Chapter Eight

Bo trudged his way through the drifts of snow, cold winds buffeting his face. He pulled Nora's scarf up over his mouth revealing only his eyes as he plodded on. His plan was to backtrack to the road, then go in the opposite direction in search of a house. But the snow had changed the landscape completely, and he was becoming disoriented. He looked around for any recognizable landmarks, but it had been dark when he made this trek before, so nothing looked familiar. Still, he knew that if he climbed the hill, he would find the road...eventually.


Nora, wrapped in a quilt, gazed anxiously out the window. The snow had diminished to flurries, but the wind was fierce. Already Bo's tracks were beginning to disappear as the wind whipped the snow haphazardly across the porch. He had been gone less than an hour, but she was already beginning to worry.

"Do something, Nora Buchanan, or you're going to go nuts," she told herself aloud. "No offense," she said to the stuffed squirrel sitting on the nearby table.

She looked around.

Not a lot needed to be done, but she tidied the cabin anyway...straightening a rug here and there, fluffing a pillow, making the small bed. She looked at the mounted deer which stared over the headboard. "I've had enough of you," she told the deer as she tossed a light blanket over his antlers.

Satisfied, she turned to the fireplace and poked at the fire. It was still burning, but she added a small log anyway.

Then spying a straw broom sitting in the corner, she decided to sweep. It felt good to actually be doing something rather than just sitting around worrying. The tiny mouse who had become a regular visitor scurried into a crack as the broom made it's swishing sound across the cabin floor.

Finally finished, she opened the door to sweep out the dirt. The wind whipping across the porch nearly tore the door from it's hinges. Nora dropped the broom in an attempt to catch the door and the quilt dropped off her shoulders in the process. She wrapped her arms around herself and shivered as she hurried onto the porch to retrieve the wayward door.

The blue light of winter's dusk was beginning to descend as the snowfall increased again. Nora's eyes pierced the blue haze to look through the woods beyond.

"Where are you, Bo?" she murmured aloud. "Please hurry."


The girl squinted through the binoculars trying to focus on the cabin. She watched intently as the door flew open and a woman hurried out to retrieve it.

"That's what I thought," she murmured to herself, "someone is in the cabin." She had noticed smoke billowing from the chimney for the past couple of days.

She watched through her binoculars as the woman wrapped her arms about herself and peered into the oncoming darkness.

Who is she and what is she looking for? the girl wondered.

As the woman turned, the girl noticed her extended belly. "She's having a baby," she whispered. "Why would a pregnant lady be in Dad's cabin?..."

Her thoughts were interrupted by a shout from downstairs, "Jenny, you hungry? I made some stew."

Jenny watched as the woman went back into the cabin, then she tossed the binoculars aside and made her way downstairs. As soon as this weather breaks, she told herself, I'm making a trip to that cabin.


"Are you convinced yet?" Sam asked the officers smugly. "You and I both know Commissioner Buchanan wouldn't miss work without calling in unless something was terribly wrong; and I've tried to reach Nora Buchanan several times today without success...she hasn't been home and her phone goes straight to voicemail. It's time you take me seriously and…"

"It's time for you to go home, Mr. Rappaport, and let us do our jobs! You've been on our heels all day," Officer Connell responded testily. "We're doing the best we can under the circumstances."

Sam's eyes grew wide. "Doing the best you can?" he retorted. "What exactly have you done? You haven't searched, you haven't…"

"For your information, we've issued APBs on both the Commissioner and Mrs. Buchanan. I'm sure if we find one, we'll find the other. Now go home before we arrest you for being out during a Level 3 emergency!"

Sam shut his mouth and nodded. "Can you at least let me know if you find them?" he asked calmly.

"Are you next of kin?" asked Officer Connell with a sarcastic voice and raised brow.

"No, but..." Sam began.

"Then we won't be contacting you. It's not protocol. Now go home!"

Without another word, Sam licked his lips, turned on his heel, and exited the precinct.


