Page 9 of Merry Christmas, Cowboy

Ryan “Coop” Cooper came to the door. “Mornin’,” he said, putting out his hand.

Garrett shook hands with him. He’d met Coop just a few days ago, and they’d had a good conversation about wood flooring, the latest model jigsaw, and kids. He seemed like an okay guy for a Houston Texan fan. He had a daughter who also went to Honeysuckle Elementary School. “Mornin’ to you too. So, you’re part of the lighting team?” Garrett asked.

“I’m here for whatever Nicole needs me to do.”

A woman walked up to greet him. “Hi, I’m Taylor, Coop’s wife. Thanks for letting us use the property this season. It’s nice of you.”

“Garrett,” he said. “Nice to meet you, Taylor.”

Coop wrapped an arm around her waist and he figured those two were deeply in love judging by the looks they were flashing each other. “Yep, we all appreciate it.”

“Nicole didn’t give me much choice,” Garrett said, only half joking.

“I really didn’t,” she added, nodding. At least she wasn’t denying it. “He’s been a good sport about this. And it’s for a very good cause.”

“Well, we’d better get to those lights now,” Coop said. “We only have about two thousand to hang.”

“He’s not exaggerating either,” Nicole said. “We’ll try not to disturb you.”

Cody ran up then, still dressed in his red fire truck pajamas. He grabbed hold of Garrett’s hand, noticing all the people on the doorstep. “Uncle Garrett?”

“Look, Cody. Miss Russell is here to put up lights. This is Taylor and Coop. They’re helping too.”

“Hi, Cody. Nice to meet you,” Taylor said.

“Hi,” he said shyly then turned his gaze outside again and his eyes grew wide. “Can I help?” he asked Miss Russell.

“Well, uh, sure. If your uncle says it’s okay, you can feed me the lights,” she replied.

“Feed you?” He giggled.

Nicole chuckled too. “It means you can give me the lights as I need them.”

“And no going up on ladders, or getting in anyone’s way,” Garrett said. “Is that a deal?”

“Deal. Oh, boy,” he said and took off running toward his bedroom to get dressed.

“He’s adorable,” Taylor said. “You must be so proud of him.”

“I am,” Garrett said, his chest puffing out a bit. “He’s a good kid.”

Nicole nodded and he was grateful for the confirmation.

“Well, I’d better let you get back to whatever you were doing.”

Garrett looked into her eyes. She had a sweet way about her, even though he felt like he’d been bulldozed into this event. “Just some light work today. I like to give Cody my attention whenever I can.”

“Okay, well then, I’ll see you later.”

He nodded and closed the door. Cody whizzed by him, anxious to get outside. The kid even remembered to put on his jacket. “Remember to listen to Miss Russell,” he said, as the boy ran out the door.

Garrett spent his time sanding the bathroom floor. It had about twenty years of varnish on it. After a little more elbow grease, the floors would be ready to stain with the same vibrant shade of light walnut that would eventually flow throughout the rest of the house.

He finished up a short while later and walked over to the window to peer outside. The volunteers were busy winding lights around the nearby trees, and some were taking meticulous time wrapping lights and garland around the corral fence.

Nicole was up on a ladder in front of the house trying her hardest to get the lights strung on the eaves. It wasn’t going well. She wasn’t tall enough to fully reach, yet he could tell by her body language how determined she was. She wasn’t going to give up, but she could fall and he didn’t need the liability or the… guilt. If she injured herself, he’d feel like it was his fault.

He strode outside and found Cody by a table all set up with refreshments. The boy was sipping hot cocoa, a half-eaten powdered doughnut in his other hand. This committee thought of everything.

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