Brenda Minton - The Cowboy Next Door & Jenna's Cowboy Hero - The Cowboy Next Door / Jenna's Cowboy Hero

He slowed and pulled into a parking lot. “We’re here. You can probably see your sister for a few minutes. And then we’ll see if we can’t get you custody of Rachel.”

She turned away from the window, her brown eyes wide. Troubled. “Do you think they won’t let me have her?”

“I think they will, but you know that isn’t up to me.”

“I know.”

He parked and neither of them moved to get out. Lacey stared at the police station. Her eyes were a little misty but she didn’t cry.

“Okay, let’s go.” She got out of the truck and he followed.

“Before I picked you up I had one of our county social workers call the family services workers up here. I don’t know if that will help, but we can hope.”

They walked side by side. Jay’s shoulder brushed Lacey’s and his fingers touched hers, for only a second. He wondered about holding her hand, but didn’t. She didn’t need that from him. He didn’t believe that she wanted it.

He pulled his hand back and pulled a pack of gum out of his pocket. “Would you like a piece?”

“Please.” She took it from him, unwrapping it as they walked. “I don’t want to do this.”

“It won’t be easy.”

“Thanks, that makes me feel better.”

“Anything to help.” He slid the gum back into his pocket. “She’s going to try and make you feel guilty.”

“It wouldn’t be the first time.”

“Remember, you haven’t done anything wrong.”

“Maybe I did.” Her voice was soft.

Jay opened the door and she stepped in ahead of him. He took off his hat and breathed in cool air, a sharp contrast from the heat outside. “How did you do anything wrong?”

“I could have taken her with me when I left St. Louis. She might not be going through this.” She walked next to him again, her shoes a little squeaky on the tile floor and his boots clicking. “She was about sixteen when I left. She could have been saved.”

“You were just a kid.” He pointed down the hall. “What were you, about twenty-one or two when you moved to Gibson?”

“Twenty-two.”

“You can’t keep looking back at all of the things you could have done differently.” He stopped at a window and smiled at the woman behind the glass. “We’re here to see Corry Gould.”

“Oh, yes, just a minute please.” She slid the glass closed and talked on the phone. She opened it again and smiled. “Have a seat.”

Lacey crossed the room and stood, glancing out the window and not really seeing the view of the city. She sat down next to Jay. The plastic chairs placed them shoulder to shoulder. After a few minutes she got up and walked across the room to look at magazines hanging in a case on the wall.

The door opened. Lacey turned, meeting Jay’s gaze first, and then her attention fell on the woman walking through the door. And Rachel.

Lacey choked a little, dropping a magazine back into the rack and hurrying to the woman that held her baby niece. Only a few days, but it had seemed like forever.

“She’s a little bit sick.” The lady handed Rachel over. “I’m Gwenda Price.”

“Thank you, Ms. Price. Thank you so much.” Lacey lifted Rachel and held her against her shoulder, feeling the baby’s warm, feverish skin. “Is she okay?”

“She probably needs to see a doctor. Her temp is a little high and she’s stuffy.”

“Okay.” Lacey looked up, her gaze locking with Jay’s, as it hit home. “I get to take her?”

“We need to fill out some paperwork, and we’ll have one of the case workers in your area do a home study.”

“What about my sister?” Lacey shifted the baby, who slept through all of the movement.

“I can’t answer that question.” Ms. Price smiled a little smile. “I’m just here to deliver the baby.”

Lacey turned to Jay. He had moved to the window and was speaking in quiet tones to the lady behind the glass. His words didn’t carry. Lacey walked a little closer and he turned away from the window, shaking his head.

“Corry doesn’t want to see you.” He slipped an arm around her waist and she didn’t pull away. The comfort of his touch was unexpected. Her need for it, more unexpected. Rachel was cuddled close, smelling clean and powdery, and Jay was strong, his arms hard muscle and able to hold them both.

“What do I do?”

“I think you should concentrate on your niece.” He touched Rachel’s cheek. “Take her home and do your best for her. Give her a chance. Corry might come around, if she gets lonely enough.”

“I can’t do this.” Lacey bit down on her lip, her eyes getting misty as she stared at the tiny little girl, now dependent on her for everything. Everything.

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