Wild Men of Alaska 02 - Moosed-Up

Aidan, and threw a crocheted blanket over his lower half, covering batman boxers.
    He was going to like this woman. Lynx had grown into a bear of a man. His Athabascan and Tlingit heritage shined through like muscle. His black hair, dark eyes, tanned skinned contrasted with Eva’s short blond, blue-eyed, ivory skinned, fairy looks.
    Eva surveyed Aidan’s leg. “Good thing you were wearing boots.”
    Yeah, one thing he had to be grateful for tonight, while so many other things had gone straight to hell.
    Fiona entered the room with a bottle of whiskey and no glass. “Better drink up, my boy, before Eva goes any farther. She’s cute, but wicked.” Fiona handed him a bottle and stuffed pillows behind his back when he sat up to drink. He took a long swallow, and relished the burn as it flowed down into his gut. His eyes watered, and he did everything he could not to cough. Not in front of Lynx, who was waiting to insult. He took another swallow and then handed the bottle back to Fiona, who sat it within easy reach on the nightstand.
    “All right, what can I do to help?” Fiona asked.
    “Get him to drink more,” Eva said, going for the boot laces on his good foot first. “You’re going to need a new pair of boots.”
    “Beats a new leg.”
    Eva chuckled. “I like a man who can keep a sense of humor at times like this. Unlike someone else I know.”
    Lynx folded his arms and rolled his eyes.
    “I like a woman who’s capable and pretty to look at.” Aidan flirted back and smiled when Lynx gave him the evil eye. He grabbed the bottle and took another swig. It barely burned at all this time. He swallowed some more, loving how it warmed his blood as it swam through his body.
    Eva started on the chewed up boot, cutting through the laces with her sharp scissors. A hush settled over the room, and Lynx and Fiona leaned in. “Step back and give me room to work.” She glanced at Aidan. “Why don’t you take another drink.”
    “Sounds like a dandy idear,” he slurred. He wasn’t much of a drinker. Since his mother had been a lush, he’d stayed away from it. So the alcohol hit him hard and fast. Like a moose during rutting season. He downed another long swallow. It was too much effort to get the bottle back onto the nightstand, so he cradled it in the crook of his arm. He was feeling no pain.
    Until Eva—the evil fairy from hell—pulled on his boot.
    “Ahhh!” he screamed like a baby. He’d tried to keep it in. Even bit his tongue, but with the booze, the holle r had escaped.
    “Damn, I hope you didn’t break this,” Eva scolded him like it was his fault he was hurt. “No way we can get you to Fairbanks with that storm out there.” She surveyed the situation. “We need to get that boot off. But if he broke it we’d better leave it on until we can get him to a hospital. But then what kind of infection is already taken up residence from the trap?”
    Aidan quirked a brow. “Are you expecting an answer from me?”
    “She likes to talk out her problems,” Lynx said, scowling. “Leave her alone.”
    Aidan took another swig of the whiskey, really getting into the numbing effects.
    “How’s he doing?” Fox asked, rushing into the room, his eyes wide as he viewed Aidan’s leg. “Ooh, that doesn’t look good.”
    Aidan hadn’t looked. In fact, he’d looked at everyone and everything in the room, avoiding the sight of his mangled leg.
    “Fox, you shouldn’t be in here,” Lynx said, walking over to him and laying a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t you have dogs to feed?”
    “That’s what I was doing. They’re all bedded down for the night.” He looked at Aidan, worry shining in his eyes. “Is he going to be all right?”
    “He’s going to be just fine.” Fiona walked around the bed and reached for Fox. “Come with me. I need your help getting him something to eat.” Fiona steered him out of the room, giving Aidan a backward glance with a wink.
    “Let’s get the boot off,” Eva announced, tightening her lips. “I think that’s the best course of action.” She went right to work. Before Aidan could down anymore of the bottle, she had his boot off in one quick excruciating yank.
    “ Shit. Fuck. Son of a bitch! ” He gasped—had trouble getting his breath back—and started to shake.
    “Sorry about that,” the demon nurse from hell said. “Guess I could have warned you, but I prefer the rip-off-the-bandage method. Why prolong the pain? Now let’s take a look.”
    The edge