A Love Like That E-Book

Lisabeth D. Casey

• Herausgeber: WS
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Serie: LOVE IN WILLOW BROOK
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 253

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

Kidnapped, then left for dead, Rebecca Carter wanted nothing more than to slip into oblivion, but the nightmares wouldn't let her.

The moment Lucas Vance saw Rebecca, he knew she was God's plan for him. But with knowledge of her tragic past, it would be a battle to win her heart.

Lucas’s choice of weapons-love and faith.

Will Rebecca's past and suppressed memories destroy their love before it even has a chance to begin?

Leseprobe

TABLE OF CONTENTS

COPYRIGHT

DEDITCAION

TO MY READERS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A LITTLE HISTORY

COPYRIGHT

A Love Like That

Love in Willow Brook Trilogy: Book One by Lisabeth D. Casey

Copyright © 2022 Wendy Mullins & Lisabeth D. Casey

Cataloged with the Library of Congress

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means-electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior written permission of the authors.

All characters, places, and events in this publication are fictitious, and any resemblances to places, occurrences, or persons, living or dead, are purely coincidental.

Paperback ISBN:   979-8-9872123-0-1

eBook ISBN: ​    979-8-9872123-1-8

Cover design by: Wendy Mullins

Author Photo: Debra Waldrep

Cover photography Courtesy of: www.Canva.com

Artistic elements paid for & licensed through Canva Pro

All scripture, unless otherwise noted, are taken from the King James version of the Bible, Copyright ©1999 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Contact: [email protected]

Published by:

Skye Raven Press

Silsbee, TX

DEDITCAION

A Special YeHaw! to the girls for always being there, keeping me grounded and in stitches. Thank you for being brave enough to go into the proofing room.

Mom, Tina, Lyndell, Sue, Jamie, Dena, Rachel, Dawn, Wanda, and Mary.

TO MY READERS

Thank you for reading.  I hope you enjoy Lucas and Rebecca’s story as much as I have enjoyed writing it. They came to life quicker than I imagined and caused me many happy, sleepless nights. 

I am an Independent Author with a wonderful team of proof-readers, but things may slip past us. If you find any mistakes, please do not hesitate to contact me.  I will immediately fix it and upload a corrected copy. 

Reviews get my books noticed and help me improve and bring you new and exciting stories. I would be incredibly grateful if you could take a few moments and leave a review.

. SCRIPTURE

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn.

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.”

Isaiah 61:1-3 (KJV)

CHAPTER ONE

Willow Brook, Texas, 1867

“Are you in pain?”

Am I in pain!

The question came as a concerned whisper, that grated on Rebecca Carter’s last nerve. She pinched her lips tight and glanced out the window of her sister Rachel's private rail car as the train rolled into the sleeping town of Willow Brook Texas, and screeched to a stop. She knew that her sister's husband, Nick Vance, planned their arrival at this time so that her presence wouldn't be known. Until he was ready for it to be. It was nearing dusk, and the town seemed quiet. She saw but a few people milling about and had to admit, she was glad of it.

From her window, she could see the saloon, its doors swinging back and forth as two men pushed through them to end their day and start a night of drinking and gambling. Rebecca closed her eyes tight against painful memories; too often, she'd had to drag David and Quin from one of those vile places, praying they'd lead a better life than their father.

They were gone now; her father, killed in a drunken brawl, and David by a senseless act of violence because she could not love a man with evil in his heart.

Quin! Rebecca didn't know his fate.

He had left her with Emma, broken and bleeding, and disappeared. Quin was her brother in every way but blood. He was all she had left, and she loved him. She didn't know if he was alive or dead, which was the worst feeling. Not knowing.

Am I in pain? Rebecca scoffed at the mere thought of it.

She wanted to scream to the heavens for all the pain in her shattered heart. She could almost touch them; those shattered pieces, sharp as a knife as what little faith she had left, spilled onto the ground like water through a sieve.

God did not hear her cries or see her pain.

David is dead!

