If I Had Only Known

Disclaimer: I don't own the Dukes of Hazzard, not making any money, just cheap thrills.


Rating: FRT


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If I Had Only Known
Chapter 2


The next afternoon Bo picked up the solenoid switch from Cooter and headed to David's house. Pulling into the drive, he was surprised to find nobody home. Bo reached for the cb and keyed the mic, letting go almost immediately, as he remembered the lack of a cb in David's truck. With no idea of where the other man had gone, Bo decided he would wait for awhile, hopefully David would be home soon. Wandering around the yard, Bo stopped when he got to the backside of the house, the view of Iron Mountain was breathtaking and he couldn't help staring.

Twenty minutes after Bo arrived, David came home, smiling when he saw the orange car parked in his drive. Getting out, he glanced around wondering where Bo had gone. "Bo," he called. Receiving no answer, he went in search of the younger man. As he came around the corner of the house, he saw the blond staring at the view, looking as though he were a million miles away. "Penny for your thoughts," he offered as he approached Bo.


Bo jumped, startled by the unexpected voice. "Hey, didn't hear ya drive up," he greeted his new neighbor.


"I noticed," David said with a teasing smile. "So what were you thinking so hard about?"


"Nothing really, I ain't been up here since I was a kid, guess I forgot or never noticed the view before. It's beautiful," Bo observed, looking back towards the mountains, awed by the natural beauty of them.


"Yes it is," David agreed, glancing at Bo as he spoke.


"Okay," Bo said, turning away from the view, "I didn't come up here to look at Iron Mountain. I got your solenoid switch, ought to get to it."


"I just got back, won't the engine be too hot to work on?"


"It'll be okay."


"No harm in waiting a few minutes is there? Come on, we'll have a beer and talk a little, by then the engine'll be cooled off," David tempted the blond.


"Sounds good," Bo happily agreed, never one to turn down a free beer.


"Have a seat, I'll be right back," David said, pointing to the front porch. A few minutes later, David returned with two beers. Handing one to Bo, who had claimed the porch swing, David twisted the top from his own bottle, perching on the rail near the swing. "So have you always lived in Hazzard?"


"Since I came to live with Uncle Jesse and Aunt Martha when I was three. This is good beer, thanks," Bo said, taking a long sip of the cool beverage.


"You're welcome, glad you like it. What happened to your parents, if you don't mind my asking?"


"They were killed in a fire, the neighbor told Uncle Jesse that daddy threw me out the window to him and turned around to help my mom. That's when the roof collapsed, I rememeber hearing my mom screaming and how scared I was, but not much else," Bo explained, shuddering at the memory.


"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up bad memories," David apoligized. He wanted so badly to reach out and pull Bo into a comforting hug, but he didn't dare, not knowing how the other man would react.


"It's okay, you didn't know," Bo quietly said, quickly accepting the apology. "Don't know why I told you that, I've never told anybody about hearing my mom, not even Luke."


"Luke? Oh yeah, your cousin, I take it the two of you are close?"


"He's like a brother to me, I usually tell him everything," Bo replied. Taking another sip of his beer, Bo wondered why he had felt so comfortable talking to David about something so personal. "So what made you decide on Hazzard?" he asked, changing the subject.


"I needed a break from New York, I grew up here and I liked the idea of getting back to my roots."


"Hmmmm, I don't remember ever hearing of any Sorenson's around here," Bo said, trying to recall any mention of a family by that name.


"I'm sorry, I didn't mean Hazzard itself, I should've been more clear, I only meant I grew up in Georgia. My folks passed on about ten years ago and I sold the old homeplace, couldn't stand the thought of being there with all the memories. I thought about going back to Conyers, but I knew I'd never get any peace that way, too many of my fans know where I grew up and..."


"Fans?" Bo interrupted. "Are you an actor or something?"


