Lonestar Secrets by Colleen Coble Read Free Book Online Page A

was no right here. Fixing this seemed impossible. "Are you crazy?" He shouted the words, not caring that she cringed from him. "Don't you care that my daughter is about to be ripped from me? How is she going to feel when the only home she's ever known is torn apart?"
    Verna held up trembling hands as if to ward him off. "After all I've done for you, this is the thanks I get. If not for me, you wouldn't have a daughter at all."
    Jack squeezed his eyes shut. He was about to lose everything that made life worth living, and Verna thought she deserved a medal.
    JUST WHEN SHANNON THOUGHT THE TREMBLING HAD STOPPED, IT WOULD start up again. She longed to see the little girl she'd only glimpsed yesterday. Would she be just like Kylie with her ability to sing perfectly on key? Did she talk in her sleep? Did she love stuffed animals and unicorns?
    Shannon's eyes kept blurring with tears. She hated to cry. Her nose ran, and her throat hurt from holding in the pain. Did Faith talk about her twin the way Kylie did? The minute Kylie had seen Faith, she'd claimed the girl as her sister. It had been hard to get her to sleep last night with all her chatter about finding Faith. Had Jack dealt with any of that?
    She glanced at her watch. Allie would offer a good shoulder to cry on. Shannon whipped into the Bluebird Youth Ranch's driveway and drove back the long, winding lane to the ranch house. She sat for a moment watching the girls trying to rope calves with Rick. She finally got out and walked to the porch, where Allie sat snapping beans.

    "I didn't expect to see you until this afternoon," Allie said. Her smile faded when Shannon neared. "What's happened?"
    Shannon dropped abruptly onto the top step of the porch. "I saw Verna Jeffers. She admitted to switching my daughter with Jack's dead daughter."
    Allie's hands stilled their task. The color leeched from her cheeks. "I can't believe it. Why would she do something like that?"
    "She said she knew it would be hard for me to raise two children, but I'm sure it was for Jack and Blair. She's Blair's aunt. What am I going to do to get Faith back, Allie? Jack has money, power, and prestige here in the area."
    "Get a lawyer?" Allie began to snap the beans again.
    "No judge is going to rip Faith from her home and give her to an unwed mom who's a hundred thousand dollars in debt with school loans. It will be several years before I make any kind of decent money." Her head began to pound from thinking about it.
    And what judge would grant Shannon custody if her medical records came to light?
    Allie tossed some broken beans into the pan. "You should at least talk to someone. Wouldn't the law be clear about it?"
    "Maybe. I don't know, but I'm scared. Look at the house. It's falling down around our ears. A home study will show the sharp contrast in living conditions."
    "Rick can help you hire a good attorney."
    "With what? He'll want a retainer." She held up her hand when Allie started to speak. "And don't offer to loan me money. I wasn't fishing"

    "We could help you out, Shannon."
    Her eyes burned at her new friend's generosity. "I appreciate it, but I'd rather figure this out on my own. I needed someone to talk to, so thanks for listening." She rose. "I'd better get out to the mustang training. Jack wants to talk over lunch about our `options' and I have no idea what to suggest."
    "A custody split maybe?" Allie said.
    "I can't see Jack as the kind who will want to share. I predict he'll try to buy me off. Want to lay bets?" Shannon grinned, her mood lightening as she thought about how she'd answer him if he dared try it.
    "You seem to have a chip on your shoulder about Jack. What's happened between you two?"
    "It's complicated."
    "I've got time."
    Shannon sat back down. She didn't want to remember that past pain, but maybe it would help to talk about it. "I loved my parents. They were like shooting stars, exciting and vibrant to be around. But not stable. I always knew they loved each other more than