Kristy_DUke

Sitting in the old bar stool, Kristy slowly sips at the ice cold bottle of beer that lays ahead of her. Hesitantly she turns in her seat to watch the several people that dance freely on the dance floor, a few that she recognizes from Hazzard, several people she has never seen before. Feeling the upbeat music the DJ is playing loudly, she happily taps the table along with the beat.

A smile reaches Kristy's face as she waves back at the young doctor on the dance floor with Min, before waving to Val as she makes her way to the table where Val sits. "I can't believe I am doing this," Kristy smiles as she sits down besides Val before a young cute waiter comes to ask for her order. Kristy glances up at the tall thin dark brown haired man with piercing green eyes that holds a thin dark shadow of a beard and mustach. "I'll have a Smernoff Ice." "It's on it's way," he grins a large bright white smile at her before he slowly walks away to attrieve her drink. Kristy watches with a little interest as the waiter disappears behind the bar before turning to everyone. "I didn't mean to be so late...had a hard time talking myself to come back to Atlanta. But here I am, what I miss?"

Kristy is filled with a sinking sense of un-trust as she watches the valet slowly climb into her big four by four Silverado. Standing in the chilly evening she watches as her truck is slowly being driven away by some stranger, a stranger she has never met before, driving her truck. Letting go of a deep breath she didn't know she was holding, Kristy slowly turns her back to the disappearing tail lights of her truck as she forces herself to loosen up, to have a good night. For a short moment she watches as people slowly enter and exit the dance club, in couples or by themselves. 'Here goes nothing,' she thinks as she places a small smile on her face as she slowly follows a young couple through the thick double glass doors. Inside Kristy slowly glances around the dark area, awaiting for her eyes to slowly adjust to the darkness of the dance club. Spotting a coat rack to the left of the doors she stiffly takes off her expensive black leather coat to hang upon one of the hangers. Nervously, she places her hands into the pockets of her her tight fitting faded blue jeans, as she momentarily thinks of the last time she had been in Atlanta. The last she had been in Atlanta had been a year and a few months ago, on escaping from her ex-husband. 'Damn it' she sighs angrily at herself at allowing herself to think of the past, of the last time she had ventured to Atlanta. Tonight was suppose to be about fun and fun was what she planned on doing. Yanking her hands out of her pockets she straightens out her tight red t-shirt before she slowly moves past the entry way and into the dance area. The music roars from speakers of an up-beat music that quickly makes her lose the thought of her nightmarish past. Feeling the music while she walks past tables and past people dancing with one another or seperate, she scans the area looking for her friends from Hazzard that she was suppose to meet here.

I voted as well...so who knows, if there is enough out there voting and all... It would be great to have the Dukes back on TV once again...that was part of the few things I had looked foreward everyday. It'd sure be an incentive for me to get cable then....khee. I have most of every episode on tape...alot from Columbia House...the one episode I wish I had is "The Ghost of General Lee" that is one of my favorite episodes. Anyhow...hopefully they both get enough votes to make it.

Kristy suddenly looks up with fear racing through her with the urgency placed in the doctor's voice. Everyone's attention turns to the young doctor leaning over Boss' still body that lies on the dusty ground. "Boss!" Rosco says, his voice dripping with feared concern as he rushes over to the lying man while holding the sleeping baby. Kristy looks around for a brief moment before letting her kids stay with family as she runs to attrive the bag. After a short moment of searching through the doctor's vehicle she finds and quickly returns it to the doctor. "What do you want me to do?" Watching the young doctor concentrating in worry at looking over Boss, Kristy is filled with thick guilt at her excitement that she displayed at Garrett's winning. She didn't loose her brother to Hogg, but perhaps, now her friendship with Chance. "I'll go call for an ambulance, " Luke speaks up from the back somewhere as Kristy stares silently, filled with dread.

"You did it!" Kristy yells giddily as she runs over to the finish line where Garrett slowly turns off the engine while roughly throwing down the quick stand. "You won. . ." slowly her excitement tampers down increasingly as she looks over her brother's muscular shoulder to find Chance slowly standing up, starting to push her bike to the finish line. "Yeah I won," Garrett lets off a confident smile, a smile that had caught him several girl friends in Knoxville, before moving to Hazzard. His grin slowly melts as he catches a hint of Kristy's worry, "What's wrong Kris?" "You won," she looks up into his smokey gray-blue eyes for a long moment to search for answers, "which means, Chance lost her office." "Yeah," Garrett answers softly glancing over Kristy's shoulder to find the aging sheriff stiffly walking towards them, "but there was no way I was about to lose that race...or go to jail for that matter." "You wouldn't have gone to jail," a caring but stern voice comes behind Kristy to make her jump around in surprise, "just like I'll make sure Chance gets her office back." Momentarily Garrett and Kristy exchanges a silent look before glancing back at Rosco with questionable looks etched in their faces. "How you plannin' that doin' that?" Garrett asks with a hint of sarcasm in his voice as the rest of the Duke family slowly approaches them, "You know as well as we know that once Hogg has his mind set on somethin' , he plans on goin' through with it. Especially if it has something to do with money...which he'd make if he owned Chance's office, plus a doctor he could control. No Rosco...he's not about to change his mind about taking Chance's office, he may even find a way of arresting me again." Rosco shoots a hard glare at Garrett with his bright crystal blue eyes before he slowly glances back down at the dusty ground at his feet. "Well," he finally says after a long moment of silence, "I have already made my first move of stopping Hogg from taking Chance's office. He goes through with it, I'll go through with my threat." "Mommy," Kristy's four year old daughter squeals with delight and brushes away from holding Bo's hand to run over to her mom. Kristy bends down to give her a quick hug before standing up to take her hand. Looking over at Rosco, her boss, her heart tightens at the sight of how sad he looks or how angry he looks; something she has never seen from him before. "What happened to your badge, Rosco?" Luke asks, his voice thick of worry and concern, as he places a caring hand upon Bo's shoulder. "My badge?" Rosco asks distractedly as he looks down at his uniform where his badge had once been pinned to, "Well, " he hesitates for a long moment as he takes in every Duke face that crowds around him, taking off his hat he continues, "that was part of my threat...I quit. I can't work with a man that low and do all that he has been doing...to you Dukes or to Chance. I've taken all I could from that man...and now I put an end to it." "Rosco," Daisy says silently as she bends over to give him a gentle hug, while holding Kristy's nine month old son, Shay. Slowly she steps away from her hug with grief and worry written across her tan face as Shay lets out an innocent giggle to send everyone's attention onto him. He grins in excitement at attracting some attention before he throws his small chubby arms up towards Rosco, nearly jumping into Rosco's uncertain arms. "I guess he wants me to hold him," Rosco says, his voice quivers with un-certainity as he looks up at Kristy for approval. Kristy lends him a comforting smile and nods at him. "Hi," Rosco smiles at the baby while making faces at the thin bright blond haired boy who smiles while grabbing at Rosco's hat that he has placed back on his head. Daisy smiles as she places a hand upon Kristy's thin shoulder while watching Shay play with Rosco's uniform and hat. Shay bursts out laughing as Rosco begins to make noises at him while making faces. "Well...I think I am going to go help Chance," Daisy says before turning to run back to where Chance is. "He seems to like you Rosco," Kristy smiles at Rosco as she watches them play for a while. "Yeah really...he won't even let me touch him," Luke resorts while shooting a glance at Bo who watches silently. Silence is filled as they watch Shay for a long moment before Luke breaks the silence, "We can't let you quit over this Rosco. . .I mean, Hazzard wouldn't be Hazzard without you." "A better Hazzard maybe," Rosco says seriously, looking over Shay's head at the Duke family, "I would be guessing you all would be the ones that would be most happy. I mean after all them speeding ticket I gave you, the false arrests, the chases...all that I did to you." "It wasn't anything too serious," Bo adds looking up at Jesse who has remained silent, "I think I'd miss the chase if you were to quit...it keeps me well practiced for any race." "Perhaps," Rosco says as Shay slowly stops playing with his hat to lean into Rosco and gives him a hug. A tear forms in Rosco's blue eye as he hugs the small baby back to get a giggle out of Shay before Shay rests his head on Rosco's shoulder. "Quittin' is not the answer here Rosco. . .Hogg is the one behind the frame ups and Hogg is the one that set the charges here. Don't let him bully you into quiting," Jesse finally speaks up, "there has to be another solution...another way." "I wish there was Jesse," Rosco says serously before glancing down at Shay who has fallen asleep to bring a smile to his face, "but for now, this will work." "He seems rather fond of you Rosco," Kristy smiles as she places a hand on Rosco's shoulder while pointing to Shay, "you even got him to sleep. You want me to take him?" Rosco offers her an smile before looking back down at the sleeping baby. "No, he's fine," he urges, "unless you want him." "Nope, he's fine with you. I was just making sure," Kristy answers, "As Jesse says, there has to be a better way to drop the charges. Hazzard would be missing out by losing you as a sheriff."

