Battle of Hazzard
By: Chance and EssyJane

It was a dreary, rainy afternoon in Hazzard county, the roads slick with mud and rain puddles. But that didn’t stop the apple-red Dodge Challenger from tearing through the county full force. Anyone seeing this car would look twice, red with a white strip running from headlights to tail, an American flag painted boldly on the roof, and a number 50 in bright blue on the doors. Some Hazzard county folk may even frown at the name written under the number, also in blue. General Sherman. A tip of the hat of the Union General that marched through the south, burning his way down to Atlanta. A few may even wonder if this Sherman was doing a repeat performance.

And if the car didn’t strike you, the occupants would. The driver; long, lean, blonde and lethal looking. Angel Wilson shifted in the drivers seat and tried to get more comfortable, it had been a long 3 days driving down south from Pittsburgh to Georgia participate in one lousy car race, but the price had been right. The local boss, Hogg, had paid her and her sister, Stephanie damned good money to come down shut down the competition, no matter the cost. Shouldn’t be to hard, Angel thought. She and her sister were the best stockcar racing team north of the mason Dixon line, and now, they wanted to prove they were south of it too.

Angel looked over at her younger sister. Stephanie was every bit of the opposite of her. Petite, cute with curly brown hair tied up in a ponytail and green eyes that always danced with an inner laughter. Their personalities were polar opposite too. Steph was happy-go-lucky, never afraid of speaking her mind and possessing an insatiable love for life. Angel was more conservative, cautious, serious. She was the adult of the two.

Sighing, Angel slid her Ray-ban's back over her blue eyes. "Are you sure this is the way? We haven’t seen anything but cow pastures and corn fields for the last 20 miles."

***

"Yeah, the old fat boss told us that's the first thing we would smell remember," Stephanie replied. She slid her bangs back and pushed her small sunglasses forward. They continued to race down the long strip of Hazzard road just talking to each other calmly. Angel's driving didn't reflect on their conversation as laughs and giggles rang through the air.

Angel took a corner a little too fast. They saw another car in front of them swerve out of the way into a ditch. Two country looking men climbed out of the odd orange painted car and crossed their arms. Angel put on the brakes and turned around. "You dang people almost killed us!" The blonde one exclaimed.

"Look pal, I we've never been in Hazzard before and..." Stephanie began.

"I don't care if you have never been to China, y'all shouldn't be driving that fast."

"We were just testing the General's legs." The blonde male looked at Stephanie as if she were crazy.

"General?"

"General Sherman...our car." The blonde one examined the car while the brown haired one stayed silent.

"The enemy of the south!"

"Dang tootin'" Angel shook her head. Steph knew something was running through that mind of hers but what?

***

"Look, pal." Angel got out of the car, straightening to her full height. "I don't what circus that.." She nodded to the General Lee. "came from, but we had the right of way."

"Circus!?" The brunette looked downright insulted, but Angel ignored him.

"And, if memory serves, a racing car is SUPPOSED to go fast."

"Well, the General Lee is the fastest racing car in Hazzard." Bo Duke proudly tapped the roof.

"That says alot." Angel voice was voiced with sarcasm "You cant mean you running this...orange jalopy in the race Sunday?"

"Not just race, Win!"

"Not with Sherman in town!" Stephanie now stood outside the racecar as well. "Don't you know your history, boys? The North always wins." She smirked.

With that, Angel and Stephanie slid back inside the General Sherman and gunned the engine. Waving, they left the outraged Duke boys in a cloud of dust and made their way to Hazzard. Angel muttered not quite under her breath "Danged hick plowboys." Angel considered the encounter for a moment. "Although...I have to admit, the dark-haired one was kinda cute. Its gonna be a whole lot of fun watching them eat our exhaust on Sunday."

Bo Duke watched the departing Challenger "Can you believe those two? Insulting the General Lee like that?" Suddenly he grinned "Although, I gotta admit, the dark-haired one was pretty."

Luke shook his head at his cousin "You and your one track mind." He said, all the while thinking he was about to say the same thing about the blonde driver of the enemy racecar.

***

Meanwhile....

Angel and Stephanie finally slowed down in front of the Hazzard garage.

"Can you believe those two? They think we're going to slow our General down. Well I have news for them. They need to put that clown car down," Stephanie snapped. Angel rolled her eyes. "No, I should get them good."

Stephanie jumped out of the car. She put some brown lipstick on. She looked around. The one thing Stephanie remembered was the courthouse they would have to visit after this little trip to the garage. It was a shame they even had to come here. Stephanie was sure she could fix it herself but Angel wasn't going to chance having their baby damaged. Besides, Stephanie would have to go to a part's store if anything was missing out of her tool box.

They finally slowed down in front of the Hazzard garage. "Need to gas this bad boy up. I think we got dinged too. I think I might have to ask this yokel if I can use his tools," Stephanie commented. She looked at the car. "Angel, give me the keys. Angel threw her sister the keys. Stephanie tried to pop the trunk. It wouldn't open. She put the gas in herself and soon the mechanic walked out surprised.

"This ain't self serviced gas ma'am, I would have done that fer you," Cooter said. Stephanie circled the mechanic.

"You have tools?"

"Yeah I do, why?"

"Well I hurt my General. I have to fix him."

"Another General in town? First the General Lee and now..."

"General Sherman. Now, I need your tools to get mine out."

"Can I have your name please ma'am?"

"Not until I get yours."

"Cooter Davenport."

"Stephanie Wilson... mechanic. Glad to meet a fellow person of the wrench. Now, while I use your tools you can warn Mr. Blonde that drives the orange wonder to hold off on the breaks."

"That would be Bo. The brown haired one is Luke. Y'all crashed into them?"

"Yeah, you could say that, we took a corner at the right speed and they just were too slow. Oh well." There was that orange car now. Bo got out.

"You again!" Bo exclaimed. He looked at the two as Stephanie continued to fix the car. She looked quite busy. Stephanie finally got the trunk to open and looked at her tool box. The box was a deep red with gold plated lettering.

"Well honey, you just love bumping into us."

"Cooter is the best mechanic in town."

"Was, honey."

"Now listen here..." Luke put a hand over his cousin's mouth.

"How do you deal with this Angel?" Luke asked.

***

"I usually ignore pests." Angel deadpanned, leaning against the red racecar. "Although I probably would demand damage costs to our car if I thought you plowboys could afford it."

"Well, we can always pay you from the prize money on Sunday."

"Not likely."

Cooter looked from one racing team to the other. Both parties were glaring at each other. "Whoo-wee! This is like the Civil War all over again. except I don't like things are gonna stay civil this time."

Angel glanced back to her sister. "Steph, while you get that fixed. I'm gonna see Boss Hogg about the arrangements." Stephanie nodded without looking up, obviously busy with her work.

"Boss Hogg? Why you wanna see that old rattlesnake for?" Despite the fierce rivalry brewing, Bo couldn’t contain his curiosity.

"That 'old rattlesnake'.." Angel exaggerated the southern drawl. "is the one who hired us to come down south and ..what’s the word? whoop y'all?" Angel smirked at the trio of Hazzardites. "I shouldn’t be long."

After Angel left, Luke looked and Bo and sighed "Well, that figures. Boss would hire the two most ornery female drivers in the North to compete against us."

***

The place got silent for a minute as Stephanie finished fixing the car. "I had a horse named Stephanie. The thing was stubborn and threw a shoe," Bo finally said. Luke bit on his bottom lip.

"I bet you had a goat named Angel too," Stephanie replied.

"Actually I did. We got rid of her, bad milk." Stephanie rolled her eyes.

"On behalf of my family, I would like to apologize for anything my cousin might say," Luke said firmly.

"Yeah, I figure you would say that. No woman is gonna win this race. I don't care how much better y'all are!" Bo said.

"So this is about me being a woman huh?" Stephanie questioned. Angel came back within minutes. "You think I ain't a good mechanic or a good driver is that it? My sister can drive better than you in a heart beat." Stephanie got into the car. "And she looks better too." They drove away into the night.

A few hours later, Bo and Luke were talking about their adventures with the two racing gals. Uncle Jesse laughed. "Battle of north and south. Well its about time that we get some action around here. It's been dead here for months. I don't know what you're worrying about," Uncle Jesse mumbled. He picked up the paper back he was reading and fell deep into it.

"If we're gonna beat these northern big city girls, we're gonna have to get some extra parts for the General. Face it Bo, they're good. We ain't gonna have anything illegal though," Luke said.

