Disclaimer: I don't own the Dukes. I just own the plot.

Author's Note: These couple chapters are long and filled with a lot of dialogue drama, and angst. But don't give up on this story yet! There is action in later chapters.

Chapter 3: The Trip

"Hey Bo," Luke called out to his cousin, who was sleeping soundly next to him in the passenger seat.

"Hmmm?" Bo mumbled sleepily.

"Whaddya say we get us some chow? You hungry?"

"Yeah..." Bo sat up and rubbed his eyes, surprised to find that the sun had gone down and they were now on the interstate. "Where are we? An' what time is it?"

"We're on I-20. Got about half an hour more 'til we reach Savannah an' it's 5 now."

"Five o'clock! You lemme sleep for dang near two hours! No wonder I'm starved. Why'd it take us so long to get here anyway?" Luke shrugged sheepishly.

"I ah...didn't wanna wake ya while you were sleepin' on the map." Bo looked down and noticed that the state map was tucked between his arm and the center console. He sent a withering glance toward Luke.

"Ya got lost, didn't ya? Because ya were too stubborn to look at the map or wake me up an' ask me."

"Hey, who taught you how to read maps?" Luke asked reprovingly.

"Yeah, you just don't wanna admit that I—hey! Truck stop next exit...exit 4!" Luke merged onto the off ramp and easily pulled up to the restaurant and parked. Bo chuckled when he saw the name of the place.

"What kind of a truck stop restaurant'd be named 'Big Mama's Diner'?" Luke smiled. It was good to see Bo back to his old self, even if it was for just a moment. They slid out of the General and swaggered inside, taking their seats at the bar.

"I'm gonna go take a leak. Order me a cold one, okay?" Luke said, then headed off to find a restroom. Bo nodded and turned as the waitress came over. She was a pretty girl, 5'3, with petite features and shiny brown hair pulled back in ponytail.

She smiled at Bo, who returned the greeting with his deep country drawl. "Howdy."

"Hi, what can I do for ya tonight?"

"Oh, I'll have a soda an' a beer for my cousin—he'll be back in a minute."

"You wanna order your food now?"

"Yeah, I'll have..." Bo scanned the menu, wondering what to eat that would fit their budget. Fifteen dollars wasn't gonna go a long way.

"May I suggest Big Mamma's special?" The girl asked politely.

"What's that?"

"Well, tonight it's chili, cornbread, an' a side salad, for $2.99." Bo's stomach growled.

"Sounds good; I'll have one for my cousin, too." She smiled and leaned against the bar.

"And is your cousin as cute as you are?" she flirted. Bo's eyes sparkled playfully. He noticed Luke making his way over and said, "Well, why don't ya decide for yourself?" She took one look at Luke and grinned.

"He sure is," she said, blushing, then rolled her eyes as her boss yelled at her to get back to work. "I'll catch y'all later," she called as she went back to the kitchen.

"Make a new friend?" Luke asked knowingly as the girl hurried off. Bo chuckled.

"Maybe. I think she liked you more, though." Luke rolled his eyes. Fifteen minutes later the girl was back with their orders, and Bo couldn't help but socialize. "Hey what's your name?"

"Cindy," she replied. "Cindy Wheeler." Luke nearly choked on a piece of cornbread and Bo's face paled.

"What's wrong?" Cindy asked worriedly, pushing Luke's drink closer to him. Bo pounded him on the back until he quit coughing.

"You wouldn't know a Brenda Wheeler, would ya?" he asked as Luke took a few careful sips of his drink.

"Sure, she's my mom. Who're you?" The boys gave each other a surprised look.

Balladeer: Now if that ain't a lucky coincidence, I'll eat my hat.

"Uh, well, my name's Bo Duke, an' this is my cousin, Luke. You ever heard of us?"

"No, I can't say I have," she admitted. "How do you know my mom?"

"It's a long story," Luke said hesitantly.

"Well, I'm off in a half an' hour. If ya wait 'til then I'd be happy to hear it." The boys readily agreed to meet her out front at 9, and watched her walk away. Bo sighed. The strange, sad feeling enveloped his heart once again, and all the confusion he'd felt earlier that day came rushing back full force. Luke noticed the change right away.

