situation. She wasn't sure she liked the sound of his repeated "uh-huh" and "I see."
When she finally fell silent, he cleared his throat. "The law is not clear, I'm sorry to say. In previous cases similar to this, the decisions have been split. You'd think it would be pretty open-and-shut. The child was stolen from you, deliberately switched by a member of the family. But the fact Mr. MacGowan was unaware of the deception muddies the water. And the court will look at what is in the best interests of the child. I would suggest you come to an equitable arrangement out of court. If you go before a judge, there's no telling what ruling you might get."
"What judge would want to separate twins and the connection they feel? Doesn't the fact that they're twins make my case stronger?"
"Perhaps." Duncan's tone was slow and measured. "But the judge also might feel that because you have another child, you were less harmed. The other child is in a good home, I assume?"
"The father is a widower, so she has no mother."
"And you are unmarried, right?"
Shannon didn't want to admit it. "Yes."
"So neither situation would be as ideal as a married couple. What is the man's financial situation?"
"He's Senator MacGowan's son, if that tells you anything"
"Oh dear. Any judge in the state will look at that and the senator's long reach. Again, my advice for you is to settle this amicably."
Shannon gave a heavy sigh. "I'm not quite sure how to do that."
"The two of you could always marry," Duncan said with a chuckle.
Shannon caught back a gasp. What a stupid idea. But she kept the words to herself.
"But on a more serious note, surely the man will be reasonable and allow you visitation."
"I don't want visitation. I want my child back."
"I doubt you'll accomplish that without a court battle. I could check for someone in your area."
"There's only one attorney here and he's in Jack's pocket." Shannon rubbed her eyes. "I'll think about what you've said. Thanks for your time."
"I'm glad to help. Call if you need anything else." The phone clicked off.
Shannon handed the phone back to Allie, who had sat quietly listening. "He says to settle out of court. It's just as I suspected. Jack is holding most of the cards."
"Then maybe you should talk to Jack."
"I will, but I have no idea what to tell him. He's not going to give up custody."
"Would you? Besides, Faith loves Jack. Would you want to tear him out of her life?"
"No," Shannon admitted. She'd seen how close father and daughter were. She'd be a monster to want to rip that apart. But she wanted the daughter who had been robbed from her, the sister denied to her daughter.
With Jack, Faith had a good name, prominence in the community, security. She wished Kylie had that kind of life.
SWEAT LATHERED BOTH JACK AND THE HORSE. HE TOOK OFF HIS HAT AND wiped the perspiration from his forehead. The stallion wasn't going to be easy to train. He was aggressive and muscular, so Jack had to be on his toes with this one.
"Having trouble, MacGowan? Want me to teach you how it's done?"
Jack didn't have to turn around to recognize the taunting voice. "Larue, don't you have better things to do than to watch me? It didn't look like you were having much luck with that mare of yours earlier."
A bullwhip cracked, and Jack whirled to see the tip coming his way. He ducked, but the whirling leather took the hat from his head and tossed it into the water trough. Tucker Larue's laughter floated on the wind as he walked away.
Jack glared after him but held his tongue. Any reaction would play into Larue's game. He lifted his soggy hat from the water and hung it over a fence post. His head would be exposed to the late morning's brutal sun, but maybe the hat would be dry by the time he had lunch with Shannon.
What was he going to say to Shannon?
"MacGowan, I thought sure you'd tear that boy a new rear end," Buzz Bollinger drawled. "You mellowing in your old age?"
Jack glanced at the organization's supervisor.
When she finally fell silent, he cleared his throat. "The law is not clear, I'm sorry to say. In previous cases similar to this, the decisions have been split. You'd think it would be pretty open-and-shut. The child was stolen from you, deliberately switched by a member of the family. But the fact Mr. MacGowan was unaware of the deception muddies the water. And the court will look at what is in the best interests of the child. I would suggest you come to an equitable arrangement out of court. If you go before a judge, there's no telling what ruling you might get."
"What judge would want to separate twins and the connection they feel? Doesn't the fact that they're twins make my case stronger?"
"Perhaps." Duncan's tone was slow and measured. "But the judge also might feel that because you have another child, you were less harmed. The other child is in a good home, I assume?"
"The father is a widower, so she has no mother."
"And you are unmarried, right?"
Shannon didn't want to admit it. "Yes."
"So neither situation would be as ideal as a married couple. What is the man's financial situation?"
"He's Senator MacGowan's son, if that tells you anything"
"Oh dear. Any judge in the state will look at that and the senator's long reach. Again, my advice for you is to settle this amicably."
Shannon gave a heavy sigh. "I'm not quite sure how to do that."
"The two of you could always marry," Duncan said with a chuckle.
Shannon caught back a gasp. What a stupid idea. But she kept the words to herself.
"But on a more serious note, surely the man will be reasonable and allow you visitation."
"I don't want visitation. I want my child back."
"I doubt you'll accomplish that without a court battle. I could check for someone in your area."
"There's only one attorney here and he's in Jack's pocket." Shannon rubbed her eyes. "I'll think about what you've said. Thanks for your time."
"I'm glad to help. Call if you need anything else." The phone clicked off.
Shannon handed the phone back to Allie, who had sat quietly listening. "He says to settle out of court. It's just as I suspected. Jack is holding most of the cards."
"Then maybe you should talk to Jack."
"I will, but I have no idea what to tell him. He's not going to give up custody."
"Would you? Besides, Faith loves Jack. Would you want to tear him out of her life?"
"No," Shannon admitted. She'd seen how close father and daughter were. She'd be a monster to want to rip that apart. But she wanted the daughter who had been robbed from her, the sister denied to her daughter.
With Jack, Faith had a good name, prominence in the community, security. She wished Kylie had that kind of life.
SWEAT LATHERED BOTH JACK AND THE HORSE. HE TOOK OFF HIS HAT AND wiped the perspiration from his forehead. The stallion wasn't going to be easy to train. He was aggressive and muscular, so Jack had to be on his toes with this one.
"Having trouble, MacGowan? Want me to teach you how it's done?"
Jack didn't have to turn around to recognize the taunting voice. "Larue, don't you have better things to do than to watch me? It didn't look like you were having much luck with that mare of yours earlier."
A bullwhip cracked, and Jack whirled to see the tip coming his way. He ducked, but the whirling leather took the hat from his head and tossed it into the water trough. Tucker Larue's laughter floated on the wind as he walked away.
Jack glared after him but held his tongue. Any reaction would play into Larue's game. He lifted his soggy hat from the water and hung it over a fence post. His head would be exposed to the late morning's brutal sun, but maybe the hat would be dry by the time he had lunch with Shannon.
What was he going to say to Shannon?
"MacGowan, I thought sure you'd tear that boy a new rear end," Buzz Bollinger drawled. "You mellowing in your old age?"
Jack glanced at the organization's supervisor.
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