"Wasn't planning' on it. But if they play dirty I'll..." Bo began. Uncle Jesse cleared his throat. "Shake the dirty winner's hands." Bo walked out of the room. He needed some air. This conversation really made him mad. Bo was sick of always being pushed around. Always having to settle for second. He didn't really want to say those things but they came out all the same.

Maybe tomorrow would be better...at least they hoped so.

***

The next day brought brighter weather. Angel walked with her sister down the steps of the local hotel. "I can not believe he actually said we were going to lose the race because we're women! Of all the asinine things to say!" Angel was a bit of a feminist, so this was a sore spot for her. Now more than ever she wanted to beat the Dukes in the race and otherwise as well. "Steph, I don't usually say this, bet how you feel about a little dirty pool? Nothing serious, but lets make this guys eat crow as well as our dust." She grinned wickedly over the rims of her sunglasses.

Stephanie grinned back. "What did you have in mind?"

"Well, these boys think we're just two pretty girls with a big bad car, let's let them think that...for now. And come Sunday, they'll know what Atlanta felt like when it burned."

Angel and Stephanie walked towards where they had parked the General Sherman, discussing how they would fool the Dukes along the way. Climbing into the driver's seat, Angel asked. "What's was the name of the place the desk clerk recommended again?"

"The Boar's Nest."

"Sounds lovely. Well, the Hilton it probably isn’t, but I'm hungry anyway. Let's roll."

***

The two ladies drove on down to the Boar's Nest as they had planned. Both parked and had a swarm of people checking out the other General. A young woman walked in with short shorts. "Now I know I am not in Pittsburgh anymore," Stephanie commented.

"Well get used to it. If we're going to race with the General from the North, we're going to have to know everything about the people," Angel replied. She looked at the boar on the building and smiled. They both walked in and headed for a table. A fight broke out in the background and the sheriff broke them up with the sound of his shot gun.

"I don't want any of this in our bar...well Boss' bar Khee," Rosco shouted. He sat back down and drank his ice water. The girl with the short shorts approached the two women.

"Howdy, I am Daisy can I help you ladies?" Daisy asked nicely.

"Yeah, I would like a brown cow special, the hero roast beef and the super sub," Stephanie answered.

"Uh honey, those are mighty big sandwiches."

"My metabolic rate is very remarkable. I can hack your sandwiches."

"What would you like?"

"I would like a root beer and a grilled cheese if you can manage," Angel answered.

"Coming' right up gals." Daisy walked away to get their orders.

***

As Angel and Stephanie ate their lunch, Bo and Luke walked into the Boar's Nest, hoping to catch Daisy and maybe get some information about the Yankee race team. They both stopped short when they spotted the very two sitting in the corner booth.

Luke looked at his cousin. "Unbelievable, Everywhere we go, those two turn up."

"Yeah," Bo grinned wryly "And if you any other two girls, I'd say it was our lucky day."

Luke motioned Daisy over to them. "Daisy, what you know about those two girls in the corner?"

"They came roaring in in that red hot rod outside, gathered quite a crowd." Daisy laughed "And not just the car, either. Other than that, the one has an appetite like Hogg himself."

Meanwhile, Angel had noticed the arrival of the Dukes over her sister's shoulder. She grinned, they looked just as vexed as finding them here as they did as the garage. Normally, Angel would say great minds think alike, but in this case...

"Watch this action, Sis." Angel kept her tone low. Then Angel smile warmly at the Dukes boys and waved, as if glad to see them. Bo and Luke looked at the girls and then back at each other, perplexed.

"WHAT are you doing, Angela?!" Only when Stephanie was really peeved did she used Angel's full name. "Fine time to be flirting with the enemy!"

"Just be cool, I know what I'm doing. We'll have those boys so confused, they'll be driving backwards on Sunday."

***

"You're not expecting me to..." Stephanie grumbled. Angel laughed at her younger sister. Stephanie looked at her and knew what Angel was planning. Make the boys fall madly in love with them.

"Well if you want good money," Angel replied.

"I do but..."

"Boss paid us to be here but he's also going to let us have 50% of the winnings including the money he paid us upfront. Of course I took something of value from him...someone dropped it off at the hotel yesterday."

"What?"

"His Cadillac. Until he gives us the money, we keep that car. I saw him this morning. Anyway, we better get going' or we're gonna loose these boys."

"We haven't lost them before."

"Just get moving."

"Oh okay." Stephanie walked up to Bo and looked him directly in the eye. "Are your legs tired?"

"Huh?" Bo questioned her.

"They must be, you've been running through my mind all night long." Bo looked at her bewildered. Daisy walked past and Stephanie grabbed her by the shoulder. "Buy this man a beer...bring one for me and another sandwich." Daisy nodded. "You know you look must cuter when you're not mad."

"Okay, who are you and what did you do with Stephanie?"

"Oh come on, you should have seen right through that act of mine. I am wild for you." Stephanie ran her fingers down Bo's chest undoing the top couple of buttons. She slowly slid her hands down his chest. Bo grabbed her hands and pulled them away. He did up the buttons that she had undone. "How can I prove to you I like ya?"

"Actually spend time with me before undoing' my clothes. I don't work that way."

"You're a country boy, raised right."

"Yeah...that's the way a country boy should be right?" Stephanie raised her eyebrows. She smiled at him. This guy was different than what she thought Bo would be like.

"Sure. How about horse back riding? I have never taken a ride before and you have obviously need to know who I am and how long I'll be staying."

"Okay, horse back riding it is."

***

Angel watched her sister work with a grin. When Stephanie Wilson did something, she threw herself into it. And at this point, she was throwing herself onto the blonde Duke. The poor boy was looking confused, all right, but willing to go along with her. *I don't think I can top THAT. But I guess its my turn. At least she saved me the cute one.*

Standing, Angel walked up to the Luke, who had been watching the exchange between Steph and Bo suspiciously. "You have to forgive my sister's forwardness, but she's right. I think we all got off on a bad start yesterday and Steph and I were discussing how we could...make it up to you."

Luke wasn’t quite as gullible as Bo was being. "Well, for starters, you can apologize for insulting the General Lee."

"You really love that car, don't you."

"Its like one of the family."

"Its same with Sherman for us."

Stephanie had would her arms around Bo's and winked mischievously. "Angel, you wanna come with Bo and I horseback riding?"

"Nah, You two go on ahead. I think, Luke and I will stay here so we can...talk shop." Angel's choice of words and her tone caused Luke to look and his cousin and shrug. He couldn’t fathom what the girls were up to, but when a couple of pretty ladies wanted your attention, you didn’t argue. While Luke had his head turned, Angel raised on eyebrow at Steph, clearly telling her the name of this game would be "Divide and Conquer".

***

Stephanie got into the General Lee's driver seat. "What do you think you're doing?" Bo asked angrily. Stephanie smiled.

"The best way to get to know a guy is to drive his car," Stephanie answered. She reached into Bo's pocket and grabbed the keys. Stephanie pulled her ponytail holder out and took her sunglasses out of her left shirt pocket. She put them on., flicking them up with her index finger and her thumb. "Well, are you going to sit there and gaze at me or are we going to drive this sucker?"

"Don't call him a sucker."

"I am sorry General Lee." Stephanie started up the engine and revved it good. "Now get in and hold onto something." Bo got in through the window as Stephanie buckled up. She flung her hair towards Bo and began to set off. Stephanie saw a dip in the road and took her chance. She flew the General pretty high. "Oooo, pretty good there Mr. Blonde. Does this car have a license to kill? I bet you land on a couple of possums each week." Bo had to laugh.

"Have you always been like this?"

"Like what?"

"This much spunk. I don't see a lot of women acting the way you do."

"A man once told me, if you care about what other people think, you'll never really go far in life."

"Smart man."

"Which way to your farm?"

"Take that turn there." Stephanie did what he said. They pulled into a farmhouse. It wasn't like the ones she had seen on TV. The house was worn and old. The place had no grass in the front. It looked kind of bare. One thing was the same, the chickens all over the ground. Bo walked over to the stables and looked at two horses they had in there. Two mustangs, the most beautiful ones Stephanie had ever laid eyes on.

"Where'd you get these?"

"We were written into someone's will. They knew we would take care of these horses." Stephanie looked around.

"This farm is not what I expected."

"Yeah, I know, its a little run down. With all the things going on in our lives, I guess sometimes it doesn't always stay the way it should. We have enough to get by." Stephanie's head lowered. She always seemed to have enough. Now she wondered how these Dukes even survived.

"I hope it goes better."

