Chapter 6

Rosco frowned but went to open the courtroom as he had been directed.

Jesse gave Bo and Daisy a look and said, "Ya'll insisted on being here. Come on."

This was a room Bo nor Daisy had ever seen before. The high ceiling, dark oak trim against the white walls made the room look bigger and more overwhelming than it likely was as they were directed to a seat with Jesse behind them.

Judge Hardcastle called Rosco, "Sheriff step in here a minute."

Rosco stepped inside the Judge's office.

"Is this these boys first time here?" Judge Hardcastle asked.

Rosco nodded and replied, "Yes, Sir, they ain't been eighteen long, Sir."

"This one? He is related to Jesse Duke?" Hardcastle asked.

"Yes, his oldest nephew that he raised." Rosco said.

Hardcastle knew Jesse well, but hadn't known the 'kids' that well. "Let's get started."

Rosco said, "If I may?"

Hardcastle motioned him to go on.

"Jesse has done well by all his brothers' kids. They are all good kids, ..." Rosco began.

"Sheriff surely you aren't asking me to go light on someone you arrested are you?" Hardcastle asked shocked at Rosco.

"No. No, Sir. More the opposite. I think if this one gets the full treatment, a good scare if you will, especially in front of his younger two cousins out there, it make not only take care of him but them as well." Rosco stated.

"I see. Well, I'll take that into consideration. Just knock when you have the Duke boy ready for bond to be set." Hardcastle said.

"Yes, Sir." Rosco said hustling off to get Luke.

Luke could tell by the sound of things that it was Rosco coming down the stairs as he stood at the cell door more than ready to get out of there, into his own clothes, and on his way home. That's where his dread started with the rest of the conversation with Jesse when the Sheriff wasn't mere feet away. Jesse would not have to put on an act once they were alone.

NARRATOR: Seems if I were young Luke, my dread and worry would start a might before being alone with Jesse if I was about to face a Judge for the first time as an adult.

Rosco stepped through the gate, locked it and unlocked the cell.

Luke figured he would have left the gate open if he was ready to take him to see the Judge.

"Judge is waiting." Rosco said as Luke stepped outside the cell.

Luke was fine with that he'd change clothes quickly.

Rosco handed Luke a pair of orange flip flops then reached for his handcuffs.

Confused, Luke said, "What are those for?"

"You are still my responsibility until your bond is posted. Put your hands behind your back." Rosco knew Luke meant the handcuffs and said most professionally. This was the County 'policy' but usually never carried out to the letter like Rosco intended to today.

Luke knew none of that but it seemed certain Rosco wasn't budging until he did as he was told. Following a loud sigh Luke complied.

Rosco stepped to the side behind Luke and began putting the cuffs on him trying hard not to let his smile at Luke's sigh be seen. He took the leg irons out of his pocket, "Now just spread your feet a bit."

With his hands now handcuffed behind his back, Luke looked over his shoulder trying to see what Rosco was doing and finally turned to see the leg irons in Rosco's hands. "What are those for?" He asked the obvious.

"To make sure you don't try to high tail it out the front door." Rosco stated the obvious.

Luke said with annoyance, "Rosco! Jesse is here to get me."

"Well when the paperwork is done, he can. Turn around and spread your feet." Rosco instructed.

Luke was not enjoying this but figured it was a means to the end. He did as Rosco said.

NARRATOR: A means to the end. Luke ain't figured this mess is just starting for him and the rest of the Dukes.

After placing the leg irons on Luke, Rosco opened the gate and advised, "Come on. Just take slow small steps and watch these steps."

Luke stepped in front of Rosco as he had been motioned to do. He was ready to bite nails as the cuffs and leg irons bit into him as he inadvertantly attempted to take too big a step.

Luke was motioned to the door that read 'courtroom' as Rosco opened the door for him, Luke stepped through the door.

Bo looked up to see his cousin walking in, cuffed, wearing a Hazzard County Prison jumpsuit of prison orange, and shackles. His heart went to his throat and he all but choked. His cousin was his hero, and seeing him like this... It was more than his country heart could take.

