Chapter Forty
February 8, 1945

On Thursday morning later that week, Nora found Bo still in the kitchen when she ventured there for breakfast.

“Good morning, Red. Are you hungry?” he asked. “I can make you some eggs and toast. That’s what I’m having.”

“No thanks,” she said looking around.

“Coffee?” he asked her next.

“No...thank you, I don’t want anything.” Nora said quietly. Then she asked, “Where’s Maggie?”

Bo poured himself some coffee as he answered her, “Maggie got a phone call early this morning. Seems her mother is ill. Tom and Helen took her to see her mother since she can’t drive. So, I get to stay here and keep you company today!” Bo told her.

Nora sighed.

Bo gave her a sideways glance. “Well, I don’t know how to take that...I was looking forward to spending the day with you. It’s actually really warm outside today for February...unseasonably warm. I thought I’d drive you down to the lake so you could get some fresh air while I catch a few fish.”

Nora gripped a chair at the table.

“Honey?” Bo made his way quickly to her side. “ Are you alright?” he asked worriedly.

Bo pulled out a chair and had Nora sit down. He knelt beside her.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“I’m having some pains,” Nora said. “They started a few hours ago…”

“You can’t be...I mean...it’s too soon, honey...the baby isn’t due for another week. You know what? It’s probably those Hick contractions...or Hickey contractions...or whatever they’re called...the ones you told me about.”

“Braxton Hicks,” she corrected him. “No...these are more regular than that. Not only that, but my lower back is killing me...I just feel different today…”

“But it’s too soon!” Bo exclaimed.

Nora looked at him. “This baby doesn’t know what day it is, and it doesn’t care about schedules. I’m just concerned about Maggie not being here. Does her mother live nearby?”

“No,” Bo said hesitantly, “she lives in Abilene...it’s about a three hour drive.”

Bo stood up and started walking the floor.

“I knew it!” he said. “I knew we should have tried to find a doctor when we moved to town.”

Because Maggie had vast experience as a midwife, Bo and Nora hadn’t felt the need to find a doctor so late in her pregnancy. Maggie had delivered 23 babies as a midwife. She was very experienced and very competent.

She was also unavailable at the moment.
Even though Nora knew first babies usually took awhile, she wished Maggie was there. She had questions. She needed the understanding of a female. She needed Maggie’s help through each step. She suppressed her concern as she heard Bo talking beside her.

“So...this is what we’re going to do, honey. We’re just going to stay calm. We’ll just keep track of the pains and see if this progresses. Maybe it will be a false alarm. The main thing is...we have to remain calm…”

Nora looked at him. “I will if you will,” she said giving him a look.

“I’m calm, honey. I really am. Now…” Bo said trying to take control of the situation, “I really think you should eat some breakfast. How about an egg and…”

Nora shook her head. “No...I can’t eat an egg this morning. Maybe a piece of toast…”

When it was said and done, Nora was convinced to have two pieces of toast and a cup of tea.

* * * * * * *

In spite of Bo’s hopes that this was a false alarm, the pains continued on. They continued no matter whether Nora was sitting or walking around. They continued and, not only were they regular but, were slowly becoming closer together.

Bo was becoming concerned, but he kept it hidden from Nora. He didn’t really know what to do...Maggie needed to be with her mother who was elderly and sick. He hated to call her, but he needed her here if Nora had the baby. Still...he knew first babies took a long time arriving. Maggie would probably be here by the time the baby was ready to be born. If he could just keep Nora as comfortable as possible until then…then Maggie would be here to help bring the baby. His mind was confused as he thought of all these things.

“Bo?” Nora said.

“What, honey?” It was mid afternoon, and they were back in their bedroom. Nora had decided to lay down awhile.

“Would you rub my back?”

“Sure, honey.” Nora rolled to her side and Bo crawled into the bed beside her. He began massaging her lower back. “How’s this?”

“Good...but you can rub it harder. It’s splitting in two…”

He brushed her hair out of her face. “I’m sorry, baby.”

Nora gave him a weak smile. “Bo?”

“Hmmm?” he said as he rubbed her back.

“This is real...not a false alarm...you know that, right?”

“Yeah…” he nodded.

She winced and gripped the sheet as another wave of pain took her.

“Everything’s going to be fine, Red.” Bo said in a reassuring voice. “I have it under control. So...you don’t need to worry, okay. Let me do the worrying.”

A few moments later, he heard her speak again, “Bo?”

“Mmhmm,” he said continuing the back rub.

“I love you,” she whispered.

He smiled and gave her a sweet kiss. “I love you too.”

* * * * * * *

Once Nora was a little more comfortable, Bo insisted that she needed to eat.

“I am hungry,” she admitted, “but I’m afraid the pain will make me sick.”

“You need to eat anyway, honey. You’ll need strength for the work ahead...and so will I. I’m going to go find us something. I’ll keep it light. Try to rest. I’ll be back as quickly as I can, okay?”

Bo left Nora and made his way to the library. He asked the operator to call the residence of Evelyn Johnson, Maggie’s mother, in Abilene. Once Bo described the situation, Maggie said she would have Thomas drive her home. They would be on their way. In the mean time, she asked Bo to get her midwifery bag from her quarters and boil water to sterilize the equipment. And she made suggestions about what was in the refrigerator that Nora could eat.