"Should, after the mortgage is paid off."

"You just bought the place?"

"No, we have been living here all our lives."

"Why the mortgage?"

"Too long of a story. Shall we?"

"Sure."

Stephanie stared at the horse as Bo put on all the necessary equipment to ride the horses. She had no idea what Bo was doing. Stephanie only rode a horse once when Angel and herself went to Calgary for a visit. They went to the Stampede they put on there. All over the city are pancake breakfasts. There were some horses there and people would guide them for free. That was the only horse training she had. Well that and the mechanical horse in the mall.

Bo smiled at her as she tried to get up. He helped her into the saddle and they were finally off. Stephanie rode slow as she bounced up and down. It was a hard thing for her to do. Stephanie's butt bounced up and down. This was hard and heavy. Bo trotted beside her and pointed out where to go. He also helped her steer a bit. Stephanie began to do it herself.

"This is interesting that's for sure," Stephanie commented. She held on tight. Bo picked some crab apples and put them into the sack he brought with them.

"I have always liked crab apple Jelly maybe we could have some made by Uncle Jesse," Bo mumbled.

"Uncle?"

"Yeah sure, my parents along with Luke's kinda left us in the dust."

"Oh my, that's terrible."

"Yeah but we live on day at a time. So how are you like?"

"Do you really want to know?"

"Try me." Stephanie cleared her throat and began to talk.

Back at the Boar's Nest...

***

After Bo and Stephanie left off their merry way, Luke and Angel sat at the bar, quietly talking. They discussed cars, city living vs. country living and the various antics of their younger counterparts. Partway through the conversation, Angel realized she hadn’t counted on actually liking the dark-haired Duke boy once she got to know him. *You're here to be a job, girl.* She reminded herself. *Time to up the stakes.*

Angel didn’t say anything for a bit but studied Luke silently, he became uncomfortable beneath her gaze. Angel chuckled. "You know you really do have nice eyes. You can tell alot about a person by their eyes."

"Oh yeah, and what do you see about me?" On the pretense of looking at his eyes, Angel leaned in close until She and Luke's faces were only a breath away. Luke swallowed nervously.

"'As your eyes set beyond the sunrise but your heart reveals all. Though sometimes you play a double life, the winds of the world call you back.' Angel quoted. You can't hide your desires from me Luke. You're more than just some country boy. You have dreams and passions waiting to get out. You may be the quiet one but you'll open up to anyone who will listen," Angel said softly, reaching up to her hand on Luke's.

"You figured this out by looking into my eyes?" Luke asked.

"I guess that sounds dumb huh?"

"Well, sometimes I guess I hide myself."

"Hon, always tell the truth. Then you'll never have to remember what you said the last time. Sam Rayburn 1882 - 1961 said that. You're not telling the truth by hiding who you are."

"Why are you racing when you could be a historian or something?"

Angel chuckled a little self-defeatingly. "I probably could, if I ever finished high school." At Luke's unasked question, Angel continued "After our mom died and dad ran off god knows where, I had to take care of Steph, so I quit school at 17 and took a job laying whiskey down at the bar by a local racetrack, that how’s I learned about cars." Angel smiles ruefully "I'd anything for that kid. Nothing can separate us." Ok, she thought, maybe that was a little much for a first date. Right behind that thought was the thought *Since when is this a date?*

Angel cleared her thought and looked away. She sipped her drink, trying to distance herself. Angel decided it was time to go for broke. She ran a finger lightly down Luke's forearm and smiled. "About ready to get out of here?"

Luke smiled warmly and nodded. As they were leaving, Boss came running out the his office, pointing a fat little finger at the couple.

"YOU! You stop right there, you...you...car thief!

Annoyed at the interruption to what was shaping up to be a very nice evening, Luke said "I don't know what you're trying to pin on us now, Boss, but we don't have time..."

"Not you, Luke Duke, HER!"

Luke looked at Angel who grinned wickedly, grabbed his hand and ran for the door. "This evening just got a whole lot more interesting." AS they ran for the Sherman, Angel could hear "...Rosco! What are waiting for, arrest them. Those two Yankee fillies stole my car and the Dukes are in on it!"

Sliding into the red racecar, Luke turned to Angel. "Just tell me one thing, did you actually lift Boss's car?"

"That's what the man said, wasn’t it?"

Luke didn’t look too happy at her answer. "Something you wanna tell me?"

"Later, I'm busy." Angel gunned Sherman's engine and floored the accelerator, hitting the road with Rosco's patrol car hot on its heel, or bumper as the case may be. The Sherman proved as agile as the Lee as they swerved over the Hazzard back roads, guided by Angel. Rosco ,however, didn’t let up easily and managed to follow the car's every move. Luke directed Angel to a right turn, and Angel eyebrows raised when Sherman plowed through a "No Bridge Ahead" sign.

"Luke, I hope you have a plan, the Sherman ain’t no boat!"

"Just gun it, trust me, if Sherman is half the car the General Lee is, this jump will be easy."

"JUMP?!"

"Trust me."

For whatever reason, Angel did. So she kept her foot to the floorboard as the Sherman hit the ditch and went flying. She did close her eye though until the jar of hitting the ground on the other side of the creek let her know Sherman had actually made it. Slamming on the brakes, Angel looked behind her to see the local law hip deep in the muddy water. She grinned and looked at Luke, who was grinning back at her expression.

"Me and Sis have GOT to try that over the Allegheny! You country boys know a few tricks, after all."

"Speaking of tricks, you got you and me into a mess of one. Why’d you steal Boss's caddy?"

"In a minute." Picking up the CB, Angel switched to the channel she and her sister used most often. "Fallen Angel to Sunbeam, come in, girl. We got a small problem."

***

Stephanie and Bo had just gotten back from riding. She put the horse away. "Oh come on sunbeam, answer me," Angel mumbled over the CB. "Sunbeam, this is fallen angel, if you can hear me I need to talk to ya!"

"This is Sunbeam, what do ya need sis, come back," Stephanie answered.

"Boss' car is in the hot bag come back."

"WHAT?! You said that..."

"I know what I said. Habit got the best of me. I am sorry, it was such a nice one."

"YOU PROMISED! You said we wouldn't do it anymore. After I was done my apprenticeship we would go and do a clean business."

"Sunbeam, I don't want to hear it over the CB! Now where can we meet?" Luke grabbed the CB.

"Lost sheep two are you there?" Luke asked.

"Yes I am lost sheep number one," Bo replied.

"Here's the plan, do you remember the place we had to hide for a week while we sold our shine?"

"Yeah?"

"Bring Sunbeam over here and we'll have to come up with a plan."

"10-4 pal." Bo slid across the hood. He reached into his pocket for the keys. Stephanie flashed them in front of his face.

"Move over pal," Stephanie hissed.

"You ain't driving' ya car thief!" Bo exclaimed. Stephanie pulled his head down by the jaw. She had a tight grip on him.

"You wouldn't understand would ya?"

"What do you mean I wouldn't understand?" Bo moved over. Stephanie climbed into the window she started up the engine.

"You don't know how its like to loose both parents and get kicked out of the house you live in. I didn't like the orphanage and Angel was just old enough to be an independent resident at any place. I couldn't stand living without her so of course I ran away. I found her and we have been living together ever since."

"That still don't explain the car thieving."

"Well, I didn't go to school for a year incase social services found us. We needed a bigger income than a Mac Donald’s job or something."

"So you stole cars?" Bo pointed out where to turn. Stephanie took the turn willingly.

"Well, not exactly. We stole the parts out of the cars and gave them back."

"Well that's just as dirty."

"Yeah well can you think of any better way to live? We had to do something."

"Don't you have any kin?" Bo pointed to a small clearing in a group of trees where the terrain was heavy. It looked like nothing was here. As she continued to drive through the clearing, a mysterious dirt road appeared.

"Kin?"

"Family."

"Yeah but they would rather throw us into a ditch. Anyway, I went back to High School when I was 18. I finished my Apprenticeship and got a good job. My sister started betting our money and participated in drag races and such. We won quite a bit by doing that. Built this car and tested some of the circuits. Now we're here for money."

"Why did Angel steal that car?"

"Beats me. I don't even know why I am telling you this."

"Maybe because you need someone to help you out and I am the only one who can do it."

"Dream on farm boy."

They finally came to an old cabin. General Sherman was sitting there bored looking into the blue sky while General Lee was very used to his surroundings.

The trees sheltered the group rather nicely. No one came here except the Dukes when trouble lurked around. The ground was perfectly connected to a cabin. One that had been used to save the Duke's neck. They had never brought anyone else here before.

