A Rancher's Pride(10)

The judge banged his gavel and the noise startled them both into silence. Kayla dropped her hands to her sides.

Judge Baylor had slammed his gavel firmly enough to cause Becky to look across the room. He waggled his fingers at her and smiled, as if he’d only wanted her attention so he could say hello. She grinned, waved and returned to playing with her doll.

The judge sat back and focused on Sam again. “Young man, this is a court of law,” he intoned. “You’ll keep a civil tongue here, unless you want me to hold you in contempt.”

Kayla fought a sigh of relief. Maybe her chances weren’t as hopeless as she’d thought. “One for my side,” she murmured.

“Sorry, Judge.” Sam’s tone sounded contrite, but she couldn’t find a bit of remorse in the steely gray gaze he shot her way.

“And you, young lady.” She snapped her head up to meet a second pair of unyielding eyes. “My hearing’s good as it ever was. If you don’t mind, I’ll be the one keeping score in this courtroom.”

“Yes, sir.”

“‘Your Honor’ will do me fine.” He looked briefly toward the spectators’ benches before turning to Kayla. “You’re countering this man’s request. On what grounds?”

She swallowed hard, then said in a rush, “I want full custody, Your Honor. On the grounds that Mr. Robertson is not fit to take care of Becky.”

“You what?” Sam loomed closer. “And the hell I’m not—”

“According to Ronnie—”

“Who couldn’t tell the truth if she—”

Bang!

“Second warning.” The judge glared at them both. “And as Ellamae here can attest, you won’t want to pay the penalty that comes of making it to number three. I’m surprised at you, Sam Robertson. With all your shenanigans, you, at least, ought to know how I run my courtroom.”

Shenanigans? What could that mean? Sam had a history of trouble? Possibly even a court record? Kayla made a mental note to find out more about this. To find anything that would give her some leverage without having to make Ronnie’s story public.

The judge set the gavel down on the bench. “Now, it’s my understanding you’re here fighting for the responsibility to care for that child sitting in the first pew. Let’s get at this another way.” He looked at Sam. “Your request for custody’s come up fairly suddenly. The ink’s barely dry on Ellamae’s paperwork. Now, exactly how did all this come about?”

Sam explained the details of Ronnie’s appearance at the ranch with Becky and Sharleen’s story of the conversation.

The judge frowned. “I can’t take steps on something this serious just on your mama’s word. Or on that other woman’s say-so. These things have to be handled properly. Legally.”

“But, Judge, her mother agreed to turn responsibility for her over to me.”

“And my responsibility is to the court—and, by extension, that little girl. Now, you’re telling me that ex of yours is giving up the child, after so many years?” The judge frowned. “Unusual, isn’t it?”

“I don’t know.”

“Then I’ll tell you. It’s downright unusual.” He swung his gaze back to Kayla. “And it’s even more peculiar, at least in my courtroom, to have someone besides a parent put a foot into proceedings like this one. You, ma’am, feel the need to contest the mama’s wishes? And the daddy’s?”

“Yes, Your Honor,” Kayla said, an uncalculated tremor in her voice, “I do. I’ve helped raise Becky since the day she was born. I love her, and I want her with me.”

She could hear Sam’s exhalation. The back of her neck prickled as if his breath had touched her. Trying to block out all thoughts of him, she took a half step forward. She needed to focus on the one person in the room who could give her what she wanted.

“Your Honor,” she continued earnestly, “my niece is deaf. Becky needs someone to watch over her who can communicate with her, something Sam—Mr. Robertson—isn’t capable of doing.”

Sam closed in on her again, clenching his hands into fists. She wouldn’t have much more time to state her case before he exploded into speech.

“I’m a teacher, Your Honor. What’s more, I teach American Sign Language, the only language Becky knows. I have a deaf sister and learned to sign with her long before Becky was born. I can talk with her. Sam can’t. Besides,” she rushed on, “he doesn’t have a relationship with her. He’s never had one. They’re strangers to each other. Becky doesn’t know him at all.”