Justice

      The red car slammed against the side of the General again, and Bo fought to retain control of the car, desperately trying to avoid dropping over the edge of the embankment.
     “Keep ‘er on the road Bo.” Luke said.
     “What do you think I am trying to do.” Bo said, keeping a careful eye on the other car.
The red car slammed into the General once again, and pushed the bright orange car off the edge of the embankment. Bo and Luke braced themselves in the car is it rolled down the embankment. Blake slowly drove his car down the embankment, stopping a few feet away from the General, which lay on its hood.
 Luke glanced over at his younger cousin. “You okay Bo?”
     “Yeah, I think so. You?”
     “Yeah.”
Blake walked up along the passenger side and bent over to look in through the window.
     “Hello boys.” Blake said.
     “What do you want?” Luke asked.
     “We have us some unfinished business to attend to.” Blake said, then grabbed Luke by the arm and roughly hauled him out of the overturned car.
     “Let go of my cousin.” Bo said angrily, and climbed out of the car.
Blake made a scoffing sound, that could easily have mistaken for a chuckle, and ignored Bo. Luke flinched as Blake slammed him against the car.
            “It has been a long time, Luke.” Blake said.
            “Not long enough.” Luke said.
Bo climbed out of the overturned car, his left leg complaining, having been banged when the General flipped. He hobbled slowly around the front end of the car, as Luke continued his conversation with Blake.
             “That ain’t very nice Luke. Aren’t you glad to see me again?”
             “No, can’t say that I am.” Luke said.
             “You go no call to run us off the road.” Bo said angrily.
Blake turned and stared coldly at the younger man. “You want to make something out of it kid?”
              “Just leave him alone, he ain’t got nothing to do with this.” Luke said.
              “Still trying to play the hero, aren’t you Luke?” Blake questioned.
             “You ain’t gonna get away with this.” Bo said.
             “You just keep running off at the mouth don’t you, boy?” Blake said, in an irritated voice.
Blake pulled a gun out of the waistband of his pants, and pointed it at Bo. Luke struggled to escape, but Blake was bigger and stronger, and Luke found himself helplessly pinned against the side of the car. Bo put his hands up as though he was surrendering, and then, ignoring the pain in his leg, he kicked the gun out of Blake’s hand.
              “You little . . .” Blake cursed, to angry to say anything else.
Blake flung Luke roughly to the ground and charged towards Bo. Blake grabbed Bo by the collar of his shirt, lifting him several inches off the ground. Bo tried to struggle, but couldn’t manage to break free from Blake’s hold. Luke slowly got to his feet, determined to protect Bo from something that was his problem, and did not include Bo. Blake threw Bo to the ground, his head striking a rock, and he lost consciousness.
 Luke took a few quick steps forward, and landed a solid punch against the side of Blake’s jaw. Blake stumbled and turned to look at Luke.
     “Just you and me now Luke.” Blake said.
     “What do you want?” Luke said, casting a concerned glance down at where his cousin lay motionless.
Blake took advantage of Luke’s momentary distraction and lunged forward, punching Luke is the stomach, and knocking the wind out of him. Luke coughed as he tried to catch his breath.
     “I got kicked out of the company, because YOU, I have to make you pay.” Blake said.
     “You were stealing, it is your own fault that you were discharged.” Luke said.
     “I never would’ve been caught if you hadn’t of opened your mouth, but no you had to be the good guy, always the hero.” Blake said.
The two of hem became entangled in a wrestling match, both seeming to be equally match, both trained Marines. The two men stood a couple feet apart, both trying to catch their breath, while watching for signs of attack. Luke was worried that Bo hadn’t woke up yet, and prayed that his younger cousin had not been hurt badly.
 “If you want revenge on me that is fine, but leave my cousin out of this.” Luke said.
Blake laughed. “Not a chance, his as good dead as you are . . . actually maybe I’ll just kill him first and then you can watch him die.” Blake said, aiming his gun at Bo.