Startled by Rosco's thick serious tone, both Kristy and Garrett quickly whirl around to find Rosco standing a foot behind them. Silently they both seem to take in the county's well known sheriff as he stands ahead of them, with hat in hands. "What was that, sheriff?" Garrett finally asks in disbelief, "I don't believe I heard you right." "You heard me right, Duke," Rosco finally says looking at the young rugged Duke boy, his usaully bright blue eyes seem dim with the sheriff's apologetical stare. For a short moment Rosco is drowned by his silence as he takes a long look around the track before returning to Kristy and Garrett, "I can't allow Hogg to do this to you. . .to Chance." Holding tightly onto his scratched helmet Garrett shoots a disbelieving glance over to Kristy who only steps closer to Rosco to place a caring hand upon his tense right shoulder. "I am really glad that you came around to us, Rosco," Kristy finally says as she fights with the right words, "but what about Boss? He ain't gonna be exactly thrilled to hear you bein' on our side for once...or should I say, against him. And him being your boss..." Kristy allows that to drag as she looks over her shoulder at Daisy who holds Shay and Jesse who plays with Jamie. Garrett quickly looks away from his older sister who is talking to the local sheriff at the commotion that begins to swarm the track. "Damn," he mutters as he watches the assortment of bikes begin to line up and start their engines. Placing his helmet upon his short sandy blond hair he looks up at Kristy and Rosco before turning on his own engine. Rosco slowly offers Kristy a small comforting smile from his grim angry expression that had crossed over his dark piercing blue eyes. "I know he's my boss and I have allowed him to walk all over me to get what he wants," Rosco finally says, his eyes show a full force of determination, "but him firing you and now this?! This time he has gone too far. Garrett you go out and race, do your best to win. I will try my best to think of something." Garrett slowly nods before he joins the rest of the bikers at the starting line, taking in his compitition while he awaits for the gun to go off to start the race. (cue MA - or anyone)

I wish y'all a very MERRY CHRISTMAS! I hope it is good to you all. I wish you all a good New Year, with a Great year that follows. HAPPY WRITING!

Anger and frusteration coursed through Kristy's well trimmed body as slowly steps out of her black truck. For a short moment she glares silently over her parked truck as her thoughts quickly rush through her, thoughts of her shady past to the busy day that lies ahead of her. Slowly she forces herself forward to the small town house that lies only a couple of feet away, a old house that Applebee had made into his doctor's office so many years ago. A small smile warms her soft face as memories of growing up in Hazzard replaces her anger, memories of visiting her dad in Hazzard on her weekly visits. That is until he disappeared after her sixth birthday. She lets out a wary sigh as her painful past begins to cloud her vision of how Hazzard had been before she was forced to stay in Atlanta - with no visits to Hazzard. Growing up in Atlanta had been enjoyable at times with it's highs and lows, her painful past had began with her marriage. "Good mornin' Kris," comes a gruff male's voice from behind her to awaken her senses of what is going on. Startled and embarrassed she turns around to face Rosco who slowly takes his black hat to tuck under his left arm, his dark gray-brown hair lies neatly combed. "Are you lost? Anything I could do to help?" "No, I'm not lost!" Kristy snaps at him before she steps back in embarrassement, "Sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you like that, Sheriff. And as for help, if you really want to help you can talk that fat marshmellow, uh your buddy over there, to drop the charges on Garrett. You know this is as unfair to him as it is to Chance." For a short moment he takes her in silently before he replaces his hat back on his head, guilt and sadness cloud his bright blue eyes. "I know it is," he sighs looking up the street, "and you know how impossible it would to be to have Boss change his mind about his charges. He isn't about to do any of that...no matter what I do or say." Kristy sighs in resignition, knowing Rosco is right and that Rosco wasn't enjoying it himself. "I know...it was worth a try," she tries to place a smile for the sheriff, "I really need to go warn Chance of what she faces...if she don't already know. I will talk to you later." Slowly, Rosco nods at her before saying, "Yeah...see you at the race." With that Kristy watches as Rosco slowly makes his way back across the street where he slowly walks up the cement stairs up to the court house. Watching him slowly disappear, Kristy turns and slowly walks up the front porch of the doctors office as her mind rushes from thought to thought. Reaching the front door, Kristy slowly moves to open the heavy wooden door just as it is thrown open. "Ow damn it!" Kristy curses in pain, anger, and frusteration as the door quickly and harshly hits her in the face and stomach. Kristy glances up as the door is quickly swung away to slam shut to find Chance standing a foot of her, an surprised look upon her face. Silence breaks in between them as she feels something tickling down her chin and she slowly wipes at it to find thick blood flooding from her nose, already running down her expensive light blue business suit and the white shirt that lies under neath. Pain shoots through her stomach from where the hard door knob had harshly knocked into her and she quickly grabs at it before running past Chance, to run into the office to grab some kleenuxes for her nose.

Thank-you MA...I hope you and everyone enjoyed Thanksgiving...and had plenty of turkey.

