The Heiress and the Sheriff by Stella Bagwell

hair was perfectly groomed, her makeup equally flawless. Yet the desperate look in the woman’s blue eyes told Wyatt she wasn’t nearly as composed as her appearance would lead one to believe. As for Matthew, his expression was one of a man who seemed resigned for more bad news.
    As the whole group turned their attention on Wyatt, he tried to remember the last time he’d been able to report anything positive to these people. He ached for them all. They were his friends, yet even with his sleuthing abilities, he hadn’t been able to put things right for them.
    â€œI know you were all hoping I’d be able to uncover Taylor’s mother through the list of women I received from the sperm bank. Today, I succeeded in tracing down the last two. There is one name left, but I’ve discovered the name is phony and so is the address. And from their records she only visited the clinic once and never returned for a follow-up visit.”
    Grim-faced, Claudia moved away from her husband and came to stand in front of Wyatt. “What did you find out from the two women you did track down? Did one of them give birth to Taylor?”
    Wyatt took a deep breath and let the bomb drop. There was no way to avoid it. “No. One of them was never able to conceive and finally abandoned the idea altogether. The other one had second thoughts and decided she didn’t want to get pregnant by artificial insemination.”
    Claudia flinched as if Wyatt had slapped her, then shewhirled on Matthew like a wounded animal. “Bastard!” she said coldly. “You had an affair and all this time you’ve let me go through this agony—”
    Tears choked off the rest of her words, and she ran toward the door. Matthew threw his hands up and hurried after her.
    â€œClaudia, I didn’t have an affair! I’ve told you—”
    She jerked open the door, then paused on the threshold, her head held high. “I don’t care what you’ve told me! Wyatt’s evidence proves it. I’m not staying in this house with you another minute,” she said through gritted teeth.
    â€œBut the baby—”
    â€œI’m taking Taylor with me. He might be yours by blood, but you obviously didn’t care enough about him to even acknowledge his birth.”
    Matthew groaned loudly. “Claudia, I didn’t know about his birth! There was no woman. Wyatt just said there’s one more name—”
    â€œSure. A phony name,” she interrupted as tears began to stream down her face. “Oh, go tell your lies to someone else!”
    The door slammed in Matthew’s face and he slowly turned to face the three men. “I don’t know what to do anymore,” he said, his voice defeated, his shoulders sagging.
    â€œI’m sorry, Matthew,” Wyatt said. “I was afraid Claudia might react like this. But I had to tell you.”
    Matthew nodded glumly. “Of course you did. It’s not your fault. But dammit, Wyatt, what does it all mean?”
    Behind them, Parker spoke up like the true lawyer he was. “Matthew, are you certain you didn’t have one fling? Maybe one night you were feeling tired and depressed. You stopped in town for a drink or two, and one thing led to another.”
    â€œNo! I would never betray Claudia in such a way. I love her! Dad, you believe me, don’t you?”
    â€œI’ve never known you to lie about anything,” Ryan told him. “But I can see how it all looks mighty incriminating to Claudia.”
    He stared in disbelief at his father. “Then you’re taking her side in this thing? You think she should move out—away from me?”
    Ryan held up his hand. “I’m not saying anything like that. I can see where both of you are being hurt by this whole thing, and my taking sides would only make matters worse.”
    Wyatt placed his hand on Matthew’s shoulder. “I know this probably won’t help