Rachel's Road to Love (The Great Smoky Mountain Getaways Book 3) Read online

  “You’re welcome. Now let me get your suitcase from the limo driver. Wait here a minute, and I’ll be right back.” Leslie shut the door and made her way to the limousine that sat in front of the church.

  After a brief discussion with the driver, the man popped open the trunk and pulled out her suitcase. Bless Leslie and her ever-efficient brain in a time of crisis. Returning to Rachel’s car, she hoisted the bag into the back seat. “Not sure what you can use in here, considering you were bound for Rio. Lucky for you, we’re about the same size, and I’ve got clothes at the cabin you are welcome to wear that should be more suitable.”

  Total understatement. Anything would be more suitable than the sexy nightgown she’d bought for her wedding night. But, thinking about the nightie and what it signified made Rachel uncomfortable, the same way she felt when Leslie insisted she buy it in the first place.

  Rachel nodded, putting the car in drive. Only once did she glance in the rearview mirror, checking out the church as it grew smaller. This morning started out as a wedding day, and now, it was nothing short of a disaster.

  The problem was, Rachel wasn’t so sure the disaster wasn’t a blessing.

  Two

  After typing in the cabin's address on her navigation system, Rachel set the car on cruise control as she headed for the mountains. She wouldn't be able to use it on Black Mountain's steep grade, but while she could use it, she would.

  She tugged out the bobby pins that held her curls in place and tossed them in the cupholder. It would have been better to ditch the dress, but nothing could be done about it until she reached the cabin. On the positive side of things, at least her gas tank was full, and she wouldn’t have to stop along the way. Facing the curious gazes of people at a gas station as they took in her torn wedding gown was not high on her priority list. It was also the reason she decided to nix the idea of stopping for bread and milk. There was always tomorrow.

  Snow flurries fell softly, the darkened skies more ominous than when she’d started out. It would seem the weatherman’s prediction was slightly off, and the edge of the storm wasn’t far behind her. With any luck, Rachel could keep it that way.

  She scanned her fingerprint to unlock her phone. “Call, Alex,” she said, activating her voice-controlled dial feature. The way he had gone about jilting her with a phone call to his best man was cold and heartless. No matter his reasoning, it hadn’t been fair. In fact, it was downright weaselly and something totally unexpected from Alex.

  “Hey, Rachel. Before you say anything, let me say I’m sorry. I know I was a jerk and that you didn’t deserve this.”

  Darn straight, I didn’t. “Well, you can start by telling me what the heck is going on? I was blindsided by this. If you were having second thoughts, why didn’t you say anything before today? Before I had my dress on and my hair and makeup done. And before everyone was sitting in the church wondering where you were.” Rachel was on a roll, and it all came rushing out. She hadn’t planned what to say, not expecting him to answer the phone.

  “It was cowardly, I know. But my parents...they were the ones who wanted this marriage, more than we did, I think. I’m sure he will cut me off financially because of this, but I just couldn’t go through with the wedding. It wouldn’t have been fair to you or me.”

  “But why? What changed?” she asked, trying to make some sense of her feelings about today’s events.

  “Let me ask you this. You went away for a year after we got engaged. Why? Why didn’t you cancel the mission trip and stick around and plan the wedding with me? It was a life we were going to share together, and yet, you chose to have nothing to do with the planning and high-tailed it out of Edgewood.”

  Alex was right, and it was the same question she had been asking herself. “I don’t know. You took me by surprise, and it wasn’t like I could say no, not with everyone looking on and waiting for me to say yes. I was excited about the mission trip and the chance to help others, especially the children, and I couldn’t say no to that either. The engagement was just bad timing, but I figured the only way to make both parts of my life work was to let you all plan it.”

  “What bride doesn’t want to plan her wedding? Also, did you hear what you just said? It wasn’t like I could say no. That sounds to me like you weren’t sure even then.”

