Christmas Mountain

Chapter Two

Matt stormed into the building. Cutler was still eating and saw the anger and something else in his friend's eyes as he passed. He went to his office and slammed the door. Jess looked up.

"Get out." Grabbing her papers she headed for the door not even wanting to know why the vain in his neck was bulging. She slipped out the door and closed it behind her. Matt took two more deep breaths and picked up the phone.

"Matt Hawkes."

"Hawkes, Joe Dillard DEA."

"Agent Dillard what can I do for you?"

"It's what I can do for you. We've uncovered some papers from the Coral Ridge Ranch. There are some things you should see. Can we get together tomorrow?"

"Yeah sure anytime. Do you want to come here?"

"Why don't we do it in town?"

"Yeah that's fine. The diner on Main?"

"Okay, that's doable. And Hawkes?"

"Yeah."

"I hope Charlotte Coral is in a safe place because her daughter is itching to get out and find her."

"She tried to kill my sister. If she gets out all bets are off."

"I hope she stays where she is then because she isn't worth loosing your badge over."

"You're not the first person who's told me that." Matt hung up the phone and looked at Jess sitting on the couch with her feet curled under her. She was slowly getting better. Today when he gave her something to do she seemed happier then she had been in a long time. He walked out of his office. "You can go back in there if you need to." Jess looked up.

"I think I'm going to call it a night. I need to make a few phone calls to finish the application anyway. You okay?"

"Make some time for me in the morning. I have to go to town to meet with the DEA. I want you to come with me. You know how to decipher what they're really trying to say."

"I can do that. If you're looking for Cody he's in the game room."

"Did he tell you?"

"Tell me what?" Matt looked at his sister. She wouldn't lie.

"Nothing. If he says anything about me to you, you tell me."

"What are we like six?" She looked at her brother. "You kissed her didn't you?" Jess whispered so Julie wouldn't here. Matt turned red. "Matt!" He grabbed her and pulled her into his office and slammed the door. Cutler and Julie looked up and saw Jess in the office. Jim took another bite of his food and shook his head.

"That girl's mouth is going to get her in deep trouble. You'd think she'd learn." He said to no one in particular. Jess could take care of her self. If he drew blood Robin was in the barn she could clean it up.

"Jess if you tell a soul…" Matt hissed at his sister.

"Again you're six. Matt you're a grown man. If you want to kiss Cody's slutty horse it's your right." Cody walked in just at that moment.

"Keep your paws off my horse big brother." Jess turned and slugged Cody in the shoulder. "Owww. Damn Jess that hurt."

"Serves you right you brat." Matt looked at his brother.

"Hey I was just doing what Jess told me. She said you were in the barn and Julie answered the phone I was heading out there anyway." He looked at his brother. "Next time put out a do not disturb sign." Jess slugged him again. "Owww, Jess stop. Geese, what did I ever do to you?"

"You're talking." Matt sat down at his desk and buried his head in his hands. "Matt who cares who saw. You kissed her. It either meant something or it didn't. No one has to know right Cody." She glared at her brother.

"Matt come on you know I wouldn't say anything not even to baby sister. We have a code." Jess glared at Cody.

"Whatever. I'm going to file some papers. You two fight it out." She left the office and slammed the door. Cutler was coming out of the kitchen.

"Don't make me take that door off kids." Jess turned around.

"Try it and Matt will have mucking out stalls for a month."

"What happened to the girl I was marring a half hour ago?"

"Bite me Cutler." Jess grabbed her jacket and headed out to the barn. She heard Robin singing in French. Cody's horse was slowly swaying to the sound of her voice. "You should have been a vet." She whispered. Robin opened her eyes.

"Too much work. No time to ski." She looked at me. "How bad?"

"He's a wreck."

"Wish I could say the same." She rubbed the mare's belly. "I waited twenty years for that man to kiss me and I'm sorry I waited." Robin smiled. "I hope this doesn't mean he isn't going to try again."

"I doubt you'll have to worry about that." Jess looked at the floor and the coffee cups on the ground. "That must have been some kiss." Robin blushed. "Robin don't hide it. Just get it out there and the talk will die down the minute something else catches their attention. I know. Derek and I have been the hot topic lately. It's about time Cutler found someone else to piss off." Jess looked at her best female friend in the eye. "Just don't break his heart or I may have to hurt that pretty face of yours." Robin laughed.

"Thanks Jess. I won't internally hurt him. He's been here for me forever I just didn't want to ruin what we had."

"Friends are good to have but they don't keep you warm at night." Jess started to leave. "Oh and if Cutler mentions anything about you and me and sharing…just tell him no." Jess left the barn and headed to the safest place she knew. Her parents.

**-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

"Cody, I'm sorry. I over reacted." Matt looked at his little brother. "I just waited so long then…"

"I don't think Robin cares if I saw or not. I think she really wanted you to kiss her and you did and now…well now you just have to get it out there."

"Get it out there?"

"You know kiss in front of everyone so they all know and be done with it."