Daisy covered her mouth in shock, tears welling up in her eyes at the sight of Luke, every inch of him said prisoner instead of the Prince Charming she usually saw, though a Prince Charming in jeans and plaid.

Jesse had seen his oldest in the jumpsuit, though he really didn't expect him to still be wearing it. Rosco knew he was here to get the boy but seeing the way he was cuffed up put a lump in Jesse throat the size of a nice size goose egg.

Luke didn't see the courtroom all he saw was his family. Though he had heard Bo upstairs, he didn't expect Jesse would let him stay for this. Luke saw all three sets of his family's eyes on him and knew three hearts were breaking right there. He now knew why it had been SO important for him to do right and set a good example. He saw the pain he was causing all his family by not doing so.

Rosco thought for a minute he was going to have to catch his 'prisoner'. He would have sworn that Luke's knees buckled at the looks from his younger cousins. He placed a hand on Luke's shoulder and gently guided him toward his seat in front of his family.

Luke took the seat gladly but now it was worse he couldn't see the others behind. He swore he heard Daisy sobbing.

Bo started to say something to Jesse and his voice echoed in the large room. "Uncle Jesse, what in the world?"

Jesse promptly hushed him, glad not to have to talk at the moment.

Luke heard Bo and then what he figured was Jesse making him be quiet as he watched Rosco knock on the Judge's door after they were all settled and still.

Judge Hardcastle had read the files. He had known the Dukes a lot of years. He'd went to school with Jesse and knew all the kids fathers, when they were this boys age. He knew most of these charges were nothing that even he hadn't done at some point in high school, but the young man managed to get caught at it. Considering Rosco's earlier suggestions the Judge made his way to the courtroom door. Once he opened it he heard Rosco's serious and official voice.

"All rise for the Honorable Milton C. Hardcastle." Rosco said without faltering.

Everyone in the courtroom stood, though it took some nudging from Jesse to get his younger two to their feet.

Bo hadn't known before that he should stand, and even when he did, it was grudgingly. He didn't see where he owed all that much respect to Judge Hardcastle at the moment, what with him about to sentence Luke and all.

Luke hadn't expected it but was paying attention and stood up.

Rosco advised, "The Court of Hazzard County vs. Lucas K Duke is called to order."

Judge Hardcastle had picked up on Rosco's attempt to make things as 'by the book', in other words as annoying as possible for the Dukes, especially the one that was under arrest. "Sheriff this isn't a trial it's only a bond hearing." Hardcastle thought Rosco was carrying the 'formalities' a bit too far.

Rosco replied still pleased as punch at not only hoping to keep a couple kids out of further trouble but also slow the moonshine deliveries that he knew were going on but hadn't been able to catch, "Right."

Judge Hardcastle began by informing Luke of his right to an attorney and means to get one for the trial, then he advised Luke, "You have been charged with the following charges and IF you plead or are found guilty you could be fined, jailed or both as follows - Fighting up to one hundred dollars or up to twelve months in jail, ..."

Even though that sentence had a lot of "if's" and "up to's" in it, those words got the absolute attention of all the Dukes, especially both of the younger males.

Bo wasn't always the quickest one around, but he knew that 12 months in jail was a year, and that meant Luke would be off the farm a LONG time. He hadn't paid much attention to the 'up to' part of the Judge's sentence, only hearing the 12 months part.

Hardcastle continued, "Driving Under the Influence up to one hundred dollars and a mandatory 24 hours in jail."

Luke looked at the clock on the wall and began doing the math. It was just after nine in the morning and it had been around one o'clock when Rosco showed up so that meant he could count on being Rosco's guest for at least the better part of sixteen hours if he couldn't talk his way out of that charge.

"And you were also charged with Racing." Hardcastle stated, then paused before he began to explain the penalties for the charge.

