Epilogue
As the weeks passed, Luke slowly grew stronger and within two months he was back to his usual old self.
After finding out why Bo had raced, the company decided to give him all of the prize money and not share a single penny with Russel Duke.
Bo had been shocked and had used some of the money to pay for the General's repairs, the rest of the prize money he gave to Uncle Jesse, to help pay for the mortgage on the farm.
Russel and his wife were sent to jail on the charges of kidnapping and attempted murder, and wouldn't be released for a long time to come.
After things settled down, Jesse took another, closer look at Bo's adoption paper's and found that what Mandie had told him had been a lie.
Mandie had no more claim on Bo than Boss Hogg or Rosco did!
Angerly, Jesse almost wanted to go down to Atlanta and disown that woman, but he stopped himself, reminding himself that she was getting what she deserved.
---------------------
In the boy's bedroom, Bo was telling Luke the whole story about his kidnapping.
"It was hard, Luke. Ta agree ta race for em, knowing that you were hurt."Bo said.
"I know Bo, but it's over now." Luke said.
Bo nodded and glanced out the window, thinking back to the time when he had just woken up in the strange apartment.
"WAKE UP, BOY!"
The voice of Russel Duke caused Bo to wake up from his sleep.
Slowly he sat up and looked at the man who was supposed to be his father.
"Well, glad ta see that yer finally awake, we got things ta do today." Russel said as he went around, opening up blinds to allow the morning light to stream into the room.
Bo stood and faced Russel defiently as he said, "I ain't gonna help ya do anythin'!"
"You're not huh!" Russel replied as he turned to face the blonde haired boy.
Bo nodded his head for a second as he went on. "You hurt ma family and fer that, I won't help ya. I don' matter if ya shoot er kill me, I won't help ya!"
"Let me tell ya somethin' boy! If ya want a home ta return ta, I suggest ya co operate." Russel replied.
"What'cha talkin' about?" Bo asked.
He was confused because he thought that even if he did race, Russel would never allow him to return to his family.
"I had a mind ta take ya back ta yer sissy little family, but now..."Russel began, baiting the trap for Bo, who he hoped was to blind to see through it.
"How do I know yer tellin' me th' truth?" Bo asked.
"I swear, on my honor as a Duke." Russel said, holding up his right hand.
Bo nearly smirked as he thought, 'That don't mean much.'
"Alright, I'll race this one time, after that I'm gone." He said, imitating Rosco's 'I'm gone'.
"Deal." Russel said herding Bo out of the door.
"What's the matter Bo?" Luke asked.
Bo looked at Luke quickly, realizing that he had zoned out a little.
"Just thinkin' is all." He quickly answered.
Luke nodded his head as he got up from Bo's bed and crossed to his own.
"Well come on cuz'. We best turn the lights off an' get some sleep 'fore Uncle Jesse comes in here. Ya know what he's like when he's cranky!" Luke said.
Bo shuddered at the memory of Uncle Jesse storming into the boy's bedroom, yanking them both to their feet and hauling them to the barn, all because they hadn't gone to bed when they were supposed to. The spanking had been harder than usual because Jesse was already steamed at Boss Hogg's low down, sneaky ways of trying to get rid of them.
After ten swats, Jesse had sent both boys back to their beds.
Bo rubbed his tingling backside as the memory faded.
Walking to the light switch, Bo flicked it and plunged the room into darkness.
He made his way back to his bed from memory, and slowly sank back into it.
Both boy's held their breath as Uncle Jesse's footsteps stopped outside their door.
The door opened and Jesse's form could be seen standing there.
"G'night, boys." He said.
Both boys broke into grins and replied, "G'night, Uncle Jesse."
Uncle Jesse shut the door, and soon after Bo and Luke fell asleep to dream the night away.
THE END