A cold rage clouded Luke’s mind and he charged forward, in a blind attack. Blake easily defended himself against Luke’s attack, knocking Luke to the ground. Luke landed hard on the ground, slamming against the General.
      Bo wasn’t sure how long he had been out when he started to wake up. His head was throbbing and he could feel the warm stickiness of blood on his forehead, he slow opened his eyes, his vision blurry.   He tried to sit up, but his head hurt far too much to allow any movement. He blinked his eyes as his vision slowly began to return. He saw Luke and Blake, a few feet away beside the General, he could both of them had obviously been fighting, and that at least for a while it had been a fair fight. Though it appeared that Blake had got the upper hand in the fight, Luke was on the ground, his back against the side of the General, and Blake was standing in front of him.  Bo noticed the gun that was held tightly in Blake’s hand, the barrel pointed directly at his older cousin, from his vantage point Bo knew that if he didn’t do something that Blake would surely kill Luke. Ignoring the throbbing pain in his head Bo slowly got to his feet, swaying slightly as he tried to take a step, the blow his head have caused a mild concussion. Bo grabbed Blake’s arm, causing Blake’s aim to miss, the gun went off and a bullet became imbedded the door panel of the car.
     “What the . . .” Blake started to say, not having a chance to finish his sentence as Bo punched him in the jaw.
Blake stumbled back several paces, aiming his gun at Bo. Bo lunged towards the older man, knowing that Blake was intent on killing both him and Luke for some reason.  The two men became locked in a struggling match as Bo tried desperately to pull the gun away from Blake. Luke could do nothing but sit and watch, his body was in far too much pain to even move, he could only pray that Bo could manage to put power Blake.
 The gun went off breaking the silence, Luke felt as though his heart leap into his throat and seemed to stop for a moment, fearing that Bo had just been shot. Bo stepped away from Blake, who collapsed to the ground. The bullet having pierced through his lungs and grazing his heart, killing him before he even hit the ground. Bo stood staring down at Blake’s still form, his body trembling and breathing seeming to be difficult, he could not believe that he had just taken another man’s life. Bo blinked his eyes and then took a couple of steps backwards and sat down on the ground next to Luke.
     “Are you okay?’ Luke asked, his concern obvious in his voice.
     “I don’t know.” Bo replied, his voice soft and sounding as though it were miles away.
     “It was an accident. You did what you had to do to save both of our lives.” Luke said.
Bo turned and look at his cousin. “I just took another man’s life.”
     “It’ll be okay, he was going to kill both of us.” Luke said.
     “But . . .” Bo said, his voice trailing off as he couldn’t find the words to say.
     “Don’t worry Bo, I will take care of everything.” Luke said.
     “What do you mean?” Bo asked.
     “When the police come I will tell them I am the one responsible for shooting Blake.” Luke said.
     “But you didn’t, I did.”
     “I know . . . just go along with what I tell them, okay?”
Bo nodded slightly, he really didn’t understand Luke’s plan, but his head was still paining and he didn’t want to think too much about it. Bo leaned his head back against the car and closed his eyes.
     “Stay awake Bo.” Luke said, worrying that Bo had a concussion and not wanting to chance anything.
     “Yes sir.” Bo said, and opened his eyes.
     In a very slow movement Luke pulled himself part way into the car and used the CB to call for help, getting a response from Rosco.
     “What do you want Luke?” Rosco asked, sounding annoyed to be bothered by a Duke.
     “There is some serious trouble . . . me and Bo.” Luke said.
     “Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Rosco questioned, though it is more of a comment then a question.
     “Rosco this is serious.” Luke said.
     “Well I am a very busy man so just get on with. What is so all fired important?”
     “I can’t really say . . . not over the air. Just come out to Hyperion Crossroads. And I think you had better call in the state police.”  Luke said.
