Chapter 7 – Last of the Mountain Men
Matt and Frank did a wellness check at Aaron's lodge. Some guests at Aaron's lodge reported that they could not get hold of him. He was not answering the door or his phone. Matt and Frank walked up to the lodge and knocked on the door. There was no answer. They tried to open each of the doors, but they were locked. So, the only remaining option was to kick the door down.
"Aaron, please forgive us for what we are about to do." Matt said. Frank gave the sign of the cross and Matt kicked down the door. There was a strong smell that came out of the lodge. It was the smell of death.
"Oh Matt, that is not a good sign," Frank said. The two men put on masks to cover their faces as they walked into the lodge.
"Frank!" Matt shouted. Matt had found Aaron on the floor of the lodge dead. It looked like he had been dead for a while.
"Oh man," Frank said as he gave sign of the cross again. I will get the camera and report back to the ranger station on our findings. Frank ran out of the lodge and Matt went and opened some windows.
"Base this is White Eagle, please come back," Frank said.
"White Eagle this is Base come back," Robin said.
"Robin, we are at Aaron Bass's lodge doing a wellness check." Frank took a deep breath and did not respond for a few minutes.
"White Eagle, I think we got cut off, can you please repeat." Robin said.
Frank wiped the tears from his eyes. "Robin, we were doing wellness check on Aaron Bass. We found…. Aaron passed away."
"Oh no… poor Jen," Robin said. "Do you know how long ago."
"Don't know, but the lodge smelled pretty ripe," Frank answered. "I think it has been a while."
"I will let the Corner know; do you suspect any foul play?" Robin asked.
"No, it looks like natural causes," Frank said.
"Make sure you take pictures of the scene for the corner," Robin said.
"Will do," Frank said.
"I will let you know next steps, when I hear back from them." Robin said.
Frank handed Matt the camera to take pictures of everything. They are waiting to hear back from Robin before proceeding. It took several hours but the Corners Department came up to review and collect the body. Matt and Frank gave them a hand before returning to the Ranger station.
Matt took a shower when he got back and then went over to Robin and just cried. Robin just held Matt or at least the best she could in her condition. Robin was very pregnant at this point, she was going to go on maternity leave in the next week, if the baby comes or not.
After a few minutes, Matt wiped his tears away. "Were you able to get ahold of Jen?"
"Not yet. I called the school office, they would not give me her new number, I left a message with them to have her call me as soon as possible. Hopefully, I will hear something tomorrow."
"How are you feeling, sweetheart?" Matt asked.
"Tired and as big as a whale," Robin said.
"You look beautiful to me. And soon we will have a little baby girl or boy. That is half you and half Cody." Matt joked.
"Half Cody? This baby is half you and half me. Cody is just the over excited uncle that lives 18 hours away." Robin smiled. "He needs to find himself a good woman, marry her and they can have their own little babies running around. All of them could be just like him."
"Ha… can you imagine bunch of little Cody's running around?"
"His poor wife would have her hands full for sure," Robin teased.
"Yes, she would. Good night my love." Matt kissed Robin, "Good night my little baby." Matt kissed Robin's belly.
Next day Robin got a call from Jennifer, "Jen, thank you for calling me back. I am not sure how to tell you. Yesterday Matt and Frank did a wellness check at your grandfather's place. Honey, ah…." Robin took a deep breath. "Your grandfather passed away." There was silence on the other side. Robin waited a few minutes. "Jen, are you still there?"
"Yes…" Jennifer said faintly.
"Do you know if your grandfather would have wanted to be buried or cremated."
"Ah…." Jennifer responded. "Robin, can I call you back. Ah... I… I need a couple of minutes."
"Honey, that is okay," Robin said. "Bye for now."
Matt came into the station. "Did you hear from Jen?"
"Yes, but I think she was little over whelmed, she said she needed to call me back. Did you reach your dad?"
"I left him a message." Matt responded.
"What about Cody?" Robin asked.
"He will try to get away, but they are short staffed, and his vacation was delayed a few months. Once we know a date, he will try again. I know he wants to be here for Jen."
The phone rang again, Matt picked up. "High Mountain Rangers, this is Matt."
"Matt, this is Jen Jacobs."
"Hi Jen, I am going to put you on speaker. Robin is here too." Matt said. "Okay, go ahead."
"My Grandfather would want to be buried by my grandmother." Jennifer said.
"When do you think you could come back for the service?"
"I can probably get there tomorrow," Jennifer said. "I can take the gray hound bus to Tahoe."
"I will pick you up at the bus station," Matt said.
Robin piped in, "Jen, you can stay with us while you are in town."
