At the conclusion of the reading, the reaction in the room was mixed. Luke looked visibly relieved. Bo appeared happy, but afraid to believe the letter as he didn't want to go through the heartache of loosing his identity as a Duke again should it turn out to be false. The only thing that took away from Jesse's expression of shock was the slight smile of realization on his face. Finally Bea appeared amazed that any of the Dukes had believed the nonsense for one second.
"All these years." Jesse smiled. "All these years I thought Bo was…..and here it turns out he really is Matthew's boy!" Jesse couldn't resist standing to give Bo a hug, which Bo returned enthusiastically.
"What I can't believe is that you assumed I wasn't your kin…." Bo began. "Yet you cared enough about me to raise me anyway, and no different from Luke or Daisy."
Jesse smiled. "Bo, knowing that you really are my nephew makes this one of the happiest days of my life, but it does not and can not make me love you any more."
"Jesse…..I don't know what to say." Bea began. "Why if I had the slightest clue that you thought that Bo wasn't……I mean, he's got Matthew's eyes I thought anyone could see that!"
"He does, but….well they resemble J.D.'s too!"
"What difference does it make? The important thing is we've read the other page of the letter and that explains the whole story. Bo is truly a Duke and NOT a Hogg!" Luke confirmed, bringing everything into perspective.
The Dukes spent some more time visiting with Bea before finally bidding her goodbye and returning to the General. Once inside, they headed straight home where Bo's leftover lunch chili was combined with a skillet of Jesse's cornbread for supper.
"What we still have to do…" Luke said, biting a piece of cornbread "….is get even with Boss for stealing Bo's money."
"What for?" Bo asked. "The judge said there's nothing we can do to get it back. Besides, seeing how I'm not related to Boss in the first place, I don't reckon I'm entitled to that money anyway."
Luke shook his head. "Both of you read that will. What exactly did it say?"
"Well, it said that the Jefferson Hogg fortune was to be split 50/50 between J.D. and Bo here." Jesse confirmed as Bo nodded.
"I know, but how did it word it exactly?"
"Well, I don't know. Look for yourself. Copy's still out in the General."
Luke excused himself from the table and went out to the General to retrieve the copy of the will. He returned to the kitchen where he sat reading a few moments before slapping the page. "Just as I thought!"
"What is it?" Bo asked.
"This here will says that the money was left to Bo Duke, not Big Daddy's grandson or anything like that, just to you."
"So what?" Bo asked.
"It means that that you have every right to claim that money." Luke smiled.
Bo looked at his cousin as if he had bean vines growing out of his ears. "Luke, I thought we just talked this over. The judge said their ain't nothing we can do to get it back."
"There may not be anything we can do to get it back." Luke smiled. "But that's not to say you don't have the right to influence what's done with it. I know you think you don't have a right to that money, but as far as Boss is concerned you ARE his son. Is it right for him to take the money from his own son?"
"What are you suggesting, Luke?" Jesse asked.
"I'm suggesting…." Luke smiled mischievously. "That Bo show up at the jail tomorrow morning, bright and early, ready to work for his daddy."
"What!" Bo exclaimed.
"Just listen." Bo and Jesse sat with wide eyed interest as Luke outlined the plan.
The next morning, Boss opened the door to his office. Facing away from him turned toward Boss's desk was a well dressed, neatly groomed young man.
"Excuse me." Boss said, hoping the man would turn around so Boss could question his business there.
The man turned around and Boss's mouth opened in surprise, depositing the remaining half of his cigar on the floor at his feet. "Bo Duke!"
"I believe that would be Bo Hogg, wouldn't it Daddy?" Bo replied, walking over and picking up the cigar that he stuffed back between Boss's lips. "Errr, you don't mind if I call you Daddy, do you?"
"Umm…" Boss said, shaking his head to come out of his shock. "No, I mean yes….I mean, of course I don't, but not right now. Not until we get folks around here used to the idea. The names 'Hogg' and 'Duke' never have mixed well in these parts, kinda like oil and water. You know what I mean?"
"Whatever you say Daddy, I mean Boss." Bo replied, slapping Boss's back a couple of times. He then turned his attention to adjusting his tie. "Sorry I missed supper last night, but I had to go check on my Aunt Bea. Do you think this getup looks okay? Ain't much need for stuff like this on a farm."
