It was a very warm evening, nearly dusk, when Nora and Miss Maggie sipped their iced tea on the back patio. Tom, Maggie’s son, and his wife, Helen, had just left with their children. Nora had helped with the kitchen clean up...it gave her something to do since Bo hadn’t returned home yet. Besides, she enjoyed the company of the ladies although it made her miss her friends in Chicago all the more.
Lilli played nearby with a kitten that had wandered from one of the barns to the house. It was a roly-poly kitten, gray with white whiskers, very playful and very tolerant of the little girl’s hands.
Lilli looked pleadingly at Nora again. “But Mommy, he nees me. Can I keep ‘im?”
Nora looked into the blue eyes and repeated for what seemed like the millionth time, “No Lilli. We can’t keep him in the house. He has a mommy in the barn and she will be missing him. Now please don’t ask me again. The answer is ‘no’.”
“I’ll ask Papaw,” she heard the child say under her breath.
Maggie glanced at Nora’s profile. She noticed that her eyes were closed and she was rubbing her forehead.
“Are you alright, Miss Nora? Do you have a headache?” Maggie asked.
Nora shook her head. “No, I’m fine...it’s just...it’s been a long day, that’s all.”
“A long day with a rough start,” Maggie said knowingly. “Just so you know, it is affecting Bo too.”
Nora looked at Maggie. “What do you mean?” she asked.
“I mean the argument you had this morning. I couldn’t hear what was said, but I thought I heard arguing. Then when Bo came to breakfast and grabbed just a biscuit and a beer before storming out the door...well, that confirmed it.”
Nora looked at Maggie. “He took beer for breakfast?” she asked grimacing.
“Yes, ma’am,” Maggie confirmed.
Nora smirked and shook her head.
Maggie continued, “I know what you’re going through, Miss Nora, and so does Helen. Ranch life is hard, especially this time of year when there is so much to be done. It should be getting better now that Mr. Buchanan has hired some extra ranch hands. Once the round up and branding is done, things will slow down. Then we’ll have the barbecue to celebrate. There’s light at the end of the tunnel,” she finished.
“I know,” Nora replied. “I just think it has been worse this year since we have been so short of help. I know it isn’t Bo’s fault. I guess I’m being selfish. I just...I miss him that’s all.”
“Well, why don’t you tell him?” Maggie encouraged squeezing Nora’s hand. “The best part of a fight is the making up, I always said. There he is now riding in on Hickory. Why don’t I bathe Miss Lilli and tuck her in for the night while you go on out there and spend some time with your husband.”
Nora watched Bo as he rode toward the stable. “Are you sure?” she asked softly.
“I insist,” said Maggie. “I don’t want Bo having a beer with his breakfast in the morning. I’m counting on you not to let that happen.”
Nora looked at Maggie. “It won’t,” she promised with a conspiratorial smile. Maggie squeezed her hand again.
“Lilli, come see Mommy,” Nora said as she stood.
Lilli ran to Nora carrying the tolerant kitten under it’s armpits.
“Give me the kitten, honey. I’m going to take him back to the barn to be with his mommy and brothers and sisters.”
When Lilli began whining, Nora stopped her. “No. No tears. He has to stay with his mommy. But, we can go visit him anytime in the barn,” she said gently. “I’ll take you there to play with him, okay? Give him a hug and give Mommy a kiss.” Lilli did both. “Now, Miss Maggie is going to give you a bath and tell you a story tonight, so be good for her, okay?”
“K,” answered Lilli. Nora gave Lilli a kiss and the little girl took Maggie’s outstretched hand.
“I love you, Lilli.” Then, “Thank you, Maggie,” Nora said holding the kitten in her arms.
“You’re welcome, honey,” Maggie replied.
The last thing Nora heard as she headed toward the barn was Lilli’s piping voice, “Is da story about a unycorn?”
“Goodness no, Child! This story is about some tigers. I used to tell it to your Daddy when he was a little boy. Let’s get a glass of milk and a warm bath, then I’ll tell it to you.”
* * * * * * *
Nora deposited the kitten in the barn, but it kept trying to follow her back out the door. After putting him back three times, she ran to the door to escape. That’s when she heard laughter behind her.
“Ohhh!” she shrieked hand to her chest. “Who’s there?!”
A light string was pulled and the glare of the bare bulb exposed her company. It was Chet Palmer. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Buchanan,” Palmer grinned. “I didn’t mean to scare you. Looks like you’re having some problems with this one,” he said scooping up the kitten.
Nora smiled and shook her head. “Yes, I can’t seem to get rid of the little guy. He seems to have taken a liking to me.”
