Married to Claim the Rancher's Heir

by Lauri Robinson

  “Thank you.”

  Fighting the desire to take ahold of her arm, Gabe shoved both hands in his pockets, and he kept them there until it was time to pull out her chair in the dining room. Sy immediately arrived, flirting with Janette as he set their plates on the table. Gabe refrained from making any comment by dedicating his full attention to the eggs and ham before him. He’d thought about staying clear of her this morning. As far away as possible. Yet, hadn’t been able to. This uncanny attraction he had to her was stronger this morning, which made no sense. In less than a couple of hours she’d hate him. That shouldn’t bother him. Ruby’s rightful place was with him. At the ranch that was her heritage. If that hurt Janette, that was her problem, not his.

  He simply had to remember that. Nothing about her was his problem. Or his concern.

  Gabe finished chewing, swallowed his last bite of food and set his napkin on the table.

  She also set her napkin beside her plate. Taking her actions as a signal that she was done eating, he stood. “Ready?”

  She nodded and rose. “Yes, I am.”

  There was defiance in her tone, and knowing that would soon be shattered caused a hint of guilt to slice through him. With little more than a nod, he directed her to the door and then across the street.

  Although there was still twenty minutes or so before their appointed time, the judge, sheriff and both lawyers were in the sheriff’s office. All four men rose to their feet. Schofield and Barnes stood near the desk, and Michael and the other lawyer, Sutherland, each stood near the pairs of chairs that had been set up on opposite sides of the room.

  As Gabe glanced from man to man, his spine stiffened. Yes, Ruby belonged with him, but that didn’t mean these four men should gang up against Janette. Well, three of them anyway. Her lawyer wasn’t staring at her the same way as the other three. Sutherland was older and...

  Gabe snapped his attention back to the judge, sheriff and his lawyer. They weren’t ganging up on her; they were ogling her, admiring her beauty. He pulled their attention away with a glare.

  The judge was the only one who didn’t look away. “Good day, Mr. Callaway, Miss Parker,” Schofield said while waving them forward. “This shouldn’t take long. If you’ll each take your seats, we’ll get started.”

  Gabe placed a hand on the small of her back to encourage Janette to step into the office so he could close the door, and the shiver he felt beneath his palm told him just how nervous she was.

  “Their barks are worse than their bites,” he whispered in her ear while reaching around to close the door with his free hand.

  “Much like yours,” she whispered in return.

  Despite the outcome that was sure to be in his favor, he had to appreciate her valor. Guiding her forward with the hand still on her back, he walked her to her lawyer. There, he held out a hand. “Gabe Callaway.”

  “Hello, Mr. Callaway,” the lawyer answered, clasping his hand. “Wayne Sutherland. I’m happy to make your acquaintance. I’ve heard about you.”

  “Oh,” Gabe replied, wondering exactly what Janette had told the man.

  Sutherland lifted a brow. “I’d heard about you before Miss Parker hired me. The only people in Hays who haven’t heard of Gabe Callaway are six feet under.”

  The tiny quiver beneath his hand still resting on her back revealed Janette’s response. She may just have figured out how hard this case would be for her to win. If he’d been anyone else, that might have unnerved him a small amount. But no woman would ever unnerve him.

  “I’m Henry Schofield, Miss Parker, and will be hearing your case this morning,” the judge said, drawing their attention back to the front of the room. “This is David Barnes, the sheriff of our town, and I believe you already know Michael Paul.”

  “Yes, I do,” she replied, with a smile for Paul. “Hello again, Mr. Paul.” Shifting her smiling face back to the judge, she said, “It’s nice to meet you, Judge Schofield, and you, too, Sheriff Barnes.” “It’s our pleasure,” the judge said. “Please, have a seat. Mr. Sutherland will go over the things we’ve discussed while awaiting your arrival.”

  Gabe leveled a glare on the judge. “What did you discuss?”

  “Just preliminary things, Mr. Callaway,” Schofield answered. “Mr. Paul will fill you in, and then we’ll get started.”

