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By the third time, Winnie began to worry they’d have to walk back to the car, but a moment later, a door opened in the back room, and a harried looking woman appeared around the corner. Her raincoat was sopping wet, along with her wellies and hat that barely covered a bush of gray hair.

Her brow rose in surprise when she caught sight of them. “Oh, oh my goodness. I’m so sorry. Have you been—Oh, Angel!”

Winnie nearly jumped out of her skin as the woman ran forward, pulling the cat into her arms with her eyes heavenward. “Oh, I thought I’d lost you for good, my darling boy.” She cast her eyes at the cat, giving him a stern look. “Don’t you ever scare me like that again.”

Once more, she held him close to her chest, breathing out a heavy sigh of relief. Finally, she looked back to Winnie and Matthew, who both stood staring at the woman in stunned silence, though they still tried to smile politely.

“I’m terribly sorry,” the woman said. “I’ve been out in the rain looking for this little rascal for the last thirty minutes. Thought he’d got lost in the storm.” She pulled him away from her and scowled at him again. “Did you just slip right past me as I walked out? Cheeky mite.” Once more, she held him against her chest. “I couldn’t live without my little boy, despite him causing me turmoil day in and day out.”

She breathed another sigh, then finally placed the cat on the floor and began to shed her wet clothing. “Now, where was I? Oh, yes. Welcome to Robin’s Nest Bed and Breakfast. I’m the owner, Agnes Kitchingside.” She smiled, then raised her eyes up and down the length of them. “I take it you’re here looking for a room and shelter from the storm yourselves?”

Winnie paused, heat crawling up her neck, despite how chilled she still was. Did she say a room? As in one?

“Yes, we are,” Matthew said.

Winnie’s eyes rounded. Had he not caught Mrs. Kitchingside’s words?

“Alright,” the woman said, placing thin glasses at the end of her short nose and pulling out a binder filled with paper. Had she no computer system to book people into the rooms?

“Um…” Winnie said, moving forward with a finger in the air. “Two rooms, that is.”

Matthew stared at Winnie, as if to say, “That goes without saying.” But he nodded all the same. “Oh, yes. Of course. Two rooms.”

Mrs. Kitchingside eyed them above her glasses, a wince marring one brown eye. “Oh, dear. I’m so sorry, but we’ve just one room available.”

Winnie’s ears started to ring. One room? Would they have to walk back to the car, spend the night in Minnie’s cold clutches? She wasn’t sure she had the tenacity to even step foot in that rain again. She was chilled to the absolute bone.

“Just one?” Matthew repeated, as if he was coming to terms with what that meant, too.

“Yes, I’m afraid so,” Mrs. Kitchingside explained. “We’ve one under construction and the other is occupied.” She stared at them, clearly wondering why the two of them were having a difficult time accepting her words. “The room I have to offer is equipped with a king-sized bed, however.”

Matthew nodded absentmindedly. “Do you know of any other places to stay nearby?”

“Not for miles, deary. I’d give up my own bed, but I don’t think either of you would take kindly to Angel as a sleeping companion.”

Winnie nearly laughed, thinking the woman was joking, but at Mrs. Kitchingside’s sincere expression, Winnie swallowed her chuckle and took to staring at the cat, instead. Angel now slept comfortably before the fire, curled into a warm, hairy ball. At this point, Winnie would take the cat’s place at the front entryway before returning to the car.

“Winnie?”

Winnie pulled her attention back to Matthew, who stared down at her expectantly.

“What do you think?” he asked, motioning to Mrs. Kitchingside.

Winnie hesitated, glancing at the woman, who still watched them curiously over her glasses.

“Excuse us just one second,” Winnie said politely, then before awaiting a response, she led the way back to the door.

She faced Matthew once they were far enough away from the woman’s prying ears, intent on stating in no uncertain terms that she could not fathom walking back to the car, but he spoke first.

“You take the room,” he whispered. “I’ll sleep in the car.”

Despite his gallant offer, she instantly shook her head. “And have you freeze to death at my expense? Absolutely not.”

“I’d most likely be fine,” he said with a flippant shrug.

But Winnie was adamant. “No. That’s not an option.”

He stared down at her, their voices still low. “Okay, but what other option do we have, short of sharing the room tonight?”