Pain did not even begin to describe what she was feeling. There was such a finality to it all, a deep-seeded cold that settled into the very marrow of her bones, stealing the warmth that was her love for David, her twin.

There was nothing that could describe the pain of that; Rachel could never understand; I will never feel that warmth again.

As if to give life to that thought, a cold chill passed through Rebecca. Her tired eyes darted to Nick, then back out the window. She was so weary, but she could not sleep. That’s when the screams started.

She glanced at Nick again. He had promised her justice, but she knew it for a lie. There would be no justice. Not for her and certainly not for David.

Why? She wanted to scream it at him.

At God. At anybody.

Why would God allow evil men to destroy everything?

She couldn't understand any of it.

Rebecca sucked in her breath and flinched when Rachel touched her shoulder. The sting of Lyle's whip was still fresh in body and spirit. Her friend Doctor Gavin Daniels, and his sister Emma, had said it would take time for her skin to heal enough that she wouldn't feel pain at every touch. Even the chemise beneath her blouse was a chore to tolerate.

Emma, her sweet friend Emma, has the faith and fortitude of a Saint. She was like a fierce wind rolling across a summer prairie. Emma had cared for her, held her when she'd wake up screaming in the night, not leaving her side but praying over her every hour until Rebecca had begged her to stop.

She could not take it anymore—the prayers.

Rebecca pulled her shawl lightly around her as if that could ward off the horrible memories. She gulped down the cry of pain that action caused. It pained her even to think about it, but she didn't ever want to hear any more empty prayers.

Rebecca lifted her hand and traced the light scar on her left cheek. It was not a deep cut and, thankfully, required no stitches. Emma had promised the scar would fade and, in time, would hardly be noticeable. But Rebecca wouldn't know; she had yet to look at herself in the mirror. She didn't think she could bear a constant reminder of the day Lyle Shivers had taken everything from her.

Rebecca's eyes darted between Rachel and Nick. She was in pain, of the worst kind, but she could not let them see it. She could not let them see just how shattered she was.

She had to be stronger than him. Lyle. She would not let him break her.

Hadn’t he already? No, she could not give in to the horror of it. She had to get past this. Somehow.

For David.

For Quin.

For everyone who'd suffered at the hands of those monsters.

"Promise me." David's last words came unbidden to her mind, but for the life of her, Rebecca couldn't remember a promise made. She couldn't remember anything past the gunshot that took her beautiful brother’s life. He had been her everything.

Rebecca glanced at Nick, who sat across from her and Rachel. She didn't see pity in his dark gray eyes but concern. It had been six years since she last saw him, a dusty cowboy driving cattle through their small town of Stillwater for the army; Six long years since he whisked Rachel off her feet and away from her family.

She had needed her sister then.

Rebecca didn't want to need her sister now. Rachel had found her fairy tale knight and forgotten about her family. Anger burned deep inside Rebecca, molten hot; she could not let them see that either. It was the only thing that chased away the fear.

Nick Vance was the epitome of Tall, dark, and handsome, the knight of Rachel's dreams. Her petite frame, golden hair, and bright green eyes were in direct contrast to Nick's dark hair with just a hint of gray-and dark gray eyes. Rebecca did concede they looked well together. It was clear to anyone who took the time to look, that Nick and Rachel were very much in love.

Rachel had regaled her and David with tales of her dream knight in shining armor, much like in the fairy tales she loved to read. She had always dreamed of falling in love and starting her own family, having the perfect home and life far away in an ideal land.

And now here she was, her perfect sister with her perfect life. And all she could feel about it was…anger. It was the only thing she had left.

Rebecca had prayed, oh how she had prayed for Rachel to come back for them. She waited on empty promises for so many years, and then one day, there she was, her beloved sister standing over the bed with that horrified look on her angelic face.

Rachel had finally come but much too late. She had abandoned them, and now David was dead.

Oh, why did I ever get on this wretched train?

It changes nothing.

If Nick thought he would keep her safe, he was so wrong. Lyle would find out she was still alive, and he'd come for her. He'd kill them all if they stood in his way.

