Chapter 17

On the trail from the Hawkes cabin to Aaron's Lodge Cody pointed out all sorts of things to Hailey. They spotted some Elk in the pasture. Cody asked her some questions about where they lived and what she did for school.

"Well, we lived all over the country. Maybe moved every year or so. I was constantly changing schools and having to make new friends," Hailey said.

"So, what was your mom planning to do with school here?" Cody asked.

"I am going to be home schooled. My schoolbooks are at the lodge."

"We should be sure to grab them. We don't want you falling behind," Cody said.

When they arrived at the Lodge, Cody got off his horse and then helped Hailey down.

"Hailey, why don't you pack up your clothes and your mom's clothes. Make sure you get your schoolbooks too. And anything else you might want this winter," Cody said, "Alex can you help me with the horses and then we will start looking at the damage."

They got the horses settled and looked at the damage. Cody was not sure how stable the building was, so he wanted to do enough to keep the water out. With Jen's financial situation, and seeing the back tax statement, he was not sure how much she could do to afford it. He had to come up with a plan that would help her. They took a break to have their lunch. Then they finish cleaning up the place from the water and snow that had gotten in. Right before they left, Cody went into the pantry and got the backpack under the loose floorboards. They made sure everything was locked down.

On the way back Cody was teaching Hailey how to pull the reins on the horse. As they were approaching the cabin the smoke was rising from the chimney. Cody helped Hailey down. Jen came out to greet them, she helped them bring the bags in.

Cody stepping into the cabin, "Something smells good."

"Dinner will be ready soon," Jen said as Cody handed her the blue bag and she set it down out of the way. "Thank you."

"Alex give me a hand with the horses. We will be right back" said Cody with a smile.

"Hailey, why don't you get cleaned up before they come back. Then you can tell me about your day," Jen said.

"Yes, momma," said Hailey.

Jen went back to the kitchen to finish getting dinner ready.

Later they all sat around the table and had dinner. Cody thought if felt normal. Hailey was extremely excited about all the things they had done. Once dinner was over, it was late, and the kids went to bed. Cody and Jen stayed up to continue their conversation. Jen had grabbed the backpack and brought it over to the couch.

"So, what is in the bag?" Cody asked as Jen opened it and started going thru it.

"It is my escape bag. It holds all my important documents. My legal documentation, fake Ids, and Hailey's birth certificate," Jen handed Cody the birth certificate.

Cody took the birth certificate and read it. Hailey Elizabeth McCoy born February 3rd, 2012. Mother: Jennifer Suzanne McCoy and Father: Cody Jesse Hawkes.

"Cody, I am so sorry for putting you in the middle of all my problems," Jen said.

"Jen, there nothing more important than Hailey and your safety" Cody said. "Is there something else?"

Jen shook her head yes, "if something were to happen to me, would you take Hailey? Would you raise her as your daughter?"

"Nothing is going to happen to you," Cody tried to reassure her.

"But if it did. I don't have anyone else I would trust to take care of her," Jen pleaded.

"Of course, I will…" Cody paused. "Did you know my wife and I were expecting a baby girl, when my wife was killed."

"Cody, I did not know. I am so sorry," Jen said concerning.

"It was a long time ago, but sometimes it feels like yesterday. I was working as a High Mountain Ranger at the time, Lizzie my wife, was working at the local National Forestry Office. Alex was about five. We were expecting a baby girl in September. Lizzie was about 7 months pregnant. She walked into a bank robbery. She just walked in the door and the guy turned and shot her. Just like that, within seconds they were both gone. Thankfully, Robin had been watching Alex. Thank God, he was not with Lizzie. I was on a search and rescue in the back country and out of radio contact. I did not find out they were killed until three days later," Cody stopped for a minute and took a deep breath. He had not even noticed until than that Jen had moved closer to him and was holding his hand. "After the funeral I decided that my dad maybe had the right idea. Living up in the mountains away from society. I quit the rangers, took Alex, and moved up to dad's cabin. That was ten years ago. We've been living up here ever since. We see Matt and his family from time to time. In the summer Matt's kids would spend a month with us at the cabin. It was nice for Alex; his older cousins treated him like a younger brother and would do everything with him."

Cody reached into the drawer of the end table and pulled out a picture of a pregnant Lizzie with a five-year-old Alex. "We were so excited. We had some problems getting pregnant, so this baby girl was a bit of a miracle, and she was gone in an instant."

"She is beautiful. How did you meet?" Jen asked.

"After college I got a job as a ranger at North Cascades National Park, there were no openings here and I wanted to get some experience. Lizzie worked in the Forestry Department there. We worked in the same office. It was love at first sight for me. We dated for a time. In 2000 we got married and when there was an opening with the Rangers, and then we moved back. Life was good here for a while. I miss her so much."

The tears started to stream down Cody's face. Jen's eyes were filled with tears. She leaned up against him. Cody wrapped his arm around her. Jen placed her head on his shoulder. Both watched the fire. Not another word had to be spoken between them. They both had losses in their life. Both lost a child, and both lost a part of themselves. They fell asleep in each other's arms.