by Laura Acton
“That was not the Dryads’ fault. I blame Boreas’ daughter, Khione, the goddess of snow. Dryads kept the branches from breaking.”
Loki snickered. “You have fallen … remember the rabid raccoon?”
“Again, I didn’t fall. Might’ve been hanging upside down, but that’s not the same as falling. Tree spirits befriended me and kept me safe.” Dan grinned, enjoying the banter.
“When did you study mythology?” Loki shifted, getting more comfortable.
Satiated, Dan sat back as he wiped up the last of his stew with delicious bread. “Not much to do during winter in the Yukon. Spent days cooped up in our quarters when harsh weather kept me from going outside. My tutor, Duffy, liked mythology and Shakespeare, and he enjoyed teaching me about both.”
The three men enjoyed another cup of coffee as they discussed mythology, a subject both Scott and Loki liked in high school. As the conversation lulled, Dan realized he would be content to relax here without skiing. If he did, his shin would heal by the time he returned to work, and Jon wouldn’t be able to give him any crap.
Scott rose and took his and Dan’s dishes to the sink. “Where are your antibiotics again, Dan?”
“Backpack.”
Loki refreshed all their coffee a third time after putting his bowl in the kitchen sink too. He would wash them up in a bit.
Scott picked up Dan’s pack and searched. Coming up empty, he peered at Dan. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah. I put the bottle of aspirin in there right next to them. In the main compartment,” Dan specified.
Striding over to the table with the rucksack as he checked again, Scott shook his head. “Nope, not there. Neither are the pain meds. Check for yourself.”
Dan shifted everything in his pack, not finding them. He resorted to dumping out the entire contents on to the tabletop. “Ah, crap! I didn’t zip this when I dropped the other bottle in. I bet they both fell out when we rolled, and everything went flying.” Dan grumbled, “Shit. Jon’s gonna pin my hide to the wall for not taking them on time.”
A frustrated sigh escaped Scott. “I’m sorry. If I’d been concentrating on the road, you wouldn’t be in this mess. At first light, I’ll head out to get them.”
Dan stared at Scott. “Not if the storm hasn’t let up. We barely made it here. It would be suicide to go it alone. Missing a few doses won’t be a problem. I’ll keep my wound clean and dry.” Pointedly glaring at both Loki and Scott, Dan declared, “And neither of you will tell Jon I missed any doses.”
Loki chuckled to hide his concern and crossed his heart. “Won’t hear a bad report from me. You tried, but this is out of your control.”
“Thanks.” Dan leaned back and kept his worry about missing doses to himself. If the wound went from the little pus in the early afternoon to the mess it was after their hike, he needed the medication. This spelled trouble for his body with a capital T. He witnessed what could happen in a short time without antibiotics.
While stationed at Gagetown with Brody, one of their buddies ignored a deep scratch on a week-long training maneuver. Seth ended up losing his arm below the elbow for his stupidity. Dan might eschew pain meds, but he always took his antibiotics … he never messed around with an infection.
But, Dan refused to allow Scott to go out in this blizzard alone. His Special Forces extreme weather training told him it would be suicide to travel in these conditions. He would not risk Scott’s life because he failed to zip his backpack, and the bottles fell out. “How long is this storm supposed to last?”
Loki opened a package of cookies. “Not certain. Didn’t catch that part. The team has our location. If the storm doesn’t abate, and we are no shows on Thursday, they’ll send help.”
Inwardly cringing, Dan understood going several days without antibiotics would be foolhardy. He began to think through natural remedies he learned, but nothing came to mind.
“Lily might not wait until Thursday. I promised to call every two days. She’ll be expecting a call tomorrow.”
Relaxing a bit, Dan remarked, “She might contact her dad and rustle up the cavalry if you don’t call.”
Grinning, Scott resumed his seat somewhat relieved. “One of the perks of having the highest-ranking military officer as a father-in-law.”
Loki spotted the deck of cards that had been dumped out of Dan’s pack. “Anyone want to play cards? Poker or rummy?” They decided on poker when Scott indicated he found a box of poker chips in his bedroom closet.
