by Rita Hestand
That night as he snuggled into the couch, he smiled to himself. His Uncle liked Sammie Jo. He was glad. Uncle Jessup didn't take to too many females. Especially ones like Donna.
When he thought about Donna, he wondered why he ever married her. They had so little in common. His folks had told him he was too young to know his own mind. They had been right, and they reminded him every chance they got.
But then, he knew. His hormones were way out of control then and he had sex on the brain. Now, he knew that sex wasn't the most important ingredient. He knew what he wanted. And deep down, he knew that Sammie Jo was part of that want.
He thought about the lovely ring, and the sadness his Uncle must have suffered to lose his lady. Maybe he was right, maybe he better ask Sammie Jo right away.
Chapter Seventeen
The next day, the brightness of the snow woke Cody. His Uncle was up and making coffee in the kitchen.
He smelled bacon cooking and saw his Uncle making flap-jacks.
"You hungry?" Jessup asked.
"I could sure eat." Cody smiled.
"Good. I got a stack you can start on now. Go on, help yourself. I'll join you in a minute."
Cody grabbed the stack and brought it to the little table in the corner of the kitchen. "I haven't had any of these in a while." Cody laughed.
"Me neither, but we got a few things to do this morning, so I thought we might need the nourishment." He said bringing his stack to the table.
"We need to hook the new generator up. That old one sounds like it's on its last lap." Cody glanced at it.
"It ought to be, it's nearly twenty years old." Jessup chuckled.
"Well, now you got a new one, and I want you use it."
"I will…and thanks. You'll have to let me know how much this all came to before you leave so I can pay you."
"I got the receipts, but you don't have to pay me back all at once. Just send some regular like." Cody suggested.
"Alright, I appreciate that. Social Security isn't much to live on these days."
"I know…and if you can't pay, that's okay too," Cody said matter-of-factly.
"I'll pay up, don't you worry about that." Jessup looked at his clothes. "Look, you better get something warmer than those duds, we're going to be out there for a while today."
"You got any long handles?" Cody laughed.
"Sure I do. And you'll need them, so don't laugh. Top dresser drawer."
"I believe you. Is it still snowing out there?" Cody asked as he went in the bedroom to get the long handles. He quickly changed into them and put his clothes back on.
"You haven't looked out?"
"No, that's why I asked you?"
"We'll have to dig our way out of here, that's how deep it is."
Cody seemed a little on edge about the weather, but Jessup didn't mention it again.
"When you aiming to go back?" Jessup asked, his eyes narrowing on him.
"I guess tomorrow. Unless we don't get everything done. I want to help you while I'm here, so if we don't get done, I'll stay another day."
"Alright. Then let's finish this up and get at it." Jessup rushed him suddenly. "We got lots to do."
"Trying to get rid of me already?" Cody chuckled.
"You know I don't like people."
"But you like me!"
"I love you son!" Jessup said and got up and went into the other room for a minute. When he came back, he was red-eyed but Cody didn't say a word about it.
Cody let Jessup gear him up for the weather outside and then they unloaded the truck. Cody set the new generator up and got it to working. It purred nicely. He was so glad.
They tackled the trees next. Cody saw the tree his uncle was talking about and he did the climbing up to reach the outstretching limbs and his uncle caught them as Cody continued to saw them off.
A couple of hours later they went back inside to warm up. "That tree could have fallen on this house and caved it in. You know that, don't you?"
"That's why I told you about them."
"Well, next time, don't wait so long to tell me about them. I don't want to come up here and find you…."
"Never mind. You ain't gonna find me that way. Now just quit fussing."
The next few hours they worked steady clearing the debris of tree limbs and carrying them off in a big pile away from the house. Cody did cut him some firewood though and stacked it neatly on his back porch.
The sun went down early and it was so cold everything froze up.
They cooked a big supper and Cody helped put the supplies away for him.
As they ate, Jessup stared at Cody for a moment. "I want to thank you for taking care of me so good all these years, Cody. I couldn't have made it without you, course you know that. You're all I have…"
"You sure are mushy." Cody laughed.
"I gotta right to be…" Jessup said, his voice giving way to his emotions.
After supper Jessup brought two big tubs in, set them in the kitchen and boiled water so they could have a bath.
As they relaxed in the tubs, they talked for hours. Jessup was a storyteller and Cody could listen to him all night. He talked about years ago, when he was a young fella like Cody. He talked about mutual friends they had over the years. And he talked about Sammie Jo.
"You know she's not a bit like Donna."
"I know…and I'm glad."
"Just because things didn't work out between you and Donna, don't let that hold you back from knowing what is right for you. And Sammie Jo is right for you. You know that as much as I do. She brightens your smile and makes your eyes sparkle. When that happens, you know you are in love. I waited too late with Katie. I knew she was good for me too. But I waited too late. Don't let that happen with you and Sammie Jo. Seize the moment, it may be all you have. Only God knows. She's a good girl, I could tell that right off, and she'll be a dandy wife."
Cody absorbed this with his heart.
