The Marshal's Justice (Appaloosa Pass Ranch 4) by Delores Fossen Page B

show it. “Forever’s a long time. People change. You might change.”
    “Enough of this. Tell me how you know Tony Crossman,” Chase came out and demanded.
    Malcolm pulled back his shoulders. “I don’t know him. Not personally anyway. I’ve read about what he did, of course, and with Quentin and April scheduled to testify against him at his upcoming trial, I figure that means he’d like to get back at them.” He shifted his attention to April. “Is Crossman the one who kidnapped Bailey?”
    She lifted her shoulder. “Crossman seems to think you’re responsible. Or at least you know something about it.”
    “I don’t!” There it was again. That temper. “I wouldn’t hurt you or Bailey. Unlike him.” Malcolm jabbed his index finger at Chase.
    That put a hard, dangerous look in Chase’s eyes. “What the hell do you mean by that?”
    However, Malcolm didn’t answer. His attention went back to April instead. “There’s something you should know. After I found out who you were and that the marshal here was Bailey’s father, I had a background check done on him.”
    “You what?” she snapped.
    Chase didn’t say a word, but April could practically see every muscle tightening in his body. Despite that, Malcolm still didn’t even spare Chase a glance.
    “Marshal Crockett didn’t tell you?” Malcolm pressed.
    April tried to tamp down the uneasiness that was racing through her. She failed. “Tell me what?”
    She didn’t like that smug look that Malcolm got. Now he looked at Chase, and the smug look intensified tenfold. “The marshal hired a lawyer, and he’s planning to challenge you for custody of Bailey.”

Chapter Eight
    Oh, man. This was not something Chase wanted to discuss with April right now, but judging from how fast her expression went from shock to anger, he didn’t have much of a choice.
    “You did what?” she asked. Not a shout. No, this was barely a whisper. Probably because her throat had clamped shut.
    “Come on. We need to talk,” Chase said. It was stating the obvious, but he didn’t want April to start an argument with him while they were still in the room with her brother and Malcolm.
    Especially Malcolm.
    Later, Chase would settle up with that idiot, but for now he had some explaining to do. The question was, would April actually listen? There was only a thin thread of trust between them, and this sure wouldn’t help.
    She didn’t resist but didn’t exactly cooperate, either, when Chase took hold of her arm. She slung off his grip but marched out into the hall with him. Since there was a stream of nurses, doctors and visitors, and the guard, too, Chase kept walking until he found a private waiting area.
    “Did you hire a lawyer?” April asked the moment he shut the door.
    Chase looked her straight in the eyes. “I did. But hear me out before you get more upset.”
    Too late. April pushed herself away from him and headed to the other side of the room.
    “How could you?” She sounded angry. And worse, she sounded hurt.
    “I only talked to a lawyer because I thought if I had custody, it would be better for Bailey. She’d have a real home with a large family. A grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins. I thought she deserved that.”
    He could also see the anger and hurt evaporating from her body. Well, the anger anyway. And April certainly didn’t jump to argue with him about the family part. She just stood there with tears shimmering in her eyes.
    “You thought it was best for Bailey, and in a way, it is.” April shook her head. “God, Chase. I’d miss her so much. It’d break my heart to lose her.”
    Cursing himself, cursing Malcolm, too, Chase went to her. “I didn’t tell you about visiting the lawyer because I nixed the idea. Yes, Bailey would have a good home at the ranch, but it wouldn’t necessarily be a safe one. Crossman’s thugs could get to her there.”
    Of course, they’d gotten to her at the WITSEC house, too, but Chase figured the Crockett