Page 40 of Merry Christmas, Cowboy

“I’m all in for that.”

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After school thenext day, Coop and Nicole pulled up to the house at Cottonwood, a ten-foot Christmas tree tied down in the bed of the truck. The Douglas fir pine branches were full and nearly perfectly symmetrical. Nicole thought it was the prettiest tree on the lot and would make for a glorious Christmas wishing tree. The wishes would be written on thin white cardboard stock cut into coupon-sized rectangles and decorated with glitter and stickers by whomever was making their wish. Those wishes would be attached to the tree with ribbon tied into bows.

This was a first. And it was something Nicole really wanted to do this year. It was a special way for the children to learn that Christmas was about wishing good things for others with love in their hearts.

As soon as Coop killed the engine, Cody came running out of the house. “Is that the tree?”

Cody’s big, exuberant smile filled her with joy. “Yes, that’s the one. Coop was nice enough to help me pick it out. What do you think?”

“Looks big.”

“It is. Ten feet tall.”

“Where are you gonna put it?”

“Well, we thought it would be perfect right in the center of the corral. This way no matter what booth you’re at, you can still see it. Does that sound like a good idea?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Coop pulled down the tailgate and began lifting it out. It was heavy, and Nicole tried to help too, but she couldn’t quite get a grasp of it. Her arms just weren’t long enough. It had taken two men, plus Coop to get the tree into the truck at the Christmas tree lot earlier.

“I’ll get that,” Garrett said, coming out of the house and down the steps. In his rush to help, he nearly shoved her aside.

“Thanks.” She was grateful for the assist and tried to ignore the pesky little pangs of excitement rumbling through her belly, seeing Garrett again. He was dressed in work clothes, jeans and a chambray shirt, his tool belt slanting around his waist. Every time he entered a room or came upon a scene, she had a moment. Just a moment of heart-stopping thrill. And then reality would return.

“Miss Russell wants to put it in the corral,” Cody said.

“In the center, if that’s okay?”

“Yep.” There was strain in his voice as he helped Coop with the base of the tree.

“Glad you’re here to help,” Coop said, once they got the tree out of the truck bed.

“You bet,” Garrett said. “Nicole texted me, wanting to keep this a surprise for Cody. The second he saw the truck with the tree in the back, he dashed out of the house.”

Nicole smiled. She was happy to surprise the boy. But she had one more surprise left.

The two men carried the tree to the designated spot with Nicole and Cody following close behind. “Right here?” Coop asked, setting the tree upright.

Nicole nodded. “That looks great.”

Their shoulders sagged in relief and Coop managed to get the tree situated in the tree stand until it stood upright on its own.

“Oh, boy!” Cody danced around the tree.

“It is pretty,” Coop said, nearly out of breath.

“Is it the wishing tree?” Cody asked.

“It’s going to be. Yes.”

“Awesome.” Cody grinned from ear to ear. “And I get to make a wish too?”

She exchanged a glance with Garrett, and she could see the pain behind his incredible eyes. He was worried over Cody, fearing that the boy could get hurt. “Yes, of course you do. But the wish has to be for someone else. That’s the only rule.”

Cody took that in, gave it some thought, and then nodded. “Okay.”

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