"Thank you both, I will see you tomorrow." Jennifer responded.
They hung up. Matt said, "Do you think it is a good idea to have her stay with us after all the things she got into."
"I would rather keep her close and see if she is more like her old self. If she is not, maybe we can talk some sense into her."
The next day Jennifer arrived at the bus terminal. Matt was there waiting for her. "Hey, kiddo."
"Hi Matt," Matt went over to Jennifer and gave her a big hug.
"I am so sorry about your grandfather," Matt consoled Jennifer.
"Thank you," Jennifer said. "What do we do now?"
"Well, we have an appointment at the funeral home in about two hours. Why don't we run over to our cottage and get you settled. Robin started her maternity leave as of today, so she can spend time with you."
"Maternity leave?" Jennifer asked.
"Yeah, we are expecting a baby any day now," Matt said proudly.
"Congratulations," Jennifer said.
"Cody is over the moon excited to be an uncle. He was supposed to come for a visit in a couple of weeks, but they are shorthanded, so he had to postpone the trip. He is going to try to come once we know the day of the funeral, but most likely won't be able to make it." Matt said.
"I have not seen your brother since your wedding," Jennifer said.
"He is a Forest Ranger at Glacier National Park." Matt said.
"I always thought he would become a High Mountain Ranger," Jennifer commented.
"We did not have any openings for him. But he made the best of it. He is loving it up there. He is learning to fly a chopper and other things he would have not learned here."
Jennifer was only half listening, "I am happy for him."
"Jen, is everything going okay at school?" Matt asked.
"Everything is fine," Jennifer said.
"What are you studying?" Matt asked.
"Business," Jennifer said.
They pulled up to the cottage. Matt showed Jennifer in. "Welcome to our home."
Jennifer looked around the cottage, "It looks nice."
Robin came waddling out of the bathroom. "Jen…. I am so sorry for your loss."
Robin opened up her arms to Jennifer. And Jennifer embraced Robin in a big hug. For the first time Jennifer showed some emotion. Once the two ladies stopped embracing Jennifer wiped her eyes. "I am sorry."
"Honey, it is good to cry. You don't need to apologize for it," Robin said. "Are you guys ready for some lunch?"
Jennifer nodded yes and Matt, "Absolutely. Let me get it out and get it ready. Why don't you ladies get caught up."
Matt had stepped out of the cottage for a minute. This gave Robin a chance to ask Jennifer some questions. "Jen, I am so sorry about your grandfather. When was the last time you saw him?"
"Hmmm... when I left for school." Jennifer said.
"You did not come back over the summer?" Robin asked.
"No, I stayed on campus and worked. I needed a job, so I could earn some money over the summer. The trust fund only pays tuition, room, and board. Everything else, I have to pay for."
"Have you at least talked to him?" Robin inquired.
"Not since I left. He told me not to come back or try to get hold of him. Guess he figured he still be around by the time I was done with school." Jennifer cried a bit more.
"How is school going?" Robin asked.
"It is okay," Jennifer said.
"I know Cody always struggled with the social side of things. He was always happy to be home for breaks when he could. He just did not really like the partying and stuff that goes on. But when he went to ranger school he flourished. Cody and his roommate, Mark, became the best of friends. They work in different parks, so they don't see each other much. Cody's mentor at Glacier has been very good for him as well. Have you met anyone like that at school or are you dating anyone?" Robin asked.
"I have made a few friends, but I am not dating anyone," Jennifer said. "I guess I am still struggling a bit when it comes to men."
"Do you know Marco does not work here anymore. As far as I know he is no longer in Tahoe. So, you don't have to worry about running into him."
"Robin, thank you for letting me know. I was dreading that I might run into him again. I don't know what I would do if I did. He took a lot from me."
"I know sweetheart. I was happy to see him go. I think pretty much everyone was glad." Robin said.
"Wait…. How did you know it was Marco. I never said." Jennifer interrupted.
"While I was taking you to school, James gave his notice. He was really sorry for his part in everything that happened to you. He had made a statement in regards to it. Matt fired Marco immediately and his true colors really came out." Robin said.
"So, Matt knows everything?" Jen started to panic some.
"Jen, it is okay. He does not judge you. He is more concerned about your wellbeing, than anything else. He has always thought of you as a little sister. He cares for you," Robin tried to console Jennifer.
"So… he knows about… about the baby," Jennifer could hardly get the word out.
"No, we are the only two that know about the baby," Robin said. Jennifer was relieved.
Matt came back into the cottage in time for the oven timer to go off, Matt said as he took the pizza out of the oven, "Lunch is ready."
