Chapter 34
Cody and Jen arrived at the Ranger Station. Cody opened the door to let Jen in. Jasper was sitting at the main desk.
"Hi Jen and Uncle Cody," Jasper greeted them.
"Hi Jasper, is my brother in?" Cody said shaking his hand.
"He is in the Commander's Office," Jasper answered.
Jen went around the desk and gave Jasper a big hug. She held on to him for a long time. Jasper had been a bit distant since that night. He was afraid how Hailey and Jen would react to him.
"Jasper, thank you so much for saving me and my daughter. I don't know what would have happened if you would not have shot him. He was a good shot, and he may have killed all three of you. I could not have lived with myself it that happened. He was a bad man." Jen shared. "If you ever need to talk, I am a good listener."
"Thank you, Jen," Jasper said.
Cody took Jen's hand, and they walked back to the Commander's office. Jen and Cody walked part way when Jen remembered she had something for Jasper. She broke away from Cody.
"Jasper this is for you, It's from Hailey." Jen handed Jasper an envelope. Jen ran back to Cody; he took her hand and kissed it.
Cody knocked on Matt's office door. "Hey, Matt can we talk to you?" Cody asked.
"Come in." Matt said.
"We want to talk to you about our future plans." Cody stated.
"Okay" Matt was hopeful that Cody would take the Commander's job. Cody and Jen sat down across from Matt. He noticed that Cody and Jen were holding hands. Jen had been good for Cody and Matt could see that Cody was good for Jen.
Jen stated, "Hailey and I are not going to stay at the lodge anymore. There just too many bad memories. I want to turn over the keys" Jen set the keys on the desk.
"Jen, I understand that. So, what are your future plans?" Matt asked.
"Hailey and I are going to be moving to Tahoe. I want her to go to school with kids her own age. I am currently looking for a job. Either part time or full time if you know of anything. We will also be looking for a place to live in town."
"I might be able to help you with that," Matt said. "The office administrator we hired just quit. The job is 30 hours a week with full time benefits. If you are interested in it. I imagine you can apply this time."
"Matt this would be wonderful." Jen said looking at Cody and just smiled.
"Just fill out an application and we will let you know," Matt said.
"Thank you, Matt," Jen got up. "With that I think I will leave you boys alone to talk and I will get started with that application." Jen looked at Cody and smiled at him. She rubbed the back of Cody's hand as she broke away from his hold. Jen closed the door behind her. She paused outside the door and hope their plan will work.
Back in the front office, Jasper just looked at the envelope. He just stared at it, and he could not bring himself to open it. Josh walked into the room.
"What is that, Jasper?" Josh asked.
"It something from Hailey, Jen's daughter," Jasper said, little worried. He killed that little girl's father. He avoided Jen and Hailey since that night.
"Are you going to open it already?" Josh asked. Jasper looked at Josh and he slowly opened it. He pulled out the piece of paper that was in the envelope. Jasper was worried about what it was going to say. Jasper could not comprehend what the drawing was. He showed it to Josh. It was a drawing of a man wearing a cape with hands on hip.
"What do you think this means?" Jasper asked. At that point Jen walked into the room.
"Jen it is good to see you," Josh said.
"Good to see you too Josh."
"Can you interpret this for us?" Josh asked. He showed Jen the drawing that Hailey did.
"Sure… It is a drawing of Jasper, Hailey's hero."
"Hero?" Jasper questioned. "She does not hate me?"
"Hate you?" Jen asked.
"Yeah… ah… because I killed her father."
"She did not know her real father, just stories I told her of the perfect father I made up. I have told her about Roy. He…. he… hmm... would…have…"
Josh could tell that Jen was having issues getting the words out, that she was struggling. "Would have killed her mom, Cody, and Alex. He would have hurt her family." Jen just shook her head. Jasper could see that Jen was still struggling too.
"Jen, do you think it would be okay if I went up to the cabin tomorrow to see Hailey?" Jasper asked.
"Yes, I think she would like that," Jen said and she gave a re-assuring smile. "Jasper, do you have any of the application forms up here?"
"Jen, are you applying for the administrator job?" Josh asked. Jen nodded yes. "That is wonderful news Jen."
"Wait…what happened to Betty?" Jasper asked.
"She quit couple of days ago," Josh said as he handed Jen the application.
"Can I have 2 copies, just in case I need to make some corrections?" Jen asked.
"Sure," Josh answered as he handed her the second application.
