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“You may be the only one.” He smiled, then lifted his hand waving off his last words. “Sorry. Go on.”
“Well, I’ve been invited to Austin.”
“Really?” He took his gaze off the road and looked at her with pride in his eyes. At least she thought that’s what it might be.
Nodding, she smothered the urge to shriek with delight. “I’m going to be educating the task force on the problems we as environmentalists are seeing and how to better implement changes through legislation that will actually work. Hopefully now they’ll put something out there that both sides of the fence can get behind.”
“That sounds like a tall order.”
She blew out a slow sigh. “The real world is never perfect, and I may not get even a fraction of what I’d like, but if I can make the slightest difference in the mangled mess the legislatures usually put forth, I’ll be happy.”
“Well done. If you ever want a job in politics, I know a U.S. senator who would love someone smart and caring.”
“I do care. These animals, and even some families who are affected by the poison in the water tables, don’t have anyone else to speak up for them.”
“Erin Brockovich.”
“I’m not going to pretend to be like her, but right now, I’m very happy with the outcome from tonight.” She didn’t bother mentioning how much being on his arm had added to the perfection of the evening.
“Listen,” he reached out and put his hand on hers, “do you have plans for tomorrow? Around dusk?”
She shook her head. “I can finish up early if I have to. What do you have in mind?”
“It’s a surprise, but I think you’ll enjoy it. There’s something on the ranch I want to show you.”
“More baby cows?” She couldn’t help smiling even wider. Baby animals were so adorable.
“I’m afraid no more calves.” He laughed softly. “I’ll pick you up around four thirty. Will that work?”
Her smile still plastered across her face, she nodded. “Sounds perfect.” As a matter of fact, pretty much everything with Craig seemed to be more than perfect. Except the owls and their habitat. Why couldn’t real life be more like fairytales? Perfect and happily ever after.
Chapter Twelve
“Why do you look like the cat who swallowed the canary?” Governor James Baron gave the growing puppy faithfully at his side one last pat before pushing to his feet.
First thing after meeting with Ted and uncovering the new bat problem, Craig had done what any intelligent, successful businessman with a timing problem would do; call his influential grandfather. Coming to a halt at the entry to the large but cozy family parlor, Craig addressed said grandfather. “I heard from your friend.”
“Professor Stanwyck?”
“One and the same. I’m not even going to ask how you pulled this off, but there will be a team of grad students combing the new property, with Fish and Game approval, in the morning.”
Sporting his stoic expression that revealed nothing, his grandfather cut the distance between them. “Field work is imperative to grad students. It was the perfect fit, a win-win for both sides.”
“Now I’m crossing my fingers and toes that they don’t uncover even more endangered species.”
“From what Bob tells me, it’s not that unusual to find an outlier in the animal kingdom who doesn’t do what he’s supposed to, but that they usually get with the program sooner than later.”
“In other words, I shouldn’t worry about over-hibernating striped watchamacallits?”
“Yeah. That about covers it, but that’s an awfully happy look on your face over a bunch of grad students.”
When Craig and his contemporaries were growing up, that old man had eagle eyes, and obviously nothing had changed. “I’m having a picnic dinner with Kate tonight.”
“Picnic?” His grandfather waggled his salt and pepper eyebrows.
“Thought she might enjoy the well diggers cave.”
The Governor bobbed his head. “I bet she will. Especially if Hazel is packing your dinner.”
