Chapter 12
It is an unusually warm fall day. A freak snowstorm is approaching the mountains No one is expecting the sudden turn in the weather. People are out camping, hiking, horseback riding, boating, they were outside enjoying the beautiful weather. Even the weather forecasters were predicting another warm day tomorrow. There was no mention that the temperature could suddenly drop, and an unseasonal blizzard was suddenly developing.
The sun is setting early, as it does in the fall. Jen and Hailey were enjoying the nice weather down by the lake. They are canoeing on the water. When the frigid wind blows, Jen looks up in the sky.
"Boy, it's getting cold all of a sudden. I think we need to get back," said Jen. The two started paddling back into shore.
Alex and Cody were out riding their horses. A cold gust of wind blows in. Alex exclaimed, "What was that?"
Cody looks up to the sky, "Storms coming. Let's head for home," Cody and Alex start making the trek back home.
Back at the Ranger Station the rangers gather near the fireplace. The rangers received an updated weather alert from the National Weather Service. Josh Cutler said, "The National Weather Service has issued a severe winter storm warning and blizzard watch in the higher elevations. Temperatures will be dropping by 50 to 60 degrees in the next few hours. Winds approaching 40 to 50 miles an hour are expected."
Commander Wilson just stood in back and said, "This is going to catch a lot of people off guard since they were predicting another warm day tomorrow. Josh, can you give us our tactical approach."
Josh said, "Sure, David, call the Forestry Department and see how many registered campers and hikers they have. Jessica, we are going to keep you on standby for now. I think it will be too windy to take the chopper up, but if we get a break in the weather, I want you to be ready to go. For now, contact game and wildlife and see how many hunter permits were given out. Freddy and Kelly, I want you start searching in sector 7 and work your way to sector 19, it is a popular camping area. Jasper and I will start searching sector 19 and will make our way toward you in sector 7. We will take the dirt bikes to start, as it will be too cold for the horses. Commander Wilson, can you meet us at Crescent Ridge with the snowmobiles. We may need them in the morning. Pack warm, I am expecting we will need to spend the night. Call in to base and David and Jessica will track your progress and the number people remaining out there." The rangers are quickly gathering what they need and heading out the door.
Back at the Hawkes Cabin, the sun is setting, and the wind is blowing hard. Alex is looking out the window towards the barn and seeing the first flakes of snow falling.
The rangers were able to get many of the campers out of the area with only a few to go. They were able to meet Commander Wilson at Crescent Ridge and were able to get cozy for the night.
The storm was making Hailey very nervous, Jen let her snuggle in bed with her for the night. Early morning before the sun came up. The snow was still coming down. Jen could not sleep as she was watching the storm. The storm was making her nervous too. She was not sure the lodge was strong enough to withstand the wind and snow. Jen walked into the room to check on her daughter when there was a large sound, the sound of a tree breaking and crashing down onto the lodge. Jen looked at the ceiling only to see the ceiling come crashing down.
Hailey woke up just in time to see part of the ceiling falling onto her mother. Hailey screamed and Jen was knocked down to the ground and was unconscious for a minute, "Momma! Momma! Wake up," Hailey screamed. The branches of the tree were now in the room and snow was falling. The room was quickly getting cold.
Jen started to moan and was coming too. "Hailey! Hailey are you okay," as Jen tried to figure out where she was and trying to find her daughter.
"I am okay Momma," Hailey said as she shivered.
"Good, can you reach the dresser to find some warmer clothes? It is going to get cold in here fast. Watch for the glass on the floor" Jen tried to get some of the debris off her but was not able to get the big beam off.
"Momma, why don't you get up?" she knelt by her mother.
"I am a little stuck honey. I can't get this beam off my legs; it is too heavy," Jen explained. Trying to keep her daughter calm. Can you squeeze thru the door and go to the radio and call the High Mountain Rangers."
Hailey squeezed thru the door and ran to the radio. She turned it on but got nothing but static. She tried to call over to the ranger station, but nothing but static. Hailey came running back in the room. Jen was visibly shaking from the cold.
"Momma, the radio is not working," Jen just closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to stay calm for her daughter, but she knew they were in a bad situation. They had not met many people up in the wilderness and trying to avoid those she had, the Hawkes. Cody had been too suspicious and did not know if she could trust him or not.
Hailey tried to pull the beam off her mother, "Hailey, it is too heavy, you're not going to be able to get it off."
Hailey ran over to the bed and grabbed the quilt. She laid it over top her mom and laid next to her. The two snuggled under the covers together and tried to get warm.
The storm broke and sun came out. Alex and Cody looked around their property to see if there was any damage. There were a few tree branches and not much else. Bosco their dog started to bark. Cody went in to check the radio.
"Genie to Ace, come in Ace," Commander Wilson spoke on the radio.
"Ace here, come back Genie," Cody responded.
"Hi Cody, we are doing wellness check of all the residence in the mountains. We are checking to make sure you guys are, okay?" Commander Wilson stated.
"Just a few branches down, maybe a tree or two in the woods, but nothing serious."
"Cody, that is good. We are still rounding up some campers. Do you mind checking on a few of your neighbors for us. There are a few residents in your area we were not able to get in contact with, the Trigger and the Montgomery families. Do mind going out to their cabins and checking on them."
"How is the weather report looking?" Cody asked as he did not want to get caught off guard. He was not thrilled about going to the Lodge and facing Jen as she was not too happy with him when they talked couple days ago.
"The skies should remain clear for the next 10 hours," Commander Wilson responded.
"I will radio you when we get a status update," Cody responded. "What frequency do you want me on?"
"Channel 2 would be good. Thanks Cody, Genie out."
