For a couple of seconds, Jackson only held the baby at arm's length. He looked at his Corbie, then back into the serious young face of the infant. Then he brought her against his chest, settling her there with the ease of a man who had, through his profession, handled a fair number of babies before. "You'd better be right about her," he told Corbie with a look. Then he looked back at the baby in his arms and told her, on the softer tone reserved for infants, "She'd better be right about your mom, kid."

Then only did he meet the gaze of said mom. "Go before I change my mind. I'll take good care of Bonnie." Go easy on her, he wanted to add, a request in his eyes.