Chapter Three, Paducah Or Bust?

"Dear Mom and Dad, Just dropping you a line so you won't worry. I'm gone on vacation. I'm not sure when I'll be back, but I'll be in touch. Love, Beth."

Beth stamped the postcard and slid it through the mail slot. She drummed her fingers on the counter, wrestling with the idea of sending her fiancé, Kyle, the same message. Her stomach churned at the thought of talking to him in any form at the moment. She picked up the other post card of the St. Louis Arch and tapped it on the counter. Pivoting, she snatched her purse and headed out the door.

Stepping out onto the sidewalk, she halted. Ok…if I don't do it now, I'll have to do it later. If he knows where I'm at, he'll come looking for me. Do I really want him showing up at the Smokies to drag me home? No…better to get this over with now.

Walking back in, she pulled out her pen and wrote. "Dear Kyle, I'm gone on vacation. I just needed some time away to clear my head and listen for God's voice. Please forgive any worry this may cause you. Please understand! This is just something I need to do. Love, Beth."

Addressing and stamping it, she slid it through the mail slot before she could change her mind. A glance at her watch told her St. Louis traffic was starting up and she needed to get on her way. She hoped to make it to Paducah by dinner time.

Settling her purse in the passenger seat, she took out her new cell phone and placed it on the console. She had stepped into the cell phone store to window shop, but found a steal on prepaid phones. It's so cool! Why didn't I ever get one before? Duh! Money. Well, now it's a necessity.

Consulting her map, she wound her way to I-64 and headed out of town. Just past the half-way point, she turned down I-57, then on to I-24. Checking her gas gauge, she wondered if she would need to stop before she reached Paducah. Well past the last town prior to Paducah, she realized she wasn't going to make it all the way. She needed gas now.

Oh Lord, please let there be a station soon!

Hope rose in her chest when she spotted an exit advertising a gas stop. Taking the exit, she followed the sign right. One mile…please hold out for one more mile. A half mile later the car sputtered to a stop.

"Great! Just great! I have a cell phone, but nobody to call. I can't dial 911 over an empty gas tank. But, a half-mile walk in the middle of nowhere? Not a good idea."

Resting her forehead on the steering wheel, tears welled up in her eyes.

Tap, tap, tap!

The air froze in her lungs. Tilting her head, she saw a man peering in at her. Dear God, help me!


~Linnette R Mullin