Family Matters (The Travers Brothers Series): The Travers Brothers Series

by Rita Hestand

  "It was our forty-third anniversary," Loretta announced.

  "Forty-three years. That's a long time…You must have been kids when you got married." Sammie Jo smiled and congratulated them.

  "We were right out of high school and crazy in love."

  "That's so romantic. Not many these days reach such a record."

  "And we haven't killed each other yet," Lon said quietly.

  "Well, this calls for a celebration. Drinks are on me, tonight, for the two of you. So what will you have?"

  "Oh, you know me, I'll have a cider." Loretta piped.

  "Why don't you indulge and have one of those fancy wines she ordered."

  "Could we?"

  "Of course. I'll bring you my best." Sammie Jo went to look for the wine.

  Paul and Keith came in and Sammie Jo delivered the wine to the Weems' table and asked Paul to play their favorite tune, "I'll Give You a Daisy a Day Dear".

  Paul's tenor and Keith base made the ballad even more beautiful. All the customers loved it, especially when Sammie Jo had announced their anniversary to everyone. The song made it special for them.

  The two of them cuddled as they listened and clanked their glasses as Sammie Jo cheered them on.

  Everyone clapped when it was over and then turned to clap for Loretta and Lon.

  "You've certainly turned this place into something nice and cozy for all of us, Sammie Jo. I don't know what it is, but it has such a homey atmosphere about it." Lon was saying. "We'll be by as often as we can."

  "Great. I am trying. I'm very glad you like it here." Sammie Jo beamed. "Oh…excuse me, I better tend the bar…"

  As she walked off she heard them say, "Such a lovely young woman, isn't she?"

  "The best."

  It warmed her heart to see them so happy and to know they liked the Nite-N-Gale.

  Sal came in, greeted everyone, ordered a beer and sat down with the Weems.

  When Sammie Jo greeted him and passed by, he stopped her with his words. "I saw Cody leaving for Ever's Pass."

  "Yes, he's taking supplies up to his Uncle'," Sammie Jo explained and then turned red when they all smiled at her. "But I guess you all knew that, didn't you?"

  "Not a good time to go up there. The weather is unstable right now. That can create problems. Although I'm sure, Cody is aware of them." Lon said as though thinking about it.

  Sammie Jo's brows knit with worry instantly. "Are they predicting any avalanche's?"

  "No one actually predicts an avalanche, they just sort of happen. But all of us that have lived around here any length of time know what to look for and when." Sal kept telling tales and Sammie Jo was getting worried. "Cody especially."

  Loretta finally punched him in the rib. "Would you quit, she's already worried, can't you tell."

  "Oh…oh, I’m sorry honey. I didn't mean to upset you. Cody is a better judge than I am of an avalanche. If he went up, he had to think it was safe." Sal corrected his damage to some degree.

  "We were up there last week," Sammie Jo mumbled almost to herself.

  "Oh…things must be getting serious between you two. I never heard of Cody taking any girl up to meet his Uncle." Loretta smiled at her. "That's like most folks that take you up to see their parents. Cody loves his Uncle and he'd do anything for him."

  Sammie Jo shrugged it off. "Yes, Jessup was very good to me. I have to wonder why he doesn't want to join civilization though. I mean you'd think he gets lonely."

  "I'm sure he does, off and on, but Cody always said he just didn't like lots of people around." Loretta shook her head. "You know, Cody must think you are pretty special to take you up there."

  "We haven't known each other long…" Sammie Jo tried to explain. "But we've become good friends."

  "Sometimes you don't need to. Sometimes it's just like love at first sight." Loretta encouraged, but when she saw the blush on Sammie Jo's face she changed the subject. "So how was Jessup?"

  "He was doing well. He was a little low on supplies for the winter, so that's why Cody had to go. I liked him though, and I could tell, he really cares for Cody. And I feel he's crucial to him too."

  "Yeah, his folks kind of neglect him now. I guess since he's grown they don't think they have to see after him at all. His father hasn't been here since he divorced Cody's mother. And his mother, she remarried and we haven't seen her in over three years."