Anger raged through Garrett's trembling body as he stood silently, glaring out the small rectangular shaped window. Garrett stares tiredly out into the bright hazey day as his mind continues to race within him. Silently, he takes a deep breath in his attempt to control his temper that climbs steadily within him. "Well Duke," comes a thick husky southern voice from behind him, thick smoke begins to climb within the stale air, "we ain't got all day you know. The choice is yours." "The choice is mine?!" he snaps as he quickly turns around to face the small round man dressed in white who sits behind his old chesnut desk, while his lengthy sheriff sits upon the edge of the desk, only a foot away from Garrett. "The way I see is, is I don't have a damn choice to make! Either way, I am gonna loose and you win! If I had a choice, I'd knock some sense into that fat greedy body of yours as well as into your dimwitted sheriff there!" Fire erupts in Hogg's dark brown eyes as thick angered silence fills the smokey room. "Ghee ghee!" Rosco stutters in frusteration as he stands up to stand only an inch shorter than Garrett, "No one. . .NO ONE talks to my lil' fat buddy, Boss Hogg, there, like THAT! Especially some damn Duke as yourself!" Staring angrily at Rosco, Garrett clenches his fist as he fights to remind himself who he is dealing with; the law. "Oh?" Garrett finally says to force a small sarcastic smile upon his leathered face, his cold smokey gray-blue eyes harden a notch, "Since when can't the fat marshmellow talk for himself?" Garrett pauses dramatically to stare over the sheriff's uniformed sheriff toward Boss Hogg who glares over his cigar angrily at Garrett, "Oh that's right, you can dish out the threats, but then you send your dimwit here to cover you! " "That is not. . .-" "I have had just about enough of you Duke!" Hogg abruptly stands up to intrupt Rosco, anger burns thickly in his eyes now, "I gave you a choice and if you don't chose now, I'll chose for you!" "Khee...if you ask me, he don't deserve to chose no more," Rosco puts in, "I think I should just cuff and stuff him right now." "No one asked you!" Hogg throws back to his sheriff. Once again silence floats into the air as Garrett faces the window once again. Down below, he watches Cooter work quickly upon a dirt bike that had been handed to him to fix at the last moment, before the race. "Perhaps you being a Duke and all...your memory may be faulty, so allow me to remind you," Hogg finally breaks the silence, his hot breath tickling the back of Garrett's neck, " You were arrested last night at The Boar's Next for fighting with Kyle Reddon last night...or should I say violently beating him. -" "Violently beating him?" Garrett interrupts in disbelief, "I think you have truly lost it, Hogg! I will agree with fighting with him... he deserved everything he got! He antagonized the whole damn thing...but I surely didn't beat him! Hell...I wouldn't be surprised if all this was a part of some kind of scheme of yours...in order for me to do what you want me to do!" "You're the one that threw the first punch and you were the one that wouldn't stop beating him after Rosco here tried stopping the fight. You kept attacking him while Kyle tried to back away from you! So don't you dare start blaming me for this!" Hogg spits out at Garrett as he steps in between Garrett and the window and Garrett takes a defensive step back, "And to include all the damage you had done to him in your so-called fight!" "Hey Boss," Rosco finally speaks up, making himself noticeable in the room, "don't forget to mention that he had shoved me away in order to get back at Kyle after they were seperated. He could be charaged with assaulting a police officer." Hogg glares angrily over at Rosco before staring at Garrett once again who stares from Rosco to Hogg. "Back to your choices," Hogg finally speaks up as he walks around Garrett to get back to his desk where he picks up a thick cigar and slowly lights it before speaking again, "as I had told you before, I truly hate the thought of having to hire some Duke, not alone YOU, as being my driver. But I truly need to win this race and the only hope I stand of truly winning this race fair and square is hiring a Duke to drive for me and not some numbskull as Rosco or Enos who don't know how to drive. I need someone who knows how to race, knows how to race to win - which leaves me to either you, Bo, or Luke. I refuse to hire Bo or Luke, so that leaves you - despite the fact that it still shames me at the thought of hiring you to win MY race. "If you decline my offer to race for me," he continues as he blows out his smoke into Garrett's face, "we'll have your car impounded while Rosco will finish the arresting job he did last night when he brough your sorry self in. You'll be locked up in Atlanta, charged with assaulting a police officer and attacking an innocent person under the influence. That should bring you to at least five to ten years in jail, perhaps fifteen." Anger continues to grow within Garrett's wary body as he tiredly recalls the horrible fight he had started last night at the Boar's Nest to the rough night he had spent in the county jail. Concern courses his body at the thought of Kristy and all that she will think when she hears all that he has done, if she hadn't heard already. Silently he wonders what everyone's reactions would be when they learned that he is to be Hogg's driver against Chance - to fight for her office. He sighs in resignition as he thinks of the irony it will be to have to drive against Chance, after the hours Bo and he had spent teaching Chance how to race to win. Now he was forced as being Hogg's driver. Emotions fight within him as he predicts everyone's reactions, everyone's anger, shame, and disappointment in him for falling into Hogg's trap. "Damn you Hogg," Garrett finally snaps at Hogg, "You can't really expect me to race in today's race without any practice, and win? Or expect me to race against Chance? We all know what this is all about!" Hogg holds Garrett with beedy angry eyes for a long moment before he says, "I expect you to race to win. . .you loose, Rosco arrests you at the finish line. You hear me? I don't care if Chance is a family friend to you Dukes or what! You don't win this race for me, you will be arrested." Hogg pauses to suck on his cigar for a long moment, "Don't look at me like that Garrett Duke...I am forced into hiring some top gun driver as yourself by your own damn cousin! That's right...you can thank Luke Duke for this...blame him, not me. He's the one blackmailing me! So...you treat me with respect or you won't have no choice, but be arrested and charged!" "Khee...what's it gonna be, Duke?" Rosco cuts in. For a long moment Garrett stares at Hogg and Coltrane with hardened smokey gray-blue eyes, expressing his great anger that he fights to withold. Shoving his hands down into his pockets he says, "I'll race." "That's the answer I was hopin' for," Hogg finally says, his beedy brown eyes slowly relaxes from the anger that they had held moments before, "you will race to win...no lacking off to make Chance or anyone else win! You don't win...you will be back behind bars and charged with assualting an officer and for fighting last night. You understand? You win or else..." "Yes sir," Garrett slowly answers as he glares down at the floor. "Good. Now Rosco, bring our driver down to our bike that we got," Hogg grins under his large white hat, "and take him out to practice, to make sure it runs perfectly before the race starts." "Sure thing Boss. Khee khee," Rosco giggles before taking Garrett by the arm to take him outside where their expensive dirt bike is parked. (cue anyone)

Well, this being a Dukes of Hazzard board, I figured I'd ask . . . Who is y'all's favorite Dukes of Hazzard character? As for me that is a hard question because I love about everyone on the show, but if I had to order them, here is how it would go: 1. Bo Duke 2. Luke Duke 3. Jesse Duke 4. Rosco 5. Cooter

Name: Garrett James Duke Age: 22 years old Hair color: he has sandy blond hair that he has cut short and thin with inch long side burns as well as a thin goatee. Eyes: hard/cold smokey gray-blue Height: 6 feet and 2 inches tall Occupation: Ex-Army, ex-mechanic (worked for his dad in Knoxville, TNN), and is currently seeking a job in Hazzard County. Garrett is Bo's twin brother who's attitude and poor choice in choosing friends has gotten him into a lot of trouble in his past. Now in Hazzard County, he is able to meet the twin brother he never knew he had as well as meet family members he never knew he had.

