There were many reasons that Tex Dinoco's hair was turning grey slowly but surely. Those reasons did not include old age; it included the trouble that everyone around him seemed to get into. The primary person in trouble always seemed to be his little sister, Abilene. Not a day went by that he wasn't worried that she'd find some new form of trouble to get into.

Ever since the youngest Dinoco had learned to crawl, she'd been trouble. At one she'd swallowed a quarter that she'd found on the ground and nearly scared Tex and their parents to death when she choked. When she started walking she'd been into everything and tried to eat everything including cleaning solutions left around the house. Young Tex had been sure that Abby wouldn't live to see adulthood. However, for the most part he hadn't bore the brunt of the worry until his parents died.

It hit him square in the chest that he was the sole provider for his baby sister. She'd only been nine years old when tragedy struck. The tragedy of losing not one but both parents cut deep into his heart and her tears had permanently melted Tex's heart. It wasn't gentle tears but tears that left the little girl sobbing against his chest. Those tears made his heart ache…he never could stand to see her cry.

The night after the funeral he didn't fuss when a raven haired child slipped into bed beside him and curled against his side. She needed him and he needed her…He promised Abby as she slept that she'd always be safe, that she'd always have a home with him. Tex gave his word and he wasn't one to break a promise, especially a promise to his baby sister. That promise would be held close to the heart for as long as Tex lived…and it would be the cause of worry and consequentially the greying of his hair.

Abilene Dinoco was in many ways similar to her brother. She shared his love for Texas, her love of business (though she had yet to show Tex her brains for it), she also secretly had a love for races both horse and car racing alike…and she was fairly keen at picking the winners. However, it should be noted that the siblings' personalities were a contrast. The dark haired Texan was a wild card and loved to take risks, while her brother; Tex's risks were mostly investments that seemed to always pay off. If it was dangerous and if it offered a thrill, Abilene was more than likely to sign up. It was maddening, it was reckless and it made Tex nearly have a heart attack more than once.

One time

Tex hated business trips in all honesty, but sometimes they were a necessary evil…apparently. As a new businessman and rising tycoon he was quickly garnering a lot of new responsibilities. He wouldn't do it except for the fact that he wanted to create a future for Abby. She was his world now and he had to make plans for her going to college…for marriage. Tex was determined to give her the life that he'd always dreamed of giving his parents and sister. Because of those dreams he accepted business trips as a necessary but annoying process.

Unfortunately Abilene couldn't see the necessity of her brother's destined trip and she sent him silent glares across the breakfast table the day of his flight. Her right hand gripped her fork as she shoved the food on her plate from side to side. She'd stubbornly refused to speak to him all morning and it tugged at Tex's heart, but this was a trip that would help secure his plans for Abby and his future.

"It's only for three days Abby. I'll be home before you know it." He sent her a smile. "Then I'll take you riding when I get back. I promise."

Silence met him and a sharp glare kept him from reassuring her again. She glanced down at her plate for the rest of the meal, she didn't want him to go, but she couldn't find the words to tell him that she felt that he was abandoning her. So she settled for glaring and keeping silent, which would get most of her point across.

With a sigh at her silence he kissed her cheek and left the eleven year old in the capable hands of a thoroughly screened nanny. It wasn't supposed to be a long business trip and he'd promised to return as quickly as possible. There was no thought that trouble would soon invade the Dinoco household.

His flight to Ohio was calm to say the least, no delays and no trouble with security. It was all together too easy and Tex found himself far from at ease for the entirety of the flight. As the plane landed he shook the feeling of foreboding from his bones. He had business to deal with and he planned to finish as quickly as possible in order to return to Abby. After all he had a promise to keep.

He didn't like the idea of Abby at home in Texas without him. It felt wrong to leave his little sister to the care of …strangers. A sense of foreboding washed over the young businessman as he stepped off the plane and found his driver that would be chauffeuring him through the duration of his trip.

The moment he settled into the car collecting him at the airport, he'd been whisked off to a high end meeting. It was awful by all accounts, the driver apparently was worse than a New York taxi driver, Tex was sure he was about to die more than once. To make matters worse he hadn't been able to stop for a suitable lunch and the poor young man was dog tired. No, the easy weekend business trip was not turning out as he expected.

Two days turned into three for Tex. There was little time to talk with Abby, between meetings, wolfing down food, and struggling to get enough sleep. It was still quite new to Tex, but he took it in stride, learning from every experience and how to adjust for his next trips. All the hustle and bustle caused the most strain for Tex, all he wanted was an hour or so to call up his sister, but he barely managed ten minutes between the first two days of his trip.

He was just about to leave his hotel for the airport when the phone rang. Sighing in exasperation at the timing of the call Tex picked up the phone while glancing at the clock on the wall. Thankfully he still had an hour till his flight.

"Hello, Tex Dinoco speaking."

"Tex!" Abby's voice filled Tex's ear. "Help me!" Her voice cracked and quivered and a sob ran across the phone line.

"Abby, sweetheart, what's wrong?" Tex felt his stomach churning, Abby hadn't sobbed since their parent's died. "Abby?" The young man felt fear creep into his heart as a bone chilling scream flooded his ear. It was a sound that would haunt his dreams for years to come.