“That’s perfectly understandable,” Chet said with a grin. He could see his remark had made her uncomfortable, so he added, “He knows you’re a nice lady, so he just wants to follow you home.”
“Well….he has to stay here, so...could you just...hold onto him until I get out the door and on my way?” she asked pointing toward the door.
“Be happy to. I’ll just see if I can find his mama. And again...I’m sorry that I startled you.” Chet smiled. Nora couldn’t help noticing how his smile put crinkles around his eyes which were a mesmerizing green.
“Oh….” Nora waved a hand at him. “It’s no problem. I guess I’m just a little jumpy in dark barns,” she said with wide eyes. “Thanks for your help with the kitten.”
“You’re welcome, ma’am,” Chet said amiably as she once again headed toward the barn door.
At that moment, Tate Palmer stepped from the darkness of the haymow.
“Hello, Tate,” said Nora.
“Ma’am,” Tate nodded.
“Have a good night...both of you,” Nora finished as she exited the barn.
Nora walked away from the barn rubbing her arms. She felt a chill even on this balmy night. She made her way from the barn to the stable at a brisk pace. She couldn’t wait to be in the arms of Bo.
* * * * * * *
When Nora entered the dusty stable, she found Bo’s hat thrown on a bench inside the door. Putting it on, she quietly followed the glow of the light to the open door of Hickory’s stall.
She leaned against the door frame and watched Bo as he worked...hanging up the saddle, filling the feed, pitchforking fresh straw. His shirt hung open to the waist, his hair was tousled, and he was sweaty and dirty, but still….he looked so good to her.
Finally, she spoke in a soft voice. “Hi Cowboy.”
He looked up suddenly, surprised to find her there, and brushed his hair back with his hand. “Hey, Red...what’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?” he questioned, grinning.
She smiled back. “Well...I’m just looking to spend some time with a handsome cowboy,” she said with a shrug. “Have you seen any around these parts?”
Bo’s eyes met hers, then he looked down at his sweaty self. “Sorry, ma’am,” he said in his best John Wayne voice. “All the handsome cowboys rode outa here awhile ago. I’m all that’s left here, and I’m...a pretty dirty cowboy as you can see.”
“Well…” She mosied over close to him and ran her hand from his abdomen up across his chest and around his neck. “Actually...I think you’re just what I’m looking for…”
Bo watched her mouth as she pulled him close. “Then I’m at your service ma’am,” he murmured before she claimed his mouth for a stimulating kiss. He pulled back to look at her after the kiss.
“Does this mean you forgive me?” he asked.
“If you’ll forgive me,” she responded. “I’m sorry, Bo,” she said quietly, playing with his shirt front.
“I’m sorry too, Red,” he said leaning his head against her forehead. “I’ve been miserable all day.”
“Probably because you drank beer for breakfast,” she giggled wrapping her arms around his neck for another kiss.
He returned her kisses then buried his face in her neck. “Mmmm...where’s Lilli?” he whispered nibbling her earlobe.
“Maggie is tucking her in tonight,” Nora murmured. “So...we don’t have to hurry home.” She slid her hands under his shirt, pulled him closer, and whispered in his ear, “Would there happen to be any...vacancies in this inn?”
“We’ll find one,” he said releasing her quickly and pulling her by the hand. “Right this way, Little Lady…”
Nora giggled as he hurriedly pulled her to a vacant stall. He hastily forked and fluffed a bed of fresh straw before pulling off his shirt and pulling her down with him. They made love hungrily with only the music of soft whinnies, stomping hooves, and crickets chirping outside in the warm, night air.
Lantern light cast a soft glow across their bodies as they lay together after. Nora was telling Bo about the frustrations of her day when she noticed he was smiling.
“What?!” she asked him raising her head off his chest. “Why are you smiling? I don’t find any of this amusing.”
Bo started chuckling, “It’s not what you’re telling me, honey, it’s you.” He pulled a piece of straw from her tangled hair. “You look like a scarecrow with that straw in your hair...a beautiful scarecrow,” he added quickly. He lifted her chin with his hand and smiled. “I love you, Red.”
“And I love you,” she replied covering him again with kisses.
* * * * * * *
Neither of them noticed that the crickets had ceased their chirping as crickets will do when an intruder is present. Neither realized that eyes were squinting to see through the wooden slats of the stable wall, that those same eyes had witnessed their entire love scene...from disrobing to climax...and that a jaw was clenched at the sight of their tangled bodies lying together in the lamplight…
GASP! Are you accusing my poor Maggie of being a perv!?? Hmmm...intriguing idea....and she was the one who sent Nora to the stable to "make up" with Bo....hmmm...
Beer for breakfast? Well...I guess it depends on your definition of "normal" and possibly your outlook on the day ahead! Haha