Free The Christmas Bus by Melody Carlson Page B

suppose it might be easier to have it in San Diego. Not to mention warmer.”
    “It must be hard on you to travel,” said Charles.
    “Not really,” she said. “If my back starts hurting, I just go lie down on the bed. But the bouncing gets to me sometimes. Do you have any idea how bouncy a bus can be?”
    Charles just shook his head.
    “Here you go,” said Edith as she handed Amy the bag of food. “And you two feel free to come in and get some breakfast in the morning. There’ll be plenty to go around.”
    “Seriously?” Amy looked truly surprised.
    “Of course,” said Edith. “You’re more than welcome.”
    Now Collin emerged with his full water jug. “You guys are way cool,” he said with a bright smile. “I told Amy that there were still a few good people left in this world.”
    Charles smiled at them. “Well, let’s hope so.”
    They walked the couple to the door and told them good night. “Sleep well,” called Edith as they went back out into the snow. She wanted to add “and don’t go into labor,” but that didn’t sound quite right. Still, she really hoped that the baby would wait until the parents had safely made their destination in sunny Southern California.
    “Wasn’t that something?” said Charles as he locked the door.
    “They seemed nice,” said Edith. “I wish we had an available room. I’d let them have it for free.”
    He put his arm around her shoulder. “I know you would, dear. That’s just one of the many things I love about you.”
    And then they went up to bed.

8
    “What on earth is that ?” exclaimed Myrtle when she came into Edith’s kitchen.
    “What?” Edith looked up from her daily devotions, trying not to seem as aggravated as she felt. Myrtle was such an early riser that Edith would have to start getting up a lot earlier if she expected to have a decent quiet time these days. As it was, she was already tiptoeing downstairs long before daylight.
    “That hideous contraption that’s parked in front of your inn is what.”
    Edith went to the living room and looked out the big picture window in front. “Oh, my . . .” Her hand flew up to her mouth as she remembered their late-night visitors. “That’s, uh, very interesting.”
    “It’s atrocious!”
    “Well, it’s certainly colorful.” Edith smiled to herself as she studied the wild-colored stripes and flowers and geometric designs. “It looks like a hippie bus—straight out of the sixties.”
    “I’ll say,” said Myrtle with a look of disgust. “How in the world do you think it got here?”
    So Edith explained about the young couple’s unexpected arrival the night before. “We told them it was okay to park there for the night.” She chuckled. “But we hadn’t actually seen their bus since it was dark out.”
    “Well, you sure can’t miss it now.”
    Even with the thick white cap of snow on top, you couldn’t miss the brightly colored bus. In fact, the clean blanket of snow all around only made the bus stand out more. “Well, don’t worry,” said Edith. “They’ll probably be gone by noon.” Then she returned to the kitchen, dismayed to see that Myrtle was right on her heels. “They’re just a couple of young people, on their way to California, hopefully in time for the baby.”
    “Baby?” Myrtle frowned. “You mean people are traveling in that old dilapidated thing and they’re about to have a baby? That sounds plum crazy to me.” She lowered her voice. “Do you think they’re drug people?”
    Edith sighed. “I don’t think so.”
    “Well, I remember when the kids who lived in vehicles like that were all a bunch of druggies. A bunch of social outcasts who wanted to turn on or drop out or something to that effect. Horrible way to raise a baby, if you ask me.”
    Edith wanted to remind Myrtle that no one had asked her, but instead she asked her to stir the pancake batter.
    Breakfast came and went without an appearance of the mysterious young couple who inhabited the