bethie88

It's true!

1. Bo 2. Luke 3. tie between Jesse and Enos 4. Cooter 5. Daisy

Bo felt just like the kid the teacher caught cheating on the test. "Beauregard Jackson Duke, just what do you think you're doing?" Beth asked. Bo Jr. started to defend himself before realizing his mother was giving "the look" to his dad, and not him. He'd heard her use his full name so many times that it was weird to think of her using it for his dad. Bo, Sr. was holding his hands up, as if to protect himself. And he thought it might just be necessary to keep his wife from killing him on the spot. "Mom, don't get mad at him," Bo, Jr. interjected. "He just jumped Dry Creek to keep the cops...from...catchin' him." He trailed off as he realized that what he was saying was only further incriminating his dad. "You were running from the police, Bo? You were running from the police?" "Well...only cause me and Luke had to get in that courthouse to find them papers about..." he caught a glimpse of Jake and Bo, Jr. out of the corner of his eye. "about that thing..." "Bo, you snuck in the courthouse and read files that are... not there for you to read..." Beth's eyes were boring holes through him. "Honey, you knew me and Luke had to read that file. We had to." "You had to jump the General over Dry Creek? You had to? How did you have to? And especially in front of Jake and Bo, Jr." "Yes, we had to. And I didn't know Bo and Jake were there," Bo said. "OK, fine," Beth said, angrily. "I'm going inside to get lunch ready. We'll talk more about this later." As soon as the women were in the house, all the men except Bo, Jr. and Jake started laughing at Bo. Coy said, "Well, looks like Bo's gonna be sleeping on the floor in the livin' room tonight." Bo tried to laugh, but considering that that was a very real possibility, it didn't seem too funny to him. The whole group ate lunch, then sat around awhile until it got late and the little ones started getting sleepy. Michaela dropped off to sleep first, followed by Caroline. Ruth Anne had a date, who was coming to pick her up soon, and Jesse was complaining that he didn't wanna go to bed, he wanted to hear the stories. Bo firmly insisted that his youngest son go to bed, not without making him mad, though. When Ruth Anne's date came to pick her up, all of Bo's cousins gave him the protective father type stare down, followed by the twenty questions, until Ruth Anne stopped them, and said, "OK, Nathan, let's go." The men laughed as the two of them went out to leave. "I can't wait to have kids," Vance said. Luke found himself cringing at that remark, but finally said, "Well, we promised some young fellas a story time, and we better get to it." Bo agreed, and as they all sat down, Jake and Bo, Jr. side by side, Daisy, Bo, and Luke looked at them for a long moment. And there they saw Luke and Bo years earlier. The boys didn't have to tell anyone else what they had found at the Courthouse. Everyone knew. Bo started the first story. "Well... I reckon I was about ten or so when me and Luke first got drunk..." (Cue Dixie 8) )

Bo took a hard turn, throwing the General into for all he was worth. "Come ON, General!" Bo said under his breath. The car was giving all it was worth. He angrily wiped the tears in his eyes away, unable to see the road through them. He finally got focused, and turned down a familiar road, chased by blue lights. Dang deputies! Luke took the CB and paged Cooter, "Ol' Coot, this here's Lost Sheep One. You got anything up your sleeve?" Cooter replied, "Not anymore. I'm respectable, now. Remember?" Luke swore under his breath. Then he looked at the road. "Oh, Lord. We're headed out to Dry Creek." Bo had lost the sense the good Lord gave him, at least in Luke's opinion. The younger man yelled, "YEEEEEHAAAAA!!!!" "Lord help us!" Luke whispered, as Dry Creek came closer and closer. Bo floored it as they got up to the edge, and the General flew over, and hit the ground with a thud. Luke smiled just a little as his stomach cut a flip inside of him. The old feeling of being a Duke boy with not a care in the world took over...at least for the time being.

