My intitial thought is she made it further than where she was last seen by anyone except her abductor. I think she turned and went to Simpson instead of the other way. She didn't have to be home yet and the hub of any activity is more intriguing than walking by other houses on her way home especially if she knew she was going to be bored when she arrived. If she didn't go to Simpson, there is nothing to say she didn't continue walking straight towards her house except cutting through the back of the Shell station to get there. It is my opinion that she made it almost all the way home...one way or the other before she was abducted.
I can't rule out stranger abduction here. Obviously, there are many people who use this route on a regular basis to get from one place to another. It could be someone familiar with the area, but not local to the community itself. He/she wouldn't have to know her or her habits if he/she spotted her walking alone and followed/chased/caught her then whisked her away in a vehicle. No screams to me only means a) no one heard her, b) she didn't scream, c) he/she prevented her from screaming. It doesn't make the case for only being abducted by someone she knew.