If I Had Only Known

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


Rating: FRT


* indicates thoughts


If I Had Only Known
Chapter 3


The next afternoon, the moment Bo left for David's, Luke was on the phone to his friend Coop in Capitol City.


"Capitol City Daily, how may I direct your call?" a pleasant voice asked.


"I'd like to speak to Mr. Cooper please," Luke replied.


"Just a moment."


"Cooper here, how can I help ya?"


"Hey Coop, this here's Luke Duke, how you been?"


"I been pretty good, how's everything over there in Hazzard? Ya don't have anymore scoops for me do ya?"


"Nah, at least I don't think so, guess it depends on what ya find out."


"Find out about what?"


"New neighbor, guy's name is David Sorenson and he just bought the old Peterson place. I was wondering if you could do some checking into the guy for me?" Luke asked.


"What's your interest? He working for Boss Hogg or something?" Coop asked, immediately curious.


"Not as far as I know," Luke couldn't help chuckling at the question, Coop sure knew how Hazzard worked. "Bo met him the other day and he's gonna be helping him out with some little repairs, so..."


"So you want to make sure he ain't a shady character that's gonna get your little cousin hurt?" Coop finished for him, proving he knew Luke as well as Hazzard.


"Yeah...so will ya do it?"


"Sure, how deep you want me to check into him?"


"As deep as ya can, and Coop I owe ya one buddy."


"Might take a few days, I'll call ya as soon as I know anything. Take it easy," Coop said before ending the call.


Hanging up the phone, Luke went outside and told Jesse what was happening.


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"Hey Bo," David greeted the younger man with a smile.


"Hey David, you doing okay?"


"Just fine, truck's working good since you fixed it."


"Wasn't no big deal. So, what ya want me to do first?"


"I thought maybe we could start with your lessons first," David suggested.


"I'd rather get the work out of the way, if ya don't mind," Bo responded.


"Okay, well guess ya could start with fixing the cabinet doors in the kitchen."


"What's wrong with them?"


"Most of them are okay, but there's a couple that won't shut right, like they're too big or something."


"Show me which ones and I'll take a look at them," Bo said, following David into the house. Squatting down in front of the cabinets, Bo began to check the doors for fit. "They're cut fine, problem is the wood's gotten warped and swollen from humidity."


"Can ya fix them?"


"If they weren't warped, but I'm afraid the only fix for them now is to replace them. I'll just go into town, get ya some new ones at the hardware store," Bo said, standing up.


"Mind if I come with you?"


"If you want? Ya want to ride with me in the General or follow me in your truck?"


"I think I'd like to try out your General," David replied with a smile.


"Well come on then," Bo said, leading the way to the car. Jumping up on the door frame, he smoothly slid in behind the wheel. "Doors are welded shut," he explained, leaning towards the passenger window to be sure David could hear him.


Not wanting to embarass himself, David used his height to his advantage. Standing next to the car, he simply swung one leg inside the vehicle and then hoisting himself up, he brought the other leg inside and slid into the seat. "Good thing I'm tall," he joked once he was safely seated.


"Does help...ya done fine," Bo assured him.


"So why are the doors..."


"Welded shut?" Bo completed, used to the question by now. "He's a race car, it's safer to have the doors welded shut. Increases the structural integrity of the car and keeps the doors from popping open if ya have a wreck," he said, giving the short explanation.


"You really drive this thing in races?"


"Yep, the General's won almost every race he's ever been in," Bo replied with obvious pride.


"Well I'd bet he didn't do it by himself, you must be a pretty good driver to manage that," David said in an admiring tone.


"Best driver in three counties, just don't tell Luke I said that or he'll start trying to convince us both that he's the best."


"My lips are sealed," David teased, pantomiming zipping his lips shut.


"Here we are," Bo said a short time later, parking the General in front of the hardware store. "Ya gonna make it?"


