The Merry Moose’s Mates (Male-Order Mates #16)

Chapter Fourteen

Shay

Even though Briar had enough firewood for this winter and maybe the next, I found myself up at dawn and splitting wood as the sun rose in the distance.

The physical exertion plus the cold air centered me. Always had.

Of course, we were getting some physical activity at night after Alice went to sleep but as someone who had worked a labor-heavy job most of their lives, my muscles needed more.

As I slammed the ax through another big chunk of oak, splitting it right down the middle, I wondered what in the world I could get my new mates and Alice for Christmas.

There was a small utility shed behind the cabin. Briar had to have some tools, since he was out here all alone.

He had to.

I pounded the ax into the large stump, making sure it couldn’t get loose on the off chance Alice came out here and decided to dance with danger and try to touch it. Once inside the small shed, I found all the necessary items to make…something.

Something out of wood, I supposed.

It wouldn’t be much, and not what I wanted to give them, which was the world, but it would be from the heart.

That had to count. My mates weren’t the type to be snobby about expensive things, so I was sure they would love it even if I presented them snowballs on Christmas morning. I grabbed some stray pieces of wood, intending to make a few items, when I heard the front door of the cabin open and someone call out my name.

Briar.

“I’m out here,” I hollered back and put everything I’d found in a pile to easily find later on that day.

Once I walked to the back door, Briar greeted me with a kiss. He tasted like cinnamon and honey. My favorites. “What were you doing out there?” He said.

“I cut some more firewood and then went to look for some tools in the shed.”

“Okay.”

He didn’t ask why I needed tools, and I was glad. I didn’t want to lie to him but intended to keep my gifts a surprise–even if I didn’t know what they were.

“We made some honey-cinnamon rolls.” Ah, that explained how he tasted. “Your nose is red.”

I laughed and took off my boots before following him into the living room where Austin was begging Alice to put her bib overalls on. She had her arms crossed over her chest. One of her feet was tapping.

Crouching in front of the two, I pointed to my face. “Alice, do you see my nose? I’m a big, big guy and I keep myself pretty warm. But my nose…I can’t really keep it warm. Now, imagine how cold a little girl would be if she didn’t put her snow gear on before going outside.”

“Is there a hat for my nose?” she asked.

“No. Maybe we should invent one later. Now, what are we getting dressed for?”

We’d spent the last day or so, snuggled up inside. Perhaps Alice was getting a bit of cabin fever.

Couldn’t blame her. She had more energy than a bear cub.

“We are going to dig out the front a bit. Make a path for us to get out of here.

“I dug one in the back this morning so I could get out,” I offered, not wanting them to have to work more than they necessary.

Austin tugged on my shirt as I rose to stand. “But it would be really good to get outside in some fresh air and dig in the snow, right? It’s good for us.”

Ah, yes. The little one needed to get her wiggles out. That’s what my dads used to call it when I was bouncing off the walls.

“That’s right.”

I grabbed a roll and ate it in two bites, while Alice decided to get her overalls and boots on. While she did, she claimed she would invent a nose hat for me which made us all chuckle.

We spent the morning digging out all the way from the front door to the walkway. Briar and I did most of the digging since our animals gave us extra stamina, but Alice did her part with a very large kitchen spoon, and Austin helped her with the big shovel at times.

By the time noon came around, we were all hungry, and our human mate was tired.

Alice was dead on her feet.

“How about we go in and warm up by the fire. We have some leftover stew from last night, and I can mix up some biscuits quickly.”

“Biscuits and stew sounds amazing right now.” Austin leaned into my hold, resting his head on my shoulder.

“Between the two of us, we’re never going to go without an amazing meal,” Briar said as we walked in. His hand brushed my ass and then Austin’s. Naughty, naughty moose.

Once Austin and Alice stretched out on the couch for a nap, Briar said he had some things to take care of in his office. I snuck back outside and started on my Christmas presents. While we were digging out, my creative mind went to work as well.

I finally knew what I was going to make for my mates for Christmas. It would be one gift for all of us, but I hoped they’d love it.

With a hand saw, I cut out a perfect square from the wood and got to work. There wasn’t a lot of time before Christmas, and I had some intricate work to do.

I was a bear on a mission.