  Sammie Jo thought about that for a while. How could you go that long without seeing your folks? She was already ready for a visit home. But from the looks of the weather, she wouldn't be going home until spring.

  That night she curled up on the floor with SeeMe, hugged him and talked to him. "I hope Cody doesn't have any problems."

  SeeMe yawned.

  "Oh…to be a dog and not have a care in the world." Sammie Jo laughed and hugged him to her. SeeMe got a little closer, as though he knew she needed him tonight.

  "Looks like the weather is going to be turning colder now. I haven't a chance of going home until spring. Oh well, I don't need to take off so much time just yet anyway. I guess I can talk to them on the computer."

  She finally laid her head on top of SeeMe and went to sleep.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Cody turned up the heater and turned his radio on, to get a weather report. He also clicked on the GPS to make sure roads were travelable. The radio kept coming in and out because of the weather though, so he finally turned it off.

  This wasn't the best idea he'd had, but he knew his Uncle would need those supplies. He even ordered a new generator because the old one wasn't doing so well. That was imperative. It could save his life. And he had a lot of trees that needed attention, so Cody put his own chainsaw in the back of the truck to take up with him. At least he hoped he remembered to put it back there. The back of his truck was loaded with supplies.

  So far it was snowing and getting colder, but the roads were reasonably good. He kept a steady pace up the mountain. There was very little traffic.

  He got to thinking about Sammie Jo, the way she worried over him, made him feel warm and cozy inside. He really liked her. No…that wasn't the truth, he was falling in love with her. He knew the signs. Thinking about how he marched into the saloon that day and kissed her in front of everyone. He'd have the whole town talking.

  But this was a different feeling than he had with Donna. Perhaps this was what they called, "true love." He wanted to find out.

  He wasn't sure when it happened, or how, or even why. But he knew it had. She was everything he wanted in a woman, kind, thoughtful, good looking, good sense of humor. There was very little he didn't like about Sammie Jo. And he loved the fact that she had enough adventure in her to come up here to a strange part of the country and try to make a living. Now, the real test would be how long she stayed.

  He was sighing heavily when suddenly a tree fell right in the center of the road. The sound was deafening, and the snow seemed to actually splash against his truck like a sheet of rain falling. The impact made his truck bounce. He realized if he had moved any faster, the tree would have trapped him.

  He thanked God, then and there.

  He slammed his brakes and cursed under his breath. He got out and examined the damage. His truck was alright, but the tree was huge. He'd need help to move it.

  Damn…everything was going so well until now.

  He glanced in the back of him, there had been very little traffic on his way up. Help was not an option. He was going to have to handle this himself.

  He checked the back of his truck, he was hoping he remembered the chain saw. He smiled to himself when he saw it on top of some tools he was bringing his Uncle. This was a good sign.

  That is until he ran out of gas for the saw.

  He looked at his truck, then at the saw. He could cipher some of his gas from the truck into the gas chamber. He had plenty of gas, at least to get there. He only hoped ole Joe's Gas station would be open tomorrow. He'd chance it. He got the tube from his glove-compartment and began
the task.

  He was well dressed for the cold, but standing out in it created a problem because the wind was picking up too. The icy wind was already numbing.

  He couldn't take his gloves off, his hands would freeze. So he worked slowly putting the tank up so the gas would go into it when he began to cipher it. It seemed to work.

  After he had secured everything, he started the chainsaw again and began cutting the tree into pieces so he could move them.

  It would take a while, it was a big tree. He worked at a steady pace, not rushing, but continuing.

  He went back to the truck after a while to drink some of Sammie Jo's coffee she insisted he take with him. He smiled. She thought of everything. Another thing he liked about her, she was dependable and helpful.

  As he gradually made some progress, a jeep came down the road and passed him. He gestured at them to stop, but they kept going. Cody shook his head. "Some help you are!" He shouted after they had gone.

  "I can do this." He told himself.

  He continued to move the tree parts off the road. Finally, he cleared enough to get around it. It only took him two hours of working and warming and working and warming.