"You look…..fine. But what's the occasion?" Boss asked.
"I figured I needed to keep up my end of the bargain. Isn't today the day we meet with the Frothy Brewing executives?"
"It is. It is." Boss confirmed. His face then registered surprise. "Wait a minute, does this mean….that your Uncle Jesse really didn't tell you what happened here yesterday? That you didn't go to Chickasaw County?"
"Chickasaw County?" Bo asked innocently.. "Well yeah we went to Chickasaw County yesterday to see about my Aunt Bea."
"But you didn't go to court there?"
"Why would I go to court there? Was something wrong concerning the farm deed? Uncle Jesse didn't say anything to me." Bo replied in his continued feigned innocence.
"Oh no no!" Boss replied, smiling, "Nothing with the farm deed. Why if Jesse didn't say anything I guess it's not worth mentioning. Yes, the Frothy Brewing representatives are showing up today."
"Oh good." Bo replied, satisfied that Boss still believed he hadn't a clue about the will. "I take it the first order of business is to find a location for the project."
Boss's eyebrow shot up. "You're right. You remember what I said yesterday. It is vital that we find a piece of land that the representatives are satisfied with, otherwise they will scrap the whole project. As you can imagine, it's not easy to get a business such as that in Hazzard , being that their ain't no major Interstate highways in the county."
"Oh, I've already been looking around." Bo replied with a smile. "I have a piece of property in mind that I guarantee the executives will love!"
"Oh, is that so?" Boss replied as there was a knock on the door. Without waiting for a reply, Enos opened the door and stepped inside.
"Sorry to interrupt Mr. Hogg, but Mr. Harold Steelman and Mr. William Harris of Frothy Brewing Company are here to see you.
"Good!" Boss brightened, then turned sour. "Well what are you waiting for numb skull? Send them in!"
Harris and Steelman, a middle aged pair who seemed bothered by the whole affair, hurried in with briefcases in hand already staring at their watches. "Hogg." Steelman began. "Since we entered Hazzard County 20 minutes ago, the 'quick route' to town that you gave in your directions has consisted of two lane winding country roads with 30 m.p.h. speed limits."
"Yes, We can tell you up front it is going to take some real convincing on your part to explain how a facility in this county would be a good investment for Frothy. One of the most important considerations in location is ease of access!" Harris finished.
"But but but but….." Boss stuttered as Bo stepped up. "Gentlemen, I'm sorry you were delayed. Let me introduce myself. My name is Bo Duke. I'm Mr. Hogg's…." He looked at Boss who wore a slight frown on his face "….assistant."
"Look Mr. Duke, I'm afraid we don't have much time for formalities. Our time is very important and has already been somewhat compromised by the road trip itself." Steelman insisted.
"I understand. You're here to select a location, to see the best that Hazzard has to offer." Bo began as he folded his arms and began to walk about the office as if he were trying to draw a mental picture for his audience. "Would it save you any time to see just one place? I happen to know the perfect location and can guarantee that if you are not satisfied with this property that you would be wasting your time exploring other areas of the county." He finished by stopping with his back toward the window and placed his hands behind him. What the other occupants of the office didn't see was the thumbs up sign he made with his hand. Cooter, watching from his garage, slid off of the car on which he sat and gave a shrill whistle in the direction of the jailhouse door. Luke, who stood there, waved an acknowledgement.
"Now now Bo. Let's not be hasty." Boss said, running to his desk to pull out a county map. "We don't want to force these gentlemen into a yes or no decision based on one property."
"Actually, I don't think it would hurt to just see this property Mr. Duke is speaking about." Mr. Harris stated. "I imagine with the amount of money you are investing in the project, your assistant would be very careful in his selection."
All four turned their attention to the door when Luke rushed in. "Boss, I gotta talk to you."
"Can't you see I'm in a meeting." Boss growled as he sensed the growing frustration in the Frothy executives.
"I'm sorry, but it's Lulu, I think something's wrong with her."
"Now what would you know about Lulu? She's at home. You snoopin' around my house for some reason?" Boss asked, still wary of the Dukes after the events of the former two days.
"Who has to snoop? I can hear her, the whole town hears her. Sounds kinda like she's moanin' in pain or something." Luke insisted. "I think you better get over there right away."
