Olive drew in a quick breath. This woman was pregnant—and out in this weather.
“Please.” The man’s voice sounded hoarse from the cold. “Our car slid off the road. We’ve been walking for hours. We just need somewhere warm—just for a little while. Please don’t tell me there’s no room.”
Honestly, therewasn’troom. Even if there were enough sleeping quarters, this inn was the last place a pregnant woman should be.
Not only was there a possible killer hiding out, but given the circumstances it wasn’t wise to let anyone join them. These two looked innocent, but Aegis needed to keep their circle closed until they had more answers.
Yet they couldn’t turn this couple away. To do so would be cruel and heartless—especially given the woman’s condition.
Rex hesitated only a moment before stepping aside. “Come in.”
The man helped the woman inside. She gasped softly, one hand pressed to her lower stomach.
“I’m so sorry to barge in.” Her voice trembled. “We saw the lights from down the road. Everything else was dark, and we’ve been walking so far . . .”
Jason shut the door behind them, sealing out the storm, his muscles still taut.
Olive’s gaze raked over the sheer amount of snow on the couple, soaked in the blue of their lips. “How fardidyou walk?”
“Two miles, maybe three—all up the mountain.” The man’s voice cracked. “Our phones don’t have a signal. We thought we were going to freeze out there.”
The woman shivered violently.
Mara rushed forward, a blanket in hand that she quickly wrapped around the woman’s shoulders. “Oh, sweetheart. You’re safe now. Let’s get you by the fire.”
“We’re glad you found us. No one should be out in this—especially not someone in your condition.” Warren joined hiswife, guiding the couple toward the hearth. “We’ll get a room ready for you.”
“I can pay . . .” the man started.
“Don’t worry about money.” Mara waved a hand in the air.
The man glanced around as if sensing the rest of the group was here together. “We don’t want to intrude.”
“Nonsense,” Mara insisted. “No one’s turning you away tonight.”
Olive exchanged a glance with Jason, then with Rex.
No one spoke, but the unease rippled silently through the group.
More people. More variables. More secrets.
And one very vulnerable pregnant woman caught in the middle of a night already teetering on the edge of disaster.
Had this couple showing up been a coincidence? Or what if this was all a setup?
Olive didn’t want to ask the questions, but she’d be a fool not to—especially considering everything that had already happened.
What were the odds that these two just happened to break down close to the inn? That they’d managed to find this place in a snowstorm?
Was it a near miracle? Or was it planned?
And what about the fact the highway had been closed? How had they gotten around that?
Olive had to acknowledge the fact that there were no other cabins up this road. It was part of the reason Rex had chosen this location. So maybe this couple’s story did check out.
Plus, there was the whole irony of a man and a pregnant woman wandering in the dark looking for a place to stay. The Christmas story slammed into her mind, and she pictured Mary and Joseph doing this very thing—only in Bethlehem.
Maybe this couple had been sent here to remind them about the reason for the season. Not only the season, but the reason for life also—the purpose of existing.
