Lucinda is on her way home to Grand Rapids, Michigan, from boarding school in Lansing Michiganto celebrate her 17th birthday with family.Lucinda's car has a flat tire in an ice storm and skids into a ditch.Lucinda is able to walk to the nearest house where an elderly couple offers her food and shelter until her car can be fixed.Two days later, the snowplows cleared the road, the car is pulled out of ditch, the tire is repaired, and Lucinda is on her way home.Lucinda's mother, Louise, is so appreciative of the couple's care for her daughter that she sends them an email promising to pay $500 to help cover the expenses.Living on a fixed income, the elderly couple accepts the offer by return email.Lucinda and her mother get into an argument and Louise refuses to pay couple.

• Can the couple hold Louise liable in contract for the services provided to Lucinda? Provide arguments for the parties, determine the outcome and support your answer with scholarly material.