"You gonna eat?" he asked carefully, watching his cousin's reaction. Bo shook his head and pushed the plate away.

"I ain't hungry."

"You just said you was 20 minutes ago," Luke said.

"Well, I lost my dang appetite, alright?" Bo retorted sharply. Luke just sighed and turned back to his own plate. He was hungry.

When Cindy came over again to offer refills, Luke asked for a container for Bo's food. Even she picked up on the blonde's sudden change in behavior, and was puzzled about it, but said nothing. After she gave Luke the bill and left again, Bo glared him.

"What?" Luke demanded.

"I ain't hungry," he repeated stubbornly. Luke shrugged.

"Hey, fine. But we ain't gonna waste Uncle Jesse's money." This logic softened Bo's demeanor a bit.

"How much do we got left?" he asked.

"Only 'bout $6.00. Ain't enough for no hotel room that's for sure. Looks like we'll be sleepin' in the General tonight...an' I call backseat." Bo grunted and was about to say, 'no fair', but decided against it when he saw Cindy walking toward them.

"Y'all ready?" The boys nodded and followed her outside. Once in the parking lot, she whirled around. "Y'all didn't leave me no tip—don't ya like me?" She addressed the question to Luke.

"Uh, no ma'am, we like ya fine. We's just on a strict budget, is all." Both boys flushed. It was times like these it was a little embarrassing being broke. But Cindy didn't seem to mind.

"So what do y'all want to talk 'bout?" she asked. Bo looked away, clearing not wanting to talk, his eyes troubled. So it was up to Luke.

"Well, my cousin here got a letter yesterday from your mom sayin' that his dad had died."

"Ohhhhh," she breathed eyes wide with revelation. She turned to Bo. "You must be Robbie's son!"

"Looks that way," he replied without enthusiasm.

"Oh, she hoped you'd come, but she wasn't sure...ya know, you look like him." Bo refused to meet her searching gaze. "What's the matter?" she asked, putting her hands on her hips.

"Ah, we just had a long trip is all. Kinda wore out. We was hopin' you could help us find your house..." Luke explained hastily.

"Oh, I don't live with my mom anymore; I got an apartment, but yeah, I'll take you to her—follow me."

"Sure," Luke replied, watching her get into a blue Buick just two stalls over.

Wordlessly the boys slipped into the General Lee and followed her. Once again, it was a silent trip. Bo was too lost in his own thoughts to say anything, and wouldn't even know how to begin to explain his feelings to Luke, who seemed distant. Truth was, he hated Brenda Wheeler. Hated her from the moment he'd read her signature at the bottom of that letter. Hated her like he now hated his father, who was dead and gone. A man he'd never seen, and never would see.

He knew hating was wrong. Uncle Jesse had taught them better than that, and he was ashamed. So he remained silent, keeping his feelings inside.

Then there was Cindy. Pretty Cindy, whom he'd love to have gotten to know had she not been the daughter of the woman who'd turned his world upside down. He desperately wanted to tell Luke to stop the car—he didn't want to go meet this Wheeler woman. The only reason he'd gone on this trip was because he didn't know what else to do. And on top of it all, Uncle Jesse had lied to him, and although Bo had forgiven him, the fact remained: Everything he'd thought was true about his life had turned out a lie.

Luke shifted in the driver's seat, uneasy in the uncomfortable silence. He was emotionally worn out, a result of the hours of driving as much as the days events. All he wanted was a warm bed and a cold shower—maybe not in that order.

He glanced over at Bo and sighed. He was taking this hard. They hadn't had a chance to really talk yet, but Luke knew Bo really didn't want to right now anyway. He was actually surprised Bo hadn't lost it yet—next to Daisy he had always been the more emotional cousin. Luke was even a bit irritated with his cousin. At first because Bo was being so quiet and reserved, and then because of his childish reaction and his sudden unfriendliness to Cindy when he'd found out who she was. But most of all, Luke was frustrated because for once he didn't know what his cousin, whom he thought he knew better than the back of his hand, was thinking.

It was going to be a looong couple of days.

Authors Note: Sorry if there's any mistakes in the plot. Feel free to give me suggestions; I'm open to constructive criticism.