Bo stirred as he heard voices coming from outside and instantly jumped to his feet when he didn't recognize them. He knelt down behind the counter as he heard the footsteps of two people walk past the window of the kitchen.
"Yeah, you know our orders, blow the barn and trash the house."
"And make it look like the Dukes gone and done it theirselves."
"That way Boss don't pay no insurance money, the Dukes are bankrupt and he gets the land while we walk away free with the money from Boss."
Now, what kind of criminal talks about their plan out loud at the scene of the crime? The unsuspectin' ones that's who, and the ones who don't like it when things don't go their way…
Bo instantly dove over to the wall and grabbed Luke's Bow and Dynamite arrows from the hook, remembering that he had earlier left his in the General. Seeing that the two fella's were already headed for the barn, he slipped out the back door and round to behind the General where it was parked, with a nice clear shot at the tree in front of the barn.
He knew he was taking a risk by aiming at something that was so close, but he had to do something to stop them. He silently pulled the string of the bow back, the hiss of the lit dynamite fuse reminding him that he didn't have a lot of time to aim. With a sucked in breath, he closed his eyes and let go of the string.
Y'all better pray that Bo's a good a shot as he brags about, or Boss' plan may work out too well.
The arrow connected with the base of the tree, blowing it to smithereens. Bo watched as the two men ducked out of the way of the falling pieces of timber before having to duck down himself. When he could finally pop his head up to have a look again, the two men had disappeared. He gently laid Luke's bow on the ground and reached for the CB tucked under the general's dash.
Suddenly, he felt two strong hands clasp his shoulders and drag him out of the car, throwing him against one of the huge tree trunks. Bo arched in pain, before sliding winded to the ground. He looked up as two shadows fell across his lap, and saw the two men who had just been standing in front of the barn just minutes before. He grimaced as they pulled him back to his feet, before roughly dragging him indoors and sitting him firmly on a seat.
"Now what y'all have to bring me in here for? It's a lovely day outside."
"Can it ploughboy, what's your name?"
"Who's askin'?"
He grimaced as a sharp backhand lashed across the back of his head.
"Hey come on now that ain't very nice. I was only tryin' to be friendly."
"Well maybe we'll be a little more friendly as soon as you tell us your name."
"It's Bo…Bo Duke."
"Bo Duke? Hey, ain't that the guy who ran you off the road in the race last Saturday?"
"Oh yeah, I thought I recognized that orange car outside."
Now, what y'all seem to forget, is that Bo is the master at Shuckin' and jivin'. Heck, he's shucked Jesse so many times even ol' Boss Hogg couldn't keep track. While those two guys are talkin about the race, Bo ain't really just noddin along, he's got a plan…or at least y'all better hope he does.
Bo leapt out of the seat, elbowing the guy to his left, and smashing the back of his head into the guy's nose behind him. He felt the hands drop away from his shoulders and instantly dropped to the floor, rolling under the table to appear out the other side. He grinned and laughed in satisfaction when he saw crimson liquid dripping through the taller guy's hands, and the other bent double.
"Now I'd just love to have a tea party with y'all, but I just gotta warn my cousin and about half of Hazzard what y'all plan to do."
With that, Bo turned to the back door, fully intent on running to the General to raise Hazzard County on the CB. Well, that was until he heard the click of a gun being cocked, and a raspy voice stopped him dead.
"You take one more step towards that car and you wont be around to see your cousin again."
Bo's hands went instantly above his head, feeling the gut sickening realization that he had never faced two guys with guns on his own before, he had always had Luke by his side. He felt the barrel press into the back of his neck and shuddered gently at the cold chill that ran down his spine.
"Now walk forward slowly to that there tree you decided to blow."
Bo complied, desperately trying to think of someway that he could still get away. He knew however, that it would be hopeless to even try. Luke was always the brains of this type of getaway; he just drove them out of trouble.
"Now, just for that, you're goin' to watch while we torch this place before we finish you off."
Bo was forced to his knees, the gun still pressing hard into his neck, and was made to watch as the man with the broken nose took up Luke's bow and dynamite arrow, and fired at a can of petrol sat just outside the door. He cried out as the barn was quickly engulfed by flames, receiving a hard blow to the back of his head.
He fell forward onto his hands, blinking back tears of anger as the bright flames licked hungrily at the wood. He heard the cackling laughter of the men behind him, and his quick temper instantly flared. In an instant, his hand had swung round and bashed the gun away from his neck. Next, his boot clad foot connected with the shins of the startled man, and his other fist again targeted the face of the bloodied man.
On seeing them double over again, he sped towards the General, quickly sliding through the window and starting up the engine. With one last look at the burning barn, his foot found the accelerator and the General sped down the road, whipping up dust as the wheels span in the dirt.
When he was well away from the farm, he changed his course and sped in the direction of the Boar's Nest, while hurriedly catching hold of the CB. He tuned the frequency, trying to reach the one that connected to Dixie, when he heard the sound of Boss Hogg's voice. Keeping his eyes on the road, he listened in.
"Now what d'ya think your doin' calling me here! Y'all know what I told ya!"
"Yeah Boss, but this is an emergency. Someone caught us attackin' the place."
"Who? Y'all know, I don't care, just make sure you find them and keep them hushed. I don't care what it takes, make sure they ain't gonna talk!"
"Will do Boss, we're in pursuit now and don't worry bout the insurance money. We done hit the barn with one of their arrows, there ain't no way they can pin it on us."
"You better hope not for your own sakes."
"Yes Sir."
Bo brought the General to a screeching halt. He sat, dumbfounded, at the wheel for a while. Boss had been behind the attack…Uncle Jesse thought there was something suspicious about Boss Hogg inviting them to his party, and now he could see why. Boss never did anything for the Dukes unless there was something in it for him. The party was a distraction, and Bo shuddered to think what could have happened had he not decided to stay on the farm.
Suddenly, gun shots sounded behind him, and Bo turned to see a car speeding towards him, a familiar blood-soaked man hanging out the window firing at him. He quickly put the General into gear and tore down the dusty road, getting a horrible feeling that he was very much alone.
Now didn't I say Bo being home alone was a bad idea? I sure hope he has a way to get out of this one, or this may be the very first time you see one of the Duke Boys actually get hurt...or maybe even killed. Y'all stick around now, ya hear?