“Did you press charges?”
She shook her head. “Joey was gone. They didn’t find him. I did take out a restraining order. If you’re worried about him coming onto the ranch, Mr. Davis knows about it.”
“All the same, I want you to give me your cell phone number. If anything happens, I want you to call me.”
“I will.”
Avery pulled out his phone and programmed in her number as she recited it. Crisis averted, they finished supper, and he helped her with the dishes. Once done, he turned toward her.
“Why don’t we have our coffee on the porch? We can watch the stars come out.”
“Sure.”
Haley sent Avery on out to the front porch. He sat down in the porch swing and leaned back to study the sky and think about her. They had always been like oil and water in high school. But how had Haley, who had a penchant for knowing what was right, been suckered in by Joey?
“Coffee?”
The softness of her voice made him look up.
“Thanks.”
He reached for the cup. She crossed in front of him and took a seat beside him.
“Beautiful out here,” she murmured and drew her legs up under her in the swing.
“Yes, it is.”
He pushed the floor with his feet, and the swing chains creaked.
“I guess you’re wondering why I went off with Joey.”
“It crossed my mind,” Avery admitted.
He heard her let out her breath in a slow, measured sigh.
“I wanted out. I wanted to be on my own. Joey kept saying he loved me. Maybe he did.” She gave a shrug. “But it didn’t last long. Every time he’d go off on a binge, I’d swear to leave him, but he was like a needy child. I was afraid he’d hurt himself, so I stayed until he hurt me.”
Avery shifted and looked at her. “I’d never hurt you, Haley. I’m so sorry you had to go through that.”
“We all do foolish things. Mine just had more consequences.”
“Is that why you haven’t dated since you’ve been back?”
She glanced at her cup and looked away. “Probably. Maybe. I don’t know. I felt for a long time it was my fault. I wasn’t strong enough for him.”
“Never. You’ve always been the strongest person I know.” Avery’s arm slid around her shoulders.
“Thank you,” she whispered and scooted close enough to lean on his shoulder. “Thank you for believing in me.”
He used his feet to keep the swing moving slowly back and forth. It felt right to hold her. It felt right to have her at his side. Avery swallowed. On the next move of the swing, he let it slow down, then leaned forward and placed his cup on the small table next to the front window. His glance caught her eyes, and he slid the cup from her hand. Her glance searched his.
“I can’t imagine my life or Jolicia’s without you.”
“Avery…” she murmured, as if she might stop what he was going to say.
“I don’t know what happened in high school, but I want to open this up and see where it leads us.”
“Avery…” she murmured again. Instead of saying no, she found her hand on his chest. His hand slid to her neck, his fingers on the pulsing throb of her veins. He was going to kiss her. Her eyes closed, and sure enough, she was going to let him.
Chapter Eight
For the next week, Avery started every morning by kissing Haley goodbye, and he swept her into his arms each evening upon his return. In his mind, they were a family; they were a couple. One evening, they even got Alicia and Josephine to watch their namesake so they could take in a movie. It was like old times, sitting in the back of the theater, stealing a kiss or two. Avery hadn’t known this type of happiness in a long while. Even the moo of the cantankerous cattle he was trying to move into another pasture didn’t dampen his mood.
“Go on!” He lifted his rope and gave a whistle. “Let’s go.”
One lone calf balked. Avery turned his horse sideways and blocked the path the calf wanted to take. With one last bawl of complaint, it hurried across to the opening where Avery directed it, and he swung the metal gate closed. Taking his hat off, he swiped his forearm across his forehead to remove the moisture.
“Get them all in?” Seth called out, riding toward him.
“Did.” Avery nodded and reached for his canteen. “Now all you and the boys have to do is brand them and turn them loose.”
“I think we can handle that.” Seth nodded.
Avery smiled and twisted the top of his canteen, and just then his cell phone jangled in his pocket.
He put the Stetson back on and reached in to fish the electronic device out. The number was from the lawyer. He quickly hit Accept.