Those were some great scenes...I loved that part. Especially at the end where he had fallen asleep sitting hanged up on the wall. I found that funny.

Gotta love ol' Enos! He cracks me up as much as Rosco does at times. I love the part in "Limo One is Missing" where the Dukes try to side track him with Daisy hanging up her undergarments. Enos couldn't take his eyes off of her! Luke shaming Daisy over her showing them in public was just as funny...well I thought so anyways! That was a great episode.

Forget ol' Rosco? Who could do such a thing?

~LUKE DUKE~ Pain throbs throughout my body as I slowly fight my way through the thick blackness and into blurred vision. Lights shine brightly in my blurred eyes as I fight to distinguish where I am and what happened as a series of beeping seems to surround me. "Luke," I hear a soft gentle voice filled with concern and I jump slightly at a man's soft touch to my right shoulder. Glancing over to see Uncle Jesse sitting between my bed and another bed, I quickly recognize a small hospital room. "Jesse," I finally say to send pain rushing through my lung with attmept of breathing, "What happened?" His crystal blue eyes shine with sympathy as he slowly turns his back to the other bed to face me, giving me his full attention. "Someone set our barn on fire," Jesse starts and instantly the large hideous flames eating away at the old farm enters my clouded memory, yells of pain and fear escaping from Bryceton, to a clear picture of Bo lying silently still in a tight fetal position. "You had -" "Bo!" I grasp feeling the pain in my lung increase with each breath I fight to take, "Where's Bo? Is he. . .he- How is he?" Jesse nods silently for a short moment before he turns to face the other bed, giving me view of Bo lying silently still on the other bed, a thick tube is stuck down his throat as well as in his nose; several IV needles are inserted within his arms while a new cast lies on his shattered right hand. "He should be OK. . .thanks to you," Jesse finally says turning to me, his blue eyes are filled wit pride, "What you did, Luke, was very heroic. Not only had you saved Bo, but you also saved Bryce, who is also doing ok. In doing so, you had put your own self in danger of being hurt and even killed. You scared me to death...but thank-you." Silently I just look up at him as his statement floats within me while I continue to watch Bo, in hope of seeing some movent. I let out a painful breath and I become to wonder if this is how Bo feels with each breath, with each asthma attack. "I did it for Bo . . .and Bryce," I finally say, "he has to be OK." Jesse silently nods before he slowly informs me of Bo's and Bryce's injuries before telling me of my own. Silence fills between us as my mind wonders through the night of finding Bo badly beaten until the burning of the barn. Who could be doing this? And what for? To hurt Bo? I sigh as the pretty woman I had ran into at the store the other day enters my mind, Kate Whistler. I guess I'll be missing my date just as Bo will be missing his race.

~UNCLE JESSE~ "Luke," I softly say dropping to my knees as fear sweeps through my body at the sight of his still and silent body. I feel a silent tear start to trickle down my aging left cheek as sirens slowly begin to wail off in the distance. "Is he. . .he dead?" Bryceton asks clinging tightly onto me as a fire fighter lingers over Luke on the other side. "No sir," the fire fighter grunts through his equipment as he sees me looking at him for answers, "but he's not out of the woods yet." "Bo?" Daisy asks besides me, her voice is filled with tears. "They'll find him," the fire fighter says with confidence as the sirens come closer. I slowly nod, fighting to display the same confidence to Bryceton, but fail at doing so. I sigh sadly as I glance up at the barn, thinking of only minutes ago, I had only been worried about was the barn. Bright orange flames tickle at the sky as dark gray smoke dances into the clear blue sky. Watching the fire eat away my barn I fall silent into prayer for Luke to be Ok and for them to rescue Bo as my hopes of ever seeing Bo alive deflates like a balloon letting out all it's air. My stomach churns angrily within me at the mixture of fear and worry dancing quickly within me as I glance down at Luke. Running my hand through his thick soft dark brown hair, my mind sends old memories clearly within me, flashing from memory to memory like an old movie. "C'mon Luke, you gotta be Ok," I urge him as I glance over at Bryce to send pride rushing through me, pride for Luke at the heroic thing he had done. Abruptly, my thoughts of Luke come to a halt as the large fire fighter that had been sitting next to Luke, quickly stands up, saying, "Here he is." I watch as he walks to the barn to find the three firemen that had been sent in to search for Bo to be quickly walking out of the barn, caring a still body. "Bo," I say as I stiffly stand up. "It'd be best if you stay here for a moment, " the fire fighter cautions walking to the bunch of fire fighters that place Bo on the ground feet away from us. Numbly I watch as the fire fighters throw off their gloves to quickly search for a pulse before demanding for an air tank. Quickly, they place the air tank over my nephew's face that lies stained with black smoke as does Luke's. Anger slowly resides within me at the thought of them suggesting me to stay away from Bo and I slowly walk past Luke to walk to Bo; leaving everyone else behind. My fear accelerates within me as I come a foot away from Bo to find him to look just as bad as Luke, if not worse. His cast has been shredded of by the fire to show his broken right arm that is covered with his own blood. "How. . .how is he?" I stutter, fearing the answer. They all glare up angrily at me for a moment before relaxing as the ambulance pierces the air as he comes into sight. "Just as good as the other over there," the one that had been attending Luke speaks up, "the one thing that he has to worry about, is his breathing. " I nod somberly as the ambulance pulls up besides the fire truck and paramedics jump out of the back with two stretchers. Silently I watch as they pick up Luke and Bo upon the stretchers, attaching them to IVs as they roll them back into the ambulance. "We'll want to take the kid in as well for observation," the taller older one speaks up as Bryceton clings tightly onto my leg, "just to check him out since he was in there as well." I nod slowly before bending down to Bryceton. "You need to go with them, they are here to help you. Perhaps you could go with Bo and Luke, to keep them company? They need you," he nods slowly as if in understanding, "I will be there as soon as I can, OK? Everything will be ok?" He nods before giving me a tight hug before allowing the ambulance to take him away. *****COUPLE HOURS LATER****** "See? Here I am," I force a smile for Bryceton to see as he sits in the hospital bed. "Yeah...he says I can go home tonight," he returns the smile at this, "But home won't be the same without Bo and Luke." "I know...but sooner or later, they'll return home just as you will be tonight," I respond as his doctor's words echo in my head, telling me that Bryceton is lucky to be alive with the amount of time he had been in there at such a young age, how the only damage he had was from smoke inhalation. "Yeah...how are-" Bryceton is interrupted as the door is slowly thrown open and an older small doctor pokes his head in. "I need to go talk to him, I'll be right back," I gently kiss Bryceton on his forehead before following the older doctor out to the brightly lit hall. "How's my boys, doctor?" I ask as I tighly close the door and the doctor stiffly looks down at his clipboard he holds. "Well, they both suffer greatly from concussions, though Luke suffers from a more severe case of concussion," he slowly responds, "Luke's back is bruised and burnt from the several boards and debris they found upon him, the burns were deep, but not as deep as we had expected them. Luke has also broke a couple of ribs and bruising a couple more, one rib has punctured his left lung." Once again he pauses as he lifts the top page to look at the one under it, "as for Bo. . .he is having troubles breathing due to the amount of smoke he inhaled as well as due to his asthma. He too has several burn marks, but then again, nothing as bad as we had first expected." I look at him for along moment, letting everythng he had just said slowly sink in. "Are they. . .are they going to ok?" I finally ask. "They both are unconcience at the moment and as long as Bo can get strength in his lungs, they should be OK," he says as we begin to walk down the hall, "all three of them boys are lucky to be alive as it is." "Yeah," I answer numbly as he stops in front of a closed door. "Well there they are, in there. They share a room," he shrugs, "if you need anything, I'll be down the hall." I nod as I watch him walk away before I slowly open the white painted door and slowly step in for their heart and breathing monitor's beeping to be thrown at me. I slowly walk in between the two beds to take them both in to force my heart to a halt at the poor condition they both seem to be in, full of cuts and bruises. IV's are stuck in their arms, air tube lies in their nose as well as an open chest to hold the suctors to thier monitors. An large air tube is placed down Bo's throat and taped to his mouth as well as a new cast upon his broken arm. "I'm here," I finally speak up to run my hand through bo's thick soft blond hair before walking over to Luke, "I'm right here. . .everything is OK. Bryceton is alive and well due to both of you. You both saved him and Luke, you saved Bo. What a heroic gesture you did. I am so proud. . .of both of you." I fight back tears as I slowly run into prayers for them to awaken and be OK. "I know you tol' me not to tell Rosco, for no one to be involved; Bo," I finally speak up, "but I had to report it. . .he is at the farm investigating. I hope you understand." I am greeted by the beeping machines and the slow ticking of their IV's slowly dripping into them. "Please wake up boys," I say glaring down at them with lost hope, "I can't loose you...not one of you not alone both. You just need to wake up and be fine...we'll get them jackasses that did this to you!" Tears silently fall down my cheeks to soak into my beard and mustach as my mind fights for explanation of why anyone would want to hurt my boys. Not just Bo this time, but all three of them; including Bo. Is it Bo they're after and Bryce just happened to be in there? Or is it everyone they are after?