Luke came out of the small red cabin. He stretched his arms up slowly as he grabbed Angel's arm. Angel didn't like being man handled by just anyone but took it from Luke. He looked at his cousin and Stephanie.

"Stephanie told me the whole story," Bo commented.

"Yeah, Angel filled me in too," Luke answered.

"What are we gonna do? Luke, you and Angel are in big trouble this time. It's funny, looks like we have new partners for now."

"You mean I have to work with you?" Stephanie questioned.

"You're stuck with me ma'am."

"Okay, I am game I guess. So how do we get out of this mess?"

***

Luke looked thoughtful at a moment "How about just giving the car back?"

"Sounds like a great way to get arrested." Angel said sarcastically.

Stephanie, on the other hand, was none too happy with her sister at the moment. "I can't believe you risked everything we worked for, Angela Marie!" She ignored the Dukes when they chuckled at the stern use of Angel's full name.

Angel started to say something, stopped and then looked ashamed. "I know, sis, I've ruined it for both of us now." She let out a big sigh. "Maybe I should just turn myself in, that way, you and Sherman could still race and move on."

"Ain't no doing, We stick together!"

Bo interrupted. "Look this is all very touching, but we still have a problem."

"and no ones turning themselves in." Luke added.

"Look, we don't have that much experience giving cars back, not intact anyhow." Angel said.

After a moment, Luke said. "We have two cars, let make the most of it."

Grinning, Bo said "Luke, sounds like you got a plan?"

"Is that good?" Angel questioned.

"Well, Bo and Stephanie, We'll drop you off at Boss's car. When we give you the call, drive it back and park in right in front of the sheriff's office."

"And that YOUR PLAN?!" Stephanie placed her hands on her hips "You'll get us all arrested!"

"I wasn't finished, me and Angel will keep Rosco and Boss busy with the Lee and Sherman."

Angel and Stephanie looked at each other and then back at the Dukes. Angel shrugged, "Its crude, but I think it'll work. That is.." Angel grinned at Luke "if you can keep up with me."

"Lady, I can handle any curves you care to throw at me."

Bo looked at Stephanie "I can't believe he actually said that."

***

"Well, if we do get caught we'll be put in different cells Bo," Stephanie commented. She leaned in and gave Bo a long kiss. Bo tried to pull away at first but drew closer as she cornered him. She finally released Bo from the tight salty kiss.

"Dang!" Bo exclaimed.

Stephanie looked over at Angel and Luke "You two should do the same. What if we get caught? We'll be in an all women's prison and you guys will be surrounded by men."

"That's why we're not going to get caught. Now, let's get moving." Stephanie and Angel got into Sherman and started the engine.

"Hey boys, don't make me crash into you again," Angel teased as she revved the engine a few times. She beeped her horn. It was the sound of the trumpet when they were charging.

The boys got into Lee. They did the same, letting their Dixie horn wail. "Don't think you're gonna git away with murder of a good car either," Luke answered. Luke was in the driver's seat now.

Stephanie was bored with her sister's driving. Her sister was good usually but today, she was love struck. Stephanie could see that look in Angel's eyes. No matter how much Angel tried to deny it, she did like Luke an awful lot.

"You could get arrested for impeding," Stephanie joked.

"Yeah, yeah," Angel snapped.

"The boys are gonna crash into us if we don't move our tail." Angel sped up. "Now that's more like it."

"Now, get off my back about speed and do something useful." Angel handed Stephanie the tax sheets.

"I am not doing taxes at a time like this!"

"Okay, just an offer. I figured you were bored."

"You should have kissed him while you had the chance."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I see how you look at him. Ya can't fool me."

"Oh? How about the way you look at Bo."

"Don't you start." Angel put her foot on the gas and jumped. "Got that from Luke right?"

"Yeah."

She continued moving to Hazzard's town. Stephanie got out of the car and stood on the roof. When they were finally in the town, Angel sounded the horn and pulled onto the sidewalk. People were screaming and moving out of her way.

Stephanie stood up. She grabbed onto a window ledge and slowly slid down the slippery slithery window. Stephanie put her hands on her hips waiting for Bo. Bo whistled from above.

"If it was behind Cooter's garage, why didn't we just go and get it from there?" Stephanie asked.

"Well, don't you think that they're going to be looking for us too?" Bo replied.

"Why would they look for us? We didn't do anything."

"Well if there is a will there is a way. We have to go building hopping."

"Excuse me?"

"We're going to the sky." Bo approached the fire escape. He jumped up and grabbed it. "Do you need me to give you an arm up?"

"I think I can manage." Stephanie grabbed onto the high ladder and pulled herself up. She couldn't believe she was doing this. After all the times she had done tricks and such, Stephanie had never done anything like this. Bo took the first jump.

"Come on!" Stephanie did a half smile wearily. She rubbed her hands together and pulled back her hair. Stephanie jumped. She was doing the splits in the air. Stephanie made it. "Don't think this impresses me, I have don't this a lot more than you have."

"I am sure." They continued jumping the buildings.

***

Angel looked peered out of the car window to watch her sister jump from the first building to the next. *Alrighty then, my turn.* She thought. She looked over at Luke and gave him a thumb's up and a grin. *Hope this works. Steph's right, I should have kissed him while I had the chance.*

Angel edged Sherman out of the alley, with the Lee close behind until she could see Rosco and Enos talking outside the sheriff's office beside their patrol cars. *No time like the present*. She slammed on the accelerator and, with a squeal of the tires, the Challenger shot into the street and jumped the pavement. Angel slowed the car just enough to give the startled lawman enough time to jump on top of their vehicle hoods, out of the way of Sherman's tired. Bringing the car into a 360 turn, she leaned out the window and blew a kiss at Enos and Rosco, who were scrambling into their patrols cars, only to jump on the hood a second time as the General Lee came flying down the street side of the cars, Dixie horn blasting. Luke slide the General into a stop, parallel to Sherman.

Angel saw what he was up to, he had squared the two cars against each other like a starting line. Luke was grinning at her, Angel picked up the CB radio and answered the challenge. "Catch me if you can!" With that, General Sherman charged through the streets of Hazzard, the General Lee nipping at his back bumper.

***

"Alright you two, this is no time to play, I want you to pull it over right there," Rosco commented over the CB. They kept going. "Okay you two, right over on the side of the next road..." Both Angel and Luke kept speeding. Two Generals and two police cars. Now here's something you don't see everyday. "Okay, Dukes! I am mad. I am gonna take action. I am gonna cuff ya and stuff ya. I want you to pull over!"

"Yes, I am sure you do," Luke replied.

"Luke Duke you're under arrest for helping a criminal. Angela, you're under arrest for stealing Boss Hogg's car."

"Well if you want us in prison, you're gonna have to catch us first," Angel said over the CB.

"Jit-Jit, OOoooo, you two never listen do ya?"

"Not when it comes to you Rosco Coltrane." They began to speed along the roads of Hazzard, and finally split up in their cars, Luke taking one way and Angel taking the other way.

Meanwhile, back at the garage, Stephanie and Bo were making sure the police department wouldn't have any evidence to convict Angel with. If there was no evidence there, they wouldn't be able to throw Luke into jail with her. Bo and Stephanie were wearing gloves as they tuned and wiped Boss' Caddy up real good. No finger prints would be found. The car looked well restored.

"Step two, keeping Boss busy," Bo mumbled.

"What did you do for step two?" Stephanie replied.

"As Uncle Jesse always says, think things through and you'll never loose." Bo pointed over to the courthouse. A rather large woman walked over towards the courthouse. She was wearing a purple dress and nice earrings.

"Who is that?"

"The cavalry, Mrs. Lulu Hogg."

"Oh? What's she going to do, kiss him for the next fifteen minutes while we park the car?"

"No, I told her that Boss hired a couple of Northern people with a car named General Sherman to go and race us. I said you were pros. When Lulu hears of Boss messing with us Dukes, she has a fit." Stephanie laughed.

"You Dukes think of everything."

"Just about."

Lulu walked into the courthouse and looked at Boss as he had a big plate for of hamburgers on a plate. It was so high he didn't even see Lulu come in. "Rosco! I thought you were out chasing them Dukes," Boss hissed. She didn't answer. "Well don't just stand there, go git them. I wanna drive my car. Lulu picked the worst car in the world and now I am driving it. Your fat sister ain't exactly my best friend neither. Did you know she wants to get rid of my refrigerator?"

