by Laura Acton
Although they wanted nothing more than to lay and rest, the howling and unrelenting gale mercilessly blew snow inside. They needed to shut the door and fast. Loki tugged on the travois, bring their supplies crashing down next to them. He tried to push the portal closed, but his exhausted state, coupled with the forceful wind, prevented him from accomplishing his simple task. In the end, it took the combined, remaining strength of all three to gain victory over Mother Nature’s screaming to secure and the latch the wooden door.
With nothing left in their tanks, they all dropped to the floor to catch their breath and recoup some energy. Each shook with cold, but at least they were out of the harsh elements now.
Teeth chattering, Dan said, “Gotta build a fire, or we’ll freeze to death.” Unable to stand, he untied himself and began crawling to the stone fireplace.
Too wiped out to rise, Scott and Loki followed suit, and they formed a line from the hearth to the woodpile. Loki grabbed a log, passed it to Dan, who then handed it off to Scott, who put it on the iron grate. They repeated this process until they had enough for a blazing fire.
Holding on to the mantle, Scott hauled himself up to reach the matches while Dan put the tinder beneath the logs. Loki crawled over to their makeshift sled to retrieve three water bottles from a box. He rolled them to the fireplace and crawled back. Scott slumped to his knees and lit the kindling, taking several attempts to light the match due to violently shaking hands.
After Loki placed the three bottles near the growing fire to warm up, he started to unzip his jacket, wanting to rid himself of his wet outer garments.
“No, keep your jacket on.” Scott pulled Dan close to him. “Huddle with us to share warmth until we regain enough strength to change.”
Loki did as Scott suggested, and fifteen minutes later, a roaring fire had taken the chill off the room, and the men separated to shed their wet clothing. Scott took off his boots and soaked socks, then found enough energy to stand and sloughed off his pants, and Loki did likewise, leaving both in only their thermal undergarments. After removing his footwear, Dan tried to rise, but his shin hurt too much, and he didn’t possess the strength. He opted to remain seated and shimmy out of his drenched pants.
“Here, drink some.” Loki handed the guys warmed bottles of water. He wrapped his frigid fingers around his bottle as he sipped, thankful as the heat began to thaw his hands and melt his insides. “Never thought I’d wish for the abominable snowman’s fur, but geez, I would give almost anything not to be as cold as a snowman.”
“There are extra blankets in the closet of my room if you need one after we redress.” Scott finished the water, wanting to dress in his warmest clothes and shove his feet into thick woolen socks.
The effort of undressing took all Dan’s reserves. He couldn’t stand or crawl to save his life at this point. He shivered, realizing he must find some energy or hypothermia would set in, if it had not already.
Loki and Scott shared a silent conversation over Dan’s head. They both noted Dan’s lack of coordination as he undressed and his shivering, whereas their bodies warmed to a point where they no longer shook. Scott walked to the couch and grabbed a blanket and throw pillow. Loki headed into the twin bedroom to change into dry garments and grab clothes for Dan.
Draping the blanket around Dan, Scott said, “Rest here for now. Loki’s dressing first, then he’ll bring you a dry outfit. I’ll examine your leg and shoulder after I change.”
Too fatigued to argue or deflect, Dan only nodded and laid on the pillow as his body shook, trying to generate warmth.
Scott headed to his room and changed quickly. His fingers and toes were beginning to feel warmth again. He tugged on a knit cap and pulled it down over his ears. After grabbing an extra one, Scott hurried back to the main room, returning to find Loki peering down at Dan.
“He’s sleeping. Should I wake him?” Loki shifted his gaze to Scott.
“No. He expended a ton of energy. I lead for only a mile. He did that for four or five miles. Not an easy task making a path through the drifts. Grab another blanket for him. I’m gonna check his leg.” Scott moved towards Dan.
“His bandage supplies are in the inside waterproof pocket of his jacket,” Loki offered as he gathered up their wet clothes to hang on the hooks near the hearth to dry before getting a second blanket and some towels to wipe up the water from the floor.
Finding the supplies in Dan’s discarded jacket, Scott sat in a dry spot by Dan and started to unwrap Dan’s leg. “Shit!”