Luke hadn't been real worried about the Racing charge and so far the fighting seemed to be his main concern, though he wasn't happy knowing before hand that if he was found guilty of the DUI he'd go back to jail. At least with the fighting he may only be fined.

"The Racing charge for the first offense is a fine of fifty dollars." Hardcastle said leaving no room for judgement from him as he was dictated by law to that amount.

Luke nodded and thought, 'Ok so I need to do a few extra jobs. Maybe I can make some parts runs for the garage or something.'

Judge Hardcastle looked Luke in the eyes and said firmly, "With that fifty dollar fine IF you are found or plead guilty it is mandatory that your drivers license be revoked for fifteen days."

Luke visibly winced at those words. He knew that even before he got his drivers that a day hadn't went by that he hadn't been behind the wheel of something.

Bo's eyes went wide. 'Driver's license revoked?' he thought. He couldn't imagine a Duke not being able to drive for any reason.

Daisy let a slight gasp slip out.

Hardcastle added, "I have no control over that as it is in state code that way. I will for warn you that if you are caught driving with a revoked license the first offense is no less than thirty days and as much as six months in jail. Being that you would be revoked from my court I'd take personal offense to my sentence not being carried out and would likely lean pretty far to that six month period." He paused to take a breath, then said, "As for you bond Mr. Duke, ... I'm setting it at two hundred fifty dollars. Are you prepared to make bond?"

Luke knew he had a twenty in his wallet when he left the house last night. He also knew that it was likely that there would be exactly two hundred and fifty dollars worth of extra work he'd be doing when he got home. He turned to look at Jesse.

Jesse nodded that he had the money.

Luke found his voice though it came out much lower that he planned, "My Uncle has it, Sir."

Hardcastle noted the manners and respect the young man had for not only himself but his Uncle as well. "Very well." He looked past Luke to Jesse, "You can pay the secretary and she will get the papers ready.

Jesse stepped up to the secretary's desk and counted out the money.

Bo was blindsided. How on earth were they supposed to just come up with that much money? Then he remembered… The last shine run had been a good one from what Luke had said. But still… It was a lot of money.

Judge Hardcastle filled out the release part of the dual purpose 'Commitment or Release' form and signed it. "Sheriff you can remove those cuffs and take Mr. Duke to get his belongings."

Rosco took Luke's copy of the release form as well as Sheriff Office's copy. He removed the leg irons and finally the handcuffs then handed Luke his copy of the release. "Come on let's get your things."

Luke stepped to follow the Sheriff.

Bo and Daisy just looked at each other. This was going to be a LONG day. Daisy couldn't control her emotions any longer and stepped to Luke when he got to where she was setting. She threw her arms around him like he'd been gone months not hours. "Luke." she said near a whisper.

Trying hard to control his own emotions at the moment, Luke placed his arm around his baby cousins' waist, tightened his jaw and gritted his teeth before he said to her in a hushed tone, "It'll be alright. Let me get my things."

Daisy closed her eyes against the forming tears and pulled herself away from Luke.

Luke gave Bo a look that said, 'Take care of her.' as he went to get his things.

Bo knew what Luke needed him to do but it took everything in Bo not to have joined Daisy in hugging Luke. He turned Daisy to him as Luke walked off.

By the time Luke had changed and gotten his property, Jesse had paid the bail, gotten his receipt and he, Bo and Daisy were waiting in the booking area of the courthouse for Luke to come upstairs.

Luke saw them waiting as he reached the to of the stairs. He hoped to be riding to the garage with Bo but didn't really expect that.

Jesse seen him coming and said, "You two go on, we'll be along."

Bo said, "But, we need to go to the garage and get Luke's car."

Luke was grateful that Bo had said what he was thinking.

"Not today ya'll don't." Jesse said firmly.

Luke swore to himself. He knew that everyday the car set in the garage impound lot was another ten dollars and right now he already owed more than he really wanted to have to work off in the next few days.

Hearing Jesse's tone of voice all three wisely made their way outside and to the vehicles out in front of the courthouse.