You're a Duke

Chapter Two

The party in Bo's honor went off without a hitch. Bo acted surprised as he promised Luke he would and neither Daisy, nor Uncle Jesse discovered that he knew. After they ate, the Dukes, Cooter, Enos, and Cletus all gathered within the living room to give their gifts. Luke quickly stated that he would give his gift to Bo later, to cover up that he had already done so. Daisy had purchased her cousin a set of old country records by artists such as Hank Williams, Kenny Rogers, Johnny Cash, and none other than Waylon Jennings, one of which happened to be signed by the star back when he had come through Hazzard over six months ago.

"These are great, Daisy," Bo stated gratefully and then pulled her into a hug. "Thank you. I can't wait to hear them play."

"You're welcome, sugar," she answered as she finally let go so that he could open Enos' and Cletus' gifts next, and finally their uncle's gift, which turned out to be the small package which the boys remembered giving Jesse on the day months ago when they had worked in the post office for Miz Tisdale.

Luke looked at their uncle in surprise as he handed the package to Bo, who took it nervously as he too stared at their family patriarch. Bo finally opened the box, then carefully pulled out a small book, a diary which he now saw once belonged to his mother. He flipped through the old pages and found most of them to be filled, as she had apparently written everyday leading up to his birth, all until the very last day, the day that he was born.

Bo quickly looked back to his uncle as he asked in confusion, "I don't understand, how did you get this? I mean, who sent it to you and how did they get a hold of it?"

Jesse looked at his youngest boy sadly and responded, "I told you before that it was someone once dear to me, but who he was isn't what's important. What is important is that this diary of your mother's has been returned and is now in the hands of the one person who it truly belongs to, to you Bo."

The youngest of the Duke clan simply stared down at the book, then started walking toward his room until he stopped and looked back at him again as he replied despondently, "Thank you, Uncle Jesse. Really, thank you."

Without another word, he simply continued to his and Luke's room and closed the door behind him so that he could be alone to read the book, while the rest of his family and friends stared after him, then turned back to Jesse, not really sure what they should say or do at that moment. Daisy began to pick up the dirty dishes from the party as she worked to place them into the sink, while Enos quickly stepped in to help her. Jesse thanked Enos, Cletus, and Cooter for coming, then escorted them out until he and his family were alone. Luke attempted to find out more about the diary and how it came to him, but Jesse refused to answer any of his questions. All the family patriarch would say was that Bo's mother had asked that the diary be given to her son one day when he was ready for it, and that was his final word on the subject.

The next morning, Bo looked tired like he's been most other mornings since his kidnapping due to his dreams, but this morning was different because he had stayed up most of the night reading. He was happy and he didn't complain once about getting his early morning chores done. While they worked, the youngest of the three cousins was eager to share the things that he read from the diary with them, and both Daisy and Luke were enjoying listening to him, not to mention seeing him so happy. After everything he's been through, he really needed this to help lift his spirits.

"Hey, what do you say we run into town and pick up the feed for the animals?" Luke said finally once their chores were all done.

"Sure thing," Bo answered as he quickly hugged their uncle, kissed Daisy on her cheek, then ran out to the General, followed close behind by Luke, who seemed tired himself, making Bo realize that Luke had never come into their room to sleep the night before. "Oh, gee Luke, did you end up sleeping on the couch in the living room last night? I'm sorry, I honestly didn't mean for you to…"

Luke cut him off saying, "No, no, it's fine. I didn't come in because I didn't want to disturb you. I figured you could use some time alone. I am glad that receiving your mother's diary made you this happy. I have to admit, when you walked away from your party last night, I didn't think you were okay. I'm glad I was wrong."

The younger man responded, "Me too. To be honest, I wasn't really sure what to think at first, but after reading for a while, it was nice to read about my mother's life. I had no idea what kind of woman she was, except for from the things Uncle Jesse told me about her. Now I have a better idea."

"What about your father?" Luke asked curiously.

"She didn't really write much about him," Bo replied sadly, then cleared his throat and changed the subject. "What do you say that we ask Crazy Cooter if he wants to join us for lunch and a drink down at the Boar's Nest?"

They arrived in town and Luke nodded as he answered, "Yeah, that'd be good. It'll be fun, but we should probably get the feed and supplies first. You know, just in case today's one of the days that Boss and Rosco decide to pull one of their tricks on us."

"I think you might have spoken too soon," Bo stated as he noticed Enos walking toward them as they parked their car down the street from the hay and feed store, also not far from the sheriff's station. "You go and get started. I'll find out what Enos wants."

"Fine, but if he tries to arrest you, run," Luke called back to him as he started to jog off toward the store while he waved to Enos.

When he walked inside, he walked up to the counter to pay for their order when some stranger to Hazzard walked up behind him to wait in line and as Luke walked back outside to wait for his cousin to join him, Cooter ran over as he called out, "Hey there buddy roe! How are things going today? What's Enos talking to Bo about?"

Luke responded, "I'm not sure. It's probably just to make sure he's alright, after last night. How would you like to join us down at the Boar's Nest for a drink and somethin' to eat?"

"That'd be great," he started to reply until he was cut off by the stranger as he walked over to them.

"Excuse me, gentlemen, but you both appear to be from around these parts," the man said quickly. "I was hoping you could help me."

Luke looked at the man oddly, as if he knew him from somewhere, but pushed the feeling aside as he answered, "If we can. What can we do for you?"

The man looked around the town, then turned back to them as he responded, "Well, I've come here to Hazzard in hope of getting to know my son. The problem is, I've never actually met him, so I don't know who he is or what he looks like. I only saw him briefly on the night he was born, if you can believe it. However, I believe there is someone here who can help me, a Jesse Duke? I know him, but I can't recall where he lives."

"You're in luck then," Luke replied as he looked at the stranger suspiciously, suddenly feeling very nervous, then quickly looked down the street toward Bo before continuing. "Jesse Duke happens to be my uncle. My cousins and me, we live with him on our farm. I'm Luke and you are?"

"Jesse's your uncle?" the man asked skeptically, without saying who he was. "Then that means… that means that you know my son. You're his cousin then. Is that him over there, Beauregard Duke?"

Luke fearfully looked over toward Bo again, as did Cooter, then he quickly moved to stand directly in front of the stranger, who started to walk toward his younger cousin as he answered, "Look, I can see that you're anxious to meet yer son, but please, you've got to speak with our Uncle Jesse before you speak with Bo. He's been through a lot over the last several weeks. Learning his father might be alive will only upset him and I won't let you do that to him, not unless our uncle can confirm that you are who you say you are. If you really are his father, then I'd rather the truth come from Uncle Jesse and not some complete stranger. And if you hurt Bo, then so help me…"

The man raised his hands in his defense as he responded, "All right, just take it easy there, sonny. Very well, I'll speak with your uncle first then. He is after all my brother. It's nice to see that you're so protective of my boy. I'll find out from that deputy over there where I can find you. Until tonight then, Luke."

"You never did say your name!" Luke called out to him as he started to walk away.

"My name's Geoffrey," the man replied and then continued walking.

Cooter moves to stand beside his friend and asked worryingly, "What do you think? I don't trust 'im."

Luke stared at his cousin as he said in frustration, "I don't trust him either, whether he's Bo's real father or not. Uncle Jesse told us that his parents died in a car accident. If he lied to us about that, then the truth must be real bad and Bo's about to get hurt all over again."