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

lay awake half the night berating himself for his thoughtlessness. But even in the darkness of night, even while he regretted what he’d put Shay through, he didn’t feel he’d made a mistake in calling off the wedding. The real mistake had been planning it in the first place.
    It would be months until he realized that some mistakes could never be undone.

8
    O kay, spill,” Abigail said as soon as Beau lumbered away.
    The two women were sitting on a blanket on the town square lawn. Darkness was falling, and the lamps along the street flickered on one by one.
    Shay pulled her knees into her chest. “Don’t know what you mean.”
    â€œYou’ve been acting weird all evening,” Abigail said. “Was it the wedding? It must’ve reminded you of Garrett.”
    Strangely enough, she hadn’t thought of her ex-husband once. “Ancient history.”
    She tapped her toes to the country-and-western music. Across the wide expanse of lawn, the Silver Spurs jammed onstage. The guitarist moved forward, showing off his skills, and a gaggle of girls gathered at the foot of the stage. Musicians. Oh brother.
    â€œYou and Beau all right? He seems tense.”
    â€œThere is no me and Beau.”
    â€œI know that, I just . . .” Abigail heaved a sigh. “Come on, are we friends or what? It took a lot of creativity to grab a few minutes alone, and if you don’t spill soon, they’ll be back.”
    Fine. Whatever. “If you must know, the groom was Travis.”
    â€œYeah, I know. Wade said they used to compete sometimes on the—” Abigail’s eyes popped open. “Travis? The Travis?”
    â€œThe very one.”
    â€œHoly cow, Shay, I had no idea—why didn’t you tell me he was back?”
    â€œAll Moose Creek knows he’s back.”
    â€œWell, I’m new here, remember? Oh my goodness. Your first love. Your soul mate. No wonder you—oooh, that kiss . . . No wonder Beau’s all prickly.”
    â€œHe’s not prickly.”
    â€œHe’s livid. He’s so handsome . . .”
    â€œBeau?”
    Abigail nudged Shay’s foot. “No, silly, Travis. It’s all making sense now.”
    Shay was glad it made sense to someone. Her own thoughts were a tangled knot of barbed wire.
    â€œI’m surprised you agreed to it.”
    â€œDidn’t know Travis was the groom. That was your aunt’s little surprise.” A breeze tugged at her hair, and the smell of roasted pork wafted by, turning her stomach.
    â€œI should’ve known. Aunt Lucy’s such a matchmaker.”
    â€œWell, she’s wasting her time.”
    â€œNot if that kiss was anything to go by.” Abigail winked.
    Shay knew her friend was teasing, but Travis had never been a joking matter. “Last thing I need is another cowardly man.”
    Last thing she needed was another man, period.
    â€œSorry.” Abigail smiled sheepishly.
    Shay and Olivia were fine on their own. The girl had been devastated by her father’s desertion. She’d asked him every time he called when he was coming back. When he died, she cried daily for three months while Shay stifled her anger. Only when the anger wore off had she shed tears of sadness at his loss. In the end, she’d decided the anger was easier.
    No, they didn’t need some man strolling into their lives and breaking their hearts again, humiliating them in front of the whole town.
    Abigail nudged her foot. “So what are you going to do? Wade said he’s here until his folks return from Guatemala, and that’s not for—” Her eyes swung upward, over Shay’s head.
    â€œHis being here is no concern of mine.”
    â€œShay . . .”
    â€œI got plenty to keep me busy and—”
    â€œUh, Shay.”
    â€œâ€”last thing I’m worried about is—”
    â€œTravis McCoy!” Abigail stood to her feet. “I’m Abigail,