~LUKE DUKE~ My heart tightens quickly in fear as I throw open the flimsy old screen door to see large ugly reddish orange flames engulfing the Duke family barn; several memories flood through my head of the time I had spent in there doing all sort of things, now burnt. Feeling the fear eat away within me, I shove aside the memories that reside in the barn to return to the fearful thought that had entered my mind when Daisy had first yelled out that there was a fire. "My barn," Jesse gasps behind me as he comes to an abrupt halt behind me, his voice is filled with saddness, "Did you see what happened?" "No...I was doing laundry at the table and when I had first started to smell smoke I looked up and there it was," she says behind me as I force myself forward, "I ran out in time to see an old rusted brown truck pulling out with a couple of large shadowy figures in the cab." "What in tarnation are you doing, Luke? You stop right where you are at," Jesse puts force in his saddened voice, "There is nothing that could stop that thing now...Daisy go in and call for the fire department." "Yes sir," Daisy says, her voice is filled with tears before she runs back to the house. "Don't you have ears, boy? I said stop, before you get hurt or burnt or both," Jesse trips over his own words as he watches hopelessly at his beloved barn being swallowed by thick flames and thick black smoke, "There is nothing to be done now or anything that could be saved that's in there." For a brief moment I stop a few feet a head of the barn, the heat from the fire burns up my face. Fear soars through me as I take a quick look around the house in hopes to find my intense fear to be of my own paranoia. "Damn it!" I spit out in fear as I fight for answers on what to do before I take a step forward. "Lukas!" Jesse yells out in fear for me as I avoid listening to his instructions, "Are you crazy? You are just asking to get hurt being that close to the barn! The barn is replaceable...you aren't; it ain't worth it! Listen to me Luke...I beg you. What are you doing?" I stop at hearing the desperation etched in my uncle's voice and I slowly turn around as he stares up at the tall fire. "I have to go in, I don't have any choice," I gulp as I take in my best entry. "You are crazy!" he yells at me as Daisy returns from the kitchen, "This makes no sense...it is just a barn...nothing worth getting hurt over, besides it's all taken over and burnt now." I look over at Daisy as I fight how to ask the dreaded question. "Have you seen Bryce and Bo?" I ask her. "No, last I saw them they were going to go play catch," she shrugs as she wipes back tears. "Then there is something in there that is worth getting hurt over!" I yell over the roaring flames, "Bo and Bryceton told me they were going to go play ball before we were sortying our room, Bryce wanted to play in the barn!" Fear grows in my uncle's eyes as he looks over at Daisy and back to me as he fights for answers on what to do. "Look....I can't loose all of you to a fire," he says giving up hope, "the fire is all over in there, there is no place to hide." "Maybe and maybe not," I conclude, "but I would rather die trying to save them than to sit here and watch my cousin be burnt to death...and Bryceton. I have always listened to you in the past and I have always respected you, Uncle Jesse, but this is something I must do. I refuse to allow my cousin to die in there without any attempt at trying to save him...them." Before he could respond I begin to run over the loud pounding in my chest as I cover my mouth with my shirt before finding an entry way through the fire that is covered by smoke. I fight back the fear as I enter through the dark hole among the fire to be swallowed by smoke and I carefully walk through the smoke fighting back from walking into the fire. "Bo! Bryce!" I yell though know that by now there is no chance of them hearing me above the fire. I yelp out in fear as a beam abruptly breaks loose from the cieling to come crashing down ahead of me, barely missing me. Through my watered eyes I scan the burning barn in hope of seeing something, of finding someone. "Bo!" I yell once more as I begin to think of how foolish I am. Jesse was right, there is no way I could even see them through the fire not alone through my watered eyes. I fight for more answers on what I should do as sweat trickles down my body as I continue to walk through the smoke, jumping from loose sparks of fire. Forcefully I wipe at my watered eyes with my free hand as I glare around my surroundings as the loud roar of the fire pound in my ears. For a long moment I glare back at what was once the entry point of the barn as Jesse's words run through my head, his fear of loosing three to a fire. Fear is quick to tell me to run out in knowledge that there is little to no chance that one or both of them to leave this hidious fire alive, that it is already too late for any of them to be saved. Taking a step back in my attempt to leave, I abruptly stop as clear and sharp pictures form in my head of my cousin being trapped tightly under a burning beam, his scream of agony echos in my mind. With the sight of my cousins trapped under burning boards, alive and in pain pushes me forward as I feel my adrenaline kick in. "Bo, Bryce!" I yell louder to send pain in my dry throat. Sweat continue to pour down my hot face as I fight to see a path through my watered eyes. After a long moment of walking lowly within the thick smoke I am quickly alerted by a dark, small shadowy movement running at me. I let out a long breath I had been holding in as the figure runs into me, hugging me tightly. I sigh thankfully to see Bryce hugging tightly onto me with tears running down his face in fear, his face is now smeared with black smoke. "Luke!" I hear him yell out over the fire, "I'm scared!" "I know," I sigh kneeling down to get closer in order to hear him, "but look things will be ok, I will help you out. Where's Bo?" He looks at me with fear filled green eyes before looking behind him as another long beam comes down, shooting wood of fire everywhere. "Back there still," he points weakly to the back corner, "he had ushered me to the back to get to the other entrance over there, but we had gotten trapped in the corner by fire. He shielded me with is body in the corner...I ran over here when I saw you." I look at him amazed that he had made it this far without getting hurt or burned on his journey to get to me. "OK take my hand and I will lead you out to Uncle Jesse...dad," I say fighting back my own fear, "I will go back for Bo." He clings tightly to my hand and before I can stand up he says, "Bo's hurt...he did his coughing thing real loud like and real long before he fell asleep on top of me. I am scared...for him." My own fear pierces through me at Bryce's latest revolution about Bo as I slowly nod and stand up to begin to walk him toward the door, in hope of getting him to safety. Halfway there I slowly pick him up to say, "You did a good job coming to get me...and safely. I am proud of you. When you get out of here, you go see Uncle Jesse and you tell him that I went to go get Bo...and that he may be hurt. OK?" "What if you get hurt?" he asks through his tears while he fights for air and his fear accelerates in his eyes. "I'll be real careful," I promise him, "You just got to do me that favor and tell Jesse that I went back for Bo and that he is in the back corner...tell him all that you told me. OK?" "OK," he says softly as we reach the entry way, "I'll try." "Good boy. I need to go now...see you later, OK?" I finally say letting him go and without stepping out I push him out in the clean air of the early fall day. Quickly I turn back to retrace my steps and before I know it, I am back where Bryce had first found me, half way through the barn. "Bo!" I shout as I fight to keep my hopes alive of him being OK...alive. I force myself ahead as each passing second leaves my body weaker and number than before as the heat presses onto me. What seems to take forever I finally manage my way to the back corner that Bryce had pointed to that remains surrounded by thick evil flames. After a moment of searching for an entry into the small dark corner, I find a small one filled with smoke and I quickly jump through it. I cough out smoke as I glare down through the smoke to find Bo lying silently still in the corner, curled up in a fetal position. I pray silently as I quickly bend down to put a finger on his neck, checking for a palse only to find a faint and small palse, his breathing is very minimal if any. "Damn it Bo!" I yell in fear as I quickly pick him up, feeling his weight sink into my weak arms. As quickly as I had entered the dark corner, I jump out to begin to retrace my last path due to the back entry to be swallowed in thick flames. "C'mon Bo," I urge him as I quickly move along the smokey path to get silence for a response. Walking blindly through the smoke for a long moment in silence, the smoke thins out a bit to allow me to glimpse briefly at the smokey and fire blocked entry, "We're almost out, Bo...almost home." I yell out in pain as abruptly an large heated board falls from the floor of the hay loft that had once laid ahead. The board hits me harshly across the back and the back of my head to send me falling forward, dropping Bo harshly to the side before landing on the heated floor. Debris continues to fall down upon me as pain shoots through my head from hitting it against the floor and down my back that remains covered by the board along more burning debris. Blackness threatens to take me hostage as my vision comes blurred and pain continues to soar through my body. Fighting back the throbbing pain and my blurred vision, I fight to find Bo somewhere, to see if he is OK. Instead of finding him I find large black boots rushing at me and two pairs of boots stop above me and I sigh in relief at the pressure escapes off of my back. "You Luke? You hear me?" one asks and I numbly nod my head as I fight off blackness, "We are going to help you out of here, OK? I will carry -" "No! Where's my cousin?!" I grasp to send pain flushing through my back, "Where's Bo? Is he OK?" "Easy son, just relax," he says as he places a coated arm under my neck and another under my legs and he quickly walks about. Day light burns in my eyes as he escapes from the fire and the smoke and he runs up a bit to lie me down on the grass. Sirens ring out in the distance or perhaps nearby if my hearing is impaired. "Bo! You gotta save Bo!" I yell as Jesse and Daisy lingers above me, with Bryceton in Jesse's arms, "Where's Bo?" "Lonnie is still in there, looking," my rescuer says through his thick mask, "I'm sure Lonnie will find him and bring him out." He says something to Jesse that I can't make out as he sounds distant as darkness continues to nimble constantly at my conciesness. Tears continue to burn in my eyes as I allow him to place an oxygen mask over my face and slight relief rushes through my body. Slowly the tall man walks away to the yellow fire truck that parks next to the barn, three other men squirt water forcefully on the fire. "Luke," Jesse says, kneeling down besides me, "Everything will be OK...help is on it's way." I glare up at him as darkness slowly comes over me. "Bo...Bo," I repeat as my displays the picture clearly of how I found him curled in the corner, unconcious and barely alive, "Bo...don't let. . .him die. Bo!" Quickly I slip deeply into pure and evil darkness with fearful thoughts of loosing Bo runs through my mind.

