The Cowboy's Holiday Blessing

People in this town gossip more than they pray.” Jackson walked away from his younger brother.
“Shoot, Jackson, what do you think a prayer chain is?”

Yep, from rose to pure scarlet cheeks.

Call me Jackson.” He grinned and she turned three shades of red. He could do one shade better than

pulling her heavy sweater a little tighter. A week or so back he’d helped her put groceries in her car and she’d nearly tripped trying to stay away from him.
“Ms. Patton.”
“Mr. Cooper,” she said, pushing her glasses back in place. She was cute, in a schoolmarm kind of way. “Mr. Cooper, this young lady was dropped off at my house.”
“And this young lady is my problem why?” He shifted his attention from Madeline Patton to the girl at her side.
The girl glared at him. He guessed her to be about thirteen. But for all he knew she was sixteen. Or ten. Kids grew up too fast these days. And yeah, when had he started sounding like his parents? He’d kind of thought if he didn’t get married and have kids it wouldn’t happen.
Wrongo.
He leaned against the door frame. The dog had joined him and was sitting close to his legs, tongue lapping up cool air.
“Mr. Cooper, it is your problem…”
“Call me Jackson.” He grinned and she turned three shades of red. He could do one shade better than that. “And I’ll call you Maddie.”