Bo felt much better after talking with Maggie. It was nice to be told what to do. He put a pan of water on to boil and went to retrieve her midwifery bag. Then he found some leftover soup in the frig to heat for he and Nora.

After putting the midwifing equipment into the boiling water, Bo arranged the food on a tray. Two bowls of soup, crackers, bananas, and milk. He carried the tray carefully back to their room.

The late afternoon sun was beaming into the room by this time. Nora was perspiring from the heat and the pain.

“I can’t believe how warm it is today, honey,” Bo said making conversation. Feels like it usually does in April. And, it looks like it’s going to bring in a thunderstorm...some dark clouds are moving in.”

“Wish we could have enjoyed the day by the lake like you mentioned earlier,” Nora responded quietly, trying to stay pleasant.

“There will be plenty of nice days ahead for that,” said Bo. “I was able to reach Maggie by phone. Thomas is driving her home. They’re on their way. In the mean time, she gave me advice for taking care of you...and that’s what I’m going to do, Red. Take care of you and our baby.”

He set the tray on a table by the window and pulled over two chairs.

“I brought us a light supper. Maggie says you need to eat something. She also said it would maybe help you to walk around some.”

Bo helped Nora up and she made her way to the restroom. Then she returned and sat down with Bo to eat. Bo was right. The food tasted good. She was hungry to the point of weakness. She knew she needed strength for the hours ahead.

As they ate, Bo tried to make small talk just to keep Nora’s mind occupied. He couldn’t help but notice the wind kicking up outside. The clouds continued to darken and thicken and swirl on the horizon.

“Looks like you’re going to see your first Texas thunderstorm,” Bo said. Those clouds are really getting black. Hope Chuck gets all the livestock in before it hits.”

No sooner had Bo said this than the rain started pelting the windows.

“Here it comes,” Bo remarked.

They finished their food as the rain increased. Soon it was running down the windows. The wind was fierce bending the branches of the trees. Thunder rolled and lightning crashed around the ranch house.

“Is this a normal thunderstorm, Bo? It’s pretty bad,” Nora remarked. “Are there any weather advisories?”

“I haven’t heard, honey. Don’t worry...we sometimes get these sudden storms, but they don’t last long,” he reassured her. “Are you finished eating? You need anything else?”

“No...thanks, I’m finished,” Nora replied. I think I want to lie down again.”

As Nora stood, she felt something warm and wet gushing from her. “Bo! I think my water just broke!”

Bo looked where Nora was standing. Sure enough, her nightgown was wet and there was a puddle of fluid beneath her.

Bo quickly regained his composure. “Don’t worry...I’ll take care of everything. First I’m going to get you a clean gown...on second thought, maybe we should skip the gown. I think it will just be in the way later. Here, let me help you with this gown,” he said lifting it over her head. Then he got a towel to dry off her legs and helped her get settled in bed.

“Bo, from what I’ve read, after the water breaks, the labor starts progressing faster,” Nora said breathlessly. “Do you think Maggie will be here soon?” She gripped the sheets as another contraction took over her body.

“I’m sure it won’t be too much longer,” Bo assured her. But as he looked out the window, he wondered how anyone could possibly see to drive in that rain.

“Honey, Maggie had me sterilizing her equipment. I need to go put them out to dry. Will you be okay until I get back? I’ll hurry.”

A nod was her only reply.

Bo left the room quickly. As he was making his way to the kitchen, he could hear the phone ringing. He hurried to the library to answer. A woman’s voice crackled on the other end of a static-y phone call.

“Bo, it’s Maggie…”

“Maggie?! I can barely hear you. Where are you?” Bo shouted into the receiver.

“We’re calling from a service station just west of Strawn...Bo, we can’t make it through...trees and power lines are down. We have to take another route...it’s going to be longer than we thought…” Maggie shouted over the static.

Bo’s heart sank, then started racing as he realized what this meant. He and Nora were on their own unless by some miracle Maggie and Thomas got there in time…

“Maggie...what should I do? Nora’s water broke. Maggie? Maggie?!...Maggie!...” The phone line was dead. Bo hung up feeling defeated. How was he going to tell Nora? What if something went wrong?...

Bo snapped back to reality when he heard Nora moaning from the bedroom. He hurried to the kitchen and gathered all of the sterilized equipment into a clean towel. He picked up the towel in one hand and the midwifery bag in the other, then he made his way back to the west wing.

When he came in, Nora was writhing in pain on the bed. Bo laid the supplies out on the dresser top near the end of the bed. Then he got a wet washcloth and went to wipe Nora’s brow.

“Bo…”

“I’m here, Red.”

She gripped the sheets and moaned in pain.

“Maggie?” Nora managed to ask.

“She’s not here yet,” Bo said.

“When? When will she be here?” Nora asked weakly.

“Honey.” Bo sat on the edge of the bed. “Maggie and Thomas have to take a different route because of the storm. It’s going to be awhile…”

“No!” Nora started crying. “I need her here! What are we going to do, Bo?!” Nora asked with fear in her voice and eyes.

At that point, Bo pushed his own fears aside. He had to hide his own anxieties. He had to be strong for Nora.

He held her face in his hands.

“You’re going to have this baby...and I’m going to help you. Everything’s going to be alright, honey...I promise you. Trust me. Can you trust me? We have to work together now. We can do this. Are you ready?...Trust me?”

Nora nodded her head. She looked at Bo with fear-filled eyes. “I trust you…” she whispered. “Please help me…”