Zero Hour in Hazzard County

Zero Hour in Hazzard County

Chapter One

The Duke boys were racing through the back roads of Hazzard county like any other afternoon, being chased by the crooked sheriff, Rosco, and his deputy, Cletus, as they always did in hope of trying to put the two Dukes away for a good long time. They failed miserably every time, but it never did stop them from trying.

Bo stopped the General long enough to make sure that Rosco and Cletus were alright after they had gone and crashed into one another's police cars after they had tried to make the same jump the Duke boys made, from opposite sides of the big pond, bringing their hot pursuit to a wild close.

"Boy, you would think that Rosco and Cletus would learn by now that coming at us from different directions is never a good idea," Bo said as he laughed upon seeing that the two lawmen were just fine as they struggled to pull themselves from their vehicles.

"Yeah, but I don't think that'll ever happen," Luke responded as he patted his cousin's shoulder playfully and then turned back to the road in front of them. "Come on, let's get goin' before we're late with our mortgage money, or Uncle Jesse will have good reason to tan our hides."

Bo looked at him as he nodded quickly and turned back to the road as well, then answered, "You're right. It looks like that's enough fun for one day."

The large orange car with the Confederate flag on top continued its path toward town once again as Luke smiled and replied, "The day's only just begun. I'm sure there's plenty more fun ahead. After all, we have Boss' face to look forward to when he sees that we're in time with his money."

"Yahoo!" Bo cried out happily. "Ha! Ha! Won't he be thrilled?"

Thrilled was not exactly the emotion Boss Hogg will be feeling as soon as them boys pull up outside of Hazzard's jail where the man who ran all of Hazzard resided at most of the time, except for when he was out at the Boar's Nest for mostly any meal of the day unless he had it sent out to him wherever he was. Little did Bo and Luke Duke know that trouble had also just arrived back in town, and not the kind of trouble that they would simply be able to run away from this time.

Meanwhile…

Like the little fat man liked to do every day, sometimes twice on the days that were especially slow, Boss Hogg was sitting at his desk inside his office counting his millions, much of which was most likely gained illegally. In between counts, Boss would keep turning to the clock in front of him, anxiously awaiting for noon to come and go, believing that today was the day that he was finally going to get his hands on Jesse's farm, if his dimwitted brother in law and foolish deputy of his succeeded in delaying the Duke boys.

"Say uh Boss, uh… little fat buddy, do ya have yer ears on, come back?" Rosco's voice suddenly came over the CB radio sitting before him, also on Boss' desk.

Boss quickly picked up the radio's mic and responded, "Rosco, it's about time. Tell me you got them Duke boys handcuffed in the back of your car. Tell me, you stopped them boys from coming here with that mortgage money of theirs."

He could hear Rosco gulp nervously, then answer again, "Uh, I'm sorry, Boss. I'm afraid Bo and Luke got away again. They're heading straight into town. We couldn't stop 'em."

"Aagh, let me guess, you and Cletus both managed to wreck your patrol cars again after a long car chase," Hogg replied in frustration.

"I'm afraid that's a 10-4," the sheriff responded. "I'm sorry, Boss. We'll get back as soon as Cooter gets here to tow us both out of this here pond we're stuck in."

Boss Hogg growled as he answered, "Yes, well see that you do. I'm gonna try to figure out a misdemeanor that we can charge them boys with once they git here and then you can cuff 'em."

The sheriff responded, "Cuff 'em and stuff 'em. I love it, I love it! Rosco P. Coltrane over and out."

"J.D., did I just hear you and my baby brother plotting to come up with another one of your bogus charges against Bo and Luke Duke?" Lulu asked angrily when she all of a sudden came through the office door, which was cracked open, carrying a tray of food until she swiftly slammed it down on his desk upon overhearing part of their conversation. "I better have heard wrong!"

"Aw, but Sugarplum…" Boss tried to state as he looked between his wife and the tray of her famous fried chicken he loved so much.

She interrupted, "Don't you Sugarplum me, Jefferson. I thought I warned you about them foolish plans of yours, especially the ones that are meant to entrap those nice boys."

Boss Hogg answered coldly, "Nice? Ha! They ain't nice."

"Promise me you won't try nothing?" Lulu asked as she picked up the food and pulled it away from the man she loved, despite his greed.

"Aagh, all right fine, I won't do nothin' to 'em when they git here, unless of course they're late with their payment," J.D. replied worryingly.

"They won't be late," his wife replied smugly as she looked out the window, then set the tray back down and allowed her husband to eat the meal she brought for him. "They've just pulled up in the General Lee."

Hogg looked at the clock again and then whined, "And with six minutes to spare. Dog gone it!"

Suddenly the two Dukes charged into the room and laid the small envelop down on the fat man's desk, containing the full amount of the payment, then Luke spoke up saying, "Here we are, just in time, like always."

"Actually, with more time than usual," Bo quickly corrected his cousin. "Better luck next time, Boss!"

"Why are you wishin' Boss luck?" Luke asked as he looked at Bo.

The youngest of the Duke clan responded, "I ain't, not really. I didn't actually mean it."

Luke smiled as he answered, "Okay then. Let's git over to Miz Tisdale's. She said she's got that package for Uncle Jesse."

"I wonder what it could be," Bo stated. "Thanks, Boss, Mrs. Lulu!"

"Yeah, Yeah," Boss Hogg replied as the boys left, then continued eating. "Bo and Luke Duke are a pain in my backside. One day, them boys are goin' to git what's comin' to 'em."