"Jefferson-Davis Hogg! You're lucky I don't belt you one. Making' fun of my car! Working my brother to the bone!"

"Sugar lumps!"

"Oh don't you sugar lumps me! And another thing, what makes you think my baby brother Rosco wants to chase them Dukes anyway? They didn't do anything and I know it."

"Talking' to fugitives?"

"I don't believe you. And what's this I hear about a General Sherman racing' our southern car?!"

"Tootsie roll, I am sick of loosing my bets err umm the races."

"I heard that JD!" Boss Hogg scrunched his shoulders up and closed his eyes tight. He knew he was going to get it.

***

It didn’t take long for the two racecars to maneuver out of the town and into the countryside. The cars were bumper to bumper for most part. As long as Angel edged the car forward, Luke kept up with her, but not running ahead either. After they split at the junction, Angel gunned the motor as much as she could. She needed to keep the deputy behind her to keep him from returning to town. At a second crossroads, the two Generals swerved back together.

Finally, Angel had had enough distraction, she wished it hadn’t had come to this but she wasn’t gonna get Stephanie go to prison while she was alive. Steering with one hand, she opened the glove compartment and pulled out her black Beretta. She wasn’t about the shoot the lawman but being SHOT AT would ensure she would be chased until Stephanie and Bo had the time to replace the vehicle. And that they would break off pursuit of Luke. After all, She's the one who stole the car, she should be the one to pay the price.

Luke, on the other hand, was having fun. It wasn’t often that he got to same against a car that was an equal to the General Lee, and with a beautiful driver to boot. He glanced over to Angel to see her reach for something, and saw...a gun. Twisting the wheel sharply, the Lee collided with the Sherman, the sudden movement knocking the gun out of her hand, out of reach on the floor.

Picking up the CB, Angel snapped. "What the hell was that for?"

Luke answered "Guns aren’t part of the deal, darling, you want to keep Rosco chasing you, you stick to your driving and your pretty face."

***

"You drive me crazy!" Angel hissed.

"Well its better than ending up in prison believe me. I have been to prison," Luke replied. They continued driving there were two semi trucks up the road side by side. Luke turned one way and Angel the other. Luke went on the rocky terrain and was followed closely by Enos. Luke felt the bumps as he kept going. He couldn't believe he could drive this well while on the road.

"Oh my word! Luke, can ya slow down now?" Enos asked over the CB.

"I would but then you would catch me," Luke replied.

"You're gonna git a flat tire on this road."

"Nah, I am too good for that."

Angel went onto a road that reconnected back with the main one. She began driving faster. She pulled off a major jump. Rosco slowed down and took the hill down. He was right on her tail working on capturing the beauty. "This is Fallen Angel calling sunbeam. Can I have a progress report?" Angel asked over the CB.

"Sure thing. The swine is being occupied by his owner and we're almost finished operation restore. With Bo's help it's going a hundred times faster. Though you did a great job taking out the parts," Stephanie answered.

"Okay, well hurry it up. I lost contact with the orange clown."

"You did not red nose, repeat, you didn't lose me," Luke answered

***

Angel was plenty peeved at the name. "If you're not referring to the car with that crack, you're getting it when we stop." Luke's laugh could be heard over the CB.

Angel around the car in a quick 360 and nearly plowed into Rosco, who in turn had to go off road to turn at the sudden change of direction. Within minutes, she caught sight of Eno's patrol car's following closely behind Luke over a slight hill by the side of the road. She swerved the General Sherman off road and pulled it up next to Enos car.

Luke looked behind to see Angel had joined them. "Couldn’t get enough of me, sweetheart?"

"Just taking out the competition, honey."

Angel carefully pushed the General against Eno's car, the deputy pulled closer to the edge of the small hill in response. One more slight push and the patrol car was rolling down the embankment. After having landed on its side, the patrol's car occupant climbed out the window and waved at the racecars as they turned and passed him.

Rosco, having finally caught up with the chase, was unpleasantly surprised to find the two cars bearing towards him. He close his eyes as an orange blur passed on the left and a red one to his right. Unfortunately closing his eyes also caused him to crash into a tree.

Looking behind her and laughing, Angel thought if the cops in Pittsburgh were this easy to ditch, me and sis would be millionaires by now.

***

Meanwhile, back in Hazzard...

Well the car was back just as Lulu and Boss walked outside from their long discussion. "You will come home and fix the sink," Lulu grunted.

"Yes dear," Boss replied.

"You will take out the garbage."

"Yes dear."

"You won't charge the Dukes with ANYTHING."

"Yes I will! They stole my car."

"Then what's that?" Lulu pointed to the White Caddy sitting in the drive. It was well clean and much sharper than the day he'd bought it. Boss' jaw hung wide open. "NEXT time YOU want to LIE about not having a car, don't come to me to borrow it."

"But Lamb Chops..."

"JD, one more word out of you and I will crush our agreement to keep your fridge."

"You can't take Wally, we have had good times together. Midnight binges, great pork chops and more."

"It's only a fridge JD!" Lulu walked to her car and got in.

Boss picked up the CB and held it in his hands. "You know you're gonna git it one of these days...when I finally catch you two groups. You're gonna wish you were never born."

"What with that police force Boss?" Stephanie replied. She laughed over the CB.

"ROSCO! You're lucky your sister is my wife!"

"Boss, did you just say you wish I was your wife?" Boss rolled his eyes. He walked back into his building and planned the race of a life time that would happen in another two weeks due to the robbery of his car.

While he was doing that, Lulu was planning the annual backwards dance where the gals choose which fella they want to go with. Now friends, this should be interesting. Enemies ganged up to go and fix a big mistake. Now they could be dancing partners. This should be good.

Since the Dukes and the Wilsons had become friends, Luke offered an invitation for them to all stay in the Duke house. That way they didn't have to pay for the boarding house for so long.

"Can you believe the nerve of Hogg?" Stephanie grumbled.

"Now come on Steph, I know were gonna race but you know how Boss is. He wants to wait two weeks well let him," Angel answered.

"No, this ain't fair, he has to postpone is because of you! If you didn't get any ideas..."

"Well if you didn't go and make me come to Hazzard in the first place..."

"Ladies!" Uncle Jesse exclaimed.

"She started it," both said at the same time.

"Now girls, we don't fight in this house, sort of a family rule. As long as you're staying' here, y'all are family. I don't want to see it!"

"Okay sis, then let's step outside," Stephanie hissed.

"I don't think so!" Bo exclaimed. He grabbed onto Stephanie's hips and dragged her into the next room. Stephanie swung her legs over and wrapped them around Bo's neck. She pulled him to the ground with them.

"Bo, I am a dang good wrestler!" Bo got her legs off of him and put Stephanie in a half nelson.

"SO am I." Bo held her for a minute and gave her a kiss on the mouth.

"Hey!" Stephanie cuffed her arm around his and rolled towards him. She put her elbow by his hipbone.

"You ain't gonna fight with your sister. You love her". Bo elbowed her in the face. Stephanie hit Bo in the face hard making his nose bleed. "Owe!"

"Bo! You ain't supposed to hit a lady!" Uncle Jesse yelled.

"Sorry sir!" Bo yelled back. Stephanie quit.

"Why shouldn't I fight with her? She almost had us all in big trouble." Bo laughed. If he fought with Luke every time he got the two in trouble, they wouldn't exactly be friends anymore.

"Sisterhood is a bond."

"More like a pain."

"How many times to I have to apologize?" Angel asked.

"Well I think you should do it now. You should get something for me too."

"I am sorry! I will make a big dinner tomorrow okay?"

"You're forgiven then sis." Angel put a hand up for Stephanie. She didn't accept it of course being as stubborn as she was. "Now, we should go and practice for the race before we go dress shopping for that dance."

***

Angel dropped her sister and Daisy off at the dress shop, she wasn't going anywhere near it. She had not worn a dress since she was 16 and she liked it that way, thank you very much. She was amazed at all that Steph wanted to wear a dress at all, but then again, her little sister had been acting strange since they starting staying at the Duke farm. *Oh, and you're not, Miss Sigh-When-Luke-Smiles-At-You*

She took Sherman over to Cooter's garage to wait for the girls, unfortunately Hogg was already here, with his new racecar, the Hogg Hellion.

Scowling and parking her car, Angel walked up to Boss and pointed at the car. "What’s this? You racing two cars now, Boss?"

"No, I ain’t. This is the car that will win the race on Sunday. You and your sister are FIRED. You two have been nothing but thorns in my side since you hooked up with them Dukes and I ain’t taking it no more."

