The Cowboy's Holiday Blessing by Brenda Minton

Author:Brenda Minton
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2011-09-09T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

After a pretty miserable lunch, Jackson loaded Madeline and Jade back into his truck and drove them to the church where they’d left Madeline’s car a few hours earlier. A five-minute ride felt like five hours with neither of the women in his truck speaking. The younger one seemed to be talked out—finally.

The older one looked hurt and wounded. Exactly what he hadn’t wanted to happen. He’d been doing his best to protect her and she’d messed that up royally.

Jackson pulled his truck into the church parking lot, stopping next to Madeline’s sedan. Jade dozed in the seat next to him. Madeline had managed to sit near the door this time. He had thought long and hard about that kiss, about the hurt look on her face when she ran away.

He couldn’t let her go home thinking this was about her. The woman who hid behind big sweaters and glasses needed to understand that he hadn’t rejected her because of her.

But when would he tell her, and what would he say? Nothing for now, not in front of Jade. Not in the church parking lot when he would be driving home and she’d go back to her house.

“Jade, climb on in Madeline’s car. I’ll follow you back to your house.” He nudged the sleeping teenager.

“We’ll be fine.” Madeline opened the truck door. “I’ll bring Jade to your house in the morning before I go to work.”

“I know I don’t have to follow you, but I’m going to. We need to talk.”

Madeline moved for Jade to get out of the truck. “We don’t need to talk. Really, I don’t want to talk. I think we’ve said it all.”

“We actually haven’t said a word and I want to explain.”

“No, thank you.” She got out and closed the door.

Jackson watched as she rummaged through her purse for her keys. She had reverted to glasses today and a big brown sweater with a denim skirt. He shook his head as she fumbled, dropped her purse and then opened the car door and tossed it in the back seat. Angry gestures. Mad at him or mad at herself?

After she drove away Jackson sat there in the parking lot, thinking about a lot of stuff, most of which didn’t make sense. He didn’t need this. His life was fine. He had his ranch. He had his family and friends.

This church that had always been in his life, he even had that, when he wanted.

When he wanted? On his schedule, his time?

Okay, he got that God might not like that idea. So this was all some “jerk you up by the seat of your pants” faith plan? He remembered the chorus of an old hymn his grandmother loved.

No turning back, no turning back.

He could argue all day that he kind of liked the old Jackson, the old life, but God was sending a pretty clear message. No turning back. It set him back on his heels a little, and he took a long time getting back on the road.

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