Disclaimer: Any characters in this story that are non DOH characters, were created by Kris Weiler and are not to be used without her permission. As you read this story, keep in mind that this was written before the author knew that Bo and Luke were just babies when they came to live with Jesse. Just keep that in mind when reading this story. Warning: Tissues may be needed. If you would like to email Krista, her address is: dukescrazy@aol.com

"Lost sheep number one to shepard, lost sheep number one to shepard!"
The desparate tone of Luke's voice made Jesse look up from the engine of his pickup in confusion. He had never heard his nephew sound so frightened. Jesse leaned in the window of his truck and picked up the CB.
"You got the shepard, lost sheep, come on back." Jesse replied.
"Uncle Jesse, you gotta come out to Devil's Ridge as soon as you can." Luke said, breathing hard.
"What's wrong, Luke? Last I knew, you and Bo were going fishing."
"Please Uncle Jesse, just come as soon as you can."
"Luke, what is it?" Jesse pressed, and his nephew made a strangled sound of frustration.
"Not over the air, Uncle Jesse! I don't care if you have to fly, just get out here!" Luke yelled, and broke the transmission.
Jesse slammed the hood on his pickup and shook his head. "I wonder what the devil's gotten into that boy?" he said to himself.

Luke turned away from the General Lee, his heart pounding in fear and anger. It was a half hour drive from the farm to the ridge, would there be enough time?
"Luke? Is he coming?" A weak voice asked from behind him, and Luke turned.
He went and knelt by his cousin, who lay sheltered near a clump of trees, bleeding steadily from a bullet wound. Luke pulled his own shirt off and carefully put his hand on Bo's shoulder.
"Take it easy Bo, Uncle Jesse is coming as fast as he can." He said, trying to figure out a way to remove Bo's shirt without hurting him, but he had to try and staunch the bleeding. His cousin and best friend, might die otherwise.
"Lean back, Bo." Luke told his cousin, and pulled his jacknife from it's pouch.
He flipped the blade open and cut his shirt up the front. Bo gave a pained howl as Luke pulled his shirt away from the bleeding wound on his upper chest. Luke tried to quiet him.
"I'm sorry, buddy, I know that must've hurt."
"You're not kidding." Bo replied, his dark blue eyes full of pain.
"It'll be okay." Luke assured him.
"I reckon we should've stuck to going fishing, huh Luke?" Bo asked, and gave another sound of pain.
"I reckon so. Don't talk anymore, just save your strength." Luke told him, cradling Bo's shoulders and pressing his wadded up shirt to the bleeding wound.
"What if those two fellas come back?" Bo asked and Luke shook his head.
"I don't know, I'll think of something."
Bo nodded, and then his eyes rolled back alarmingly. Luke shook him gently.
"Hey! Stay with me, cousin. Bo, look at me!"
"I think I'm going up to be with mom and daddy, Luke." Bo said in a weak voice and Luke closed his eyes in grief.
He had been the one who had suggested following the two men who they had seen breaking into an abandoned barn near the ridge. He and Bo had peered into a cracked window to see two men laughing over a valise overflowing with money. One of them had looked up and saw the two young men watching them. He had pulled a gun from his vest and squeezed the trigger just as Bo and Luke had turned to run. Luke knew that he would never forget the gasp of surprised pain his cousin gave as the bullet hit him high in the right side of his chest, spraying his shirt with blood. Bo had stumbled and fell, looking up at Luke with an expression of amazement. As the two men fled in a green Chevy, Luke had hoisted his cousin over his shoulder and carried him to this clump of trees near Devil's Ridge.
"C'mon Uncle Jesse, where are you?" Luke said to himself, pressing his shirt helplessly to Bo's wound.
As if in answer to Luke's question, a motor sounded towards them. A moment later, Jesse's white pickup came into view. The older man was out of the truck almost before the vehicle stopped.
"What in the devil is going on here?" Jesse cried, seeing his younger nephew covered in blood.
"He got shot, Uncle Jesse." Luke said, and Jesse knelt by them.
"Shot? By who?" Jesse asked sadly, pulling Bo into his lap.
"These two fellas we caught breaking into an abandoned barn a few miles east of here. They had a bag full of money." Luke explained.
Jesse stroked Bo's hair, memories of his brother, Bo's father, overwhelming him. Cooper Duke, who had died in a plane crash when Bo was six, had been his best friend as well as his brother. Cooper and his wife Diane had willed the then six year old boy to Jesse. Bo had grown up in Hazzard since then with his cousins and Jesse.
"We have to get him over to Doc Petticord, Luke, before it's too late." Jesse said.
Luke nodded, not believing this had happened. He and Bo got into scrapes all the time, with either Hazzard lawmen, or criminals who passed through. How had this happened so easily and so suddenly?
"Uncle Jesse?" Bo asked suddenly, opening his eyes.
Jesse hugged the boy close to him "I'm here Bo, it'll be okay. I promise. We'll get you patched up, all right?"
"I don't want to go, Uncle Jesse." Bo said, and looked over at his cousin, smiling weakly. "None of this is your fault, cousin, so don't think that it is."
"It was my idea to chase after those guys." Luke replied, rubbing a hand over his face.
"It's okay, Luke." Bo replied, then groaned aloud as Jesse pulled Luke's shirt away from the bullet wound.
"Take it easy boy, I'm just having a look-see." Jesse said softly, patting Bo's shoulder.
The entrance wound was small, but pumping blood, and the skin around it was turning a purplish black.
"There's no way I can lift him into the General." Luke said to his uncle, and Jesse nodded in agreement.
"The ridge is way too bumpy a ride, he'd never make it. Luke, you're going to have to go for help. I'll stay with him, go and get the doc as fast as you can." Jesse said and Luke hesitated. "Go on, before it's too late!" Jesse shouted.
Luke took a last look at his cousin and jumped into the General. He took off with a spray of dust and gravel, pushing the high-steeping stock car to it's limit. The car had saved the two cousins' lives before, and Luke could only pray it would be that way again.

