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Bo's Journey Home - Chapter 35   Nora noticed Bo’s look and smiled an innocent smile, staring straight into Bo’s eyes. “Score one for me,” she thought. “I can still turn his head.” Nora pulled her eyes from Bo’s look and smiled at her son, tipping his Cowboy hat gently. “Look at you Cowboy.” She looked at Kevin and Joe. “You guys look great! What a perfect idea.”   Bo forgot for a moment where he was and who was surrounding him. She had caught him off guard. She was gorgeous and she still took his breath away. His gut clenched and his throat snapped shut, causing him to swallow hard a few times to try and find his voice. “Nora. You look,” he paused, still staring at her. “Stunning.”   Nora was enjoying Bo’s uncomfortableness. “Thanks, Cowboy.” She leaned in to straighten his bow tie. “You don’t look so bad yourself.” When she was done with his tie, she kissed his cheek, but not before whispering, “Where’s your blue jeans, cowboy?” She patted his chest and pulled back from him and turned her attention back to the boys, ignoring Bo’s embarrassed stare. Nora felt like a woman in control. “The Cowboy theme is great. I didn’t know you guys were doing this.”   Bo was even caught more off guard by her casual kiss, leaving him still breathless, his gut still clenched. He looked around suddenly at his grinning nephews and son, recovering his composure quickly, clearing his throat and taking credit for Matthew’s sudden change of attire. “The Cowboy theme was all my idea. I told them this would be perfect for Pa.” Kevin, Joey and Matthew all stared at Bo in amazement.   “Really Buchanan,” she said sarcastically, noticing the looks on the boy’s faces. She pointed to the boys. “This was your idea?”   Bo nodded with a smug smile, his composure regained. “That’s right.”   Matthew opened his mouth to speak but Kevin spoke first, nudging Matthew gently. “Another thing you need to learn about the Buchanan men, Matthew. The oldest one in the room takes credit for everything, so don’t bother trying to argue.”   Matthew rolled his eyes as Bo smiled at Kevin triumphantly, stealing another quick glance at Nora. Clint entered the conversation at that point, clapping Kevin on the shoulder with one hand, Joey with the other. “What were you saying about the oldest Buchanan man, son, taking all of the credit?”   Kevin smiled and gave his father a short hug. “Nothing at all, dad. Just giving young Matthew here a lesson in Buchanan hierarchy rules.”   Bo laughed, pointing at Clint. “Well, the oldest one gets all the blame, too. Isn’t that right big brother?”   Clint shook his head. “I’m not agreeing to any part of this conversation until I know what’s going on.” He reached for and hugged Nora. “It’s good to see you, Nora. You look terrific.” He pointed at Bo. “When are you going to take pity on my little brother and make an honest man out of him? Soon, I hope.”   Nora’s face flushed with embarrassment. Bo smiled smugly. Clint had one up-ed Nora. The Buchanan boys were trying to hide their chuckles. Clint then looked down at Matthew, extending his hand. “Mister Matthew, haven’t you convinced these two to get married yet?” Matthew smiled back at the welcoming eyes of his Uncle, taking his hand and giving it a slight shake. “I’m trying, but it’s not easy getting them to do anything, if you know what I mean.”   Nora looked from Clint to Bo to Matthew, now completely flustered. She had lost her control. So she reprimanded the one Buchanan she still had some control over. “Matthew! Whose side are you on?”   Matthew looked up at his Uncle with a smile. “Well, mom, I think right now I’m on the side of the Buchanan men.”   “That’s my boy,” laughed Bo.   Nora playfully poked at Matthew as the Buchanan men laughed. “You’re supposed to be on the side of your mother.”   Before anyone else could get in another jibe at Bo and Nora, Asa came in. “Where’s my bride? Let’s get this show on the road. I’m ready to eat.”   Nora rolled her eyes glad for the diversion. “Another Buchanan man trait; food, before anything else.”   Bo smiled at her. “Got that right, honey.”   Nora looked at Asa. “Renee went into the library to hide. You men get situated in the ballroom, and I’ll get her. We’ll get this Buchanan Rodeo rolling.” She pointed a finger at Clint. “And you and I will talk later.”   Clint gave a small laugh, pulling Matthew in close to him, patting his chest. “Oh, I’m counting on it. Until then, I think I’ll just do some catching up with my young nephew here. Give him a few pointers on the Buchanan way of getting things done.”   Nora threatened Clint playfully. “Don’t do me any favors, Clint. Matthew has enough Buchanan advice in his life.” Clint laughed at her as she gave them both the evil eye before she headed off to round up Renee, Bo’s eyes following her as she left the room, lusting after her long legs.   Clint noticed Bo’s stare and gave a sarcastic comment. “Stop looking and start acting.”   Bo looked quickly at this brother. “What? What did you say?”   