  Rachel hadn’t been sure, and there lay the crux of the problem. “It was the right thing to do. You and I both know our parents had our wedding in mind for years, and we were just moving forward with the next logical step in our relationship.” She winced, the words sounding awful even to her own ears. Logical and marriage were on the opposite side of the spectrum when it came to love.

  “The right thing to do isn’t a declaration of love,” Alex insisted.

  “Maybe not the way a married couple would be, but I figured we would grow into that part.” Love was something that grew over time. Respect and trust were far more valuable traits. Although, it would seem Alex had wiped those traits away in one fell swoop.

  “And there’s the bottom line in all of this. You’re my best friend, but I don’t love you like a husband should love his wife. Tell me something. Were you upset when you found out I wasn’t coming to the church or did you feel a sense of relief?”

  The truth was staring her right in the face. Rachel had been both relieved and upset, but all honestly, the rush of relief had come first. The jitters weren’t jitters at all. They were the fear she was making the biggest mistake in her life. “I don’t know,” she said, evading his question. “What changed your mind?”

  “Honestly, Rachel, I’m not sure you want to know,” Alex said, uncertainty lacing his voice enough to pique her interest further.

  “Try me. We’ve come this far, and I’m not sure anything else can compare to being left at the altar.”

  “I fell in love with Brittany Adams. That’s how I knew what you and I shared wasn’t enough to sustain a marriage. I’m sorry.”

  Love? Alex was in love with someone else. She was wrong—this was just as bad. He’d ditched her for someone else. “Do I know…wait…are you talking about the wedding planner?”

  “Yes. I swear it just happened. We spent so much time together planning the wedding, and we clicked. Enough that I know it’s real. I’ve never felt like this about someone before.”

  “Your timing stinks, Alex.”

  “I know, please forgive me. You know I never wanted to hurt you. We let the parents control far too many of our decisions—but not anymore. At least, not for me. But please, don’t breathe a word of this to anyone. I want to keep my relationship with Brittany off the radar until things cool down. If my parents find out, they will never accept her into the family when it becomes known. So any chance at happiness and not being cut out of the family requires discretion at this point.”

  Rachel shook her head, still processing the newest information and how she felt about it. Not that it mattered. What was done was done. “So, why tell me?”

  “I figure you deserved the truth. And I’m hoping as a friend, you will help me out.”

  They were friends. Rachel just needed time to get used to the sudden changes in her life. “Thank you for that. And since you told me the truth, I figure you deserve the same.” She took a deep breath. “You asked me if I was relieved or upset when you were a no-show. The answer is I was relieved. Angry for sure, but those feelings came after a strange sense of relief.” There was no way she could be angry with Alex for doing the right thing and saving them both from making a huge mistake.

  “That makes me feel better about the whole thing. Not that I deserve to feel better, but I hope you know what I mean,” Alex said, a ring of sincerity in his voice.

  “I do know what you mean.”

  “I also hope you will forgive me someday. There was no way I could go through with the wedding, knowing I was in love with someone else, and knowing that in the eyes of God, we were getting married for all the wrong reasons.”

  “I understand, and I’
ve already forgiven you. Not your timing, but for stopping the wedding,” Rachel admitted.

  “I hope you find true love one day, Rachel. Then you’ll be thanking me for ruining today.”

  “That won’t be for a long time, trust me. In fact, I’m taking a few days up at Leslie’s family cabin, and I’m going to put in for more mission trips. I want to travel the world, and you’ve given me the freedom to do just that. Thank you.” It felt as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

  “Take care, Rachel. Don’t be a stranger as we are still friends, I hope.”

  “Yes, friends. You take care too.” She might hate the way Alex handled things, but she was grateful he’d done what he did. Her motto had always been to try and find the positives, even in the bad. And it was never more true than now. God must have known her heart, and now there was so much to be joyful for. Nothing was stopping her from making more mission trips, and all without her mother’s interference. Thank you, Lord.

