“I see,” Bentley said. “I want to make sure you completely understand what would be expected of you. Before being artificially inseminated, you would be required to sign a contract in which you agree to terminate all parental rights to the child and to abide by my clients’ terms. You would be paid handsomely for your services, which would end with the child’s birth. My clients have specified that you would not be allowed to see the baby, know its sex, or have any sort of relationship with it whatsoever. Have you really thought this through, Miss Long? Are you sure you will be able to give up a baby that you have carried for nine months?”

Jamie nodded, her expression solemn. “I hope to have babies of my own someday, but at this point in my life I don’t want the responsibility that comes with being a mother. Right now I just want to finish my education and not have to worry all the time about money.” She paused as though considering just how much more of an explanation was needed. “I grew up poor and have always had to make do,” she continued. “And while I realize that my upbringing prepared me better for life than kids who have everything given to them on a silver platter, once in a while I would like to be able to walk into a nice store and buy something just because it’s pretty.” Then she buried her hands in her lap and blushed. “I know that makes me sound frivolous, but really I am a very serious person. I have always studied hard and made good grades. I never skipped school and never got into trouble. My grandmother never had to remind me to do my chores. She raised me well.”

“I am sure she did,” Bentley said. He liked Jamie Long. So much so that he wasn’t sure he wanted to introduce her to Amanda Hartmann. Not that he disliked Amanda. His dealings with her had always been pleasant and civil, and she was revered by millions of followers. But Amanda was, after all, Gus Hartmann’s sister.

If he passed on Jamie Long, however, he would have to keep on interviewing candidates, and the process had gone on long enough. Amanda and her brother were growing impatient. And maybe Amanda’s new husband was, too. Anyway, Bentley needed to move on to other things.

“Should my clients select you as their surrogate, they will expect you to agree to some terms that are a bit unusual,” Bentley explained. “For starters, you would be required to live on their ranch and be under strict supervision throughout the entire process-from the moment you sign the contract until you deliver the baby.”

Jamie Long’s eyes widened. “But I want to go back to college,” she protested.

Bentley shrugged. “I’m afraid that would be impossible. My clients are intent on protecting their investment and doing everything possible to ensure a good outcome. They believe that close supervision is the only way they can be sure that the young woman carrying their child remains drug- and alcohol-free and that she doesn’t smoke or engage in any other risky behaviors. My clients own a ranch in the Texas Panhandle. The woman they engage as their surrogate will have her own apartment in the ranch house. All meals will be prepared for her. A nurse will look after her. She will not be allowed to swim unattended nor will she be allowed to ride a horse or drive a car. And she will not be allowed to leave the property unattended.”

“So basically, I would be incarcerated for nine months,” Jamie said, her tone incredulous, her eyebrows raised.

“I think that ‘a guest with limited privileges’ might be more accurate,” Bentley said. “And it might be for more than nine months. The insemination process can involve several menstrual cycles. But such restrictions are not unreasonable when you think about it. My clients want to do everything within their power to protect the surrogate and their unborn child. Should you and my clients come to an agreement, throughout the entire process you must think of the baby as their baby. The husband will donate his sperm and therefore be the child’s natural father, and the wife will become the baby’s adoptive mother. The contract you sign will stipulate that after the baby is born you are never to contact my clients or make any future demands on them. You will be provided transportation to the destination of your choice. If you experience any medical complication as a result of your pregnancy or the delivery, they will continue to provide for your medical care until the situation is resolved. As for financial compensation, if my clients select you as their surrogate, they will pay you ten thousand dollars up front. If you don’t become pregnant after three menstrual cycles, you will be paid an additional five thousand dollars and dismissed. If you are successfully inseminated but miscarry, you also will be given an additional five thousand dollars and dismissed. The contract also stipulates amounts of compensation for other circumstances, such as a stillborn child or a child that is aborted because prenatal testing reveals a defect in the fetus that is unacceptable to my clients. But if you are successfully inseminated and deliver a live baby, you will be paid an additional ninety thousand dollars, making your total compensation one hundred thousand dollars.”

“Oh, my God!” Jamie said. “That’s a lot more than I expected.”

“Yes, it is a great deal of money,” Bentley allowed. “But there is yet another incentive for you to consider. Privacy is a major issue with my clients. If you deliver a viable infant, they will create a trust fund in your name. According to the terms of this trust, if you do not contact the child and never reveal your relationship to the child to another living soul, for the rest of your life you will receive an annual payment of twenty thousand dollars from the proceeds of the trust.”

A small gasp escaped from Jamie Long’s lovely mouth.

“I must warn you, Miss Long, that you should not enter into a contract with my clients unless you are absolutely certain that you will abide by its terms. Even though it is not unheard of for surrogate mothers to change their minds and decide to keep the baby, those who do find themselves in a very compromised legal situation. While the courts might very well recognize her as the child’s legal mother, the father also has legal rights to his child. And the woman could face lawsuits for breech of contract, be held responsible for her and the baby’s medical expenses, and might very well be expected to reimburse the couple for their legal fees and any other expenses they incurred.

“So, Miss Long,” Bentley continued, “you need to decide what putting your life on hold for up to a year is worth. If you agree to my clients’ terms, you will undergo a comprehensive medical workup. If you receive a clean bill of health, we will arrange an interview with my clients. Now, do you have a place to stay here in Austin?”

Jamie shook her head.

Bentley rose and went to the door. “Lenora, would you please join us.”

Lenora smiled at Jamie, then seated herself in the other armchair and crossed her legs.

“I want you to book a room for Miss Long at the Driskill and see that she has everything she needs,” Bentley said. Then he scribbled a few additional instructions on a notepad, tore off the page, and handed it to Lenora.

“Lenora will go over the contract with you and answer any questions you may have,” he told Jamie. Then he stood, and the two women followed suit.

“If I do agree to all the terms in the contract, do you think I’m the sort of person your clients are looking for?” Jamie asked.

“I think you just may be,” Bentley said. “Just be sure in your own mind that this really is what you want to do.”

But of course she would agree to their terms, he thought. No penniless young woman in her right mind would turn down such an offer.