Aside from being the only living witness to Lyle’s latest string of deadly bank robberies, Rebecca had scorned him, and nobody scorns Lyle Shivers without suffering for it. She had first-hand knowledge of that.

Rebecca tapped down the fear that threatened to send her running from this train into the night; the madness nearly consumed her. Nick Vance, no matter how rich or powerful, will not stop what is coming.

"I am fine, Rachel." Rebecca turned her eyes away from Nick to look out the window as the train's whistle announced their arrival. She couldn't bring herself to look at Rachel. Not yet. The horror in Rachel's eyes upon seeing the results of Lyle's whip on her back would haunt her forever.

Emma had told her the scars would not be that bad, but the truth of that lie rested in Rachel's eyes these past few days.

She had begged Gavin not to send for Rachel. Even if she hadn't experienced the most horrific time of her life, she had not wanted to see her sister. She didn't need or want a sister who'd abandoned her with broken promises, but Gavin and Emma were adamant; For her safety, Rebecca had to come home with Nick and Rachel.

Quin! He was forever present in her mind. She needed him but feared something horrible had happened to him. He would never have left her, not of his own free will. No one had seen or heard from him since that horrible day.

Quin, where are you?

Being Lyle's half-brother, Sheriff Langley and Nick thought Quin might be involved in everything. She tried to tell them Quin had disowned his brothers long ago; he would never hurt her, but they wouldn't listen.

He was a Shivers, after all.

They didn't know that Quin had taken his mother's name, Hayes. Rebecca had never known Quin to go by any other name. If he was hurt, or worse, she'd never forgive herself. Guilt nagged her.

No, not guilt, it was something else, something so profound, and she couldn't quite grasp it. Quin had saved her, but she was missing something. She could feel it; something else had happened that day, something so horrible her mind would not let her see it.

"Wait here." Nick's deep voice jerked Rebecca's thoughts to the present. He stood, and bent to kiss the top of Rachel's head, then quickly exited the rail car. Rebecca had mixed emotions about him. She resented that he swooped in and taken over her life, albeit she knew that he meant well, and as Rachel had explained, Nick only wanted to protect her.

He was also stubborn. Nick had bossed and bullied Sheriff Langley and the entire town of Stillwater for a full accounting of the robbery, her abduction, and David's death.

Where Rachel had been horrified at her condition and David's death, Nick had become enraged. He'd sworn to her that she was under his protection now, and he would see Lyle and his brothers brought to justice.

Rebecca suspected it was more than protectiveness. Nick had a brutal side that she expected most men feared, evident by his high-handedness with Sheriff Langley. He had been like a raging bull, and Rebecca shivered just thinking about it. She did not ever want to be on the receiving end of Nick Vance's rage.

However, he also had a softer side. Rebecca saw it every time he was near Rachel; Nick looked at Rachel like she was the most precious thing on this earth.  Seeing Nick’s love for her sister lessened Rebecca’s anger toward him if but a little.  If only she could shake her anger with Rachel.

Why! She wanted to scream at Rachel. Why didn’t you come back?

None of this would have happened if Rachel had kept her promise.

A loud commotion caught Rebecca's attention, and she glanced out the window toward the back of the train and nearly screamed. Her mare, Willow, had been unloaded from the train.

Two men had hold of Willow’s reins, trying to control her. She would be frightened from the train ride, and now, being in a new place and around strange people, she is terrified, evidenced by the men's struggles to control her. She was bucking and jerking her head; trying to get away from them.

Although Willow trusted her and David, Quin was the only one Willow honestly responded to. Quin and Willow had a special connection, which made Rebecca think that something terrible must have happened for Quin to leave the horse behind.

Rebecca jumped from her seat and hissed as pain shot down her back. She forced down the scream that almost escaped. Then, taking a deep breath, she steeled her spine and rushed to the exit, Rachel behind her, pleading for her to remain until Nick returned for them.

Rebecca exited the train in such a rush that she practically slid down the steps, thankful for the light from the lanterns hanging from tall posts along the boardwalk. Despite her pain, Willow's distress and shouts from the men urged her forward. She had to help Willow before something disastrous happened.

