Chapter 9: Last Wishes

Bo was surprised to find himself the first awake the next morning. Luke seemed to have this uncanny ability to always be up just a little bit before him, but this Sunday morning he was still soundly sawing Z's. Bo ordered up some breakfast and sat down to wait in a sunlit chair. He grinned, suddenly, and stifled a laugh as he thought back on one of Brock's stories from the night before. The man sure told some wild ones, and Bo wasn't sure he believed a single one of the pranks Luke supposedly pulled - not responsible, sensible Luke! - but it made him laugh nonetheless. However, Bo reflected, even if none of the grizzly Marine's stories were true, he'd still learned a heck of a lot about his cousin in the last week. Not that it changed a thing - if anything, Luke was even more of a hero in Bo's eyes, a fine example of a man he hoped he could live up to.

The knock on the door bringing breakfast finally woke Luke, and the cousins ate quickly, dressed in their Sunday suits, and headed for a little church down the road. No one minded the two out-of-towners joining in the back row, particularly not when the dark-haired one looked so heartfelt and earnest at his prayers. The blond, on the other hand, had a finely-tuned ability to look like he was paying attention, even when he wasn't. Afterwards, the boys joined Pauline for a light lunch, and went back to the hotel room to wait until their three o'clock appointment in the city. Neither bothered changing - a suit and tie seemed the only proper attire for the reading of a will, and it wouldn't be that long. While Bo watched TV, Luke went down into the lobby to call and check in with Uncle Jesse. When he came back, Bo was watching the pre-race commentary on ESPN, hoping for a few glimpses of his favorite drivers.

"Bo."

"Yeah, Luke?" Bo answered without looking up.

"When I asked you, 'what did Uncle Jesse have to say' yesterday, you kinda left a few things out."

Now Bo looked up. That wasn't a happy tone of voice. Luke stood there with his hands on his belt and a very familiar exasperated expression - the same as when Bo spent a night with a girl instead of fixing the General's busted radiator, or managed to do pretty much anything that got them in trouble. "Well, I, uh…"

"Why didn't you tell me Uncle Jesse was in trouble?.!"

" 'Cause I didn't want to worry you, Luke!" Bo answered defensively, shutting off the TV, "I was gonna tell ya, just…not until we were on the way home."

Luke sat down on the edge of the bed and sighed. Uncle Jesse had said that was probably Bo's reason. It was no use getting mad at Bo anyhow - he was only trying to look out for his older cousin. That much was evident from the hurt in his tone when he answered.

"Aww, I'm sorry, Bo. I know, I ain't exactly been myself these last few days. I appreciate you watchin' out for me, but I wish you'da told me about this…we gotta come up with somethin'. You had any ideas?"

"No, not unless you want to rob a bank on the way back," Bo joked. Phew! He was glad Luke wasn't too mad at him.

Luke shook his head and smiled, "Nah, Uncle Jesse'd kick both our tails for that. Not to mention our probation!" He glanced up at the clock - 2:15. "Hey, we'd better get going."

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Bo and Luke reached the district courthouse with a minimum of wrong turns, and parked the General next to the handful of cars in the empty parking lot. A security guard at the front door let them in and directed them to the judge's offices. Luke knocked and entered, followed closely by Bo. The judge sat at a broad mahogany desk, examining some papers in his hands. In various chairs around the office sat Mr. Rainey, Rob's lawyer, Pauline, Ted Hopkins, Rob's coworker, Jillian Summer and her fiancé, and another man with a lawyerly air who must be Ms. Summer's lawyer. Luke and Bo took seats in the back, the last to arrive, though it was only 2:50.

The ten minutes passed in silence. The judge continued reading through his papers, and appeared to be completely unaware of the eight men and women sitting in his office. Luke wondered for the fifth time why Rob specifically wanted him to be there. Not as a witness, certainly - there were plenty of those. Possibly as the executor of the estate - Rob would trust him with such duties, but there was no reason Pauline or Mr. Rainey wouldn't serve the same function. Besides, Rob hardly had two nickels to rub together most of his life; the VA had paid for his hospital bills and funeral services.

At exactly 3:00pm, the judge set his papers down and looked up, making a quick sweep of the faces around him. He had a blank face and dull eyes that showed no hint of the annoyance he felt for working on a Sunday afternoon. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are here this afternoon to read the last will and testament of Mr. Robert Thomas Fulton of Gary, Indiana. Would those gathered here please identify themselves and their relation to the deceased?"

Beginning with Mr. Rainey on the judge's left, each spoke in turn.

"Hank Rainey, Mr. Fulton's attorney."

"Pauline Herschmen, Robert's friend and nurse in his last days."

"Theodore Hopkins, I worked with Rob."

"Jillian Summer. Mrs. Fulton was my aunt."

"Alex Tyers, Jillian's fiancé."

"Daniel Fox, Ms. Summer's attorney."

"Lucas Duke. I'm a friend of Rob's."

"Bo…Beauregard Duke. I'm Luke's cousin, sir."