"Or something," David replied with a smile. "I'm an artist, my paintings have been bought by people all over the world," he explained matter-of-factly. "My fans aren't usually as vocal as those of an actor or singer, but they'll still think nothing of interrupting my privacy to commission a painting, or to buy an already existing one."


"Thought artists were always starving?" Bo asked, blushing as he realized how that sounded. "Sorry, I didn't mean to pry," he quickly apologized.


"It's okay Bo," David assured him, hoping the younger man wouldn't notice the effect that blush was having on him. "I've been very successful, in fact I could retire right now and never have to worry about money again, but something in my soul would die if I did that."


"Better not let Boss Hogg know that, he'll be trying to find some way to get it from you," Bo warned with a chuckle.


"Boss Hogg?"


"He's the county commissioner, owns pretty much everything in Hazzard, including the sheriff."


"Oh, well I've dealt with men like him before, I imagine I can handle him."


"Bet you can," Bo agreed, smiling at his new friend. "Well I reckon that engine has cooled enough by now, I better get busy." Swallowing the last of his beer, Bo sat the empty on a small table that stood nearby and walked to the General. Grabbing the solenoid switch that sat on the dash, he took his tools from the trunk and moved to David's truck.


David stood on the porch, watching Bo walk away, enjoying the sight as he leaned into his car, the tight jeans hugging his perfect ass. Forcing himself to look away, he willed his natural response to such a sight to stop. Once he felt he had himself under control, David stepped off the porch, following Bo to the truck. Going to the other side of the vehicle, he leaned against the fender, watching Bo work. In only a few moments, the blond had removed the old switch and had the new one installed.


"Want to give it a try?" Bo asked, looking up at David with a smile.


"Sure," David agreed, moving around the truck and climbing into the cab. Turning the key in the ignition, he grinned when the truck started without hesitation. Killing the engine, he slid out of the seat, "You're a genius Bo, thanks!"


"It wasn't that big of a deal," Bo denied, feeling embarassed by the compliment.


"It was to me," David insisted. "Come on inside, I think there's some beer in the fridge with your name on it."


"Okay," Bo agreed. Putting his tools back in the General, he closed the trunk and followed David into the house. "Thanks," he said, accepting the beer the other man handed him. Leaning up against the counter, he took a sip of the beer.


"Would you like to see some of my work?" David asked, unable to think of anything else to say.


"Yeah," Bo replied. Pushing away from the counter, he let David lead him deeper into the house, down the hall to one of the bedrooms. When David opened the door, he stepped aside and motioned for Bo to enter first. Stepping into the room, he caught his breath at the beauty filling the room. Everywhere he looked were paintings; landscapes, portraits, daytime scenes and night, scenes of everyday life and exotic places only dreamed of. "Wow, you painted all of these?" he asked, turning back to the other man.


"You like them?" David asked, as he nodded his answer to Bo's question.


"They're great, I ain't never seen anything so beautiful in my life," Bo replied.


"Thank you," David said, the simple compliment touching him more than the highest praise had ever done.


"I always wanted to paint, but I ain't got the talent," Bo softly spoke his thoughts aloud.


"I could teach you," David offered, seeing a chance to spend some quality time with the younger man. Time he could use to see if there could ever be anything more than friendship between them.


"I can't ask you to do that, what about your break?"


"Bo, it was never painting I needed a break from, it was the pressure."


"Still...I don't know," Bo hesitated, not wanting to waste the other man's time.


"You'd be helping me out," David said, thinking maybe that would convince him to accept the offer.


"How do you figure that?"


"Right now I couldn't paint if I had to, helping you to learn would help me to find that part of myself that first started painting for the simple pleasure of it. So will ya let me teach you to paint?"


"When you put it like that, guess I can't hardly refuse to help," Bo replied, a grin spreading across his handsome face.


"Great, when would you like to start?"


"Whenever would be best for you."


"How about tomorrow, right after lunch," David suggested. He wanted to start right away, but he didn't want to seem too eager, worried that he would scare Bo off.


"Sounds good, what do I need to bring?"