Lol! Well there WAS that one time me and...never mind... We'll keep that to ourselves... wouldn't want Mary Anne to arrest that Duke boy who gave it to me! lol

Luke wondered how he ever let that happen. He slumped in his seat, feeling just like Uncle Jesse had been right behind him, looking over his shoulder when he'd read that paper. "How could you let this happen?" he heard Jesse's voice saying in the back of his mind. "And why did you run, Luke? Dukes never run." Bo wondered how this had happened. He believed it in his head, but it hadn't clicked in his heart. His cousin had a son...a son that none of them had had the joy of getting to know as such. Luke closed his eyes against the urge to cry. He wouldn't cry. He was a grown man, and a Duke man at that. He couldn't cry. He'd cried enough. He'd cried when he'd the problems that lead to his son's birth had happened. And he wouldn't do it again! But he felt like crying like a lost little boy. And it hurt him that Bo wouldn't look at him. He closed his eyes and turned to the window, wishing he'd just disappear.

Chapter 3 is the latest! Chapter 4 will be up as soon as I get it done... exams tomorrow and Thursday, and I'll be gone all weekend... Hope to get it done before I leave, though! 8)

I think the concept car for the Charger is UGLY! Nothing like the hot '69 model!

Jesse laid the washcloth on Luke's head, and started rubbing his arms to bring back his warmth. Daisy was rubbing his other arm, and Bo was rubbing his legs. "Come on, Cuz," Bo said softly, praying that his cousin would wake up. Luke was still kind of blue, and Uncle Jesse looked real worried. The old man began to pray, still rubbing Luke's arm. Jesse walked calmly over to the shelf, and pulled out a jar of his best shine. He lifted Luke's head and put the jar to his lips. Bo breathed a sigh of relief when his cousin's lips shaped to take a sip. Jesse poored in some of the liquid, and Luke swallowed, although he wasn't really awake... more acting on reflex. Jesse smiled as the shine seemed to bring back a little color to his nephew's face. "What're we gonna do now, Uncle Jesse?" Bo asked, ever impatient. "Well, Bo...we're gonna wait." Bo cursed, not even being upset when Uncle Jesse gave him "the look." Waiting was one thing Bo was not good at.

IDK, I think this whole thing is gonna pee me off!

"Oh, Lord," Bo Jr. said, shaking his head. Dixie put her arm around Luke and said, "He'll be OK when he sleeps it off." She looked down at Luke. "He looks so young and innocent," she thought, knowing that nothing could have been further from the truth. Luke had lived a pretty rough life between keeping one step ahead of the law and being a Duke...being expected to be the kind of man Uncle Jesse was, when, although much was the same about the two men, so much was different. But Luke was a good man, though perhaps a little too safe and cautious. He had a hard time taking chances. Bo had always been the risk taker. Luke was never good at that. Meanwhile, in the General, Beth was in the front seat, leaning over on Bo's shoulder half-asleep. She put her arms around his arm, and kissed his cheek. "I love you, Bo Duke," she said softly. "I love you, too," he said. "Y'all are so sweet!" Daisy said from the back seat, finding a familiar emptiness in her heart. She had hoped that a visit to Hazzard would bring Enos Strate back into her life... But he was in California, working with honest lawmen, which had been what he'd wanted all along. Bo smiled. Life was never better. He hoped that life would hold good things for all in his family. Coy, Vance, and Jeb were in Beth's car, and the longer they drove, the more worried she got. Three slightly intoxicated Duke boys driving her car. But they all arrived at home without a hitch. Ruth Anne had put the little ones to bed, so that was good. Especially when Bo had to carry Luke in over his shoulder. As he laid his cousin on the couch, Bo said, "Lord have mercy. I don't have the back I used to have." Beth kissed him. "You're not old, Bo." "I'm old enough," he said, kissing her in return. Beth started figuring out places for everyone to sleep. Daisy was going to share a bed with Ruth Anne, who didn't mind, knowing that she and Daisy would probably talk for an hour or two after lights went out. Dixie was going to sleep in a roll away bed in the girls' room. Luke was going to sleep on the couch since he wasn't going anywhere, and Coy, Vance, Jeb, and Cooter were going to sleep at various places on the living room floor. The family all eventually went to sleep, but the women were up early, helped by the girls with the rest of the huge supper for later that night. "So, Dixie," Beth asked, "was it as hard as you thought it would be?" "Nope. Harder," Dixie said. "I don't want to talk about it right now, but alot happened between me and Luke, and it isn't easy being back with someone like that. But I care about him." "Speaking of Luke..." Daisy began as they saw him making a bee line for the bathroom, "he's awake...and he's regretting last night." The women had to laugh. "Poor Luke," Beth said. "I shouldn't have suggested Uncle Jesse's finest." Dixie smiled. "He would have had enough beers to make up for it." "True," Beth agreed. All kinds of thoughts were running through Luke's mind as he felt the effects of his drinking. But the one overwhelming thought was getting to talk to Dixie again and straighten things out. If that was even possible...

