Savannah went to the window with Harlan following. During the time they’d been locked in the coat closet, the scene outside had transformed into one fromWhite Christmas. Except it wasn’t Christmas yet, there was a coating of ice everywhere, not snow, and the Hill Country didn’t have storms like this. Certainly not in early December.
“Looks like you were right,” she said to Harlan.
“There’s talk about the weather but I think we should make an announcement,” Avery said. “And then we need to find something to do with everyone.”
“I’ll ask the Harwoods how many people they can put up. I don’t think the inn is particularly full, but finding room for two hundred or more people will be tough.”
“Some of them will undoubtedly leave,” Harlan said. “People don’t always pay attention to weather warnings.”
“Yes, except the road to the highway is impassible, so they won’t have a lot of choice. I suppose a four-wheel drive could get through, though.” Savannah called and spoke to the desk clerk, who had the manager call her back. There were twenty-two available rooms, plus several living spaces in the main house as well as in each building. People would need to double up but Mr. and Mrs. Harwood promised to find room for everyone who stayed.
Savannah brought Avery up to speed about the inn. “So, who’s going to announce what’s going on?”
“You,” Avery said.
“Oh, no,” Savannah said, shaking her head. “Rock, paper, scissors.”
Her friend agreed grudgingly. Of course, Savannah lost and Avery left before she could protest. She saw Harlan watching her. “Don’t you dare laugh.”
“I’m not laughing. I’m impressed with your ability to get things done.”
“I haven’t gotten anything done yet. People are not going to be happy.”
“What can I do to help?”
“Make the ice go away?”
“Sorry, no can do. What else can I do?”
“Go over to the main house. Mrs. Harwood will give you a map of the available rooms and buildings, and the number of people each one will hold. She’ll also have sign-up sheets. Everyone can argue among themselves about who gets which bed or couch in their appointed building.”
After Harlan returned with the requested materials Savannah went to the stage and took the microphone. “Hi, everyone. I have an announcement to make. The weather channel has issued a severe winter storm warning for the area. We’re in the midst of a severe ice storm. Rural Route 2766 back to Whiskey River is closed to all but emergency vehicles. And according to some of our guests who left before we were aware of the warning, the road from the inn to 2766 is impassible. They had to turn around and come back. Police ask everyone to stay where they are and not drive until the weather is past. Which we hope will be sometime tomorrow.”
Everyone started talking. She heard grumbling, but it sounded as if most people were accepting the situation and deciding to make the best of it. Not everyone would, of course.
She tapped on the microphone. “If I can have your attention. I’m going to tape several maps of the grounds to the walls where everyone can look at them. We’re going to put each building’s sign-up sheet on a separate table. The name of the building and the maximum number of people who can be assigned to each one is written on each sheet.”
After Avery and Harlan finished laying out the sheets, Savannah pulled Avery aside. “What’s up with Rachel? You said she left because the babysitter called?”
“Yes, Mrs. Claus said Katie was really upset so Rachel took off, naturally. But she said Katie was fine by the time she got home.”
“I’ll try to call her later, although cell phones don’t seem to be working well. At least, mine and Harlan’s don’t. What about yours?”
Avery pulled it out, looked at it and grimaced. “Not good either. Maybe another carrier will work better.”
“I hope so or there’s going to be a mad rush to use the inn’s landlines to alert people’s babysitters to what’s going on.”