Bo heard the engine of the General start up, and raised his head.
"Luke? Where's he going?" he asked in a panicky voice, and Jesse hushed him.
"He's gone for the doc. You're hurt to badly to travel. Just lie there and be still, and try to stay awake if you can."
"Yessir. I'm sorry Uncle Jesse." Bo said softly and Jesse frowned.
"Sorry for what?"
"For being such a handful all the time. Me and Luke just can't seem to stay out of trouble, no matter what we set out to do." Bo said, and Jesse chuckled.
"That's the way it's been for us Dukes ever since I can remember. Me and your dad used to get into the same kind of trouble that you and Luke seem to walk right into nowadays. Why, a Duke could be headed for a church service, and suddenly find himself in the middle of a car chase. At least that's what Cooper used to say."
"You don't talk much about my dad, Uncle Jesse." Bo replied, and Jesse squeezed his hand.
"It still pains me to talk about him, even after all these years. I think about him everyday, though, especially when I look at you. You're the spitting image of your daddy, have I ever told you that?" Jesse asked, and Bo shook his head.
"No sir, you never did."
"You look just like him, you know."
"Tell me about him Uncle Jesse, just to pass the time until Luke gets back with the doc." Bo said, feeling tired and cold.
"Okay. . . do you remember the day in Atlanta when you were six? The day I came to see the lawyer?" Jesse asked, remebering it like it was yesterday.
"Maybe a little." Bo replied.
"Well, I remeber it alot." Jesse said, thinking back. . .