At the table, Bo answered Cooter's question, "Well...There's still a few who were here when Rosco was around... But not many. Boss has been gone a while now...so not much trouble goes down anymore..." Cooter grinned, "Hazzard must be boring, now." "Nah. It's still wild. Especially tonight. Have you seen how many beers Luke's had on top of that shine?" Bo asked. "Oh, Lord," Cooter said. "I lost count after about the sixth or seventh." "Well, there have been alot more after those..." Bo said, looking warily at his half-drunk, all-crazy cousin. Beth looked at her husband, "Bo, you better stop him. I don't want any of y'all to come in too drunk when there are children in the house." "I know," Bo said, standing up to go over to his cousin. Meanwhile, across the room, Bo, Jr. was still standing with his friends, one of them being his former partner in crime, Jake Miller, the friend with whom Bo had first smoked, first had beer, and first driven too fast. Thankfully, only the last habit had stuck to the young man. But he would've liked a beer. Or some of Jesse's shine. "How's it goin', college man?" asked Jake, who, despite some of the things they had done together, was still a good friend to Bo. "Good. There ain't nothin' to do in Hazzard. How bad can it be, when your Mama and Daddy go to the Boar's Nest with ya, and you sure as heck can't drink with them around. "Lord, looks like y'all are havin' a big reunion tonight." "Yep...we are... Uncle Luke, and Jeb, and Coy, and Vance, and Aunt Daisy came. Heck, even Cooter and Dixie came..." "Dixie? Who's that?" "Cooter's sister. She and Uncle Luke used to go together, and for some reason, they decided to pick back up tonight." "Man, there's a party tonight that's gonna be out of this world over at Nicole Hartman's house," Jake said. "I can't go tonight. Gotta drive Uncle Luke's truck." "Huh?" "Cause Uncle Luke is drunk...big time." Jake smiled. "Been there, done that. Well, reckon I better get going." "OK, thanks for tellin' me, anyways." "No problem, man." The adults were gathered at the table, where, not even Bo's insistence that Luke drink no more alcohol, could put a damper on what the dark-haired man was feeling. Not seeing Dixie in so long, and then having her here with him...This was going to be something so different... He wouldn't be able to explain it, just live in it's light. Bo looked at his watch. "Good Lord. It's 2:00 in the morning." "Oh, Lord, Bo!" Luke said, "We used to hang around till they closed at 3:00 or kicked us out, one." "Well, I've got a family, now. And my kids are at home, and Ruth Anne's probably still awake. So we gotta get on home." This statement bothered Luke somewhat. Sometimes, after Bo had become a family man, Luke wondered how much the family he had grown up with meant to him. But he obediently stood, as Bo and Beth and the others gathered to go back. Bo, Jr. came over quickly lest anyone take over his place behind the wheel of Luke's truck. Bo had to help Luke just a little, since he was quite drunk. They all loaded up and headed home, Dixie in Luke's truck, right at his side.

