Author's Note: Bo gets a girl in his sights, but sometimes the past makes it hard for someone to fully enjoy the future.
Big thanks to Vinsmouse for beta work.
Warning: The warning is placed here for Vinsmouse, who wanted a spew warning here, claiming it might be a bad idea to drink while reading the funnier parts. So please keep in mind that drinking any kind of beverage while reading this, might be hazzard'ous to the health of your screen.
This story deals with things that some people might find slightly difficult to read about.
Disclaimer: The Duke Boys are not mine, I don't own the Duke boys, nor the General Lee. I promise that once I'm through with them, there will be nothing broken that a trip to Cooter's garage can't fix…. Kerry-Marie however is mine.
Haunted By The Past
Chapter 1: Smokey And The Bandit
Bo looked around himself where they sat in the back rows of the movies. It was a good movie screening with lots of action in it. Smokey and the Bandit, and it seemed to attract a large crowd. The younger folks had seen it several times already. Car chases, incompetent sheriffs and fast thinking heroes. Trying to get the Coors beer from one state to another in record times. It had all the things that made the Duke boys consider it a good movie, while Jesse claimed they didn't need to see it more than once since Bo jumped the General much the same way Burt Reynolds jumped his Trans-Am. It wasn't just that they saw the movie though, it was that they saw it with some pretty girls.
Cooter had his arm around Sally-Jo Johnson and Luke had his around Betty-Lou Nelson while he himself was sitting next to Kerry-Marie with his hands in his lap. The only way you could tell they were there together was really the fact that Bo held the popcorn that he had gotten for the two of them.
Neither of the Duke boys had ever dated Kerry-Marie before and he wasn't sure if she had ever been on many dates. Yet she had always been pleasant enough the few times he had talked with her, and after being told off by his intended date it had seemed like a good solution. Most girls were perfectly aware that the Duke boys didn't always commit themselves for more than one date at a time. Sometimes they asked for a new date as they took the girls home. Then they were committed for the time being and they never broke a commitment to a girl but if no promise had been made then they just didn't see themselves as committed. Apparently Sue Ellen had been more of the jealous kind because Bo had asked her for a date to the movies. Only after that she had seen him talking with Betty-Lou, and she had assumed Bo was flirting with her. In truth Bo had only wanted to know if it would be alright with her if he and Luke picked up both girls together rather than having to borrow their uncle's pickup together with the General.
Not listening to his explanation Sue Ellen had gone as far as to slap him in the face and tell him that he had better not ask her for a date again. Bo had decided that it was safest not to. If that was how she reacted she might get mad if he was even talking with Daisy, and he didn't want to be with that jealous a girl.
Being without a date and seeing Kerry-Marie at the Boars Nest he had asked if she was interested in going with him. It had taken quite a bit convincing but in the end she had agreed. Thinking that she was probably just shy he had decided to try a bit harder than he usually did. Risking Daisy's wrath to pick some flowers that he brought her for one thing.
He had been forced to promise her mother that he would have her back home in an agreeable time as well. Normally he didn't have to bother about things like that, or normally the parents had already given up and just sat waiting with a shotgun if they were too late. This time however he thought he would keep the time. The way the movie date was going he kinda doubted he'd get to settle down for a cuddle anyway.
The movie was at the end scene, and yet not a single kiss.
"Did ya have a nice time?" He asked her as they left the movie theatre and he took her hand, glad that she didn't pull away.
"Very nice Bo, thank you." She smiled at him and while she was not the prettiest girl in Hazzard she was kinda cute in a more boyish way. Short hair and dressed in jeans and shirt.
Luke grinned at him where he was walking with his arm around Betty-Lou. "Hey Bo, we're kinda figuring on heading out ta the creek, the two o' ya coming along?"
Bo knew what they would be doing there, he knew it very well. He wanted nothing more than to join them but it seemed that Kerry-Marie would rather not.
"Can ya leave me the General?" He asked. "I reckon we's gonna take a walk instead, maybe git some ice cream."
"Suit yerself cousin," Luke grinned as he tossed him the car keys. "An' don't cha wait up fer me, I reckon I'm gonna be late." He grinned as Betty-Lou giggled and the two couples walked down the street.
"I'm sorry ya didn't git ta go wi' them." Kerry-Mari told him quietly as the two of them were alone.
"Ah, it's alright," Bo told her. "We got an hour afore yer ma wanted ya back home though. Ya wanna go an actually git some ice cream?" He wasn't really used to this kind of date.
She nodded slowly. "Ya must be thinking I'm a horrible date." She mumbled quietly as they walked down the street.
"Nah, I could never think that." Bo smiled at her. "Yer a bit shy maybe, but I don't reckon I mind, yer a nice girl Kerry-Marie."
She gave him a doubtful look and Bo laughed. "Well, given how Sue Ellen slapped me in the face fer talking ta Betty-Lou, I reckon yer a mighty nice gal."
"She did that?" Kerry-Marie frowned.
"Yeah, an' I was only asking if she'd mind if we went all four ta the movies." Bo nodded as they approached the ice cream parlor. "Look, I know the kind 'a reputation that me an' Luke have earned, but we don't take advantage of no one."
