Spittin' Image
Chapter 3
Jesse looked up from feeding the chickens when he heard Cooter's truck coming up the drive and sliding to a stop beside his own truck. His mouth set in a grim line when he saw Cooter and Bo both climbed out. Jesse put the feed bucket down and headed over to the two boys. "Bo Duke, what in the world are ya doin' here? Why ain't ya pickin' up those buildin' supplies like I told ya ta?"
"Take it easy, Uncle Jesse," Cooter said as he ran around the front of the truck and stood between Jesse and Jonathan. "You're gonna find this hard ta believe, but this ain't Bo."
"First off, I ain't your Uncle Jesse, and second, what do ya mean that ain't Bo? Do ya think I'm goin' blind in my old age?"
"No, no, nothin' like that, Uncle…I mean Mr. Jesse, sir," Cooter chuckled. "But he really ain't Bo. Jesse Duke, I'd like ta introduce ya ta Jonathan Kent."
"Jonathan Kent?" Jesse asked as he took a closer look at the blonde haired man.
"Uh, yes sir," Jonathan answered nervously.
Jesse observed the man standing in front of him, seeing the wild, blonde hair, which was just a bit shorter than what his nephew was wearing, the flannel shirt, and the work boots that he wore. But what really confirmed it for Jesse was when he looked directly into Jonathan's eyes and saw the familiar blue but a different sparkle. "Why ya really ain't Bo, are ya?"
"No sir, I'm not," the young man answered. "Like Cooter told you, my name really is Jonathan Kent."
"Why you're the spittin' image of my nephew though," Jesse said as he stood back. "Ya two could pass for twins."
"That's what I've been gathering," Jonathan sighed as he ran his hand through his hair.
"Cooter, just what is goin' on?" Jesse asked as he faced the mechanic.
"Well sir, I uh, sorta broke him out of Rosco's jail," Cooter answered nervously, now coming to realize that maybe what he had done wasn't such a good idea after all, especially with the way Jesse was scowling at him.
"Cooter Davenport, you thimble brained…" Jesse started to yell but stopped and calmed himself down. "Alright, one of yas start explainin' what's goin' on."
"Your sheriff mistook me for your nephew Bo when he pulled me over for speeding. He then charged me with grand theft auto, driving a stolen truck, using a fake driver's license, and probation violation. I swear Mr. Duke sir, I didn't do any of those things."
Jesse saw the desperation in the young man's eyes and smiled. "Now don't ya worry son, that ain't nothing that we haven't had ta deal with before."
"That's what Cooter has been kind of telling me," Jonathan sighed as he leaned against the tow truck.
"And when I saw Rosco draggin' him into the courthouse, I just assumed that it was Bo and went over ta talk ta him through the winda. But boy were my britches in a bind when I realized that he wasn't Bo after all," Cooter shrugged back. "That's when I decided ta break him out. Didn't figure on Rosco lettin' him go anytime soon."
"It's all right, Cooter," Jesse soothed as he placed a hand on the mechanic's shoulder. "Ya were only doin' what ya thought was best. But next time, ya might want ta think it through a bit more."
"Yes sir," Cooter answered, his head hung low.
"Well now, Jonathan, just where do ya hail from?"
"Smallville, Kansas, sir. My dad owns a farm back there and I was on my way to Atlanta to pick up a part for the tractor that broke down."
"A farmer ya say?" Jesse smiled proudly.
"Yes sir."
"What're your parent's names?"
"Hyrum and Jessica Kent."
Jesse stood there scratching his beard as he thought. "Kent, Kent. Nope, I don't know of any Kents bein' related ta us Dukes but maybe ya are on Bo's Mama's side. That would explain why ya look so much like Bo. So tell me, what is it that ya grow there?"
"Corn, wheat, hay, and a small herd of cattle."
"Well good fer your daddy," Jesse grinned. "It's nice ta meet a fella farmer."
"Thank you, sir," Jonathan grinned for the first time since he arrived in town.
Jesse was taken aback slightly when he saw the same crooked smile on Jonathan's face that Bo used. "Sorry it had ta be under these conditions though," Jesse said.
"I have to admit, it has been…interesting since I got here. I wanted to experience an exciting trip…well I guess I got my wish."
"Well, don't ya fret none, son. I'm sure we can take care of whatever ole Rosco has charged ya with."
"But that's the problem. He thinks that I'm Bo. He's got a whole mess of charges against him and I guess you could add escaping to the list now."
Jesse shook his head. "Like I said before, we've been in worse situations than this."
"But I don't see how your nephew or I is going to get out of this one."
"Easy. We just take both you and Bo back ta the sheriff's office so that Rosco can see that you're really who ya say ya are, and that it is your truck and driver's license that the Sheriff confiscated, which means Bo didn't steal anything and that he hasn't violated his parole."
"Well, where is your nephew?" Jonathan asked as he looked around.
"He's runnin' some errands for me with his cousin Luke."
"Uh, Mr. Jesse, sir," Cooter stumbled. "Maybe we oughtta warn them two that Rosco's on the hunt for Bo."
"You're right, Cooter and we better do it right quick."
"I'll try ta get a hold of 'em," Cooter answered as he went and sat back down in his truck.
"I'm sorry, sir," Jonathan told Jesse with a look of regret on his face. "I should never have come into Hazzard. It's been nothing but trouble for me and for Bo and he doesn't even know it yet."
"Son, us Dukes wake up everyday knowin' that there's gonna be some sort of trouble and we always manage ta get through it and we'll get through this one too. Now don't ya fret none. We'll get you and Bo out of this mess."
All Jonathan could do was nod even though he felt that everything was going wrong.
A/N: Hoped you like it. I promise you, Bo, Luke, and Daisy will be making their appearances soon.