Clint’s smile was still on his face as he shrugged his head towards the door where Nora had just left. “You heard me. When are you going to so something about the two of you?”   Bo turned again to look to where Nora had disappeared and then back to respond to his brother. But Clint had all ready taken Matthew’s hand, leading him into the ballroom. “Come on, Matthew. You and I need to talk.” Bo was left to stare at his brother’s departing back. A lot of help he turned out to be. Bo followed slowly behind them, the first of two long awaited weddings about to begin.   A half hour later, Asa and Renee were married and the Buchanan clan was seated around the long, double wide dining table that Matthew had taken refuge under only a hour before. Matthew was seated at the other end of the table, near Kevin and Joey, taking everything in. Kevin and Joey had managed to take away some of the strangeness and loneliness of the day by including him in the cowboy clothes and convincing his mother to let him sit with the other cousins at the opposite end of the table. Matthew looked around at each of them now, stopping at Paul and Natalie. Their earlier conversation still bothered him. Was his grandfather really a mean person? He looked down the table to where his grandfather was sitting. He had whispered something to Renee that had made her smile and lean her head onto his shoulder. Matthew let out a soft sigh. Why did he still feel so uncomfortable? What was it that was missing for him?   Matthew looked back down the table towards his father. His father was staring at his mother, not taking his eyes off her for a moment. Matthew’s eyes moved to his mother. She was talking with his Aunt Viki and his Uncle Clint. Nora turned her gaze as if sensing Matthew’s stare and met his eyes, smiling at him from her end of the table. Matthew returned her smile. She looked happy. She looked like she belonged. Matthew looked around at his cousins again. He wondered if he looked like he belonged and what it really meant to be a Buchanan. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his father’s voice.   “All right everyone, quiet for just a minute.” Bo stood, taking his glass. “I’ve got something to say, a toast if you will.” This comment was met with groans and some hunger yells. “The more you complain, the longer this will take.” That comment brought instant quiet. “I knew I could get you all to settle down with that threat.”   There was some small chuckling as Bo turned to his father and Renee, seated side by side at the head of the table. He began his small homage. “Pa. It isn’t everyday a son gets to attend his father’s 13th marriage.”   “And his last,” Renee added quickly.   Everyone laughed, Asa chiming in as he covered Renee’s hand with his. “Lucky 13, Bo.”   Bo nodded. “I know you love your family more than anything else. I used to think it was the only true love in your life with the way you tried to run everyone’s life.” This brought more chuckling from the clan. Bo glanced quickly down at Nora, who was seated next to him, touching her shoulder lightly as he continued. “But a man has only one great love in his life if he’s lucky. Renee is yours. She’s one for the ages. You’ve done this marriage thing so many times, I don’t think there’s much advice I can give to you. So I’ll repeat to you and Renee the same advice you gave to me a few years back – I’m just sorry I didn’t take it.” Again, he glanced at Nora as he spoke. “Trust each other and love each other. Earn that love and trust every day. Be good to one another. Be gentle with each other. Know that this family that you hold so dear loves you both very much. With Renee by your side, you are the foundation, the rock solid ground on which the Buchanan family stands.”   Bo looked around the table, stopping his gaze on Matthew. “Being a Buchanan means never having to be alone in the world and always having someone to watch your back.” Bo looked back at Asa. “And that starts with you. That’s what makes me proud to be a Buchanan and your son.” Bo held out his glass towards his father. “To Asa and Renee.” The rest of the Buchanan’s stood, also holding out their glasses towards the Patriarch of the Buchanans. They echoed Bo’s sentiments. “To Asa and Renee.” And then they all tapped their glasses.   “Let’s eat!” Bo called, retaking his seat. And the food and chatter began.   Matthew was taken by surprise. It was as if his father had read his thoughts of a moment ago. His father had looked directly at him during the toast, sending him a message. The sound of Kevin’s voice pulled Matthew from his thoughts.   “Matthew? Hey, stop day dreaming and eat little man, or your mother won’t ever let you alone with us again.”   Matthew turned his eyes to Kevin and nodded, putting his thoughts away and starting in on the food on his plate, remembering how hungry he was. He’d have to figure out this Buchanan stuff later.   