Author's note: Thank you to Katie for giving me the idea for writing this story! Thank you to Samcheese and Cartoon Cow for letting me bounce ideas off them! This story was suppose to be finished by mid-october, but I had so many discrepancies in the story and I had to make so many changes, it got delayed. So apologies to Samcheese for my tardiness. Okay, on with the story. I hope y'all like it. It probably ain't my best but it was still fun to write, just like all stories about Bo are :-D
Warning: (1) Not-betaed. I apologise for all the grammar and spelling errors. (2) I don't know anything about cars so I'm pretty sure all a lot of the info about car parts and how they work ain't quite correct. If you're a mechanic, you'll probably find the details a little annoying…sorry!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters except for Big Mike, Pee Wee, the Hemmingways and Caster.
Bo parks Dixie, Daisy's jeep, in the employees parking area of the Seth M. Berley & Co. store. For those who don't know the Seth M. Berley & Co. store, it is Hazzard County's one and only department store, where you can find most of what is needed in everyday life. Amazingly, as is suggested by the name, it is not owned by J.D Hogg, unlike seventy-five percent of the other businesses in Hazzard County. As Bo heads into the back door of the store, he remembers back to the day and the circumstances that lead to him working here.
One week ago
Luke looked out at Bo from under the hood of the General Lee. "Give it a try now, Bo." Bo nodded and turned the key in the ignition. The General chugged and chugged but didn't start. Luke hung his head; he's done all that he can. It was time to call in Cooter.
"Luke, the way the General Lee is actin' up, he ain't never gonna win the race tomorrow." Bo complained before jumping on the C.B. to Cooter. "Breaker, breaker, this is Lost Sheep callin' Cooter. You got your ears on? Come back."
Craaazy Cooter, comin' back atcha, I'm crazy but I ain't dumb, what's the problem Lost Sheep, come back.
Bo smiled at Cooter's long introduction. Cooter is his and Luke's best friend and it's always handy to have the best mechanic in the Tri-County area be your best friend. "Cooter, the General Lee's down and out again. We need a tow."
Well, of course you do, you haven't met your weekly quota for needin' a tow yet.
"You're real cute, Cooter. Will ya just get out here? We need to start work on him if we plan on racin' him in tomorrow's race."
That's a big ten-four, what your twenty?
"We're on Potter's Road near route 19. See you soon, Cooter. I'm gone." Bo sighed and replaced the transmitter. "Should be here soon." He called out to Luke. Luke closed the hood and wiped his hands on a cloth. He packed up the tool kit and threw it back in the trunk of the General Lee. "What do you think is wrong with him?" Bo asked as he climbed out of the General.
"I don't know. It might be the ignition timing or a hole in the cylinder." Luke stood next to Bo, leaning his back against the General and folding his arms. "I tell you what we do need. A new turbocharger. A new one will definitely win us the race."
"And where do we get one of those?" Bo asked.
"One that'll fit the General Lee? Gotta ask Cooter. We can't afford a new one, but one from an old race car might be within our price range." Luke said, thoughtfully.
"Our price range ain't much." Bo pointed out. "I think we have $50 in our account. I don't know about you, but my pockets are empty."
"So's mine." Luke sighed, "We should go lookin' around the junkyards, see if we can't find anythin' that'll give us an advantage for the upcomin' race."
Bo slapped Luke on the shoulder. "That's what I was just thinkin'! You know Luke, I think I'm startin' to think more like you!"
Luke frowned at Bo, "Cousin, I seriously doubt that. I still do your thinkin' for ya."
Bo thought about that, not sure if it was an insult or not. He shrugged and decided he wouldn't bother trying to figure it out. Luke said stuff like that so often, Bo just took it in stride. He just worked out after a while that Luke didn't really mean anything by it and let it go. He grinned, "So we should start lookin' once Cooter takes the General back to the garage! Once we get in the new turbocharger, those other cars are goin' to eat our dust!" Luke smiled at Bo's enthusiasm. Bo always looked on the bright side of every situation, especially when it came to the General Lee. Luke hoped that would never change. The farm will never be the same if Bo lost his happy-go-lucky attitude.
"Cooter's here!" Bo pushed off the General Lee and waved at Cooter. "Hey, Cooter. What took you so long?"
"Bo, Buddy, unlike you, I don't go courtin' the law. Rosco dropped that dang speed trap down to 30. I had to drive at a snails pace. Woulda been faster to walk here." Cooter complained as he got out and started hooking up the General to his tow truck.
"Hey, Cooter? You think you got a car we can borrow for the day? Me and Bo need to go check out the old junkyards and see if we can't find another turbocharger for the General." Luke asked as he help Cooter.
"Heck, I got two cars. Take them both, just bring'em back in one piece." Cooter warned, knowing how these boys drive.
"One's enough, Cooter…"
"Luke, don't you think we'll make better time if we split up? You can check the junkyards near Choctaw and I'll check the one's closer to town." Bo suggested.
Luke rubbed his neck, not sure if he should be letting his cousin do this on his own. It's not that he didn't trust Bo, he didn't trust all the other people out there. There are a lot of men out there who work for Boss Hogg and if Bo ends up dealing with one of them, he's going to end up with a dodgy part. Bo's not exactly the most astute person around. "I don't know, Bo…"
Bo frowned, "What's wrong, Luke? We're just looking around, right? I'll let you know once I find somethin'."
