Posted by hummingbird on 6/4/2014, 8:33 am VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
Chapter Nineteen
“So…what do you suppose this stuff is?” Mick asked as he poked through the food on his plate.
“Nearly inedible,” was Bo’s response. “Reminds me of Nora’s cooking.”
Sal and Mick laughed. “Can’t cook, huh?” Sal asked.
“Well...let’s just say my wife’s talents don’t lie in the kitchen,” Bo answered smiling.
The other guys nudged him and laughed.
“But don’t tell her I said that, or you’ll get me in trouble...like you did last time, my Pal Sal, when you told her I was sharing our intimacies with you. She threatened to cut off my privileges permanently if she found out I was doing that. So that little remark I just made stays here…” Bo said pointing at Sal.
Mick continued, “Seriously...how do they expect a man to fight on these rations?”
“As hard as they work us, they know we’ll eat anything,” Bo added.
Finally Sal jumped into the conversation, “If they would just let me into their kitchen, I could teach these Brits to spice it up a bit.”
“Don’t even get us thinking about your good food. That would be cruel and unusual punishment when we’re stuck with this,” Bo grumbled.
They had been at Hilsea Barracks in England for three weeks getting last minute training. This day had been spent in combat training using live artillery. It had been very realistic. They were told very little by the higher ups...no one wanted secret plans to leak out to the wrong sources. But there was a great fleet of ships and a great number of Allied troops ready to embark on this mission.
They had been given ship assignments. Bo and Sal ended up assigned to the same ship. Mick was assigned to a different one. The only time they had a chance to converse was dinner time.
On this night after dinner, they had mail call. Bo was thrilled to have a couple of letters from Nora and one from Maggie...and was very surprised to find one from Asa.
The barracks were quiet that night as the guys were absorbed in reading their letters from home. Only an occasional chuckle or sigh could be heard in response to what they were reading. One fellow shouted, “It’s a boy! My wife had a baby boy!” All of the guys cheered and congratulated him.
Bo began with his letter from Maggie. She gave him news of the ranch and of her children who had been his playmates during his growing up years. Then she told him how proud she was of him and reminded him that she would be praying for his safety. It was a sweet letter from the woman who was more of a mother to him than any of the other women in Asa’s life, even his own mother who was with him so briefly during his childhood.
Next he pulled out the letter from Asa. Bo could hardly believe his father had taken the time to draft a letter. He chuckled to see that it was typed on company letterhead paper, probably dictated to his secretary. Bo was still touched that Asa would take the time to write and was touched by his words. The letter concluded with… “I am proud of you, son. Follow orders, fight hard, and do the Buchanan name proud. We’ll be waiting here for your safe return…”
Finally, he held Nora’s letters in his hand. He thought they held a faint trace of her cologne. Impossible, he thought. It would never stay on the letters through all those days and miles. But when he pulled the first letter out of it’s envelope, he did indeed breathe in the scent of her cologne. He closed his eyes and thought of the many times that fragrance had greeted him when he kissed her neck. He felt closer to her just holding the letter.
May 23,1944
My Sweet Bo,
I know we just said our goodbyes this morning, but I wanted to write you. I'll just pretend my head is on your chest and we're talking like we do so often at night before we go to sleep. As you read this, you can pretend the same.
I won't lie to you...it was a rough morning and a long day. I thought about you every minute...wondering where you were on your journey.
This evening I helped Rita in the restaurant. She was closed today, but we went down to prepare salad and pasta sauce for tomorrow's meals. Lena came too. It helped all of us to spend time together...it kept us all busy.
You were right about the car. The gears are being stripped. Mick has been teaching Lena to drive! She brought us home from the depot, and I wondered if we were going to make it. We survived. But like you have told me about any activity...it will improve with more practice. Poor Rita was crossing herself in prayer the whole way.
It's so quiet here tonight, Sweetie. I miss you so much already.
I read your letter and found your gift. Your words meant so much to me, and the necklace...Bo, it's so beautiful! My wonderful husband, I only hope that I can always be the woman that I appear to be in your eyes. I will always try to be that woman. I promise you that.
I love you, sweetheart. Every day I want you to wake up and remember that I love you. I'm going to curl up with your pillow tonight and think about those pictures I have of us in my mind...my snapshots. Like the song says, 'they can't take that away from me'.
Loving you forever, Red
Bo folded the letter and put it back in it’s envelope. Then he opened the next one. It, too, smelled of her sweet cologne.
May 26, 1944
My Sweet Bo,
I hope this finds you well and rested and safe. Is it wrong to want you to miss me as much as I miss you? I miss you, Sweetheart, so much. But you will be happy to know that I am staying busy.
I had dinner with Mama and Dad tonight. Once again, she tried to send home all of the leftovers. I told her 'no'...that you wouldn't want to return to a chubby bride. She laughed at that and sent me home with only one serving.
We have been busy at the library with the annual book sale. They are clearing the shelves of some of the older books to make room for new ones. You will be sad to hear that the architecture series is on the chopping block. Guess you won't be building that home in the southwest anyway. Rumor has it that you were only at the library that day because you had your eye on one of the librarians. That you took her for a soda...and you courted her...and married her...and have plans to live happily ever after with her. Rumor has it that she's crazy about you too. Guess that last one is truth, not a rumor at all.
I love and miss you, Bo. I miss your voice and your smile and your shoulder to sleep on...and, of course, I miss your warm body next to mine. But, I remind myself that each day that passes brings me one day closer to seeing you again. I'm staying strong, just as you asked...at least most of the time.
Stay safe. I need you. And I'll love you always.
Yours forever, Red
Before Bo drifted to sleep that night, he thanked God for the letters from home and prayed for his family. Then he prayed for his bride asking God once again to care for her in his absence. He let his mind then drift to the pictures he had of her. He smiled remembering their conversation at the library...and her fear of tadpoles...and their dance in the rain...and the moonlit loft...and that little blue nightgown... So many sweet memories in just a few months. He hoped they would share a lifetime of memories…
God, I beg you. Please watch over us and bring us together again...