"We had a deal!"

"Deal's off! and I want to introduce you to someone."

Angel looked at the man Hogg had motioned to warily. "Oh?"

"This here's Jon Corbet, Pittsburgh City police."

At the word, "Pittsburgh", Angel's heart had come to a grinding halt, by "police", she had turned to run. But Corbet was a hair faster. He pushed Angel against the General with all the gentleness of a bear, then slapped a pair of handcuffs onto her wrists. "Angela Marie Wilson, you're under arrest for the following charges; grand thief auto, robbery, alluding and evading police capture, resisting arrest.."

Angel close her eyes and sighed. How was going to explain this to Steph?

***

Jon held the middle of the cuffs. "You're not getting away from me girly not matter how much you try," Jon hissed. Angel struggled with the cuffs. She tried to get out of his grip but it was no use.

"Are you gonna drive all the way back there tonight?" Boss asked.

"What do you think Hogg? Corbet answered harshly. "This one got away from me once. She's just like her old man. STEALING items that don't belong to him."

"Oh don't start with me Uncle Jon! It's not my fault that your side of the family wouldn't take us in after Mom and Dad died. It's also not my fault that Mom got married to Dad!"

"Woe, hold the phone, you're family?" Boss asked.

"Yeah, Angela's mother Genna eloped. We didn't want anything to do with her. Then I find out that the man she married had a criminal record, Moon shine runner. Used to live in Chickasaw County. Moved to our city after he was released. "

"He has a name, Uncle Jon."

"He doesn't need it to be used!"

"Barry, Barry Wilson. My father may have been a moon shine runner but he turned out to be a wonderful man. Mama worked her tail off as a nurse and he stayed home to raise us. It may be a hard life but he did it."

"Yeah, messed up your mom's chances of a good life. Now, this discussion is over! Where' Stephanie?"

"She's not involved in this!"

"If you don't want to be arrested or convicted of anything, you better tell me the name of that man on the video camera."

"What video camera?"

"Every bank machine has a hidden camera...we saw you lift that car. Now, who was that man?"

"I would rather rot in my cell."

"So be it!" Jon took off the cuffs and pushed her in.

"You've forgotten who you are Jon! You have turned your back on your family."

"I turned my back on her the minute she married him."

"You stupid lousy..." Jon glared at her and simply walked away.

***

Angel sat the jail cell under the Hazzard County Sheriff's Department, her head in her hands, wondering how on Earth she was going get out of this mess. She hadn’t come up with an answer when Stephanie came tearing down the steps, Bo and Luke in tow.
Angel stood when Stephanie came up to the bars. "Don't worry, Sis, We're gonna get you out of here somewhere, we'll..."

"Steph, I made a deal with Corbet"

"WHAT?!"

"I promised him if I confessed and didn’t resist extradition to Pittsburgh, all charged would be dropped against you."

"oh Angel, you didn't!"

"Stephanie, he has video of me and Ken lifting a car."

"Who's Ken?" Luke immediately wanted to know.

"Cool your heels, darling, Ken's my partner. He's the one who taught me how to steal cars." Angel looked at Luke, She had grown very fond of him over the last week. "Looks like I'm gonna miss the dance then."

Luke put his hand over the one holding the bar. "Not if I can help it."

Stephanie cut in. "Angel, you told me you weren’t gonna steal any more cars. When did this happen?"

"About 3 days before we came to Hazzard. We needed the extra money for the entry fee and modification on Sherman."

"Oh Angel, How could you?!"

"Stephanie, I have wanted only the best for you since Mom died. I thought if we could win the grand prize here in Hazzard, we could set up a normal garage. I guess you can't run from your past then."

"But..."

"Come on, little sister, you know how little the shop was making, how did you THINK I was bringing in high-class parts?" Chance's voice held unusual vehemence. "Now, I'm telling you and you listen good, Go get Sherman and walk away and don't look back."

***

"No!" Stephanie exclaimed.

"What?" Angel asked.

"You heard me. I was unaware. I won't be charged anyway. Think about it Angel! He has you in his corner by playing you for a sucker! I am not about to let it happen. Men, we have some talking to do. You talk to my sister while I talk to that stinky Uncle of mine."

Stephanie walked up the stairs just as the tears hit her eyes. She couldn't let this happen to her sister. Stephanie bit on her top lip and looked up at the ceiling. She didn't want to leave her sister but what if it was her only option? Stephanie finally moved up the stairs. She looked at Jon and barked like a dog.

"Oh come off it!" Jon exclaimed.

"Come off what? You almost got her in a mess by charging me! I didn't know anything about it therefore, I am not liable. Sorry. You cannot hold me over her head," Stephanie shouted back.

"Did you tell her that?"

"Yes I did. Now, you better leave her alone!"

"I won't! Not until she tells me that name."

"She would rather die!"

"A few days on bread and water will change her attitude some. I think we will stay in Hazzard. Soon we'll go back and she can be in jail for a long time."

"If she says the name?"

"I'll drop the charges." What was Angel gonna do? Would she ever let it slide? Or would she rather have bread and water for the rest of her days? Stephanie knew her sister was stubborn. Angel wouldn't want anything to happen to her sister or her friend. Ken...it was familiar to her.

***

Meanwhile, Jon had gone back down to the cells to see if he could convince Angel to give up her partner. Angel, in truth, was a small fry compared to this guy, who had been lifting cars for the better part of twenty years. Jon knew if he could knew him, it would make his career.

As he reached the cells, he saw Angel talking quietly two men, a brunette and a blonde, she was holding the hand of the brunette as she talked.

"Well, well, Angela, I'm so sorry to interrupt you talking to your boyfriend, or boyfriends, I should say. Like mother like daughter as I guess."

"Go to hell, Corbet."

"I'll see you when I get there."

"I guess you didn't hear the lady." Luke said. "She doesn't want to talk to you."

"Fine with me, we'll have a long, long drive back to Pittsburgh to talk. Of course, you could save yourself a lot of trouble with just tell me the name of your partner."

"Nothing doing, pal."

"You're going making it harder on yourself." With that, Corbet left.

After he was gone, Luke turned back to Angel. "We're going figure something out."

"I hope so, sweetheart, because I won't give up Ken that easily."

Bo was more doubtful. "I don't see why not, I mean, this guy brought you into a life of crime and all."

"Its not that easy, Bo, Ken was there for me and Steph when no one else was, showed me how to make a living that could support me and Steph."

"Stealing cars?"

"I didn't have a choice, we had no one else." It was a heavy confession, although it was true that Angel and Stephanie never had the loving family that the Dukes had, they only had each other. Angel laughed sadly. "I guess I could be the poster girl for what happens when you come from a broken home."

"Don't say that."

"It's the truth. I tried to give Steph the chance I didn't choose for myself. And I guess I failed."

***

Luke squeezed her hand slightly. "You sacrificed yourself for someone you love. There is no failing something like that."

Angel wanted to kiss Luke for his kind words, but the bars of the cell prevented it. Instead she pressed two fingers to her own lips and then to Luke's. Smiling softly, she said "Luke, Bo, You have to promise me you won't let Steph do anything to endanger her own safety or freedom."

"But.."

"No Buts. I would rather spend the rest of my life in jail then see that little girl hurt."

Before either of the Duke cousins could response to that, Corbet returned. "Alright, plowboys, visiting time's over. It's my turn to chat with the little lady."

"I told you before, she doesn’t want to talk to you."

"But she might be interested in listening."

Angel caught the warning in Corbet's tone. "Luke, I'll be alright, he cant hurt me from inside the cell."

Luke didn’t look happy about leaving, but he and Bo did, joining Steph upsides.

"Still not talking to me, Angela? Or should I call you Angel?"

"Only my friends call me Angel."

"Oh? and What does Luke Duke call you, I wonder?"

"Shut up, Corbet and leave them alone."

Corbet smiled coldly at his niece. "You were always the protective type. You would NEVER let anything happen to someone you love, esp. Steph."

Angel breath stopped as she got his meaning. "Corbet, you wouldn’t dare! You wouldn’t risk your own career by harassing your own niece."

"You're right, I wouldn't but i know plenty good ole boys in the area that would let to make a buck or two, and getting to push around your pretty little sister would probably be a bonus." With that, Corbet stood and turned to leave.

"Corbet! Wait!"

"Too late, Angela. You had your chance to cooperate. Now's let see if your sister has more brains than you do."

"Steph doesn’t know anything."

"We'll see about that." Still smiling, Corbet left.