     “I don’t need their help. I am a highly trained officer of the law. I can handle it.”
     “Just call them Rosco.”
     “You Dukes had better not be trying to pull something.” Rosco said.
     “We ain’t just get here.” Luke said, and moved back to sit next to Bo.
     “How you holding up, kiddo?” Luke asked.
     “I’m okay . . . I guess.” Bo said.
     “Just remember what I said before.” Luke said, determined not to allow Bo to take the fall for something that hadn’t been his fault.
Luke felt that he was one hundred percent to blame for what had happened, Blake had came to Hazzard for revenge on him, and Bo was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
 Rosco arrived minutes later, followed closely by two state police cars.
     “Alrighty, just what in the name of Sam Hill is going on here?” Rosco asked, walking over to where Bo and Luke sat against their overturned car, then he noticed the blood and his eyes came to rest upon Blake’s dead body. “Oh my.” Rosco stammered and visibly paled.
     “What happened here?” Officer Myers, of the state police asked.
     “It is a long story.” Luke said.
     “Why don’t you start, by telling us, who shot him.” Officer Jones said pointedly.
     “I did. It was an accident, and it in self defense.” Luke said.
     “We still are going to have to take you into custody until the matter is sorted out.” Officer Myers said.
Luke just nodded his head, and carefully stood up. Bo remained sitting, wanting to come to Luke’s defense, but remembering what Luke had said and thinking it was perhaps better if for now he went along with his older cousin’s plan.
     Bo and Luke were provided with medical attention and spent several long hours answering all of the state police’s question. Jesse and Daisy had been called, but could do nothing but sit in impatiently in the waiting room. After the questioning was finished, they decided that Luke should remain in custody until after a trial. Officer Myers took Bo out to the waiting room. Jesse and Daisy jumped to their feet when Bo walked in.
     “How you doin sugar?” Daisy asked, her voice filled with genuine concern.
Bo just shrugged his shoulders, hoping that he wouldn’t actually be made to answer her question.
     “What about my other nephew, Luke, when are you going to be letting him go?” Jesse asked.
     “He has to remain in our custody until after a trial.” Officer Myers said.
     “What about bail?” Jesse asked.
     “There is no bail.” Officer Myers said.
     “You can’t do that.” Daisy said.
     “He shot and killed another man.” Officer Myers said.
     “Only because Blake was going to kill both of us.” Bo said.
     “There will be a trial in four days. You can either obtain a lawyer of have the court appoint one.” Officer Myers said.
     “We can’t afford no lawyer.” Daisy said.
     “Then one will be appointed. I suggest that all of your leave now, but do go nowhere as you will be contacted again later.” Officer Myers said.
     The three Dukes walked out of the large, state police building, all hating the idea of having to leave Luke behind.
     “Just what happened?” Jesse asked.
     "It’s a long story.”  Bo said. “I’ll tell you once we get home, okay? I don’t really want to talk about it here.”
     “Okay.” Jesse said, not wanting to pressure Bo into talking, he could tell that there was something about the whole situation, other then Luke being jail, that had him really upset.
 They arrived back at the Duke farm a short time later, and they all sat down in the front room.
     “So are we going to tell us what happened?” Jesse asked.
Bo took a deep breath and slowly released it, wondering if he should tell them that he was the one that had really shot Blake. He wasn’t sure if he should tell them that he was the one that had killed Blake, but began to tell Jesse and Daisy what had happened, leading up until when Blake had been shot. Jesse and Daisy sat listening intently, both of them were obviously upset by everything that Bo was telling them.
     “So it was after that, that Luke shot Blake?” Jesse asked.
Bo was silent for a moment, not responding to his uncle’s question.
     “Bo, is there something you are not telling us?” Jesse asked.
Bo debated telling them, then remembered he had promised Luke that he wouldn’t say anything to anyone, and he knew that Luke had meant that to include their uncle and cousin.
Bo shook his head. “No sir.”
