and constant vigil at Brady’s bedside. For a single male that is very unusual and I realize that you’ve formed a connection to the boy.”
Tuck felt a big but coming and he didn’t have to wait long.
“But I have several reservations. Number one is your job. As a lawman, it is very high risk and time consuming. Number two is your single status.”
“Your Honor.” Beau was on his feet. “I sent the court several cases where a single male was granted custody of a minor child. Just because a man is single doesn’t mean he can’t successfully raise a child.”
“Yes, Mr. McCain, I read your documents and I am thoroughly impressed with your research. But Brady Harper is different. He’s not biologically linked to Ranger Tucker and Brady has problems that will require a lot of attention. Even at fourteen months, he has a lot of anger issues. He needs to know that someone is always going to be there for him. That trust, that bond, has to be built day by day.”
“Your Honor…”
“Sit down, Mr. McCain. I’m ready to rule on this case.
“In light of Brady’s physical and mental state, I see no recourse but to place him with the Templetons, where he will have a full-time mother and father. Brady will need that structure to grow strong and healthy.”
“Damn,” Beau said under his breath.
Tuck’s breath wedged in his throat like a wad of cotton and for a moment he had trouble breathing. The verdict was what he was expecting, but he never realized it would hurt this much.
“Thank you, Your Honor.” Ann Demott rose to her feet. “When will the Templetons be able to take Brady home?”
“His wounds haven’t healed completely and I’m also concerned about his mental state. The therapist feels Brady has locked himself away into a safe corner of his mind and it will take a lot of patience and love to reach him. I would like the Templetons to spend most of each day with Brady so he can get to know them and start the bonding process. The therapist feels strongly about this, as do I. Brady is in familiar surroundings and to take him out of the hospital now would be disastrous. This has to be done slowly. In two weeks, I’ll review the therapist’s reports and make a ruling on when the Templetons can take Brady home. I hope all goes well. This little boy deserves a second chance.”
“Thank you, Your Honor.” Lisa smiled brightly and hugged her husband.
“I hope you realize the enormous task ahead of you,” the judge replied.
“Yes, Your Honor, we do,” Keith said.
Tuck stood, needing to say something. “Your Honor, may I please have some time to say goodbye to Brady? I don’t want him to feel that I’ve abandoned him.”
“Ranger Tucker, considering Brady’s mental state, I agree. I want this to go as smoothly as possible for Brady.” She signed a document then looked at Tuck. “Ranger Tucker, I hope you understand I’m doing what’s best for Brady Harper.”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
And that was it. The Templetons would raise Brady. He swallowed back any resentment he felt. His bottom line was still Brady’s well-being.
Everyone rose as the judge left the room. Tuck saw Eli and Caleb standing at the back, and to the right stood Grace. His heart leaped. For a brief moment he thought she was here for him, and then he realized she was here for the Templetons. They were her friends and her firm represented them.
For some reason that hurt.
Opal gave Tuck a hug. “I’m sorry, but I told you. Don’t worry, though. One day I’ll find the perfect child for you.”
“Thanks, Opal.”
“Even if you are single,” she whispered under her breath and walked away.
Tuck smiled slightly as Eli and Caleb strolled toward him.
“Sorry, man,” Eli said.
“Me, too,” Caleb added.
“Thanks,” Tuck replied, feeling the need to be alone. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Grace speaking to the Templetons. Was she congratulating them?
“We’re meeting Jake at Metz’s Park to shoot
Tuck felt a big but coming and he didn’t have to wait long.
“But I have several reservations. Number one is your job. As a lawman, it is very high risk and time consuming. Number two is your single status.”
“Your Honor.” Beau was on his feet. “I sent the court several cases where a single male was granted custody of a minor child. Just because a man is single doesn’t mean he can’t successfully raise a child.”
“Yes, Mr. McCain, I read your documents and I am thoroughly impressed with your research. But Brady Harper is different. He’s not biologically linked to Ranger Tucker and Brady has problems that will require a lot of attention. Even at fourteen months, he has a lot of anger issues. He needs to know that someone is always going to be there for him. That trust, that bond, has to be built day by day.”
“Your Honor…”
“Sit down, Mr. McCain. I’m ready to rule on this case.
“In light of Brady’s physical and mental state, I see no recourse but to place him with the Templetons, where he will have a full-time mother and father. Brady will need that structure to grow strong and healthy.”
“Damn,” Beau said under his breath.
Tuck’s breath wedged in his throat like a wad of cotton and for a moment he had trouble breathing. The verdict was what he was expecting, but he never realized it would hurt this much.
“Thank you, Your Honor.” Ann Demott rose to her feet. “When will the Templetons be able to take Brady home?”
“His wounds haven’t healed completely and I’m also concerned about his mental state. The therapist feels Brady has locked himself away into a safe corner of his mind and it will take a lot of patience and love to reach him. I would like the Templetons to spend most of each day with Brady so he can get to know them and start the bonding process. The therapist feels strongly about this, as do I. Brady is in familiar surroundings and to take him out of the hospital now would be disastrous. This has to be done slowly. In two weeks, I’ll review the therapist’s reports and make a ruling on when the Templetons can take Brady home. I hope all goes well. This little boy deserves a second chance.”
“Thank you, Your Honor.” Lisa smiled brightly and hugged her husband.
“I hope you realize the enormous task ahead of you,” the judge replied.
“Yes, Your Honor, we do,” Keith said.
Tuck stood, needing to say something. “Your Honor, may I please have some time to say goodbye to Brady? I don’t want him to feel that I’ve abandoned him.”
“Ranger Tucker, considering Brady’s mental state, I agree. I want this to go as smoothly as possible for Brady.” She signed a document then looked at Tuck. “Ranger Tucker, I hope you understand I’m doing what’s best for Brady Harper.”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
And that was it. The Templetons would raise Brady. He swallowed back any resentment he felt. His bottom line was still Brady’s well-being.
Everyone rose as the judge left the room. Tuck saw Eli and Caleb standing at the back, and to the right stood Grace. His heart leaped. For a brief moment he thought she was here for him, and then he realized she was here for the Templetons. They were her friends and her firm represented them.
For some reason that hurt.
Opal gave Tuck a hug. “I’m sorry, but I told you. Don’t worry, though. One day I’ll find the perfect child for you.”
“Thanks, Opal.”
“Even if you are single,” she whispered under her breath and walked away.
Tuck smiled slightly as Eli and Caleb strolled toward him.
“Sorry, man,” Eli said.
“Me, too,” Caleb added.
“Thanks,” Tuck replied, feeling the need to be alone. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Grace speaking to the Templetons. Was she congratulating them?
“We’re meeting Jake at Metz’s Park to shoot
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