Bo saw the glimmer in his wife's eye. "What?" he asked her. "Oh, nothing. I just love that song." Bo smiled, knowing full well when to take a hint. He stood up and put his arms around Beth, and the two of them took to the dance floor. Cooter asked Daisy for a dance, and she agreed. Coy, Vance, and Jeb each found a pretty waitress to dance with, and Bo, Jr. sat at the table, kicking the table leg in dissapointment. Everybody was in their own happy little world, dancing with new friend, old friends, and old flames...at least in Luke's case... Even his parents were dancing, and he was sitting at a table all alone. Was something so wrong with him? He looked just like his dad, and from his understanding, during his high school years, Bo had always had a girl on either arm. What was the problem with him? Bo, Sr. was absorbed in his wife's blue eyes, when she said, "Bo...Dixie still loves him..." "Huh?" "I said Dixie still loves Luke. She loves him, and she came back to see him." "Oh, Lord..." Bo said. "This road just keeps windin'." Beth laughed at her husband. She looked over at Luke and Dixie, who were just outside the door, still lost in each other's arms, and just smiled. "Let's just hope it's gettin' itself straightened out tonight." Bo looked at her. "You really think it'll be this easy? I mean, good Lord... You saw what happened to them two last time. You think they can make it work now?" "I don't know, Bo. But look at those two... What do you see?" Bo grinned, "I see Luke gettin' even more drunk a few hours from now. Keep that jar of Jesse's shine hidden." Beth laughed. "I see a couple of teenagers who just grew up too soon." "Kinda like us, huh?" Bo said. They both knew what he was talking about. Bo, Jr's birth wasn't planned, and it had happened when they were both teenagers. But all had turned out all right in the end. "No...not exactly...although we were... I mean they're like teenagers who forgot how important it is to be in love." Bo pulled her close. "Honey, have I told you today how much I love you?" "Yep. But tell me again...I think I mighta forgot." Bo smiled and said, "I love you more than anything," then kissed her gently. "I love you, too. Always." "Well, I think we better get back home. Don't want Ruth Anne up too late keepin' an eye and ear out for the young'uns," Bo said. "But we're gonna hafta do this again before the family leaves out." "Absolutely," she said, pecking him on the cheek. "I wasn't ready to leave, though." "Me neither." "I told Ruth Anne it was gonna be a long night, and she said she was gonna watch some movie that was coming on anyway." "Well then, we'll just have to continue this little party," Bo said, smiling as his wife rested her head on his chest. Meanwhile, outside...

http://imdb.com/gallery/ss/0377818/MG-1272r.jpg Who is the idiot in charge of casting, so I can throttle them?

Thanks, Crazy C. You sure "ain't dumb." I'll go check those out!

Your Avatar rocks, Mary Anne!

I'd be up for shine and doughnuts...if I was legal...I'm only 16, so I'd have to keep it on the D/L.

Bo, Luke, Coy, Vance, and Jeb all loaded up into two vehicles, the General, who was still in his place on the Duke farm, and Luke's truck. Bo, Jr. asked his dad if he could go. Bo, Sr.'s blue eyes looked over at Beth. "Is it alright with you, honey?" Bo, Jr. was mad. He was sick of having to know if everything was OK with his parents. But he figured it was better than not going to the Boar's Nest... He was even more upset when his mother agreed that he could go as a designated driver, since not even a Duke boy was good behind the wheel after too much beer at the Boar's Nest... She was just thankful that they were saving the rest of the jar of Jesse's finest until they got home. As the six men headed over to the Boar's Nest, Beth and Daisy couldn't help but worry. All their menfolk quite drunk was not a good picture in her mind. But she and Daisy had to get supper ready, along with the help of Ruth Anne, Caroline (12), and Michaela. Things were only made harder on the two women by 14-yr-old Jesse's protests that he wanted to go with the men. __________________________________________________ At the Boar's Nest, everyone seemed to be having a good time... even Bo, Jr. when he realized that drinking wasn't the only thing to the Boar's Nest. There were still lots of pretty waitresses in short shorts, and no 18-year-old boy can say he doesn't like that. Bo, Sr. proposed a toast to his family, and beer mugs clicked together. Something was still bothering Luke, which in turn, bothered Bo. He and his cousin had been best friends all their lives, and he knew something was wrong. Especially when Luke ordered more than his usual number of beers, on top of the shine they'd had back at Bo's house. "Luke, you OK?" Bo asked. "Why wouldn't I be OK? Huh?" Luke was in a bad mood. That was for sure. They heard the sound of another vehicle pulling into the dirt driveway of the Boar's Nest, and in to the room walked Cooter Davenport, a good friend of the Duke boys, who they hadn't seen in ages. He walked over to the table where all the Duke's were sitting, and sat down. "Yeeeeeeehaaaaaaaa!" Bo yelled, only to be echoed by Cooter. "Well, now! This seems just about right. All of us at the Boar's Nest drinkin' too much for our own good." Cooter nodded his agreement. He met Bo's son, and was shocked at how old he was. He hadn't seen him since the young man was a small child. "So, Cooter, where's Dixie?" asked Bo. Luke could have hog tied him on the spot. He didn't want to know where she was. "I left her at your place helpin' the women folks," Cooter said with a smile. "She was always close to Beth and Daisy. 'Specially Beth." Luke sighed. Why did Dixie have to be best friends with his cousin's wife? But at least for now, Dixie was a problem he wouldn't have to deal with.

