Cousins by Blood, Brothers by Choice.

[James Duke]

Not wanting to be left alone, Bo got up and followed after Karen. Being as small as he was, he barely made a sound as he ran after her.

[LoriDavenport]

Nick nodded, about to reply to Karen's statement when he saw the blonde haired boy come bouncing around the door. Smiling a little he nodded his head towards him, giving Karen the signal that he was there.

Turning around, Karen chuckled lightly at the boy, kneeling down to his level once more.

"What're ya doin off the couch? You need to rest up.."

[James Duke]

"I don't wanna be by myself." Bo replied softly. He held his arms up, wanting to be held.

[LoriDavenport]

Karen smiled gently, reaching down to pick the small child up. Cradling him in her arms like anyone would an infant, Karen pushed his blonde curls out of his eyes.

"It's alright, you won't be left alone anymore then."

[James Duke]

"You'll be my mama and daddy?" Bo asked hopeful.

[LoriDavenport]

Karen and Nick both looked at each other. They had always wanted a child, this was a good a chance as any. They didn't know where exactly the poor child came from, but knew he needed the help.

"Of course."

Karen replied.

[James Duke]

Bo smiled and nodded, then snuggled up to Karen. He was happy now, though had he had his memory, he would've been wanting to go back home.

[LoriDavenport]

Smiling gently, Karen carried Bo into the house, sitting him down to feed him a hardy breakfast. Nick came in a short time later, going to the bathroom to clean up, he was overjoyed at the thought of being a "daddy" in a way.

[James Duke]

When breakfast was done, Bo was eager to eat. Once he had a plate of food infront of him, he dug in, making quite a mess on the table, floor and himself.

[LoriDavenport]

Karen and Nick sat down slowly eating, watching Bo with pure amazement. In all their born days, they had never seen any kid make such a mess or eat as much as Bo did.

[James Duke]

By the time Bo was done, he was going to need at least two baths to get completely clean again.

[LoriDavenport]

Karen and Nick both watched him, chuckling softly. After breakfast was finished with, that's where Karen took young Bo to, was the bathroom for a bath. Getting the water at the right temperature, Karen picked Bo up taking his clothes off him, sitting him down in the tub.

[James Duke]

Bo looked around, letting her get him cleaned up.

[LoriDavenport]

Once she was finished, she sighed a little, looking at his torn clothes. Tapping her chin thoughtfully, Karen rose to her feet, walking briskly up the stairs to her and her husband's room. Pulling out a chest, she moved some clothing items around and finally found what she had been searching for. A Blue shirt she had knitted when she was younger and a small pair of jeans from when Nick was a child. She smiled to herself, looking at the outfit, it was big enough for Bo to wear. Going back downstairs, with a confident smile on, she walked in the bathroom and looked at him showing him the clothes.

[James Duke]

Looking up at Karen, Bo saw the clothes and smiled back at her. He knew he needed new clothes and was glad she had some for him.

[LoriDavenport]

Karen nodded a little, knowing he had smiled his acceptance to the new clothing. Helping him into them, she arose to her feet once more and took a step back, looking at him.

"My my what a handsome young man we have."

She chuckled heartily, motioning for him to follow her out the door.

[James Duke]

Feeling like a big boy now, Bo grinned and followed her out.

[LoriDavenport]

Twelve years had gone by in a blur to some. To others, the Dukes and Davenports, it went by as slow as molasses. The youngest of the group, Bo, still hadn't been found, and Luke had spent each day of his life in pain and misery trying to find his youngest cousin. When each day he returned with his head hung in shame, he blamed himself more and more. Lori, Daisy, Jesse, Cooter, no one could comfort him. If one of them tried, he'd push them away or shut them down.

On a different note though, the couple in Tennesse, Nick and Karen, couldn't have been more pleased at how they had raised Bo. In all honesty, it was no different than what Jesse had taught him. He had grown to be a fine young man at the age of eighteen. His blonde locks bouncing and rich, full of life. His eyes as blue as the sky itself, a twinkle that would put the stars to shame at night danced in them at all times. He rarely ever was sad.

Smiling, Nick handed Bo the keys to his old beat up chevy truck though he was a bit wary. Bo proved to be more skillful and dangerous as the boys on the circuit.

"Go to town and get a sack of horse and mule feed will ya son?"

Nick asked gently, holding open the truck door for him.

[James Duke]

"Yes sir." Bo grinned, taking the keys. "I'll be back in a bit." He said, giving his 'dad' a quick hug, which had become a habit of his, giving hugs to his parents before he went somewhere.

Going over to the car, Bo climbed in and started it up, then headed out, waving out the window before disappearing over the hill.

[LoriDavenport]

Shaking his head with a light chuckle, Nick turned to go to the barn, finishing up his chores in there.

As Bo drove recklessly through town not having a care in the world, in the bank a robbery was taking place. Two city men, who was in a tight spot with an incorporation they worked for was waving guns in the air shouting threats and profanities at the citizens and bank tellers, as everyone was shoving their money into the bur lap sacks the two hostile men carried, panicked and frightened faces on everyone.

[James Duke]

Bo got to town and went about getting the feed. After that was done, he was about to leave, when he noticed the men come running out of the bank.

[LoriDavenport]

Looking up from their get a way car, one of the robbers, had already took his mask off just noticing Bo looking their way.

"We've been spotted!"

He called to the other robber who was pulling his mask off, climbing in the truck.

"C'mon lets get goin' before he can report us!"

The other man commanded in a rush, starting the car up. Nodding, the first robber climbed in and shut his door with a loud slam pulling out, the tires screeching, the smell of burnt rubber in the air.

[James Duke]

Realizing he'd just witnessed the end of a bank robbery, Bo took off running across the street to the sheriff's department to report what he'd seen.

[LoriDavenport]

The robber who was in the passenger seat turned to look, once he saw the young boy running directly to the sheriff's office he cursed under his breath.

"Turn around and get that kid!"

He snapped, barking orders at the driver. With another screech of the tires, the robbers turned their car around and sped towards the sheriff's station. Once when Bo was on the other side of the street across from the sheriff's station, the robbers pulled up and got out quickly both of them grabbing Bo, wrestling him down to the ground to get him bound and gagged.

[James Duke]

Bo put up quite a fight, and had he been up against just one man, he would've had a better advantage.