Spittin' Image

Chapter 4

Eighteen year old Bo Duke was just coming out of Rheubottom's General Store after paying their monthly charge and stopped to see if his cousin Luke was anywhere around. Not seeing him or the General, he figured Luke must still be down at the hardware store picking up the materials that Uncle Jesse sent them to get, and started heading that way.

"Freeeeze, Bo Duke!"

Bo turned to see Rosco strutting over to him with his gun drawn and pointed in his direction. "Rosco, will ya put that gun away before ya end up shootin' someone, namely me!"

"Now you just hush Bo Duke," Rosco ordered as he neared the blond. "Thought ya could get away from me again, didn't ya? Now I can add escape ta the list of other charges I have on ya."

"Charges? What charges?" Bo asked taking a step back.

"You know what charges I'm talkin' about."

"Rosco, I haven't seen ya in over two days. How am I supposed ta know what you're talkin' about?"

"Oh don't give that. I caught ya and I caught ya fair and square too. I've got ya on speedin', grand theft auto, usin' a fake driver's license, breakin' probation, and now escape."

Bo stared back at the older man as Rosco ticked each violation off on his fingers with his gun. "Have ya lost your mind? I haven't done any of those things."

"My mind is not lost, it's right where it belongs," Rosco chuckled. "Now hold out your hands sos that I can cuff ya again and then stuff ya in the cell that ya didn't break out of." Before a stunned Bo could make a move, Rosco reached out and grabbed his hand and slapped a cuff on it.

"Rosco, I'm tellin' ya, ya done made a mistake."

"Not this time, Bo Duke, I got ya and you're not gonna get away from me this time. Kew kew, I love it, I love it." He then took hold of Bo's arm and started walking him back to the courthouse.

Bo shook his head as Rosco led him to the courthouse, smiling and waving his cuffed hands to some of the fellow Hazzardites as he passed them by. Both men stopped in their tracks when Ms. Tizdale stood in front of them.

"Rosco P. Coltrane, just why are ya arrestin' such a nice, fine boy as Bo here?"

"Now Ms. Tizdale," Rosco started as he took a step back from her imposing four foot nine stature while removing his hat. "I'm just doin' my duty and takin' in Bo here on some very serious violations."

"Serious violations?" she asked. "Bo Duke? Why Rosco, ya know that there boy didn't do anythin' wrong. Why his Uncle Jesse, sweet man that he is, would never allow his boys to do anythin' illegal."

"That's what I been tryin' ta tell him, Ms. Tizdale," Bo smiled innocently.

"You just hush, Bo," Rosco ordered before turning back to the older woman. "Now I caught Bo fair and square and I'm takin' him ta the jail right now. So if you'll please excuse us." Rosco pulled on Bo's arm, continuing to head over to the jail.

"Uh, Ms. Tizdale, do me a favor," Bo cried out over his shoulder. "Luke's over at the hardware store. Could ya tell him what's goin' on?"

"Sure thing, Bo," Ms. Tizdale hollered back. "I'm gone." The Duke boy smiled as he saw her making her way down the road.

The sheriff and his prisoner finally arrived at the courthouse and Rosco quickly led Bo down to the jail cells. Bo stopped in his tracks when he saw the damaged that had been done to the one cell. "Rosco, what happened?"

"Oh you know what happened," Rosco answered, missing the confused look on Bo's face. "I'm gonna make Cooter pay for that too, after I arrest him for helpin' ya escape."

"Rosco, I'm tellin' ya, ya must have me confused with someone else," Bo said as the sheriff un-cuffed his hands and pushed him into the undamaged cell, quickly locking the door.

"Boss is gonna be so happy with me that I got ya back," Rosco crowed. "He wasn't too pleased about the damaged you and Cooter caused."

Bo just shook his head seeing that Rosco wasn't listening to him. "Do I at least get ta make my one phone call?"

"Are you kiddin' me?" Rosco hollered as he put his hands on his hips. "I'm not givin' ya the chance ta escape again so ya might as well make yourself as comfortable as possible." The sheriff then smiled and headed back up the stairs mumbling to himself all the way.

Meanwhile, Ms. Tizdale made it over to the hardware store and quickly spotted the General Lee. Moving over to the stock car, she saw Luke coming out with an armful of supplies to place them into the trunk. "Luke! Luke!"

Luke looked up to see the older woman coming over and smiled as she neared. "Hey, Ms. Tizdale. How are ya?"

"Oh Luke, am I glad that I caught ya," she panted out, trying to catch her breath.

"Something wrong, Ms. Tizdale?" Luke asked in concern.

"It's your cousin Bo. Rosco arrested him."

"What?"

"The sheriff said that he had a whole mess of serious violations against Bo and was takin' him ta prison."

Luke slammed the General's trunk closed and ran a hand through his hair. "Did he say what kind of violations?"

"No, just that they were serious."

"With Rosco, jaywalkin' would be considered a serious violation," Luke muttered out loud. "Thanks Ms. Tizdale. I'll take care of this."

"I know ya will, Luke. You two boys are good boys. I know that your sweet Uncle Jesse wouldn't let you get away with anythin' illegal."

Luke couldn't help but smile back at the older woman's fondness for his uncle. "No, he sure wouldn't."

"Ya tell that uncle of yours ta take care and ta call if he needs anythin'."

"I'll do that, Ms. Tizdale and thanks again."

"Alright, Luke. Ya be careful, ya hear?"

"Yes ma'am." Luke grinned as he watched her walk away. Luke's thoughts were interrupted when he heard his friend calling him over the CB.

"Breaker One, Breaker One, I may be Crazy but I ain't dumb. Crazy Cooter callin' any of ya Duke boys out there, come back."

Moving over to the driver's side window, he reached in and grabbed the CB handset. "Ya got Luke here, Cooter. What do ya need?"

"Just tryin' ta give you and Bo a heads up. Seems that Rosco is gonna be gunnin' for Bo so ya better watch yourselves and head on back ta the farm."

"Wait a minute, Cooter, how'd ya know?"

"Know what?"

"That Rosco just arrested Bo?"

"What? Dang, I'm too late. Listen Luke, don't go over ta the courthouse, just come on back home."

"But I gotta try and find out why Bo's been arrested."

"I know why Bo's been arrested but I can't explain it ta ya on the air. It'd be best if ya just came back ta the farm sos that Jesse and me can tell ya what's goin' on."

"Cooter, what is goin' on?"

"Just get back ta the farm and hurry. I'm gone."

Luke threw the handset onto the General's front seat in frustration and quickly climbed in. Revving the engine, he took off in the direction of the farm.