Back in Matt's office. "So, it looks like things are going well with the two of you." Matt asked hopefully.
Cody answered, "It is. She is a strong woman and doing amazing. She still has nightmares some nights, but it is getting better."
"That good to hear Cody." Matt paused for a moment, "So what did you want to talk to me about?"
"I was wondering if you had any ranger positions open?" Cody asked.
"Unfortunately, I don't have any open ranger positions, but I do have the Commander position yet to fill," Matt said. "You know I have offered you the position before. I like to offer it to you again. I think you would do a great job as Commander. When you worked here before you were on the path to be the next commander and it was something you were wanting."
"Thanks for the offer Matt, but right now I need to concentrate on my family. Alex only has a few more years at home and then he will be leaving. Then there is Jen and Hailey to consider. I want to spend as much time with them as I can." Cody still had something up his sleeve. He figured that would be Matt's answer. "I think you have been overlooking someone. You have someone here already that would be perfect to be the commander. He has earned his spot."
Matt just looked at him. "Who are you talking about?"
"Matt, I think you have been so busy wanting me to come back. You have over looked Josh Cutler. He would be perfect for the Job. He did a lot of leading when Williams was here. Williams just took the credit for everything Josh did. He is the one that should lead the rangers."
"He did?" Matt asked.
Cody answered, "I have worked closely with Josh, and I could see the talent he has to lead and prepare rescues. Williams is only good at bullshitting. I know on several occasions he helped his fellow rangers thru difficult times."
Matt called up to the front desk, "Hey, Jasper when Cutler comes in, can you have him come see me?"
Jasper answered, "Hi dad, yeah he is right here." Jasper hung up the phone and sent Josh into Matt's office. Jen looked up from the table where she was filling out an application and smiled. She thought that was a good sign for their plan.
Jasper, "What is that all about?" Jen just shrugged her shoulders and smiled.
Josh walked into the office. "What's up boss," he saw Cody sitting there and was wondering what that was all about.
"Josh, I wanted to let you know we have found the new commander for the Rangers." Josh looked from Matt to Cody. Cody and Josh started at the same time. Cody the younger brother of the Commander and Josh nephew of the late ranger, Jim Cutler. They were bit of rivals and had not always gotten along, but both did a lot of growing up and became great friends. Josh had thrown Cody some work here and there over the years and they have helped one another.
Matt continued, "The new commander will need to make a decision about personnel and hiring for an open ranger position." Josh looked little confused.
"I think this is my queue to leave," with that Cody got up and squeezed Josh's shoulder, looked at him and smiled.
"Cody, make sure you fill out an application" Matt yelled to Cody as he left.
"Sure thing" Cody said as he waved his arm.
Cutler is looking confused.
"Josh I would like to offer you the position of Commander of the Rangers. You have been highly recommended by your peers. From my understanding, you were already managing the role under William's command. Would you accept the position?" Matt asked.
"Yes, I will accept," Cutler responded, shaking Matt's hand.
"First order of business is to find your replacement. We would need to find an experienced ranger. From my understanding you soon will have one applicant. Someone who has experience working here, but don't feel you have to accept that applicant. You should post the position and pick the person you feel is best suited." Matt explained. He did not want Josh to feel that he had to hire Cody. It was the commander's decision. So, he had to leave it to Cutler to decide to hire Cody or not.
Cody headed over to the table where Jen was filling out the application and she handed him the second application.
"So far so good" Cody smiled and gave Jen quick kiss on her lips. He took the application and started filling it out.
Jasper watching the interaction of the couple, he was trying to figure out what was going on.
Many of the rangers started to gather for lunch in the kitchen. Matt and Josh walk into the room.
"Jasper, can you step into the kitchen. I have an announcement to make." Matt said. Jasper followed his dad and Cutler into the kitchen.
"I have an announcement to make," Matt said. "I am pleased to announce that Josh Cutler has been named the new Commander of the High Mountain Rangers affective immediately ".
Everyone started cheering, clapping their hands, and congratulating Josh.
Cody and Jen dropped off their applications in the inbox at the front desk. Cody and Jen then left the ranger station. "I love it when a plan comes together," Cody said and they both laughed.
Cody and Jen were on their way back to the cabin on horseback. They rode for about an hour when they arrived at a quiet meadow. They spread out a blanket. And sat on it and ate the lunch that Jen prepared for them.
"So, things went well with Matt?"
"Yes, he offered me the Commander job again. I told him I needed to spend more time with my family and that I thought Josh was the right person for the position."