Luke thought about it. Bo knew enough about cars and its parts to not get anything that's a dud. "Alright, Bo, we'll split up. Just call once you find somethin'…Ahh!" Luke slapped the hood of Cooter's truck and grimaced.
"What's wrong, Luke?"
"I promised Daisy I'll pick up some groceries for her. I, plum, forgot about it. You go on ahead and check out the junkyards, I'll get the stuff for Daisy first and then head off."
Bo grinned, "Glad she asked you and not me."
"Ready to go, boys." Cooter called and climbed into his truck, the boys getting in the passenger's side.
"Bo, Daisy don't ask you because you always come home with the wrong stuff. I swear, I don't know how you get it wrong. All you have to do is read the list." Luke shook his head.
"Have you read her list? I don't know what half the stuff is." Bo complained, "Anyway, all I know about is cars and it's your fault."
"What?"
"That's right. I grew up with you. You never taught me how to shop for groceries." Bo grinned, triumphantly at the incredulous look Luke was giving him.
Cooter burst out laughing, "He's got you there, Luke."
"What?" Luke exclaimed again.
"Hey, it's Bo logic, don't argue with it." Cooter explained.
Luke laughed, "Yeah, you got a point."
Bo grinned, thinking he'd won the argument but then frowned as he looked between his cousin and Cooter. Again, he wasn't sure if he was being insulted or not. He pouted and folded his arms, "You know, it ain't fair to pick on the youngest." Cooter and Luke just continued laughing.
Back where the General had broken down was Rosco P. Coltrane. He had followed Cooter after seeing him pass his speed trap. Thinking Cooter was on his way to meet the Duke boys, he decided to follow to catch the boys in something illegal, because those Duke Boys are always doing something against the law. Rosco giggled and rubbed his hands when he heard the Duke boys were heading out to find themselves a turbocharger. "kiew, kiew, Boss is going to be real happy with me." Once the boys and Cooter had left, Rosco picked up his CB.
"This is Rossssco P. Coltrane calling my little fat buddy, you gotcha ears on little fat buddy? Come back." He jumped when Boss's booming voice came through the speaker.
How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that!
"Oooh, well…um…" Rosco starting counting on his fingers.
Never mind! What are you calling for, you dimwit!
"Well…I…" Rosco frowned, then piped up when he remember, "Oooh, I just saw the Duke boys, kiew, kiew."
Well, what are you telling me for? Arrest them!
"Arrest them?" Rosco asked confused, "They ain't done nothing wrong, Boss."
Then why are you callin' me for. I'm a very busy man, you know.
"Oooh, I thought you'd like to know that the Duke boys are planning to get a new turbocharger for the General Lee so they can win the race tomorrow. The transmitter went silent for a while. Rosco's grinned faded, "Aaah…Boss, you still there?"
Of course I'm still here. I'm just thinkin', something your brain clearly ain't capable of. What else did you hear?
"Oh, let's see. Bo said he'll go look in the junkyards close to town and Luke will be lookin' in the ones near Choctaw County." Rosco reported.
Hmmm…this is good. This is real good. Get back here, Rosco. I have some calls to make. Now, don't you dare arrest any of them Dukes today. I'm gone.
The transmission when dead and Rosco looked at the transmitter, mumbling something incoherent. He got back in his patrol car and headed back to town.
Boss Hogg's office at the Sheriff Station.
Boss Hogg got onto the phone immediately after cutting the transmission to the Sheriff. He was laughing because he found a way to ensure the Duke boys didn't win the Saturday race. "Mabel, get me George Hawton in Placid County."
Yes Sir, Mr Hogg.
Boss waited for the connection to be made.
"GeorgeHawtonhere.WhatcanIdoforyouHogg?"The voice was rough and dreary. Clearly not a fan of Boss Hogg but deals with him because he owns most of Hazzard County.
"George, I have a proposition for you. Are you still in the spare parts business?" Boss asked, knowing full well that this man dealt with stolen cars.
"Yeah,what'sthedealandhowmuchdoIget?"
"I have a tip for you. If everything goes to plan and you make a bet on my car in the Saturday race, I guarantee you'll make a hefty amount of money."
"Areyoukiddingme,Hogg?Thatain'tasurebet.IknowthoseDukeboysareracin'andtheyalwayswin."
"Not if you do what I say. You see, the boys need a new turbocharger. Now, I know where they'll be. If you can sell them a worn out one, they'll lose that race for sure."
"Theyain'tdumb,Hogg,they'llknowawornoutonefromaworkingone."
Hogg shook his head, he had to do all the thinking. "Not if you sell them one that looks new. Clean one up and paint it if you have to but make sure they get an old one."
"Alright,Hogg.Wherewilltheybe?"
Hogg proceeded to tell George the plan, detailing where the boys will be and what he should say that will get the boys to buy. "And remember, make sure it's Bo Duke, the blond one, not the brown hair one. That's really important because Luke will probably see through you, but Bo Duke ain't so intelligent. Got it? Good. Call me when you're done." Boss hung up the phone, laughing to himself, thinking that he would finally beat the Duke boys on the race track.