“Mr. Craighead?”
“Avery, glad I caught you.”
“Is something wrong?” he asked.
Across the way, he saw Seth’s face fill with alarm. Holding his hand up, he signaled for him to wait.
“Not exactly wrong, but I need to see you and Haley in my office this afternoon. Can you arrange for someone to take over for you?”
“Yes, sure.”
“Good.” Craighead seemed relieved. “Oh, Avery?”
“Yes?”
“Bring the baby.”
His heart tipped over and fell to his boots as the phone call was disconnected.
“Avery? Anything wrong?”
He found the strength to swallow past the lump in his throat. “Yeah, the lawyer wants to see us.”
“Good news, right?”
“I don’t know. He asked for us to bring the baby.”
“Go,” Seth told him. “You go. I’ve got this.”
Avery nodded. As he sank his heels against the sides of his mount, the horse bounded across the meadow toward the house he and Haley shared.
****
“What do you mean, bring the baby?” Haley cradled Jolicia next to her heart.
Avery raked his hands through his hair and shook his head. “I don’t know what it means. He only said to bring you and the baby. We gotta get ready and go right away.”
“This is crazy,” Haley murmured as she blindly stumbled back toward the bedroom.
Sensing Haley’s distress, Jolicia began to whimper.
“Shh,” Haley tried to sooth her. “Nana-Mama has you.”
Avery listened to the words. If only he’d moved faster, she could have dropped the Nana part of that name. “I’ll wash my face and put on a new shirt, and then hold Jolicia while you change.”
“Okay.” She paused at the bedroom door. “Avery, I think we should call my mom and Mr. Davis.”
The snaps on his shirt popped in quick succession before he turned to look at her. “You may be right. Call them.”
Haley nodded.
In the bathroom, he flipped on the tap and pulled a towel from the stack Haley had left folded on the shelf. In the background, he could hear her talking to her mother, through tears.
“I don’t know, Mama. All I know is that we have to be there and bring the baby. I’m scared, Mama. I’m scared for Jolicia, for Avery.”
She must have turned away, because Avery didn’t hear any more. Splashing water onto his face, he ran the towel over his skin and hurried to his room for a fresh shirt.
There was no denying the tears on her cheeks as Avery took Jolicia.
“You don’t have to dress in a skirt. Just a good pair of jeans and a blouse,” he told her.
Haley nodded. “Mama said Seth called Mr. Davis, and he and Alicia are on their way over. Mama and Belinda will meet us at Mr. Craighead’s office.”
“Rallying the troops?” he asked, placing Jolicia on his hip.
“I guess.” Haley touched the baby’s arm. Her chin trembled. “Oh, Avery, what are we going to do if they take her?”
“They won’t.” Avery stood firm. “No one is going to take my child.”
Haley nodded and started to turn away. Avery grabbed her arm and pulled her against him. “We’ll get through this,” h
e whispered. “Where there’s love, there’s a way.”
She pulled back and looked at him. “Love?”
“Don’t argue. We’ve flirted with this for long enough now. I’ve come to care for you, Haley. Just as much as I care for Jolicia. I’m nothing without you. I’ve found that out in the past few weeks. You’ve made me a family man, Haley. Go. Get dressed. We’ll wait for you on the porch.”
Nodding, she turned away.
****
Jim Davis and his wife arrived shortly before Haley finished getting dressed. They transferred the car seat into their SUV, and once Haley came out on the porch, they loaded up and drove to town. Nothing was said on the way, but Avery held her hand as they sat in the back together. Even so, she found she couldn’t look at him. She was afraid. Afraid he would have regretted saying those words indicating love.
“It’s going to be all right,” he whispered and squeezed her hand as they pulled into the parking lot.
She unbuckled Jolicia from the car seat and lifted her out. Turning to Avery, she asked, “Would you like to carry her in?”
He smiled. “No. You carry her. I’ll walk beside you.”
Haley noted that he swung the diaper bag onto his own shoulder and placed an arm around her shoulders. “We can do this.”
