Cordero and Alexandra met 56 days ago.

PREVIOUS POST:

Later Cordero knocked on Alexandra's bedroom door. "Ali, can I come in?"

She opened the door. "I don't think you'd better."

He swallowed. "Is something wrong?"

"No. Everything's too right." She closed the door.

TODAY'S POST:

Chapter 29 A

As Cordero and Alexandra walked up to the courthouse steps, Lisa called to them. After they greeted her, Alexandra asked, "How are you feeling?"

"Okay. A little nauseous and tired but not bad. I'm nervous about this. It'll make Pat angrier."

"You're right, but he needs to be held accountable. Maybe he'll think twice before he abuses other women." Alexandra hesitated. "You understand he's going to accuse you of being with other men."

"I know. He called us whores at the diner last week."

"I'm sure he'll do it again."

"Can you sue him for slander?" asked Cordero.

Inside the courthouse Alexandra took Cordero's hand, but suddenly dropped it. "I'm using it as a threat."

Something's bothering her. What? Cordero pecked her cheek as the ladies headed toward the rectangular table where they sat. He sat at the back of the courtroom.

It wasn't long before Pat Rogers and Lester Brown walked in. Pat stopped in front of Alexandra. "Don't you have anything better to do than harass me? We're filing harassment charges. I doubt she's even pregnant. If she is, there's no way she knows who the father is."

Lester pointed to their table. "We need to get seated."

Moments later the bailiff announced the judge entering.

Judge Pickett sat. "Before we start," he glared at Pat. "I suggest Mr. Rogers remains silent. Mr. Brown, as his attorney you may speak for him." He nodded toward Alexandra. "Ms. Black, please begin."

"Yes. Your Honor. Mrs. Johnson's approximately six weeks pregnant." After getting permission to approach the bench, she presented him with the doctor's report. "Since her husband died three years ago, she discontinued maternity insurance. She's raising her two young children and is the owner of the town bakery. She has no desire or time for dating. By no fault of hers, Mr. Rogers forced himself on her, and she became pregnant."

Alexandra held up two papers. "Your Honor, may I approach the bench?" After he nodded, she presented them to the judge. "We're asking Mr. Rogers pays her prenatal care and delivery costs. We estimate the prenatal care to cost about two thousand dollars for a normal pregnancy. The delivery costs are around seven thousand dollars. Please understand these are estimates and if problems arise, the cost will increase. We're discussing approximately nine thousand dollars."

Brown stood. "My client denies he...."

"Ms. Black?" interrupted the judge.

"I anticipated Mr. Rogers would claim he's not the father. The timeline for when she became pregnant fits perfectly with the timeline of when your client raped her."

She faced Pat. "Knowing you'd expect DNA verification, Mrs. Johnson and I agree that, although possible to test now, it's an invasive test and we'd rather wait until the child's born. This is for the fetus and mother's safety."

Alexandra returned to the table and picked up another paper. "Dr. Barnes has agreed to wait until the child is born for his bill to be paid. As for the hospital, the test would be completed before they're released." She faced Judge Pickett. "Under the circumstances of conception, Mrs. Johnson hasn't decided if she's going to raise the child or put the baby up for adoption. If she chooses to raise the child, we'll petition the court for child support."

Alexandra studied Pat and then faced Sean. "Judge Pickett, we're also concerned about two additional issues. First, last Friday Mrs. Johnson, three other ladies, and I were having lunch at the local diner. Mr. Rogers entered and made loud derogatory remarks about us. Everyone inside heard him." She presented another paper to Pickett after getting permission to approach the bench. "Here's a statement from Mr. James, the diner's owner concerning these remarks. We would like these remarks stopped. If they don't, we're willing to sue for slander."

Judge Pickett nodded. "Mr. Rogers, they're within their right to do so."

Pat's glare shot daggers at Alexandra. "I understand, Your Honor."

Sean continued, "Ms. Black, is there anything else?"

"There is. Because Mr. Rogers allegedly attempted to have me kidnapped and during the process I was stabbed, I'm concerned about Mrs. Johnson and the fetus' safety."

Judge Picket lifted his gavel. "The medical costs and the child support will be awarded depending on DNA results." He stood. "I'll issue a restraining order. That should help with the other issues." The judge slammed the gavel.


~~~~~
I intentionally left off the accents on fiance and fiancee. I also intentionally left off the trema or dieresis on naive. I didn't want Evil Eddie adding all sorts of strange characters in my post. Thank you for understanding.
~~~~~~

~~~~
Hola is Spanish for hello.

Mi hijo & Mijo are Spanish for son. Jorge uses them often.

Bendecido is Spanish for blessed.

Querido is Spanish for dear or sweetheart.

De nada is Spanish for no problem or you're welcome.

Rancho de los Toros Salvajes is Spanish for Wild Bull Ranch.
~~~~~

CHARACTER LIST:

Cordero Ortiz: 'Cord' runs his parents' Texas ranch

Alexandra Black: 'Ali' is a New York City corporate lawyer, is a junior partner in huge family law firm

Jorge and Rosa Ortiz: Cordero's parents who own a large West Texas Ranch

Jim: One of the ranch foremen and best friend of Cordero. He takes care of the main house and surrounding ranch area.

Bob: One of the ranch foremen and good friend of Cordero. He works the entire ranch.

Pat Rogers: Bank owner, not a good person

Lester Brown: Pat Rogers lawyer

Sam Bailey: Lobo's Sheriff.

Dr. Bart Barnes: Town doctor

Judge Sean Pickett: County Judge

Tonia and Brent Black: Alexandra's parents

George Black Alexandra's grandpa

Luke: All around bad guy

Amy Harding: A lady who Pat Rogers raped during High School Prom, her son, Matthew

Alan Griffin Alexandra's ex