Chapter 1: Loose
"Yee-hoo!", thought Bo Duke as a smile spread across his face at the sight of an open hood and a fine pair of legs peeking out from within.
He slowed the General Lee down, pulled alongside the car, a blue Challenger, and hastily climbed out the window.
"What seems to be the problem, little lady?"
"Well, it was goin' fine, then all of a sudden the dang thing cut out. It ain't startin' now", she replied in a strong Dixie accent.
"I'll see what I can do", chuckled Bo.
He examined the most likely problem areas first, and found the cause almost straight away.
"Seems like your fuel line came loose is all".
"Oh my, I just don't know how t' thank ya".
"Don't cha worry none, that smile's good enough for me!"
"Thank ya kindly anyways, oh how rude of me, I forgot to ask your name".
"That'd be Bo, Bo Duke, and the fault is mine, I shoulda known better to ask yours first".
"Well since ya did, it's Alexa Hunter, pleased to meet ya, Bo Duke".
"The pleasure's all mine, so Hunter, huh? You wouldn't happened to be…?"
"Yeah, I sure am…R.C Hunter's only daughter…I'm real sorry, much obliged for all your help but I really must be going now".
"It sure was nice meetin' ya, take care now".
Bo stood in the same spot until the Challenger's dust had settled from when Alexa sped off all of a sudden, then gradually made his way to the car, his mind elsewhere. All the way back to the Duke Farm he confused himself even more by trying desperately to figure out why she had acted so strangely at the mere mention of her multi-millionaire tycoon father's name. Even his kin had questioned his distant behaviour and when told of the day's events, understood his bewilderment.
"I just can't get her outta my mind", Bo exclaimed.
"Well, Cousin, I ain't never known you to let a pretty girl outta your mind before!" Said Luke with a smile.
"Luke…this ain't the time for jokin' around, we all know this is different", interrupted Daisy.
"I'm sorry, I'm just not sure if this is such a major cause for concern is all".
"If it matters to Bo, as our cousin, it matters to us all".
Bo smiled in appreciation at Daisy, and slept that night, when he eventually managed to drift off, content that he had the full support of his family behind him.
"Young Girl Victim of Tragic Crash" read the headline of the Hazzard Gazette the following morning. Luke picked up a copy and began to read aloud…
"Yesterday afternoon, at approximately four o' clock, Alexa Hunter, the daughter of famous tycoon, R.C Hunter, was badly injured in an automobile crash while returning home to Capitol City after a brief stop in Hazzard County. According to onlookers, her car appeared to be out of control before hitting a sudden dip in the road, overturning, and sliding into collision with a fallen tree trunk. The witnesses called for an ambulance and rushed to her vehicle, a blue 1970 Dodge Challenger, where they found her unconscious but breathing. She is currently in critical condition at Capitol City General Hospital. The full cause of this sad incident has yet to be investigated, but we shall do our best to keep everyone posted when news arrives. Until then, we, in Hazzard County, send our condolences to her family and friends, and wish her a full and happy recovery".
"God, what have I done?" pleaded Bo, his face full of sorrow.
"Now, Bo, you heard what the Gazette said, they still gotta investigate it", Luke rationalized.
"Bo, Luke's right, everyone's innocent until proven guilty, don't go blaming yourself for somethin' you don't know nothin' about yet", added Uncle Jesse.
"Why don't we go over to the Boar's Nest, see Daisy, and buy you a beer to calm you down a little? How does that sound?"
"I guess I could use a cold beer…Okay, Uncle Jesse, let's go".
"So Daisy, me and Uncle Jesse's inclined to think we should stay cool and wait for the full story to come out, what do you think?"
"I say carry on like before, there ain't no use in jumpin' to conclusions".
"Y'see, Bo? Everybody has the same opinion".
"Yeah, Luke. Maybe I am taking it way too serious-like".
"That's more like it!", giggled Daisy.
The next day, Bo had an idea.
"Hey, Daisy, would you mind telling Luke and Uncle Jesse, when they get back from town, that I'm gone to Capitol City to visit Alexa?"
"No problem. As long as you're sure that you're feeling up to it".
"Never better, Cousin. Yeehaw, see ya later!" piped Bo as he hopped into the General, full speed ahead.
"Good luck!" Daisy called after him, unsure whether the General Lee had drowned out her well wishings.
As he approached the sign for Capitol City General Hospital, Bo braked steadily and eased the General into a cosy parking space near the main entrance. The sun was blocked out by the many dark grey clouds overhead, unlike the warm sunshine back in Hazzard.
He enquired at the main desk about the location of Alexa Hunter's room, and after a long, detailed explanation of his identity and his reasons, he was finally shown to her room at the far side of the hospital.
Upon entrance, he spotted an array of beautiful bouquets, chocolates and "Get Well Soon" cards neatly placed around her room. Then, he saw Alexa, drip placed in her right hand, her left arm in a cast, and a slightly red-stained bandage wrapped around her forehead. She kept her eyelids shut, and continued to breathe slowly. Bo asked the nurse supervising Alexa if she was conscious and could hear him speak. The nurse confirmed his query, so Bo approached her beside.
"Alexa…you remember me, Bo Duke? From Hazzard?"
She began to open her eyes slowly in recognition.
"How do you feel?" he asked her gently.
"Terrible…painkillers only do so much, y'know?"
"Yes…I'm sorry to ask but how did this happen to you?"
"I got a bit away from Hazzard, then I went to slow down 'round a bend…and I didn't have no brakes".
"Oh…well when I took a look under the hood I didn't see nothin' wrong with those here brakes, I just don't know…"
"It's not your fault, Bo. Please don't blame yourself. It's gotta be somethin' else".
"I know, did you happen to stop again afterwards?"
"Well yeah, come to think of it, I did. Y'see there was this Basset Hound, she looked like she got her lil' leg stuck in a rabbit hole. I freed the poor thing, then I went on my way".
"'bout how long were you outta your car?"
"Maybe, say five minutes at the most, that's all".
"Yeah, that may be all, but it's enough to slit a brake line when someone's got their back turned".
"Hmm…I'm thinking the same, Bo. Only one thing, everything I've told you gets printed in the Gazette tomorrow. What's everyone gonna think when Daddy points the blame at a friendly stranger?"