At Scott’s loud exclamation, Loki ran into the room, carrying a stack of towels and a wool blanket. “What’s wrong?”
“His wound is inflamed, hot to the touch, gaping open, seeping blood and yellowish pus. The surgical strips all came off.” Scott stared at the open infected wound. “Damn! No wonder he hurt. I’m surprised Dan made it here under his own power.”
Loki studied the angry-red, infected gash, and his worry ratcheted up several notches. “I’ll boil water so we can sterilize washcloths to clean it. I’ll also heat the stew. We all need to eat something warm.”
Scott nodded, reached for the blanket and laid it over Dan as Loki used the towels to mop the water off the floor. When Loki headed to the kitchen, Scott picked up the wet towels before heading to the bathroom. “I’ll search for a first aid kit.”
Cabin – Kitchen
After lighting the kerosene lamp, Loki rummaged in the cupboards until he found pans that would suit his purposes. He filled one with water, set it on the stove, and turned the burner on high. Opening one of the coolers, he pulled out the extra-large vacuum-sealed bag of stew Ma whipped up for them. His heart warmed as he recalled how Ma made a short visit home just to prepare delicious food for this trip before returning to Gina’s.
Loki defrosted this bag last night, in anticipation of fixing a hearty meal after a day on the slopes. Little did he realize at the time how much they would need the robust stew now. Figuring they would eat every last morsel tonight given their exertion, he cut off the bag’s corner and poured the entire contents into the pot. Loki set the burner’s temperature on medium to slowly reheat its delectable contents. Needing a little something now, Loki grabbed the loaf of bread, sliced off two thick pieces, and slathered them with peanut butter.
When Scott came in empty-handed, Loki held out a slice. “Eat. We need some carbs and protein after that slog.”
Accepting the offering, Scott took a bite. “Excellent. Thanks.” He sighed as he glanced around the room. “No joy on a first-aid kit in the bathroom.”
“I’ll check the kitchen, and you can search the bedrooms.” After devouring his light snack, Loki started opening cabinets he had not accessed during his pan search.
Five minutes later, Scott returned, disgruntled. “All I found is a tiny sewing kit with nylon thread and an assortment of needles.”
“Didn’t find one either, but I did discover a roll of duct tape and a bottle of scotch.”
“I like what you found better. Dan will too.”
“Why?”
“With soap and sterilized water, we can clean his wound before reapplying the antibiotic ointment. And the tape can be used like the steri-strips to hold his gash together until we reach a doctor. I won’t need to sew up the laceration, so we can drink the scotch instead of using it to disinfect his leg or get him drunk enough needles won’t bother him.” Scott grinned.
Loki chuckled. “Dang, I can add a new use for duct tape to my mental list. Apparently, it does fix almost everything.” Loki glanced at the stove. “Water should be boiling any minute. I’m gonna grab washcloths from the bathroom to sterilize them.”
Locating three glasses, Scott poured a shot of scotch in each before starting a pot of coffee, the Brodericks’ preferred drink, percolating the old-fashioned way. Dan needed a hot beverage to warm his inner core. As he worked, Scott silently thanked his dad and uncles Mark and Ryan for all the camping trips they took him and his cousins on when he was a kid, because he
was at home in the rustic environment and learned to improvise when necessary.
Returning to the room, Loki added terry washcloths to the boiling water and swirled them with tongs. Then he stirred the stew with a big spoon … the delightful aroma mixed with the scent of burning logs in the fireplace, creating a cozy atmosphere despite the storm from hell raging outside.
A small glass appeared to Loki’s left with an amber liquid. “Thanks.” He sipped the contents, and the scotch burned going down, but a warmth settled in his stomach and began to spread. “You taking one to Dan?”
“Yep.” Scott picked up the other two glasses.
Cabin – Main Room
Scott crouched beside his cousin and placed the glasses on the floor next to him. He concentrated on the rise and fall of Dan’s chest, counting respirations as he did many days last summer and autumn while Dan slept. Both pleasant and unpleasant memories of Dan as a kid and from last Christmas flooded in.
