Free Common Enemy by Sandra Dailey Page B

Lizzy was still trying to get at the other kid as we were leaving. She’s out of control. She gave him a bloody lip and refused to apologize.”
    “Lizzy honey, why would you do something like that?” Connor asked.
    “It’s not my fault.” She huffed. “Allen is a big bully. He should have to say he’s sorry.”
    “You mean you got into a fight with a boy? And you gave him a bloody lip?” Connor was having a hard time hiding his smile, but Jordan punched his shoulder and frowned. “What did he do?”
    “He said mean things about you. I told him I love you and he had better take it back. Then he kept saying, monster lover, monster lover, so I smacked him in the mouth.” She folded her arms high over her chest and jutted her bottom lip out again. “I’m not sorry either.”
    “Your mom is right, Lizzy.” Connor’s smile was gone now, but his voice stayed calm and even. “She has to punish you. You were a bully today as much as Allen was. Go up to your room.”
    “I’m sorry, Connor. I didn’t have time to ask her how it started.”
    Jordan looked ready to cry, Lizzy was already crying, and Connor was giving it some consideration. How had an ordinary day gone to shit so quickly?
    “It’s not your fault. It’s not Lizzy or Allen’s fault either. In a way, it’s actually my fault. I’ll figure out a way to fix things. Don’t worry.” Connor walked back to the barn and hammered nails until his arm ached. They were all quiet at the table that evening.
    Lizzy began crying again on her way up the stairs after supper. “This isn’t fair,” she complained to Connor. Mom always says to stick up for what’s right. She didn’t even let me check the mailbox when we got home.”
    “You’re going to have to figure out a way to get your message across without hurting the other person.” Connor carried her the rest of the way. It felt good to have someone stick up for him, even if she was just five-years-old. “And don’t worry about the mail. I’ll check it for you.”
    Connor opened the roadside mailbox to find a large white envelope rolled up inside. He knew right away that it was trouble. He walked into the kitchen where Jordan stood, running dishwater.
    “Jordan, you have a letter from the county courthouse. I think you’d better open it.”
    “It would be just my luck to be called for jury duty a few weeks after moving here.” When she pulled out the notice and unfolded it, her hands started shaking.
    Connor read over her shoulder, Bobby Ray Butler VS Jordan Holbrook Re: Elizabeth Holbrook. He led Jordan to a chair before he finished reading. He paced the kitchen as he flipped through the pages.
    “I’m sorry, Jordan. I should have expected him to try something like this. It just didn’t occur to me that he’d think of it, especially this soon. I didn’t think he’d take any interest anyway, since you haven’t had any contact with him.”
    “What does it mean?” Jordan looked helpless and confused. “I couldn’t even get past his name. What is he trying to do? Can you make heads or tails of it?”
    “He’s suing you for joint custody of Lizzy.”
    “Can he do that? He’s a convict. He’s a violent man.”
    “I know that, but he’s done his time. He’s supposedly a reformed man now. He’s never done anything to hurt Lizzy or any other child.” Connor looked down at the letter to avoid eye contact. “He can try this, but he’ll probably only get visitation.”
    “No. He can’t do this. I won’t ever let him near her. I’ll take her and run if I have to.” The desperation was clear in her voice.
    “If you do that, you’ll only make his chances better. The court would see you as unstable and uncooperative. You’ll have to stay and fight. All the court knows, at this time, is that he is her legal father.”
    “Don’t say that. He’s never even seen her.” Jordan was approaching panic quickly. “I don’t even know how he found out her name.”
    “What does Lizzy