The Unclaimed Baby Read Online Free PDF Page A

streak kicked in. She lifted her chin. “Why not?”
    â€œYou know perfectly well why not. She’s not yours.”
    â€œWell, obviously the mother doesn’t want her.”
    â€œUnless she was kidnapped,” he suggested.
    Sharon Lynn swallowed hard. It was one explanation she had never even considered. Kidnapped babies were held for ransom. They weren’t abandoned. Were they?
    â€œYou don’t seriously think…”
    He raked a hand through his hair and snapped impatiently, “I don’t know what to think. I would have known a hell of a lot more by now if you’d told me about her last night, if I’d been able to check out the alley behind the store for any evidence, and if I’d had time to check all the faxes about missing kids.”
    â€œDo that now,” she said reasonably. “Whatever evidence was in that alley hasn’t gone anywhere. As for the faxes, I’ve seen your desk. They haven’t gone anywhere, either.”
    â€œI’ll do all that right after I take her to the hospital to be thoroughly checked out and call social services,” he said. “They’re going to love being hauled out on a Saturday after a blizzard.”
    Sharon Lynn instinctively moved between her cousin and the baby. “My point exactly. If it’s going to be such a bother, then don’t call them.”
    His expression turned sympathetic. “Sweetie, there are procedures in cases like this. You know this is what has to be done.”
    â€œShe’ll just end up in foster care, unless you locate the mom, right?”
    â€œI suppose.”
    â€œThen let her stay with me. I’ll call Grandpa Harlan. He can pull a few strings and get me temporary approval as a foster parent. It’s not as if I’m an unfit candidate for it. We can call Lizzy to come check her out medically, if that will make you happy. She’s practically a full-fledged doctor. She’s doing her residency in Garden City, while granddaddy builds that clinic he promised her here in town. It’ll be by the book.” She beamed at him, then shrugged at his intractable scowl. “More or less.”
    â€œSharon Lynn—”
    â€œJustin, this is the way it’s going to be,” she said fiercely, ready to fight him on this if she had to. “That baby would have died last night if Cord and I hadn’t found her. I’m not letting her out of my sight until I know she’s going to be safe. Whoever left her there doesn’t deserve to live, much less have the baby given back to them.”
    â€œWell, of course not, but—”
    â€œNo buts. You know I’m right. You know she’s better off with me, at least for the time being. I feel like I owe her that much.”
    She watched his face intently, saw the worry, the indecision and prayed he’d go along with her on this. Justin had a powerful sense of right and wrong, a fierce dedication to playing by the rules. She knew she was probably asking him to break a million of them.
    â€œPlease,” she begged. “Just think of what’s best for the baby. Think of all the trauma she’s already been through. She’s here now, she’s warm and safe. Don’t start dragging her around again now, just so you can cross all the t’ s and dot all the i’ s on your paperwork.”
    He sighed heavily. “Okay,” he relented finally. “But this is temporary. You understand that, right?”
    â€œOf course.”
    He regarded her skeptically. “You’re sure?”
    â€œJustin, I understand.”
    â€œAll right, then. Hopefully Lizzy’s not on duty over at Garden City. Call her and get her over here. If she gives the baby a clean bill of health, that’ll do for now. Meantime, I’ll go check out all the reports on missing kids to see if there’s a match.”
    â€œThank you,” she said softly.
    â€œDon’t thank