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.
Again, Lianne caught on. Dig up some dirt on Sam. So the judge will give you Becky.
Yes!
Devious, Lianne responded. I like it.
Me, too.
Staying close to Sam would buy her time, and with luck she’d find evidence to use against him. Her conscience twinged, but she firmly pushed the feeling away. This was for Becky’s sake. She couldn’t leave her niece with a man Ronnie said wasn’t a fit father.
She didn’t know how the child’s own mother could have done that, either.
Shaking her head, she texted, Any word from Ronnie?
Not yet.
Maybe Matt had found her already.
But Kayla knew, no matter what she learned from Ronnie, she would have to win this battle on her own.
One after another, ideas clicked into place. She could fight for her niece by