  He drove slower now, the snow was making it hard to see where he was going, like white sheets bouncing on the windshield.

  It was three in the morning, when he made his Uncle's shack out of the snow drifts. The tension inside him was bundled in a knot on his neck. He rolled his shoulders and tried to relax, he had made it here. He counted his lucky stars. If he hadn't brought that chain saw he might not have gotten through.

  He left his lights on and pounded on the door.

  It took a bit for his Uncle to answer, and Cody could tell he had been sleeping for a while. He stood there in his flannel pajamas and stared at Cody as though he didn't know him.

  "Cody…what are you doing out in this mess?" Jessup asked, clearing his head and wiping his eyes.

  "I brought your supplies. Let me kill my lights." He turned around and went back to his truck. His Uncle watched him.

  "My God, I didn't need all that right away?" He said when Cody came in and shook the snow off his clothes.

  Cody looked at him incredulously. "You needed that generator. I saw how your old one acted up. I didn't want to think of you freezing up here. Besides, I wanted to get back down before we have an avalanche on our hands. This is fresh snow. I'll help you do a few things tomorrow, then be on my way home." Cody admonished him.

  "You worry too much. But I'm glad you are here. Good to see you again. Come on, let's make some coffee."

  "Don't you want to go to bed?" Cody frowned at him. "I mean, it's three in the morning."

  "Not just yet. I'd rather talk to you a while first. We'll unload your truck tomorrow. You got a cover for it don't you?"

  "Yeah, in fact, while you make some coffee, I'll run out and put that over the back so everything will be protected." Cody smiled at him.

  Jessup nodded.

  When he came back in, he smelled the aroma of coffee brewing and he took his coat and gloves off. The generator was making all kinds of noise, he wondered how his Uncle could sleep.

  "That smells good." Cody smiled when his uncle handed him a cup.

  "It'll warm you up some." Jessup smiled. "Where's that cute little gal you brought up last week?"

  "She had to work…"

  "That's a shame, I like her, Cody. She's a keeper. I can tell."

  "Yeah, she's a lovely lady."

  Jessup made a funny face, and then smiled, "Lovely is not the word for her. Fantastic might be. I liked her right off Cody. So…are you interested in her, I mean…well…you know what I mean?"

  Cody frowned. He hoped he wouldn't have to get into this so soon, but he figured he might as well get it out of the way. His uncle always had his better interest at heart, he knew that.

  "Yeah…I am." Cody said not looking at him.

  "How interested?"

  "I'm not sure…I mean…ah…I can't keep anything from you. I'm crazy about her…and you know it."

  "Sure I do. You wouldn't have brought her up here if you weren't. I knew that. Well, if you love her, then you should do right by her."

  "I…haven't compromised her…"

  "Of course you haven't. But…a girl needs more than a few kisses to reassure her that a man loves her. You need to put a ring on her finger, and claim her, before someone else beats you to it." Jessup laughed.

  "A ring? Don't you think that's a little too soon? I mean we've only known each other a few weeks now."

  "No, I don't. Not seeing as how you two looked at each other, I don't. She's a sweet lady. And I do mean sweet. And you can't treat her like a what do you call them girls that follow men all over the country."

  "I don't know. But I do know what you mean. I just thought maybe I should go slower. I mean…I don't want to rush her. I want it to be mutual…"

  "Oh, I think that's pretty obvious too. Wait a minute…you went into hock for what's her name's ring, didn't you?"

  "Donna. Yeah…but that has nothing to do with anything." Cody shook his head. "I was young and foolish."

  "Of course it does. But I got the solution for you, if you'll accept it from me."

  "You do?"

  "Sure, hang on a minute. I'll be back."

  Jessup was fooling around in his bedroom for a long time, opening and shutting dresser drawers, then he came back and handed a little black box to Cody. "Well, open it!" Jessup hollered.

  Cody did and his eyes became wide with wonder. "Where did you get this?"

  Jessup smiled and settled into the couch. "Remember me telling you about Katie?"