~UNCLE JESSE~ I nod numbly at Luke's last statement of finding something missing as he goes quiet, glaring around their trashed bed room. Following his look, old memories of watching Bo and Luke grow up in this room fills my head. Looking down at the mess at my knees that surrounds the floor of the room, I take in all the shattered stuff that lies around, stuff that had brought up happy and sad memories. Anger and resentment is quick to fill my aging body at the sight of such a mess, at such vandelism, and such violence they had used on Bo. "Who would want to do such a damn thing?" I finally ask to break the silence, anger is thickly etched in my voice. "I don't know," Luke sighs as he throws in a broken car model that he had helped Bo make when he was home sick, "but hopefully we come up with something to find out who...before that who does anything else." Once again I began to throw several things into my plastic bag that are torn or broken in one way or another, while throwing wrinkled shirts and pants upon Bo's bed. My thoughts race quickly within me, thoughts of why something like this would happen to what would anyone want in their room. My heart tightens as I begin to slowly pick up shattered pieces of trophies they had won at racing and the one trophy Bo had won at football, all shattered beyond repair. Pitching in a big piece of trophy I look up at Luke who works away silently in the closet, his concern for his cousin radiates off his muscular body. Watching him clear off a piece of the closet my mind richochets into the past and I quickly stand up, to cast a spell of dizziness to me. "Let me see real quick, Luke," I say as I slowly walk over to where he kneels and he looks up at me questionablly. "OK," he shrugs as he scoots over to give me room and I slowly kneel next to him, "What is it?" "I don't know...could be nothing," I respond as I shove some of their clothing off to the side as well as a few broken stuff in order to see a small trap door the size of a shoe box lid. "I never knew that that was there," Luke says baffled at the sight of the small door that the only thing that gives it away as it being a small door is the small finger sized hole that is to help open it. "Well it was made to store money...a place that is small and easy to hide," I shrug, "though it hadn't stored money in a long while now." "What does it store then?" Luke asks. "Well let's open and find out, shall we?" I ask as I lean over to stick my index finger into the little slot and force it open and up onto it's hinges. My heart comes to a halt in shock to find the shoe box thick box of wood now lies empty. "It's empty." "Yeah," Luke says quietly besides me, feeling my uneasiness about it, "What was in it?" Sitting back down I force myself to look around the room that remains cluttered despite the fact that we all had been working on it for a while now. "It had the blue prints of the house, an old moonshine recipe, my grandmother's daily diary, as well as an old photo album," I sigh as my thoughts rush at me, "Who would want all that bad enough to beat Bo up as bad as they did?" Luke looks at me from besides me for a long moment before he says, "I don't know...but what ever is in the diary or of all they had taken, it is something important to them. And seeing how most of them have something to do with the house, I would suppose we are to expect an visit from them in the near future." I look at him as fear washes through me as the sight of Bo rushes through me on how we had found him the other night all beat up and bruised. "Dang it," I finally say, the only thing I can say to voice my fear for my nephew, "Why Bo?" "Most likely it has nothing to do with him," Luke says glaring at the mess that liters the closet, "just that he was at the wrong place at the wrong time. " Taking in the cluttered and broken room emotions evade me as I fight for answers. Suddenly my thoughts are interrupted as Daisy runs into the room out of breath and tears in her eyes. "The barn," she gasps, "is on fire!" "Fire?" I ask as I am quick to get up besides Luke. "Damn it!" Luke says, his voice is etched thickly with fear as he rushes past Daisy and me to run to the back door. I look at Daisy for a long moment before following Luke out to see how badly my barn is burnt.

