Hidden History by Melody Carlson Read Free Book Online

finding homes for them when they grew too big to be house pets.”
    “Poor Clara,” said Alice. “She really seems to love Daisy.”
    “I hope she does not get too attached,” said Louise. “According to Aunt Ethel, Mayor Tynan will be looking into the town ordinances before long.”
    “Oh, you people and your small-town politics,” said Mr. Miller. “Something like this wouldn’t cause anyone to even bat an eyelash where we live.”
    “Don’t be so sure,” said Mrs. Miller. “How would you like it if our neighbors had a three-hundred-pound pig? I’ll bet you wouldn’t waste a minute before you’d be calling the authorities and complaining.”
    “Only if it became a nuisance,” he defended himself. “I say, live and let live.”
    Jane chuckled. “That’s not how it works in a small town. People really get involved in other people’s business here. You should’ve seen what we went through just to renovate our family home into this inn.”
    “Really?” Mrs. Miller looked surprised. “This is such a lovely place. I can’t imagine how anyone could’ve protested.”
    Jane launched into stories of some of the crazy battles that the sisters had to fight just to get the townspeople on board.
    “But the town came through for us in the end,” Alice said. “When it looked impossible to get our roof fixed, everyone in town pitched in and helped out. We wouldn’t be open today if they hadn’t. You see, the people here are really very generous and good-hearted. It’s just that they can be a hard sell sometimes, but when they’re convinced, then you couldn’t ask for better neighbors.”
    “Well, we can’t always say that about where we live,” said Mr. Miller. “Fact of the matter is we don’t even know most of our neighbors.”
    “We used to,” said Mrs. Miller sadly. “Then old friends started moving out and new folks moved in. Well, it just got hard to keep track.”
    “I suppose we quit trying,” added her husband.
    “Maybe we should give it another shot,” said Mrs. Miller. “I noticed that the new folks on the right have a new baby. And the woman was hanging what looked like a handmade quilt on the clothesline.”
    “You said how you love to quilt,” said Louise, pointing to the bag of fabric that Mrs. Miller had purchased at Sylvia’s Buttons that day.
    “Yes, mentioning the quilt would be a perfect way to start a conversation,” said Mrs. Miller. She smiled and nodded her head. “Yes, I think that’s just what I’ll do when I get back home. You ladies and your friendly little community have inspired me.”
    Alice smiled. “That’s one of my prayers for each of our guests.”
    Then Mr. Miller pointed toward the plaque that hung by the front door. “We liked what your sign says.” Then he proceeded to read it aloud. “A place where one can be refreshed and encouraged. A place of hope and healing. A place where God is at home.”
    “That’s nice,” said Mrs. Miller. “By the way, we noticed that the little church over there has the same name as your inn. Why is that?”
    Louise told them a bit about their father and the church, and Alice invited them to join them for the next day’s worship service.
    “We haven’t been to church since the children were small,” admitted Mrs. Miller. “I’d like to go tomorrow.” She glanced at her husband and he was nodding.

Chapter Five
    A ll was quiet at the inn when Louise, Jane and Alice met in the library to continue reading from their father’s journal. Alice had brewed a pot of orange pekoe tea and had arranged pot and cups on a large silver tray on their father’s old mahogany desk.
    “Do you want me to continue reading?” asked Alice. “Just because I found the journal doesn’t mean that I should be the only one to read. We could take turns.”
    “I think you have a fine reading voice,” said Louise. “If Jane has no objections, I would like you to be the official reader.”
    “So would I,” said Jane.