Matt helped Robin get up and Jennifer walked over to the table. "Boy this baby is kicking my butt, little Ziggy better come soon."
Matt and Jennifer went to the Funeral home and met with the funeral director and planned the funeral. It would be in two days.
The next day, Jennifer, and Matt head up to the lodge for Jennifer to get some pictures and things she wants to bring back to school. They are going to close the lodge up as Jennifer does not plan to return anytime soon. Matt is going to collect all the weapons, so they are not left unattended.
"I have Frank and Izzie come up here every day to try to air out the place. Frank says it is much better than it was. Your grandfather had been gone for a while before we found him."
Matt and Jennifer walked around the lodge, "Jennifer, do you know if you will come back here to live."
"I had never planned on coming back here to live or take over my grandfather's business," Jennifer said. She kept walking around. She headed to her room and saw that the room was pretty much empty with a box on the bed with the note to Jennifer.
Jennifers hand was shaking as she picked up the envelope and opened it. She began to read the letter.
To my darling granddaughter Jen,
Last time we spoke I was very angry with you. You were no longer the little girl I had always known and loved. You became a person I did not know or recognize any more. I was embarrassed to call you family. I don't know what caused you to go wild. If I was being too strict or not strict enough with you. I think I let you too loose in letting you run around these mountains with men. You let those men manipulate you for their own pleasure. I don't regret throwing you out. I think you deserved it, and it was the only way I thought I could get through to you.
I do regret that I did not see you were hurting or in need of help and let you get to the point you did. I should have recognized it and put a stop to things before they went as far as they did.
I wished you would have returned home at some point, but you never did. You could have been alive or dead and I would have never known. I would have welcomed you with open arms. We are the only family we had, and we should have been able to work it out. I am a stubborn old goat, and you were and are my granddaughter, and I will always love you. Jennifer, I am sorry for what I said to you that day.
If you are reading this, I am probably dead. I am sorry I could not say these things to you in person. And we ended things the way we did. And we did not clear things up between us.
Love always,
Grandpa
Jennifer fell into a puddle of tears on the floor. Matt heard her crying and went into the room. He was surprised to see how empty the room was. All her stuff was gone except for a box on the bed. Matt ran over to Jennifer and pulled her up and hugged her. Jennifer leaned into him and she just let him hold her.
"He is really gone, and he did love me," Jennifer said sobbing.
"Of course he loved you," Matt said consoling. Jennifer handed Matt the note. He read it. "Oh, Jen I am so sorry you went through all that. He really did kick you out."
Jennifer just shook her head, yes. Jennifer continued to cry.
"You are going to be okay; I've got you." Matt kissed her on the top of her head. "Jen, I have to ask you one thing. Did… Did Cody ever hurt you or try anything?"
Jennifer stopped crying; she wiped the tears from her eyes. "Your brother was always a perfect gentleman. He never tried anything." Jennifer said.
"Good, little worried I would have to kick Cody's butt too. Not sure if I could really do it anymore," Matt said.
"Matt, thank you for being here for me, even though I do not deserve it," Jen confessed.
"Jen, I have always thought of you like a little sister. Cody did too. You are family to us," Matt said.
"Thank you," Jennifer turned and hugged Matt.
Jennifer finished gathering what she wanted. Matt and Jennifer closed up the cottage for good.
Next day was the funeral. Matt dropped Jennifer off early at the funeral and said he and Robin would be there shortly. Jennifer had a few pictures to put up and that was about it. The time came for the service to start. There were only a few mountain men present, Stoney was there and that was about it. Matt and Robin were not there and none of the rangers. The pastor of the local church that Aaron attended from time to time conducted the funeral. Jennifer was alone and did not have anyone there with her. Matt and Robin were supposed to come but were a no show. Jennifer just looked around and no one else showed up. She had never felt more alone than when her grandfather kicked her out. Paster asked if she wanted to say something. She just shook her head no. When came to the burial she asked the funeral director if she could ride in the car with him. At the burial it was just Jennifer. She rode back with the director and paid the bill.
Jennifer just sat outside by herself not knowing what she would do next. The Funeral Director had locked up and left. It was about an hour later when a High Mountain Ranger truck pulled up. Izzie jumped out of the truck and ran over to her, "Jen we are so sorry that no one was here. There was an emergency we were called on and we could not make it. We really wished we could have been there for you. We were bit short handed with Matt gone."
"Where was Matt?" Jennifer asked.
"You don't know? Robin went into labor this morning." Izzie said.
"Did she have the baby?" Jennifer asked.
"Yes, do you want to see the baby," Izzie asked.