Leon Craighead’s face was sober as he met them at the door. Seeing both Jim Davis and his wife, he smiled. “I’m glad you brought reinforcements.”
“What’s going on?” Avery asked.
“I’m not sure. We’ve been summoned to Judge Franklin’s chambers. My private investigator, Jonas Turner, is waiting for us.”
With Leon Craighead leading, Avery ushered Haley and the baby to follow him, letting Jim and Alicia bring up the rear. It was a short walk over to the courthouse. A tall man with white wavy hair met them in the lobby.
“Good. You got here quick.”
“What’s going on?” Leon demanded.
“Something came up,” Jonas replied.
“Is it about the baby’s mother?” Avery asked.
“The judge will tell you.”
Haley felt her knees weaken. If Avery hadn’t had a good hold on her arm, she might have collapsed. “Is she here?”
Jonas jerked his head toward the court offices. “I can’t say.”
Before another question could be asked, the doors opened, and Steve Felton hurried out. “Avery, Mr. and Mrs. Davis, Haley.”
“Introductions done?” Craighead asked.
Steve nodded. “We’re ready for you.”
“Just remain calm and answer the questions. Should there be something I think you shouldn’t answer, I will interrupt.”
Avery nodded and gave her an encouraging smile. “We can do this, together.”
“Together,” she whispered.
Her heels rang against the wooden floors as they stepped into the courtroom. Haley followed Avery to a table off to the left, and he seated her before taking the chair to the outside, while Craighead put himself between her and the other table. Avery set the diaper bag on the tabletop. She leaned forward and pulled it slowly toward her. As she did so, curiosity got the better of her, and she glanced over to see who was seated at the table. She didn’t recognize the man, but the woman sitting beside him was Livia B. Rivers.
She gave a small gasp as fear took over her heart.
“It’s going to be all right,” Avery whispered.
“All rise,” Steve Felton called out.
Chairs scraped across the floor as they came to their feet. Haley kept her eyes forward and held the child close. A door to the left opened, and David Franklin walked in.
“Please be seated.”
Haley sat down and looked up at the man on the bench.
“I’ve asked all parties here today”—Judge Franklin looked at each and every one of them—“because I hold in my hands the paternity of the child known as Jane Doe.”
Avery pushed the chair back as he stood. “Excuse me, your honor.”
Judge Franklin looked at Avery. “You are?”
“Avery Johnson. I wish to have the court call my daughter by her name.”
“Your daughter?” Franklin glared over his glasses at him.
Haley reached up and tugged at his hand. “Please, Avery, sit down.”
Instead, he wrapped his fingers around hers and stood his ground. “My daughter. Her name is Jolicia Brook Johnson.”
Franklin sat back. His mouth twitched. “You realize that by claiming in court that she is your daughter”—he held up the envelope—“that if this says otherwise, you may have claimed a child that is not yours?”
“She is mine,” Avery replied, “from the first time I held her and she—she latched onto my fingers and stole my heart. Had I known the girl I had a one-night stand with was expecting, I would have stood beside her. But she didn’t let me know until my daughter was put on my doorstep without care. I wish to raise my daughter.”
The judge nodded. “Sit down.”
Avery lowered himself to the chair.
Haley blinked the tears from her eyes. Her heart swelled at that moment, and she knew she could not have loved him more. Jolicia looked at him and raised her arms, signaling him to take her. Avery slipped his arms around his daughter and pulled her onto his knee.
“I was going to say, before I was interrupted, that we are here to discover who are the parents of…” Judge Franklin cleared his throat and looked at Avery. “Jolicia Brook Johnson.”
Avery nodded.
The judge turned to the people seated at the other table. “Ms. Rivers, you are here to represent the State?”
“I am.”
Haley could feel herself trembling.
“I understand that you have come across the mother of the child.”
“I have,” Ms. Rivers replied.
“And?” Judge Franklin implored her.
Ms. Rivers dampened her lips as if what she was about to say physically hurt. “The woman was Della Warren.”
