A Man Called Hawkes

Disclaimer: I don't own High Mountain Rangers, not making any money, just cheap thrills.

Rating: FRT

A Man Called Hawkes
Chapter 2

Jacklyn smiled softly, one hand drifting to her belly as the other flipped another griddlecake onto the stack at the back of the stove. She couldn't explain the confidence she felt, with several lost babies behind her she should be more nervous than happy. Perhaps she was deceiving herself, but somehow Jacklyn knew that this time was different. This babe would live to see his mountain home, he would grow strong and tall in the fresh, crisp air of the Sierras. She suppressed the giddy laugh that wanted to bubble to the surface. She could hardly wait for Jesse to get home so she could share her precious secret. With Christmas only a week away she had considered waiting until then to share the news, but had quickly discarded that idea. It would be impossible to contain her secret that long.

She heard the door open and close behind her. "Did you get the horses taken care of?"

"Yes Ma," Matt replied.

"Get washed up then, breakfast is nearly ready."

"Yes ma'am." Pouring some fresh water into the basin, the young boy hurried to obey. "Do you think Pa will be home today?" he asked as he slid into his seat.

"I hope so," Jacklyn smiled. "I suppose it depends on what he finds in his traps. You miss your Pa don't you?"

"It's kind of lonely without him here," Matt admitted.

"Yes it is," Jacklyn agreed. They ate in silence for a few minutes.

"Ma, can I ask you a question?"

"May I and yes you may."

Matt hesitated, "Could I do my lessons later?"

"Matthew Hawkes you know that chores and lessons come before fun," she admonished him.

"I know Ma, but there's something I need to do before Pa gets home."

Jacklyn tilted her head, "Something you neglected to do?"

"No ma'am," Matt quickly denied. "I've been taking care of all the chores, it's..."

"It's what honey?"

Matt blushed. "I been making him a Christmas present."

Jacklyn smiled, understanding now. "Oh, well I suppose that is a good reason for delaying lessons."

Matt looked up, his green eyes shining with happiness. Jumping up, he hurried to the door for his coat. Quickly pulling on coat and gloves, he reached for the door latch. At the last moment, he turned back and ran to his mother, giving her a quick hug. "Thanks Ma," he grinned.

Jacklyn returned the contagious grin. She nearly laughed as the boy turned away and raced out the door. Caressing her belly once more, she began to clean up the breakfast things. Matt had the right idea, she thought to herself. When she was done cleaning she would spend a little time working on gifts as well. She had finished Jesse's new shirt last night and was nearly finished with the new mittens for Matt. It wouldn't take long to finish them up and while her son was outside working on his own project it would be a good time for it.

Matt ran to the barn, hurrying to the back corner where he had hidden the gift for his father. He had been really lucky to find this small log in the woodpile. It was eight inches long and of a good diameter for what he had planned. He had begun his work by removing the bark from the small chunk of oak. He had then sanded the wood, until it was as smooth as he could get it. The hardest part had been using his father's gouge to dig out a nice sized hole for the storage part of the box he was making. Once he'd done that, he'd used his pocket knife to carve the piece he'd removed down to a smaller size, turning it into a lid. The best part was the knot that had been growing from the center of the log, right where he needed to gouge his storage hole. That knot would make the perfect handle for the lid. The project had become easier after that. He'd only needed to sand the inside of the box and underside of the lid, cut off the rounded bottom so the box would sit steady. All he had left to do was applying the shellac to protect the wood and Pa's new tobacco box would be ready for Christmas. His mother's present was already finished. With help from his father he had made her a small stool to rest her feet on while she sat in front of the fire.

********************

It was another two days before Jesse arrived back at the small cabin, his sledge loaded with pelts. He ignored the desire to hurry into the house, turning instead for the barn. On his return trip he had watched the sky carefully, worrying the entire time that he wouldn't make it home before the brewing storm struck, cursing himself for a fool the whole way. He never should have taken the time to treat the pelts in camp. He could have done it when he got home, but the hides were easier to work when fresh. Jacklyn would probably rather not have to deal with him preparing the pelts at the cabin either for that matter. Oh well, he sighed, it was done now and he'd made it home just as the snow had begun to fall, so no harm done. Working with an economy of movement, he stored the pelts in the back of the barn. He would take them to town in the spring, trading them for the seeds and other supplies they would need.

“Pa!”

Jesse scooped the blond bundle of energy up as he stepped into the cabin, tossing him into the air and easily catching him. “Don't tell me you missed me?” he teased.

Matt giggled, “Lots and lots.”

Jesse shared a grin with his wife, “Lots and lots?”

