Chapter 11

Jen was sitting in the kitchen at the lodge looking at an unpaid tax bill she had picked up while in town. There was no way she could come up with the money to pay the back taxes on Aaron's Lodge to keep it. She had never planned to come back, she was young, and bit messed up for a time, she paid them at first, but after time she stopped paying them. She just hoped they could get thru the winter before they would have to leave.

Cody and Alex headed down to the lodge on horseback. Cody has brought Jen a peace offering to hopefully get her to open up. It was an unusually warm fall day. People were out hiking, camping, fishing, and rock climbing one last time before the cold brisk winter headed in.

Cody and Alex pulled up to the lodge, just as Jen and her daughter were heading out of the cabin with their fishing poles.

"Good morning," Cody yelled. He did not want Jen to think they were spying and sneaking up on them.

Hailey shouted, "Are you here to go fishing with us?"

Cody responded, "if it is okay with your mom. I am Cody Hawkes; I am Alex's dad."

"Nice to meet you Mr. Hawkes, mamma is it okay?" Hailey looked at her mom.

"Go ahead, but don't go too far" Jen said. She watched them closely. Alex and Hailey heading down to the lake. Jen and Cody hung back a bit.

Cody said, "I want to apologize for scaring you the other day. Alex told me someone had moved in, but I wanted to make sure who was here before approaching the lodge. There have been some issues with people with drugs and stuff throughout the mountains."

Jen said, "I guess I should apologize for pulling a gun on you."

"I probably would have done the same," Cody said with a smile. Jen smiled back.

"I brought you a peace offering. I was down at the ranger station last week and Matt mentioned you did not have a radio yet. I brought an extra one we have."

"Cody, thank you. It would be helpful," Jen said gratefully.

That was the first time that Cody had seen glimpse of the old Jen. She seemed more at ease than their last encounter.

"Let me help you get it set-up and I can show you how to work it," Cody said and Jen nodded.

Cody grabbed the equipment, and they headed inside. Cody was able to get the radio and antenna set up. He was able to show her how to use the equipment and verified with the ranger station that it worked.

Jen stepped away for a bit. Cody was at the dining room table and noticed a pile of papers. He looked to make sure she was not close, and he started looking thru them. At the top of the pile was the unpaid tax bill. He looked at it and then heard Jen coming back. He quickly put it back on the pile.

Alex and Hailey caught a number of fish for lunch. Cody and Alex got the fish cleaned up, as Jen got everything else ready. The four them had wonderful time talking about the weather of the day, the beauty of the fall leaves, and stories of what it is like to live up in the mountains. The conversation was going well. Cody made sure they had enough firewood to last a while. Cody offered to come back and have them cut some more. They decided to walk around a bit before Cody and Alex had to leave. Days were getting shorter, and they wanted to get back home before dark. Jen had taken off her coat as she was getting warm from their walk. Cody noticed a long scar on the back of her arm.

"What happened?" Cody grabbed the back of her arm.

"Oh that. I fell off the curb and landed right on my elbow. I did a real number on it," Jen explained.

"Looks like it was painful?" Cody asked.

"It was and sometimes is. It was a long time ago," Jen voice faded as she spoke.

"Matt mentioned that Hailey's father died in a car accident before she was born?" Cody asked.

"Yes, he died on the scene. Couple months before Hailey was born," Jen answered.

"He was your second husband?" Cody decided might be suitable time to get her reaction about Roy.

"What?" Jen asked.

Cody closed his eyes. He knew he screwed up probably should not have asked yet; it had been a good day and he may have just spoiled it.

"I know you were married to Roy McGovern, and you partitioned for divorced about a year before Hailey was born. So, I assume you married again to Hailey's father," Cody confessed.

"How did you know about Roy? I have not told anyone about him. Not Matt, not anyone," Jen was getting defensive.

"When Alex was here some things Hailey said did not make sense. Then when I saw you, you were acting off. I had a friend investigate your background," Cody explained.

"Cody, what gives you the right to look into my past," Jen said.

Cody just laid it all out there, "Are you really Jen Montgomery or are you Jen McGovern, Jen Peterson? who are you? There is no record of Jen McGovern after you filed for divorce. You just disappeared. There was missing person put out on you and they just closed it. Who are you? Did Roy hurt you?" Cody just spilled it all out there.

Jen was about to slap Cody, but his reactions was quicker, and he grabbed her wrist preventing her from slapping him. Jen stiffed and her eyes filled with terror. Cody saw it and let go of her arm. He knew he went too far. She had been badly hurt by someone in her past.

"Hailey, say your goodbyes. It is time for Cody and Alex to leave," Jen shouted.

"Momma!"

"Now!" Jen shouted, she then turned to Cody, "You need to leave now."

"Jen, I am sorry," Cody pleaded. "Just let me explain."

Jen fired back strongly, "Cody, you need to leave now and don't come back. I don't need people like you in my life."

Cody and Alex got on their horses and left. Jen and Hailey went into the lodge. Jen sent Hailey up to her room. Jen just broke down.

"Cody, what did you do?" Jen was shaking and crying.

"Mamma, are you okay?" Hailey asked her mom, "Did Mr. Hawkes make you sad?"

"I am okay, baby girl," Jen tried to comfort her daughter.

"Why can't Mr. Hawkes come back, can Alex?" Hailey asked.

"Cody and I disagree on some things. I think it best that Cody and Alex stay away for a while," Jen said.

"He is my friend. I want to see him again," Hailey was angry at her mom.

"Hailey, just can't see him right now. It is not forever. I just need some space right now, from his father. We just need to work out some grown up stuff," Jen said.

"I guess, momma," Hailey was sad.

"How about tomorrow we go boating out on the lake and have a picnic," Jen tried to cheer her daughter up.

"Then will you make up with Mr. Hawkes? I want to stay here momma; I don't want to move again," Hailey pleaded.

"Hailey, I just need some time to think," Jen's world was crashing around her. She did not expect that things would fall apart here so fast. She never thought Cody would be that suspicious of her and investigate her past. Could she trust Cody or Matt about her secrets? All she wanted was to forget about her past with Roy. She had not been this scared in a long time. She wondered if Cody's research would lead Roy right to her. He has found her several times in her past and she was afraid he will do it again.