Wild Men of Alaska 02 - Moosed-Up

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 feed 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. Skis criss-crossed and hung above the queen size bed, 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. 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 everything.”
    “You’re welcome. It’s good to see you, son.” She walked over to the bed and smoothed the hair back on his forehead. “You always did have the best manners around.” She left the room. The lump that had been forming in his throat clogged it closed.
    “Suck up,” Lynx said. “I’ll never understand why she doesn’t hate you like the rest us.”
    He had to clear his throat to speak. “She doesn’t blame me for the sins of my father.”
    “Acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
    “Have you ever seen an acorn tree growing in Alaska?” He tightened his jaw. “And I’m not my father.”
    Lynx snorted, but looked away like maybe Aidan had touched a nerve.
    A woman entered, who Aidan thankfully didn’t know. A little thing except for her very pregnant belly, with blond hair, cut short and spiked around her pixie face. She reached up and gave Lynx a kiss. Interesting. She also carried a black bag. Must be the nurse practitioner.
    “Harte this is Eva, my wife. Eva, this sorry excuse for a man, is Aidan Harte.”
    “Nice to meet you.” She glanced at Lynx when he snorted again. “Are you going to be helpful?”
    Aidan couldn’t help the chuckle.
    “What?” Lynx demanded.
    “Just interesting to see who wears the pants in your relationship. Really nice to meet you Eva.” He gave her a full smile.
    She smiled back and set the bag on the side of the bed, next to him. “Let’s take a look at you. Fox said you were caught in a trap?”
    Aidan nodded.
    She opened her bag, yanked on a pair of latex gloves, and pulled out scissors. She started at the hem of his jeans and carefully cut up the sides of one leg and then started on the other. “Your pants aren’t going to survive. Let’s see if we can save the rest of you.” She gave him a twinkling smile. “Lynx bring me over that trash can.” She indicated the one in the corner. Lynx begrudgingly brought it over. Eva stopped and straightened, looking Lynx in the eye. “If you’re going to be like that send someone else in here to help me.” She discarded the ruined jeans in the trash can.
    “Fine.” Lynx made a face, the same one he used to make when they were kids and Fiona would make him do something he didn’t want to.
    “Good.” Eva turned back to