  Gabe didn’t like the sound of that. He had the distinct feeling these four had discussed far more than they should have. Janette’s uncertain gaze said she thought the same thing.

  “Gabe,” Paul said. “The judge has a full docket today.”

  * * *

  Janette told herself she wasn’t afraid or nervous, yet when Gabe’s hand slid off her back, she wanted to grasp his arm in order to keep him at her side. The entire situation was a bit intimidating. She couldn’t keep him at her side, even though her confidence was slipping.

  That shouldn’t be. She had the stronger case. Ruby needed a woman to raise her. A mother or someone close to that, and that was her.

  Taking a deep breath, she glanced at Gabe and tried to ignore the guilt that stirred inside her stomach. He’d been accommodating the past two days, more so than some might have been considering the circumstances, but he was still the enemy. She had to win.

  Had to.

  She turned about and walked to the set of chairs that had obviously been placed on this side of the room for her and Mr. Sutherland.

  The quicker they got this hearing over with, the faster she’d be able to collect Ruby and return to Kansas City. The small amount of sewing she’d done last night had her thinking about Thelma and how much work must be piling up.

  Settled on the chair, she waited for Mr. Sutherland to sit down before she asked, “Exactly what did the four of you discuss?”

  “Well, it’s rather unusual for women of, well, of your sister’s standing to have a will. Usually only women of means have wills. However, Sheriff Barnes explained that more and more towns are providing their lawmen with wills, to ensure their families will be taken care of in case something happens to them. It appears the town provided a will for Max and Anna.”

  “They did,” Janette answered. “Anna wrote to me about it. Max had insisted one be provided for Anna as well as himself. They both wanted to make sure Ruby would be taken care of.”

  “It does appear that way.” Mr. Sutherland rubbed his mustache while glancing across the room.

  Janette refrained from glancing over her shoulder. Her focus needed to remain on her, and Ruby. “What else did you discuss with the others?” The tingling of the nerves just beneath her skin said it was more than Anna having a will.

  “Well,” he said after clearing his throat slightly. “This case is a bit unusual. None of us have any solid cases to hold precedence upon.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Lawyers, such as Mr. Paul and myself, are usually able to reference other court cases and their outcomes to base our defense upon, and the judge also uses past rulings to assist him in making his decision.”

  Somewhat confused, she asked, “So?”

  “So, the only child custody cases either Mr. Paul or I were able to reference involved parents seeking custody. Not aunts or uncles. Usually family members just take in the children without involving the law...” He sighed before quietly saying, “The bottom line is, Miss Parker, neither you nor Mr. Callaway are married.”

  Not responding to how the hairs on her arms stood, she said, “Then this will be the first. A case others will be able to reference when needed.”

  “That sounds easier than it is.” His answer was laced with warning, and his gaze was once again on Gabe.

  Frustration twisted along with a bit of fear. Janette pinched her lips to keep from saying anything until it was well thought out. Except she couldn’t come up with anything to think through. “Ruby needs me.” Leaning a bit closer, she added, “Mr.
Callaway spent most of last evening in a saloon. Surely the judge would see that is not the kind of parent a little girl needs.”

  “Gabe Callaway rarely comes to town, Miss Parker, and the judge and the sheriff probably saw him last night, since they frequent the saloon themselves. Far more often than Gabe does.”

  She hadn’t thought of that, and as the truth Mr. Sutherland had said sank in, she began to question if she was doomed. Anger flared inside her. “Ruby is my niece. I will be the one to raise her. That is why I hired you.”

  “I’m aware of that. Mr. Paul and I counseled with the judge for some time this morning, and we believe we’ve come to the most reasonable conclusion for all involved.”

  The way he kept glancing at Gabe, almost as if expecting an explosion of some type, had her turning about. Gabe was still talking with his lawyer and appeared calm. Calmer than she was. Her hands weren’t the only things trembling. “What is that conclusion?”

