The Cowboy's Holiday Blessing (7 page)

Sometimes that could be a good thing. Sometimes it got under a guy's skin.

They walked into the now-empty living room. Empty except the twinkling, pitiful tree and leftover decorations scattered across the floor.

“She must be in the kitchen.”

Lance nodded and walked next to him through the living room and dining room. When they entered the kitchen Jade turned, her eyes going all glittery with tears. Madeline moved closer and shot Jackson an accusing look.

“You called the police?” Jade trembled, her face draining of color.

“No,” Jackson said. “Not this one.”

“Young lady, I need your full name and address.” Lance stood in a relaxed pose but his eyes shifted, taking in the room, the setting. Cop training. Jackson could have told him to relax, no one would jump out
from behind a door. But that training kept a guy safe on the job.

Jade hiccupped a little.

“Jade, honey, tell him.” Madeline, soft-voiced and sweet but still shooting daggers at Jackson.

Jackson should do something. He should step forward, put an arm around her. He'd been raised in a close family with parents that were always there for them, holding it together during the worst times.

Jackson tried to grab hold of those experiences. He might not be Jade's dad, but he could step up and be who she needed him to be. Tim Cooper had been the best dad in the world. He still was a man whose example could be followed.

“Give her a minute, Lance. She's a kid.” Jackson stepped closer to Jade. “Go ahead. Tell him what he needs to know.”

She nodded and wiped at her eyes. He put an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close for just a second and then released her. She smiled up at him and sniffled.

“I'm Jade Baker. My mom is Gloria Baker. We live in Oklahoma City.”

“Your mom is alive?” Jackson had known, but he'd been willing to believe her until he found out the whole story.

Jade didn't answer. She cried. Tears slid down her cheeks and she shrugged.

“We need to contact your mother.” Lance pulled a pen from his pocket. “Do you have her number?”

“Yeah, but good luck finding her.”

“What does that mean?” Jackson leaned back against the counter, watching Jade shift from foot to foot. She looked up at him, tears pooling in her hazel eyes.

Man, he hated tears. He glanced at Madeline and her eyes were overflowing. Though he'd grown up with emotional females, he'd never gotten good at handling tears.

“Jade?” Madeline had the soft touch, the gentle voice that the kid needed. He shot her a grateful smile.

“She's never at home. She leaves for days at a time. The reason I came here is because I found my birth certificate and decided I'd find you and see if you were any better than her.”

“Did you leave her a note?” Lance wrote on the pad and barely glanced up.

“Yeah, I left her a note. But she doesn't care where I go as long as I'm out of her hair. She's high most of the time and that's what she cares about, her next score and how to pay for it.”

“Let's try to call her.” Lance waited and Jade recited a number. He pulled out his cell phone and held it to his ear. After a few tries he gave up. “No answer.”

“I told you.” Jade looked down at the floor, at the dog sleeping at her feet. “I wanted a real Christmas with a real family.”

“You're truant from school. You're a runaway.” Lance ticked the crimes off on his fingers.

“I'm with my dad,” Jade insisted and Jackson couldn't get a word in to dispel that fact from her mind. “And I can go to school here.”

Lance sighed and shook his head. “I have to call this in. I'm going to leave it up to you, Jackson, if you want to be responsible for taking her home.”

“I'll take her home.” He didn't look at the woman gasping in disbelief or the kid shedding tears that dripped down her cheeks. “Next weekend. I have to
make a trip to Oklahoma City with a bull calf I've sold. I can take her then.”

“Keep trying to make contact with her mom. And you might want to contact a lawyer to see what your legal rights are.”

“I'll do that.”

Lance put the pen back in this pocket. “Jackson, don't get me in trouble with the sheriff. I'm just doing my job and I can't afford to lose my career over this.”

Jackson leaned forward and shook the other man's hand. “I'll walk you to the door.”

Lance pointed a finger in Jade's direction. “Running away is serious. I could call a juvenile officer. If my boss tells me to, I'll have no choice. And let me warn you, if you're thinking of running again, don't. It's December. It's cold. There are people out there who would hurt you. You're just lucky that you ended up here, with one of the best families in the state. Think about that.”

“I will.” Jade's eyes overflowed again.

“Take it easy on her, Lance.” Jackson growled the words as they walked out of the kitchen.

“I'd love to, Jackson. But I want her to know how dangerous this is. Some kids get in the habit of running and they never stop. They end up in serious trouble, sometimes in permanent custody of the state. I don't want that to happen to her.”

“You're right, but she's scared enough.”

“So, you have a kid.”

Jackson shrugged. If he gave up too much information, Lance would probably haul Jade in. A simple shrug and let it go, that had to be his answer for now.