"Yer a nice guy Bo." Kerry-Marie smiled at him and moved just a little closer to him as they walked. "There are some guys who would have said that I had ruined their evening."
"Well, ya sure didn't." Bo said even as he knew that Luke would be teasing him. "If watching smoky an' the bandit, an' going fer an' ice cream is a nice evening, then yer the cherry on the top."
Smiling at the way she giggled he ordered them both a banana split each and carried them over to the table.
"Cherry on the top?" She asked him with a small grin, thinking it was a very interesting way of putting it.
"Just a moment." Giving her one of his trademark grins Bo darted over to the counter and soon returned with a cherry that he placed on top of her banana split. "Cherry on the top." He nodded grinning at her the whole time.
Kerry-Marie couldn't help but laugh. Bo Duke was considered one of the best catches in all of Hazzard, thought most girls claimed they had thrown him back in to grow some after a date. In truth she had been very nervous agreeing to a date, fearing that he would expect certain things in return. However, it seemed that Bo Duke was willing to give what he had, and was satisfied with what he got in return.
Seeing that he wasn't making any demands on her she had a very nice evening. Laughing at the jokes he made because with his boyish looks and eagerness, he was really rather charming.
"Reckon it's about time I got ya home now." He finally stated as he put down his spoon, stood up and eased her chair back before offering her a hand rising. The image of the perfect gentleman.
"Yeah, but we don't have to hurry too much." She smiled at him, this time being the one to take his hand.
"We take the long way then." He beamed as he led her to where the General was parked and helped her inside. Driving her home at a leisurely pace without any car chases or anything.
Arriving at her house, he parked the car and slid out the window to help her out.
"I had a really nice evening." She smiled at him taking his hand. "Thank ya Bo." With those words she stepped up to him and gave him a small peck on the lips. While used to quite a bit more Bo found himself quite content and unable to do anything but grin. It wasn't until she was halfway to the door that he thought of calling out to her.
"Can I take ya out again?" He asked hopefully, pushing away from the car.
"I don't know when Bo." She answered seeming a bit hesitant.
"Are ya going ta the football game this weekend?" He asked hopefully, and grinned as she nodded.
"Great, can I pick ya up for that then?" He beamed at her in a way she found very hard to turn down.
"Alright Bo, pick me up a bit afore it starts." She stated and laughed at the cowboy holler he gave her. One thing was for sure, Bo was very enthusiastic about it.
Bo made his way from her house once he had seen her step inside, and after that there wasn't anything much else to do but make his way back towards the farm. Very early for him, but there was really nothing else to do either. Unless he headed over to the Boars Nest. He decided against it since that would mean Daisy asking him what he had done to be finished that early. Maybe heading back home for a game of checkers with his uncle wasn't such a bad idea at all.
He was already in bed when Luke came in. Even turned towards the wall he could tell the way he came in and started to undress.
"Close the door will ya Luke." He mumbled as light from the hallway spilled into the room.
"Who are ya an' what have ya done wi' my cousin." Luke laughed. "Yer turning into some kind of Sunday school dream boy. Yer home early an' in bed."
Bo would have thrown something at him, but the only thing he had was his pillow and he wanted to keep that. "Just cause I'm home before ya one evening ya don't have ta go insulting me like that," he growled at him.
"Bo, ya left ta git home as soon as the movie was over." Luke laughed.
"We went fer an ice cream." Bo defended himself.
"Yeah, and that must've been an exciting thing. Really Bo, I'm surprised at ya, being that forward with a girl." Luke went on and Bo flung his pillow at him angrily. Luke picked it up from the floor with a soft whistle. "Yer kinda touchy tonight aren't cha?" He asked.
"Shut up an' let me sleep." Bo glared at him. "An' give me my dang pillow back."
Luke threw it at him grinning as it landed on Bo's belly. "So, cousin, who are ya taking to the football game?" He asked, having just secured his own date and intending to make it sting that he assumed Bo didn't have one.
"Kerry-Marie." Bo told him punching his fist into his pillow.
"Really?" Luke asked surprised. The way it had looked to him he couldn't really imagine that Bo would agree to another date.
"I asked her and she said yes." Bo declared.
"Ya asked her for another date?" Luke gave him a confused look.
Bo nodded. "Yeah, I did."
"Why?" Luke sat down on the edge of his bed facing Bo.
"Cause regardless of what ya think, I had a nice time." Bo snapped at him.
"Nothing wrong with having a good time." Luke stated slowly. "I'm just surprised Bo. It ain't what you usually call a good time."
"I know that." Bo turned to face him. "But ya know, in spite of being really shy, she's a really nice girl. I was thinking that if I took it a bit easy she might get a bit more confident."
"Makes sense," Luke nodded. "I reckon it's okay as long as ya had a nice time."
"Yeah." Bo nodded. "An' I had a real good time."
Luke nodded, "then I ain't gonna say anything about it Bo."
"Thanks." Bo gave him a smile as he laid back down to sleep.
"The way I see it, anyone would be thrilled to be watching Smokey and the Bandit with the Duke boys."
/Please leave a review, the cricket is hungry…..