  “Mr. Paul, Mr. Sutherland, are you ready?”

  “Yes, Your Honor,” Mr. Sutherland said, rising to his feet.

  Confused, and certainly not ready, Janette glanced toward Gabe and his lawyer. Mr. Paul held up one hand as he continued to speak to Gabe. Turning back, she tugged on Mr. Sutherland’s arm. “We aren’t ready. What’s the conclusion?”

  “The judge will inform you shortly,” he whispered.

  “Mr. Paul,” the judge said, “do I need to remind you that we have a full docket today?”

  “No, Your Honor,” the lawyer replied as he rose to his feet. “We’re ready to proceed.”

  Janette willed Gabe to turn around and look at her, give her an indication if he knew what was happening, but he didn’t so much as glance her way as he rose to his feet.

  “Miss Parker,” Mr. Sutherland said, taking ahold of her arm.

  She rose, glancing between the judge seated behind the desk and Gabe. He’d removed his hat, it now sat on the floor near his feet, but he still didn’t look her way. What had she expected? That he was on her side. He certainly wasn’t and was probably enjoying the fact she didn’t know what to expect. She closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath, which didn’t help. It was clear she was out of her league. Or up against more than she’d anticipated. The rock that formed in her stomach said the others in the room were all against her. Each and every one of them.

  “Ga—Mr. Callaway, Miss Parker, would you step forward, please,” Judge Schofield said while slipping on a pair of round glasses.

  Janette waited until Gabe started forward before she moved. Their lawyers followed, standing directly behind each of them. Her insides quivered as the judge nodded toward the sheriff, asked him to note the date and time in the official transcripts and went on to name everyone present in the room, as well as confirming that both she and Gabe were there of their own free will and their relationships to Ruby. All of which seemed to take forever and was rather obvious. However, she answered his questions, just as Gabe did.

  “All right, then,” the judge said. “I have read all of the information Mr. Paul and Mr. Sutherland have presented, including both Max and Anna Callaway’s wills, and I have a few pertinent questions for both of you. First I need to know that each of you understand the responsibility of raising a child.” He leveled his gaze on her. “Miss Parker?”

  “Of course I do,” she answered, somewhat insulted. “Ruby is my niece and I’m prepared to do whatever I must to see she has a proper upbringing.”

  “Do you have any experience in raising children?”

  Even if it wasn’t against her ethics, lying wouldn’t be in her benefit. “Not when it comes to young children, Your Honor. However, I’m sure there are many women who have little to no experience before their first child is born.” Men, too, but she chose not to point that out.

  “And if I were to grant you sole custody, do you plan on raising Ruby alone?”

  “For the most part, but I do have an employee who lives with me, a widow, Mrs. Thelma Hanks. She will be available to assist me with Ruby whenever necessary.”

  With a nod while making a notation on paper, the judge then looked at Gabe. “Mr. Callaway?”

  “The ranch has always had children on it,” Gabe said, “and Rosalie, who helped raise Max and me, is still living in the house.”

  A bit more of her confidence slipped away, and she had to clamp down on her bottom lip to keep from stating that Gabe had spent the evening in the saloon. Given what Mr. Sutherland had said about that, it wouldn’t matter to the judge and do nothing more than make her look desperate. Which is exactly how she was starting to feel.

  “I’m aware that Rosalie lives with you, Mr. Callaway. If I were to grant you sole custody, would you expect Rosalie to assume the responsibility of raising Ruby?”

  “No,” Gabe answered. “Ruby will be my responsibility and I won’t shuck that onto anyone, just as I’ve never shucked any other of my responsibilities. Ruby will be raised by me and taught by me. The ranch will one day be hers and I will see she has the knowledge and skill to manage every aspect of it. When she is old enough, of course. Until then, I will see she has the education and care that every child needs.”

  “So will I,” Janette said. “And I’ll teach her to sew so she’ll be able to take over my profitable business when she is old enough.” She clamped her lips together as the judge directed a somewhat-scathing look over the top of his glasses at her. Letting out the air locked in her lungs, she said, “I apologize for speaking out of turn, Your Honor.”