He couldn't let Jade go, not now, knowing her story. That Cooper DNA was catching up with him. Take in
strays and fix people. His parents had a dozen kids and more foster children because of that trait.

After watching Lance's patrol car drive away, Jackson walked back in the house. Jade and Madeline were waiting in the living room. He glanced at his watch. “We should probably eat lunch.”

Madeline looked at her watch. “I need to go. I have practice.”

“Okay, gotcha. What about your tree?” Jackson smiled at Jade. Her eyes and nose were red.

“I can put it up later. Jade…”

“Can stay with me. We'll cook dinner and have a nice meal waiting for you when you get home.” Jackson stuttered over the words. “I mean, when you get back.”

He felt itchy all over. His life didn't include a woman coming home and a kid hanging stockings on the fireplace mantel. It wasn't even a real, wood-burning fireplace.

“You don't have to do that.” Madeline slipped into her coat. When she struggled to find the left sleeve, he pulled it out for her and held it as she slid her arm through.

She looked up, soft eyes and a soft smile. She smelled like hot cocoa and vanilla. He inhaled and stepped close, but then he backed off, remembering. But he couldn't let it go, not completely. He brushed a hand through her hair, pulling it loose from the collar of her coat, letting his fingers linger in the silken strands.

He took a deep breath and stepped away from her. “We'll see you later.”

She nodded and hurried out the door.

Behind him Jade laughed. “I thought you were like some Casanova guy that knew all about women.”

“I am and…” He grimaced. “I'm not. You know what, go clean up the kitchen.”

He needed to get his act together, as his dad used to say. He needed to get his head on straight and think smart. His dad had said that too many times in his life. It had started when he dated Julia Hart. Two years older than him, and someone his mother didn't want him seen with. Julia hadn't lasted two weeks. His dad had made sure of that.

Jackson shook his head, remembering. And realizing his dad had been right most of the time.

Sometimes, though, a guy had to take a chance. He walked into the kitchen where Jade was busy putting away the dishes.

“I have an idea.”

“I love ideas.” She wiped at the few stray tears that rolled down her cheeks. “What is it?”

He didn't shake his head at the realization that she was just a kid, and she didn't really have anyone. But the thought hit him, broadsided him. A kid should always have someone.

Madeline had been a kid who needed someone. Probably still needed someone.

“It's a surprise for Madeline and you can help me.”

Jade's eyes lit up and he only hoped that Madeline would be nearly as excited by his plan.

W
hat Madeline loved most about Dawson was that everyone knew everyone else. What she loved least was that everyone knew everyone else's business. As she walked through the Dawson Community Center, formerly Back Street Church, she got the feeling that everyone knew. Or maybe they only thought they knew something.

She slipped past a group of teenagers who were preparing to be citizens of Bethlehem. She had a role as shepherdess, one of the few who were overwhelmed by the presence of angels in the sky on that first Christmas morning. She didn't see it as a lowly role, but as one of the most important.

It symbolized something to her, that the angels appeared to mere shepherds. Not to kings, to the wealthy or religious, but to poor shepherds watching their flocks by night. Thinking about it made her heart rush with love for the God who had loved her that much.

She hurried down the steps to the basement of the community center. Beth Hightree looked up when Madeline walked into the dressing room. Newly married,
Beth smiled with a certain glow. She held out a robe. “There's my last shepherd.”

“Sorry, I meant to be here earlier.” Madeline took the robe.

“I'm sure you did. Tell Jackson you have to be here early tomorrow.”

“I don't know…” Madeline stopped mid-denial and shook her head. “Beth, I…”

She didn't have a clue what to say. How in the world did these people spread information so quickly?

“You don't have to explain. He's cute. He's single. You're cute and single.”

“It isn't like that.”

What was it like? It was a shared secret. It was about helping a neighbor who, until yesterday, hadn't even been a friend. She looked up, making uneasy eye contact with Beth.

She wouldn't lie to her. She wouldn't lie to anyone, but Beth was more than a friend. Beth, Jenna McKenzie and Madeline had formed a support group in the last year. Each had gone through a difficult situation and survived. As survivors they knew being strong meant holding on to each other and lifting each other up. Staying strong.

Beth had survived an abusive marriage.

Jenna had survived injuries suffered in Iraq.

Madeline had survived her abusive nightmare of a childhood.

They had done more than survived. They had escaped. They had overcome. They were still overcoming.

“Madeline?”

She looked up, smiling at Beth. “It isn't what you
think. I can't share what Jackson is going through. But I can tell you that I'm fine.”

“Really?”

The two sat down on a little bench. Madeline held on to the rough cotton robe she still needed to change into.

“It's crazy, really. I've spent my life living in my little shell, protecting myself.”

“And Jackson Cooper is cracking the shell?” Beth smiled big, her brown eyes sparkling with humor.