His gaze moved to Dan’s injury, and he shook his head as he blew out an extended breath. “Danny, what am I gonna do with you? You don’t make it easy to keep my promise to God to protect and care for you.” Scott bowed his head and took a moment to pray, asking the Lord to help him fulfill the oath he made twenty-four years ago.
Hating to disturb his exhausted cousin, but understanding they couldn’t wait too long before debriding the nasty wound, Scott refrained from touching Dan because startling him awake was a dangerous choice. He pitched his voice louder than usual. “Hey, time to wake up. I got something for you.”
Blinking his weary eyes, Dan spotted a fully dressed Scott squatting beside him. Realizing he nodded off, not wholly unexpected given how zapped he had been, he grinned, finding himself somewhat warmer under two blankets. “How long have I been out?”
“Not long. Here. Drink this.” Scott handed him the scotch.
Pushing up with his hand, Dan winced as his upper back twinged. He pulled the blankets tight around his shoulders, and his gaze traveled down to his shin. “Shit!” Taking the glass of scotch, he downed the shot all in one gulp.
“So, when were you planning to tell me about this?” Scott drawled as he pinned Dan with a concerned glare.
Meeting Scott’s ticked-off and worried gaze head-on, Dan said, “Didn’t look like that when I changed the bandage at the lodge. Only a little discharge and the tapes were firmly attached. I used an antiseptic wipe and reapplied the triple antibiotic cream before rewrapping it. Planned on requesting your help to cleanse it tonight.
“I’m not an ignorant kid … I didn’t try to hide anything from you. I used my ointment, and I’m taking my oral antibiotics. And FYI, I intended to go to the local medical center and have a doctor examine me if my leg didn’t show improvement by tomorrow. But now, well, guess that isn’t happening.”
Scott’s shock must’ve shown on his face because Dan snickered. “You truly would’ve gone to a clinic tomorrow?”
“Yeah, I don’t have a death wish or desire to lose a limb. I don’t mess around with infections, especially not after losing my spleen.”
“Noted. Good. Loki sterilized some rags. Want to move to the couch?”
“No. I’m alright here. No need to make the cushions wet.”
“Okay. Want another blanket?”
“Nah, this is fine for now. Could use another water, though.”
“Be right back.” Scott rose and went to grab a bottle for Dan.
Loki entered and set the pan of boiled water on the floor and the plate with the sterilized washcloths next to it. He sat cross-legged and used a pair of sterilized tongs to wave one of the cloths in the air to cool it a bit. “When are you due for your next dose of antibiotics?”
“Should take them with dinner. I put the pill container in my backpack in case we didn’t return in time tonight,” Dan said.
Returning, Scott smiled and handed the water to Dan. “Planning ahead, good. Coffee will be ready soon. Let’s clean your leg before we eat so you can take your meds.”
Dan nodded, and his stomach growled. “Smells delicious, Loki. Your ma’s beef stew?” He uncapped the bottle and guzzled down half.
“Yep and fresh bread too. You want a slice with peanut butter now?”
“Sure, if it’s no trouble.”
Loki rose, wearing a grin. “Back in a jiffy.”
Scott said, “Gonna wash my hands, then we’ll begin. Want another shot of scotch? Without a doubt, cleaning is gonna hurt like a bitch, and the only analgesics are the ones I procured at the store … no first-aid kit here or any meds. I should’ve brought a med-kit with me.”
“No more scotch. I’ll take them after dinner with my antibiotics. And, Scott, not having a kit is on me, not you. I shouldn’t have assumed there would be one here. Wilson must’ve packed the one I remember. He never went anywhere without being prepared for multiple contingencies. Probably came from leading men into dangerous situations.”
After washing his hands, Scott brought the soap with him and waited for Dan to finish his snack. Once done, Dan laid down again, settling his head on the pillow as Scott and Loki began to debride his infected gash. Clenching his jaw to keep from groaning as they thoroughly cleaned the area, Dan focused his thoughts on a happy memory in an attempt to block out the pain.
