Posted by hummingbird on 10/7/2014, 9:06 am VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
Only twelve parts, ladies! I told you it was short (for me )
Chapter Twelve
Bo entered Asa’s mansion with a grim look on his face. Nigel was there to meet him.
“Mr. Buchanan…”
“Where’s Asa?” Bo asked abruptly.
“Well, he’s…”
“Oh nevermind,” Bo answered sternly. “I’ll find him.”
Bo pushed past Nigel and entered Asa’s library. Asa looked up from his newspaper. At the sight of Bo, he smiled and stood to his feet.
“Well...look who’s back!” Asa said grinning ear-to-ear.
“I’ve got a bone to pick with you, Pa!” Bo said through a set jaw.
Asa’s face looked grim.
“How dare you do such a thing! I can’t believe you took such pains to interfere in our lives! Just what were you thinking?!”
“I was thinking,” Asa responded, “that you and Nora would come to your senses if you just had a little time alone together!”
“Alone together?!” Bo laughed aloud. “Well, Pa, that didn’t work out! What do you mean ‘alone together’?! I’ll have you know your little scheme didn’t work! It was foiled by one of your own...the best laid plans…”
Asa’s face was flushed with anger. “What do you mean?” he began...
But at that moment Nora came in giggling with Vince hanging all over her. She laid a kiss on him that nearly made his eyes roll. Bo clenched his jaw and frowned. Okay, that’s enough. You don’t have to be that convincing, he thought.
"Just what the hell is going on around here?!" Asa bellowed at the sight of Nora in Vince’s arms.
Nora pulled herself away from Vince. “Be right back, sweetie,” she said as she left his arms with a flirtatious smile. Vince smiled back, but the smile quickly faded when Bo shot him a warning glance.
“Asa!” Nora hurried to Asa’s side. “I just want to thank you for a fabulous week in paradise! I had...well actually, we had such a wonderful time!” she said flashing a pearly smile at Vince.
“With Vince?! He was supposed to go back to the mainland...I told him…”
“Oh, but he didn’t Asa. I was afraid to stay all alone on that island that first night, so Vince...kept me company. We really hit it off...and...I just want to…” She looked at Bo.
“She just wants to say, ‘GOTCHA’, old man,” Bo finished.
Nora flung her arms around Asa’s neck, laughing, and gave him a big hug. He still was angry and confused until Nora released him and went into Bo’s arms.
"What's going on here?!" Asa roared.
Bo began. “You had no right to abandon us there on that island, Pa...but I’m glad you did,” he said holding Nora close to his side. Your little scheme worked and Nora and I have found each other again.”
“Well, I’ll be damned. Now that's what I wanted to hear.” He grabbed Bo’s hand in a hearty handshake then patted him on the back. I knew you would come to your senses if given the opportunity. Now don’t let this little filly get away from you again!”
“I won’t, Pa,” he said looking at Nora.
At that moment, the door flung open and Matthew came bounding into the room.
“Mom! Dad!” he shouted throwing himself into their arms. There were hugs and lots of laughter all around until Matthew noticed Bo’s head and Nora’s foot. “What happened to you?” he asked.
“Oh...we have lots of stories, Sport,” Nora said. “But, right now we’re tired and ready to go home. Go gather your things.”
“We?” Matthew asked.
“Yes, ‘we’,” Bo told him. “Like we said, Matthew, we have lots of stories. We’ll talk at home. Go get your things.”
Matthew twirled around and flashed a huge smile at Asa.
Asa pointed at him, grinning.“You heard them, Little Cowpoke, go get your things.”
Matthew and Asa bumped fists before Matthew ran out of the room and bounded up the stairs.
“Asa...” Nora began. “Did you and Matthew conceive this plan together?” she asked suspiciously.
Asa looked sheepish. “We-ell...what difference does it make who came up with the brilliant plan as long as it worked? You aren’t going to be angry with this old cowboy for making you happy, are you?”
Nora shook her head and left Bo’s arms to give Asa a real hug. “I love you, Asa Buchanan...and thank you,” she whispered.
Matthew rushed back into the room with a duffel bag unzipped and stuffed to overflowing.
Bo grinned. “Whoa, Bud. Were you in a hurry? Let’s see if we can pack this a little better so we don’t lose anything.” He knelt down to help Matthew organize.
“So which home are we going to?” Matthew asked as Bo helped him with his bag.
“Yours for now,” Bo answered, “But after Mom and I get married, we’re going to find a new home for all of us.”
Matthew’s eyes gleamed. “You and Mom are getting married?!” he asked excitedly. “That’s so cool!”
Bo laughed. “It is cool! I think so too.” Then Bo diverted his attention to Nora, “You ready to go home?”
“Yes, I am,” she said making her way to Matthew. “Let’s put these bags in the car, Pal.” Matthew ran to give Asa another hug before he and Nora left the room, Matthew chattering all the way.
Bo looked at Asa.
“I didn’t mean to interfere…” Asa began.
“Yes you did, Pa.”
“Okay...so I did. But I only did it because I wanted my boy to be happy. And we both know that nobody makes you happier than that red-headed filly.”
Bo smiled and nodded. “You’re right about that, Pa,” Bo admitted.
“Now go!” Asa said. “Your family is waiting for you.”
Bo extended his hand to his father, “Thanks, Pa. We’ll see you soon.”
Asa nodded, and as Bo left the mansion, Asa sat down with his paper, a bourbon, a huge smile, and a contented sigh.
THE END
Oh...and of course they lived 'happily ever after'.
) 