~LUKE DUKE~ Emotions sweep through me as I tiredly stare through the room I share with Bo that remains a mess, with clothes thrown and torn across the floor as well as broken trophies and other things that had been in our closet or in our dresser drawers. Anger rushes through me towards the people who had done this to our room, to Bo as I fight for an explanation of why all this had happened. Even if it had been an opposing driver from tomorrow's big race, they wouldn't have gone to the extremes that who ever had done this. Perhaps they would have trashed The General, but there would be no reason behind them trashing our room and beating Bo as bad as they did. Thinking back of last night and finding Bo all beaten on his bed, I slowly recall Bo saying that one of them had taken something. But what? I sigh fighting to come up with anything either of us had that would be of benefit to anyone else or to anyone else in the race. "The room won't pick up by itself," Jesse sighs coming in from behind me with a large garbage bag, "I know it's not easy, but the sooner the better." "Yeah," I slowly add as I walk over several stuff to get to the closet before Jesse throws me another sack. For a moment I watch as Jesse slowly bends down near the other side of the room, silently picking up pieces to some trophie or something else breakable that we had. Kneeling down upon some clothing I finally break the silence, "Perhaps we should go to Rosco?" "Rosco? You heard Bo," Jesse speaks up throwing several things into his black bag, "he was dead set against telling anyone, we all are lucky he had let Applebee get as close to him as he had. I think we should listen to him if we don't want who ever it is that did this to go through with whatever threat they had tol' Bo." Tossing some shredded car magazine into my black bag I nod in acknowledgement of what he had said. "True, but at the same time," I sigh throwing away a broken trophy that looks to be the first trophy I had won years ago, "at the same time, that whoever had done this, will most likely follow up with that threat no matter if Bo tells someone or not. They just said it to scare him off." "Yeah perhaps," Jesse says before he goes silent while tossing several clothing onto Bo's bed as well as more broken or torn stuff into his bag, "but I still say to play it safe. . .for now at least." Silence begins to build up between us as we slowly go about cleaning up our room as my mind plays on the small amount of information that we already have. "Look for something that may be missing," I finally speak up as my thoughts return on what Bo had said that they had taken. Jesse glares questionably at me, "Well last night, one of the few things Bo had said is that he or who ever it was had taken something with him - though didn't see what it was." Jesse nods before going back sorting things out with the clothing and broken stuff. "You really think, this could be someone trying to discourage Bo to race?" Jesse asks continueing to fill his sack with garbage. "I don't know. Reason tells me if that were the case, they would have trashed the General," I sigh throwing away Bo's prized model car I had helped him build when he was ten and was home sick, "this looks more like a work of trying to find something, though I can't possibly guess at what could be in our room that anyone would want." Jesse abruptly looks up from his mess with anger in his crystal blue eyes before he lets out a deep breath he had been holding in. "Either way," he lets out a worried sigh, "Bo is in danger. There has to be some way to find out who they are...what they want." "That's the key," I sigh digging through some of the clothing, "Perhaps if we were to think of what is missing, what they wanted, that we could narrow it down."

I am glad that you are OK, Hilery.