Taking several deep breaths after they finished, Dan stared at the ceiling. “We gonna leave it open, or is there anything here we can use to close the gap?”
Producing the roll of tape, Loki quipped, “Duct tape fixes everything, including Dantastic.”
Dan smiled. “That will stick better than surgical strips. Patch, I mean Jim, used to carry a roll with him in the field. Won’t be the first time I’ve been duct-taped together. Although, this is the first time it is neon orange. Not quite the color you want to be sporting when trying to evade terrorists.”
Loki and Scott laughed. Scott said, “Christ, Dan, I thought this would be a first for you.”
“Nope. Kinda hard to find something original when you’ve had as many injuries as me.” Dan pushed upward again and watched as Loki applied a generous amount of ointment.
Loki held the edges together while Scott tore off pieces of tape and applied the adhesive as he remarked, “Think it’s about time you stop getting them.”
Dan snorted. “Not like I try to get hurt. My line of work kinda puts me out there, you know.”
Scott chuckled. “This isn’t work-related.”
“Sure, it is. If the subject had not escaped from the patrol officer and ran, Loki and I wouldn’t have gotten all muddy apprehending him, and we wouldn’t have been the last ones in the locker room,” Dan attempted to justify.
Loki grinned. “Nice try, Dan, but I don’t think Scott is buying it.”
“Nope. This is the result of you behaving like a kid. Love to see that side, Danny, but ya need to be more careful,” Scott scolded lightly.
The TRF officers shared a grin, and Dan caught sight of the devilish wheels turning in Loki’s head. Scott would be getting pranked soon. Scott helped Dan stand and moved him to the couch so he could dress in his soft, warm sweats and thick socks as Loki went to check on the stew.
Once done, Dan used the sofa’s arm to rise and tested his leg. “Nope. Not gonna bear much weight at the moment,” he said honestly. “Could use a little help walking.”
With a smile and without another word spoken, Scott slung Dan’s arm around his shoulders and wrapped his around Dan’s waist to assist his cousin to a chair at the kitchen table.
Cabin – Kitchen
“How can I help?” Dan disliked feeling useless as the guys pulled out bowls, mugs, and utensils.
“Want to cut the bread?” When Dan nodded, Loki put the loaf of bread in front of Dan and handed him a knife.
Dan sliced thick pieces for each of them, and Scott poured coffee while Loki dished out three heaping bowls of steaming, savory stew, and set them on the table. All three dug into the meal with gusto, each needing the nourishment after their s
trenuous journey to the cabin. No one conversed during the first helping.
Halfway done with a second helping, Dan asked, “When you searched for a first-aid kit, did either of you find a CB radio?”
“No,” both responded.
“So, what are we gonna do?” Loki forked a piece of tender meat, slowing down as his stomach became full.
Listening to the howling wind outside, Dan sighed and lifted his mug, enjoying the warmth on his hands as much as the tasty beverage. “No way we are traveling in this weather even if we had a vehicle. Guess we’re stranded and snowbound until the severe storm blows over. When it clears, we’ll hike the fifteen miles to the store and call for a tow truck.”
Scott grinned. “At least we have everything we need. A roaring fire, scotch, duct tape, and stew. We won’t starve thanks to Loki’s aversion to the woods.”
“I told you, me and forests don’t get along. Maybe I offended trees in another life or something.” Loki used humor to alleviate his anxiety at the thought of being stuck here.
“You’ll be safe with me … the Dryads like me.” Dan sipped his coffee.
“What makes you think little tree nymphs like you?” Scott chuckled.
“I spent a lot of time in trees, and I never fell.”
“I beg to differ. What about the time we went camping in Réserve Faunique Ashuapmushuan? And your Tarzan stunt?”
“Technically, I didn’t fall … the vine broke.”
“What is this Tarzan stunt?” Loki probed.
“I’ll tell you another time. So, as I said, the nymphs adore me.”
“Wait, how about when you got stuck in the pear tree?” Loki chuckled.
Scott smiled recalling last year when Dan had an interesting twelve days at work before coming to Ottawa to spend Christmas with the entire family.
