Free The Cowboy's Holiday Blessing by Brenda Minton Page A

had?
    â€œYeah, I’m good.”
    Thirty minutes later, with the creative talents of Jade and Madeline, the tree changed from the sad Charlie Brown tree they’d dragged in from the field into a real Christmas tree. Jade had even found a prize: a tiny bird’s nest leftover from last year. She’d moved it from the inner branches and placed it front and center, filling it with tiny eggs made of colored paper.
    â€œIt looks good.” He hadn’t contributed much, just a star for the top and the string of lights. But it was a decent-looking tree, even with the big empty space on the side they’d pushed close to the wall.
    â€œNow we have to decorate Madeline’s tree,” Jade proclaimed as she hung the last foil star. “She has real decorations.”
    â€œHey, don’t diss my tree.” Jackson plugged in the lights. The strand of multicolored lights flickered and came on.
    â€œI’m just saying.” Jade smiled a cute kid smile. “Anyway, this is a good tree.”
    A knock on the door and they all froze. Madeline looked at him, then at Jade. Jackson shrugged and pointed at the dog who had decided to bark his fool head off. Bud sat down, tail wagging, but a menacing snarl still curled his lips.
    â€œI’ll be right back.” Jackson touched Jade’s head on the way to the door. “Stay in here.”
    When he opened the door a police officer stood on his front porch. Jackson stepped out the door and closed it behind him.
    â€œJackson, Douglas Clark called about the kid you have staying with you.”
    â€œShe’s not staying here. She’s staying with Madeline Patton.”
    â€œI see. Can you tell me who she is and how she came to be here?”
    â€œWell—” he paused because the only thing he had was Jade’s birth certificate and her side of the story “—she’s my daughter.”
    â€œJackson, we need to clear this up. You have a minor who could be a runaway. That’s not something we can turn our back on.”
    â€œI get that, Lance, but if she’s my kid…”
    â€œIf she’s not?”
    â€œMy name is on her birth certificate.”
    The officer started to get a grim look on his face. “Jackson, we need to try to contact her mother.”
    â€œGotcha. What if I promise I’m trying to do that?Look, I don’t want the kid in state custody. Not this close to the holidays.”
    â€œFind her mom.”
    â€œI will.” Jackson stood his ground in the door but Lance didn’t turn to leave.
    â€œJackson, I have to talk to her.”
    â€œWe’re decorating the Christmas tree.”
    Lance laughed at that. Why did everyone find it so amusing when he did anything slightly different? “That’s pretty domestic.”
    Jackson motioned Lance inside. They’d met on occasion, usually at a fire or an accident that volunteer first responders were called to. That was the thing about a small town, a rural county; people knew each other. They knew stories. They knew where to find someone without getting a map or directions.
    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.
    â€œShe 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.
    â€œYou called the police?” Jade trembled, her face draining of color.
    â€œNo,” Jackson said. “Not this one.”
    â€œYoung 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 outfrom behind a door. But