"Lulu!" Boss exclaimed. He rushed toward the door then turned around quickly. "I'll be right back." He raced as fast as his portly body would carry him out of the jail. Hearing his sister's name had Roscoe on Boss's trail as well as Enos who was fond of Mrs. Hogg.
Boss arrived outside and could clearly hear a female voice screaming from the direction of his house. He raced home followed by Hazzard's finest amid townfolk who stopped to stare or turned to whisper to each other.
"Looks like he's buying it so far." Jesse commented as he walked up beside Cooter. He turned toward the jail and watched as Bo hurried out with the Frothy executives, where they piled into a limo. After they had driven away, he began to walk towards Boss's house along with Luke and Cooter. When they neared it, they spied Emma Tisdale emerging from some shrubbery near the house.
"Thanks, Ms. Tisdale, we really appreciate that." Luke said as the elderly lady met up with them.
"You're welcome, Luke. I have to admit no one has ever asked me to hide somewhere and scream before. Course I didn't go makin' my throat all sore for a simple thank you." She replied, staring dreamily at Jesse.
Jesse sighed. "Alright. I'll come over to your house for supper tonight."
"9:30 too late?" She smiled.
"Uh, a little." Jesse replied. "It's close to my bedtime."
"I guess I'll just have to fix up my guest room then, won't I?" Ms. Tizdale giggled.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
"I can't believe it, Roscoe. I can't believe Bo managed to pull all of this off by himself." Boss laughed two weeks later as he and Rosco stood in an open meadow in the countryside. But they were not alone. Half of the population of Hazzard County was there right along with them. A country band played as the folks danced and helped themselves to refreshments from a cart as they awaited the ceremony.
Eventually, Mr. Steelman climbed up onto the back of a flatbed truck which served as a stage. Behind him was Mr. Harris and a large rectangular shaped sign which was covered by a sheet..
"Ladies and Gentlemen." Mr. Steelman began. I have a confession to make. Two weeks ago when Mr. Harris and I rolled into Hazzard County, we saw absolutely no potential for Frothy to, well, to be willing to put their name on anything here. But thanks to the generous investment of J.D. Hogg, and to Bo Duke, who selected this land and helped us to see the potential for it, I'm proud to announce that Frothy is very excited to be coming to Hazzard."
As the crowd cheered, Roscoe leaned over to Boss. "Who would have thought they would like this land? It's mountainous and I thought the lake and river would have gotten in the way."
"Who cares? Point is, they liked it, and I'm going to be rich!" Boss laughed, puffing on his cigar.
Roscoe shook his head again as Flash, who sat on his lap, barked. "I agree with you. Bo sure has to be a lot smarter than he seems to organize all this."
"Course he's smart. Runs in the family." Boss confirmed.
"You think the Dukes is smart?" Roscoe asked. He was shushed by Boss as Mr. Harris stepped up to the microphone.
"This project is in line with the expanded market soley inhabited by our top rival Anheiser Busch. And while we would love to hold the shovels in this groundbreaking ceremony, we thought it would be proper to hand them over to the men who made all of this possible. Ladies?"
Harris motioned to four pretty young women who each carried a golden shovel to the front of the flatbed trailer. He then motioned for Boss and Bo to step forward and take a shovel. They did so and Bo motioned to Mr. Harris that he wanted the microphone, which Harris handed down to him.
"While I appreciate the honor given to me by Mr. Harris and Mr. Steelman here, I have to admit I got a little help from my family, and I think they should have a part in the ceremony too. Uncle Jesse? Luke? Where are you?"
A surprised Luke and Jesse emerged from the crowd and took the remaining two shovels. A number of photographers immediately set up in front of them. The four were then shown how to stand and instructed to insert their shovels in the ground only when the sign on the trailer was unveiled.
"Okay gentlemen, on the count of three. One….two….three!" Mr. Steelman said. At the count of three he and Harris removed the sheet from the sign and the Dukes and Boss inserted the shovels in the ground while smiling for the photographers. The crowd cheered and jumped up and down, that is, all except for Roscoe. He kept saying "Oooh! oooh!" and pointing to the sign. This brought the attention of Boss who turned around and gasped.
The sign read. 'FUTURE HOME OF FROTHY MEADOWS, CAMP FOR DISABLED CHILDREN, A NON-PROFIT ESTABLISHMENT'