     “Are you sure that you are okay?” Daisy asked, concerned by her younger cousin’s pale complexion.
     “I’m fine. I think I just need some sleep.” Bo said.
     “Okay, don’t worry everything is going to be okay.” Daisy said, not really knowing what else to say to comfort her cousin as she herself was filled with far too much concern.
     The next few days past quickly and soon it was the day before the trial. Bo went to see Luke that day, he was starting have serious second thoughts about going through with Luke’s plan, not wanting Luke to go to prison for something he never did.
Bo sat on a chair facing Luke, wishing he knew what to say to his older cousin. He hated the thought of Luke being cooped up in the small cell, considering it was his fault.
     "Luke, maybe we should . . ." Bo started to say, but his sentence was cut short by Luke.
     "No. If you say anything I swear I'll never speak to you again." Luke said.
Bo sighed, his dark blue eyes full of sadness and pain. Luke put a hand on Bo's shoulder.
     "It's okay. Everything will be okay. I'll be fine, just don't say anything, okay?"
     "I can't let you go to prison for something you didn't do." Bo said.
     "It wasn't your fault Bo. Just don't say anything, please. I promised to protect you. Just go along with the plan and everything will be okay." Luke said.
     "I am the one that killed him, not you." Bo said.
Luke sighed. "It was an accident Bo. Beside if you didn't he would've killed the both of us. You protected me from him, so allow me to repay that by protecting you."
     "You don't have to. I am not letting you go to prison because of me." Bo said, biting back the tears that had started to form in his eyes.
     "I am not going to let you testify to it. If you try to admit to killing him I'll say you are lying." Luke said.
Bo went to say something further, but he heard the guard coming.
     "Times up." the guard said.
Bo stood up and left the cell. He stopped and turned to face Luke as the guard locked the cell.
     "Don't worry Bo, everything will be fine." Luke said.
Luke watched as Bo turned and left, his heart feeling heavy, though he knew he would have to get used to being alone, he would no doubt get life in prison, though he didn’t care as long as Bo was safe. Bo hadn’t really meant to kill the older man, it was an accident and he knew as well as Luke that Blake would’ve killed them both, it was purely an act of self defense, which Luke refused to allow his cousin to go to prison for. Luke laid back down on the bed, tomorrow was the first day of the trial that would decide the rest of his life, a sudden thought past trough his mind, he could get capitol punishment, he could be sentenced to death. He prayed he didn’t come to that, knowing how hard Bo would take it if things came to that, Luke sighed thinking it was better that he die then Bo, Bo was younger it was his job to protect his little cousin.
     That night Luke fell into a restless sleep that was haunted by one of the worst nightmares that he had ever had.


     The trial played out before him in fast motion, as though some one was pressing the fast forward button, and the verdict was reached.
     “Lukas Keefer Duke, you are sentenced to death by electrocution.” Judge Rhines said.
He could hear his family cry out, but he couldn’t see them, there seemed to only be him and the judge in the room. The next moment he found himself being strapped to the chair, his death sentence being carried out. There was two people in the room with him, the judge and Bo. He could see the sadness and pain in Bo’s dark blue eyes, though his cousin was remaining silent.
     “You can’t do this. It was an accident.” Luke said.
The judge prepared to throw the switch.
     “NO! I killed him. NOT Luke.” Bo screamed.
In the blink of an eye Luke was out of the chair, and now it was Bo that was strapped to the chair, Bo that was going to be executed.
     “NO!” Luke screamed, and the sound of thousands of volts of electricity seemed to crackle through the air.
     Luke awoke with a start, breathing hard, his heart racing, he knew that he would get no more sleep that night, and was in fact afraid to go back to sleep, fearing he would a once again have a similar nightmare.
     Sleep didn’t come any easier for Bo then it had for Luke. His sleep to was haunted by nightmare similar to the one Luke had.  

