The Sheriff's Mail-Order Bride (The Watson Brothers #2)(34)
Rory sat down and started at the beginning. The papers stated that Richard Bellingham III and his wife Arabella Bellingham were taking Gina Taylor to court for the sole custody of their grandson Fisher Taylor. The papers were filed in the San Francisco Municipal Courthouse on the previous Monday.
A mix of emotions churned in his gut. Horror at the thought of losing the little boy he had become attached to so quickly. Fear that Gina would lose her child. Suspicion that he had been used as a cover for whatever went through his head—if in fact she was a knowing accomplice to this. Anger at being duped, used, and dragged into a fight with these people.
He picked up the phone and dialed. When Chance answered, he swore him to secrecy and told him briefly what had happened.
“You need to get onto Layla Cox. Sharpest mouth around and she has a mind like a steel trap. She owes me a few favors too.” He gave Rory the phone number before hanging up.
Without caring what the favors were, he dialed the number and waited to be put through.
“Layla speaking.” Her voice was smoky and seductive over the phone, and he had a difficult time imagining her to be the hard-assed lawyer he needed.
“Layla, this is Deputy Sheriff Watson from Marietta, Montana, calling. My brother Chance said you might be able to help me.”
“Well, well,” her voice softened and he could almost see the smile on her face. “How is that cowboy? I miss him being around to help me out.”
“Uh, he’s fine. Happy working on his ranch. Listen, the reason I’m calling is about a case I could be involved in. Can I run it past you?”
“Sure.” She listened as Rory told her everything he knew.
“Right, first things first. Let me get a copy of the file and go over it so I know exactly what and why they’re doing this and what information they might have on your lady. Give me a day or so and I’ll call you back.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it.”
“You’re in a bit of a sticky situation here, Rory. Legally you still have to issue that summons against her, sorry I can’t help you out of that one.”
Rory hung up the phone and looked at the papers sitting on his desk wondering what the hell he’d gotten himself into. Truth be told, he knew very little about his fiancée and he figured now that probably wasn’t a good thing. Perhaps he should have listened to his head a little more instead of leading with his heart. His mind warred with his gut, knowing he had a job to do. A job he respected and loved, but he wanted to protect Gina and Fisher. Could he do both and keep the life he’d been building for them all intact?
Fisher squealed when he walked into the kitchen that evening. Gina looked up from the cookbook she was poring over and smiled—a smile that spoke of promises to come. Rory gripped the papers in his hand and leaned down to pat the child on the head. He ignored the cries of protest from Fisher when he didn’t get picked up. Instead he concentrated on the woman standing at the counter watching him.
Wariness had crept into her eyes. “Rory, you’re scaring me. What’s wrong?”
He lifted his hand and placed the papers on the counter between them. “This came through today.” He saw the confused look in her eyes and waited as she reached out and picked up the summons.
*
She read the names on the papers and glanced at Rory before reading them again. “I don’t understand.”
“Fisher’s grandparents are suing you for full custody of their grandson.”
“He doesn’t have any grandparents.” Gina dropped the papers on the counter and crossed to pick up her crying son. “We have no one. I already told you that.” Please don’t do this to me. I’ve only just started to relax here with you.
“According to this you do, or at least he does. Why didn’t you tell me this?” His eyes had gone cold and hard, and she backed away, suddenly wary of the man she thought she loved. The tension in her body crossed over to the baby and he howled louder.
Callie came running in from the lounge. “What the heck’s going on?” She reached for Fisher and took him from Gina, soothing his cries. Chance walked in and stood beside her.
“This.” Rory pointed to the papers.
Callie glanced between the two of them and stepped closer to read what was printed on the summons. “Oh, shit.”
“Did you get hold of Layla?” Chance placed a hand on his wife’s shoulder and she raised querying eyes to him. “Rory called me for advice. She’s an old friend and the best person to help out in this situation.”
“Yes. She’s looking into it. It would seem genuine at this stage. Apparently, these people are filthy rich and one of the most prominent families in San Francisco.” He looked back at Gina. “How could you not know about them?”
Her head buzzed and she placed a hand on her stomach, hoping to settle the sick churning in her gut. “I didn’t know. Aden said he had no family. I believed him, I had no reason not to.”
“Aw honey, that’s just terrible.” Callie closed the distance between them and put an arm around Gina. “To find out you might have family this way is kinda tough.” She looked up at Rory and made gestures with her head.
Gina swallowed, ran her tongue around her mouth in a desperate attempt to find the right words. “It’s okay, I can understand his shock. I wouldn’t believe me either if someone threw this at me.” She tried to smile and it didn’t come off because her lips wobbled. She dug her teeth into them, turned away from the sympathy.