Free The Treasure of Christmas by Melody Carlson Page A

who got Edith’s attention with her sad dark eyes and a cascade of curls beneath a plaid woven scarf that was wrapped around her head.
    “Do you have a room for the night?” asked the young man.
    Charles looked at Edith, then back at the couple. “I’m sorry, but the inn is full until after Christmas.”
    The woman sadly nodded. “I told you they’d be full up, Collin,” she said.
    “Why don’t you come in,” suggested Charles. “That way we can close the door and keep the heat inside.”
    So the couple stepped into the foyer and, shaking powdery snow from their clothes, they looked around the inn and seemed impressed.
    “This is a real nice place you got,” said the man.
    “It’s so pretty,” said the woman.
    “Where are you two from?” asked Charles.
    “Montana,” said the woman. “We’re heading to California.”
    “California?” echoed Edith. “Aren’t you a little off course?”
    The woman made a half smile. “Well, Collin picked the straightest route going west. Then we planned to head due south to San Diego where his brother lives.”
    “But we were having some engine troubles,” explained Collin.
    “And then the weather hit,” she added. “It’s a real blizzard out there.”
    “And so we thought we’d treat ourselves to a room for just one night,” said Collin. “Just to get cleaned up, you know. But that’s okay, we’re pretty low on funds anyway, we can stay in our bus.”
    “Your bus?” queried Charles.
    Collin nodded toward the big picture window that looked out over the street. “Yeah, it’s all set up to live in with a bed and everything. Not the Ritz or anything. But comfy enough.”
    Edith went over to peer out onto the street, but all she could see was dark shadows and snow flurries.
    “Do you mind if we leave it parked there?” asked the woman. “On the street I mean? Just for the night, you know?”
    “Or until I have time to tweak on the engine a little,” Collin added. “It’s running pretty badly right now.”
    Charles looked at Edith, and she just shrugged. “I don’t see that it’s a problem,” she said.
    “You wouldn’t think so,” said Charles. “Not for just one night.”
    “Do you need anything?” asked Edith. “Food or anything?”
    The woman’s eyes lit up. “We’re low on water. And, hey, if you want to share some food . . . that’d be cool. We’re pretty broke. Just trying to get down to San Diego so that Collin can find work, you know.”
    “Come on in the kitchen,” said Edith, forgetting her sign again. “We’ve got some leftovers from dinner that you can have if you like. By the way, my name is Edith, and my husband is Charles.”
    “Oh, I’m sorry,” said the woman. “We didn’t even introduce ourselves. I’m Amy and,” she jerked her thumb over a shoulder, “that’s Collin.”
    In the brighter light of the kitchen, Edith could see that Amy was quite young. Probably early twenties at the most. And she also appeared to be quite pregnant.
    “You’re expecting?” said Edith as she put the bean soup into the microwave to heat.
    “Yeah. My due date is actually the first week of January. But my back’s been aching, and I feel as big as a house right now. I wouldn’t mind if it came tonight.”
    “Tonight?” Edith felt her brows shooting up. “But what would you do? The hospital is nearly an hour away, and that’s in good weather.”
    “Oh, I plan to have it naturally, at home.” She laughed. “Or in the bus.”
    “Really?” Edith wrapped a generous chunk of cornbread in plastic wrap and put this into a grocery sack, along with several pieces of fruit.
    “You mind if I fill this up in here?” asked Collin as he appeared with a large water jug.
    “That’s fine,” said Edith. “Or if it’s easier, go ahead and use the laundry sink out on the back porch.”
    Now Charles was in the kitchen too.
    “Amy is expecting a baby soon,” said Edith in what she hoped sounded like a calm voice.
    “Yeah,”