A Rancher's Pride(14)

Sam stiffened. Yes, he knew. He’d made a bad choice way back at age seventeen. A choice that had set him on a wrong road. That had led to a whole list of stupid decisions, including turning wild as a teenager and eventually winding up married to a woman he couldn’t trust.

He’d come close to getting thrown in jail, and only Sharleen’s pleas and the recent death of his daddy had bought Sam any leniency from the judge at all. And though his mother had forgiven Sam for everything, he had never forgiven himself.

Ellamae edged closer to him and lowered her voice even further. “Between you, me and these four walls, boy, I’ll warn you. I’ve no doubt this child is just as much a surprise to you as she is to the rest of us. But you can’t just expect to show up in court six weeks from now and think the judge’ll hand over custody to you. He’ll have spies everywhere in the meantime, reporting back to him on your actions.”

“Hasn’t he always?” Sam muttered.

She glared. “Look, bad blood between the two of you or not, you have to admit the man’s got a heart. Otherwise, you’d have spent time rotting in jail. And he won’t tell you this, so I’m saying it to you myself. He’s keeping that child’s welfare—and only that child’s welfare—in mind. He’s got to hear folks have seen you around town, acting like a real daddy with her.” She slapped his forearm. “And don’t you dare risk losing your little girl just because you and missy out there in the hallway don’t see eye to eye.”

Nodding grimly, he looked toward the hall again. Kayla sat holding her phone in front of her, her thumbs tapping rapidly over the keypad.

He stiffened, wondering just what message she was sending. And who she was sending it to.

Ellamae patted his arm and turned away.

Feeling suddenly unsteady, Sam gripped the top of the high wooden bench his daughter had occupied a few minutes ago. Somehow, in just a couple of days, his entire life had gotten thrown into an upheaval. He had to get things settled again.

Ellamae would find a way to spread the news of his child’s existence to everyone in the county. He knew it. Folks would get over the shock the minute they met Becky.

That was his job.

Ellamae was right. His history in this courtroom went back far enough to hurt him. Small towns had long memories, and folks around here held competitions to prove how far back they could dredge up old news. Judge Baylor had them all beat, with a memory older than dirt and longer than the Rio Grande.

Sam would do whatever it took to get the judge to rule in his favor. Even though it would mean making one hell of a sacrifice.

He looked at the woman seated outside in the hallway, her head down as she tapped away at her cell phone.

He had her to thank for this whole predicament.





Chapter Four





TEMPORARY JOINT CUSTODY!



Incensed, Kayla keyed the words in all capital letters on her phone. She knew her sister, Lianne, at the other end of the wireless connection, would understand Kayla’s emotion.

Lianne knew how close Kayla was to Becky. How much Kayla loved their niece. Lianne loved her, too, though she hadn’t spent as much time with her. She didn’t feel responsible for Becky.

She didn’t feel, as Kayla did, as if she were Becky’s second mother.

TEMPORARY JOINT CUSTODY! She read the message again, then continued, This is crazy.

Not crazy, the answer came back. Good for you. You can see her every day.



In Sam Robertson’s company.



Compromise. That’s life.



Kayla bit back a laugh. My life, maybe. What about his? A pointless question. I never expected him to argue with me over Becky. I planned to just pack up her belongings and come home. Well, if I have to keep fighting, I will.



But she couldn’t dispute the judge’s order.

And what about Sam’s obvious suspicion that she would run off with her niece? He’ll never give me time alone with Becky.

Except…

Thumbs over the keypad, she froze. Could what she’d just realized really be true? She thought hard, nodded once and continued keying furiously.



I need to convince Sam to let me live at the ranch.



His mom’s laid up, isn’t she? Lianne shot back.



Kayla almost laughed aloud. You’re one step ahead of me! An excuse to stick close to Becky AND Sam. A chance to find something to sway the judge in my favor.