At Last – Part 8
Last Time:
Jack turns around and has a gun in his hand.
TUCKER: She has to pay Buchanan. It was all her fault. She should have been the one in prison the past eight years.
BO: Jack, you were the one that forced Sarah and I off that bridge. Nora was no where near the accident.
JACK: But I worked so hard setting her up. At just the right time I remembered the blue car with the license plate that started with MA. You two were so easy. But then she had to go and figure it out. She made all those calls about my drinking. I’ve been plotting this revenge for a long time and no one is going to stop me.
Bo points his gun at Tucker.
BO: Jack…don’t make me do this. Just put the gun down and put your hands on your head.
TUCKER: Or else what? You’ll shoot me? Fine…shoot me. There is no way that I’ll go back to that prison.
Tucker aims his gun at Bo and fires at the same time as Bo and the police officers. Both Jack and Bo fall to the ground at the same time.
********************************
One of the police officers rushes towards Bo while the other gets
to Tucker. Bo slowly sits up while holding his arm that has been
hit. He looks towards Tucker and the officer just shakes his head.
Bo struggles to get up and walks over towards Tucker. Nora comes
running out of the building. Bo pulls her into a tight embrace,
ignoring the pain in his arm.
NORA: Are you okay?
BO: It’s just a nick.
NORA: Bo…there is blood all over your shirt. It’s more than a nick. We have to get you to the hospital.
BO: I need to take care of things here.
NORA: No…. you don’t. You have officers that can secure the scene. I am not taking no for an answer.
Nora drives him to the hospital where Larry stitches him up and sends him home. Larry tells him to stop by in a week and he will take out the stitches. Nora gingerly leads Bo into the garret and onto the couch. Nora expertly starts a fire in the fireplace. Bo’s smiling at her the whole time.
BO: Red…I’m okay. You don’t have to baby me.
NORA: Bo….you were shot today.
BO: Well I really wasn’t shot. It was more like a graze.
NORA (with tears in her eyes): You were shot saving me. And I’ll never forget it.
Bo wraps his good arm around her and holds her tight.
BO: It’s okay Red. I’m a little sore but otherwise I’m okay.
NORA: Turn around. Let me give you a massage.
Nora starts massaging Bo’s neck and shoulders. Bo sits quietly enjoying her touch.
NORA (quietly): Why do you think he did it?
BO: Who knows Red. I think in a way he knew that he was going to be caught. He’d also decided that he wasn’t going to go back to prison. Unfortunately I was the one that had to stop him from hurting anyone else.
NORA: How can I ever thank you for saving my life again?
BO (smiling): You’re doing a pretty good job right now. This feels good.
NORA: Are you sure your arm is all right?
BO: It’s a little stiff but it’ll be fine. I’ll be fine.
Nora sits down on the couch next to him and takes his hand in hers. She plays with his fingers and lays her head on his shoulder as they sit quietly. No need to talk…just being together was enough. After about a half hour the fire starts to die out.
NORA: The fire’s going out.
BO: You cold?
NORA: No…but I have to go.
BO (looking in her eyes): Do you really have to go?
NORA (with tears in her eyes): Yea. I have to get home to Matthew.
Nora slowly gets up from the couch and Bo does the same. He walks her to the door where they just stare at each other.
NORA: Thank you again for saving my life.
BO: Thanks again for the massage.
NORA: Good night Bo.
BO: Goodnight Red.
Nora turns to the door and reluctantly walks away. She knows if she turns around she’ll run right back into his arms so she just keeps walking. Crying as she goes.
Two days later Asa is on the phone with Bo.
ASA: The poker game starts at 7:30 sharp. Don’t be late.
BO: I won’t be late. You better just have your check book ready old man.
ASA: Don’t worry about me son. I’ll see you tonight at the lodge.
Asa hangs up the phone and hands it to Renee.
ASA: Your turn.
Renee dials Nora’s office.
NORA: Nora Buchanan
RENEE: Oh…Nora. I expected to get Kay.
NORA (smiling): Hi Renee. I gave Kay a much deserved vacation. What can I do for you?
RENEE: You know how we were talking about getting together so you could help me remodel the lodge?
NORA: Asa finally gave in and he’s going to let you do it?
RENEE: Well…..he doesn’t exactly know what I’m doing but I thought if maybe we could get together and come up with some ideas he’d have to go along with me.
NORA: Very tricky. But I like it!
RENEE: Can we meet up there tonight at about 7:30? Unless you’re busy.
NORA: No…I’m not busy. Sam is out of town but I can get a sitter for Matt.
RENEE: Great. I’ll see you at 7:30.
Renee hangs up the phone and Asa gives her a huge hug.
RENEE: This better work old man or we’re going to have two very angry people on our hands.
ASA: It’ll work. Trust me.
****
7:30 – At the Lodge
Bo arrives first but as he is unlocking the door to the lodge, Nora pulls up. He waits for her to get out of her car.
BO: Hi…you here to play poker too?
NORA: Poker? No I’m here to meet Renee so we can talk about redecorating this place.
BO (laughing): Like Pa is ever going to let you two redecorate.
Bo opens the door and lets Nora walk in first. Both of them stop dead in their tracks. There are candles lit everywhere, a fire in the fireplace, music playing and a table set for two with champagne chilling next to it. They look at each other sheepishly but with huge smiles on their faces.
BO: This was not my idea. You have to know that.
NORA: Mine either.
BO: I can’t believe those two.
NORA: Well I guess we shouldn’t let good food and good champagne go to waste. Shall we eat?
Bo holds Nora’s chair for her as she sits down. He opens the champagne and pours them each a glass.
BO (proposing a toast): To old friends having a wonderful dinner together.
NORA (smiling): To old friends.
Bo and Nora enjoy the dinner. They make small talk Trying to avoid the feelings that they were having. Trying to avoid looking in each other’s eyes for more than a second or two. Finally Bo couldn’t stand it any longer.
BO (smiling): You wanna dance?
NORA (smiling back): Yea…let’s dance.
Bo takes her hand and they hold each other close. They immediately relax and slowly dance around the room. [You should know what to do by now but if you want to hear the song…click here…At Last ]
At last
My love has come along
My lonely days are over
And life is like a song
At last
The sky above is blue
My heart was wrapped in clover
The night I looked at you
I found a dream, that I could speak to
A dream that I, can call my own
I found a thrill, to press my cheek to
A thrill that I, have never ever known
You, you smiled
And then the spell was cast
And here we are in heaven
For you are mine at last
NORA: Do you think this is the way princes and princesses end their evenings?
BO (smiling): Dancing in front of the couch?
Nora slaps him on the shoulder and Bo pulls her close again.
NORA (smiling): No. Do they spend the night in each other’s arms knowing that they didn’t have to speak? That they know exactly what the other person is thinking.
BO: You have no idea what I’m thinking.
NORA: I’d like to think that I know what you’re thinking.
BO: What?
NORA: That this is a very special evening and that you don’t want it to end.
BO: That’s about 10% of it.
Nora pulls back and looks Bo in the eye.
BO: More walnut cake?
NORA (pulling away): No. I really have to go.
Nora grabs her purse and heads to the door. Bo takes her arm and turns her around to face him. He rests his forehead on hers as he brings his hand up to caress her face.
NORA: This is so confusing.
BO: Let me try and unconfused you.
Bo pulls her into a kiss….soft and gentle at first then the kiss becomes more passionate and rocks Nora to her soul. Nora drops her purse as she wraps her arms around him.
To be continued…..
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