yourself something, and I have to hear the words out loud.”

“What?”

“I want you to say: ‘He’s beautiful, but he belongs to someone else.’”

“Okay. Okay.”

“I want you to swear I’ll hear those words.”

“I said okay. Can you stay with us?”

Kier nodded. “But I have to leave sooner than I’d like. The Donahues have an Arab mare that’s due to foal. Jack’s out of town, and with Claudie ill and the storm coming in, she needs me there.”

“But you’ll get the baby?”

He nodded again.

Kier knew Winona needed closure following this bizarre process. He wasn’t sure it would help, but after inducing a young woman to carry a baby for money the clinic could bend a little. Now, with the cesarean, Winona might never

have a normal delivery. Anger flared inside him as he approached the nurse’s station.

“I am sorry to trouble you. I am here to discuss my niece’s request to see the baby for a minute,” he said to the charge nurse.

“Your niece didn’t say a minute, but the answer’s the same. It’s against policy.” She whispered, “And you don’t really want to do this to her.”

“It’ll only be for a few minutes.”

“I’m sorry, I’d really like to help you, but it’s against the rules.”

“Sometimes it’s better to break the rules. This might be one of those occasions.”

“I know who you are and how much influence you have with the local community and the Tilok tribe, but we don’t break the rules for anyone, Dr. Wintripp.”

“I understand. Perhaps I could speak with the person in charge of this hospital?”

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