As soon as Bo was out on the road, speeding away furiously from the Farm, he couldn't stop the tears from racing down his cheeks. Once anger had taken over, then it was guilt and regret's turn to have a go at his whirling thoughts.
When Luke had hit the ground, for a few seconds he hadn't moved….but to Bo it had felt like an eternity. He had felt the too close to the surface rage bubbling underneath his skin from the moment Luke had started to tell him he couldn't race, but he had never meant to let it control him as far as he had done.
He just couldn't understand why Luke was doing this to him, why Luke was trying so hard to make all his dreams go up in flames. He had wanted….no; he had needed Luke to be there with him because he drew his strength and courage to race at such high speeds from him. His older cousin was his source of moral support, the love and protection that he knew Luke had for him was what spurred him to do his best in everything. Take that away and he was lost with no conceivable way of finding his way back.
And yet, even though he knew that Luke would never lie to him about something this important, even though he knew that Luke cared for him so deeply that he would never try and shatter his dreams because of some bout of jealousy….he couldn't imagine any other reason for Luke saying what he had. The evidence was all there….the frequent tune ups of the General, not spending time with Bo when he was ill – usually something that Luke always did when Bo was ill – taking the General out for more runs than Bo could keep track of over the course of his confinement to his bed. Luke had said it was to make sure the General was running properly and checking out the details of the race…but Bo was now leaning more towards the signs of snuck in practises at racing, perhaps even talking with the guys who had offered him this opportunity to accept him instead of Bo…
He angrily yanked on the steering wheel, turning the General into a sharp left hand turn to swerve down a side road, leading to the secluded race track. He skidded to a halt in the open space next to a small building where 3 men were stood talking and watching as cars sped round the track in front of them. He slid half out the window and sat, furiously brushing the tears away from his eyes and cheeks, and watched also the driver's testing their cars, noting the mistakes that they made and how it could be used to his advantage.
After a time, the men finally spotted him and the two who had originally spoken to Bo walked over, smiling. Bo slid fully out the General shook their outstretched hands as they reached him.
"Howdy again."
"Well hello…uh…Bo wasn't it?"
"Yes sir sure was."
The man smiled at him and waited until his associate had shaken Bo's hand before continuing.
"I don't believe we told you our names when we first met. I'm Chris and this is Jack. So, what brings you here? The race isn't for another two days…"
Bo nodded, not particularly wanting to reveal the reason for him being here so early, but the nagging in the back of his mind, the one that kept trying to tell him that Luke was right just wouldn't quit bothering.
"Well actually….it was something my cousin has said…about this race…"
Chris raised his eyebrow, looking towards Jack slightly nervously. This however went unnoticed by Bo who was fixedly staring at the confederate flag neatly painted on the roof of the beloved orange stockcar.
"Oh really? Well what would that be?"
"He said….he said that this is an illegal race…that you's just usin' me, you ain't really lookin' to enter a team into NASCAR….that this whole race is crooked so that the one who brings in the money for the illegal gambling can win…"
He looked up to see the two men's reactions, seeing the look of shock and horror on their faces as they looked to each other before turning back to face Bo. Jack spoke first, his voice calm but the tension that had risen in his muscles visible.
"Oh he did did he? Has he got any proof?"
"He said you….he overheard you talking in the Boar's Nest…"
Chris frowned and looked again to Jack, before looking back to Bo, a puzzled look on his face.
"Where?"
"The Boar's Nest…"
"Well….I'm sorry Bo but me and Jack ain't left here since we came and set up. We live in them there camper vans…."
Bo's stomach felt like it had plummeted down to the very depths of hell and further….Luke had been lying, he really was trying to steal the opportunity out from underneath his nose. He just stood, dazed as the thoughts ran through his head. All the years of trust and teamwork with Luke, all the love and affection that Luke had shown him…was it possible now that all that was a big lie too?
Chris smiled slightly at Jack as Bo looked away, spotting the unmistakable shine of tears and the look of hurt in the young man's eyes. He stepped forward and placed an arm around Bo's shoulder's, gently guiding him back to the driver's side of the General.
"Look, I'm sorry about what your cousin's been tryin' ta do…but as long as yer here, why don't ya test this car o'yers round the track, make sure he can handle it."
Bo's smile instantly lit up his face as he looked back to Chris.
"The General can handle anythin' but yeah I'll test out the track…see if I can't set some records."
"That's the spirit. Let's see what ya can really do Bo."
Bo nodded and slipped into the General, having to hotwire him again to get him started. He pulled on his bright orange helmet, adjusting the strap so it sat comfortably under his chin and set off, skidding the General to a halt at the starting line. He watched as Jack and Chris went to stand with the other guy they had left previously then turned his attention quickly to the track as the last car sped into the pit stop. After a couple of seconds, he floored the General, burning out the back tyres a bit before speeding off down the straight, soon sinking deep into what Luke and Daisy called 'Racing Mode.'
In 'Racing Mode' there was hardly anyone that could get through to Bo. He would keep his focus purely on the road; almost becoming one with the General as he smoothly turned the wheel to throw him into a sharp right hand turn or pressed lightly on the accelerator to speed him down the straight.
Chris and Jack had deliberately resumed talking with the stranger Bo had not met, grinning as they saw the guy keep turning back to the track, watching Bo speeding round the corners in record time, hearing the low whistles of the crew as they timed him, knowing Bo was setting new records with every lap.
"You like him huh?" Chris asked.
"He looks like a top quality driver, not like yer other riff raff round here."
"Does that mean you do want to make a bet after all?"
"Mmmm…he seems like a sure winner….alright, put me down for $500,000 on that guy to win."
"Sure thing, pleasure doing business with you Mr. Dershire."
Dershire nodded and watched Bo a little longer before walking back to his own car and driving away.
Jack looked back to Chris and soon both were laughing gleefully.
"Boss is gonna be happy. This Duke character is gonna bring us a lot o'money in at this rate. 500 grand!"
"I know what ya mean…too bad he won't live long enough to see any of it."
"What are we gonna do if his cousin gets to him again though?"
"We'll encourage the kid to go back to his place tonight…you follow him and see where he lives. If that interferin' cousin o'his keeps pushin' him the way he is, the kid ain't gonna wanna be near him again for a while. We'll kidnap him 'afore the race, that way the rest of his family'll be out lookin' fer their lost one rather than Bo."
"But how gonna make sure they argue more 'bout it? Who's ta say this guy ain't gonna wait until race day to try again?"
"With a well placed phone call to Bo…come on."