     He stood watching the trial, wanting to tell the judge Luke hadn’t killed Blake, but it was in fact him that had committed the murder. He was the only other person in the courtroom, besides Luke and the judge. The judge read the verdict.
 “Sentenced to death by electrocution.”
Still his voice seemed to be locked in his throat, his body frozen in place. He could nothing but stand and watch as Luke was executed.

     Bo woke up, sitting straight up on his bed, a scream locked in his throat. Bo swallowed hard and laid back down, never to go back to sleep that night. Morning seemed to come quickly as dawn’s first light broke over the horizon. The three Dukes did the chores that had to be done, and then got cleaned up to go to the court, skipping breakfast.
     The courtroom was closed to the public, only the lawyers, the Dukes and those testifying were allowed in the courtroom. Luke was trying to give his family the impression that everything was okay and to try to make them think that things would work out for the best even though he was having his doubts. Everyone stood up as Judge Rhinehold entered the courtroom, sitting after he had taken his seat.
     “Case four-fifty-one, the state verses Lukas Keefer Duke on a charge of manslaughter, the honourable Judge Rhinehold is now preceding.” The bailiff said.
     “How do you plead?” Judge Rhinehold asked.
     “Your honour, my client pleads not guilty.” Peter Long, Luke’s lawyer said.
     “The prosuction may now make its opening statement.” Judge Rhinehold said.
     “Thank you your honour. The prosuction will prove that Lukas Keefer Duke did in fact commit manslaughter, taking the life of Blake Summers, and that it was more then an act of self defense. He is trained marine and was fully aware that his actions would result in Blake Summer’s death.” Anne Meadows, the prosecuting lawyer, said.
     “I will now hear the defense’s opening statement.” Judge Rhinehold said.
     “Your honour I will prove that my client was merely acting in self defense, and not only to defend his own life, but also the life of his younger cousin, who was also placed in danger by Blake Summer’s who attacked them.” Peter said.
     The witnesses were called answering all of the prosecutions and the defense’s question. Though for the most part of the witnesses were merely character witnesses to speak on Luke’s behave. Rosco was amoung those to testify.
     “So, sheriff, the defendant called you about a problem, what was your first though when you got that call?” Anne asked.
     “I didn’t think it was anything to serious, nothing like that.” Rosco said.
     “Why do you say that?”
     “Because them’s good boys. I mean I would never think that Luke would shoot nobody, they’s don’t even have no guns.” Rosco said.
     “Why don’t they have guns?” Anne asked.
     “’Cause they are on probation.” Rosco said.
     “So he broke probation by shooting a firearm?”
     “Yeah I guess so.” Rosco said.
     “Why are they on probation?”
     “They got caught running moonshine.” Rosco said.
     “How would you describe Lukas Keefer Duke?” Anne asked.
     “He’s a good boy, he don’t cause no serious trouble. If he did shoot that Blake fellow it’d only have been to protect Bo’s life and his own.” Rosco said.
     “Whose life would say he would put first?” Anne asked.
     “What?” Rosco asked.
     “His own or his younger cousin’s.”
     “Oh that’s easy, Bo’s.” Rosco said.
     “Why do you say that?”
     “Anyone in Hazzard could tell you that. Luke is very protective of his family. Them Duke boys are more like brothers and you never hardly see one without the other.”
     “So you are saying Luke would commit manslaughter to protect his younger cousin.” Anne stated.
     “No, don’t go putting words in my mouth lady. Luke ain’t the killing type.”
After the prosecution was finished questioning Rosco the defense cross-examined. Hours seemed to drag past and finally both sides rested and the judge went back to his chambers to come to his final decision.
    Luke turned around to face his family, leaning against the hip-high wall that separated the two sides of the room.
     “How you holding up honey?” Daisy asked.
     “I’m fine.” Luke said. “Everything will work out just fine, you’ll see, it was an act of self defense.”
     “We know that.” Jesse said.
