The Accidental Bride by Denise Hunter Read Free Book Online Page A

stuffed it in his pocket, and exited the booth, the accordion door creaking with neglect.
    He started the truck and got back on the highway, his mind whirling. How would Shay react? She’d be spittin’ mad, that was for sure. If he were there, she’d shove him, her eyes shooting fire. She’d rail on him; then, after a while, her face would start to crumple and he’d try to hold her. She’d push him away at first, then she’d fall apart and sob in his arms.
    He had to stop this. Had to start thinking of what to say. How to put words to his thoughts.
    Ten minutes later he had his monologue memorized. He was half wondering if she’d hang up on him when his truck made a noise. A half mile later he began losing speed. The truck sputtered, and that’s when he remembered. Gas!
    He’d meant to get it on the way to the courthouse, but he’d been so lost in his own misery, he’d forgotten. Stupid!
    He pulled the truck onto the emergency lane and turned the key, looking around. He’d left town miles ago, maybe six or seven?
    He got out and started jogging back toward Cody. By the time he reached a gas station, his shirt was wet with sweat, but the only thing he cared about was reaching Shay. He approached the phone, bolted to the side of the building, and placed the call.
    How long had it been? An hour and a half. He wiped the sweat from his forehead while the phone rang.
    When the woman answered, he identified himself.
    â€œI’m sorry, sir, your fiancée left a little while ago.”
    â€œWhat do you mean she left? What did you say?”
    â€œSir, I don’t care for your tone.”
    Travis rubbed his face. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m just . . . upset.”
    â€œShe asked me what you’d said, and I told her you’d changed your mind and you weren’t coming.”
    Awww . . . blast it! He ground his teeth together and kicked the concrete wall twice. Three times. Then he took a steadying breath. “What’d she say? Where’d she go?”
    Another phone pealed in the background. “She was visibly upset. She waited awhile and then she left. I don’t know where she went. I’m sorry, sir, but I have to go.”
    â€œNo, wait—” But the click sounded in his ear.
    He holstered the phone in its cradle with enough force to break it. Then picked it up and did it three more times. She was probably on her way home by now. She would’ve called her folks to come after her. There was no way to reach her at the moment.
    He bought a container, filled it with gas, and hitched a ride to his truck. Once it was running, he continued south, stopping to call Shay’s house at every town he hit. Shay’s dad finally picked up four hours later.
    â€œYou have some nerve, buddy.”
    â€œDid Shay make it back?”
    â€œNo thanks to you.”
    He begged to speak with her, but her dad said she wasn’t there. He decided to keep trying. She’d pick up eventually, and then he could explain. But at every stop, every time he called, her dad picked up. The last time he’d gotten a blistering earful.
    Travis kept driving, determined, now that he’d set his course, on crossing the Texas line before stopping. It was after midnight when he pulled into the first Texas motel he came across, La Siesta. It was a dimly lit U-shaped building with two cars in the lot. He opened the truck door, and when the interior light came on, he noticed something black on the passenger floor. He reached for it, his heart sinking.
    Shay’s purse.
    He’d left her with no money, no identification, nothing! He groaned and drove his palm into the steering wheel. Idiot! But surely she’d had . . . Then he remembered her suitcase. She hadn’t taken it out of the pickup bed—why would she? They were supposed to be married and driving home together.
    He called himself every name in the book as he checked in, then