Bo plunged through the drifted landscape following his innate sense of direction; but, in spite of his efforts, he was unable to locate either his car or the road. Now, after hours of searching, it was not only snowing furiously again, but darkness had descended. It was past time to return to the cabin.

He planned to follow his footprints back; but his former tracks were already filling with new and drifted snow, and the glare from his flashlight did very little to improve his vision. His exposed skin was stinging sharply, and his fingers and toes were numb from the sub zero temperatures. He pulled Nora's scarf higher on his face and trudged on.

"I'm coming, Red," he breathed through the scarf across his mouth.

Frozen and exhausted, he couldn't wait to get back to the tiny cabin...and the warmth of Nora's arms.


Nora heard the familiar hissing sound and relief flooded her. She was able to light the Coleman lantern. She was afraid she wouldn't remember how, but she had watched Bo light it several times, and her powers of observation came through. She placed the lantern on a small table she had dragged to the window in hopes that Bo could see it's soft glow and find his way back.

Worry etched her face as she peered through the frosted glass. She was trying not to worry, but she couldn't help herself. It was so brutally cold outside; and, although she knew Bo was dressed warmly, was it enough for a night like this? Why wasn't he back yet? Did something happen? Was he hurt? Was he lost?

"Oh Bo...where are you?" she whispered anxiously.

A log dropping in the fireplace behind her reminded her to add wood to the fire. She started toward the fireplace, but was stopped abruptly by a severe pain that gripped her lower abdomen. She held her belly and waited for it to pass as usual.

"Whew..." she muttered to herself as the pain subsided, "that was a big one."

She had been having some cramping on and off all day as well as more braxton hicks contractions. Normal for this stage of pregnancy, she told herself...nothing to worry about. Yet, she wished she could remember more about her pregnancy with Rachel...she wished she could call and get reassurance from her doctor...and she wished she wasn't alone.

"You're fine, Nora Buchanan," she said aloud. "Now...add wood to this fire. The last thing Bo needs when he gets back is a cold cabin."

She added a couple of logs, then wandered to the kitchen for a snack. Crackers again. She ran her hand across her pregnant belly. "I'm sorry, sweetie. When we get out of here, I'll feed you better. Mommy promises you that," she said, spreading peanut butter on some crackers.

She finished her crackers as she sat staring into the fireplace, listening to the wind howling outside. She wondered how things were in Llanview...were they experiencing this storm too? She wondered what happened when she didn't arrive in court today. Did they even have court today? Was anyone questioning where she and Bo were? Were they looking for them? Were they surmising that she and Bo were together? Doubtful, she thought, since the papers had been so cruel in their headlines.

She thought about Bo and about the time they had spent trapped together. Finally, a smile broke through her worried expression. It had all been worth it...the hunger and cold and...taxidermied companions...all of it was worth the reconnection she and Bo had had this wintery weekend.


"NORA?" Bo shouted through the whirling wind. He ran his hands along the wall of the building thinking he had finally found their cabin. He inched his way along on numbed feet, searching for the door.

"NORA!" he shouted again. Where is the damn door? he thought. Why isn't she answering?

Frozen to the bone and laden with snow, he stumbled along barely able to stay on his feet. Suddenly, and without warning, the wall tumbled open and he fell to his face on a hard-packed floor.

"Nora…" he whispered, as the door swung closed and he was left in utter darkness.


Nora spent the rest of the evening wandering the cabin and peering through the window at the darkness. She had no idea what time it was, but she was beginning to feel tired. She wanted to stay awake until Bo got back, but her back was aching...had been aching all afternoon. Finally, she changed into her pajamas and wrapped up in a blanket by the fire.

What seemed like just moments later, Nora's eyes burst open. "Bo?" she asked into the silence.

She ran a hand through her tousled hair. She had fallen asleep. She stood and looked around. She was still alone, but now just in firelight...the lantern had burned out.

As she moved to place another log on the fire, she bent double in pain. Shocked, she wrapped her arms around her belly.

"Not yet, little one..." she whispered anxiously, "it's not time yet."

That's when she felt it...warm liquid running between her thighs. Her water had broken...

To be continued...