Chapter 9: Fighting Fate


Bo finished up for the day and headed into the house to get cleaned up. His sister and Jebb weren't due to get back to Hazzard until tomorrow and Daisy was already off at work. Luke and Jo were likely going to head out to the Boar's Nest later as well. Which would leave Kim spending yet another Friday night alone since Uncle Jesse was heading over to the Widow Meadows for the evening. Kim had tried not to complain about being stuck at the farm (especially since she was offered the chance to go to Placid for the week) but Bo could imagine that she was about to climb the walls. She'd even taken to helping out with the household chores in the three weeks that she'd been out at the farm while hiding out from her rogue ex-husband. In the week since the court date there had been no word on where Ted Wright was.

Thinking about Kim, Bo thought that she might would like a chance to get out of the house just like the rest of them; more so, even. Mulling over a couple of options while getting washed up, he began to come up with an idea. When he got out of the shower, Bo noticed Kim coming back up to the house from the woods that she'd been exploring today (Kim had been using her time roaming the Duke land much in the same way that he had as a child). Knowing that she'd probably hold to her usual pattern, Bo knew that Kim would most likely wait until she thought that he was gone for the evening before she headed on upstairs to get cleaned up for the evening.

Hopping into the General, Bo figured that he'd give her some space before sharing his idea for the evening. Bo headed over to his sister's and used his spare key to Kira's truck. Kim's broken ribs were healing well (she only seemed to have problems with them now if she sneezed or hiccupped) but it was still too soon to expect her to climb in through the windows of the General Lee. When Bo got back out to the farm, Kim was back in the living room just sitting down with a book.

"You forget something?" Kim asked as she looked up from her book.

"Nope. I came back to see if you wanted to get away from the farm for a while," Bo said as he strolled into the room.

"I thought that we all decided that it was too dangerous for me to go out to town."

"We ain't goin' to town," he said as he saw Kim's skepticism. "Come on, trust me." Bo gave Kim a grin as he held out a hand to her.

~01~

Kim watched the road as Bo drove the truck across the Tennessee state line to a small town that the family used to deliver moonshine to back in the days when the family was in the moonshine business. Bo figured that so far away from Hazzard (minus the car that had as big of a reputation as he did) that he and Kim would be able to blend into the crowd and not be as noticeable. When Bo pulled up to an old roadhouse, similar to the Boar's Nest, Kim eyed the building as Bo walked around the truck to open her door up for her. When the two walked in, Bo led Kim over to an empty table and watched as she tried to relax.

"How did you find out about this place again?"

"We used to deliver 'shine here years ago," Bo said with a grin.

"How is it that you guys never got caught running that stuff, anyway? Everyone in the county knew that ya'll had the best 'shine in the state."

"What are you talkin' about? We got caught."

"Huh?" Kim gave Bo an odd look.

"Oh, that's right. You'd already gone off to college when Agent Roach caught Luke and me with that load."

"You guys went to prison?" Kim asked. When she was away from Hazzard, she hadn't really kept up with the local goins ons. And here she thought that the Dukes had been able to run circles around the law.

"Nah. Uncle Jesse made a deal with the government that he, Luke and me would never make 'shine again. We didn't get off probation until last year. In fact, my last night on probation was the night of the bank robbery last fall."

Bo went on to tell about the night that he and Luke had gotten caught running from the law with a load of moonshine. He also told how no one could have been more surprised than he was to learn that none other than Boss Hogg was the probation officer that he and Luke had to report to. A position that Boss had relished in; holding his power over the pair of Duke Boys at every turn that he could.

Over drinks (beer for Bo, soda for Kim) Bo told Kim of some of Boss's various schemes to try to send the Dukes to jail. Kim laughed at the tellings and had begun to truly enjoy herself. Bo asked her to dance when a slower song came on and the two took to the dance floor completely free of worrying about who was watching them or what was being whispered about them behind their backs. Much like they knew would likely have happened had they gone to the Boar's Nest.

Before either of them realized it, the evening had gotten away from them. Bo drove them back across the state line again and back to the farm in Hazzard. By the time they got back to the old farmhouse, it was well past three o'clock in the morning. The two tried to be as quiet as they could as they made their way inside; trying their best not to wake up Jesse or Daisy.

"I hope you had fun, Kim. I know I did," Bo whispered.

"I did, too. I really needed that. Thanks, Bo," Kim said back quietly as she reached up to give a light kiss of thanks on Bo's cheek.

As she stepped back Bo's eyes locked onto hers. He brought one hand up to cradle the nape of Kim's neck and lowered his head to find her lips with his own. Kim closed her eyes she accepted his slow exploration of her mouth as she felt his other hand rest on her hip as she tangled her fingers into his blond locks. After several long minutes Bo pulled back after leaving a playful nip on Kim's lips.

