The Cowboy's Holiday Blessing by Brenda Minton Read Free Book Online

front of two women.” He smiled a tight smile. “But that’s the way it is.”
    â€œFine.” Jade stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek.
    And something about him changed. Madeline watched his eyes and face shift and suddenly, Jackson Cooper became a dad. Or at least what she always imagined a dad would be if she’d had a real one.
    â€œWe should go.” Madeline reached for Jade. “What time tomorrow? And are you sure you don’t want me to bring something over for dinner tonight?”
    â€œI think by nine in the morning.” Jackson winked at Jade before turning to smile at Madeline. “And don’t worry about me. I’m going to crash, and food is the last thing I want.”
    They walked back to the house together, slowly. Jackson watched them get in the car and then he eased his way up the steps of the front porch and into the house. Madeline waited until he stepped through the door before she shifted into Reverse.
    â€œYou think he’s cute, don’t you?”
    Madeline blinked a few times at the crazy question the teenager sitting next to her had asked. Jade smiled at what Madeline had hoped would be a warning look. Maybe she needed to work on that.
    â€œJackson doesn’t need for anyone to think he’s cute. He thinks it enough about himself.”
    â€œMmm-hmm.”
    Let it go, her wise inner voice said. Let it go. She drove on down the road, back to her house. When they reached her place she pulled up to the mailbox.
    â€œCould you reach in and get my mail?” She pulled close and rolled the window down for Jade.
    â€œSure.” Jade reached into the box and pulled outa few pieces of mail. Rather than handing it over she sifted through it. “Hey, a Christmas card from Marjorie Patton. Is that your sister or your mom?”
    Madeline grabbed the mail and shoved it in her purse. “It’s no one.”
    Â 
    Jackson woke up in a dark living room, the dog at his feet growling. He groaned and tossed the pillow across the room. Twice in one day. In one long, long day. The doorbell chimed again and he pushed himself off the couch, groaning as he straightened, stretching the muscles in his back.
    Things to do tonight: sleep in own bed.
    â€œI’m coming, already.”
    He threw the door open and immediately backed down. “Sir.”
    His dad stood in the doorway, the look on his face a familiar one. At almost thirty-four, Jackson should be long past that look from anyone. But there it was, the “buddy, you’re in big trouble” look.
    â€œCome in, I’ll put on a pot of coffee.”
    Tim Cooper stomped the mud off his boots and stepped inside the house. “Smells like dog in here.”
    â€œYeah, the stupid dog refuses to sleep outside. Either he’s worried about me, or he just doesn’t like the cold. I’m going with the cold.”
    â€œProbably. You’re walking like you’re eighty years old.”
    â€œYeah, well, I feel older than that.”
    â€œWhat spooked that horse? Did you ever figure it out?”
    They reached the kitchen and Jackson motioned for his dad to sit down while he filled the water reservoir on the coffeemaker and pushed the power button.
    â€œI think it was a loose door banging in the wind. We both know that isn’t why you’re here.”
    â€œI can be here for more than one reason. Your mom is worried because she tried to call and you didn’t answer.”
    â€œI was dog-tired.”
    â€œI told her you were probably asleep.”
    Jackson reached for the bottle of painkillers on the counter and then he put them back. It wasn’t so bad he couldn’t walk it off. “And the other reason you’re here?”
    â€œTravis has a big mouth.”
    â€œRight, I figured as much. Something about the words ‘Travis, keep your mouth shut’ tends to loosen his mouth like an oiled hinge.”
    His dad kind of laughed. He took