She rounded the last car and stepped off the boardwalk just in time to see Willow rear on her hind legs, her eyes wide with fear and her teeth bared. Her front legs came down hard on the ground, barely missing a tall, slim young man with red hair. He couldn't be more than fifteen, a boy.

It was the larger of the two men that grabbed her attention. He was tall and broad of shoulders, and every muscle in his upper body strained against Willow's strength. He wore a black Stetson, which looked like it’d seen better days.

A colt revolver was holstered in the gun belt, secured around his hips. Dark denim tapered down to dusty, booted feet that dug into the ground as he leaned back against Willow's lead, to keep her from rearing again. His long legs stepped in line with Willow as she backed up to escape him. The young boy followed their every step.

Rebecca's breath hitched in her throat, something about this man caused a stirring within her, but she ignored it, stepping forward to grab Willow's reins, but the young boy reached out to pull her away.

"Watch out, Miss."

"Don't touch Me!" Rebecca screamed, recoiling from his touch. It was such an involuntary reaction she didn't realize she'd said anything until the tall man jerked his head around and pinned her with his eyes. Even with the waning light and the shadow from his hat, she could see they were bright as a Summer's blue sky. Those magnificent blue eyes reached right inside of her and touched something she thought was long dead.

He was the most beautiful living soul she’d ever seen.

There was no time to think about it as Willow's continued struggles spurred her into motion. Rebecca skirted around the young boy to grab Willow's reins, but the tall man blocked her, growling like and angry bear.

"What the devil? Woman, step away before you get hurt," Lucas was so focused on protecting the woman he lost his grip on the reins, and the horse was able to jerk free. Thankfully, Thomas was quick as a rattler and managed to grab the reins.

"I've got 'er, Mr. Vance." Thomas quickly pulled the horse away from the train, walking in circles to calm her down, cooing to her like a newborn filly.

Rebecca tried to run after Willow, but her feet tangled in her skirts, and a cry escaped her as she pitched forward. Before she could meet the ground, a pair of strong hands hauled her against a wall of solid muscle. Her rescuer's hat flew off his head, revealing a wave of short-cropped dark blonde hair. He looked down his long straight nose at her. Dark brows snapped together over bright blue eyes and held her captive.

Rebecca had never seen anyone so beautiful in her life. Then, a jolt, something jump-started her heart, and all she wanted to do, right at this moment, was to melt right into him.

Rebecca thought she just might, but for the pain. His strong hands were splayed across her back, holding her captive. Tears welled in her eyes, and she blinked them away.

"Lucas!" Nick's bellow broke their connection, and Rebecca felt like turning and kicking the man. But, aside from her misery, she’d just experienced the most wondrous thing, and blast it; Nick ruined it.

The reality of Rebecca's situation slammed into her like white-hot coals. The pain in her back and shoulder grew by the minute.

Concern for Willow kept Rebecca on her feet as she extracted herself from Lucas’ arms. She held her breath with every step but managed to make it to Willow and take the reins from Thomas.

Lucas sent Thomas away with a wave, reaching around Rebecca and grabbing Willow's halter. Lucas had seen the pain in her eyes, the unshed tears. Did the woman not care for her own safety, that she’d suffer so for a horse?

"Let go, this instant." Rebecca tried to turn Willow away, but Lucas held fast and gave Willow a little jerk on her halter when she protested.

"Are you mad? You'll get trampled; move your pretty little self out of the way and let me handle this."

"And such a fine job you are doing. Now leave this to me before you get hurt." Rebecca emphasized the word 'you,' ignoring Rachel's pleas, to let Lucas handle the situation.

It was Nick's bellow that handled it.

"Lucas, let it go!" Lucas immediately let go of the horse’s halter and looked at Rebecca as if she'd just grown two heads when said horse immediately calmed and dropped her head atop Rebecca's shoulder.

That action nearly dropped Rebecca to her knees, but she managed to stay on her feet. Lucas reached out a hand to steady her, and she sucked in a painful breath when his other hand touched her lower back, and she lurched away from him to grab Willow's long mane for support.