  He gave a nod and once again scribbled something on the paper. She could feel Gabe’s eyes on her but didn’t turn his way. Instead she lifted her chin.

  The judge pulled his glasses off and set them on the desk. “I heard you both say you’ll provide Ruby with the skills she needs for the future and an impressive inheritance from each of you, but neither of you made mention of the one thing she’ll need the most. Love.”

  “Of course I’ll love her,” Janette said. “I already do.”

  “I do, too,” Gabe answered.

  Janette couldn’t withhold a response. “You barely know her. Didn’t even know she was alive—”

  “Because no one bothered to tell me,” he snapped back.

  “Because you didn’t bother to contact your brother. Your cows meant more to you than he did.”

  “And those cows are Ruby’s future.”

  “No, her future is with me.”

  “You’ve only known her a month. That’s hardly—”

  The pounding of a gavel muffled the rest of his statement.

  As a quiet settled over the room, Gabe said, “My apologies, Judge. As her uncle, the fact I love Ruby is a given.”

  “No, Mr. Callaway, that isn’t a given,” the judge answered.

  The reprimand gave Janette a sense of satisfaction, which she displayed by giving Gabe a smile.

  He sneered before saying, “It’s not a given for Miss Parker either. She’s only known Ruby for less than a month.”

  “That’s not true,” Janette said. “I traveled to Texas when Ruby was born, and Anna wrote to me—”

  The gavel sounded again.

  Holding his small hammer before him, the judge said, “It’s my turn to talk. It’s your turn only when I say.”

  “Yes, Your Honor,” she mumbled. Gabe remained silent, as if not even the law was above him. He’d soon see differently. She’d known Ruby for years. And loved her the entire time.

  “How long either of you have known Ruby is irrelevant,” the judge said. “She’s a young child right now. As a father of three girls, I know how easy it is to love little girls. Boys, too. However, even young and adorable children can test any amount of love, and once they get older, they test it even more.” He leaned back in his chair as he continued, “I could have done it alone, raised my daughters that is, others certainly have, b
ut it would have been tough, and I commend those who do it alone. I’ve taken that into consideration this morning. My knowledge and experience are as a father and a judge, and I’m not taking this case lightly. Ruby’s future is as much in my hands right now as it is in either one of yours. I can’t help but think of my newly born grandson, and if such a situation as this were to arise in my own family. I’m certainly not using my own sentiments to try this case but instead relying on what the law states, which unfortunately gives me little pertaining to Ruby and her unfortunate loss. For she is the one who has already lost the most in this case.”

  Though her hope was waning, Janette’s mind was swirling, trying to think of a way to convince the judge she agreed that Ruby’s loss was immense and that she would never fail her niece.

  With a sigh, Judge Schofield leaned forward again. “I have another question for both of you. You each would like me to believe you’ll do whatever it takes in order to raise Ruby, is that true?”

  “Yes, Your Honor.”

  She and Gabe answered at the exact same time, with the exact same words.

  Desiring to be the most believable, she added, “Whatever it takes or costs. I’m more than willing.”

  Gabe shot her a sideways glance before he said, “You’ve been to the Triple C, Your Honor. You know Ruby will lack for nothing.”

  “I have,” the judge answered. “And I know you, Gabe, which made my decision a bit easier.”

  Janette’s insides gurgled. “Ruby will lack for nothing while in my care, Your Honor, I guarantee it. Her needs will always come first.” Giving Gabe a sideways glance, she added, “Even before my sewing.”

  “Thank you, Miss Parker,” the judge said. “I appreciate both of your commitments, because you’ll have the opportunity to prove them to me.”

  “How?” Gabe asked.

  At the same time, she asked, “When?”

  A smidgen of a smile crossed the judge’s face as he answered her question first. “Right now.” He then turned to Gabe and said, “By getting married.”