I won't say he's hotter now, but he IS HOTT for a guy his age...which is my dad's age...

"Yeah. Cooter said he was comin'. Might be bringin' his sister, too." "That's good. I sure have missed Cooter," Luke said. "Yeah, me too. Hard to believe it's been that long since we were drivin' around here in the General...gettin' chased by Rosco..." "Goin' to jail?" Luke added, with a tense laugh. "Yeah, that too," [edited here...i messed up] BO said with a grin. The two cousins walked over to see Jeb, but there was a gnawing bad feeling in the back of Luke's head. Somethin' was gonna go wrong. It had to...especially in Hazzard County. Bo knew something was wrong with his cousin, and it bothered him. But he pushed the bad feeling to the back of his mind, as Beth came out, wrapping her arms around her husband's waist. "How 'bout some of Uncle Jesse's finest? There ain't many jars left, but today's a day that calls for some," she said, planting a firm kiss on Bo's lips. Bo smiled weakly. "Sounds good." Bo's oldest daughter, Ruth Anne, who was 16, came out with the jar a few minutes later with glasses for each of the men. It didn't take long for the shine to make the men loosen up. This was going to be a fun night... For all, except, perhaps, Luke.

By the time Uncle Jesse had wrapped Luke in blankets, and Bo had gotten him inside, he was bluish. Daisy was crying, and Bo was walking the floor, while Jesse patiently worked at Luke's side. Things didn't look good at all.

Bo Duke, Sr. and his wife, Beth, were sitting on the front porch of the house that had once been Uncle Jesse's. When Uncle Jesse had passed on, and all the other cousins had left Hazzard, Bo's cousins had been kind enought to let the farm become Bo's. He and Beth had raised their five kids under the same roof Bo had been raised under, and things had been pretty darn good. He and Beth had done alright for a couple of teenagers who'd started off with nothing but love and their son, Bo, Jr. Bo looked at Beth with that Duke smile that noone could imitate. "Honey," he said, "Everybody's finally comin' home." He hadn't been that happy in a long time. Their youngest daughter, Michaela, who was ten years old, walked out onto the porch, so quietly that neither Beth nor Bo heard her footsteps. "Hey, Daddy," she said softly, startling her parents. "Isn't that Uncle Luke's truck?" Bo couldn't hold back his old rebel yell when he saw the truck pulling into his driveway, "Yeeehaaa!" Beth stood there, looking at her husband, and seeing in his place, the wild teenager she had once known. The Duke family reunion was going to be a fun time indeed. It wasn't too long before Daisy showed up, followed shortly by Coy and Vance. But both Bo and Beth were awaiting seeing their son, who had been gone for almost two months. When he pulled into the driveway in his own rebuilt '69 Charger, the whole family rushed to see the oldest Duke child. He climbed out of the window of his car in true Duke fashion, and immediately wrapped his arms around his little sister, Michaela, swinging her into the air. She barely let him go long enough for the other family members to greet him. In fact, he had to hug his mother and his other sisters with Michaela between them. "How's my Mikey doin'?" he asked the little girl. "I'm OK! I missed you, Bo!" she said. He'd missed her, too. He'd missed Hazzard, and his brother and sisters and everyone else. Bo, Sr. made his way over to his son. "How are ya, son?" he asked, extending his hand. Bo, Jr. smiled, and shook his father's hand, only to be pulled into a hug. "I'm fine Daddy. I've missed y'all." Luke turned to look at his cousin's oldest son. He'd been so close to the boy when he was younger, and the expectant look in the young man's blue eyes hurt him. But all he could bring himself to say was, "When'd you get the car, son?" Bo, Jr.'s face fell. "Right after I graduated. Me and Daddy restored it before I left for college." He had been so close to Luke, and it hurt that after not seeing him for so long, his father's cousin could only ask him about his car. He wondered just what could be wrong with Luke. But Luke quickly recovered himself, and added, "I sure have missed ya, son." The smile that Bo, Jr. had taken from his father once again spread across his face.

