Read Online The Unclaimed Baby by Sherryl Woods - Free Book Online Page A

“You don’t suppose she was half starved when we found her?”
    â€œLizzy says her weight appeared to be normal and that she wasn’t showing any signs of being malnourished.” Her expression darkened. “Have you thought about the mother at all?”
    â€œI’ve tried not to. It’s too infuriating. What about you?”
    â€œI can’t help thinking that she must have been truly desperate.”
    â€œMaybe the mother wasn’t in any position to care for a child.”
    â€œYou mean financially?”
    â€œI mean maybe she was sick herself, maybe she even died after the baby was born and the baby’s father couldn’t cope.”
    Her expression shifted from anger to sympathy. “Oh, God, I hadn’t even considered that.” She came to stand close and brushed gentle fingers over the baby’s head. “Poor little thing.”
    Cord glanced up at her. “Not so poor. She landed with you, didn’t she? She’s warm and safe.”
    â€œBut all alone.”
    â€œShe has you. She has me,” he said fiercely.
    Sharon Lynn grinned. “She certainly does seem to have you wrapped around her little finger.”
    He snuggled the weight of her a little closer, laughed when her face screwed up as the bottle’s nipple slipped from her mouth. “Are you still hungry?” he murmured incredulously, even as he offered her more. He glanced over at Sharon Lynn, who had gone back to stirring spaghetti sauce, filling the kitchen with an enticing aroma. “Have you given any thought to giving her a name?”
    Her hand stilled. “I don’t think I should. It’s not my place.”
    â€œWe can’t just go on referring to her as the baby. It sounds like she’s interchangeable with every other kid.” He studied the baby intently, then said, “I think we should call her Ashley.”
    â€œAshley? Why Ashley?”
    â€œI don’t know. I like it.”
    Sharon Lynn hesitated for a full minute, her expression troubled. “I don’t know…”
    â€œThen you pick.”
    â€œI meant I don’t know if we should do this.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    She drew in a deep breath and met his gaze. “It makes it too much like we think she’s going to stay.”
    â€œShe is staying, for a time, anyway. While she’s here, she deserves a name,” he insisted. “She shouldn’t be anonymous, even for a short time.”
    After a moment, Sharon Lynn smiled. “How about Cordelia, then? After the man who found her.”
    He laughed, even though something deep inside him yearned to say yes. It would give him a lasting connection to this baby no matter what happened, but Cordelia? No way. He shook his head. “She’d never forgive us.”
    â€œIf she goes back to her family, she’d probably never even know. It would just be between us,” Sharon Lynn said pointedly.
    He grinned. “You hankering for another secret?”
    â€œMaybe.”
    â€œNo. I still vote for Ashley. That’s got some class to it. I can see her growing up to run a whole cattle empire one day.”
    Sharon Lynn faced him, her expression troubled. “Don’t,” she whispered, the word barely more than a broken cry.
    Startled by the reaction, he stared. “Don’t what?”
    â€œDon’t make plans for the future. Don’t look too far ahead. She could be gone tomorrow.”
    Instinctively he held the baby a little tighter as if to prevent her going. “That’s the advice you’ve been hearing all day, isn’t it? That’s what had you so upset when I turned up tonight?”
    She nodded. “It’s good advice. It really is. I can’t think beyond the moment.”
    Cord sighed at the well-meaning logic. “You’re right, of course. I’m sorry. It’s easy to get caught up in the fantasy.”
    Her expression turned sympathetic.