Chapter 13

At Barton Hospital several hours later Cody, Alex and Hailey were in the waiting room waiting for the doctor. Then the doctor entered the room.

"We were able to bring her body temperature back up. There are no physical or neurological issues. Her legs were just badly bruised, and it will be little sore for her to walk on them for a while. But she is going to be fine. She is resting now, but you can go see her, but make it short."

"Thank you, Doctor," said Cody.

Hailey went in the room and hugged her mom, "momma, are you going to be, okay?"

"Yes, baby girl thanks to you and Mr. Hawkes" Jen smiled and looked from her daughter to Cody.

"Hailey, we should probably let your mom get some sleep," Cody said to Hailey and then turned to Jen. "I am going to take Hailey to Matt's house for the night and bring her back tomorrow. Are you okay with that?"

"Yes, thanks Cody," Jen was so tired, and grateful for Cody to watch her daughter.

Next morning at the hospital, the hospital administrator was in Jen's room trying to get her information, when Cody was approaching Jen's room. He stopped just before entering. The administrator was giving Jen a hard time about not having insurance and not being able to pay her hospital bill. As he walked out the room, under his breath the administrator said, "Another fucking indigent case". Cody gave the man a cold look.

Cody walked into the room. "Good morning, Jen," Cody said.

Jen was staring out the window when Cody walked in. She did not realize he was there at all. Cody went to the far end of the bed and could see she was crying. It took her a minute to realize Cody was standing there. She wiped her tears away.

"Good morning, but looks like you are not having much of one?" Cody said as he sat at the edge of the bed. Jen just took a deep breath and Cody continued. "I have some good news and some bad news" He looked at her with a look of concern. Cody laid his hand on hers, and he tried to rub the back of her hand to comfort her. Jen just braced herself on what else has gone wrong.

"I heard you are going to be released today, that is good news," Cody paused for a moment, "The bad news, the damage to the lodge is too bad that it can't be repaired until spring. Maybe some things could be done now, so the damage on the inside does not get worse. But it won't be livable until the spring."

That was enough to put Jen over the edge. Between the hospital administrator and news that her and her daughter will now be homeless. She is strapped for cash and did not have anywhere else to go.

Jen just broke down, she started saying things that did not make sense as she cried, "What have I done, thought it would be safe here, what are we going to do now, he keeps finding us, nowhere is safe."

Cody grabbed Jen by the arm gently, "Slow down, what are you saying, who is after you?"

Jen stopped for a second and just looked at Cody very scared and confused. Cody gave her a consoling hug and she started weeping in his arms. Cody just tried to comfort her.

"Jen, I have a proposition for you," Cody looked at her. "Why don't you and Hailey stay with Alex and I until the Lodge can be fixed, we have plenty of room. But I have one condition."

"Okay?" Jen said timidly, not sure what Cody would be asking for.

"I want you to tell me everything. Who you are afraid of and what you are running from. I want you to tell me the truth. Does that work?" Cody said.

Jen thought about her answer for a moment and took a deep breath. Maybe she missed judge Cody, "can I trust you, Cody?"

Cody wiped the tears from Jen's cheeks, "You can trust me."

"Okay, I except your condition, I will tell you everything," Jen said.

Cody got a little spark in his eyes, "One more thing, if memory serves me correctly, you are a good cook. Maybe some good, cooked meals too," Cody winked at her.

"I thought you said one condition," Jen said with a little smile. Cody and Jen had a little chuckle.

Just than Alex and Hailey came in the room, "what is wrong momma?"

"Everything is fine Hailey. You and your mom are going to stay with Alex and I until the Lodge can be fixed with a new roof," Cody said smiling at the little girl. "Now I need to go take care of something, before we get your mom out of here. I'll be back real soon."

Hailey went and hugged Cody and then went to her mom. Cody started walking out the door, he looked back and Jen just mouthed, "thank you" to Cody. He nodded his head.

A brief time later the hospital administrator walked back into the room. "Ms. Montgomery, I want to apologize to the way I spoke to you earlier today. It was uncalled for, and we have an endowment that was set up many years ago that you qualify for. This grant was setup by a former Mountain man to cover the hospital bills of those that live up in the mountains. This endowment will cover your entire hospital bill," just has the administrator finished what he was saying. Cody and the nurse walked into the room.

"Goodbye Ms. Montgomery," then administrator quickly left the room. Jen's day had turned around.

"Ms. Montgomery, I have your discharge papers. The doctor would like you to follow up again in about two weeks," Nurse said. Cody and the kids left the room as the nurse help Jen get dressed and into the wheelchair.