“No, I mean, I can't even call him a friend. I guess he's just a surprise. He's also a nice person.”

Beth laughed at that. “Yes, he's a nice person. He's a flirt. He's dated more women than most of the Cooper men put together. But he's nice. He's actually sweet. And he's the last person you need to open yourself up to.”

“Right. You're right.” She stood and slipped the robe over her head. It hung to the floor and then some. “I think it's too long.”

“I have a feeling you got the wrong robe. I saw Johnny Scott leave here in a robe about two feet too short.”

“We can trade next time.”

Beth handed her a long piece of rope. “Here's a belt. We can blouse it out over this and maybe you won't trip on your way up the stairs.”

“That works for me.” She wrapped the rope around her waist twice and then pulled to blouse the top of the robe. “Beth, I'm not going to get hurt. I'm just helping Jackson with something.”

Beth nodded and reached for a box of safety pins. “I know, Madeline. The whole town knows.”

Great.
“There aren't any secrets in this town, are there?”

“Nope. Well, a few, but usually they get found out eventually.”

Beth's words were innocent, teasing, but Madeline's mind went elsewhere, thinking about how things might change if everyone knew her secret.

“Madeline, are you okay?”

She nodded because words wouldn't come. Her throat tightened with emotion and she turned away. A hand touched her shoulder.

“Madeline, you have friends here who love you.”

“I know.” She hurried out of the room and up the stairs.

She knew she had friends who loved her. But suddenly she wanted more. Suddenly she wanted what she'd never wanted before. She wanted to be loved forever by a man who would walk next to her and never let her down. She wanted a man who could hear her story and not run or make her feel as if she'd done something wrong.

She didn't know if such a person existed. She remembered being little and looking up at a man she'd called Father, only to find he couldn't be trusted at all. He'd bought her ice cream and pretty dresses, and he'd taken her to the movies.

He'd taken everything from her and left her with nothing but nightmares, guilt and a heart that had closed itself off to the idea of ever being loved.

She walked outside, into bright sunlight, through the crowds of people who considered her a friend and neighbor. God had changed her life in the last few years. He'd brought her here. He'd taught her lessons about love and forgiveness.

Now it seemed as if she might be on the brink of learning another lesson, about God and about herself.

Someone touched her arm. She turned and smiled at Dixie Gordon. “Shepherds are over here. And it looks like you might have the wrong robe!”

“I think I might.” As she followed Dixie her thoughts turned to Jade and Jackson, making it hard to concentrate on being a shepherd.

Out of the blue it hit her, she wanted to go home. She wanted time alone to think. She shook her head as she tripped over the robe. She wanted to be with Jade and Jackson, doing whatever it was they were doing.

She looked up, wondering how God could ask her to put her heart on the line this way. Of course she wanted to trust. But this felt like jumping into quicksand, knowing full well what it was before she jumped.

Who would do that?

 

The puppies barked and chased each other in the fenced-in yard. Jackson watched Jade run with them, then sit to let them crawl on her lap and lick her face. They were sable and black balls of fluff, wagging tails and sharp eyes.

Adam McKenzie shook his head and didn't say anything.

“I want a male.” Jackson leaned on the fence. “They're nice-looking pups.”

“Best German shepherd puppies in the state.” Adam glanced his way before settling his attention back on Jade and the mother dog who had crawled up next to her for attention. “Not a mean bone in that mama dog's body. I found a male that was a good match.”

“So a great pet as well as a great guard dog?”

Adam nodded. “Sure, they'll protect you. Why do you need a guard dog?”

“It isn't for me. It's for Madeline Patton.”

“Oh, okay.”

The tone said it all. Jackson waited for Adam to say more but Adam had turned his attention back to the girl inside the fence and the puppies. Jade picked up a puppy and it wriggled close to her, giving her face a crazy bath. She laughed and then rolled on the cold ground with the dog. “This one.”

He nodded in agreement. Definitely that one. He still wanted to know what Adam McKenzie wasn't saying about him buying a dog for Madeline. What did he want Adam to do, talk him out of it? Tell him to back off before he got hooked into something he couldn't get out of.

Or better yet, tell him not to hurt her. That thought had run through his mind more times in two days than he could count.

Two days, and here he was buying a dog and remodeling her house. Yeah, big words telling Wyatt Johnson that Rachel would get under his skin. Big words, buddy.

“Talking to yourself?” Adam turned, a big grin on his face. Adam, ex-pro-football player, could squish him like a gnat.

“Not at all. We'll take that one.”

Adam opened the gate for Jade to exit with the puppy.

“Fine by me, but he's a she.”

