by Rita Hestand
"But when you kiss me…I'm lost. As lost as any girl can be. I want you as much as I think you want me…but I can't."
He smiled and pulled her against him, cuddling with her. "I want you as much, maybe more. All I could think of coming back today was you. And when I walked in and saw you, it just didn't matter that half the town was watching. I wanted that kiss. Needed it. But…I promise you, I won't touch you…unless you are sure you want me to. It's been a long time since I dated anyone with those kinds of principles. And I do respect them. We haven't know each other very long. But…I will admit it is sometimes very hard to control how I feel at the moment. I won't compromise you Sammie Jo. And I won't run away because of it either."
"I'm real old-fashioned Cody. There's a time and a place for sex. I prefer to think of it as making love. And there has to be a commitment. Without it, it's meaningless and there are regrets. I'm not asking you to commit. I'm asking you to respect my beliefs."
"And I do…but you might have to remind me, off and on. Because when you kiss back with such fire. I kind of lose my head."
She smiled. "Thank you for understanding."
He studied her long and hard. Then he smiled. "You are quite a woman…"
"Thank you. Want something to drink?" She asked getting up to get away from the temptation.
"Yeah, got any coffee?"
"Yeah, I think there is some left." She went to fix it, then came back with two cups. She handed him one.
"Now tell me…did I really see you kissing Paul?"
She blushed…"It's not what you think."
He laughed out loud. "I know that. You kissed him on the cheek. What was the occasion?"
"He fixed my computer so I could call my folks and see them on the computer while I was talking to them. It was so nice. I talked to Mom and Dad both. I was so tickled. Dad looks great, he's just a little pale is all."
"Good for him. And Paul's a good kid. But you realize he is just a kid, don't you?" He cautioned her.
"Of course…"
"Because once you get wound up with a real kiss, a man doesn't have a chance…no matter what his age."
"I'm no flirt, Cody!" She pounded his arm.
He laughed.
"How were your folks?"
"Good. Dad starts chemo next week." She said.
"Good, the sooner they get rid of it, the better," Cody explained.
"I'm going to send him a really nice cap to wear." She said quietly, her thoughts going to her father for a moment.
"Oh, do you knit?"
"Actually, no, never had anyone teach me. Why."
"Loretta knits. Maybe she could teach you." Cody suggested. "But in the meantime, I know a lady who makes them. She really does some crazy designs, why don't I pick one out and get it to you?"
"Would you. What do you mean crazy designs?"
"Oh, like animals, and football teams and stuff like that on them."
"Great, dad loves stuff like that. And to get something from Alaska would tickle him. And in the meantime, I can learn to knit."
"Sure." He leaned and kissed her lightly on the lips.
Savor the moments, her mother had told her. She was doing that. And now that she laid the foundation, she would wait to see how it worked out. She prayed it would work out because she was sure she was falling fast for Cody Talltree. Only time would tell how much he thought of her. But he was worth waiting for. She knew in her heart he was worth it.
And for now, she'd enjoy the moments they had together. Just like her mother had said.
Chapter Thirteen
The day they were to go to his Uncle's started out great. Miranda had spent the night with her and they talked way into the night about their hopes and dreams. Sammie Jo felt she could really trust Miranda.
"If I run into any trouble, I'll get John to get my dad. He will always come on the run when I holler. John would too, but with Cody being gone, he's going to be pretty busy. And then there's Sal too. He would help all he could, so there's not a thing to worry about. You just go and enjoy yourself."
"You don't know what this means to me."
"Sure I do. I'm in love with John, you silly thing."
They both laughed.
Cody came in took her luggage and put it in his truck then they were off.
But before he started the engine, before he said much of anything, he kissed her.
When she looked surprised, he smiled. "Hey, I needed warming up." He laughed.
"How far is it to his cabin?"
"We should be there by nightfall. Providing the weather holds." He checked his watch and turned the heat up for a little while.
They talked about his Uncle for a bit. Cody wanted her to get to know him.
"You said he doesn't like people much. Do you think he'll consider me an intruder?"
"No way. He loves women. All women. He's French, what can I say?"
She laughed.
"Have you brought many women to meet him?" She wanted to hear from his own lips about this, not what others had told her.
"I've never brought a woman to meet him." Cody looked at her.
"I'm honored then." She blushed.
He reached the distance and kissed her briefly, then returned his attention to his driving.
She shouldn't be making more than it was, but the thought that he wanted to introduce his Uncle, which he thought so much of, to her, made her proud.
The snow was thick and it looked like more was coming. Several times Cody had to get out and adjust his wipers, to keep them from freezing up.
The road was nothing more than a narrow pathway.
But behind the wheel Cody was completely competent and Sammie Jo trusted him. She did her best not to distract him.
It was hard to see through the powder like whiteness.
Everything gravitated toward white.
The heater seemed to grunt and growl to keep up.
But toward the end of the day, they had made it to a remote cabin on the mountain.
"Uncle Jessup?" Cody called as he hopped out of the car and ran toward the door, with her right behind him.