Cabin – Main Room
Loki washed the dishes as Scott moved the table and two chairs into the common room by the couch so Dan could sit in comfort with his leg elevated. Having regained some of his strength after a filling meal, Dan hobbled over to the woodpile and put two more logs on the fire, then made his way to the sofa and arranged himself with the pillows under his right leg.
The three spent the remainder of the evening engaged in a friendly poker game. Loki turned out to be the winner and gloated playfully, saying they should’ve played for real money.
As the night wore on, Dan’s concentration waned as his physical ailments pushed to the forefront. His headache increased as the samba band started up, and his shin throbbed and felt tight and hot. The room seemed warmer than it should, but then again, he sat near a roaring fire, so he tossed off the blankets to cool down. Sleepy, his head began to do the slow bob.
When Dan’s head bobbed for the fourth time and his eyes closed, Scott decided to help his cousin save face. “Time for bed. I’m bushed.”
The others agreed, and while Loki and Scott moved the chairs and table back, Dan prepped the coffee pot for the morning.
As Scott acted as Dan’s human crutch on their way to the bedrooms, Scott volunteered, “I’ll be our fire keeper tonight. I’m used to waking up every few hours throughout the night.”
Loki shook his head. “Not much of a break if you wake up on the same schedule here. I’ll take fire watch. You both are zonked.”
Scott nodded. “Okay, but my job tomorrow night.”
“Deal.” Loki studied Dan as he limped to his room with Scott’s help. He noted the pain lines around Dan’s eyes and how distracted he had been tonight. Dan needed rest because his body fought an infection without the aid of antibiotics. He wondered how long they would be snowbound and determined to take care of Dan until they could get him to a doctor. He hoped the snowstorm cleared enough for them to leave tomorrow.
Going to the hearth to add another log, Loki glanced around for items that might be useful in building a stronger travois because he didn’t think Dan would be up to walking. Spying nothing but a couple of fishing poles, Loki exhaled noisily. Tomorrow he would figure out a solution.
Stay Safe and Warm
20
November 23
Lexa’s Home – 6:05 a.m.
Unable to sleep in, Lexa woke at five o’clock. After a breakfast of a mango smoothie and toast, she decided to work on her current remodeling project. Turning the TV on for white noise, which she mostly allowed to fade into the background, she kept an ear out for an updated weather forecast.
She picked up the sanding block and started on the new drywall seam in her living room. With luck, within the next few weeks, she would finish the section she knocked down after breaking up with Dan. Lexa found her sledgehammer to be useful for both psychological and physical therapy during her emotional upheaval and rehab from her gunshot wounds.
Fortunately, in the past few months, she and Dan found a way to keep each other and the team in their lives. Thanksgiving had been the turning point. Now they were indeed on the way to becoming friends again. Since then, they hung out together with Loki and Ray a couple of times, and despite her misgivings, it didn’t end up as awkward as she predicted.
In due course, they might be able to go for a friendly dinner at Jarmal’s place without the need for a third person to act as a buffer. And eventually, she expected their bantering to return to what it was before they dated. But they had not reached that poin
t yet. Fearing he still loved her, Lexa refused to get his hopes up. She profoundly hurt him when she broke his heart and vowed never to do so again.
Keeping some distance between them was necessary for the foreseeable future. Although at times she desired more, Lexa couldn’t risk letting her libido overrule her brain. She worked too hard to achieve her goals, so the most she could expect would be a platonic ‘burgers and beers’ friendship. They would protect one another at work and chill with teammates off-shift … that’s all.
Fifteen minutes later, she took a break from sanding when the weather report started. Lexa sat on her coffee table as the newscaster said, “This is the snowstorm of the century. Due to the lake-effect, the Blue Mountain region received over three feet of snow since yesterday afternoon. Over the next several days, this massive front is projected to produce an accumulated snowfall of six feet. As a result, roads in the area will be impassable.