Angel grasped the cell bars with both hands, never feeling so trapped, so powerless in his life. "CORBET!"

But it was useless, he was gone. Angel plowed her hands through his hair. She couldn’t let this happen. But by now, the Dukes and Steph were on their way and Corbet thug probably was too. She was locked up and couldn’t help, couldn’t even warn them.

Grabbing the bars, Angel shouted "Enos!"

The deputy came running down the steps. "You OK, Angel?! I ain’t never heard you holler like that before!"

"Enos, Listen to me, I have to let me out."

"I can't do that, Angel, its my job as a deputy. I shouldn’t even be talking to you, Sheriff Rosco says"

"Then listen to me, Please! You have to warn the Dukes, Corbet has sent a thug after my sister and that means anyone with her will also but in danger."

"Angel, I don't think..."

"Enos, They will be KILLED if you don't help me." Enos turned pale, he nodded and ran back up the steps.

***

As Enos continued to his car, Rosco stopped him. "Where do you think you're going in such a hurry?" Rosco commented. Enos was one of the most honest people in Hazzard County. If you think he's gonna lie, think again.

"I am going to the streets of Hazzard," Enos replied. I said he was honest, that doesn't mean he needs to tell the whole truth.

"To do what?"

""Chase the Dukes." He did it again. Enos was chasing the Dukes alright, chasing them down to give them information.

"Carry on then." Enos ran out the door. Remember, though the man can't drive he has lived in Hazzard all his life. Enos knew where the boys were headed, home.

Enos took a couple of sharp turns and finally got to the Dukes. He set up a mini road block and got them to stop. Bo looked angry and Stephanie, she wasn't too pleased. "HEY!" Stephanie hissed.

"Hey nothing, I gotta warn you about Corbet. He's coming' after Steph and y'all," Enos mumbled.

"I thought..."

"Yeah well he's still coming'"

"Great."

"How do we fix it?"

"We need four heads...we need Angel. Look, Corbet's gonna keep coming until we get her out of harm's way."

"Normally I wouldn't agree with you honey but you're right. I didn't hear your plans though. Git Stephanie to safety and plan it with Cooter."

"Okay," Bo replied.

***

Angel paced the confines of her cell. She couldn’t just sit here while Corbet and his thug went after Steph, whether it was to get to Angel herself or try to wring the truth out of little sister it didn't matter. Angel knew what she had planned would probably destroy much hope of having any sort of normal life for herself, but she would do it for Steph.

Coming up to the bar, Angel called up the jail steps. "Rosco! Sheriff!"

Rosco came down the steps and frowned at his prisoner. "Alright, Wilson. Whadda want?"

"Sheriff, I'd like to confess."

"Confess? If you gotta confess, you confess to that big city Yankee feller."

"I...umm...I don't think I can later. If I don't do this now, I won't have the nerve."

"Well, alright." Rosco pulled his pen and paper from his shirt pocket. "Alright, start confessing."

Angel opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again as if the confession were too much to bear. Rosco leaned forward to hear better. Angel saw her chance and grab Rosco's collar. "Sorry Rosco" She said before jerking her arm back, causing the sheriff's head to come against the bars. Rosco went down like a champ.

Carefully, Angel removed the key from Rosco's belt and unlocked the cell. Stepping over the unconscious sheriff, Angel hesitated, then also took Rosco's gun and tucked it into his waistband. She hoped she wouldn’t have to use it but nothing would stop her from protecting Steph. The General Sherman was still parked at Cooter's. Thanks to the mechanic's quick thinking, Corbet hadn’t put his hands on the girls' prized racecar.

The sheriff's office was empty, since Enos had left. Angel had no trouble sneaking across the street to Cooter's, removed the drop cloth and climbed into the Challenger. Slamming the accelerator to the floor, the red racecar's tires squealed as it headed out of town, following Corbet and his thug.

***

Stephanie and company arrived about twenty minutes after the mysterious Fallen Angel had vanished. Stephanie took a toothpick out of her mouth and looked at Bo as she put her sunglasses on. "Okay, she read our mind. Now I guess we're gonna have to have some fun. I need to do some research," Stephanie commented.

"What do you mean?" Bo asked.

"Uncle Corbet needs to be taught a lesson. You boys ain't allowed to leave the county but we don't to...I have got a friend in the force. His name is Peter Manning, one of the best older men I have ever dated. We broke up because well...there was a WAY better girl waiting for him. Anyway, he'll help me on something."

Stephanie was right, she did find out something from this guy. Corbet was one who loved women...however he was married which wasn't exactly good. Stephanie had a plan.

***

Actually Angel had no idea what Steph had planned, her only thoughts were tracking down Corbet and preventing him from doing any damage to her sister. Her methods were also a little more straightforward...force. Over the CB, she could hear Rosco explaining to Corbet about her escape, and, by the Pittsburgh's cop's ripe language, he wasn't thrilled about it.

..I'm over by Miller Road, right now. But I'll be back to the office about 20 minutes. We'll find her, if it takes everything we got. And Rosco, consider her armed and dangerous, shoot first and ask questions later."

"Ten-four." Rosco wasn't happy about being ordered around, but he knew Corbet had a point, considering Angel now had his gun.

Angel swung General Sherman into a sharp right, with any luck, she'd hit Miller Road same time as Corbet. Hopefully she could convince him to leave her and Steph alone, if not...

Angel blocked the thought. She had always known her hard and fast lifestyle would catch up with her, but if things were going to come to a head, she preferred to be in the center of the storm alone. Stephanie didn’t need to caught up in things Angel had started. And Angel intended to finish things today.

Sure enough within five minutes, she spotted Corbet's blue sedan ahead and coming at her fast. Swinging the Sherman across the road, she forced the other car to stop and climbed out, holding the gun in one hand.

Corbet realized who it was and grabbed the CB "Rosco, Angela is on Miller Road. She's has a gun. I need backup..!" That was all Corbet could get out before Angel grabbed the CB from him and yanked the mouthpiece clean out of the machine. Using Rosco's police special, she indicated Corbet to get out of the car. Which he did, he wasn't stupid, esp. when he had a gun pointed at him.

Angel's blue eyes were ice cold as she regarded her uncle. "Jon, I think its time we discussed things."

Angel didn’t realize that Corbet's request for backup was also heard in the General Lee, by Luke, Bo and Steph.

Bo's eyes were wide as he glanced over to Steph. "She wouldn’t, would she?" He didn’t need to elaborate his thoughts.

Steph nodded grimly. "To protect me, she would. She gotta get over there before she does anything stupid."

***

Thank goodness they got over there in time. Stephanie grabbed her Uncle and was about to throw him over when Corbet decided to pull out a gun on her. "I have had enough of you two!" Corbet snarled. Bo hit him hard from behind and Corbet landed on the ground.

Stephanie laughed. "What's so funny about this?" Angel asked.

"You don't see the brighter side of life. You remember his wife Julie?" Stephanie asked.

"Duh."

"Well its play time. Starring Corbet the dog." A smile arose on Angel's face."

When Corbet woke up in his underwear and undershirt. There was a lady’s dress on one side. Three girls walked out and began to kiss him. Corbet didn't resist. "Hold on sweetbabies, there's plenty of me to go around," Corbet commented. About nineteen flashes took place out of Stephanie's camera and of course the Dukes as well. Corbet couldn't believe it.

"Pittsburgh News, cop's wife kills him after she sees pictures," Stephanie said.

"That's blackmail!"

"That's right."

"What do you want?"

"I want all charges dropped against my sister and I. You leave and never come back. Got it?"

"Okay, done." Stephanie handed him one roll.

"You'll get the other four when we get back to our city and see the records are gone."

"FINE!"

"In the words of my friends from Hazzard, 'Don't come back ya hear?'" Everyone laughed as Corbet finally left the Dukes and the Wilsons alone for good.

***

Angel was waiting outside with the General Sherman while Stephanie did her dastardly deed. Angel shook her head ruefully, think, for once, Steph had saved her instead of the other way around. But everything Corbet had said about Angel was, in its way, right. She was a car thief and a criminal. She had been willing and ready to silence Corbet permanently.

And although, they had their charges cleared in Hazzard, they could never return to Pittsburgh. With that thought in mind, Angel strolled over to the pay phone and made a call.

A little while later, Stephanie and the Dukes joined Angel outside. Angel approached Stephanie. "Sis, how would feel about a change of venue?"

Her little sister looked confused. "What do you mean?"

