by: Sarah Stodola

The sound of a cheerful Dixie horn split the peaceful air of a summer afternoon in the country, before that moment broken only by the occasional twitter of a songbird or cluck of a chicken. A second later, a bright orange racer pulled around the corner to skid to a dusty halt in a farmyard, squawking hens flapping their way out of its path to escape being run over.

The complaining fowl seemed the only life around the place for a couple of seconds, but then a horse whinnied, and that sound seemed to break a spell. In the next instant, a rooster crowed, a goat bleated, the front door swung open as fast as it possibly could, and a young woman and just slightly older man ran out of the farmhouse, having been waiting all day for the arrival of the Texas adventurers. Luke and Bo paused halfway out of the car, sitting on the windows, and called out a greeting to their friends.

“Cooter! Anna! How’ve you guys been?”

It took about one more second for the pair to descend upon the General Lee, everyone laughing, yelling, and hugging everybody else. Bo finally disengaged himself from Cooter, slapping him on the shoulder and scrambling up to sit crosslegged on the General’s roof. He just sat there for a moment, closing his eyes and breathing in deeply the clear mountain air. It was so good to be home. He’d missed this, more than even he had known until he was back. He opened his eyes again and grinned at his mechanic friend, then glanced over at Luke. His older cousin was standing still, Anna pulled into his fervent embrace. He wasn’t saying anything, wasn’t even kissing her. He was just holding her close, as though he hadn’t been sure he would ever see her again. The truth of that was almost painful even to Bo, although it was only a fleeting thought.

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by: Sarah Stodola

Blonde hair lifting lightly in the breeze and a slight smile on her face, Jennifer didn’t look any more dangerous than she ever had — except for the big, powerful pistol she held casually in a police grip, its wide muzzle pointed directly in the dark-haired Duke’s face. She waved it slowly around at the entire group, still smiling. “You were right. There was a… traitor. And I’m not giving in yet. I’m surprised you took out a group like Izzac’s. I hadn’t expected such skill. I apparently underestimated you farmboys.”

“Where’s Candy?!” Frank exploded. “I left her with you; what did you do with her?!”

Green eyes glinted disdain. “I wouldn’t hurt a child. I left her back at the motel.” She tossed her head in the general direction. “Tied up, of course.”

“Tied up..!” Ending the words abruptly, an enraged father leapt forward. The gun instantly swung around in Brandon’s direction, and Frank and Caleb grabbed for his elbows to hold him back.

“Careful!” Caleb ordered. “She’ll fire that thing if you give her too much reason.”

“Jenny… why?” a voice came very quietly from just behind Luke. He half-turned to see that the mixed-up emotions of hurt, shock, and beginning anger that were in his younger cousin’s words were on his face as well. Bo stepped forward in confrontation. “Why? How could you do this? After… everything?”

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by: Sarah Stodola

Early evening found the Brandon team and friends huddled around their cars, waiting for word and wondering what they were going to do. Frank had placed himself in charge, a move Bo didn’t complain about at all. He was much more comfortable as one of the followers, rather than trying to be a leader.

They were getting nowhere fast. Frank and Henry were poring over the map spread across the General’s hood by the light of the setting sun, which by its very nature was growing dimmer and dimmer. The race drivers were sitting in a group over to the side. Bo had moved off by himself, standing in the desert and looking out across the sand and scrub. His hands were stuffed in his pockets, and his lower lip was between his teeth thoughtfully as he watched the sunset.

They had traveled to Henry’s motel, the start of all this, and then spread out to search around casually for a while, careful not to go too far or attract too much attention, at least not more than the General and the NASCAR racers would attract anyway. It was a risk they were forced to take. But no one had found anything obvious, and they had all chosen to meet out here to compare notes.

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by: Sarah Stodola

Candy Brandon did indeed know where Luke Duke was staying. Hidden behind a hedge, she’d listened to his conversation with his cousin, then watched him go to his room. The twelve-year-old grinned to herself. This was fun! Just like in books or on TV.

Of course, she knew (how could she help it; everyone was always telling her) that it was probably dangerous for her to be doing this. But, hey, dangerous how? She’d just get out of the way of bums and the like, and the crooks her dad was looking for wouldn’t know she was his daughter, would they? Probably not.

Candy yawned and stretched, batting a stubborn fly away from her face, where it searched for the moisture so rare in the desert. She had to admit one thing, though. The idea of playing detective was fun… but stakeouts, she’d found, were boring. Especially since not a thing had twitched in the past hour and a half besides the bushes in the hot wind. She wiped her sweaty forehead and looked over at the lobby, longing for cool air and a drink. But she couldn’t leave her post. So, she’d survive. Miserably, but she would survive.

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by: Sarah Stodola

“Hey, Bo.”

He jumped, hitting his head on the underside of the General’s open hood, and winced. “Ow!” He moved back carefully before standing up, rubbing his head gingerly. “What? Oh… hi.”

Jennifer Garret stood by the orange racer’s passenger side door, smiling slightly. “You okay? I didn’t mean for you to get hurt.”

Bo couldn’t help a smile. “Aw, naw, I’m fine.” He fingered the sore spot, then decided it wasn’t worth worrying about and brushed his hair away from his eyes. “What’re you over here for? I thought you’d be out practicin’ or somethin’.”

She shrugged, slightly. “I’ve already done my fair share today. I decided to come see what you were doing, since you disappeared after lunch.”

“Oh.” Somehow, he wasn’t quite sure how to take this girl. He’d never met anyone like her… and he wasn’t quite sure he meant that in a real nice way, either. Then again, he wasn’t sure he didn’t. She was pretty, yes, very much so, and he couldn’t help being attracted both to that and to the spunk that kept her holding her own against her male teammates. But she seemed to have a hardened bent about her too, one that made him a little uncomfortable at times. Of course, maybe that was just because she was such a city girl. Or maybe even from being on the track permanently at such a young age. Jennifer was only five months older than himself, just enough older to be actually nineteen. “I’m tunin’ up the General.”

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