"Night, darlin'. I'll see ya in the mornin'."

With that, Bo headed on up the stairs as Kim was left to watch him from down below. She really did have a great time with Bo tonight. For a time, they had gone off alone and he'd actually gotten her to forget all about Ted and the trouble that he's caused her over the last month. In fact she had the feeling that she was going to have the best night's sleep that she's had in at least a month.

~01~

The next morning, Jesse went out to get the morning eggs while Bo was still finishing up the morning chores on purpose. He'd noticed that Bo and Kim had gone out last night and he'd been a bit concerned at first since it seemed to go against their efforts of keeping the young woman safe by stowing her out of sight. But in the end he had to trust his nephew's judgment on this issue; especially since he was well aware of the budding relationship between the two of them.

That being said, though, he felt he needed to make sure that Bo knew exactly what he was getting into. What with Kim's past relationships still haunting, no stalking, her. Jesse casually brought up that he noticed that Bo and Kim had gotten back to the farm awfully late last night. A fact that Bo couldn't exactly deny so he didn't really respond to the observation. He noticed how Jesse was digging without trying to appear as if he was prying. Jesse was curious about just what all had happened between his nephew and the young female doctor who had been staying with them.

"Uncle Jesse, nothin' happened if that's what you're worried about. I know better than to push Kim into anything right now."

"You sure? I mean, I know how late you two came in. Where did you take her?"

"Yes I'm sure. I took her up to the Blue Goose. We talked, dance a little; lost track of time. I just thought about how crazy I'd be by now if I hadn't left the farm in nearly a month and figured that a trip up probably wouldn't hurt none. We had fun."

"Well, I suppose she needed to cut loose a little bit. Has there been any word on whether or not the law's caught up to that man yet?" Jesse asked.

"Not yet. Enos said that they've spent the last week contactin' the authorities in Carolina and everything. Even said that Ted never showed up for work when he left Hazzard. So that means that he's been in the wind for nearly three weeks."

"Well, I hope that they find that pole cat soon. A body ain't meant to stay hidden away for so long," Jesse said as he headed back toward the house.

"I hope so, too, Uncle Jesse. I hope so, too."

~01~

Daisy had noticed Bo and Kim's absence last night as well but she had decided to wait to tease him once he got out to the Boar's Nest after dinner. With it being a Saturday night nearly all of Hazzard was out at the bar practically. Of course Daisy made sure to make her way over to where Bo and Cooter were sitting over at a table while waiting on the other Dukes to join them.

"Hey, sugar. I'm surprised that you came out tonight. You sure you wouldn't rather ditch Cooter here for a certain brunette that you were out with late last night?"

"Real funny, Daisy. Why don't you just leave a pitcher of beer behind so you ain't got to come back anytime soon?" Bo said as he flopped into a chair at the table.

"Bo, honey, you know that you're my favorite customer."

"Don't believe her, Bo. She told me the exact same thing just before you came in," Cooter said as he nudged Bo and chuckled.

"Well, you are my favorite customer that I'm not related to." Daisy giggled as she gave Cooter a wink. "Anyway, you want to tell me where you and you know who went last night? After all, I was in bed sound asleep before you got back home."

Cooter looked back and forth between both Dukes. He knew that the you know who that Daisy was referring to had to be Kim Appleby.

"You took her out? You goin' to still sit there and say that there ain't nothin' between you two?" Cooter leaned back chuckling as Bo him a dirty look.

"I expect this kind of stuff from Daisy but come on, Cooter. You're not really goin' to give me a hard time too, are ya?"

"I don't know, Buddy Roo. I've heard you two have gotten mighty cozy over there. And with Daisy sayin' that y'all stayed out so late…"

Bo rolled his eyes. He takes Kim out once and now he'll never hear the end of it. Daisy laughed as she headed over to the bar to get another batch of drinks to her customers. She knew that Cooter would help her rib Bo about all of the time that he'd been spending with the hidden house guest. Besides Doc Appleby, Cooter was the only one other than the Dukes that knew where Kim was. Of course, since he was a Duke in everything but name, it was only natural for him to be let in on the secret in case they would need his help later on.

The bar was too busy for Daisy to take the time to pick on Bo too much. But Cooter, and later Luke and Jebb, picked up the slack for Daisy. When she was able to get a glimpse of the table where her family was sitting at, she could tell from across the room that Bo was upset by the teasing. Bo's body language had always spoken just as loud as any of the words that could ever come out of his mouth. The fellas were all loving being able to give the youngest of the crew a hard time. Especially the married Dukes. Bo had certainly given them a fair amount of a hard time; it was only fair that they do the same for him.