     “But . . .” Bo started to say.
     “No buts.” Luke said firmly, looking his cousin in the eye.
     Half an hour later Judge Rhinehold reached his final decision and came back out to the courtroom.
     “Lukas Keefer Duke, please rise for the verdict.” The bailiff said.
     “This is a very unusual case, and contained a prior confrontation between the defendant and the deceased, that caused the deceased to have hostiles towards the defendant. In cases with Marines, currently or prior, that said person is suppose to have control and is not subject to the same laws as a normal person in cases such as manslaughter. However, the deceased was also a trained marine so it would only make since that one would have to use the same techniques to defend themselves. In this cases that defendant, Lukas Keefer Duke, was not only concerned with protecting his own life, but also the life of his younger cousin, as Mr. Summer’s had made a threat against both of their lives. It is the decision of this court that Lukas Keefer Duke, is not guilty on the charge of manslaughter, but that it was in fact an act of self defense, and coming to the aid of a third party.” Judge Rhinehold said.
Luke gave a sigh of relief, releasing the breath that he hadn’t been aware he was holding. He now wanted to do nothing but go home and forget about everything that had happened.
     The next day Bo and Luke were working on the General, repairing some of the damage that had been done when they had been forced off the road.
     “I am glad things worked out.” Bo said.
     “I told you they would. I’m just glad you stuck with the plan.” Luke said.
     “I didn’t want to. I was afraid you’d get life in prison . . . or executed.”  Bo said.
     “My plans have always worked before, haven’t they?”
Bo shrugged. “For the most part.”
They weren’t aware of their uncle standing nearby and didn’t know that Jesse had overheard their conversation.
     “What plan are you two talking about?” Jesse asked.
Bo and Luke just stood silently, neither knowing how to answer Jesse’s question.
     “It’s kinda a long story in a way Uncle Jesse.” Luke said.
     “Just tell it to me straight.” Jesse said.
     “Luke didn’t shoot Blake.” Bo said.
     “WHAT?” Jesse questioned loudly. “Why in the world would you go saying you shot a man that you didn’t shoot?”
     “I shot him.” Bo said.
Jesse looked at Bo and then at Luke, with look or confusion. “I think you boys had better tell me what you two have been up to.”
Before Bo or Luke could say anything further Daisy arrived home, after parking her jeep she walked over to where her family was standing.
     “Hey y’all what’s going on?” Daisy asked.
     “The boys are now telling me that Luke didn’t shoot Blake but Bo did.” Jesse said.
     “What?” Daisy asked, not believing what she had just heard.
     “It’s a long story, let’s go inside and we can talk about it.” Luke said.
The four Dukes went inside and they all sat down in the front room.
     “So how much of what you said before actually happened?” Jesse asked.
     “Most everything, except me shooting Blake.” Luke said.
     “It was an accident the gun went off while I was trying to get it away from him.” Bo said.
     “So why did you say that you shot Blake?” Daisy asked Luke.
     “Because I refused to allow Bo to get in trouble for it, it was my fault in a way, Blake came to get revenge on me.” Luke said, then he and Bo told Jesse and daisy exactly what had happened.
     By the time the boys were finished telling them Jesse and Daisy both understood why Luke had claimed he had shot Blake.
     “You could’ve got into serious trouble. What if the judge had found you guilty?” Jesse asked.
Before Luke could answer Bo spoke up. “I wouldn’t have let that happened. I would admit the truth before I allowed Luke to go to prison for my actions.”
     “I wouldn’t allow you to testify to the truth.” Luke said.
Bo went to argue further, but Jesse gave him a look to be silent. “Don’t fight over it boys.”
     “Yes sir.” Bo and Luke said at the same time.
     Things began to returned to normal in Hazzard County and it didn’t take too long before the whole incident had been forgotten. None of the Dukes ever talked about it again after that day. The Dukes knew now more then ever that there was still justice alive in the world today.