"You were young when you married Donna, just a kid, still wet behind the ears. So was she. But there was no lasting love there, even on your part and if you look at it, you have to be able to see that. If you had really loved her, you'd have moved mountains to be with her. Let go of your past and get on with your future. I'd like to have some grandkids to spoil."
Cody glanced at him now. He'd never heard his Uncle express himself so plainly. He knew that this visit had created a new bond, a bond they never had before and he was so glad he came.
Getting ready for bed once more after they put away the tubs and washed the dishes, Cody looked at his Uncle.
"How come you never bought a TV. I mean I can understand not having a computer, but the TV would be a lot of company to you."
"Up here, there's not much reception. Ain't got no cable companies around. Besides, I'd rather read a book, or sew a button on, or just about anything than watch what is on the tube these days."
Cody laughed. "It could be a lot of company for you. They have game shows and old movies."
"When I get old and feeble and you move me into one of those homes, then maybe I'll watch the darn thing."
Cody studied that notion a while.
"I don't want to see you in a home. You'll come live with me, when the time comes. I may have to drag you down this mountain, but I will if I have to."
"Nonsense. You will have a family of your own by then and I'd be a burden."
"Never," Cody said and smiled warmly at his Uncle. "That's the one thing you'll never be."
"Don't you fret none. I'll come down there when you marry and see that cute gal of yours. I bet you'll make some beautiful kids."
"Who is marrying her, me or you?" He chuckled.
"Well, if you don't pretty quick, I'll have to ask her myself." Jessup laughed.
"And you would too, wouldn't you?"
"I know a good thing when I see it." He laughed.
"How about a little snort to warm your tummy?"
"You got any?"
"Sure…been saving it for a speci
al occasion."
"And is this special?"
"Son, any time you visit, it's special," Jessup said, and then looked at him with those red eyes.
"I never realized how sentimental you are. Must be old age catching up to you."
"Never you mind. Taste this…" He handed him a small glass of sherry.
"Now that's smooth." Cody smiled.
"As smooth as it gets. Drink it slow, savor every drop, taste it, smell it, enjoy it. Now, I'm going to bed, you can sit up all night if you want to. But an old man like me has to have some sleep. Especially since you woke me up last night in the middle of the night."
Cody smiled and sipped the sherry. His eyelids were heavy too. "I think I'll turn in too. Night Uncle Jessup. I'm glad I made it up here."
"Night, son. I'm glad you did too."
Cody closed his eyes, and visions of Sammie Jo danced in his head. He missed her. But was he ready to get married again? Was his Uncle right? Was Sammie Jo the one for him? It sure felt like it when he held her in his arms.
Chapter Eighteen
"I guess I better be heading out Uncle Jessup. If you need anything else, get hold of me through Sam's ham radio. Oh…by the way, I had to cipher gas out of my tank coming up, you think Joe's gas station over at Ridge will be open?" Cody asked as he packed up his truck to leave.
"Should be. You take care, looks like more snow on the way…"
"I will, thanks. Talk to you soon."
"I'll be going to Sam's on Friday, I'll talk to you then." Jessup was saying as his eyes scanned the horizon.
Cody nodded, "See you."
Jessup nodded and waved him goodbye.
Cody drove to the Ridge community, it wasn't a town, just a few businesses there and a gas station, but it was open and Cody was glad.
"Better get on down the mountain, Cody. They got warnings out for skiers to not go out, there's a big snowpack on this side of the mountain. Near Creek Point. You be careful."
"Thanks for the information, Joe, I've been expecting as much. I'll keep my eyes open. As a matter of fact, would you fill this thermos full of coffee." Cody handed him the thermos that Sammie Jo packed for him.
"Be glad to."
Joe brought the thermos out to his truck. "You take care now."
"I plan to, thanks…" Cody waved and was on his way. He was worried about getting down the mountain, but at least Joe had assured him that the Rangers had put out markers for the skiers. All they needed was some gung-ho college kids out on the slopes.
It began snowing almost as soon as he left Joe's.
Cody turned his wipers on, turned up the heat and drove slowly down the road. A couple of teenagers passed him on the road going at break neck speed. Cody wished he could warn them of the dangers, but he doubted they'd listen.
But about half way down he saw some skiers, looked like about three of them up on the slope. He also saw the snowpack above them. He grimaced. He needed to warn them, get them off that path.
On foot, it would take too long. He drove down in front of them and hollered from his truck. They didn't pay a bit of attention. Maybe they couldn't hear him.
He'd have to go the rest of the way on foot.
He closed his truck door carefully and headed toward the slope.
He couldn't catch up to them, they were traveling too fast, making way too much noise and Cody wasn't sure what he should do.
About the time he decided to go back to the truck he saw it. A cloud of powder snow. Avalanche!
He hollered at the kids, but they didn't hear him.
He kept hollering and trying to get out of the way.
He had almost gotten out of range of the cloud, when it overtook him and blasted him hard against something, he didn't know what.
The last thing he remembered was reaching for the ring in his pocket.
Sammie Jo!
Blackness invaded him.
When he regained consciousness, he tried to get up, but that was impossible. He was buried, all but one arm.
He quickly made him an air pocket. He could at least breath, even though he couldn't get up.