Matt nodded, “You almost missed Christmas.”

Jesse frowned, “Why it's only October, isn't it?”

Matt giggled, “No sir! It's December...um...” He paused as he took a moment to count on his fingers. Ma had said Christmas was in five days and Christmas was on the 25th, so... “It's the 20th,” he very seriously informed his father.

“Well that explains it,” Jesse nodded as if just figuring something out.

Matt tilted his head to the side, “Explains what?”

“Why the snow falling outside,” Jesse replied, winking at his wife.

Jacklyn held a hand to her mouth, stifling her laughter at the look of excitement on her son's face.

“It's snowing? Can I go outside and play?” Matt asked, bouncing in his father's arms.

“You can go onto the porch but no further.”

“Aw Pa...”

“No Matthew,” Jesse stopped the complaint before it could fully form. “I raced the storm all the way here, if it starts coming down heavy, like I expect, you could lose your way.”

“I wouldn't,” Matt promised.

Jesse sat the boy on the floor and dropped to one knee so they were face to face. “I know you wouldn't mean to son, but if the wind starts blowing the snow around it could make it confusing for anybody, even a grown man.”

“You wouldn't get lost Pa.”

“Yes I could and so could you. Once it stops snowing you'll get the chance to play in it,” Jesse promised.

“But what if it melts before I can?”

Jesse chuckled softly. “This isn't like down in the valleys son, once it snows up here it'll stay until spring. Truthfully this is pretty late, this high up, for the first snow of the season. That's one reason I'm afraid this storm may be a bad one. Now will you promise to stay on the porch and to come inside if the wind starts blowing hard?”

“Yes sir,” Matt solemnly promised, finally realizing the seriousness of a snowstorm up here. “Pa?”

“Yes son?”

“If it storms how will you take care of the animals without getting lost?”

“Why do you think I strung your Ma's clothesline between the house and the barn?”

Matt thought about it for a moment. He smiled when the answer came to him, “You can hold onto it so you won't get lost.”

“Exactly,” Jesse smiled proudly, ruffling his son's hair. “Now go on outside and stay on the porch.”

“I will Pa,” Matt promised. Grabbing his coat, he quickly slipped out the door before his mother could say no.

Jesse crossed the floor, taking his wife in his arms. “And what about you Mrs. Hawkes, did you miss me?”

“Lots and lots,” she whispered. The next moment her breath was stolen as Jesse pressed his lips to hers. “Did you have a good trip?”

“I surely did,” Jesse replied. “Got enough pelts to get most of the supplies we'll need come spring. I reset the traps and I'll go back out later to see what I got. Even if this next round doesn't yield a lot of pelts, it should make up the difference in what we need for supplies and leave us with some extra for a rainy day.”

“That's wonderful news Jesse,” Jacklyn smiled. Already her mind was thinking of all they would need to buy and perhaps a few small extras to ease their lives. “I have some news too.”

“I don't need to find some coal for a certain little boy's stocking do I?”

Jacklyn giggled, “No, no, Matt was an angel.”

Jesse raised an eyebrow, “An angel?”

“Well maybe not an angel, but he was very good and quite helpful.”

“So what is this news?”

Jacklyn took his hand and laid it on her belly, “Merry Christmas Jesse.”

“A baby?” he asked in a wonder filled voice. “Are you sure?”

It was time for Jacklyn's eyebrow to go up, “Very.”

“A baby,” Jesse whispered, caressing his wife's belly again. “Hallelujah!” he shouted, lifting her up and spinning her around as his shouts of joy filled the small cabin.

******************

Christmas morning dawned bright and cold. “Ma! Pa! Santa came! Santa came!” Matt yelled, waking his parents.

“We'll be there in a minute son,” Jesse called. He was glad he'd had the help of Bill Cutler when he'd built their cabin. If it had been only him and Jacklyn they would have likely only had one room for the three of them to share. However, with Bill's help, he had been able to build a cabin with a main room, a bedroom for them and a small loft for Matt. “I suppose we'll have to get up,” he sighed.

“Well we could stay in bed,” Jacklyn said, “if you don't mind being bounced on by forty pounds of energetic boy. Myself, I'm going to get up.” So saying, she kissed him lightly and threw back the covers.

Jesse shivered as cold air seeped under the quilts on the bed. “Now I know where Matt gets it from,” he playfully complained.

“Gets what from?” Jacklyn asked as she slipped into her robe.

“He doesn't play fair either.”

Her throaty laughter filled the room. She was still chuckling when she stepped into the main room.

“Can I see what's in my stocking now?” Matt asked as soon as she entered the room.