"You."


"Well won't I need, um brushes and paint?"


"I've got all of that here, and I doubt you could get the quality of materials you'll need around here anyway."


"David I appreciate what you're offering, but I can't let you spend money on me..."


"I already told you Bo, I've got plenty of money, more than I could ever spend in fact. What's the good of having money, if ya can't spend it on your friends?"


"No, I can't do it, wouldn't be right. You've got to let me pay you for this," Bo insisted, his pride and Uncle Jesse's teachings not giving him any other choice.


"You're a pretty good mechanic, how are ya on house repairs?" David asked, getting an idea.


"I do okay, why?"


"Well how about a trade? I'll teach you to paint and suppy the materials, you help me out with some of the repairs this place needs, deal?"


"Deal," Bo agreed, holding out his hand. David had a surprisingly strong grip Bo noticed, as they shook on their agreement. "I better get going though, see ya tomorrow after lunch," Bo said as they walked back to the kitchen.


"See ya tomorrow then," David agreed. He walked the younger man out to his car, stepping back as he put the car in reverse, he watched as Bo drove away. Whistling happily, he walked back to the house his blue eyes twinkling in anticipation of the next day.


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"Took ya long enough, we were beginning to think you got lost," Luke greeted his youngest cousin.


"Cute," Bo smirked as he climbed out of the General.


"You been at that guy's house all this time?"


"Yeah, where'd ya think I was?"


"Well I know how long it takes to replace a solenoid switch, so I didn't think you'd be gone that long," Luke explained. "So why were ya gone all afternoon? He got a pretty daughter you forgot to mention?"


"No Luke, he ain't got a daughter. Heck he's only about thirty or thirty-five, even if he had a daughter, she'd be a little young for me. We just got to talking, that's all, no big mystery," Bo explained.


"Talking?" Luke hinted. "About what?" he asked, when Bo didn't respond to the hint.


"Hey Uncle Jesse is it okay if I go over to David's tomorrow after lunch?" Bo asked as they stepped into the kitchen.


Jesse turned from chopping carrots, "Again? He got a pretty daughter?"


"No, dang it why do y'all automatically think there's got to be a girl involved? Maybe I just like talking to him?" Bo asked, feeling irritated by the questions.


"Bo," Jesse warned.


"Sorry Uncle Jesse," he apologized for his tone. "He's a nice guy and I like talking to him, besides he's got some repairs needing done and I offered to help out."


"Why don't I come along then?" Luke offered.


"Nah, it's just a bunch of little stuff," Bo refused. He wanted to tell his family about David's offer, but he was sure that his cousins would make fun of him, well Luke would anyway. "Is it okay Unlce Jesse? It'd be a few days a week and I'll make sure all my chores are done first," he assured his uncle.


"I don't see why not," Jesse agreed. "Luke, could I talk to you," he called as the older boy started to follow his cousin outside.


"What is it Uncle Jesse?"


"Something bothering you?" Jesse asked, having noticed the speculative look on Luke's face.


"Just don't like Bo spending a bunch of time with this guy," Luke replied.


"Why not?"


"I'm probably worrying for nothing, but we don't know the guy and well you know how good Bo is at finding trouble."


"That he is," Jesse agreed with a small chuckle. "Why don't you see what you can find out about this David Sorenson, maybe your friend at the newspaper can help."


"And in the meantime we just let Bo hang out over there?"


"He's a grown man Luke, what do ya think he'll do if we try to stop him?"


"Tell us to mind our own business and go anyway," Luke reluctantly replied.


"Exactly," Jesse agreed. "I think until we know more about this Sorenson fella, it's best if we just keep an eye on your cousin."


"I don't like it, but I guess you're right," Luke said. "Think I'll go see Coop tomorrow afternoon," Luke told his uncle. Stepping over to the back door, he looked outside, watching Bo through the screen. "I just hope I don't find out anything bad, for Bo's sake."


TBC

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