"Yes," Jennifer was still pretty sad.
Izzie and Jennifer made their way to the hospital and up to Robin's room. Matt saw Izzie and Jennifer and waved them in.
"Guys come on in, I want you to meet our daughter. Kelly Erin Hawkes." Matt was holding the baby.
"She is beautiful," Jennifer said. Matt put the baby into Jennifer's arms. "Kelly, you are so beautiful. You are a very lucky little girl. You have two wonderful parents that will love you and take good care of you."
Jen handed the baby over to Izzie. He was talking to the baby so softly.
"Jen, we are so sorry we could not be there for you. When I got back to the cottage, Robin was fully in labor, and we had to go straight to the hospital. We barely made it," Matt said and he hugged her.
"Jen are you okay?" Robin asked. Jen shook her head yes. "You don't have to put that brave face on for me," Robin hugged Jennifer and Jennifer started to cry. "It is okay sweet heart."
Izzie looked up; he did not know everything that Jen had gone through. He asked. "Jen, what are your next steps?"
Jen looked up. "I am meeting with the Lawyer to go over the will tomorrow. And then I need to head back to school."
"Can you stay a few days?" Robin asked. "I will be going home in a couple of days."
"I love to stay, but I need to get back. I have to work and I have gotten a bit behind with school. I can't miss anymore." Jen said.
"Think about it please?" Robin asked.
"I will think about it," Jennifer said.
Next morning Jennifer had an appointment with her Grandfather's Lawyer to go over the will. Matt had stayed with Robin at the Hospital. They would be taking the baby home the next day. Jennifer did not want to be in the way, she had nothing more to do in Tahoe and needed to get back to school. She did not want Matt and Robin to talk her into staying longer. Izzie was to pick her up for her appointment, so she decided to leave them a note. She brought all her stuff with her and planned to leave as soon as she was done with the lawyer. There was a bus later in the afternoon, so she should be able to make that one.
At the Lawyer's office, the lawyer was going through the will.
"Did your grandfather ever discuss his wishes with you?" Lawyer asked.
"No," Jennifer said.
"I know he had talked to Jesse Hawkes a lot about it. Your Grandfather made several variations of the will, including giving you everything, giving you nothing and this was the strangest of them all. You will not have the right to sell the property or rent it out to anyone under any circumstances as long as his estate is able to pay the property taxes. He would like it if you lived there and continue with his business."
"You have got to be kidding me," Jennifer said. "And what if I don't want to run the lodge?"
"Well than I think it will just sit there," Lawyer responded.
"And once the money runs out? Then can I sell it?" Jennifer was frustrated.
"According to the terms of the will, then you can sell it."
"How many years will take before the money runs out?" Jennifer asked.
"By my estimation, I believe we could have 10 to 15 years before the money runs out."
"This is unbelievable, so he is leaving me nothing."
"He is leaving you your childhood home. There were times you would have gotten nothing."
"I need to catch a bus back to school. Is there anything I need to sign before I leave?" Jennifer asked.
"Yes, these documents just indicate we discussed the terms of the will. Then we are done:"
Jennifer went over and signed the documents. "Thank you, Mr. Miller. Have a good rest of your day."
With that, Jennifer picked up her bags and started walking over to the bus station. It was about a mile walk. Jennifer needed the walk to cool off some steam. She was able to catch the bus and left Tahoe for the last time.
Later that day Matt and Robin returned home with their new baby girl. Matt helped Robin in and was carrying the baby. "Jennifer, we are back." The cottage was empty, there was no response. Robin noticed the envelope on the table.
Robin said as she picked up the envelope, "What is this?" She took out the note and read it aloud.
Robin and Matt, I want to thank you so much for letting me stay at your place while I attended my grandfather's funeral. I am so happy to have been able to meet your precious baby girl. Congratulations. I am meeting with the lawyer today, and then I need to head back to school. I have missed too much already and need to get back. I don't plan on returning to Tahoe any time soon, but if I did. I would surely stop by.
Jen
"I wish she would have stayed," Robin said.
"I know. Maybe she wanted to give us our space as we get settled in with Kelly. Beside our families will be coming soon and then we will wish we had this place and our baby to ourselves," Matt said.
"Your right, but she was just so sad looking; I hate the idea of her being all alone out there."
"Something she will need to get used to. She is an orphan now," Matt said. "I do wish she felt more like she was part of our family, instead of such an outsider. If Cody was here, he would have made her stay."
"Well, I think your brother in his own way is little smitten for her." Robin said.
"I think you are right." Matt said. "Too bad Cody could not have been here; we could have gotten Cody a wife and Jen a family."