Nora held Lilli close in the nursery rocker until her choking sobs ceased and she finally fell asleep. She kissed her baby’s matted curls and looked down on the tear-stained face. So precious and so fragile was this little life she held in her arms. Tears rolled down Nora’s cheeks as a prayer formed in her mind...
I’ll not complain again, God, about not having another child. Thank you for this one that you have given me and for saving her life…thank you…
Nora’s thoughts were interrupted and her mind raced on… Bo! I need to see Bo…
Nora hadn’t seen Bo since Thomas carried him, unconscious, to the house. Everything had been so chaotic! Nora remembered Lilli’s piercing screams as Bo hurled her across the fence and remembered the snorting of the bull as he rammed and trompled her husband. Above Lilli’s incessant screams, there were shouts from Thomas as he jabbed the bull in the snout with an old tree limb. Finally the beast backed off and ran the other way.
“Call the doctor, Mama!” Thomas had shouted at Maggie as he jumped the fence to retrieve Bo. As she ran to do so, Thomas hoisted Bo’s body into his arms like a rag doll and carried him to the house. Nora watched helplessly, but was preoccupied with the screaming child in her arms. She had to take care of Lilli first and leave Bo in the care of others.
Lilli’s injuries were not as severe as they could have been. Fortunately, as Bo tossed her over the fence, she landed in the arms of Chet Palmer who happened to be on the other side. So instead of broken bones, she only suffered abrasions down the length of her left leg, another on her left cheek, and some bruises and splinters that she attained on her way over.
Because Maggie and Thomas were busy attending to Bo, Chet helped Nora by holding Lilli still while she washed and appraised her wounds. Lilli, terrified, fought this with all of her being. When Nora finally stopped the bleeding and felt like she had cleaned the wounds sufficiently, she took Lilli into her arms. Finally in her mother’s arms, the child clung desperately.
Nora looked at Chet. “Thank you. If you hadn’t been there...I can’t imagine how much worse this would have been...and thanks for helping me…”
“You’re welcome, Ma’am. When I heard all the commotion, I came to see what was going on. I tried to get to the fence, but your husband beat me to it. I sure am sorry about your husband, Ma’am…”
“Thanks,” Nora whispered. “Now...I need to get Lilli settled so I can check on Bo…”
Chet took this as a dismissal and turned to leave. When he reached the door, he turned to face her. “If you need anything at all, Ma’am...just let me know.”
She nodded.
It was after Chet left that Nora had settled herself and Lilli into the nursery rocker. She reflected on these events while she comforted Lilli until the little girl calmed down and fell into a peaceful sleep.
She was just getting ready to lay her down when she saw Thomas and the doctor in the doorway.
When he saw Lilli was sleeping, Thomas whispered, “This is Doc Jones. He came to see Miss Lilli.”
The doctor looked over Lilli’s injuries without a word. Then he motioned for Nora to go ahead and lie her down while he and Thomas left the room. Nora laid Lilli gently in bed and kissed her goodnight.
She found the two men in the hall outside Lilli’s door.
“How’s Bo?” Nora immediately asked the doctor.
“He’s resting comfortably. Mrs. Buchanan, I can’t tell you the entire extent of his injuries at this time. I will have to observe him for a few days to know if there are internal injuries. I can tell you what I do know at this point and what I have done for him.”
Nora only nodded.
“He, of course, has many cuts, bruises, and lacerations,” the doctor began. “He has swelling on the left side of his face which will no doubt result in a blackened eye. No broken bones from first observation, however he may have broken ribs...they are, at the very least, bruised heavily. He regained consciousness long enough to answer a few questions. There doesn’t appear to be any cognitive or memory loss that I can tell. I am concerned about internal injuries though...particularly of the kidneys since he was trampled along the back of his body. I inserted a urinary catheter so that we could see any traces of blood in the urine…”
He noticed Nora’s worried expression and laid a concerned hand on her arm.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Buchanan. I am not going to mince words here. He’s hurt badly, but I have seen worse. The next 24 hours will tell us a lot. I have given him a strong pain killer which will help him sleep, and I’ll be back in the morning. At that time I will decide if I can continue to treat him or if he should be taken to the hospital in Dallas.”
The doctor pulled some medication from his bag. “I want you to take this medication for your daughter if she has trouble sleeping.” He handed her the medicine. “I will look at her leg more thoroughly in the morning, and will do any further cleaning of the wound then as needed.” He snapped his doctor’s bag shut.
“I would offer you something to help you sleep, but you really need to help Miss Maggie keep an eye on Bo. Maybe the two of you could rest in shifts. I’ll be back first thing in the morning. Call me at any hour if you need me, understand?”
“Yes...I will,” Nora said quietly. “Thank you, Doctor.”
He nodded. “See you in the morning,” he said as Thomas showed him out.
As the door closed behind the doctor, Nora took another peek at her sleeping daughter. Then she turned and quickly made her way down the hall to see her husband.
* * * * * * *
As Nora approached their open bedroom door she heard Maggie’s soft soprano raised in song…
In the beginning of time
He was the Creator…
And into existence He spoke the heavenly blue…
And with one mighty swoop of His hand
He threw out the stars,
He knew where they’d land,
So, if you think you’re just drifting along
I have good news…
She peered around the doorframe to see Maggie wiping Bo’s arms and face with a cloth as she sang to him. The sight of Bo, so still, and the devotion of sweet Maggie to his care, made Nora stop and lean against the doorframe to listen. Her heart was beating wildly in her chest at the sight of Bo...the words of Maggie’s song acted like a balm to her frightened heart…
...if He hung the moon…
I know He will help you...
And if He holds the sparrow in flight,
He’ll hold you too…
“Yes He will, honey,” Maggie reassured the sleeping Bo before continuing her song...
...Consider the lilies of the field
how much more He loves you…
In the beginning of time you were on His mind
When He hung the moon…
“You remember when I used to sing this to you, Bo?” she asked him. “Before I tucked the covers up around your chin...and I would tell you, ‘I love you to the moon and back’...remember? And I still do,” she assured him, “just like you were my own, I do... You’re strong, Beaufort, you can fight this. I know you can...don’t let Miss Maggie down now...ya hear?”
Maggie noticed Nora in the doorway and beckoned her, “Come in, child…” she said softly.
Nora entered slowly and stood at the foot of the bed looking at Bo. Tears began anew and flowed down her cheeks. Maggie put the cloth in the pan of cool water, then wrapped Nora in a firm embrace.
“He looks so bad, Maggie,” Nora whispered.
Maggie pulled back. “Yes, he does...it’s not good, but...he’s a Buchanan and he’s a fighter. He can beat this...have faith, child.”
Nora nodded. “What can I do?” she asked.
Maggie spoke, “Hold his hand...tell him you love him...pray…”
Nora went quietly to Bo’s side.
“I’m going to get some fresh water,” Maggie said. “I’ll give you some time. Talk to him, Nora. Let him know you’re here…”
Nora wiped the tears from her cheeks and nodded. Maggie left them alone. Nora brushed Bo’s dark hair back with a hand and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead.
“I’m here, sweetheart...” she whispered in a choked voice. “I’m not sure if you can hear me, but...I love you. I love you so much.”
She held his hand in hers as she leaned over him and whispered in his ear. “I’m counting on you, Buchanan. You have to fight...for me...and for Lilli. We need you, baby, so fight, okay?”
He was so still. Nora pulled a chair close to his bedside and kept his hand in hers.
“I’m right here…”
It was there that Maggie found her...sleeping bedside in a chair with her head on Bo’s arm and his hand wrapped in hers.
To be continued...
If He Hung The Moon by Kirk Talley
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