Guardian Of Justice. Carol Steward

a golden bunny. “Think she’ll like this?”

      “It might distract her for now.” Kira knew it was unlikely that a new stuffed animal would console Betsy for the loss of Fuzzy Bear, but it was worth a try. What Betsy wanted was security, and right now, that felt a long way off to a little girl.

      Dallas tossed the golden-yellow bunny into the air and caught it with his other hand. “It’s going to be a long road for these kids, isn’t it?”

      “I’m afraid so,” Kira agreed.

      “Here.” He handed the toy to Kira. “You give it to her.”

      She caught it, startled by the unexpected gesture. The softness of the fur surprised her as well. When she looked up to thank Dallas, he was already in the car.

      After a slight hesitation, she opened the back door and climbed inside. “Dal…” She caught herself. “Officer Brooks found this for you, Betsy. We know it won’t be the same as Fuzzy.” She paused to brush the soft fur one more time. “But if you close your eyes and snuggle her, it feels soft and fuzzy like your bear.” Kira handed the toy to Betsy. “Look, the bunny’s fur is the same color as your hair.”

      Betsy closed her eyes and brushed the bunny against her cheek. A tiny smile replaced the pout. “Thank you.” She hugged the animal and held it up for her brother’s approval, and it even brought a brief smile to his face.

      Two hours later, both kids had a clean bill of health and Kira was on her way to the short-term foster care home. It would be a couple of days before Social Services could evaluate the aunt’s qualifications as a kinship provider. Unfortunately, the only place in the county that had room for both children on short notice was thirty minutes away. Since the intake caseworker who was on call lived in the opposite direction from the foster home, Kira had agreed to drop the kids off on her way home. “Are you two hungry? I can stop and get you a hamburger.”

      “That would be good, thanks,” Cody said quietly.

      Kira turned into the only fast-food restaurant in town with a drive-up window. If the kids had a full stomach, they would be more content, the drive would go quicker, plus they would have something to keep them busy. They had enough to think about right now without hunger being one of them.

      The children gave her their order and Kira pulled forward to wait for the food.

      “I want Mommy,” Betsy whimpered.

      Kira glanced into the rearview mirror at the little girl, who kept a tight grip on her brother with one skinny little arm.

      “Mom’s sick, Betsy. She needs to go to the doctor and get help,” the teen said.

      The words of wisdom startled Kira, even while she knew the anger he expressed earlier wasn’t gone. It couldn’t be. According to their files, Cody had to know what was coming. They’d been through this before. Betsy probably didn’t remember going through it the last time. She had been just a year and a half old.

      Kira had read their file while the intake caseworker had finished up the paperwork. How could their mother have come so far and then let herself slip up again?