CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR. Pat went out to the ranch on Friday morning, but found only Elsa and Martin.

Pat went out to the ranch on Friday morning, but found only Elsa and Martin.

" Carly's in town meeting with some bird woman. A Mrs. Davenport. Ever heard of her? "

Pat laughed and Elsa stared at her.

" Yes. And when Carly gets back, I'm sure she'll tell you all about her."

" I know her, " Martin said. " A little eccentric."

" A little? Have you seen her in one of her outfits? " Pat asked.

" Oh, she's one of those, " Elsa said. " Well, Carly wants to round up some local birders. She wants to get them familiar with the ranch so during the fall migration, we'll have enough bodies on hand for a bird count."

" Uh-huh, " Pat muttered. God, she hated birders.

" What? "

" Nothing. I'm going to walk the length of the bay. See what's out and about this morning. I'll see you two later."

Pat found the usual assortment of pelicans and terns flying along the bay fishing. There was a sand bar not far from the property line and Pat found what she thought was an American Oystercatcher. She got several good shots as the bird totally ignored her. On the other side of the sand bar, where a protected cove had formed, she found two herons. Or where they egrets? Shit. She needed to bring her damn field guide out with her.

When she drove her Jeep back to the ranch house, there was still no sign of Carly. She was disappointed. They had not spoken since dinner on Wednesday night. She hoped Carly still planned to join her tomorrow. It was then she realized she didn't have a phone number for Carly.

She found Elsa and Martin huddled over the blueprints, talking to one of the workers.

" I'm heading out, " she said.

" Okay. I'm sure Carly will be sorry she missed you, " Elsa said.

" Listen, does she have a number here? Or do you have her cell number? "

" Well, I know the phone has been installed because her computer and fax are working but I don't have a clue as to the number. I just use her cell. Let me just get you one of her cards."

Pat nodded then walked over to Martin.

" What's up? "

" Dr. Cambridge wanted to extend the kitchen and utility room down here and make a patio out back. Seems the calculations were a bit off and they want to take out the two oaks in the back."

" What? The two behind the house? " Pat asked loudly, taking a step backwards.

" Yes."

" No! "

" Excuse me? "

" You can't. They're huge. They're beautiful. They're probably a thousand years old. Do you know how slowly trees grow down here? How many storms and hurricanes they have to fight through to make it that big? "

" Yes, but she wants the rooms bigger and a patio."

" I'm sure if she knows that she'll lose the trees, she won't do it."

" Do what? " Elsa asked.

" Cut the trees, " Martin said.

" Well, I have to agree with Pat. I think she would fire you and the entire crew if she came back here and the trees were gone."

Pat breathed a sigh of relief, not pausing to wonder why she had gotten so worked up over a couple of trees. Well, they were beautiful. But still, it wasn't like she was going to chain herself to them like some nutcase.

" Okay. We better wait, " he told the other man. " It's just, you know, she wanted a patio, " Martin said to Pat.

" Tell her to sit on the front porch, " Pat said. She took the card from Elsa. " Thanks."

She called Carly's cell on her way back to Port Aransas and the island. She got voicemail. But even then, she smiled upon hearing Carly's voice.

" God, you've got it bad, " she whispered. Then, after the beep, " Carly, it's Pat. Just wanted to make sure you remembered dinner tomorrow night. You can call for directions and I'll meet you there or you can come by the house. We should probably be there by seven. Ah, hope you enjoyed your visit with Mrs. Davenport, can't wait to hear about it." She paused only a second before continuing. " By the way, I love the two trees behind the house. I hope they're still there tomorrow."