The judge studied each face as they spoke, and made no sign of recognition or familiarity to anyone. Then he picked up a brown envelope from the side of his desk and broke the seal. Had Luke been sitting closer to the front, he might have seen the hungry look in Summer's eyes as he did so. "Very well, then. I, Judge Reginald Chambers of the Virginia District Court, verify that these documents came into my possession sealed, and that the signature on the will matches the signature on the seal, notarized and witnessed April 21st 1982 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The final will and testament of Mr. Fulton reads as follows:

"To my dear friends who are gathered here, I extend my love and warmest thanks. Whatever possessions I may have in my last days, it was you who made my life rich. I could not have asked for more. If you mourn my passing, please, don't. I have lived my life and escaped many sooner endings, and by God's grace I am at peace."

The line made Luke smile despite himself. Pure Rob, straightforward and frank.

"Now, to business. To Ted Hopkins of Gary Indiana, I leave my hounds Sasha and Riptide, which he has cared for in my absence and grown to love, I know. Ted, may your children grow strong and happy with those dogs at their side.

"To Pauline Herschmen of Indianapolis Indiana, I leave the pictures, letters, and belongings I kept at Bright Crossing, to keep or distribute as she will. Pauline, your care and friendship have meant the world to me, and I could not have asked for a better companion in my last days. Thank you, with all my heart.

"To the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, I leave a sum of twenty thousand dollars, towards the construction of that honorable memorial, and towards what other purposes they see fit.

"To Lucas Duke of Hazzard Georgia, I leave the entire remainder of my estate, for the benefit of the family and town that he loves. Luke, since the day I first met you coming off that chopper, you have been a second son to me. I couldn't be more proud to have known and served with you. Take care of those cousins of yours.

"To the Summers family, should they deign to be present, I leave these words: I have agreed with your politics from the first, and if I could have ended the war by any words, I would have. But I couldn't, and I acted as I thought best for my family and my country. Remember that it was you who continued the war after my return home.

"Signed, Robert Thomas Fulton, Staff Sergeant United States Marine Corps, April 21 1982."

The room was silent. Luke almost didn't realize the judge had finished reading. Jillian Summer stood, and her fiancé and lawyer quickly followed suit. Then she turned and walked out, glaring at Luke ferociously as she passed. Bo obstinately returned her glare.

A few minutes later, Mr. Hopkins and Pauline were on their feet, shaking thankful hands with Mr. Rainey, who handed them a couple of forms and obtained their signatures on others. Luke still sat perfectly still, open-mouthed and shocked. Twenty thousand dollars to the VMF? Where on earth had Rob gotten that kind of money? The entire remainder…a second son to me…couldn't be more proud…by God's grace I am at peace.

"Luke," Bo nudged him.

Luke looked up. Mr. Rainey was standing in front of him, waiting expectantly. Pauline and Mr. Hopkins both patted his shoulder as they filed past. Bo was looking at him with concern again.

"Mr. Duke, I understand that you need to return home, but this won't take long," Mr. Rainey was saying, "Robert was quite efficient about consolidating his remaining possessions in the last year, so you needn't worry - the house, the land, the livestock, and everything therein was sold months ago." The house? The land? The entire remainder… "And the paperwork and bank check for the VMF has already been taken care of as well. All that's left is for you to sign some of these papers for me, with your identification, and we can go right to the bank in the morning."

"The bank?" Luke managed hoarsely.

"Yes, Mr. Duke, to claim the remaining balance of Robert's bank account."

"How much are we talkin' about, here?" Bo asked. He hated to have secondary motives in mind, but he did.

The attorney opened the folder in his hand and consulted his notes. "Well, let me see here…looks like about thirty-eight thousand dollars, give or take interest."

Even Bo was struck speechless. His mouth moved, but no sound came out. Luke shook his head. "Mr. Rainey, there must be some mistake…Rob never…he wasn't…I can't…"

The lawyer smiled kindly. "I quite understand, Mr. Duke. If you'll permit me…Robert spoke most highly of you throughout the whole process, and he made it my sworn duty to make sure you were here and you received the money. I remember him very specifically saying, 'Hank, that boy is stubborn to a fault. You tie him up and shove that check in his pocket if you have to, if he refuses to take it.' Shall I fetch the rope?"

"But, where did he get all that money?.!"

"Well, Mr. Duke, since you are inheriting it…a great part of Robert's assets come from a trust fund he and his wife set up for their son the day he was born, to pay for his college education. Another great part came from his wife's life insurance policy, set up through her family. I understand the Summers were quite rich in her youth, and were quite angry that Robert received that money. I believe that's what Ms. Summer hoped for today, as well. Both the trust fund and Mrs. Fulton's life insurance were paid to Robert when he returned from the war, but he hardly spent a penny of it, and it only built interest in the last nine years."

Both Bo and Mr. Rainey watched as Luke leaned forward, considering. He ran both hands through his hair and searched all around the office with wide eyes. "Well," he finally said, looking up. He turned to Bo. "I guess you've got a phone call to make to Uncle Jesse."

Bo grinned and laughed, slapping his back. Luke broke a grin himself, and wiped a tear from damp eyes.

"Congratulations, Mr. Duke. Now, if you don't mind, the paperwork…I'm sure Judge Chambers would appreciate us vacating his office quickly."

While Luke signed, he looked up with a new thought. "What time does the bank open in the morning?"

"I believe the nearest branch opens at eight a.m."

Luke looked up at Bo. "We're gonna be hard pressed to get home with that money by five. Less than nine hours - think we can make it?"

Bo grinned. "I guess we'll find out, won't we?"