Chapter Two--Lazy Summer Day
Bo and Lana stood outside Cooter's Garage waiting for him to give them the parts that they needed to fix Uncle Jesse's truck. Lana's long dark colored hair was swept back out of her face to avoid the heat of the summer afternoon. Bo's arm rested around her slim waist as he watched Cooter gather the parts.
Lana lifted her face to the sky and breathed in the fresh air almost wishing for a chase with Rosco but knew they couldn't make any jumps with the jeep, though she knew both she and Bo could outrun Rosco in just about anything.
Cooter stepped out and handed Bo the boxes and then shot a grin at Lana who smiled back and turned getting into the driver's side of the jeep and grinned at Bo and then her eyes caught sight of Rosco across the street heading their way. "Bo, Rosco's comin." She said, shooting another glance over her shoulder as she reached out and started the engine.
Bo hopped into the seat next to her and she spun the wheel and headed out of town. Rosco muttered and then shook his fist at them and hurried over to his car. "You rotten Dukes, I'm gonna getcha, I'm a comin, I'm a comin'." He said and then looked at his trusty dog Flash. "We're gonna get em." He said with a grin as he followed the jeep down the road.
Bo glanced behind them and then turned to his girlfriend in the driver's seat. "He's gainin' Lana go faster." He cried and caught her eye as she swung around for a quick glance. Suddenly she spun the wheel and headed down a side road, but halted suddenly when she saw a glimmer off the top of something. She slammed on the brakes and sent the jeep into a partial skid and hopped out taking off into the brush and a moment later Bo heard her scream.
Bo was out of the jeep in a flash and tore through the bushes desperate to get to her and save her from whatever it was that had made her scream and he came too a halt next to her. The General rested against a tree and Luke was slumped over the steering wheel. Bo raced forward and leaned in the car, searching for a pulse on his cousin's neck.
"Luke c'mon wake up." He cried and looked up as Lana appeared on the other side of the General and reached inside, grabbing the CB mic. "Uncle Jesse, this here is Sweetheart, ya'll got your ears on, c'mon?" She cried. "Sweetheart this here is Uncle Jesse, what's goin' on?" He asked. Lana looked over at Bo a moment. "Bo and I were a comin' back from Cooter's when Rosco started to chase us an when I cut down Tecula Pass I found the General against a tree." She said.
"You stay right there, I'm on my way." He said. "10-4, Uncle Jesse." Lana said and placed the CB mic back on the radio and then her eyes caught sight of something resting on the seat next to Luke. She leaned in and grabbed it and then stared at it in surprise. "Where did this come from?" She said and walked around the car to show it to Bo just as Uncle Jesse arrived.
Uncle Jesse and Bo inspected the canister that Lana had found in the General. The strange looking canister in Lana's hand read Carbon Monoxide. "Wake em up." Uncle Jesse commanded the young couple, taking the canister from Lana's hand and placing it in his truck as Bo and Lana went to wake up Luke.
"Luke c'mon cuz, wake up." Bo said and reached out shaking his cousins shoulder. Luke graoned and slowly opened his eyes startled to see Bo and Lana staring at him in concern. "What happened?" He asked hoarsely, trying to ignore the fact that he seemed to be losing his voice. Bo and Lana exchanged glances and then looked back at him. "We were hoping you could tell us." Lana said softly.
Luke groaned again and eyed Bo. "The last thing I remember was some car coming from out of nowhere and running me off the road. " He said. Lana looked at Jesse who had finished studying the canister. "Then I don't suppose you know how this got in the General?" He asked. Luke eyed the canister and then nodded. "Yeah that thigng came sailin' through the window and whatever was in it knocked me out." He said.
"Well I think we oughta take ya to the hospital." Uncle Jesse said. Luke shook his head. "I just wanna go home and go to bed, Uncle Jesse." He groaned and then looked at Bo. "You and Lana take The General and go get Daisy and I'll drive the jeep home and then go to bed, that way you can go have Cooter fix what is wrong with em." He said.
Bo and Lana looked over at Uncle Jesse who nodded and ten motioned for Bo to help Luke out of The General. Bo reached out and helped his cousin out, and caught him as he almost fell. "I think we oughta drive Luke back to the farm and then go get Daisy." Lana said wisely. Bo and Uncle Jesse nodded in agreement and Luke opened his mouth to protest but was brushed off and helped over to the jeep as Lana got in The General and Uncle Jesse went to his truck.
When they reached the farm and helped Luke inside to bed Uncle Jesse looked at Bo and Lana. "Could you's two do the chores afore you go to see Cooter so's Luke can rest?" He asked them. Lana nodded and smiled. "Sure thing Uncle Jesse." She agreed and started towards the barn, her long legs carrying her the short distance and Bo hurried to catch up to her.
Luke rolled over and groaned and then started coughing and sneezing some more. He heard a shrill giggle from outside and recognized Lana's laugh and a moment later heard Bo's laughter too. He wished he could be out there too but he had no energy to do anything. A few minutes later he heard The General Lee's engine roar to life and then the musical horn of Dixie filled the air.
Cooter looked up from the car he was working on to see The General roar to a stop in it's regular parking spot and Bo and Lana hopped out. "Back so soon, did you's two forget somethin'?" He asked. Lana shot a glance at Bo and then shook her head. "No we found Luke not far from home, someone ran him off the road and then threw a Carbon Monoxide Canister in the car." She said.
Cooter stared at them. "Is Lukas all right?" He asked them. "Except for a cold I think he's fine, anyway we need ya to look over The General here before we go n get Daisy." Bo said. Cooter nodded and fixed the General and then waved goodbye to Bo and Lana as they roared off to The Boar's Nest.
Daisy looked up when she heard Dixie play and a loud YEE-HAW and grinned when she recognized Bo's voice and mannerism as The General screeched to a halt outside and then about two minutes later Bo and Lana walked through the door though she could see worry on their usually grinning faces. "What's going on?" Daisy asked and took Lana's arm streering her and Bo to a table.
Lana and Bo looked around and then leaned closer. "Someone ran Luke off the road on his way home from dropping you off here and then put a Carbon Monoxide canister in The General." Bo whispered. Daisy's eyes widened. "Is he all right?" She asked. Lana nodded. "Yeah, he's in bed right now." She said. Daisy nodded and then set her tray on the bar. "Well I'm done, let's go home." She said.
That night Luke was worse and got to his feet and went into the kitchen to get some water. Once his cup was filled he raised it to his lips and then felt dizzy and lost his grip on the mug and then collapsed in a heap on the floor.
Balladeer: This don't look good for Luke at all folks, but don't worry those Duke's don't give up without a fight. Don't go to the fridge now.