"Luke, you get up right this minute!" Daisy insisted. "You're gonna get sick." "Well, maybe it would be better if I did..." "Luke, Uncle Jesse might lose the farm, and he sure as heck can't afford to pay your Doctor bills," Bo said, running a hand through his hair. "I'm feeling kinda warm, Bo..." Luke said. "Oh, Lord, Bo! He's freezin'!" Daisy said, holding back tears. "Go get Uncle Jesse!" Bo yelled as his older cousin closed his blue eyes.

Chapter 3: A Hard Night "Good Lord, Bo Duke, what's gotten into you?" "I don't know. Me and Becky...we didn't mean to. I didn't mean to get her pregnant, Luke." "Dang it, Bo! What did you think was gonna happen if y'all kept foolin' around?" By now, Luke's voice was at an elevated volume level to say the least. Reckon anybody ever thinks of what'll happen if they don't quit foolin' around? "Don't yell at me, Luke. Good Lord! Do you think we thought about that?" Bo was crying hard, and he hated himself for it. Luke rested his gaze on his younger cousin. "Nah. Nah, I reckon not." Bo looked at Luke, fighting back the tears. "Ya don't hate me...Do ya?" "No! Lord, no! You're my cousin, and I could never hate you. I feel the same about you as I would a brother if I had one." "Thanks, Luke," Bo said softly. "Don't thank me for doin' what I always do. I'm just bein' your cousin, and that'll never change. No matter what." "Dang it, Luke. I can't even see the darn road. You wanna drive?" "Do you want me to?" "Shoot, no! But we'll never get home if ya don't." "Well, all this fuss sure hasn't seemed to affect your sarcasm none," Luke said jokingly as he climbed out the window. Luke drove home, and the boys got to their chores. Bo fed the chickens and gathered the eggs, and Luke fed the goats and the cows. Then they hosed the General down, since he was covered in dust. Bo raised the hood of the '69 Charger. "Bo," Luke said, softly. "Are you OK?" "Fan belt' near-bout shot. Spark plugs need replacin', too," Bo said, more to himself than to anyone in particular. If you're wonderin' just what on earth he's talkin' about, the Duke boys love cars. And fixin' cars makes 'em feel better. "Bo, just what in the Sam Hill are you talkin' about?" "The General. Gotta go over to Cooter's and get some stuff." "What's THAT got to do with anything?" "Nothin'. I just gotta fix the General." "OK, now that we got that established...are you gonna be alright?" "Fine, I reckon." "Bo, you ain't fine. You know you ain't fine. And you gotta tell Uncle Jesse." "Aw, man! Uncle Jesse. Lord. I never even thought...What am I gonna tell Uncle Jesse?" "I don't know. I really don't know." Poor ol' Bo. He's never been in trouble that Luke couldn't get him out of. Luke rested his hand on Bo's shoulder, and felt his cousin flinch beneath his grip. "What's a matter?" "I just...I never messed up like this before." Luke had to agree with that statement. Bo had messed up more than his share of times, but this one took the cake. "Bo, I just don't understand how you always get yourself into these messes. How do you get yourself in a mess like this?" "Dang it, Luke! That's a stupid question. Didn't Uncle Jesse have that little talk with you?" "Very funny," Luke said. "Wasn't meant to be funny. You're just askin' stupid questions is all." Luke nodded, defeated. See, even a Duke boy knows when he's been beat. "I reckon so. But, Bo, there's still the fact that you are in this mess, and you're gonna have a whole heck of explaining to do when Uncle Jesse gets ahold of you." "You think I don't know that?" Bo snapped. "Well, yeah, but..." Luke fumbled for words. "Sorry, cousin. I didn't mean to talk to