Chapter 9

Alex was visiting with his Aunt Robin. Alex and Robin are eating lunch.

"Aunt Robin, you are a girl, right?" Alex asked.

"Last I checked," Robin chuckled. "What is it, Alex?"

"Last time I had to go into school and take a test, I met this beautiful young lady, Christy. We have been emailing back and forth ever since," Alex said shyly. "She wants me to take her to a school dance.

"Does your dad know about this?" Robin asked.

"No, he won't understand," Alex said.

"I think he would more than you know," Robin remembering that Cody was quite girl crazy at that age. Cody was a bit awkward around them too, all he knew about women was from Jim Cutler's romance novels.

"He is not interested in that kind of stuff," Alex said. "I don't think he even knows what it is to date or how to dance."

"Well, I can teach you about dancing," Robin said. "But I think you should talk to your dad about girls and dating. Your dad loved your mom so much. He was such a romantic with her. When your mom died, that part of him died with her. I think he has been so focused on raising you, he has forgotten that part of himself. You are a lot like your dad when he was your age. I hope someday your dad will find someone to love again. He has a big heart and lot of love inside him.

"If you say so," Alex said looking down.

"Talk to him, he will listen," Robin said giving him a side hug. "Are you ready for that first dance lesson?"

"Yeah," Alex answered.

"Let's go," Robin said. Robin got Alex into the proper stance and giving him instructions on how to slow dance. Alex would step on her feet from time to time but was catching on. The two were laughing and having an enjoyable time.

Cody walked into Matt and Robins house thru the kitchen. He could hear Robin and Alex in the living room. He peaked into the room and saw that Robin was teaching his son how to dance. He snuck out and went to Matt's office to speak to his brother.

Even though Cody and Matt fought the last time they saw each other; they were still brothers who loved each other and respected one another. The continuous fight they had was about Cody and Alex moving back to South Lake Tahoe, Cody had just learned to ignore it.

"Hey Matt," Cody thought he would talk to Matt about Jen. See if he knew anything about what happened to her. Matt was last one to see Jen and was the one who found Aaron when he died. The rangers had done a wellness check on him. Aaron had passed away in his sleep. Matt got hold of Jen and helped her with the arrangements. But when it came time for the funeral, the rangers were called away on a search and rescue. Cody had been working at North Cascades National Park in Washington State and could not get away. Jesse was still a bounty hunter in San Francisco. Matt tried to get his father to come back for the funeral as Aaron was like a father to him, but no use. Outside some locals who knew Aaron. Jen was all alone to say goodbye to her grandfather.

"Hey Toad, never guess who I saw last week?" Matt teased.

"Who?" Cody suspected but wanted to get Matt's reading on her.

"Jen Jacobs, I guess Jen Montgomery now. She came by the station with her daughter to introduce themselves to the rangers and brought some very good snacks to the crew," Matt said. "She said she ran into you at the lodge. Something like sneaking up on you with a gun."

"Yeah, never heard her coming," Cody said with a cautious smile. "We really did not have a chance to talk."

"It is so sad that her husband died in a car accident a few months before Hailey was born. She reminded me so much of Jen at that age," Matt took a deep breath.

"Do you know what brought her back here now?" Cody asked.

Matt answered, "Sounded like she was looking for some change, a new start. She inquired about some part time work, maybe something that paid cash."

"She said about the same to me," Cody decided to keep Josh's findings to himself for now. He wanted to see how Jen would re-act.

Matt and Cody joined Robin and Alex in the living room. Robin and Alex were slow dancing.

"Do I have something to be jealous about?" Matt chuckled.

"Never my love," Robin said and gave him a kiss.

"So, what is with the dance lessons?" Cody asked.

"Just trying to give this mountain man some class," Robin piped up. She looked at Alex and gave him a wink. They had a secret between them. Alex had a girl at the local high school that he been emailing. He is hoping to ask her to one of the upcoming dances. He is shy and wanted first to see if he could dance. Living up in the mountain he did not have the opportunity to go to dances and be around many women.

"So, is this kid causing you any problems Robin?" Cody smirked.

"He is a perfect angel, outside of stepping on my toes. I would keep him if you let me," she said with a wink and a smile.

"You can pay for his grocery and clothing bills. He is eating me out of house and home and growing like a jack rabbit," Cody said jokingly.