"Think so," David replied, working on extricating himself from the General. It took him a bit longer than Bo and he wasn't nearly as graceful, but he soon found himself standing on the sidewalk. Following the younger man into the store, he let Bo lead the way to the aisle they needed.


"Hello Bo, how's your Uncle Jesse?" Hiram Banks the owner of the hardware store asked.


"Oh hey Mr. Banks, he's fine, oh I'm sorry," Bo blushed as he realized he'd been ignoring David. "Mr. Banks, this is David Sorenson, he just bought the Peterson place and he needs a couple of cabinet doors for the kitchen. David, this is Hiram Banks, he owns the hardware store," Bo introduced.


"Nice to meet you Mr. Sorenson," Hiram absently said, already thinking of cabinet doors.


"Nice to meet you too Mr. Banks."


"You got the measurements Bo?"


"Yes sir, right here," Bo replied, handing him a piece of paper.


Twenty minutes later they were leaving the store with the doors David had chosen along with the necessary hardware. Going outside, Bo opened the trunk of the General and slipped the materials inside before climbing back behind the wheel.


"I got you now Bo Duke," Rosco chortled as he suddenly appeared, startling David as he was trying to climb into the General.


"Rosco! Look what ya almost done, ya okay David?" Bo yelled, pulling himself up onto the door frame.


"Yeah I'm fine Bo, just glad I wasn't in a different position when I jumped. You always sneak up on people like that Sheriff?"


"Just sneaky Dukes and if yer a friend of a Duke then you must be just as sneaky as they are," Rosco said with his usual logic.


"Rosco, what is it ya think ya got me for now?" Bo demanded, worried about what his new friend would think.


"Oh you know what for..."


"Rosco I ain't got no idea what trumped up charges yer trying to pin on me this time, so would ya just tell me."


"Don't you take that tone with me Bo Duke, else I'll add assaulting an officer to the charges."


"Rosco...what charges?"


"Theft that's what and I'm impounding the General Lee too," chortling in pleasure, Rosco rubbed his hands together.


"Uh-huh, and just what is it I'm supposed to have stolen and when?"


"You know what ya stole and it was yesterday morning, and now I'm gonna cuff ya and stuff ya." Grabbing Bo's arm, he began to put the cuffs on him.


"What time Rosco?" Bo asked, jerking his arm away from the sheriff.


"It don't matter what time cause I know ya ain't got no alibi." Grabbing Bo's arm again, he got the cuffs in place.


"Rosco?"


"Ten o'clock and I know ya ain't got an alibi so don't even try ly..."


"Actually sheriff he does," David interrupted. "He was at my house yesterday morning at ten a.m., fixing my pick-up for me."


"Oh...and why should I believe you?" Rosco asked suspiciously.


"Rosco he's telling the truth," Bo insisted.


"You don't fool me Bo Duke, he probably helped ya," Rosco said, not ready to give up.


"Sheriff if you continue with this attempt I will be forced to call my attorney, who will then file a lawsuit against you and Hazzard county on Bo's behalf."


"A lawsuit? For what?"


"False arrest and slander for starters, I'm sure he could think of a few others if you insist on contiuning with this frame-up."


"Well I guess the witness must've been mistaken," Rosco mumbled, reluctantly releasing the cuffs.


"Must've been," Bo smirked, rubbing his wrists and climbing back into the General.


"I'll be watching you Bo Duke," Rosco threatened.


"I'm sure you will Rosco, bye now," he said. The moment David was inside the vehicle, he put it in gear and headed out of town. "Sorry about that," he apologized once he'd calmed down a bit.


"You don't have anything to apologize for Bo, he was in the wrong," David assured him. "You have any idea why he was trying to frame you?"


"The race this Saturday probably."


"Race?"


"Yep, Boss probably ordered him to arrest me and impound the General, that way we can't race against his driver," Bo explained.


"Boss?"


"Oh right, Boss J.D. Hogg, he's the county comissioneer and owns pretty much everything in Hazzard. What he don't own, he's usually trying to figure out some way to steal and that includes our farm. I'm just sorry you got dragged into it," Bo said.


