Nabal basically mocked David, and his Family, and all that followed him. Why in the world should good food be wasted on outlaws?

So David's men turned their way, and went again and came and told him all those sayings. And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men, and two hundred abode by the stuff. 1 Samuel 25: 12-13

When David's men came back to camp and gave David their report about Nabal, you can say that David saw red. He was so mad, that he armed two thirds of his men, with the attention of annihilation. Being a warrior, his priority was to provide for his men. Having that denied never boded well for the person behind that denial.

But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master, and he railed on them But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields. They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do, for evil is determined against our master and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him. 1 Samuel 25:14-17

Well, one of the shepherds informed Abigail of what was going on. He told her that none of David's men had caused any mischief or mayhem while the shepherds cared for the flocks, that David had come with an honorable greeting to Nabal and was verbally put down. So here she is, being told that David, the future king of Israel came to her house, asking for food and provisions caused no harm to anyone and protection for the shepherds was mocked, insulted, and refused of everything requested. This shepherd wanted to know to what she was going to do. David was coming to eliminate the all the household, and no one could get through to Nabal, who was being exactly as his name implied: A Fool.

Than Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses. And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert of the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them. 1 Samuel 25:18-20

Abigail did not even consider waiting on this. She put a rush on getting together provisions needed for David and his men. And not only did she just give them bread and meat, she added wine, corn, raisins, and fig cakes. She also made certain it got there. So she packed up all the food, and sent it on with the servants, before she was even ready to go herself. She made sure to tell them that she was coming behind them as well. Nabal was not informed of these proceedings.

Abigail, it's told, came down a hillside that had dense under brush, and lots of covered areas. Probably not a much traveled spot. Maybe she used this path as to not be seen by her husband. On the way though, she encountered David and his men.

Now David had said, surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good. So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall. 1 Samuel 25:21-22

Briefly going back to David, you can see him expound on the behavior of Nabal. Here was David, protecting all that Nabal had, and was met with scorn. And speaking of himself, in the first person, said (paraphrased): May God be harsh with me, if I leave anyone alive.

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