I decided to revisit my historical Bo and Nora story from the 1940’s, I’ll Be Seeing You. That story ended in February of 1945 after the birth of their daughter, Lilli. This story begins in the summer of 1947. Bo is still working on the Buchanan Ranch in Texas. Lilli is now two-and-a-half years old.
This story and it’s characters will be better understood if you have read the original story, I’ll Be Seeing You. You can find the beginning of that story if you go back to page number 9 here on the forum site. It concludes on page 7.
Before you begin, you must also understand that this story did not follow the true story line. In my story, Bo and Nora were happy together and Matthew (when he came along) was Bo’s. (That’s right! Sam and the grief he caused never existed...just the way it should have been. )
Remember...that story was a dream...this one will be also…
Still Seeing You
Epilogue May, 2002
A feverish Nora set the antibiotics and glass of water on her nightstand and crawled into bed. She had been miserable throughout this long day. What started out as a simple headache had turned into what she was experiencing now...fever, chills, body aches, cough.
She left the office early and was thankful that Larry Woleck was able to squeeze her into his busy appointment schedule. She was also thankful that Mary Ann was able to care for 3-year-old Matthew until Bo returned later that evening.
She popped the antibiotics Larry had given her and curled up under the covers. She was chilling in spite of the warm pajamas and socks she was wearing and the pile of blankets she had pulled up high under her chin. But she was completely exhausted and soon….. drifted off….. into a very..... peaceful.... slumber…
Chapter One August, 1947
“But, why Mommy? Why doesn’t he have one?”
Nora nestled her chin into Lilli’s auburn curls and answered patiently, “Because Hickory is a horse, sweetie, not a unicorn. Horses don’t have horns. Only unicorns have horns.”
They were snuggled in the rocking chair in Lilli’s room doing their nightly routine of reading a bedtime story. It was getting late and Nora was tired. Lilli, however, was not. Nora patiently tried to answer the incessant questions of a two-year-old.
“I want a unycorn, Mommy. Can we get one?”
Nora shook her head. “I’m sorry, sweetie, I’m afraid we can’t. Unicorns are only in books...you can’t find them anymore.”
Lilli thought on this news for only a few moments before quipping, “I’ll tell Papaw. He’ll find me one.”
Nora snuggled her daughter close and smiled indulgently at the faith she had in her Grandpa. Yes, if there was any way Asa Buchanan could make this dream come true for Lilli, he would certainly do so. He adored his little granddaughter. Her wish was his command. She was thankful that some of Lilli’s dreams could not be brought to reality or she would be very spoiled indeed.
As they turned the page of the book, Nora glanced up to see Bo leaning against the doorframe watching them. Their eyes met and they smiled.
“Hi,” Bo said quietly to his love.
“Hi yourself,” she voiced softly back, then whispered to her daughter, “Who’s that, Lilli?” as she nodded toward the door.
“Daaddy!” she said excitedly sliding from Nora’s lap to the floor. She ran in her jammies, curls bouncing, to where Bo knelt with open arms.
“Bo,” Nora said quietly, “please don’t wind her up...it’s bedtime.”
“I won’t,” he assured her before pulling Lilli close.
“How’s my Lillikins? I’ve missed you today!” he said snuggling her close. “Mmmm… You smell sooo good! Did you just get a bath?”
“Mmhmm,” answered Lilli nodding her head, “with Mommy...and bubbles.”
“Bubbles and Mommy too...well, you are a lucky girl,” Bo said glancing at Nora.
“You need a baff, Daddy. You smell like Hickry,” she said with her nose crinkled in distaste.
Bo laughed. “I do. I know. I’ve been with the horses a lot tonight. And... guess what,” he said quietly looking into her cherub face.
“What?” she whispered, her big blue eyes shining.
“There’s a surprise in the barn. I’ll show it to you tomorrow,” he whispered back.
“Is it a unycorn?” she whispered, her eyes big.
“A unicorn?” he asked peering over her shoulder at Nora.
“Our story tonight was about a unicorn,” Nora filled him in quietly. “Now she wants one.”
“Oh,” Bo nodded then turned his attention back to Lilli. “Nope, it’s not a unicorn, but it’s just as special. It’s a baby horse.”
“A baby?!” she asked. “Is it a filwy or a cote?”
Bo looked at her incredulously, “What do you know about fillies and colts?”
“Papaw says filwies are geerls and cotes are boys. Me and mommy...we’s filwies. You and Papaw are cotes,” she said knowingly.”
“That’s exactly right,” Bo replied, laughing. “You are so smart. This one is a colt.”
“I wanna see ‘im!” she said jumping up and down with excitement.
“Well, tomorrow morning Daddy will eat pancakes with you and then I’ll take you to see him. Right now it’s bedtime, right Mommy?”
“That’s right,” Nora said. “Get your Lamby and I’ll tuck you in.”
“Give Daddy a kiss first...Mmmm, that was good,” Bo said as she obliged. Then to Nora, “Should I give you a kiss too, or...will you still be awake after I clean up?”
“I’ll try to be awake,” she said giving him a soft smile.
“I won’t be long,” he told Nora. “Goodnight, Lilli,” he said as he left the room.
Lilli scrambled into her crib before Nora lowered the side.
“Lilli!” Nora gently scolded. “You should wait for Mommy to help you in. You’ll fall over the edge climbing in like that.”
“I can do it. I’m a big geerl,” said Lilli.
“That may be, but I don’t want you to get hurt. You listen to Mommy.” She covered her with a light blanket and gave her a kiss. “I love you, Lillikins,” she said more gently. “Goodnight, sweetie.”
Lilli snuggled with Lamby. “Night, mommy.”
Turning off the light, Nora went to their room and laid down to read until Bo could join her. It was there that he found her, book on her chest, sleeping soundly when he returned to their room. He was disappointed. They hadn’t spent any time together of late. They were short of ranch hands and it had been so busy. For several days he had been gone from sunup till bedtime.
He quietly slipped the book from her chest and put it on the bedside table before turning off the lamp. He slid into bed beside her. She stirred and curled up close to him, her head on his chest.
“I’m sorry,” she murmured. “I tried…”
He pulled her close and kissed her forehead. “It’s okay. I’ll just wake you up early in the morning. How’s that for a plan?” he asked quietly.
“Perfect,” she whispered before drifting back to sleep.
* * * * * * *
Bo was a man of his word; and, as the first rays of the sun slanted across their bed, he awakened Nora with warm kisses on her neck. She wrapped her arms around him, and they welcomed the day with some equally-warm and much-needed loving.
Bo was still atop Nora nuzzling her neck when she turned her head to find a wide-eyed Lilli standing beside the bed.
Startled by the child’s presence, she said, “Lilli!”
Bo quickly rolled to his side of the bed. “Lilli...what are you doing up, honey?!”
“It’s morning. I waked up! I wanna come in the bed with you.” She reached her arms toward Bo who usually lifted her into their bed for some morning cuddles and conversation. Not this time.
Nora interrupted. “Where’s your Lamby, honey?”
“Lamby!” cried Lilli, startled that she had left him behind.
“Go get Lamby and then you can come in with us,” Bo said buying them some time.
As Lilli hurried back to her room, Bo and Nora scoured the bed for undershorts and nightgown. Quickly they donned their nightclothes before Lilli came bouncing back into their room and then into their bed. They looked at each other and giggled at the unexpected surprises of parenthood.