"I kissed her once in the barn. I don't even know if…"

"She liked it Matt. Hey I'm going home to my wife. You can sit here on your ass and wonder or you can go back to the barn, lock the door and kiss her again and again till you realize what everyone here has known forever. You love Robin Kelly. And she loves you." Cody zipped up his coat. "And when you see that bratty little sister of ours, smack the crap out of her bad arm. The little snit left a bruise, I just know it." He left and headed home to his nice warm bed and to a woman who appreciated him.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Jess's phone rang just as she got to her parents porch. It was Derek. She smiled. Wanting to talk to him alone she stayed out on the porch.

"Hello stranger. I was beginning to think you forgot about me."

"Not even if I tried baby. How are you doing?" She smiled.

"Better everyday." This was the first time she said it that she really believed it. "I miss you."

"I miss you too. You at home?"

"No on my parent's porch."

"So phone sex is out of the question." Jess laughed.

"Explain that to my daddy." Sitting on the swing she sighed. "I wish it was Christmas."

"Don't say that. I haven't started Christmas shopping yet."

"I got the kids done. And Cody. He was easy this year."

"New saddle for the slut?"

"Bingo. We don't do big here but I saw it and I remember Jesse had one like it for his prize winner. He still has it mounted in the spare room."

"What do you want for Christmas Jess?"

"You, here with me."

"You got it. Now go say hi to your parents. I got to get back to work." He was quiet for a few seconds. "I love you Jess. Don't ever doubt that."

"I love you too Derek. Stay safe."

"You too baby. Talk to you tomorrow." Jess hung up just as her dad stepped out of the house.

"How's Agent Morgan?"

"Fine. Mom in bed?"

"Yeah, she's got the early shift in the morning. I've been trying to tell her it's time to slow down."

"She is ten years younger then you pop. She still has a lot left in her." Jesse smiled. It had been a long time since Jess and he talked without a tragedy involved.

"You not too old for me to take over my knee Jesse Lynne." She smiled.

"How did you and mom make it all these years?"

"We didn't spend much time together in the eighties." Jess laughed. "I loved your mother from the time I was seventeen years old. When I moved up into that mountain with your brother I was a lost man. If I hadn't of had Cody I might never of come down from there ever and I'd be like Gabe."

"Gabe is happy. He's always liked being alone."

"Gabe's wife died giving birth to a child. The boy made it but Gabe couldn't deal. He retreated up that mountain and never came down. That's not happy Jess. That's surviving. I wouldn't trade my years up there with Cody for anything. Do I wish your mother and brother had been there too? Yeah, I wish we were the family she wanted us to be but we compromised when Matt got hurt and you came to live with us. I still had my summers and she had the winters. It worked for us Jess. I don't know why but it did."

"What if he decides not to move here?"

"I don't see that happening but if it comes to that you'll deal with it just like me and your mother did."

"I'm glad you're my parents, you know that?"

"We'll I'm glad girl because you are stuck with us." He wrapped his arm around her. "And Cody and Matt too." She groaned.

"Don't remind me. I better get back to work and make sure those two haven't killed each other and Cutler isn't goading them on." She pulled away from her father.

"Trouble in paradise?"

"Long story and I don't tell stories out of school." She kissed her father and walked toward the station. "Night Daddy."

"Night baby." He watched her walk till he couldn't see her anymore and headed into the house for the night.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Matt stood at the barn door again watching Robin. In a few states he would be labeled a stocker. But Robin knew he was there. He could tell by the catch in her voice when he stopped at the door way.

"We may need to get the vet here."

"I'll call him. It should only take him a half hour or so." Matt took his cell phone out of his pocked and dialed the vet in Zephyr Cove. "Hey doc. Matt Hawkes."

"Matt good to hear from you. How are you?"

"I'm good. Cody's mare may need your help in a bit."

"I'm on my way."

"Thanks." He hung up. "How are you doing?"

"I'm good." She looked at him. "I'm not sorry you kissed me Matt. I am sorry you left without knowing that."

"Robin you know as well as anyone I haven't dated for a very long time. I mean Chelsea, well she was…nothing. I don't have a lot of time to work out the niceties that come with dating someone. I work all the time and when I'm not I'm dead tired or keeping my family from killing each other." Robin bit her lip and laughed. "I don't have time for games."

"Who's playing games?"

"You know me Robin. You know I'm not good at this." She walked out of the stall. "I don't know what to do?" She was in front of him. Five foot seven inches of pure natural beauty.

"Kiss me Matt. Forget about Cody and the job and whatever is telling you this can't work and kiss me. "Matt took her face in his hands and bent down and kissed her like she's never been kissed before.

"Robin…we…someone could walk in." He didn't want to stop but he knew.

"Who cares?" She kissed him this time backing him against the stall wall. "Twenty years Matt. You waited twenty years to kiss me and I'm not letting you back down now." Matt smiled and Robins lips still on his.

"I'm sorry. I just…you're one of my best friends. I couldn't see past that." She looked up at him.

"I'm still your friend." She pulled away. "The vet is here." She wiped lip gloss from his lips. "Not your color." Robin smiled. "Jess is waiting for you by the back door too. You might want to see what she wants." Matt looked back his sister was standing with her back toward them.