There go those blasted tears again. Rebecca thought she’d been all cried out by now.  She buried her face in Willow's neck and took a deep breath. How was she ever going to get through this?

Rebecca saw Nick stop Lucas from reaching for her again by grabbing his arm. Bless the man; maybe she wouldn't kick him after all.

Tremors coursed through Willow, and Rebecca ran soothing strokes down her sleek neck to calm her. Willow needed stabling, but mercy, Rebecca feared if she took one more step, she'd fall flat on her face, but she had to do this.

"Nick?" Rebecca waited until Nick came closer and spoke in hushed tones so Rachel couldn't hear her, and make a fuss. "Stables? Please."

"I can see you're suffering, Rebecca. Lucas.” Nick jerked his head toward the tall man. “My brother. Let him and Thomas take Willow. We've rooms at the hotel. I'll send for Doc, to take a look at you.”

"No doctor. I'll be all right. Please, Nick, I need to do this." How could she make him understand how important Willow is to her?

"All right," Nick conceded after a long pause. "But Lucas will help you," The tone in Nick's voice brooked no argument, and truth be told, she didn't think she could do this on her own anyway. "We leave for the Ranch at first light. You will rest and see the Doc before we go. Do not think to upset my wife by refusing."

Nick gave her no opportunity to refute him but pulled Lucas aside, filled him in as much as possible, then led Rachel down the boardwalk toward the hotel.

CHAPTER TWO

There now, not so bad sweet girl." Rebecca crooned to Willow in hushed tones as she brushed her down. Thomas had feed, a full water bucket, and fresh hay in Willow’s stall when Rebecca managed to get her inside.

Thomas' freckled face was alight with such joy that he'd get to tend to Willow; he didn't mind sleeping in the barn tonight and rushed off to get his bedroll. His enthusiasm was quite endearing.

Rebecca was finding it harder and harder to stay upright and wondered how she would make it back to the train station and find the hotel before she fell flat on her face in the dirt.

She'd gritted her teeth against the pain so much she thought she'd cracked them.

"Are you in pain?"

A ragged breath escaped Rebecca. The only thing that would relieve her now was total oblivion, and she would gladly curl up into a corner of Willow's stall to await it. That's what she needed, sweet nothingness. She couldn't give in. She had to stay strong; put on her brave face because he was watching. Lucas.

She should have listened to Nick and let Lucas tend to Willow. Instead, Rebecca had let pride and stubbornness dictate her actions, and now she was paying the price.

Lucas had become her shadow, dogging her every move. Watching. With those eyes!

Rebecca felt something, a shift when she looked up and saw those eyes watching her: it felt like he knew her, as if they shared something that no one else could touch. Something special.

How was that possible?

Her eyes grew wide as the realization dawned on her. This man, Lucas, cared for her! They'd barely just met, for crying out loud.

How could he care for her?

How could she let him?

No, no, no, Rebecca silently cried, turning away from those all-knowing eyes to lean against Willow's neck, wrapping a fist around her long silky mane to keep herself from falling. Willow snorted in protest, stomping her large hoof.

She slid a look toward Lucas again and frowned. Concern creased his brow, his eyes studying her intently. Those blasted tears threatened to fall at the tenderness reflected there. He kept his distance but remained ready to lend her aid, and she knew, deep within her shattered heart, he'd never let her fall.

Who was this man?

Lucas leaned forward, his arms resting on the top rail of the stall door and pierced her with eyes of steel. "Are you done being stubborn now, Angel?" Lucas thought he'd never seen a more beautiful creature. But, standing here he could see the weariness in her and knew it was only a matter of time before she'd lose her battle and fall flat.

Iron will, kept her knees locked in place, and her jaw clenched so tight that the scar on her beautiful face stood out stark white.

Anger boiled in his gut that someone had done that to her. She flinched as if he'd touched her scar and turned her face into Willow's neck to hide it. That made Lucas angry; that she felt the need to hide from him.

"Do not hide from me." Lucas had not realized he'd said that out loud until her head popped up. The lantern, hanging from a nearby post, cast a warm glow over her golden tresses like a halo.