  "Katie…oh, yeah…the engineer's daughter. What about her?"

  "Well, I was going to ask her…before the accident."

  "Oh my God. I never knew you and her were…in love?" Cody almost blushed saying the word. "My God, why didn't you tell me?"

  "I don't know. I guess I'm like you, didn't want to talk about it. We were hot and heavy. I loved that girl hard. She was something else. She was the only woman I loved that much. And the only woman I nearly married…" his eyes went misty for a moment, and he didn't speak.

  "I don't remember much about her. How did she die?"

  "In a plane crash. It was storming, she was coming home from college for the summer. But a terrible storm hit right after the took off, and they think lightning hit it."

  Cody eyed him sharply. "I'm so sorry Uncle Jessup. I wish things had worked out differently for you."

  Jessup nodded. "Me too…but anyway. I got this ring for her. Never had a chance to even show it to her. No sense it going to waste. It's a beautiful ring. I paid a fortune for it, but love has no price tag. I'd like you to have it. Give it to that little gal. She's right for you, Cody. I can see that."

  Cody took the ring out of the box and admired it. It was white gold with a beautiful sapphire in the middle surrounded by diamonds. Cody had never seen one like it. He swallowed hard.

  "But this belongs to you, I can't just take it…I mean what if you meet someone else…?"

  "I won't. I'm too old now to worry about settling down."

  "You really liked her though? You could love again."

  "I really did love Katie, but that was years ago, in my younger days. And I'll tell you something, I like your girl too. And we need some fresh blood in this family." Jessup smiled. "She's from good stock, I can tell."

  Cody stared at him a long time, then reached for his hand. "Thank you…I'll take good care of it."

  "You just put it on that little gal's finger and I won't feel so bad about buying it." Jessup attempted a laugh.

  "I gotta be sure…" Cody looked at him. "I think I need some time…"

  "Now isn't that something. I'm sure already." Jessup laughed at him.

  "She hasn't been up here that long. She might change her mind and move back to Texas. She's already homesick."

  "Hear now. Being homesick, when you got sick folk is natural. But sh
e looks to me like she's made up her mind to stay. If you love that little gal, you give her that ring and ask her to wed you. And don't wait. Waiting don't make anyone happy." Jessup said, his words trailing off into memories. "And if she goes back to Texas, go with her, meet her family, but let her know just how much you love her. Sometimes when you love someone Cody, you gotta go the extra mile. But…I think she might be worth it."

  Cody nodded. "I am pretty crazy about her."

  "Me too!" His uncle laughed.

  "Thanks…" Cody put the ring in the box and put it away in his pocket. "It means a lot to me that you like her. That's why I brought her up."

  "Don't you trust your own feelings?"

  "Sometimes. I made a big mistake with Donna. I didn't talk to anyone, I just jumped in with both feet. I regret that now. But, with Sammie Jo, it's been so fast. I don't want to rush her. She's got a lot of good solid principles. I want her to know I respect them. And I want to be sure this time. "

  "Just tell her how you feel. She'll respect that."

  Cody laughed.

  "So, how was the road's coming up?"

  "A tree fell in the road on my way. That's what took me so long. No traffic, hardly, so no one to help. Thank God I had that chainsaw in the back of the truck. I brought it for you, you said some of the trees around here needed trimming back."

  "They do, that's the truth. There is one big one, on the side of the house that could tumble on top of me if I'm not careful."

  "Then we'll get out there together tomorrow and do some cutting." Cody nodded.

  "I don't aim to put you to work."

  "Well, I won't stand around and let you do it alone. You know you have help. It's always better with two."

  "You know Cody, you're like a son to me…" Jessup teared up again. "You've always been there for me. Always worried about me, when no one else would. You mean the world to me son."

  "Let's have another cup of coffee and go to bed, before you get too mushy on me." Cody suggested.

  "Sounds good."

  Cody watched his Uncle and even though he didn't go into details, he knew his Uncle was glad he was here. He was always so happy to see him. They always had so much to talk about. He'd do anything for him.