"And he fell for it?" Jen teased as she leaned in and kissed Cody.
"Come here you," Cody was leaning up against one of the saddles. He pulled Jen closer to him. She was now sitting with her back up against Cody, sitting between his legs. Cody wrapped his arms around her. Cody was kissing her on the neck.
"Jasper is going to come to the cabin tomorrow. He wants to talk to Hailey. I think that drawing she made affected him. I hope it helps him." Jen said concerning.
"I hope it helps him too," Cody paused. "Jen, I know our relationship has been a bit unorthodox by any traditional sense. You know I love you," Cody was obviously nervous and stumbled over his words. His hands just rubbed up against her hands. "Is there anything you like to change or take care of soon?"
Jen was trying to figure out where Cody was going with this. "Hmm… before school starts, I like to get our names changed. I want to lose the McGovern. It brings back too many bad memories I feel I can't escape. And I want Hailey to have the same name." Jen stated.
"What name would you want to use?" Cody asked.
"I am thinking about going back to my maiden's name, Jacobs," Jen answered.
"What if you skipped a step and just go right to Hawkes?"
Jen sat up and faced Cody. "What are you saying?"
"Jen, I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. We are good together. I want the four of us to be a family."
"Cody, I love you, but are you sure, it is not too soon?" Jen said little nervously, what if I can never be intimate with you?"
"I think intimacy will come in time, but if we don't, I am still sure I want to marry you," Cody pulls out a ring. "This is the ring I gave to Lizzie when we got engaged. I have been saving it for Alex to give to someone someday. He told me he wanted me to give you this ring. Will you marry me?"
"Yes, I will marry you, Cody Hawkes." Cody placed the ring on her finger. She reached up her hands to his cheeks and she kissed him deeply. They been thru hell together and he still wanted her and to have a life together. They are not going to wait to get married. They decided they would get married as soon as Cody gets a position, hopefully with the rangers. So, it could be a matter of weeks.
The next day Jasper arrived at Cody's Cabin in time for lunch. The five of them had a nice lunch together. Alex and Hailey could not wait to tell them the big news that they were going to be a family. Cody and Jen had gotten engaged on the way back from the ranger station the day before.
"Congratulations! That is wonderful news," Jasper explained. He was honored that he was the first one to know.
Jasper wanted to spend some time alone with Hailey. "Hailey, I have heard you have some kittens, that are now ready to leave their momma."
"I do, do you want to see them?" Hailey asked.
"I would." Hailey grabbed Jasper's hand and she led him down to the barn.
"Hailey, they are so cute."
"They are getting pretty big. Momma and Cody said I can take one with us when we move. I am not sure which one yet. I am thinking this tiger colored one. She loves to purr, and I think it is my momma's favorite. She likes to hold the kittens a lot. I think they have helped her. I would prefer to keep them all."
"We could probably use a couple at the barn in the ranger station. Always good to have cats around to get the mice."
"Then I can visit them sometimes."
"I have been seeing a doctor to talk about things, just like your mom has. The doctor suggested that I might want to get a dog or cat. With my schedule it would be difficult to have a dog, but I was wondering if I could have one of your kittens."
"Jasper, that would be great."
"Could you help me choose one?" Jasper asked. Hailey went thru all the kittens and their personalities. She thought the black and white one would be the best one for him. The kitten liked Jasper a lot and climbed all over him and purred when he pet her. "Now my new friend needs a name?"
"How about Bandit, to go with the black mask over his eyes."
"Hailey, I think that is the perfect name. Bandit it is," Jasper said. "Hailey, I want to talk to you about the drawing you did of me. Am I really your hero?"
"Yes, you are brave and strong. You saved my mom before my father killed her. I don't know what I would do without my mom." Hailey got tears in her eyes. "She has always taken care of me and loves me, even when I have been bad. I thought I would never see my mom again after that night. I was afraid that man was going to take me away. He told my mom she would never see me again. When we saw my mom in the hospital, I almost did not recognize her. I was scared to go near her. She has been very sad and distant the last several months. She is only just becoming herself again. But if you would not have killed him, I would not have my mom any more. Thank you for saving my mom." Hailey gave Jasper a big hug. Jasper just closed his eyes and a tear rolled down his cheek. "If you would not have stopped him, he could have hurt Cody or Alex too. Then I would not be getting the best father and big brother ever. Now I am getting both and a terrific cousin too." Hailey smiled at Jasper.
"I very happy to be getting you as a cousin as well." They hugged again.