Miracle Inn: Small Town Romance in Double Creek, #6

By Regina Walker

After leaving Double Creek behind, Layla swore she'd never come back. But when her beloved grandmother is injured, Layla returns to town to run her grandmother's bed and breakfast during the holidays. As Layla settles into her new role, she realizes she's not the same girl who left town all those years ago.

Jacob Haskill has always been a cowboy at heart, but he's also had a crush on Layla since grade school. Now that she's back in town, Jacob sees it as his chance to finally win her over. But as they work together to save the bed and breakfast from financial ruin, Layla and Jacob will have to overcome obstacles that threaten to keep them apart.

As Christmas draws near, Layla and Jacob will discover the true meaning of the holiday spirit and the power of love. Join them for a heartwarming holiday romance set against the backdrop of a charming small town.

Don't miss any of the heartwarming Double Creek love stories: Pursuing the Paramedic, Picking Pears with Piper, Yielding in Yellowstone, Hopeful in Hawaii, Fall and I'll Catch You, and Miracle Inn.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Regina Walker
• Release date: Aug 22, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215197264

Regina Walker

Regina Walker crafts compelling characters facing some of life's hardest challenges. Her heart's desire is to always point toward Jesus through the way her characters face challenges, relationships, and adversity. Regina is an Oklahoma import, although she was born and raised in the beautiful state of Colorado. She likes to curl up on the couch and binge-watch crime shows with her hard-working husband. When she's not wrestling with a writing project, she can be found wrangling their children, riding their horses, or working around their small hobby farm.

Book preview

Miracle Inn

Sweet Small Town Romance in Double Creek

Regina Walker

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Contents

Copyright

Dedication

Epigraph

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Books by Regina

About the Author

Check out the latest about Regina Walker at reginawalkerauthor.com.

Miracle Inn

Copyright 2022 © by Regina Walker. All rights reserved.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Miracle Inn is a work of fiction. Where real people, events, establishments, organizations, or locales appear, they are used fictitiously. All other elements of the novel are drawn from the author’s imagination.

Cover by Long Valley Designs.

Published in the United States of America by:

Regina Walker

PO Box 492

Jones, Oklahoma 73049

To Jo E.

Thank you for sharing your family with me, for including my kids, and for being a part of our lives.

Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people!

PSALMS 66:5

One

Layla carried one of Amelia’s pies on each hand, and right behind her, Jacob followed with one of the turkeys on a giant serving plate.

Townsgiving was a great idea, Jacob said.

Wasn’t it though? Emeline is great at coming up with things for Double Creek, Layla said. She set the pumpkin pie down and then the apple pie. It’s almost time to eat.

I can’t wait. Jacob set the turkey next to the ham. The table was filling with food as more guests arrived and brought their dishes in. Have you thought about asking Emeline for ideas for the inn?

I think business is slow because of the time of year and because we just finished remodeling everything, Layla said. She shot Jacob a look. You know how Gran feels. She wants me to do everything.

Gran might want you to do everything, but that isn’t feasible, Jacob said. You still owe me a trail ride and you never get a break. She needs to let you hire someone.

Emeline isn’t looking for a job, Layla said.

Can you grab the casseroles out of my car? Megan asked Layla as she rushed past with a screaming, fully stretched-out Charles.

On it, Layla said. She jogged out to where the cars were parked.

The orchard was still decorated with scarecrows, cornstalks, and pumpkins from the fall festival. Orange and red mums sat on either side of the bay door leading into the barn. Layla took a deep breath to calm herself. It always got under her skin how Jacob tried to tell her to do things with the inn. Just because he had helped with the remodel didn’t give him the right... Stop it, Layla. He’s being nice. If something doesn’t change, I have to close the inn anyway. Why not let him have a few ideas and feel like he’s part of it?

Jacob, right on her heels, tapped her shoulder. I know you’re trying to make your Gran happy and figure out the inn. I’m not trying to be a pest. You’ve said yourself that the inn is struggling. Maybe some new ideas would bring it back to life.

You know, Emeline did suggest making it a Christmas wonderland, Layla said.

That’s a great idea. There are all those lovely evergreens around the property. Ornaments and lights would make it all very festive, Jacob said.

Thanksgiving is in four days, Layla said.

