Chapter Nineteen Waking early the next morning, sensing something was different, Caitlin looked down and found Tanya laying on the rug bedside to her bed. "Well, good morning girl, what are you doing in here? I thought you preferred Duncan's company to mine." Jumping up to give Caitlin's face a quick lick, Tanya then ran to the door and began to whine and pace. "Oh, you're a real moral booster." Caitlin scolded sourly, "I just woke up and you're all ready in a hurry to desert me." Woofing impatiently, Tanya ran back to the bed and pawed at Caitlin letting her know she was in no mood to be kept waiting. When Caitlin reached out to pet the dog's head, she ducked beneath her hand and pawed at her again, before running back to the door and barked, impatient to be let out. Puzzled by the dog's agitated behavior, Caitlin waited to see if Duncan would come and let her out, as he had before. He must have heard her barking. Waiting several more minutes, irritated by Tanya's hyper behavior and impatient barking, Caitlin threw back the covers and got out of bed. Grabbing her robe from the foot of the bed and slipping it on, she padded barefoot to the door. Standing quietly to listen, she suddenly jerked and jumped back when Tanya startled her with a shrill bark. "Dammit, Tanya, you almost gave me a heart attack." She hissed, as she yanked the sides of her robe together and and managed to tie it even though her fingers were trembling. Taking a deep breath to calm her nroses, she slowly opened the door. Forcing her way in front of Caitlin, Tanya ran down the hall and sniffed around the mainroom. Caitlin waited and watched as Tanya completed her circuit around the room, before cautiously moving forward. Assured after Tanya's inspection the room that it was empty, Caitlin walked to the front door and let her outside. Turning, she saw dishes were stacked on the dish drainer by the sink, and a blanket and pillow lay neatly folded and piled in the corner of the sofa. Making her own inspection of the cabin, she realized Duncan's duffle bag was gone, along with his personal items from the bathroom. Standing in the middle of the cabin, it hit her. She was alone. Duncan had left. "It's what you wanted isn't it?", she said to herself. Then why did she feel so bereft and empty inside.