~BO DUKE~ Pain shoots through my aching body with each slow step I take as I slowly carry my metal tool case to the General where the hood lies open. Reaching the car, I am quick to start to work under the hood as my thoughts race clearly with in me. The two large men that had crawled through our open window last night continues to shine in my memory, their wicked grins as they both held tightly a hold of some weapon. Fear quickly consumes me as last night's events displays itself clearly within me, their wicked threats echoes in my ears. Tears quickly blur my vision at the pain that shoots through my body as well as from fear of the memory that refuses to leave me alone. Quickly I glance over my hood at the sound of a engine pulling up and at the sight of Luke behind the wheel of Jesse's old white truck, I forceably wipe at my eyes with the back of my left hand. I wince back in pain at the touch to my face before I hide back behind my open hood, trying to work on the engine. "What are you doing out here?" I hear Luke's concern voice as the engine dies and his door is slammed shut before I hear him walking closer to me, "I thought you were suppose to stay inside for today. . .at least til we get some stuff on those cuts of yours? I don't think-" "I am fine Luke," I snap at him to interrupt him and a hurt look crosses his intellegently blue eyes. My heart tightens tightly within me as he sends guilt rippling through me at the sight of the thick concern and worry that shines in his eyes. Tears threaten to fall once again as I fight back telling him the truth, of what had happened last night, and why; reminding myself of the threat they had told me, and would more than likely fall through with. "I wish I could believe that, but for now you need to go back into the house so we can get you taken care of," Luke finally says and before I can protest, he leads me to the front porch, "What are you doin' workin' on the General anyways?" I glare up at him in disbelief and in hurt that he could even forget about it. "For tomorrow night's race. Remember?" I ask with a hint of impatience in my voice and he abruptly halts to glare at me, "The one we have been working on the car and practicing for weeks, the race you promised to go with me? The big race everyone's been working on for weeks?" "Damn it," he finallly mutters under his breath, "I forgot all about that with all that happened and all." "Bo!" Bryceton yells as we walk into the kitchen and he plows into me to give me a hug, pain ripples fiercely through my body and I can't hold back the yelp out in pain. He quickly steps back as Jesse yells at him and looks back at me, "I'm sorry. . .I wasn't thinkin'." "Let's have a seat," Luke says pulling out a chair for me and I slowly sit down without an arguement. "Well I don't think you should be racing in the race with the condition you are in. If you can't take a hug from a six year old, just think of how you will feel if you get smashed into in the race? It is too dangerous." "Who are you to be telling me whether I can race or not?" I snap at him as he lies the brown bag upon the table, "You are probably just sayin' that because you forgot and made other arrangements at that time. Let me guess, a date?" He glares over at me from unpacking the bag that he had brought in from running his errands at Rhuebottoms. "Look OK, so I did forget? And yes I do have a date, but that is besides the point," Luke finally responds, "you are hurt and who knows why this happened or by who? For all we know it could be by one of the opposing drivers wanting to be rid of the number one competition. Ever thought of that? And if that is the case, just imagine what he'd do to you while you are on the track." It grows silent as Jesse moves into the kitchen from the entry way where he had been watching, his own fear radiating in his crystal blue eyes. "I think Luke's right," he speaks up as he reaches the table, "you are in no condition to be driving, not a lone to be racing. And if Luke is right, then you being in the race could be deadly mistake." I glare angrily at Luke before looking up at Jesse as I fight for answers on what to say. "But-" "I am not hearing any more of it, the answer is no. You are more valuable and more important than some race. . .you can race in the next race," he speaks up stubbornly before thumbing through all that Luke had bought at the store, "Pain killers...good thinkin' Luke. Guess we should get all this started." "No," I finally say stubbornly as I stand up from my chair, "I find it un-fair that I am the one being punished here, just because some jackasses broke into our room! I have worked hard for this race. . .and if Luke would rather go see his new girl friend, then fine, I can drive it alone! But I don't need -" "Beauregaurd!" Jesse says angrily, his temper flies in his crystal blue eyes, "You will have respect of me under my roof. . .and no it's not fair, but life ain't fair. What good will it do to you if you race and wind up dead? I am sorry it has to be this way, but if I have to lock you in the house tomorrow night, I'll do it." Emotions swell within me as I glare from person to person while I fight back the tears that fight to streak down my face. "You don't understand," I finally answer wishing there was someone I could turn to, someone I could talk to, "I need to race tomorrow night." Jesse sighs heavily as his worry seems to accelerate in his eyes before he ushers to sit back down. "You don't need to do anything tomorrow night," he finally says, fighting back his temper, "Tomorrow night we will stay here, play cards, talk...do anything, but go to the race." "So Luke can have his date," I state to have the last word.

***CHAPTER TWO*** Thoughts race quickly through me of last night's events as I silently muse over all that Bo isn't telling us, and why he is refusing to tell us. Bo has always been open to us, especially Uncle Jesse, but now he refuses to even give a tiny clue of what happened and why. Perhaps he won't talk because of all the trauma Drake had created in his life? I quickly dismiss the idea, knowing that if he didn't turn to Jesse for comfort he would have talked to me. And still nothing. Worry and fear tightly turn within me as I turn back to the only answer I have been coming back to; to Bo being threatened not to talk. But why? Who? "Good mornin' Luke," a friendly voice rings out as I step into the General Store and out of the bright morning sun. I look up to find Rhuebottom standing behind his old wooden counter with a large friendly smile upon his friendly face. Seeing his friendly smile has a reverse affect on me, instead of feeling good, seeing his smile digs the fear deeper within me. Noticing my tense posture he slowly drops his smile before asking, "What can I do to help you this morning? Is everything ok back home?" Looking back I find a couple of men I have never seen before slowly enter the old store with a young petite pretty female. Turning back to the store keeper I force a smile back at him before responding, "Things could be better back home if truth be told. I am here to get some first-aide supplies...anti-bacterial cream and all." "That bad?" he asks growing concern. "I can find it, thank-you," I smile at him as I walk past the small gathering of clothing that he has hung in front of the store to walk into an isle of canned food one side while on the other side holds a freezer full of milk, ice cream, and cheeses. I slowly take in my surroundings despite the fact that I already know where everything is as my mind numbly turns around the small information I already know, fighting for answers that won't come. Slowly I turn the corner and gasp abruptly in surprise as I run haltingly into the petite female that had walked in with the two large men I have never seen. "Oh I'm sorry," she finally says, her pale cheeks reddening in embarrassment as she watches her bottle of Mountain Dew slowly roll down the isle. My heart races as I slowly bend down and pick up her pop for her and slowly hand it to her as she runs her hand through her thick auborn hair that she holds up in a pony tail. "No, I'm sorry," I finally say, "I was too busy thinking and not paying much attention to where I was going." She smiles at me and her bright blue eyes sparkle with life as she takes her pop from me. "Well I surely can't complain running into someone like you," she forces a white smile at me, "I'm Kate Whitler. . .I just got into town with my two older over protective brothers." I find a smile to flash at her as we shake hands before I say, "I'm Luke Duke...an old veteran of Hazzard. So what are y'all here for?" She grows silent as she looks around the old store before looking at me. Shrugging she says, "We moved into that old shack place by Kissing Cliff...a place to call our own I spose. Just a new start you can say as for why we are here. . .and hopefully meet some friends, fit in." "You shouldn't have a problem at that," I smile at her, "you seem friendly enough." "That I am," she agrees with me before growing silent, "You know what? I like you. How would you like to go out tomorrow night? I know this is really bold, just being in town and all and running into you like I did, but I think we would have fun. What about it?" Looking at her I fight to see whether she is serious or not to find her to be real serious. "Well sure," I shrug as if to say why not, "but what about your two over protective brothers who could eat me for lunch?" She rolls her blue eyes at me. "Forget about them...as long as I don't get hurt, you shouldn't get hurt," she smiles at me, "Boar's Nest at eight o'clock tomorrow night? Good enough?" "Sounds great to me," I smile at her, "You seem to know your way around already, I see." "Yeah we checked it out before getting here...you don't just move without knowing the place, would ya?" she smiles glaring over my shoulder, "Well I gotta go...they are getting impatient. I can't wait to see you tomorrow night." "Yeah," I say before she walks past me to disappear around another corner and my mind is lost in thought of tomorrow night. Slowly I force myself to walk ahead past the cereal and pop isle as my mind is lost at the sight of Kate. Abruptly my mind freezes before it melts in rememberances to the true reasons of why I am here. Bo. My mind pictures his beaten body as we had found him last night as I race over to the first aide isle where I pick out an assortment of bandages and some cream for his cuts. If only bandages would help cure his fear as well to help him talk about what really happened last night, to what threat he was told to remain silent. I sigh before going over what all I had picked out before heading to the cash register to pay for what I had come to get.

Good job at writing that out! That is a great song...never compaired that one to Hazzard, but now that you have said it. . .