“The Department of Transportation reports it may take up to a week before the plows clear the highway and local street, and many remote access roads may remain closed until spring. The power and phone companies report downed overhead wires causing pocketed regions of outages. Regrettably, both utilities indicate services will remain unavailable in some areas until maintenance crews can safely travel to the locations to repair the damaged lines.”
Lexa switched off the television after the Toronto forecast, which turned out to be less severe as Dan’s and Loki’s location. She hoped the guys would be alright. With Loki’s phobia of the woods, she recalled him talking about the booster he bought for his mobile phone to increase his cell range. Lexa wondered if it worked. She got up and went into the kitchen to retrieve her phone from the charger and dialed Loki.
It rang once and went to voice mail. Darn, guess the device didn’t work, or they’re too far out of range. She decided to leave a message in case Loki got service in the next few days. “Hope you guys are doing okay. You sure picked a terrible time to go skiing. The forecaster said this is the worst storm in a century. You’re likely to be snowed in past Thursday. Stay safe and warm. Call when you can to let me know you’re alright.”
She hung up with something gnawing at her. Lexa chalked it up to being worried if they packed enough food to last them until the snowplow made it to their remote location, but then remembered the extra food Loki took based on the initial storm forecast. Pondering what bothered her, the reason crystalized. What if the cabin is located on a road that won’t be plowed?
Lexa relaxed, realizing the Broderick men would’ve received some form of cold weather survival training from the military. And from her many talks with Scott, while Dan lay in a coma, she learned Scott was an avid camper and would understand what to do in this situation.
Since she couldn’t do anything about their situation, Lexa decided not to worry and trust Dan and Scott to take care of each other and Loki. Well, this will certainly be a fantastic excuse for Loki and Dan to take more time off. Although, Loki might classify this as another horrible experience in the woods.
Picking up the sander to work on the seams again, Lexa envisioned all the laps Jon would make them run when they returned. She imagined Jon’s voice barking, “Another ten laps, boys. Gotta work off all the flab from sitting around and stuffing your faces with smores for a week.”
Cabin – Kitchen – 8:55 a.m.
Exhausted from their trek yesterday, all the guys slept later than usual. Dan, the last to rouse, hobbled to the kitchen after the alluring aroma of bacon wafted into the bedroom and woke him. He stiffly lowered himself in a chair as his stomach rumbled. “Smells great. I’m starving … again.”
Scott turned from frying bacon and grinned. “Morning, sleepyhead. Bacon, toast, and eggs sunny side up will be ready in a moment. Want coffee?”
“You have to ask?” Dan set his elbows on the table and rubbed his temples, wishing to return to bed, but he didn’t want to worry Scott or Loki with his less than stellar physical condition. Though he slept through the night, he remained fatigued, and his body ached all over.
After checking the home weather station by the front door, one which measured the temperature, wind speed, humidity, and pressure, Loki wandered into the room. His appearance slightly more haggard than the other two, having woken up every couple of hours to stoke the fire, he headed straight to the coffee pot. “I’ll pour for you. Temperature dropped again, down to ten degrees Fahrenheit. Snow is still falling, though not quite as heavy as last night. But the wind’s picked up speed.”
Getting another mug out of the cabinet, Loki poured the hot brew for Dan and refreshed his. Handing the cup to Dan, eager to find out if his friend would answer him honestly because Scott was present, Loki asked, “How are you feeling this morning?”
Taking a sip, Dan glanced at Scott before turning to Loki. “Been better. Shin still hurts but managed to walk by myself. I should check it after breakfast. My shoulder is tender, and my muscles are stiff. Only a unit is marching around in my head rather than an entire army.”
Loki grinned broadly.
“Why are you smiling?” Dan wrapped his hands around his mug.
Scott served up breakfast for them and took his place peering at Loki, a little perturbed at the man’s response to Dan’s disclosure. There is nothing in what Dan said to grin about.
With humor and a huge smile, Loki quipped, “Did that hurt too much?”
“Did what hurt?” Confused by Loki’s quirky remark, his brain not quite awake or firing on all cylinders, Dan took a bite of bacon.
Scott’s irritation grew. What is Loki doing? Dan is hurting, and Loki is grinning like the Cheshire cat.