It was a warm, humid day in the city of Atlanta. Jesse Duke sat in his brother's lawyer's office, pulling irritably at his shirt collar. His clothes were sticking to him, despite the air conditioning wafting through the room. He was wishing they'd hurry things up, there was a lot to do back at the farm. His grief over the death of his youngest brother and sister-in-law still had him reeling, and now there was their son to consider. Little Bo was only six, and Jesse wanted to spare the boy as much stress and confusion as was possible.
The door opened, and Jesse turned to see Cooper's lawyer enter the room, followed by his young nephew. When Bo spotted Jesse, he grinned hugely.
"Uncle Jesse!" he shouted, and launched himself into his uncle's lap.
Jesse hugged him hard. "How've you been, young fella?" Jesse asked, and Bo gave a very Duke-like shrug.
"Oh, I'm okay. Uncle Jesse, where's mom and daddy? They were supposed to be home two days ago!"
Jesse shot the lawyer a curious glance, and the little bald man replied with a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry Bo, everything will be fine." Jesse said to his nephew, running a big hand through Bo's wavy blond hair.
"Mr. Duke, I'm George Davies, Cooper's lawyer." The little man said, shaking Jesse's hand.
"Pleasure's mine, Mr. Davies."
"Now, you obviously know why we're here. I'm going to read Cooper's will." Davies said, and Jesse nodded.
The lawyer pulled a manilla folder from his desk and opened it, adjusting his glasses.
"There's not much to it, I'm afraid. Cooper's assets go to Bo, his boy here..." Davies smiled at Bo, who smiled back. "Of course, that money will be held by you in trust until Bo is eighteen."
"Of course." Jesse replied, realising that no one had told Bo that his parents were gone.
He sat in Jesse's lap patiently, looking out the window.
"Now, as for Bo here. . ." Davies said, and Jesse braced himself for an argument. Davies hesitated, and looked down at Bo. "Bo, be a good boy and go back into the lobby for a moment, will you, please?" Davies asked, and Bo nodded.
He got off Jesse's lap and left quietly. Davies smiled sadly.
"He's a good boy, Mr. Duke." He said, and Jesse nodded.
"Mr. Duke, your brother Cooper has stated in his will that he wants Bo to be raised by you if anything were to happen to him and his wife. You will have full custody of your nephew."
"I was hoping it would work out that way, I couldn't see Bo going to a foster home. Mr. Davies, Bo doesnt' know his folks are gone, does he?" Jesse asked.
"No, We thought it best that it come from you. Now, I'll draw up the papers, and maybe you can go and have a talk with Bo." Davies said and Jesse nodded.
How he'd tell Bo about Cooper and Diane he wasn't sure, but he knew the boy had to be told the truth. He found his nephew sitting on the couch in the lobby, whistling aimlessly and watching people come and go. Jesse sat beside him, and Bo looked up at him.
"Uncle Jesse, can we go soon? I'm bored."
"Yeah, in awhile, Bo. Listen, there's something I need to tell you. It's about your mom and daddy."
"What about them?"
"I'm not sure how to say this, Bo, but. . . you're going to be coming back to Hazzard with me. Your folks, they- well, I'm afraid they're gone." Jesse said, his voice breaking.
Bo blinked at him "Gone where?" he asked
"There's been an accident, Bo. Your mom and daddy died. They were coming home from Arizona when the plane they were flying in crashed. I'm so sorry, Bo, but don't worry. I'm going to take care of you." Jesse said, and Bo blinked up at him again. Jesse wasn't sure that Bo had understood what he'd said, and then Bo's dark blue eyes filled with tears. Jesse took him into his arms as the child began to shake with sobs.
"Shhhh, it's okay, Bo. I'm here, I'm here and I'm going to take care of you. I promise, all right?" Jesse soothed him, and Bo pulled away to look up his uncle.
"I'm going to come and live on the farm with you?" he asked, and Jesse nodded
"You'll like Hazzard, Bo, it's a good place for a boy to grow up."
Bo nodded, then leaned against his uncle's chest. "Then we'll take care of each other." he said, and Jesse ruffled Bo's hair.
"Okay."

"I remember now." Bo said, smiling.
Jesse watched worriedly as Luke's torn shirt continued to turn red with Bo's blood.
"We're still taking care of each other, aren't we?" Bo asked.
"Yeah, you bet we are. Just keep still, Luke will be back soon." Jesse replied.
"Sure he will. Luke's never let me down." Bo said, then began to cough up small amounts of blood. Jesse held him during the spasm, then wiped the blood away with a handkerchief.
"I remember the first time me and Luke met. Do you?" Bo asked, and Jesse laughed.
"Who could forget? Luke's mom dropped him off, and you were in the barn. . . "