"A kick in the ass no doubt. I'll be back." His hand touched her cheek. "I'm not sorry either Robin." He turned and greeted the doctor and went to see to his sister before she froze her ass off.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

"I didn't see anything." She said as he took the last few steps down from the barn.

"I don't care what you saw Jess. What do you want?"

"I'm staying here tonight. I want to be up to make those phone calls before we go to town in the morning."

"Can I trust you and Cutler not to burn the place down before sunrise?" He looked at her in that I know its possible sort of way.

"I promise." She smiled. "Hart's on till Midnight why don't you hang out at the barn till the slut has her demon child."

"Jess the horse has a name." She rolled her eyes just like Cody did and it drove him nuts. How could two people from two totally different sets of parents be so much a like?

"Okay. Why don't you hang out at the barn with Libby and then you and Robin can head…well where ever." Jess looked at her brother. He hadn't been sleeping any better then she had lately. "Matt take this for whatever its worth. If Robin Kelly makes you happy don't let twenty years of crap get in your way. I love you and if she breaks your hear I will kick her ass but don't be afraid." She took his cold hands in her warm ones. Matt never quite knew how she could have warm hands in below freezing temperatures. "Don't ever be afraid to love her." Jess kissed her brothers cheek. "Don't ever be afraid Matt." She turned and went into the building. Shutting the door she leaned against it and wiped away her tears. Cutler sitting on the couch with his feet up. Grabbing two soda's she went and curled up next to him laying a pillow on his lap and laying down. No words were spoken. Jim Cutler had always been her comfort when her life got chaotic. For a womanizing prick he knew just what she needed sometimes.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Cutler ran his hand though Jess's hair. It was longer then she had ever let it get before. She had fallen asleep with in seconds of laying her head on his lap. Jess hadn't snored since the avalanche. Shep had told her the snow knocked it out of her. He had been a fool three years ago when he took that damn skier back to their apartment. A damn fool. Cody came in a few minutes later.

"You better not be messing with my sister Cutler." He said as he stood in the doorway.

"She landed here my friend."

"Cody mind your own business." Jess sat up. Opening her soda she took a long drink. She looked at Cutler. "Thanks." She stood up and headed upstairs. Her brother right behind her.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Matt and Robin sat in the corner of Libby's stall and watched the foal try to stand. It seemed the baby didn't need as much help as they thought.

"Cody's going to be sorry he missed this." Matt held Robin between his legs. He'd found a blanket and they curled up underneath it.

"He wouldn't have appreciated it as much as we did. He's seen his wife give birth to twins." Matt laughed.

"This is true. But I still he think he has a right to name him."

"Yeah." Robin kissed his stubbled chin. "I'm glad we shared this tonight Matt." He kissed her lips.

"Me too, Robin. Me too."

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Jess looked at herself in the mirror. She looked like hell. Nothing a shower and eighteen hours of sleep wouldn't cure.

"Jess what's wrong?"

"Nothing." She looked at Cody though the mirror.

"You can bull shit our parents, you can bull shit Matt and I sure as hell know you can bull shit Jim Cutler. Maybe you can bull shit Morgan too but I'll be damned if you'll bull shit me." She looked at his cool blue eyes.

"Could you use the words bull shit one more time?" He turned her around.

"I watched you throw away a lot of things Jess. I know when you get something in your head. I've seen you drink your self stupid to hide from your feelings and I've seen you repel down a mountain to run from them but messing up things with Morgan by messing with Cutler is an all time low even for you."

"Cody I'm not messing with Cutler. He's my friend. The one person who I don't have to bull shit. With you and Matt I can't voice my feelings in fear I'll hurt yours. Cutler doesn't give a damn if I take him down a notch or two now and then. It's the nature of our relationship. I love Cutler like I love you and Matt and Morgan….well I don't know where I fit into his life. I know where I fit into yours." She turned around and looked into the mirror again.

"It's Matt and Robin isn't it? Somehow you feel threatened." She looked in his eyes. "Sarah never made you feel like this."

"Sarah wasn't my family first." Tears fell from her eyes. Cody wasn't sure exactly how that mattered. He would of though Robin and Matt would have been a good thing.

"God I feel so selfish and bitchy. What the hells wrong with me." Cody looked at his sister. He closed his eyes and clenched his teeth. This so wasn't happing. Opening his eyes he looked at her though the mirror. "Cody no, don't even go there." Her brown eyes looked like a deer caught in someone's headlights.

"Jess…"

"No, no. Really. NO!" She turned around and looked at her brother.

"You're done here. Let's go down to my house. Talk to Sarah."

"NO! Cody James Hawkes I'm way smarter then this." He took her hands.

"It happens Jess." He felt her starting to shake. "Get your coat and we'll go to my place. I'm sure Sarah has a test somewhere that hasn't expired." She pulled away.

"No, no tests. Cody I'm thirty two years old. Not sixteen." She looked at him, the fear building up inside her. "I'm not…I can't be…" She couldn't even say the word. Jesse Lynne Hawkes couldn't say the one word that would make it real. She couldn't say that she might by some freak of nature possibly most defiantly maybe pregnant.