A formal dinner at the Buchanan’s took most of the day. One by one, the couples moved from the table, gathering in small groups around the large room. The small band Asa had hired to play throughout the day had started a waltz. Bo saw Nora speaking to Renee. He smiled slightly, the sight of her overwhelming him. He hadn’t been able to take his eyes off of her all day. She was gorgeous and that red dress she was wearing left his imagination to run wild; not that he needed any imagination when he came to Nora. He moved to her, touching her arm slightly.   “We used to be good at this,” he said, taking her by the elbow and jerking his thumb towards the dance floor. “Renee, you don’t mind, do you?” Renee shook her head with a smile.   He had caught Nora off guard. “Hmm?”   He still had his hand on her elbow. “Dancing. Let’s see if we still have it.” He led her onto the dance floor, hooking his arm around her waist. In a move more out of habit than anything else, she wrapped her arm smoothly around his neck. Her body fit into his. It had been a long time since they had danced together but she hadn’t forgotten his moves, his rhythm or the sheer pleasure of just being in his arms. She linked her arms around his neck impulsively and for the first time in seven years, felt at total ease in his presence. The younger generation had moved off the dance floor slowly, allowing the two of them to own the floor.   “Show-offs,” said Kevin with a smile.   “Always were,” nodded Joey with a laugh.   Renee shook her head. “No, dear grandsons. It’s love. Pure and simple love.”   Bo and Nora continued to move around the floor of the small ballroom, unaware of anyone else but the other. These two people were bonded like glue. Dancing had always been a kind of joyful and innocent mating ritual between them; bursts of energy, coordination, and anticipation. Nora stopped hearing the music with her ears. She heard it in the quick pressure of his hand on her back, the grip of his fingers on hers, and in the whirl of their bodies. He was the only man who could ever meet and match her passions. Bo continued to move her, spinning and turning her smoothly, knowing she wouldn’t miss a beat. The close proximity the dance had placed them had her scent turning him inside out. She was the only woman who had ever brought him pain and who had ever brought him true pleasure. The music ended but Bo continued to move Nora around the floor, the beat of their hearts the only rhythm they needed. Nora finally stopped when she heard the whistles and cat calling from his nephews. Bo just smirked at them, calling for them to be quiet.   But Nora was embarrassed and started to pull from his arms. She had forgotten where they were. Bo held her tight around the waist. “They’re just jealous,” he said loud enough for them to hear. They just continued to applaud and laugh.   Bo moved his hand from her waist to take her hand. “Come on, Nora, let’s take a walk and get away from these maniacs. Let them be bop to their own hip hop music.” The band started playing a fast beat and the third generation men took to the floor again.   Nora looked around suddenly. “What about Matthew?”   Bo tugged at her hand. “Matthew’s fine. There are 10 baby-sitters here, keeping an eye on him.” He tugged on her hand again. “Come on. I want some time alone with you.” Bo led Nora to the Florida room doors and they disappeared.   Jessica and Marcie had gone to stand next to Renee and Viki. “What’s going on with them?” asked Jessica.   “They’re in love,” answered Viki.   Marcie gave a slight laugh. “Has anyone told them yet?”   Viki and Jessica laughed as Renee answered with a smile. “Oh they know. It’s now up to them to decide what they’re going to do about it.”   Bo led Nora out of the house and down to the stables. When they stepped inside the barn, before Nora had a chance to say anything, Bo pulled her into an empty stall, pulling her into a tight embrace, covering her mouth with his, losing himself in the taste of her. She slid her arms around his neck, pulling him in closer to her. Their tongues played a dance of their own, moving to the quick beat of their hearts. Bo fisted his hands in her hair, pulling her in deeper to the kiss.   She pulled back from him, trying to catch her breath. Her hands were on his chest. “Whoa there, Cowboy.”   Bo’s face was close to hers, his breathing fast and steady. “What? You’ve never minded making love in a barn before.”   She smiled at his double meaning. “Is that what we’re doing?”   Bo shrugged his shoulders, smiling devilishly at her. “I’m trying.”   She started to undo his tie and the buttons holding the shirt closed at his neck, reaching her hands inside his shirt to feel his bare chest. “Well, that barn was a little more modern and it had a bed. I believe it’s still available.”   Bo shook his head. “I don’t want to wait. Besides, there’s plenty of hay around to make a bed,” he whispered, moving to kiss her neck. “A barn is a barn. Just use your imagination.”   She held her head back as he kissed her neck. “Oh, I have been mister.”   “Good,” he mumbled. “Let’s see if I can live up to your imagination.” He moved his hands to unzip her dress when they both were frozen by the sound of a small voice.   “Hiya Red.”   To be Continued…