"Not your fault," David repeated. "You think he'll try again?"


"I'd put money on it."


"Well don't you worry about it, he tries anything else and I'll call my attorney."


"You don't have to do that David."


"First of all, I want to and second of all, who's going to take care of my repairs if you're in jail?"


"Thanks, but hopefully ya won't need to do anything."


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"You ready for your first art lesson now?" David asked.


"Ya sure ya don't have anything else needing done?"


"Not today, so you ready?"


"Guess so."


"Have you had any type of lessons before?"


"Just in grade school," Bo replied. "Maybe this is a mistake, I don't want to waste your time," he said nervously, sure he was about to be laughed at.


"You couldn't waste my time Bo," David stopped before he said more, suddenly realizing how that sounded. "Not as long as you're doing your best and really trying to learn," he added quickly.


"Okay, so what do we do first?"


"Well I thought we'd start by taking a sketch book outside," David answered.


"A sketch book, thought I was...nevermind," Bo said, not wanting to sound ungrateful.


"You will paint Bo, but first you need to learn how to draw," he explained. Picking up a sketch pad and a drawing pencil, he led the way outside to the view of Iron Mountain that Bo had so admired the day before. I thought we'd start with the mountains, what do you think?"

"Sounds good to me," Bo agreed. He spent the rest of the afternoon sketching the view of the mountain, surprised to discover that it wasn't as simple as drawing peaks and valleys. David taught him a few tricks of shading to bring out the depth of the view, and when they finally stopped, Bo was shocked to discover his sketch was actually pretty good. "Wow, you're a good teacher," he said, smiling at his new friend.


"Helps when you have a good student, this is very good Bo, I don't know why you thought you didn't have any talent."


"I never could draw like this in school, no matter how many times the teacher repeated herself."


"It's been my experience that most school art teachers haven't got any talent themselves. I haven't figured out yet why they think they can teach anybody else," David observed. "So, you'll be back tomorrow?"


"You bet," Bo happily agreed, glancing back down at the sketch in his hands.


"You can take that pad home and work on your own this evening, if you want."


"Nah, I let Luke catch me doing this and he'll never quit teasing me about it."


"Why would he do that?"


"For the same reason I'd tease him, it's just something we do," Bo replied. "He wouldn't be mean about it or anything, but I'm not ready to be teased," he explained.


"Okay," David decided to drop the subject before he said something he shouldn't about a man he'd never met. "Will you stay for supper?"


"I better not, Uncle Jesse'll be expecting me home to help with chores," Bo declined. "You're welcome to come over for supper at our place though," he offered.


"Maybe tomorrow night, you check with your uncle and make sure it's okay first."


"I'm sure it would be, but if you'd rather make it tomorrow, that's fine by me."


"I think that's best, I'm sure your family would appreciate a little advance warning."


"Alright, tomorrow then, it's a date," Bo agreed with a smile.


"Yeah, a date," David said, wishing it was a real date, but willing to settle for friendship.


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David nervously dressed the next evening for supper with Bo's family. "Get a grip David, he's just a friend, his uncle isn't going to run you off with a shotgun," he reminded himself for the tenth time. Finally satisfied that he looked fine in his jeans and button-down shirt, David went outside and climbed into his truck. A few mintues later he was pulling into the driveway of the Duke farm, and before he was ready he was parking behind the General.


"Hey David, glad you could make it," Bo greeted him with a smile.


"Hey Bo, thanks for inviting me."


"Well come on in and meet everybody," Bo invited, sweeping one arm towards the house.


"Lead the way."


"Uncle Jesse, this is my friend David Sorenson, David my uncle Jesse Duke."


"Mr. Duke, it's a pleasure to meet you," David greeted, holding out his hand.


"It's nice to meet you too David, and call me Jesse," he replied, taking the offered hand.