you like that." "I know...I just hate this whole thing." "And ya think I don't?" "No! Dang it, Bo! Would you calm down and quit jumpin' down my throat every time I open my mouth?" "Sorry." "Well, we gotta get back to work before Uncle Jesse thinks somethin's wrong." "Yeah. Reckon so." Bo went inside to ask Uncle Jesse if he could drive his white pickup over to Cooter's garage to pick up some stuff. Uncle Jesse gave his permission, and Bo drove over to Luke to ask if he needed anything while Bo was in town. "Nah. Reckon I'm fine. Can't think of anything," Luke said. "Alright. I'll see ya." Bo said, then drove off alone. He arrived at Cooter's a few minutes later, and managed to smile at his old friend as the mechanic walked out of the garage. "Hey, Bo!" Cooter said with a smile. "We sure whooped them fellas at the Boar's Nest, huh?" Bo forced a laugh. "Yep. We sure did." "Ol' city folks oughta know better than to pick fights with country boys like us." Bo smiled, but got straight to business. He told Cooter the parts he needed, and Cooter found them quickly. "Sorry to rush, Cooter. But I gotta get these parts home so me and Luke can fix the General tonight." "Well, I wish you boys had-a told me. I coulda given you a real good price." "I know. I just needed somethin' to keep my hands busy. Uncle Jesse always says that idle hands are the devil's workshop." "Well, I never knew Uncle Mr. Jesse to be wrong. Reckon you better get back before them hands of yours get idle." "Yeah. Reckon so. See ya, Cooter." "See ya." Bo drove home with a strange feeling of loneliness weighing him down. He and Luke worked together on the General, doing alot of different things until late that night. Luke decided to turn in at 11:45, but Bo said he needed to finish up a few more adjustments. Luke let him stay, figuring out quickly that his cousin needed time to think more than he needed time to tinker with the car. Luke knows Bo too darn good to ask if he needs him to stay. After Luke went in, Bo lay under the car, trying to be absorbed in his work. He tried not to think, but the thoughts kept letting themselves in. He finally figured he might as well call it a night. He switched off the mechanic's light and crawled out from under the car. He put his tools away, then patted the General's hood. "Well, General...looks like you can't even get me out of this one." He shook his head, his blonde waves tossing in the gentle summer breeze. There was no place prettier than Uncle Jesse's farm on a warm summer night. But Bo knew nothing of the beautiful night, because he couldn't get past the pain in his own heart. He went up to the bedroom that he and Luke had shared since they were babies. He took off his shirt and jeans and put on a pair of loose fitting cotton pants. By the time he was finally in bed, he felt the weight of the whole day hit him hard. It felt like the General was sitting on his chest. And that was a bad feeling indeed. Tears filled the dark blue eyes, but at firsy refused to fall. Bo heard Uncle Jesse and Daisy talking down stairs, and tuned his ear to hear what they were saying. When he heard Uncle Jesse say, "Daisy, I'm so proud of y'all. Luke, Bo, you... All three of ya. You're good kids. Don't give me alotta trouble. You're just good kids," the blue eyes lost control of the tears, and they streamed madly down the suntanned face. Bo had never known a pain like this before. It hurt so bad that he thought he would die. And he knew that telling his family would be the hardest thing he'd ever face. Now if nothin' else tells ya somethin's wrong, them tears oughtta do it. Cause Duke boys don't cry.