  The snow had picked up in intensity while she was on the call, enough that it was sticking to the ground. She peered in front of her, not wanting to miss the turn highlighted on her GPS.

  Rachel turned onto the back road and flipped on her wipers, trying to keep the windshield clear of snow buildup. A weather alert flashed across her screen, the beeping sound ominous. She glanced at the phone to find out what was going on and clicked on the flashing winter storm warning. She couldn’t read and drive, so she pulled into a small, run-down country store parking lot to stop. Tapping on a few keys, she brought up the radar, unsure of where she was and finding it easy to let her GPS locator figure it out.

  Heavy blues, pinks, and purples filled the screen, moving across the black dot. The storm was now right on top of her, but there was no turning back. Just when she thought the day couldn’t get any worse, Mother Nature was proving her wrong. Back on the road, Rachel followed the directions as they flashed on the screen, the trip was slow going as the snow increased to an almost blizzard-like intensity.

  The snow coated the roads, the salty mixture the road crews must have sprayed in advance of the storm, turning the snow to mush. The area already had plenty of snow, but it was about to get a fresh dump of the white stuff.

  Rachel glanced at the GPS screen, noting she only had ten miles to go. Unfortunately, every minute that passed became more treacherous. She was grateful when she made the final turn up the long driveway to the house. It was a steep incline, and her tires started to slip in the snow. Without salt or traffic, the snow was much deeper. She shifted the car into the anti-skid mode, hoping for more traction.

  Half a mile more and she was home free according to the GPS. The car went into a slide toward the edge of the road. Rachel took her foot off the brake, gently trying to correct her direction, aiming more for the center of the driveway. Her wheels didn’t respond, and she slid into the ditch, the car coming to a sudden stop as it rammed into a sign.

  “Arghhh!” Rachel smacked the steering wheel, frustrated with the newest turn of events. She shifted into reverse, hoping to back the car out, but the tires just spun. The car was stuck, which left Rachel only one choice. Walking.

  Rachel twisted around and grabbed her suitcase, pulling it into the front passenger seat. She kicked off her high heels and pulled on a pair of sneakers. Next, Rachel located the two lightweight sweaters packed, hoping they would be enough to keep her warm the short distance to the cabin. After zipping the suitcase, she slid out of the car, the cold seeping through to her skin in record time.

  One foot in front of the other, she trudged up the road, one slippery step at a time. Just around the bend, it was with relief she spotted the cabin. Her relief faded all too quickly as she noticed smoke billowing from the chimney. The warmth would have been a toasty welcome if it weren’t for a tiny problem—there wasn’t supposed to be anyone at the cabin.

  What if someone had broken in and was using the place in the absence of the owners? Rachel had no choice but to go inside and look around, but it was of significant concern. Her friend had mentioned a caretaker, and that’s precisely the scenario Rachel was hoping for. She called Leslie, hoping for answers but at the very least to have someone on the phone when she entered the cabin. Except Leslie’s phone went straight to voice mail. No help there. And her parents were out of the question. They didn’t know Rachel had come up here, and she wasn’t ready to tell them.

  Rachel entered the code and went inside the cabin, her body shaking from the cold. “Hello? Anyone here?” she called out, leaving her suitcase by the front door, and heading straight for the fireplace and heat. Five minutes later, her fingers and toes, and body were all sufficiently warmed against the roaring fire, and so far, no one had appeared.

  She headed down the hall to investigate the small cabin and figure out what was going on. Maybe it was a simple matter of Leslie calling someone to open up the place in preparation for her arrival, and she was letting herself get carried away. The answer made perfect sense and would be just like something her friend would do.

  The duffle bag in the corner of the bedroom, as well as the toiletries laid out on the bathroom sink, didn’t give her any reassurance that her reasonable explanation was valid. Neither did the scent of Irish Spring that permeated the bathroom air. Nothing old about the fragrance.