Jacklyn watched Matt standing near the fireplace, jumping up and down as he tried to peak into his stocking. She stifled her laughter. “Why don't we wait for your Pa? I'm sure he'd like to see what Santa brought you.”

“Of course I do,” Jesse confirmed, stepping into the room and over to the fireplace. “Go ahead son, let's see what the old elf brought,” he said as he handed the filled stocking to Matt.

“Yes sir,” Matt grinned. Taking the stocking, he plopped down on the floor where he stood and began to pull items from the bulging sock. His eyes were shining with pleasure as he pulled the treasures from the stocking. A peppermint stick, a small cake covered with powdered sugar, a new pair of mittens and a slingshot.

“I don't suppose you're interested in what is under the tree?” Jesse teased.

Reminded of the small tree in the corner, Matt gathered his small treasures and hurried to sit beside it. He waited as patiently as he could for his father to pass out the presents.

Kneeling on the floor, Jesse pulled a package from under the tree. “This seems to be for your Ma,” he told Matt, giving him a wink. “Why don't you take it to her?”

Matt took the package, carrying it to his mother with pride in each step. “Merry Christmas Ma,” he said, giving the package over. “It's from me and Pa.”

“Thank you Matt, I'm sure I'll love it.” Carefully removing the ribbon, she took her time revealing the contents of the package. An action that she could see was leaving her son frustrated. She grinned as a small growl sounded and she realized he wasn't the only one who was feeling impatient. “Oh my,” she gasped as she finally saw the small footstool that had laid hidden in the folds of paper. “It's wonderful,” she smiled. “So well made, and pretty too.”

“You really like it Ma?” Matt had to ask, fearful in the way of children everywhere that his mother was only being nice.

“I love it honey. It will be so nice to rest my feet on after a long day. Thank you Matt,” she added, leaning down to kiss his cheek. Glancing over at Jesse, she gave him a happy smile.

The next present was for Jesse, the shirt made for him by his wife's loving hands. “It's a beautiful shirt darlin' and I was sorely needing a new one.” He reached for the last two packages, “Well let's see...hmmm...does this say Matt?” he asked his son.

Matt nodded as he took the present from his father. Unlike his mother, he made no effort to save the paper covering the gift. “A sled!” he cried out, his eyes wider than they'd been all morning. “I'm gonna go ride down the hill,” he declared as he jumped to his feet.

Jesse grabbed the boy around the waist, stopping him in his tracks. “Don't you think you should get dressed first son?”

Matt blushed, “Yes sir.”

“You go get dressed and after breakfast you can go play with you new sled.”

He looked down at the floor, his blush growing when he saw the last present sitting there. “I'll get dressed after you open your gift Pa.”

Jesse smiled. “Oh is this mine?” he asked, pretending surprise.

Matt nodded. Suddenly he was too nervous to speak. What if his father didn't like the gift he'd worked so hard making?

“I guess I better open it then.” Pulling the package to him, he slowly opened it. All teasing gone from his voice, he quietly asked in an awed voice, “Did you make this by yourself son?”

Matt nodded again.

“It's wonderful Matthew,” he smiled. “I couldn't have done a better job myself.”

Matt beamed, “Thanks Pa. It's for your tobacco,” he added.

“I thought so,” Jesse smiled. He was glad the boy had told him, he wasn't sure he would have realized it on his own. “Thank you son,” he said, giving the boy a tight hug.


Christmas had come and gone, as had the dawning of a new year. It was nearing February and just this morning Jacklyn had felt the flutter of the baby's movement within her womb. The smile hadn't left her face yet. Not even the need to visit the privy in the cold of the night could dampen her good spirits. “Oh bother,” she sighed as she felt a small prick to the back of her thigh. She would have to remember to say something to Jesse when she went inside, obviously the seat needed to be smoothed again. It wasn't until she stood up and held the lantern near the wood that she realized it hadn't been a splinter but rather a spider bite. She shuddered, her hand dropping to her belly when she recognized the spider.

“What is it?” Jesse asked. The sight of Jacklyn's pale face bringing a start to his heart. Jumping to his feet, he hurried to her side, taking the lantern from her tight grip.

“A spider,” Jacklyn whispered.

“What?”

“A black widow spider,” she replied, her voice filled with fear. “It bit me.” She turned to Jesse, wrapping her arms around him as she began to tremble. “Please Jesse, tell me I won't lose this baby,” she plead. “I can't lose this babe too Jess.”

TBC

I know, rotten place to end the chapter...I'm evil that way. Y'all know the routine, please feed the muse with reviews.