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Roy moved closer. “Daniel, don’t make this harder than it needs to be.”
“Don’t make it harder…” His hands balled into fists as the urge to punch someone swelled. Daniel was never violent, but the desire to defend Ellie and Owen had erased all logic. He was a man protecting the woman and child he loved.
Loved. The realization punched him hard and stole his breath.
And when he turned to face Ellie, the sheer devastation on her face ripped straight through him. Her complexion was ashen, and her body trembled as she clutched Owen close. The little boy, sensing her distress, clung to her, burying his face inthe hollow of her neck. Cole’s quiet rage and Marta’s sobbing only added to the weight of the moment.
Desperation took hold. “What if my mother acted as Owen’s foster mother?”
“There are procedures to be licensed, starting with a background check. It takes weeks to be approved.” Maggie sighed. “I’m sorry. There’s nothing to be done.” She extended her arms toward Owen. “Miss Brooks, please give him to me.”
Owen cried louder. Ellie pressed a kiss to the little boy’s temple, and her voice broke as she whispered comforting words. “Don’t be scared. You’re going to go with Miss Maggie on a little adventure. Mommy will see you soon.”
Ellie's lips trembled as she struggled to maintain composure for Owen's sake. She looked back at Maggie, her eyes now swimming with unshed tears that made them appear almost luminous. “He went to the hospital last night for a respiratory infection. The antibiotics are in the diaper bag. He needs to take them three times a day, and the foster parents need to monitor him closely for a fever. If it returns, or he becomes lethargic, they need to take him back to the ER immediately.”
“Thank you. I’ll make sure they know.” Maggie gestured for Owen.
“He can’t sleep without Scout.” She touched the stuffed dog wrapped in Owen’s chubby arm. “His favorite blanket is in the diaper bag. He likes to read after bath time before bed. He hates peas but loves to eat oatmeal with bananas in the morning.” Her whole body was shaking now, her voice growing more desperate with each word. “What else? Oh, he loves ‘The Wheels on the Bus’—”
“Miss Brooks, now.” Maggie gently but firmly lifted Owen from Ellie's arms.
The moment Owen left her embrace, it was as if someone had torn away a piece of Ellie's heart. Her arms remainedoutstretched, as if she couldn't quite believe he was no longer there. Owen's face crumpled, his small hands reaching desperately back toward Ellie. His cries became raw, primal wails that seemed to echo off the walls. The sound of his anguish was like a physical blow to everyone in the room.
Daniel's rage climbed even higher. "This is a mistake!" He whirled toward Chief O'Neal. "You know removing Owen from my ranch is a risk to his safety."
Roy grimaced. “I can’t stop this, Daniel. She has the official paperwork and the jurisdiction. My hands are tied.”
This couldn’t be happening. “Mrs. Lyons, don’t do this.”
Maggie ignored him, hefting the diaper bag over her shoulder. “I’ll be in touch.” She nodded to Roy. “Chief O’Neal, let’s go.”
Ellie frantically wiped at her tears, but they were falling too fast now to catch. “Wait. He needs his favorite bath toy.”
She raced out of the room and down the hallway. Maggie was already at the front door and didn't pause. She continued on, Owen's heartbroken wails trailing behind her like an echo of pure anguish. Daniel stood in the center of the living room, bereft, unable to stop what had been put into motion. Seconds later, car doors slammed and engines fired up.
Ellie burst from the hallway, a green turtle in her hand. Her wild eyes swept the living room before she spun around and raced for the porch. "Wait!"
Her panic cut through his numbness, and he followed her outside. The chief’s vehicle, along with Maggie’s, was already halfway down the driveway. Ellie stood frozen at the bottom of the porch steps, physically shaking as if she was caught in a blizzard and not the heat of the Texas sun. Her gaze was hollow and haunted. Daniel forgot his own grief, which was nothing compared to what she was going through.
He moved toward her. “El…”
His fingers brushed her shoulder, but she jerked away. Without a glance or a word, she took off, her blonde hair flying behind her as she raced across the yard, still holding Owen’s bath toy in one hand. She was escaping with her pain. He watched as she bolted down the path to the creek and disappeared into the trees.
Leaving Daniel with nothing but the sound of his mother’s tears, his own helplessness, and a deep-seated fear for Owen's safety.
TWENTY-TWO
The creek bubbled and swirled around the rocks. Ellie crouched on the bank, under the shelter of the oak trees, her breath coming in shaky gasps. The torrent of tears had left her eyes puffy and her nose congested. A headache pounded at her temples. Inside, she was hollow. Numb.
Her baby was gone. And it was all her fault.
Why, God? Why?
Her faith had seen her through dark times. During undercover work within the Iron Fist’s circle, after being shot, in starting her new life in Silver Creek, and while nursing Owen back to health. Even during these threats on her life and last night in the hospital, Ellie had leaned on God, knowing that He would see her through. But now, she felt abandoned by her Heavenly Father. Cast into a darkness she wasn’t sure she’d be able to surface from.
Her arms ached for Owen, and all she had was the plastic turtle. His favorite bath toy. He would cry for it and be confused about why strangers were caring for him. And that sent a new wave of tears tumbling over her swollen cheeks. She’d failed him. Utterly and completely.
Ellie had known there was a risk in withholding her name from the court, and from Child Protective Services, but she’d been under orders. She’d followed those instructions to protect herself and Owen. Now that mistake had cost her dearly. She would try to argue her case with the judge, but Ellie wasn’t a fool. Lying on official documents… misleading the court… she’d perjured herself under oath. She’d be lucky if the judge didn’t arrest her right there in the courtroom, let alone grant her custody of Owen again.