Haley’s jaw grew slack. She felt Avery’s hand on her arm.
“Is Miss Warren here today?”
The social worker shook her head. “No, sir.”
“Can you tell me why?”
Ms. Rivers straightened her shoulders. “Della Warren was found dead yesterday.”
The court was filled with the sounds of women gasping. Mrs. Davis’s hand found Haley’s shoulder.
“Cause of death?”
“Drug overdose, Your Honor. I have spent the last two weeks tracking down Miss Warren. I found her in a rundown house near Laredo.”
“Did you ask her about the child?”
The social worker nodded. “She didn’t deny the child’s existence. She did restate she was not interested in raising the child.” She turned to the lawyer, who withdrew a paper from his briefcase and gave it to her. Ms. Rivers stepped to the bench and handed it up to the judge.
Haley’s grip tightened around Avery’s hand.
“If you don’t mind, I shall read it aloud,” Judge Franklin said. “ ‘I, Della Warren, gave birth to a daughter by Avery Johnson. Avery didn’t know I was pregnant. My aunt sent me to Dallas to give birth. I do not want this child, so I took it back to the Diamond D ranch and left it at Avery’s doorstep.’ The statement is witnessed by Ms. Rivers and Sheriff Lou Cummings.”
The social worker turned and looked at them. “Your honor, I need to apologize to Ms. Thorpe and Mrs. Davis. I unjustly accused them of trying to bribe me when I first went to Mr. Johnson’s house. But I see now how wrong I was. Mr. Johnson’s home on the Diamond D is a loving place, and Ms. Thorpe is giving excellent care to the infant now known as Jolicia. After seeing the conditions where Ms. Warren was living, I would not have recommended she be given custody. Furthermore, I found after more investigating that Mr. Johnson has no one who would speak against him. He has indeed stayed away from his favorite haunts in the weeks since the baby was left on his porch, and he has become quite the model father. If it please the cour
t, I would like to recommend Mr. Johnson be given sole custody of this child.”
“Thank you, Ms. Rivers.” Judge Franklin looked at Avery. “Would you like for me to open the letter?”
“It won’t change how I feel,” Avery replied.
“I want to satisfy my own curiosity.”
The judge’s fingers ran under the flap of the envelope. Extracting the letter, he opened it up. “You’ll be pleased to know that, with 99.9 percent accuracy, Jolicia is your daughter. The court will grant you custody of the child and issue a temporary birth certificate until one can be obtained from Dallas. I hope that little lady finds out just how special she is.”
“I can assure you, sir, that I will make her aware of that every day.”
As the judge’s gavel banged, chairs scooted as everyone rose to congratulate Avery. Haley stood at his side, smiling at their friends and her mother, who with Belinda had managed to squeeze into the room just before the judge entered.
“I’m so proud of you, Avery,” Belinda gushed. “Jolicia will have the best life.”
“She will. Granny Alicia, will you hold my daughter?”
“Oh, of course.”
Avery handed his daughter over to Jim Davis’s wife and then, taking Haley by the hand, led her away from the group.
“Avery, what’s going on?”
“I want to talk to you in private.”
“About what?”
“Us, you. I’m not good at speeches, Haley, but I know without you at my side I wouldn’t have stood a chance to straighten up and learn to love Jolicia. Now that she’s my daughter, I want to make our family official.”
“What do you mean?” She dared a quick upward glance at him.
“Marry me, Haley. I know you’re going to say it’s too soon. I know you’ve been hurt before. But I swear I will never do anything to hurt you. Please, do me the honor of becoming my wife and Jolicia’s mother.”
Haley’s heart swelled. “Are you sure?”
“I’ve never been more sure in my life. Say yes?”
“Say yes,” Belinda called out.
“Say yes,” Jim Davis urged.
“Say yes,” her mother prayed.
“What choice do I have?” Haley grinned. “With so many rooting for us, it must be right.”
Baby on His Doorstep Page 8
