Author's note: Time's running out. Abby is in denial. I'm biting my fingernails, and I'm the writer!

Chapter 14

The next day, the whole town did nothing but talk about Bud and his attempt to burn down part of the Double Bar S. The sheriff's department combed the surrounding area without finding any trace of him. Everyone had an opinion as to what Bud would try next. Most people seemed to think he had given up on Connor and was headed to California to find Caroline. Chief Ryan had alerted the state patrol in every state between Texas and California and had contacted Caroline's family to warn them. Mike Steadman hired extra men to guard the ranch buildings and both the main house and Connor's house, just in case Bud did try again.

Connor went to his conference as scheduled.

Abby thought about him all day, but her work helped the time fly by. She walked into the hotel around 6 p.m. As she walked across the lobby, Stephen came down the stairs with his backpack slung over one shoulder and his suitcase under the other arm. He stopped to greet her. "Hey… I'll be staying at Cindy's place tonight and tomorrow night," he said quietly. "And if it's all right with you, she wants to drive me to the airport."

She gave him a happy smile, "That's fine Stephen. I'll turn in the rental truck and meet you at the gate for the flight to London."

He gave her a searching look, "So, are you O.K. with leaving here?"

Abby looked at him in surprise, "Of course. You know me. No plans and no demands," she insisted.

He shook his head sadly, "Abby, its O.K. to make plans with someone as long as its what you both want," he said gently.

She frowned at him, confusion clouding her eyes.

Stephen hugged her in concern, "Look, call me if you need anything. Otherwise I'll see you at the gate." He walked away from her then called back over his shoulder, "Say goodbye to Billy the Kid for me!"

She watched as he jogged to Cindy, wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her. Arm in arm, they left the hotel.

As she watched them leave together, her thoughts turned to Connor. Feeling lonely, she went into the Café to buy a sandwich.

After dinner she really began to feel sorry for herself. She missed Connor and couldn't wait to hear his voice. She brushed her teeth, put on an oversized sleep-shirt, got into bed and finished her daily log of lizard observations.

She thought back to earlier in the day. The horned lizards had been very entertaining. Both Slim and Long Tail had attempted to gain Loner's affections with unhappy results. Slim had begun by striking a pose and bobbing his head energetically. When he didn't get a response, the love-struck lizard tried to scamper to Loner's side. Unimpressed, the female lizard snapped at poor Slim sending him cowering in defeat. Long Tail had surveyed the situation and secure in his own ability to win a mate, had swaggered out into the open. He began his own demonstration of superior head bobbing, practically hopping in his attempt to impress the female. Once again, Loner was not willing to allow the courtship. She rushed the second male, and with an angry hiss chased him across the sandy ground before she turned away to sun herself.

It was the most interesting thing that happened all day, so Abby finished her final log entry by writing: Loner continues to hold herself apart from the others. She rejected two males today. She is reliant only upon herself. I suggest the volunteers continue to watch her closely – see if she selects a mate this season.

She set the journal aside when her room phone rang. "Hello?"

"Hi," Connor said warmly. "How was your day?"

Abby grinned as soon as she heard his voice. "I've had a really good day. Oh, and Cindy says to tell you the whole town has been in an uproar about Bud. The police think he is completely out of the area… they think he is trying to find Caroline," she reported to ease his mind.

"If he goes near her, the police will catch him. I imagine he knows his only chance is to start over somewhere else," he sighed. "But I don't want to talk about that. What else is happening?"

"Just another fun day with the lizards. How about you? Is the trip going well?"

"Yes. We had a best practices discussion on ranching that was great. It helped confirm that my ideas for the Double Bar S will work," he said confidently. "I also made some solid contacts with other Ranchers in the region."

"That's fantastic! I'm glad you got so much out it," she said supportively.

"Yeah, it was important for me to be here but given the choice, I'd rather be in Lone Hill right now. Being away from you isn't easy," he said softly.

Abby melted. "Well… I might have missed you today… just a little," she admitted.

"I'll be back tomorrow afternoon. Can I see you tomorrow night?"

"Yes, I'd like to spend my last night here with you," she said anxiously.

"Don't remind me," he said sadly. He forced himself to act cheerful. "Look… we'll get dressed up and go out for a nice dinner and a surprise afterward."

"O.K., it's a date," Abby promised. "I'll even buy a dress for the occasion."

"I'll make some reservations and I'll let you know what time I'll pick you up tomorrow."

"O.K., be careful on your drive back," she requested.

"I will, but I might push the speed limit just a little… I can't wait to see you," he said truthfully. His voice went deep and velvet soft as he said, "I'll dream about you tonight."

Abby gave a soft laugh of delight, "Good. See you tomorrow, Connor"

"Night Abby."

She hung up the phone and turned out the light. Tomorrow would be busy. She would have to turn in all her notes, call Dr. James and still find time to buy a new dress. But by tomorrow night she would be with Connor again. Unwilling to think past that point, she snuggled into the bed and closed her eyes.