The door swung open and a man with a red cap answered the door. He wore tan pants and flannel shirt. His hair was an unruly dark brown, and his beard was well trimmed. He looked at her with a scrunched up nose.
"And who is this?" His Uncle barked at him.
"This, is Sammie Jo Travers. She's the lady that reopened the Nite-N-Gale." He announced proudly.
"Do tell. Howdy, I'm Uncle Jessup, won't you come inside and warm yourself?" He offered.
Sammie Jo smiled at the introduction and came inside.
The cabin was warm and cozy. It was small, but efficient too. He had a small living area, a kitchen off to one side and a bedroom off to another.
The kitchen looked like something out of the 1800's. Sammie Jo was fascinated by the wood stove, and a big rock fireplace that kept the entire cabin warm.
"Cody doesn't usually bring anyone with him, ma'am, so I was a little startled to see you."
"I'm honored to be here." Sammie Jo glanced at Cody.
"So you re-opened the Nite-N-Gale did you?"
"Yes, I did."
"She's from Texas, too."
"Texas? Now what would a girl from Texas be doing up this way?" He asked.
Sammie Jo blushed. "I'm not really sure. I wanted to get away and Alaska was about as far as I wanted to go, I guess."
"What are you running from?" His uncle asked.
"Uncle Jessup…" Cody tried to stop him. But his question was out.
"It was a lot of things. My grandpa died, my father took sick, my cousin moved off to college, and my father is being forced to sell the ranch for medical reasons."
When he still looked puzzled, she explained. "The ranch was my career so to speak."
"Medical? He's sick?"
"Yes sir. Cancer."
Jessup studied her a minute. "Well, I don't blame you. You had a lot to contend with, didn't you?
"
"A little." She tried to smile.
"So how long you planning on staying here?" Jessup asked.
"I intend to make this my home." Sammie Jo looked him straight in the eye. "I know people here look at me strangely when I say that. But Bear Creek is exactly what I was looking for. Quiet, friendly, and homey."
"I like her, Cody!" His uncle stated. "She's a straight-shooter. I like that about people. She's got a lot of guts coming up here and taking on the Nite-N-Gale alone."
"I love the place." Sammie Jo smiled. "It's rustic. And I love the Nite-N-Gale too."
"A saloon and you love it?" Jessup shouted.
"Yes, only, I don't think of it as a saloon so much as a place for people to come and hang out at the end of the day." She remarked. "That's what I want to make it, and so far, the people have been in complete agreement."
He shrugged, "I guess so. It would make going home to a freezing house and no one to greet you look pretty good."
The conversation died down and Cody and his uncle began talking about his reason for a visit.
"You're up here a little early in the season, any particular reason why?" Jessup asked.
"Yeah, we've had an avalanche up on the North Platte. It was pretty bad, but only one person was hurt. I thought you might get snowed in up here. I wanted to find out if you needed me to bring you anything before it gets worse? That old generator is making so much noise. It's about time to upgrade, don't you think?"
"This boy, he's always looking after me," Jessup explained. "Well, give me time to think on it and check my supplies. I take it you are expecting some weather this winter?"
"I am. And I don't want you stranded up here alone. Why don't you come spend the winter with me?" Cody suggested his face full of concern for his Uncle
"No, you know I don't like civilization. I'm happy here, why should I leave. So we'll have some snow. We might even have another avalanche. That never killed me. I'll do fine. Especially with you seeing after me."
Jessup went to the fire to warm up.
Cody was still concerned about him.
"I wish you would consider it at least. I worry about you up here alone. If something happened, I wouldn't know it until I made it up here again. I can't get off enough time to come up here very often. You don't even own a cell phone, for goodness sake."
"You do a dandy job of worrying after me. Isn't any need of it. I can take care of myself."
"What if your generator stopped working?"
"I got candles and kerosene lamps. All I need."
"Oh yeah, well, what if something happened and you couldn't get any firewood. You'd freeze to death."
"Naw I wouldn't. Billy Joel comes around every couple of weeks. He'd see to me if I needed it."
"Why are you so stubborn?" Cody asked.
"I ain't."
"It's like you think you are some Indian or something. You're French for God's sake." Cody protested.
"And that's better than Indian in my opinion. By the way, you thinking on staying the night?" He asked out of the blue.
"Yeah, we planned on it."
"Good. Then she can have my bed, and I'll sleep in here with you." He announced.
"Oh…I don't want to take your bed!" She protested.
"Unless the two are you are wed, you will." He insisted, frowning at them both.
"Oh!" She smiled. "No…we aren't."
"Then you'll have my bed, and I'll be cleaning it up before you go in there. If you are hungry, there is ham for sandwiches." He pointed to the kitchen as he went to the bedroom.
"Are you hungry?" Cody asked.
"I could make us some sandwiches. Shall I make him one too?"
"One, more like three. He's a big eater." Cody laughed.
"But he's so thin."
"I know but he was born skinny," Cody said. "Come on, let's both fix them."
The kitchen was small and getting around another person was almost impossible. But in the process, he kissed her and she forgot all about eating.
"You taste much better than ham." He winked as he took the butter out of the small icebox.
"I could sleep on the couch and you two could take the bed." She said.