Cody knew it was important being a good neighbor and helping your neighbors when you can. When Jen was young teenager, she had a bit of a crush on Cody. She was a very talkative girl and would follow him around like a little puppy dog. She was quite different now. She was quiet and standoffish. Maybe the life in the mountains have been a bit slow and peaceful for Cody and he was just trying to create something out of nothing. However, Cody was generally pretty good at reading people.
"Alex, get your snow gear together, we are going to check on some of the neighbors," Cody yelled to his son.
Cody and Alex got their packs on including their snowshoes and ski's and started heading out. They made their way to the Trigger family, and all was good. Then they made the hour journey to the Lodge. Despite the fight, Cody was hoping all was good there maybe, just maybe they could get a bite to eat or warm up some. Maybe clear up the air with Jen.
Back at the lodge Jen asked, "Hailey, is it still snowing outside?"
"No momma, it stopped. Do you want me to go to the Hawkes and get help?" Hailey asked but was scared.
"No baby girl, it is too far for you to go by yourself, especially since you have not been there, I am not even sure I remember the way," Jen answered. "Can you go outside, in the clearing and with logs, write, S.O.S. nice and big, if the chopper flies by they would see it and they will come and help us," Jen said shivering and getting sleepy.
"Okay Momma," Hailey responded.
"Come in and take a break if you get cold," Jen said.
Hailey got bundled up and ran outside. She started gathering some wood and placing it in the clearing and writing "S."
Cody and Alex started to approach the Lodge. Cody said under his breath, "That does not look good."
"Dad, what do you mean?"
"There is no smoke coming from the chimney. It's cold enough out, they should have a fire going,"
Cody and Alex started to approach a little faster. They see Hailey collecting wood and then she spotted them.
"MR HAWKES, HELP! MY MOMMA NEEDS HELP!" Hailey shouted as she dropped the wood and ran over to them.
Cody and Alex started to run over to her. Cody asked, "Where is your mom?"
"She is upstairs in the bedroom, a tree crashed thru the ceiling, and she is pinned under some debris, and we cannot get it off her."
Cody and Alex ran up to the room. They found her in the room lying on the floor. Alex was ready to start pulling the beam off. "Wait, we need to make sure she does not have some internal bleeding that removing the beam will cause an issue. We need Kelly here to look her over."
"Ace to Genie, come in Genie" Cody said over the radio.
"Genie here, come in Ace," said Commander Wilson.
"We are at the Montgomery's and need Medivac here ASAP. Jen is pinned under some debris and her legs are getting crushed, she has possible Hyperthermia and concussion. Ace out"
"Cody, will be right back," Few minutes later. "Ace, Lady Hawke and Snowbird are heading in your general direction. They should be there in about 10 minutes. Don't move anything until Lady Hawke has a chance to assess her.
"Thanks Genie, Ace out". Cody said, then turned to Jen. "Jen, hang in there, help is on the way."
Jen opened her eyes a bit and said, "Thanks Cody". Cody reached out and grabbed her hand.
"Alex, go and meet the chopper," Cody turned to Jen. "Jen, you need to stay awake. Do you remember the last time we saw each other years ago?"
"hmm… Matt's wedding," Jen started to close her eyes.
"How old where you then? Jen, stay awake."
"hmmm…I was sixteen I believe, so you would have been twenty. Cody I am so tired."
"I know Jen, but you must stay awake. What do you remember about the wedding?"
"I remember the wedding was in the meadow near the ranger station. Matt and Robin looked so happy. You were in a black suit and tie, you looked very handsome."
Cody blushed a bit, "I remember you looked very pretty and so much more grown up than I remember, you had become a young lady."
Jen very sleepy, she was fading towards the end, "I thought I was so grown up then. I had a bit of a crush on you back then. I was on cloud nine when you asked me to dance."
"Jen, open your eyes."
"Cody, I just want to sleep."
"Jen stay with me. Do you remember what song we danced to."
"What song? Humm… Was it….. some Elvis song," Jen sounded almost drunk.
"Do you remember the name, Jen stay with me."
"Please let me sleep, I am so tired."
"Jen you might have hyperthermia, you need to stay awake. What was the name of the song, do you remember?"
Jen opened her eyes, "was it something like, Wise men say only fools fall in love, but I can't help falling in love with you…"
"That is, it."
Jen perked up a bit, "I so wanted to kiss you."
"I would have kissed you, but you were bit of jail bait for me at the time."
"Cody, I felt so grown up back then, I did not think of us having much of an age difference at all. But if my daughter was 16 and interested in a 20-year-old, I would lock her up and throw away the key."
Cody laughed "I would too if I had a daughter. What would you think your grandfather would have done if he caught us kissing?"
"He would have dragged me out of there. I don't think he would like you at all after that. You would have been on his list for sure."
"His list?"
"His list of people he did not like. The rangers would be on and off it especially Matt. I was surprised he wanted to go to the wedding."
"What would your dad have done?"
"Probably take a strap to me."
"Even at 20," Jen chuckled.
"That is the Jen I remember," Cody smiled.
Kelly and Alex ran in the room. Alex was carrying a sled for them to transport Jen in.
"Hi Jen, I am officer Kelly Hawkes. I am going to check you out."
"Hawkes?" Jen looked at Cody.
"This is Matt and Robin's daughter."
"Oh…. we were just talking about your parents wedding," Jen fighting to stay awake.
"Jen, can you wiggle your toes?" Jen wiggled her toes, "very good."
Kelly checked a few more things over before they were ready to pull the debris off her. Jen groaned when they pulled it off. They moved her onto the stretcher and carried her down to the chopper.
"Uncle Cody, are you going to be okay here?" Kelly asked.
"Yes, we will take Hailey back to our place and head down to the hospital," Cody explained.