“Telling me the truth straight out. If it didn’t hurt, perhaps you can be honest with me when Scott isn’t around.” Loki’s expression turned hopeful.
Dan rolled his eyes and softly chuckled. “Yeah, it hurt … a lot. Don’t get used to it. Scott suckered me into the oath when I was five.”
Scott laughed, his irritation dissipating as he understood. “Damned glad I did. What would you have told Loki if I weren’t here?”
“I’m okay.” Dan flashed a lopsided grin as he broke the yoke on his egg.
Loki shook his head. “Never gonna change, are you?”
“Nope. So, what do we want to do today?” Dan inquired, changing the topic of conversation. He would never be comfortable displaying weakness … some behaviors were too entrenched to change entirely.
Scott forked a piece of egg on his toast. “You’re sitting on the couch with your leg propped up unless you’re napping in bed or using the head.”
Loki yawned but suggested, “We could play poker for real money.”
“How about rummy?” Dan proposed, not up to concentrating on poker.
They agreed. After breakfast, Loki and Scott cleaned up and moved the table to the common area like the night before. Scott had been resolute in his decision for Dan to rest and sent his annoyed cousin packing to the sofa when he tried to help with dishes.
Cabin – Main Room – 2:40 p.m.
After checking Dan’s leg and cleaning it again, the guys spent the rest of the morning playing rummy. They ate a light lunch of sandwiches and all three laid down for a nap. All still exhausted and sore from yesterday’s trek in the storm in addition to their time on the slopes.
Dan snoozed on the couch while Scott and Loki chose to nap in their beds. Awakening from his siesta, Dan noticed the fire needed another log. He rose sluggishly, his muscles still stiff and aching. He waited a moment before standing to get his bearings when his head pounded furiously.
Putting only as much weight as he dared on his throbbing leg, Dan limped ungainly to the woodpile. He selected an extra-large log and bent to pick it up, his balance a bit off due to his injury.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Scott bellowed from his doorway as he spotted Dan exerting when he should be resting.
Dan did not notice Scott coming out of his room. The monkey symphony going on h
is head must’ve interfered with his bat-like auditory ability. Midway through lifting, but not having a firm grasp, Scott’s voice startled him, and he dropped the log. A high-pitched scream burst from his mouth when the wood hit his right shin. Dan fell to the floor, curled up, pulled his leg to his chest, wrapping his hands around his limb, and rocked back and forth as pain engulfed him. On his third roll to the left, he struck his head on the hearth.
Scott flew to Dan. “Oh, Christ! I didn’t mean to startle you. I’m sorry.” Scott pulled Dan close and held him firmly after Danny’s head hit the stone fireplace, preventing him from doing so again.
Loki raced out of the bedroom and found Dan withering on the ground. “What the heck happened?”
As the initial onslaught of pain subsided, Dan started to uncurl and pull away from Scott. He lay on the wooden plank flooring, breathing hard, trying to recompose himself. Crap, did I scream like a little girl? Did that come from my mouth? Sounded like Loki when he sees spiders.
Focused on the beams of the ceiling, Dan struggled to bring his breathing under control. Once halfway there, he turned his eyes to view Scott. Concern, regret, and self-loathing etched Scott’s features. Dan wanted to wipe those emotions off his cousin’s face. “My fault.”
Scott exploded, “Not your fault. Mine! You’re not to blame for every goddamned thing. When are you going to accept everything isn’t on you?”
He blew out a breath and clamped down on his fury since it wouldn’t change anything, and he shouldn’t be directing it at Dan. “God, I’m so sorry! Normally, you’re aware of everyone’s presence. No one can sneak up on you. Sorry I caused you more pain. Not my intention.”
Loki sat back on his heels and exhaled heavily. He had an epiphany … trying to get Brodericks to admit something was not their fault was like endeavoring to fit the Titanic in a bathtub. He decided to interrupt the back and forth blame game before it started in earnest.
He reached out for the bottom of Dan’s sweatpants. “Let me check if there is any additional damage.”