Jade looked up, eyes big, pleading. But she didn't say anything. He'd learned something about her. She was pretty used to disappointment. When he'd announced that he'd have to take her home at the end of the week, she'd accepted with a quiet dignity unusual
for a thirteen-year-old kid. She'd accepted it the way kids accepted when they were not ever getting what they wanted.

A home and a family shouldn't be one of the things a kid had to wish for. A kid shouldn't have to accept going back to abuse. And every time he thought about a hurting child, he shouldn't also connect dots to Madeline Patton.

He let out a long sigh and shook his head. His life was no longer his own. Not one but two females were getting under his skin.

“A girl puppy is fine.” He touched the spiky, wet nose of the shepherd pup. “What do we call her?”

Jade held the puppy up, looking her in the face. “Angel.”

“Angel?” He grimaced and shook his head. He should have known better than to let her name the dog. “Sure, why not. She's a guardian angel.”

“Exactly.” Jade pulled the puppy close again.

“How much?” Jackson pulled out his checkbook and Adam shook his head. “Adam, I'm buying the dog.”

“Consider it a Christmas gift.”

“I can't do that. I tell you what, I'll write you a check for Camp Hope.”

“That's a deal.” Adam took the check and slid it into his shirt pocket. “Have fun with that dog, Jade.”

She smiled. “I will. But I have to go home next week. This is just a vacation.”

A vacation from reality. Jackson put a hand on her shoulder and guided her back to the truck.
Thanks for putting a knife in my heart, kid.

“Jade, you and I have to do something on Monday.” He opened the truck door for her and she looked up.

“What's that?”

“We're going to the doctor for a test. We need to make sure we know what's going on so we know how to fight.”

“How to fight?”

“Yeah, for you to be able to stay here, we have to have proof that you're my daughter.” Heat climbed up his cheeks.

Jade climbed into the truck. “Sure, okay. But I am your daughter.”

Yeah, he kind of wished she was. When the test came back with the results he knew they'd get, what then? What happened to Jade when she learned the truth?

When he pulled into Madeline's drive, Jade and the puppy were sleeping in the passenger side of the truck. Wake them up or leave them? He decided to let them sleep. He could get his ladder set up, find the electric box and get his work done before Madeline got back.

In a perfect world.

As he set the ladder up, the truck door opened and the twin tornadoes scrambled out. The dog ran to the corner of the yard. Jade chased after her. Jackson climbed the ladder, smiling as he listened to Jade talk to Angel. The puppy yapped and ran in circles.

He'd bought motion lights for the front porch and the back. When Madeline came home, she'd have security lights that came on with any motion. Maybe this way she could sleep at night without being afraid.

It didn't feel great, climbing the ladder. But it felt better than a few days ago. He reached for the old light, slipping it off the bracket and unscrewing the wire nuts that held the light to the light box. He wasn't an electrician, but he knew enough to hang a light.

In the yard Jade laughed and the puppy barked, yip
ping as the two of them raced around a tree. Every kid should have a dog. He let out a sigh, then froze as the ladder wobbled.

He looked down, the puppy stood on her hind legs, front legs on the first wrung of the ladder.

“Jade, could you get the dog?” He held the new light up to the wiring and twisted the correct wires together. He needed to connect them with the wire nut and then do the other set of wires.

Jade raced across the lawn to grab the puppy. “Sorry.”

He let out a long breath and worked the other two wires together. “No problem.”

The light fit into the box and he used the old screws to attach it. In a minute he'd flip the switch and make sure it worked.

The ladder wobbled again. He glanced down. That dog meant to kill him. He held tight and whistled to get Jade's attention. She'd gotten distracted, pulling Christmas lights out of the box he'd bought. She wanted Christmas lights on the front of Madeline's house.

The dog ran to the other side of the ladder. A ten-pound puppy shouldn't be able to push a ladder over. Jackson reassured himself with that bit of reality.

He grabbed the old light off the rafter of the front porch roof and slid the tools into his tool belt. He didn't want to make a scene, but he wasn't crazy about heights. A car came down the road and he knew Madeline would be home soon. It might be her now, catching him in the process of surprising her.

It wasn't.

“Here are the Christmas lights.” Jade held them up, a strand of new lights.

“Sure, okay. Find the middle and I'll hook them here first.”

She stretched them, pushing away the puppy who thought she'd found the best chew toy in the world. Finally she handed them up, bent where she'd found the center. He hooked them over a planter hook already in place.

Finished, he climbed down, more than a little relieved to be back on the ground. Good, solid earth. He stretched to relieve the tension in the middle of his back.

“You look a little weird,” Jade announced as he moved the ladder to the end of the porch. “You okay?”

“Of course I am.” He climbed the ladder and pulled the hammer from the tool belt around his waist. He pulled a nail out and made a makeshift hook for the end of the lights.