"I just called Ken. He’s agreed to buy the garage and chop shop from us." Angel leveled her eyes at her sister. "You know even though Corbet agreed to leave us alone, we can't go back to Pittsburgh. Well, I can't anyway.."

"I told ya before, sis, we stick together!"

"I know, that’s why I'm looking into buying a place here in Hazzard. What can I say, the place's kinda grown on me. I could even get to like grits after a while." Angel grinned at her sister. "What do you say? Stay or go?"

"STAY!" Stephanie, Bo and Luke all said at once.

"Well then, what are we waiting for? With the winning from the race day after tomorrow, we'll build the best garage in town."

Bo grinned. "You gals still think you're gonna win?"

"Not think, Know!" Stephanie stuck her tongue at the blonde Duke.

Angel rolled her eyes. "Not THIS again!"

***

After the boys got through with Boss, he couldn't say no to sponsoring two cars instead of one. Someone had to win. Bo and Luke were sure it was gonna be them. Having the enemy become the good friends. Angel looked at Luke, "Either way we win."

The girls were dressed like people from a real track. They wore checkered suits with advertisement to everything Boss Hogg owned. Hogg figured that the people would stare more at the gals than the guys. He also did something else that they weren't exactly aware of. You see, Rosco messed with Bo and Luke's car. He bet $100 that the girls would win. Boss Hogg did the opposite, he added to General Sherman's engine. Now friends, this could turn out to be an interesting race considering neither driver knew about this.

Stephanie usually checked her car ten minutes before the race but was busy making plans with Bo for next Saturday since she was allowed to stay in Hazzard. "Swimming in the moonlight? Sounds primitive," Stephanie commented.

"No, sounds romantic," Bo retorted.

"Oh whatever, just know that we're gonna have fun."

"For a minute there you sounded southern."

Chance and Luke came up to the car and Chance grinned at her sister and Bo flirting. "Steph, what a time to be flirting with the enemy." She teased and then frowned as she pulled at the collar of her jumpsuit. "I can't believe Boss made us wear these clown costumes. I think this is vengeance for stealing his car."

"I bet it is too. I look like I belong on a bed," Stephanie replied. Angel heard the call to get into her car. She gave Luke one heck of a kiss.

"Have fun Bo driving," Stephanie commented. She looked at Luke as he was finally released from her sister's lips.

"Have fun watching us kid, though you won't see me behind the dust," Bo mumbled.

"Yeah, our dust," Bo snapped.

"You're dreaming!"

"No, you are!" Bo walked over to the Lee and laughed. Angel went to the Sherman. Isn't it funny how they were both side by side. Bo smiled as Daisy stood out with the flags ready to wave them. Daisy did her job and the two cars were off. Bo was in the lead but his parts were ready to come apart. Angel couldn't understand where the new found power came from in her General.

Well that was it folks. Bo's breaks were gone.

It took less than second for Angel to decide what to do. Pulling the Sherman in front of the General Lee, Chance used her car to slow the acceleration of the General Lee. It would probably mean losing the race but saving a life was more important.

With the breaks gone, the steering was next. Seems old Rosco went for the wrong piece. I guess when you do it in the dark, things are bound to go wrong. The car went off the road. Luke got worried and jumped into Dixie with Daisy. They began to speed up towards Bo but knew he wouldn't catch him. All the cars went passed the General Lee and Sherman.

Luke remembered the bow and arrows Daisy carried in the back. "Take the wheel!" Luke commanded.

"No problem sugar," Daisy replied. She held on tight swerving from other cars. Luke had to work fast. He attached a rope to the front of Dixie and another to the Arrow. Angel kept the car steady in the front. Luke let the arrow fly and it attached onto a piece of weak metal that was injured by Sherman. Luke went back in Dixie.

"Fallen Angel, Daisy, breaks." Both applied the breaks. The General was stopped in between the two.

With the crisis ended, Angel exited the General Sherman. Just then Hogg Hellion passed the trio of stopped cars. She reached inside the General Sherman and called to her sister. "Sunbeam, this is Fallen Angel. We're stopped about..."

"STOPPED?!" Stephanie voice was incredulous.

"stopped.." Angel repeated "about a half mile from the finish line. Grab Cooter and get him over here. We have problems."

That done, Angel walked over where Bo, Luke and Daisy were peering inside the General Lee's Hood. It didn't take a mechanic to see the choppy job someone had done to the General insides.

Angel figured there was something wrong with her baby boy as well. She looked under the hood. "He's been modified," Angel shouted.

"Well I didn't do it," Bo commented.

"Bo, your nose is bleeding."

"Yeah, I hit it on the dash."

"Are you okay?"

"Fine." Angel went to touch his nose. Bo pulled away. "How am I supposed to know that you ain't responsible?"

"Bo, you're thinking crazy!" Luke exclaimed.

"It was almost like Steph was keeping me busy while she..."

"I would NEVER do that!" Angel exclaimed.

"Bo, stop it, you're just angry," Luke mumbled.

"Yeah...I guess so. I suppose you would be mad too if you almost died," Bo snapped. Cooter showed up with the tow truck. Everyone got into their cars and drove off

***

"Can you believe him?" Angel asked her sister later while at Cooter's garage. Stephanie was undoing the damage made to the General Sherman. "After all we've been through, your boyfriend still thinks we're capable of sabotaging the General Lee. I mean, Who would do something like this? Bo and I could have been killed."

"Oh Pul-lease, Sis. Who do you think?" Steph rolled her eyes and nodded towards the county court house.

"Boss Hogg may be greedy, but he doesn’t strike me as someone willing to attempt murder."

"Maybe it was an accident then?"

"What I'd like to do is catch Hogg in the act of confessing what he did. That would be a picture." Angel grinned wickedly at her sister "suitable for 'framing.'"

Stephanie grin widened as she caught what her sister was thinking.

The next day, Boss Hogg's office door slammed down to reveal an incensed Angel. Boss looked from the money he was counting. "You?! What do YOU want?."

"Just my share of that prize money."

"What prize money? You didn’t even finish the race, let alone win!" Boss stood to call Rosco, but Angel push him back into his seat. The money he was counting scattered to the floor. As Boss was scrambling to collect, Angel flicked on the CB sitting on his desk and pulled the phone onto the receiver so the channel stayed open.

"You hired me and Steph to come down to Hazzard and make sure the Dukes lose. We did our part...they lost. We get our cut."

"Uh-Uh, you didn’t have nothing to do with those Dukes losing the race."

"Didn't we?"

"Nooo. If it weren’t for me and Rosco, those Dukes would have taken everything."

"Is that so?" Angel grin was wicked. "How you do it, divine help?"

"Divine nothing, just a little good old-fashioned mechanics"

Angel leaned over the desk, glaring at Hogg. "You're 'good old-fashioned mechanics' nearly got Bo killed."

"Well, I didn't know that dipstick sheriff of mine would take it into his head to mess with the General Lee!"

Angel grinned and picked up the CB receiver. "Got all that on tape, sis?" Angel had Luke, Bo and Steph listening in the General Lee, who was now fixed up proper, outside. Steph actually had no tape recorder but Boss didn’t need to know that.

Boss Hogg's drop red and he turned an unhealthy shade of purple when we realized what he had done. "Now, Boss, Here's the deal. Half the prize money got to me and Steph, payment and compensation for our troubles, the other half goes to the Dukes, for nearly killing one of their kin. And that tape Steph is holding goes into the trash. Otherwise, it goes to every newspaper between here and Pittsburgh."

"You...You wouldn’t!"

Angel leaned in until she was almost nose to nose with the Hazzard County Commissioner "Wouldn’t I?"

Ten minutes later and two thick envelopes in hand, Angel met her sister and the Dukes of the bottom of the courthouse steps, laughing at Hogg's reaction to her scheme and exchanging celebratory hugs (the longest of which lasted between Angel and Luke)

Bo suddenly turned serious for a moment. "Angel, I'm sorry I accused you of messing with the General. I guess I don't think when I'm angry." He held out a hand to Angel.

Angel shook it. "No problem."

Luke, however, added. "Bo, NOW you realize this?"

***

Two weeks later...

Two cars were racing down Hazzard’s streets. Both cars as good as ever. Sherman would stay in Hazzard. Unlike the war between men, this Battle in Hazzard turned out to end in a handshake...well a hand shake and a kiss.

Bo Duke and Stephanie figured they could keep it going. Angel couldn't believe how alike they were. Both on opposite ends but when you think of it, both were always connected somehow. Funny, cause Stephanie thought the same about Angel and Luke.

Now this was Hazzard and all was well...uh until next time I mean.

THE END

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