"Nope, he's already got it figured. So just go with the flow. He's not in the habit of offering his bed to just anyone."
"Okay, but I'm willing." She said.
"He'll change the sheets and you'll be much more comfortable in there. Besides, the bathroom will be closer for you too." Cody explained.
His uncle came into the living room. "You making me one?" He asked them.
"Yes, three actually." Cody laughed.
"Good, you know me well, don't you?" He asked.
"Pretty much…"
"Well, I got the bed made for the little lady, and the bathroom is to the side there, you'll see it as you go in. So she can make yourself comfortable." Jessup was saying.
"Thank you, Jessup. May I call you Jessup?"
He looked at her and smiled, "Honey, you can call me anything you want. As long as you call me."
"We won't be staying as long as I'd like to, but I've got to get your supplies and get back down before it becomes dangerous," Cody explained.
"Okay, soon as we eat, I'll start making a list." He nodded.
Sammie Jo handed him his sandwiches and started making some for them.
When they were all together once more in the living room, he apologized. "You know I don't have an official dining room here. I put all my hunting gear in the room where we are supposed to eat, but I don't get much company up this way, so I fix it to suit me. You'll have to excuse the mess. Cody didn't warn me he was bringing a beautiful girl up here."
"No need for any apologies, a home should be comfortable for yourself. I think it's a charming place." She said without the least bit of snobbery in her voice.
"Well, I'm comfortable. But like I say, I don't get many guests up here."
After they finished eating and Jessup was making out a list, he glanced at Cody. "Seen your mother lately?"
"Not in a while, no. They are busy I suppose. And I’m not a little boy any longer."
"I got a letter from her a couple months back. Said they were having a great time and planned on making Anchorage their home. She seems really happy with that fella."
"I think she is. Much happier than she was with dad, that's for sure."
"How is your dad?"
"Busy as always. I talked to him on the phone a couple of times, but he had to rush off so we didn't talk long. He seems content with his life too. I'm happy for them both."
"And how about you? Are you content with your life?" Jessup asked him point blank.
Cody looked at Sammie Jo for a moment, then back at him. "Yeah, I’m happy."
"Good. So am I? But I gotta tell you. I don't know if I ever told you this or not, but I appreciate you fussing over me like you do. You're the only one that does. I got several nephews, but you are the only one that comes to visit. You visit pretty regularly and you always take care of things that I need. I'm getting older and I've learned to appreciate that a lot more the last few years." He looked at Sammie Jo and smiled. "He's like the son I never had." His voice choked up.
Cody hugged him for a second. "I feel the same. My dad hasn't the time to talk to me. Mom has a new life where she is at, and we don't talk much either. I guess you might say you are my only 'real kin.'"
"They love you, Cody. They're just are so busy, they don't take the time to show it. People are too busy these days. They don't take the time they need to be with their loved ones."
"No, but you always have. You see Sammie Jo, Uncle Jessup taught me so many things I can't begin to tell you. I learned to hunt, climb mountains, fish, and live because of this man. He means the world to me." Cody said.
Sammie Jo realized she was witnessing an affection that ran deeper than any Cody must have ever had. She saw how easy it was for them to talk and to say meaningful things to each other. It brought back a few m
emories she cherished with her Uncles.
When they went to bed, Cody kissed her and she went straight to bed. But she didn't go to sleep. She heard them talking.
"She's a right nice girl there Cody." Jessup was saying.
"I like her a lot, Uncle Jessup."
"Then you do the right thing about her. She looks like a fine Christian girl. She's about the prettiest little thing I've seen in a long while. You'd have some beautiful babies with that gal."
Cody laughed.
"You must think a lot of her to bring her with you."
"I do…"
"Good."
"Goodnight Uncle Jessup."
"Night son."
Sammie Jo sighed heavily. She was way more involved with Cody than she should be. But there was absolutely no reason at all not to be. And deep in her heart, she knew it was more than just liking him.
She closed her eyes and she was asleep.
When she got up that next morning, Cody seemed more than a little anxious to get down the mountain.
"Bad weather report. We need to be making tracks soon."
"Could I at least make some coffee and breakfast?" she asked.
"Of course, hon, you make yourself to home. Cody's just worried about getting you back down the mountain. But another hour or two won't hurt anything." He assured her.
Cody seemed unsure of that.
Sammie Jo went into the kitchen and after scrounging around found everything she needed to make eggs, bacon and toast. She even found some honey.
"I've got to get those supplies back to you and soon, Uncle Jessup. This weather is getting worse all the time."
"Don't you fret," Jessup told him.
"You sure you don't want to come stay the winter with me?" Cody asked him.
"Now why would I do that. You've got a job, and a girl and plenty to keep you busy. You sure don't need me down there creating problems."
"I wouldn't worry so much if you were there. I know you prefer being alone, and you could at my cabin."
"Accidents happen everywhere son. Don't fret over it."
As they were leaving she hugged Jessup tight. "It was a pleasure to meet you. And I wish you were coming back with us too."
"Now don't you fret. I'll be down in the spring for my regular visit and I'll come and see you at the Nite-N-Gale too."