"Hello. Mr. Dinoco." The voice was muffled and it sent a chill up Tex's spine.

"Who is this?"

"Someone who would suggest you cooperate if you want your sister back."

"What do you want?" Tex's tone was clipped. He didn't like the idea of negotiating with a kidnapper.

"The deed to your oil well and the rights to the trust fund you've set up for Miss Dinoco. Along with the contents of your bank account."

"How do I know you won't harm her?" He gripped the phone till his knuckles were white.

"You don't. But I can guarantee you won't see her if you don't follow my instructions. Get on your flight, come back to Texas. When you arrive do as I have ordered and don't involve the police. All the items should be in a briefcase and left in the park nearest to the airport. No funny business."

The click of the phone was worse than a gun going off. Tex returned the phone to its cradle with a heavy heart. His stomach churned as he raced out of the hotel and hailed a Taxi. He had to catch an early flight. Her scream seared into his brain as the driver screeched through traffic. He couldn't be too late to save her. She was his only immediate family member left, she was his baby sister, he had promised to protect her. He couldn't let her down, he'd promised, and he always kept his promises, especially to Abby.

Security couldn't move fast enough for Tex, he was more than anxious for the flight to start and finish. There were far too many scenarios playing in Tex's head as the plane soared through the air. He contemplated the best course of action for the duration of the flight; he couldn't make the wrong move and risk harming Abby. Of course he knew that it was likely that the kidnappers would get rid of Abby to eliminate any witnesses, but he was hoping and praying that they wouldn't have the time.

His skin felt clammy and sweat beaded his forehead, he was young, he was rich…and his baby sister had just been kidnapped. He couldn't tell the police…He paused. The kidnapper had said no police, but they hadn't said anything about personal bodyguards. Tex smiled thinly as the plane landed and he quickly unbuckled his seat. This was the perfect time to inquire about those personal bodyguards that people had been pestering him about. With the sound of Abby's desperation urging him onward he grabbed his bag and raced to exit the plane.

The young man made record time in getting out of the plane, he rushed through security and out of the airport as fast as he could. With urgency rolling through him Tex glanced around for his Cadillac. It was nowhere to be seen. Even more anger mixed with his gut as he flagged down a cab. Someone was going to pay for kidnapping his sister and stealing his car.

He settled the case beside the bench in the park, he felt his palms clamming up again and he glanced at his watch slowly. The hands of the device seemed to mock him as he waited. Everything he'd heard Abby say to him rolled over in his mind and made his heart race. The sound of crunching leaves made Tex look up. A figure in a grey hoodie and ripped blue-jeans walked over slowly.

"Where is she?" Tex's voice was clipped.

"The case." The figure sounded muffled but low.

"First I want to see her." Tex collected the case and held it by the handle tightly.

The figure paused and seemed to stare at Tex before slipping a hand into the front pocket of the grey hoodie. A few minutes passed before a familiar engine flooded the air. It was Tex's Cadillac. He turned to glance at the car, all the while keeping an eye on the hooded figure.

The car doors opened and another hoodie covered figure slipped out of the Cadillac, dragging a bedraggled looking Abby. Tex's heart leapt into his throat at the sight of his baby sister. She was battered looking, her raven hair hanging loose and slightly smattered to her forehead by a bloody gash, her face was bruised along the right side and she was cradling her left wrist gingerly. The youngest Dinoco was still wearing her blue pajamas that Tex had left her in when he flew out to Ohio.

"Abby…" Tex felt his throat trying to tighten.

"Tex!" Abby cried out and tried to break free from her captor only to be jerked back.

"The case?"

"First I want her to walk over to me."

"Awfully brave of you to be demanding things, Mr. Dinoco."

"That's the deal."

The figure stared for a while before replying. "Send the girl over."

A none to gentle shove caused Abby to stumble, but she hurriedly made her way over to Tex. Her brother was quick to draw his trembling sister to his side, and then he turned to face the kidnapper.

"I do believe you're under arrest."

"What are you talking about?"

"Look behind you." Tex's tone was cold as the figure turned to find himself face to face with a gun and a burly looking fellow.

"Who in the…"

"Meet my sister's new bodyguard."

Hurriedly the figure tried to turn and run only to find himself being forced face down on the ground. The Cadillac was recovered and the other accomplice was collected as well. It was discovered that the Nanny that Tex had hired was the mastermind behind the kidnapping and she had recruited her boyfriend as the muscle. Tex was not happy with the situation, but he had learned from the situation. He had learned that his sister needed a bodyguard; he had learned that he would never leave Abby behind without a guard…and the Cadillac would be placed in a secure location unless he or someone he trusted was driving it.

That evening after Tex brought Abby back from the hospital the two settled down on the couch in front of the TV and enjoyed one another's company. Abby was glued to his side, the events of her three day kidnapping having taken their toll.

"Promise that you'll call every day ... at least twice?" She wrapped a fist around a piece of his shirt.

"I promise. Always Abby." He kissed the top of her head and pulled her closer to his side while tucking the blanket further around her. Quietly, he looked down to find her asleep. "I'll always save you."