Townsgiving is my Thanksgiving, so I could help you, Jacob said. I’ll see if Ben and Corbin can help, too.

Megan has her hands full, and so does Piper, Layla said.

I’m sure Amelia and Emeline would be willing to help, though. Jacob grabbed one casserole dish and after Layla grabbed the other, he closed the back of Megan’s minivan. Do you think they’re going to have more kids?

Layla assessed the minivan, and she thought about how different things were with Megan. All she could muster was a shrug. It’s her life.

Isn’t she your bestie? Jacob jutted out his elbow and knocked it into Layla’s elbow.

Stop. She’s busy. You know how it is. I’m the single friend. A frown tugged down the corners of Layla’s mouth. She’s got a husband, a baby, the farm. Ben is still traveling to take photos and she’s still working as a paramedic.

Let me guess, Jacob leaned over and lowered his voice, you thought you’d spend more time together since you moved back, too.

Layla nodded and rolled her lips inward, biting them between her teeth. She tipped her head back an inch and inhaled the fragrant fall air. She stopped halfway back to the barn and turned to Jacob. Her big brown eyes were filled with tears that had not quite spilled out yet. It was so hard on me when she left Austin. We had been roommates for years. I kept thinking about moving back, but I hesitated. Then, when I got the call about Gran, I knew I had to come back. I was relieved because I wouldn’t feel so alone, but I was just fooling myself. Of course, she’s busy with her beautiful family. I can’t fault her for that.

You’re gracious. It’s good to recognize that it’s not personal, but that doesn’t mean it’s not painful. C’mon. They’re going to eat without us, Jacob said. If you get too lonely, you can always hang out with me. I spend my days with cows. He wiggled his eyebrow and scuffed the sole of his cowboy book against the ground.

That’s sweet, Layla said. She started walking back toward the barn, her mind on the AA meetings in Hurdle Mills. Sure, she saw familiar faces, and Megan didn’t ever seem to need the program, but Layla knew if she gave up attending and speaking, she’d also give up her sobriety.

I know you go to those meetings alone. The addiction ones, Jacob said as he took a couple of quick steps to catch up to her.

Layla looked down and away, her cheeks reddening with embarrassment. How do you know?

I saw the reminder on your phone when we were fixing the cabinets in the kitchen. If you don’t want to go to those alone, I’ll come with you, Jacob said.

Do you go to AA? She stole a glance at him, but her battle with addiction screamed shameful things at her and she looked away again.

Well, nah. But I would. So you don’t have to go alone, Jacob said.

How did he know I was thinking about the meetings? Layla pondered. She pointed with a gesture of her head toward the barn. Let’s eat. We don’t have to worry about that right now.

Jacob followed her in, and they both set the casserole dishes on one of the three food tables. Layla shook her head. We could eat for days.

The plan is for everyone to make boxes of leftovers to take home. One per person to start. Jacob pointed at two tall stacks of to-go containers. There’s more where those came from.

The clanging of a triangle being struck caught everyone’s attention and the din of the crowd died down.

Would you like to speak, Piper? Ronnie asked as he lowered the instrument.

You go ahead, Papa, Piper said.

Cedar stood beside Ronnie with her head tipped back and her eyes trained on him.

Welcome, friends, to our first annual Townsgiving. We are so glad you are all here, Ronnie began.

Seated at one of the tables, Mrs. Green watched Ronnie with her full attention. Layla nudged Jacob and pointed, whispering, She’s completely in love with him.

They are lucky to have found love a second time in their lives, Jacob said.

Layla could only nod her head in agreement. She hadn’t managed to find it once, let alone a second time. They were lucky. Megan would call them blessed, but Layla was pretty sure those words meant the same thing.

Please eat your fill. There is plenty. Once everyone has had enough for this evening, then one by one, go back through the line and fill a container with food to take home. One per person. We’ll see what is left and go from there, Ronnie said. This will be the official close of the Hickory Lane Orchard for the season. He glanced over at Piper and smiled. Piper has done more with the orchard in the last year than I ever could have imagined. Now here we are with all of our friends, celebrating my favorite holiday. If it weren’t for Piper and this lil’ munchkin, Ronnie turned his attention to Cedar, I wouldn’t have my joy for the day, or for life, back. I am an incredibly blessed man. He gazed over to where Mrs. Green was sitting, and a smile broke across his