Jesse met the car out front, smiling as he caught sight of Luke, his nine year old nephew, sitting in the backseat. Luke's mother, Jesse's sister-in-law, jumped out of the car and hugged Jesse hard.
"Jesse! How've you been?"
"Just find, Cindy. How's your boy?" Jesse asked, watching the stocky, dark hair boy get out of the car and tug his suitcase out behind him.
"Oh, Luke's fine. Jesse, are you sure you don't mind looking after him for a few months? I hate to leave him like this, but I haven't a choice. I'd take him to Jacksonville if I could, but my sister doesn't have room for the both of us. It's a very small apartment. . ." She began to explain, but Jesse waved her off.
"I told you it's no trouble, Cindy." He said, and Cindy looked lovingly at her son, who was playing with one of Jesse's barn cats.
"He's taken Aaron's death pretty well, although the whole episode has him a little addled. Do you think he and Bo will get along?" Cindy asked, and Jesse sighed.
"No time like the present to find out." he said. "Luke, why don't you go and say hello to your cousin Bo? He's in the barn." Jesse said and Luke nodded.
"Okay, Don't leave just yet, mama."
"I wouldn't dream of it." Cindy smiled, and Luke walked into the barn.
"How is Bo, Jesse? Has he adjusted okay?" Cindy asked, and Jesse nodded.
"He really seems to like it here. Once in awhile he has nightmares about Cooper and Diane, but Doc Petticord says those will pass as he gets older. Other than that, he's healthy and normal. He really pitches in around here, too. I just hope he and Luke get along all right, or I'll have a problem on my hands." Jesse said, looking towards the barn.
Luke walked into the barn to see his cousin kneeling with his back to the door, tinkering with an old bicycle. Luke walked over to him and Bo looked up, startled. Then he smiled.
"Hey. Luke, right?" He asked, and Luke nodded.
He had a vague memory of seeing Bo at a family reunion when he was little, and Bo had been a tiny baby who did nothing but cry the whole weekend.
"Yeah. I guess I'm gonna be staying here for awhile. My mom's going on a trip." Luke said, shuffling his feet.
Bo stood up and pushed his blond hair back. "You'll like it here, Uncle Jesse is real nice."
"All things considered, i'd rather be back home." Luke replied, and Bo frowned curiously.
"You talk like a grownup."
Luke answered with a sullen shrug, feeling awkward and out of place. He was a big boy for his age, and looking at his slender, fine-boned cousin didn't make him feel any better.
Bo shoved his hands into his pockets, and tried to think of something to say. He tried to think of something they might have in common.
"You like to fish?" He asked.
"Never have." Luke replied.
"How about baseball?"
"Nah."
"Do you like to go swimming?"
"Sometimes." Luke said, wishing that his mom didn't have to go away.
Bo gave up, picked up a screwdriver, and went back to the bike. He'd wanted to show Uncle Jesse that he'd fixed the old bike without any help, but it wasn't going well. As he tried to turn the screw that held the front wheel onto the fork, the tool slipped and Bo raked his hand.
"Ouch! Dang it, I can't do this!" He growled, and Luke looked over his cousin's shoulder.
"You screw is stripped." He said casually, and Bo looked up.
"What?" he asked, and Luke knelt beside him.
"Yeah. See, the threads are bare, so it won't turn." Luke replied, feeling confident.
Befor his daddy had died, he had taught Luke all about tools and mechanics. it was one thing Luke felt he was good at.
"You need to cut the end of the screw off, take it out, and use a new screw. A bigger one, the one you've got is too small for the tool you're using." Luke said, and Bo smiled
"Want to help?" He asked, and Luke nodded, thinking that maybe it wouldn't be so bad having to stay here after all. He picked up a hacksaw and began to work on the stripped screw.
A half hour later, Cindy glanced at her watch and sighed.
"I'd best be going, Jesse. It's a long drive to Jacksonville. I'd better go to see Luke before I leave. It's been awfully quiet in that barn, do you think they're getting along in there?" She asked, and Jesse smiled
"Either that, or they've killed each other. Let's go see." he said, and they headed for the barn.
They found the two boys covered in grease and oil, talking animatedly about cars and racing. The old bike Bo had been trying to fix for so long was in one piece again, and the chain ran smoothly when Luke cranked the pedals by hand.
"Looks like they found something to do together." Jesse laughed, and the boys turned.
"Hi, Aunt Cindy! Look, Luke helped me fix my bike." Bo said, and Cindy smiled at her nephew and son.
"Don't you dare step foot into my house with them clothes on, you two. Take off your shoes and shirt on the front porch, then you're each taking turns in the bathtub." Jesse said, secretly impressed by the bike.
"Are you leaving now, mama?" Luke asked, wiping his face with his shirt sleeve.
Cindy nodded "I won't be away long, honey. A year at the most, until I can find a place to live and a job, and get settled. Then I'll send for you. Be a good boy for Jesse, and help out without being asked, okay? Be nice to you cousin, too."
"I will, mama. Bo's cool." Luke smiled, and Cindy nodded.
"Good. Now, is there a clean spot on you face that can be kissed?" She asked, and wiped his cheek to kiss it soundly. "I'll write, honey. You be good." She said tearfully, and went to her car. Luke waved, trying not to cry as she drove away.
"C'mon Luke, race you to the porch!" Bo yelled from the barn door, and Luke felt some of the sadness lift from him.
He beat Bo to the porch and tackled him, scattering a flock of nearby chickens. Jesse lifted the boys each in one arm and carried them inside, feeling like the luckiest man on earth.

Part 2

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