's alright Bo," Luke assured him. "I admit I was angry at first and hurt, thought you didn't trust me anymore or...."


"Or?" Bo prompted.


"I thought maybe you blamed me," Luke quietly replied.


"Blame you? Why would I blame you?" Bo asked, confused by Luke's words.


"Cause I asked you to make that promise and if I hadn't you never would've considered going near that teacher."


"You don't know that Luke...even if ya hadn't asked for that promise I still would've known you'd be disappointed if I didn't graduate. Besides, I didn't have to go to his house, I knew deep down inside that ya wouldn't want me to do something like that."


"Then why did ya go?"


"Partly it was the promise, or that's what I told myself. I think the real reason though, the thing that pushed me into it was when Uncle Jesse wouldn't listen to me. Wyndham had told me that nobody would believe me if I told, so when he wouldn't listen, I thought the teacher was right. I ain't blaming Uncle Jesse though and I don't want you to either Luke," Bo quickly said.


"You're not?" Luke asked.


"No, truth is I didn't do a very good job of explaining, I realized that later when I started thinking about it all. Besides, he did listen after that first time I went to Wyndham's house and he believed me as soon as he knew. He never even hinted that maybe he thought I was lying, he called the sheriff and the doctor. He was right there the next day when I went back to get the evidence that was needed. Uncle Jesse's been great Luke, I couldn't have asked for a better uncle, but at the time I thought he wasn't listening and it was just too much."


"Alright, I won't blame him then, does sound like it was just a miscommunication."


"Yeah it was," Bo agreed. "So you got a date for the dance Saturday night?" he asked, wanting to change the subject.


"Yep, Lisa Miller, what about you?" Luke asked, letting the other subject drop for now.


"Nah, not sure if I'm gonna go, I may just stay home with Uncle Jesse."


"Oh come on Bo, ya got to come," Luke insisted. "I bet there'll be plenty of girls to dance with," he added.


"I don't know Luke...I ain't been wanting to be around people much, but I'm working on it. Tell ya what, I'll think about it, okay?" he offered when he saw the disappointed look on his cousin's face.


"You do that cousin...and think yes," he lightly ordered.


"Yes sir," Bo responded, laughing lightly.


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Dale checked to make sure nobody was watching him, before he turned up the driveway to Jonas Wyndham's house. Parking his car, he got out and went up to the front door. Finding the door locked, he started trying the windows, finally finding one that slid open easily. Going inside, he started making his preperations, smiling as he thought of what he had planned for Bo.


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"I'm glad you decided to come to the dance Bo," Luke told him as they got ready. "You're gonna have a great time."


"I hope so and don't worry Luke, I won't be hanging around you and Lisa all night," he assured his cousin.


"I ain't worried about that Bo, but I want you to promise me something," he said, his tone serious.


"What?"


"If it all starts to get to you, ya need a break or want to go home, you tell me. I mean it Bo, if Lisa can't understand that my family comes first then she ain't somebody I'd want to date anyway."


"Alright, I'll let ya know if I need to go home," Bo agreed. He silently vowed that he wasn't going to ruin Luke's good time.


"You boys have a good time and don't come dragging in here too late," Jesse told them when they came into the living room.


"Yes sir," they both replied. "Daisy already leave?"


"No, but I'm sure her date will be here soon."


"Well tell her we'll see her there," Luke said. "Come on Bo," walking out the door, he led the way to the truck.


After picking Lisa up at her house, they went on to the dance, arriving a short time later. Bo stepped into the barn where the dance was being held, looking around at the transformation. Spotting a group of his friends, he made his way over to them.


"Hey Bo, glad you could make it," Cooter greeted him.


"How ya been Bo?" Pete Carpenter asked.


"Been okay, how you been Pete?"


"Oh you know, same ol, same ol. Ya ain't got a date either?"


"Nah, wasn't sure I was coming until this morning so I never even asked anybody," he replied, not needing to explain why.


"Well it's good to see ya out and about."


"Feels good to be out, so y'all dateless too?"


"Of course, got to spread the wealth," Pete joked. "And Cooter here," hooking his thumb at the mechanic, "who'd date that ugly mug?"


"Hey now!" Cooter protested. "I'll have you know there are plenty of girls that'd date me...I just couldn't decide which one to say yes to."


Laughing at his friend's conversation, Bo felt himself relaxing. Several hours later, Bo had danced with every girl in the room it seemed, some more than once. Making his way to the punch bowl, he got a drink and headed outside for some air. Walking away from the crowd, he stood behind the barn, sipping his drink and enjoying the peaceful night. A snapping twig was the only warning he got. As he turned, something connected with his head and he fell to the ground unconscious.


TBC


Sorry it's been so long between updates, I haven't forgotten about y'all I promise, just been busy. Y'all know the routine, please feed the muse with reviews.