Daisy was able to sneak over once and joined in the fun of picking on Bo since he still seemed to be oblivious to a fact that the rest of them had known since before Kim had moved in. Bo, whether he wanted to admit it or not, had fallen for Kim. It hadn't been the fast and hard fall that he was used to either. It was something that just sort of snuck up on him this time rather than hitting him in the face at full force. Which had only made it more fun for Daisy to watch.

Shortly after Daisy had stopped off at the table again, Cooter had to leave on a call which left Bo alone with the couples at the table. Though once they took to the dance floor, Bo wasn't alone for long. Daisy looked over and saw Kathy Griffith was over there now and was chatting it up with her cousin and was looking awful friendly over there. When Bo looked up and saw Daisy watching him, he seemed to reach a decision and turned back to Kathy who seem thrilled with whatever Bo was saying to her. Before Daisy could make her way back over to the table, Bo and Kathy both stood up and left together.

Daisy crinkled her nose at the sight of her baby cousin leaving with the woman that had joined him at his table. After all of the teasing that he'd taken, Bo was out to prove that he was still the same Bo Duke that he'd always been. That he wasn't letting any new feelings for a woman, whatever they might be, change who he was. Daisy guessed that she and the others had gone just a bit too far with their joking. Bo had decided that the only way to get the pokes and prodding to stop would be to head out with the first available and willing woman that came up to him tonight. And knowing Bo, he'll even make sure that he'll barely make it home in time for church in the morning.

~01~

While Kim was out at the house alone, she couldn't help but spend her time really thinking about what had happened the night before. She went over in her head how Bo had been so thoughtful taking her off the farm since he knew that she was bored but making sure that she was safe at the same time. She'd really enjoyed spending time with him. A thought that she would have never had entertained a year ago. Oh she still knew very well that Bo Duke was impulsive and could let both his temper and his mouth run away with him. He was far from perfect but he was heads and tails above Ted.

Then there was the goodnight kiss that he'd given her. It had been totally unexpected. Kim had to smile to herself as she thought about it. Considering the amount of practice the man has, he ought to be the best kisser that she'd ever come across. But that same experience that made Bo such a great kisser also told Kim that the same kiss didn't mean anything. So Kim figured that she shouldn't really expect a second one. After all, she was only here because the family felt sorry for her.

There was nothing really between her and Bo, which meant that as soon as her ex-husband was found and arrested she'd be out of here. She'll go back to her own life, leaving Bo to his. She'd meet him a few times out at the bar while he would wait for the others out there, and that will be the end of it. In fact, Bo was likely out with one of the women from Hazzard right now and Kim was the last thing on his mind. A thought that Kim wasn't sure how she felt about it. There could be no way that she could be jealous that Bo was out with other women. She was only a woman who had needed some help and the Dukes as a whole were giving it to her. There was nothing else to it.

Kim went out to the porch and sat on the swing as she stared off down the road. It was late and she knew that she should head to bed. Especially since she hadn't gone to sleep last night until the early morning hours. Somehow though, she just wasn't tired. Instead she rocked back and forth on the swing while thinking about Bo Duke and how irritatingly fun he could be around without even trying.

~01~

The next morning, while the Dukes headed off to church, Daisy prodded Bo about his leaving the bar with Kathy Griffith. Jesse listened to his niece as she let her feelings be heard on her opinion on whether or not Bo should have took off with the young lady in question. Jesse had been hoping that Bo would pull back a little on his prowling around. Especially since it was obvious that, given enough time, there seemed to be a lot of potential for Bo and Kim.

Bo however seemed to now be on a mission to prove his cousin wrong. He already had plans with Kathy again later in the week. Jesse figured that he'd better find a way to get Daisy to pull back with her teasing and pushing. The effect seemed to be causing Bo to feel that he had something to prove. That he needed to show everyone, including himself, that he was immune to the feelings that Daisy was accusing him of having for Kim. Jesse will have to have a talk with Daisy while they were making lunch.

~01~

Ted slammed his fist down on the counter as he once again was told that the ticket agent didn't remember seeing his wife when he showed her picture to him at the bus station. He couldn't find a single person that remembered seeing Kimberly. He was beginning to think that no matter how hard he looked, he wouldn't either. Ted had the sneaky suspicion that she had never been in the area. He'd been fooled into thinking that she'd gone west which meant that he needed to rethink just where Kim had gone after her little performance in front of the jail's window. Well, there had to be someone who knew where Kim was. He just had to figure out who she would have trusted.

Thinking back to when he was in Hazzard, he thought about the date that he'd seen Kim come home from. That roughneck had a custom paint job on his car. If she would have told anyone where she was going, Ted was willing to bet that it would have been that rube. With a car like that, surely it can't be too hard to figure out who he is. He just had to get back to Georgia.