He would freeze to death if he stayed here long. His mind began to work. But his body didn't seem willing.
Slowly he began digging around him with the one good arm. He had freed the arm up to his elbow. Good, if he kept it up, he might be able to move out of the mess.
The problem was staying awake now. Sleep was quickly over-powering him.
One of the worst things he could do was go to sleep.
He kept slapping at the snow. Maybe if he could keep moving the arm, someone might see him.
But an hour later, he didn't feel he had made much progress.
He was losing this battle.
I can't lose. I've got to get home…to Sammie Jo.
After another hour or so of flailing his arm around and digging in at the snow, he felt the darkness overcome him. Sleep was too inviting now.
Just as he gave up, he heard a noise.
He saw light, but he didn't know where it came from because he saw it through the snow.
"There's someone here!" A voice called.
"I got an arm…" Another called.
"Let's dig around him." The first voice hollered.
Off and on he heard people above him.
He wondered if he died and went to heaven. But he didn't think heaven looked like this. He tried to move his arm. It wouldn't move. But he could wiggle his fingers.
"He's alive….come on boys, let's hurry and get him out." The voice said.
Get me out!
It had seemed like hours before they were able to pull him out. But he was so numb he couldn't move.
He heard a helicopter.
Then he had the sensation of being lifted, then flying away.
He wondered where he was going. Still, that didn't matter, he was alive.
But now that he was out from under the weight of the snow, he felt more tired than usual and again he went to sleep.
It was three days before he realized he was in the hospital.
The nurse had just come in to check his vitals. "Well now, it's about time you came to. How you feeling?"
"I dunno. Kind of numb right now." Cody answered.
"You should, you've got enough medicine in you to keep you down a few more days." She laughed.
"Am I…going to be alright?" Cody asked.
"You'll live." She answered.
"That's not what I mean. I mean will I be alright. Is anything wrong?"
"You got a broken leg, several broken ribs, frostbite on your fingers and toes. If there's anything else, the doctor will tell you when he comes in." The nurse informed him.
"Is the frostbite bad?"
"Frostbite isn't good, no matter what. But like I said, you are alive." She smiled. "You should feel thankful, those three skiers didn't make it, that were below you. They found them the day after they found you. They were completely buried, they suffocated."
Cody remembered them. His face contorted into a huge frown, and a tear slid down his cheek. "I remember now. I was trying to warn them, but I couldn't get close enough."
The nurse looked shocked. "Well…you tried…that's all anyone can do. Don't feel so bad. When it's your time there's nothing anyone else can do."
Cody swallowed hard.
"Say, do you have relatives you need contacting?" The nurse asked.
"Uh…no. My Uncle lives on the mountain, I went up to take him some supplies for the winter. But he doesn't have a phone or anything."
"What's his name, we can radio up that way and get a message to him." The nurse insisted.
"Where am I?" He glanced around not seeing anything familiar.
"You're in Fairbanks."
"Fairbanks."
"They care-flighted you here."
"My Uncle, his name is Jessup More. If you can get a hold of him, that would be good."
"Anyone else?"
"I got a girl in Bear Creek…I can call
her on the cell phone."
"I don't think so." The nurse eyed him. "You phone died out there in the snow."
"Okay, I'll call her later, then…"
"She'll probably be mad…"
He smiled, "No doubt…."
~*~
"Is this Mr. Jessup More?" The voice on the other end of the phone asked.
Jessup was at Joe's Gas Station, the only place around that had a phone. "Yes, this is he? Who's this?"
"I'm Nurse Wellington. Your nephew, Cody Talltree is in our hospital."
"Cody…is he hurt?"
"Yes, I’m afraid he is. It isn't fatal or anything of that nature, but he has some broken bones and frostbite. He was caught in the avalanche…."
"My God. Where you calling from lady?" His Uncle seemed very disturbed.
"Fairbanks, we care-flighted him here. He was buried by an avalanche. You were the only person he'd tell us about."
"I'll be there as soon as I can. Does anyone else know?"
"No sir, like I said he didn't give us anyone else's name. He said he had a girl in Bear Creek I believe it was. But his cell phone was destroyed in the accident. So he can't call her unless he uses the phone in the room."
"He won't do it. I'll take care of it. Give me the directions to your hospital, ma'am." Jessup said.
"Of course." The nurse told him how to find the hospital and Jessup hung up.
Joe looked at Jessup. "What's up?"
"Cody, he was caught in that avalanche. I can't figure out why. He was in his truck or supposed to be. I got to get to Fairbanks, but first, I got to make a stop off at Bear Creek. Could you drive me down?"
"Well, I would, but the roads are all blocked off," Joe said.
"Oh man. I gotta get down there. He ain't got anyone, but me to look after him, me and his girlfriend." Jessup said. "Poor Sammie Jo, she doesn't know a thing about this."
"Is he hurt bad?" Joe asked.
"Got a lot of broken bones and frostbite," Jessup said rubbing the back of his neck.
"Frostbite is never good. Hey, my cousin's got an airplane. He could take you, I’m sure of it."
"Where does he live?"
"About ten miles from here. I can take you there."