Romance on the Edge 01 - Hooked

hesitant smile.
    They pulled into the heart of Chatanika. An old gold mining dredge sat like a metal monster to the left, the main tourist attraction. The old lodge cabin squatted across the street on the right. A few outlying cabins dotted, circling the center of town, vague shadows in the rapidly falling snow.
    “We won’t be able to get you to Fairbanks in this weather,” Lynx said, parking the truck and switching off the engine. He turned to Fox. “Run and get Eva. I’ll get him into the lodge.”
    Fox jumped out of the truck and took off.
    Aidan wanted to insist they drive him to Fairbanks. He didn’t want to meet any more people from Chatanika. At least he didn’t recognize anyone by the name of Eva. She must be new. But if he went into the lodge, memories where going to swamp him. “Who’s Eva?”
    “My wife. And, lucky for you, an NP. She’s the best thing we got in medical care out here.” Lynx stepped out of the truck and walked around the front.
    Aidan opened the door and gritted his teeth. Getting into the lodge was going to be the easy part. Seeing the occupants of the lodge was going to hurt.
    “Ready for this?” Lynx asked.
    Aidan didn’t know if he was asking about his physical well-being or the emotional havoc to come. “Not much choice in the matter,” he mumbled.
    Lynx put his arm around Aidan’s back. Aidan swung an arm around his shoulder and they hobbled to the front door of the lodge.
    The door opened and Fiona, Lynx’s mother, stood there, looking the same as Aidan remembered. Round and happy—well, more concerned at the moment—she’d always seemed to make the best out of what life handed her, and it didn’t seem as though that had changed. “Aidan Harte! I thought I’d seen a ghost when you pulled up.” She quickly looked him over. “Always coming to my place injured in one form or another, aren’t you?” She motioned for them to follow her. “Come on. Let’s get you patched up. Can’t wait to hear the story on this escapade.”
    A lump lodged in his throat as he looked around the lodge. The walls of its rough homespun interior were decorated with vintage mining materials and snow shoes, while over-sized furniture sat in intimate corners and soft old leather couches flanked the stone fireplace.
    Fiona was the closest thing to a mother he’d had growing up, since his own mother had checked out most of the time. Fiona had fed him cookies, washed his scraped knees, and scolded him within an inch of his life when he stepped out of line. Damn, he did not want to deal with these old feelings.
    God, he hoped Raven was no longer living here.
    Please, he prayed, let Raven be happily married and living in the Midwest somewhere. Far away from Chatanika.
    “Bring him in here.” Fiona opened the door to one of the guest rooms. The room was decorated simply, with an old quilt on the bed, a wooden rocking chair in the corner, and an old thrift store dresser. Criss-crossed skis hung above the queen size bed, and diamond willow lamps sat on birch nightstands. Nostalgia hit him like a snowplow. The lump in his throat grew.
    Lynx threw him down on the bed, and Aidan landed with a bounce. He held up his leg to keep blood from getting on the spread and gave Lynx a dirty look. He didn’t care that Lynx hated him, but he needed to take better care with Fiona’s things.
    “Lynx,” Fiona scolded. “That’s no way to treat an injured man.” She’d grabbed towels from the bathroom, and tore back the quilt, laying the towels down. “All right, Aidan, you can set your leg down now.” She gave him a once over. “Whatever did you do to yourself?”
    “He got himself caught in one of his father’s bear traps,” Lynx said with a sneer.
    “No.” Fiona gasped. “Oh, you poor thing.”
    Next she was going to be kissing his forehead and smoothing back his hair like she used to do. He wondered if she still had blueberry shortbread cookies in the cookie jar.
    “What is Earl thinking?” Fiona tsked.
    “Apparently, he’s no longer thinking or doing much of anything.” Lynx gave a cat-like grin. “Earl’s dead.”
    Fiona sighed. “Well…”
    There was no, “Isn’t that a shame.” Or, “I’m so sorry for your loss.” Nobody in the room would shed a tear for Earl Harte.
    “I take it you sent for Eva?” Fiona asked Lynx, who nodded. “Good. I’ll go and grab some medicinal beverage. Aidan, I’m sure you could use a drink.”
    Damn right. “Thanks, Fiona. For