Bo Duke remained in the hospital for another week before the doctors released him on the sole condition that he spend at least another week in bed at the farm.
This didn't sit well with Bo, but it was either that, or remain in the hospital for another week, so in the end Bo agreed, since the farm was a lot better than the hospital.
The week passed slowly at the Duke farm, almost to slowly for the resident hot rod driver in the Duke family, but finally the week was over and he could return to the track.
As promised, the General was all fixed up and waiting for him when he returned.
A smile crossed Bo's face as he ran a hand over the General's hood, admiring Cooter's work.
"Cooter. You sure do fine work!" Bo said as he lifted his hand from the hood. Not even a speck of dust lay on the General!
"Well I sure hope so, buddyroo. I spent all day an all night workin' on em' so's he'd be ready when ya got out." Cooter replied, as he too looked over the car.
"You are a genius!" Bo replied.
He turned and clapped Cooter on the shoulder as he began to walk over to the entrance to the stands where Luke, Daisy and Jesse stood.
"How's he look, Bo?" Luke asked as they all began to walk outside.
"Jus' as smooth as ever, cuz. I still can't believe that Cooter got em' fixed up so quickly!" Bo replied as he slung an arm over Luke's shoulder.
Luke chuckled a little, for he didn't tell Bo that Cooter had to be persuaded slightly to work as hard as he did on the General.
"When's the next race?" Daisy asked from behind Bo and Luke.
Bo turned slightly and said, "Tomorrow!"
The smile that was on Luke's face faded somewhat at that news.
"Bo, ya arn't gonna race again so soon after gettin' released are ya?" Luke asked.
"Of course I am!" Bo replied, almost shocked that Luke would even suggest not racing!
"After what jus' happened at the last race!" Luke asked.
Bo shook his head and smiled as he replied, "Cousin, that was jus' a close call!"
A 'close call'? Is that what Bo called it! He had nearly gone and gotten himself killed, and he called it a ' a close call'!
"What about you, cousin?" Bo asked as he looked at Luke.
"What about me?" Luke asked, not knowing what Bo was talking about.
"Are you gonna race er not?" Bo asked, making his question clear this time.
"Of course I'm gonna race! You'd think I'd let ma little cousin race alone!" Luke replied, while inwardly he thought, 'specially after what happened last time?'
Bo smiled a little as the little party exited the raceway and headed towards their respective cars.
Since Bo didn't want anything to happen to the General, he was leaving the car there until tomorrow after the race.
Daisy had offered to drive Luke and Bo around in Dixie for the rest of today, but after that they were on their own.
The next day came sooner than expected for some, for others, it had taken to long to get there.
Bright and early, Bo and Luke were at the track, checking out their cars.
They had both decided early on that they would work together on this race, and try to finish side-by-side if it were possible to do so.
While they were fine tuning the General, Ricky Rudd came up behind them.
"Well, didn't expect ta see you so soon!" Ricky said to Bo.
Bo turned around and said, "You couldn't keep me away!"
"Jus' wanted ta let you know I plan on winnin' this race fair an square." Ricky said.
"You can try, buddy, you can try!" Bo replied with a grin as he turned back to the General.
Ricky just chuckled and walked off.
Soon after that, the race began.
Since Bo and Luke didn't qualify, they had to start at the back of the pack, but that wasn't a problem for them. They knew how their cars behaved, and they knew what it would take to get in at the front of the pack.
As usual the pace car began the race, and after two laps, the cars were on their own for another two laps before the green flag was waved and the race became a free for all, but not for Bo and Luke.
They worked in perfect tandom, helping each other out when needed.
Since the race was only 60 laps, that didn't give Bo and Luke much time to whip out their fancy driving skills, but no matter, at the end of lap 52, Bo and Luke were nearly in the position to take first and second place.
As Luke stuck close to the General's tail, he grabbed the CB and radioed his cousin, since he had his car equipped with a CB since the last race.
"Cousin, ya got yer ears on? Come back." Luke said into the mic.
Two seconds later, Bo's voice came over the speakers in the car.
"Go ahead Luke, what'cha need?"
"We only got one chance ta pass these guys, an that chance is up there at turn 3." Luke said.
"I'm a listenin' cousin." Bo said.
"Alright. You stick close to th' leader, dog em' if ya have to. Make em' go high on the turn. That'll force em' ta slow down long enough fer you ta get past em'." Luke said.
"10-4. Luke." Bo said as they approached turn 3.
Luke and Bo preformed the same manouver at the same time and effortlessly took 1 and 2 place just as they entered lap 55.
The earpiece in Luke's helmet suddenly crackled as his boss said, "Now's the time ta pass that orange car an take the lead! You can do it!"
Luke shook his head as he replied, "Sorry sir, I can't an won't do it. Me an my cousin are a team, an we make desision's as a team, an we never race against each other!"
He then ripped out the wire from his helmet which killed his radio link to his crew.
Sighing, Luke grabbed the CB and radioed Bo again.
"You ready ta win this, cousin?" Luke asked.
"Ya mean, are WE ready ta win this?" Bo replied.
Luke chuckled at that little reminder that they both were supposed to come in as a tie for first place.
"Yeah, that's what I meant." Luke replied.
"Well, I'm ready when you are." Bo said as the white flag was waved, signaling that the final lap had begun.
Effortlessly they lined up, side-by-side just as they came around turn 4 and headed for the finish line.
The checkerd flag waved just seconds before Bo and Luke passed the finish line, side-by-side. They both had won the race!
The judges, knowing they just couldn't award the winning of the race to one or the other, they just awarded it to both Duke boys!
Bo and Luke couldn't be happier.
For one, they had won the race, and two, they had their friendship back and it was a strong as ever.
The judges had to take the trophy and do a little last minute change of the name so it had both cousin's names on it.
When Bo and Luke recieved the trophy, it read: First place winners of the Atlanta Moter Speedway, Bo and Luke Duke
Underneath that, it had the signatures of the judges ingraved in it as well.
When they got home, Bo and Luke placed the trophy on the mantlepiece.
It was the perfect place for it, concidering all that they had to do to get it.
"First place winners Bo and Luke Duke. It's got'a nice ring to it." Bo said as he wrapped an arm around Luke's shoulders.
"Yeah it does." Luke agreed as he gazed at the trophy.
For several minutes the boys looked at the trophy before they headed into the kitchen to get at some of Daisy's fresh apple pie which she had made earlier that day.
It didn't take long for things to return to normal in Hazzard County.
The Duke Boy's friendship had been repaired, and because of that, they still lost Rosco and Cletus when they chased them, instead of pulling over and blaming each other.
Boss Hogg still got angry and smashed Rosco or Cletus' police hats when the Duke boys ruined another one of his plans.
So, in essense, things returned to normal in Hazzard County and the Dukes wouldn't have it any other way.
THE END
Author Notes:
Sorry it took me so long to finish this story. But I finally got it done.
Hope everyone likes the last chapter.