One Night in Texas. Linda Warren

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      “And I never suspected a thing. Remember that day she and Jody were playing hopscotch on the sidewalk and she fell and skinned her knee? I had just driven up. I picked her up and carried her into the house. She felt like a feather in my arms, a beautiful feather. I picked up my daughter, and I didn’t even know she was mine. That’s what makes me so angry. All the years I’ve missed and she was right under my nose. My child was there, and I never saw her.”

      Wyatt came around the desk and patted him on the shoulder. “Sorry, man. That’s rough.”

      Hardy drew a deep breath. “I’d better go home, get cleaned up and see how my kid is doing. And I have Dad and Olivia to deal with. I bailed on them last night.”

      “Are you going to tell the judge?”

      “I might wait before telling him. He’ll want to rush in and cause all kinds of problems. Right now I’m just feeling my way and hoping to see and spend some time with my child.”

      “What about Olivia?”

      “I don’t know, Wyatt. She’s not going to be happy, but I have a kid and I’m not walking away from her.” He frowned. “Do you have any idea where my truck is?”

      “You jumped the curb at the courthouse and it’s parked half on, half off the lawn. The quicker you get it off, the better it will be for the gossip, because come daylight, your story is going to be all over town.”

      Hardy headed for the door. “Thanks, Wyatt.”

      “I take it the Wiznowskis don’t know you’re Erin’s biological father.”

      He turned back. “I assume they think the ex is the father.”

      “If you think Bubba is hard to deal with, wait until the news spreads through the rest of the family. You’ll have your hands full defending yourself.”

      “I hadn’t thought of that, and I really don’t care about their reaction. I only care about getting to know my daughter.”

      “What made Angie tell you now?”

      Hardy shrugged. “I kept pressing her about Erin’s father. He needed to be there, and she was very evasive about him. Maybe she got tired of me pressuring her or maybe she just got tired of keeping her secret. I don’t know. She just blurted it out.”

      “Good luck, man. I’m here if you need me.”

      “Thanks.”

      As he backed his truck off the lawn, he knew Wyatt was right. His name would be mud all over town. But he wasn’t worried about that. The only worry he had was how to make a connection to a little girl he didn’t even know.

      Because he was her father.

      Chapter Five

      Hardy sped down the county blacktop to the Circle H Ranch. He drove under the wrought iron arch entrance and onto the graveled road that led to the colonial-style two-story house. Brown board fences bordered him on both sides. Live oaks graced the fence all the way to the house. In places their branches intertwined, giving a shady umbrella effect.

      He swung into his parking spot in the detached garage. After walking through a breezeway into the kitchen, he found his dad, Mavis and Harvey Weltzen eating breakfast. Mavis had been the housekeeper for years and Harvey was the foreman of the ranch.

      His dad looked up from his plate. “Where in the hell have you been?”

      Judge Hardison Sr. was a barrel-chested man who exuded confidence and attitude. His booming voice was known to stop criminals in their tracks. Most people feared him because of his strong stance on crime and morality. There was no leeway, according to him.

      “I told you, I was involved in an accident and I had to handle things.”

      “You should’ve been man enough to phone and let us know what was going on. We worried all night. Olivia’s been calling and calling.” His dad looked him up and down. “You look fine. What kind of accident?”

      The criticism stung, and Hardy bit his tongue. “A little girl ran out in front of my truck and I hit her.”

      “Oh, my God!” Mavis covered her mouth with her hand in shock. “Is she okay?”

      “She’s in the hospital in Temple with a broken leg, some cracked ribs and a bruise on her head, but the doctor said she’s going to be fine.”

      “Where did you hit this girl?” his dad asked in his most authoritative voice.

      “On Magnolia Street. I was on my way home.”

      “Who is she?”

      “Angie Wiznowski’s daughter.”

      “Did Wyatt take a report?”

      “Not yet, but I’m sure he will.”

      His dad pointed a finger at him. “Get this swept under the rug as fast as you can.”

      Hardy clenched his jaw. “I’m not sweeping anything under the rug. It was an accident. If people can’t understand that, then they have a problem.”

      “Boy, you’ve got a lot to learn.”

      “I’m the D.A. of this county, and I will make sure that the legal procedure is followed, even when it includes me.”

      “If charges are filed, you can kiss that D.A. job goodbye and any chance of running for district judge will be gone. Talk to Angie. She’s a sweet girl. She’ll understand.”

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