The Delivery of Decor (Shiloh Ridge Ranch in Three Rivers #7) - Liz Isaacson Page 0,98

other things too. “I think he should live here. I moved over with you guys when he was hurt. There’s room for me and my guitar there. They’ll let me keep the office here. Or I can move it.”

“Don’t move it,” Judge said. “At most, it’ll be two or three months.” He turned to get the coffee that had been made so far. The burner hissed as a couple of drops hit it while Judge poured himself what he could. He replaced the pot and faced Ward again. “Zona and Duke’s house will be done by the end of March. She’s due in April, and I know she’s planning to be settled in that house long before the baby comes.”

“So Preach and Charlie could then move into the Top Cottage,” Ward said.

Judge nodded as he added about the same amount of cream to his mug as there was coffee. “But yeah, maybe you’d like to come to the Ranch House. Might be easier than me and Mister moving here.”

“Let’s talk to everyone today,” Ward said. “I’m easy. I just need my clothes, and I do need to use the office.” It would be easier if he didn’t have to relocate it, but he’d make the situation work. He’d want to have a place of his own for himself and his new wife, and Preacher should have that even if he had gotten married six months earlier than planned.

“Sounds good,” Judge said. “Have you seen Mister this morning?”

“Nope.” Ward bent to put the quiche in the oven. “Don’t ask him about Libby, okay? Preacher texted last night, and he said Mister told her everything and Libby rejected him.”

Judge shook his head. “He could talk to me about it. I know exactly what that feels like.”

Ward nodded. “You and me both, brother.”

“Really?” Judge asked. “You and Dot seemed to be getting along real nice. Super cozy.” Judge’s eyes sparkled as if he knew Ward and Dot had been kissing quite a lot over the past week.

“Yes, well,” Ward said, exhaling heavily. He leaned into the counter, searching his thoughts for the right way to explain things. “She left yesterday. I know she’s busy—she runs this huge landscaping company, right? But she didn’t call or text. I didn’t either. It feels…it feels like a rejection. Like she’s saying, ‘hey, it was super fun while I had to be up there, but I’m not really interested in you.’”

His chest pinched with the reality of the words he’d just spoken. He turned away from Judge, suddenly understanding Mister on a whole new level. The pain in his soul went on and on, and Ward finally looked up when Judge’s hand landed on his forearm.

“Are you okay?” Judge asked.

“No,” Ward said. “I’m in love with her.” He forced a chuckle that sounded as miserable as he felt. “I’m in love with her, and I’m not okay.”

Judge studied his face. “I knew you didn’t hear a thing I said.”

“What did you say?”

“I asked if you were just going to let her put you on hold.”

“What am I supposed to do? I can’t make the woman talk to me.”

“No,” Judge said slowly. “But you can talk to her.”

Ward let Judge’s words sink into his brain. “You have some experience with this.”

“I’ve been in love with Juniper Nichols for four years,” Judge said sadly. “Sometimes she talks back to me, and sometimes she doesn’t.” He hung his head. “I’m pathetic, I know. I should’ve moved on a long time ago. But last night….” He let the sentence trail off, his smile real and bright as it filled his face.

“I know it’s not real love yet,” he said. “But she’s just as beautiful as I remember, and I want to know everything about her just as strongly as I always have.” He shrugged and reached for the coffee pot again, his eyes down. “I’m hoping the crush can turn into love, and I’m hoping she’ll feel the same. I can’t stop hoping and praying for that, so I’ve just tried to listen to the Lord and reach out to June when it felt right.”

Ward appreciated Judge’s emotions, and the way he could articulate them so well. “You’re not pathetic,” he said quietly.

“Thank you, Ward,” Judge said. “I’m going to go get Mister, and I need some reinforcements. You in?”

Ward grinned at his cousin. “So in. I need help knowing what to do with Dot, and I’d love to know what Mister said to Libby that made it clear he liked