  Noises coming from the direction of the front room had Rachel on alert. She glanced around, spotting a baseball bat leaned up against the side of the dresser. Grabbing it, she headed down the hall, ready to face whatever, or whoever, she found. Adrenaline raced through her body, her heart pounding as she slowly made her way down the hall.

  A tall and decidedly handsome man looked up at her arrival. “What the—”

  “Who are you?” Rachel stood her ground, bat in the air.

  “Put that down. And tell me who you are and what you’re doing here? This is my cabin,” the man said, his scowl backing up his declaration.

  Except, Rachel knew better. “You must be mistaken. This belongs to the McCarthy’s. Leslie and Chad McCarthy, to be exact.” She lifted her chin, defying the man to tell her otherwise.

  “Like I said, lady. My cabin. I’m Chad McCarthy. I’m asking again, who are you?” He took a step closer.

  Rachel took a step back. “Chad?” she repeated her voice more like a squeak. It didn’t make any sense he would be here. Leslie had assured her he was still in Afghanistan.

  “Yes. And for the fourth time, you are…”

  “Rachel Harrelson. Leslie’s best friend.”

  The guy seemed to relax considerably, but he might not be so happy about the situation when he realized her car was stuck in the ditch. “Okay, now we are getting somewhere. She’s talked a lot about you over the years, but I don’t believe we’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.”

  He was wrong. They had met—once. The night she and Leslie had gone to their junior prom. Ten years older, the handsome man hadn’t paid her one iota of interest. But, for Rachel, it had been a bit different. More like a case of adolescent love, at least, it had been until Alex asked her to go steady. “What are you doing here?” she asked, trying to make sense of his presence.

  “I snowshoed up to Eagle Point, wanting to enjoy the view as the storm rolled in. What about you?” His gaze slid down her body and back up. “It’s not as though I was expecting company, especially someone, Ummm, who looks like a runaway bride.”

  “Wrong story.”

  “Excuse me,” he asked, the lines across his forehead deepening.

  “More like a jilted bride, so you’re not far off.” Laughing at herself would go a long way to helping her get through yet another unexpected twist to the day.

  “I see. It was the sneakers that had me thinking otherwise,” Chad teased.

  Rachel grinned. Runaway Bride was one of her favorite romantic comedies. “Leslie thought this would be a good place for me to hide out and avoid all the sympathetic and prying eyes back in Edgewood. And she assured me you were out of the countr
y.”

  “I was, but now I’m not. Things happened, and I wanted some time to unwind before I let my sister know I was back in the area.” Chad ran a hand through his hair as if trying to decide the best way to deal with a situation not of his choosing.

  Rachel could help him on that score. “This won’t do at all. I can’t stay here with you, seeing as we’re not married.”

  “Not that I wanted company, but out of curiosity, why is that a problem?” he asked.

  “It wouldn’t be proper.” Rachel shrugged, crossing her arms in front of her as a way to do something. Anything to ease her nerves. She hadn’t meant to sound like an old fuddy-duddy prude. “Maybe you could run me back into town.”

  “I see. But in case you haven’t noticed, unless you’ve got a snowmobile, your ticket out of here expired. And I’m not a minister, so you’re plumb out of luck getting married, even if you are dressed for the part. So you’re stuck with me, sister.” His cheeky grin was her undoing.

  “The dress comment is hitting below the belt, and I don’t see the humor in the situation.” Now she really did sound old, but his comment hurt. Nothing about today had been her fault. Well, not really anyway. If she’d never said yes to Alex in the first place, today would have never happened.

  “Sorry, I was just trying to lighten your intensity. It’s not like we have a lot of choices. Where’s your car anyway?”

  “About a half of a mile down the driveway firmly planted in a ditch.”

  “Which is exactly where it will stay until after the storm passes and the roads clear and someone can come tow it out. I’m guessing you don’t have a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Lucky for you, the caretaker dropped off some food supplies and batteries in case the power goes out. He won’t be back to check on me until things clear up enough for him to have time to get back up here. He’ll be busy with the road crews once the storm passes.”