Her eyes, bright as emeralds, were filled with such pain and sorrow it ripped his guts out. If a more pitiful creature ever existed, he didn’t know of it, albeit the most beautiful creature he’d ever seen.

Considering what Nick had just told him, Lucas understood she’d be mourning her brother's death, but this went far beyond the grief of that loss. Something deeper was eating at her, but she kept it buried. His angel was trying to put on a brave face. Willow turned her head to nuzzle her, and a smile almost broke her facade.

Almost.

Rebecca! She was a force of nature, and how she fought through her pain to care for this devil of a horse - a horse reduced to a gentle kitten under her tender hands - astounded him. Never before had he seen the like.

So, this is Rachel's baby Sister, the one she'd cried over for six long years, all grown up and in trouble: trouble that would soon follow her, according to Nick.

Willow Brook would be her home now, but from what he'd seen so far, she'll be stubborn about it. She was angry too. Lucas could see it though she tried to hide it.

Rebecca reminded him of his brother, Lincoln. The Prodigal. Lincoln had that same look about him. The pain. The sorrow. The anger. It had all been there when he'd come home from the war. But it manifested into something much more profound when they lost Sarah.

They'd all suffered, but Lincoln most of all. He blamed himself for failing to protect their baby sister.

Sarah's death changed them all. It has been a year now. But, together, as a family, they had faced it and carried on as Sarah would have wanted.

All except Lincoln. He had retreated inside of himself, refusing to even speak about it. His recovery was slow, and Lucas sometimes feared for his brother's state of mind.

Lucas didn't want to see this sweet angel standing bravely before him, going through that heartache alone. He didn't want to watch her die inside. Like Lincoln had.

"Whatever do you mean?" Rebecca just wished Lucas would take those eyes of his and go away so she could fall flat on her face in peace.

"C'mon now, little miss stubborn, let me help you back to the hotel. If I know Nick, he'll have 'Ole Doc roused from his bed and waiting on you. Nick can be a mean Cuss when he doesn't get his way."

"He is not the boss of me. And I don't need a doctor."

"Oh, no?" Lucas quirked a dark brow. Then, with one long finger, he pushed back the brim of his Stetson to get a better look at her. "Are you thinking of walking out of there soon?" He pointed that finger at her and swirled it in the air to encompass the perimeter of the stall.

"Can you just go away, please?" And let me die in peace.

"Ah, now, Angel, I can't do that. Rachel and Nick both will have my hide if I don't deliver you to the hotel in one piece. You won’t make it ten paces by the look of you.” Lucas held out his hand to her. His sweet angel looked as if it was a rattler about to strike.

Those eyes! Rebecca buried her face in Willow's neck, who snorted and shook her head as if to tell her to go away. But, no, she couldn't, she couldn't take his hand, she couldn't look into those eyes, those beautiful orbs of light, a moment longer. Despite how he made her feel, she couldn't trust him.

She wouldn't.

What was it about this man, his very presence, which made her want to...hope? But, no, she couldn't allow herself to hope, couldn't allow him to touch her, then he'd know her pain. She could never let him see that part of her.

Before another thought crossed Rebecca's mind, weakness and dizziness overtook her, buckling her knees. For the second time today, a pair of strong hands caught her before she hit the ground.

Pain shot through Rebecca’s entire body when she landed in Lucas’ arms, and she couldn’t hold back the scream of pain that tore through her body. Her mind barely had time to register it before she slipped into her much-anticipated oblivion.

"Lucas...what the devil..." Nick rushed through the Livery doors when he heard Rebecca scream, his gun drawn. Seeing no threat, he holstered his gun and held the stall door open as Lucas stood upright with an unconscious Rebecca in his arms. "What happened?"

"She passed out. What happened to her, Nick?" Lucas had a sick feeling; Nick had not told him everything.

"Long story, best we get her to the Hotel. Doc's waiting, and Rachel's beside herself with worry." He should have never allowed Rebecca to have her way. A mistake he would not make again.