"Hi," Daisy greeted coming into the kitchen.


"David this is my cousin Daisy, Daisy this is David Sorenson."


"Nice to meet you David," Daisy greeted, looking up at the handsome man with a smile.


"Nice to meet you too Daisy."


"You must be David," a new voice said from behind him. Turning around David saw a young man, who must be Bo's other cousin, looking at him suspiciously.


"That's right and you must be Luke," he greeted.


"Yeah I'm Bo's older cousin, so you planning to stay here in Hazzard long Mr. Sorenson?"


"Luke," Bo warned, not appreciating the way his cousin was acting towards his guest.


"It's okay Bo," David deftly soothed the ruffled young man. "I'm sure Bo told you I bought the farm next to your's, so to answer your question I plan to make Hazzard my home."


"How did you pick Hazzard?"


"Luke," this time the warning came from Jesse.


"I'm just making conversation Uncle Jesse," Luke defended himself.


"I grew up in Conyers but I've been living in New York City for a number of years and I needed a break from the pressures. I started looking for real estate in Georgia and when I saw the pictures of the Peterson farm I fell in love with it."


"You said you needed a break, sounds like you plan to go back."


"Originally that was the plan, but luckily I can work from anywhere and now that I'm here, I think I'd like to stay."


"Really, I'd think that Hazzard would be awfully boring after New York City," Luke said.


"Hazzard has it's attractions," David said. *Six foot three, blond hair, blue eyes, and gorgeous* he couldn't help thinking, though he didn't say it.


"Alright Luke that's enough," Bo snapped, putting a stop to the interogation.


"Supper's ready," Jesse announced before an argument could start.


After a short grace, Bo smiled across the table at David, "You're in for a treat David, Uncle Jesse made his famous crawdad bisque."


"Smells wonderful Jesse," David said, turning to the older man. Accepting a bowl full of the wonderful smelling concoction, he dipped his spoon in and took his first bite. "Tastes as wonderful as it smells, I've never tasted anything as good as this," he sincerely said.


"Thank you David."


"So David you said you could work anywhere, what is it you do?" Luke asked.


"I'm an artist," came the reply.


"An artist?"


"Yeah, you know Luke, somebody who paints pictures," Bo said. "You through now?" he demanded, feeling embarassed by his cousin's attitude and getting angry.


"Is New York as exciting as it sounds?" Daisy asked.


"Yes it is, they call it the city that never sleeps and it's pretty accurate. There's always something to do, but I've never found anybody there who is truly happy with their lives. I think that's why there are so many activities, folks there need something to take their minds off the fact that their lives are so empty."


"You didn't like it?"


"Oh I liked it well enough, but then I had my art to fill my life. New York is one of those places that's nice to visit, but after a while it starts to wear on you. Now that I've been reminded of how wonderful and relaxed life in the south is, I can't imagine ever going back."


After supper, they relaxed in the living room over pie and coffee until it was time for David to go. "It's been a wonderful evening Jesse, thank you for having me over."


"You're welcome anytime," Jesse said with a smile.


"Thank you. I guess I ought to be going now though, it was nice to meet all of you. See you tomorrow Bo?"


"I'll walk ya out," Bo offered, wanting a moment alone with David. They walked in silence to David's truck, Bo trying to figure out what to say. "I'm sorry my cousin was being a jerk," he finally blurted out.


"It's okay Bo, he's just looking out for you," David said, immediately excusing Luke.


"No, it's not okay, he had no right to treat you like that."


"Bo, don't be mad at him, he's just making sure you don't get hurt," David soothed, wishing he could take the younger man in his arms.


"I'm glad you're not mad," Bo calmly said, though he was still angry at Luke.


"I'm not, see you tomorrow?"


"Can't wait," Bo replied, taking a step back before he did something to embarass himself. *What the hell is wrong with me? I can't believe I almost did that.* he thought, mentally shaking himself and wondering where the urge to caress David's face had come from.


TBC


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