met them in the kitchen, where a man wearing a very chef-like coat started going through the list. “Mashed potatoes,” he said. “Three.” He peeled back one of the lids and looked at her with a question in his eyes.
The scent of salt, butter, and starch hit her nose, and June smiled. “Looks great.”
The chef smiled too. “Roast turkey, twenty-five pounds. We’ve got candied ham, ten pounds. And roast beef, fifteen pounds.” He nodded at his people, and they all lifted the lids to show June.
“Fantastic,” she said, knowing Judge had ordered way too much roast beef so he could enjoy sandwiches through the rest of birthing season.
“Creamed corn and creamed peas,” the chef continued. “Twelve dozen rolls. Three pecan pies, two apple, one key lime, one chocolate mousse, and one lemon chiffon.” The food kept piling up and piling up, and June started to get overwhelmed.
She reminded herself that Judge had eleven siblings and cousins, and they all had a significant other coming tonight. That alone was twenty-four people. Then she had to add on children. Then some of the in-laws’ loved ones—for example, when Holly Ann had RSVP’ed, she’d done so for seven, not just three.
Her father, her sister and her husband, and their baby were all coming. June and Judge had been praying for good weather for three weeks, and it sure seemed like the Lord had listened. They’d told everyone they would provide all the food, but June didn’t think for even a moment that Bishop wouldn’t bring a cake or a pie. Holly Ann too. Etta and Ida would definitely have some food item in tow when they walked in.
June didn’t mind. She loved all of the Glovers in their own way, even the ones who talked really loud and had more bark than she personally liked. She liked the quiet ones, like Judge, and she liked the ones who came forward on special occasions, like Zona did when the family decorated the angel tree every year.
Judge’s mother and her husband would be there. Aunt Dawna was staying at Bull House for a couple of weeks, so she’d be there too. Judge had made sure anyone on the big ranch text knew that if they didn’t have anywhere to go for the holidays, they were welcome at the Ranch House.
Only three of the ranch workers had taken him up on his offer—Jed, Royce, and one of the new men Preacher had hired down at the Kinder Ranch, Jess. August Winters and his daughter would be there, as Etta’s guests. Mister had his fiancée now, and all of the rodeo cowboys who’d come to help Libby with her Country Christmas.
June had stopped keeping track at forty people. Judge had said he’d handle it, and she’d let him. The holidays were extremely busy for her, as everyone wanted Internet connections that worked in a blink of an eye. Businesses thrived when their networks worked properly. Families wanted to do video calls and chats without issues.
She’d once again put Judge’s show online, and he’d been in the top three on the voting for the Christmas light show since it had started the day after Thanksgiving. He didn’t seem concerned about winning this year, but June had been adding him and his show to her prayers for the duration of the show.
The theme this year was deer, and Judge had only used reindeer or deer in his decoration. He’d hoped to get across that Christmas was the time to remember all those that were dear to a person, but June wasn’t sure people understood. Not only that, but parents usually voted for the show that their children liked, and the kids in Three Rivers definitely weren’t enthralled with his deer.
“Ma’am,” the chef said, and June blinked her way out of wires and code and Wi-Fi connections. “I just need you to sign if everything looks good.”
“It sure smells good,” Judge said, entering the kitchen, now dressed in a pair of jeans, the cowboy boots he wore to church, and the ugliest Christmas sweater she’d ever seen. She gaped at it, wondering where in the world he’d gotten it. “Howdy, Blaine.”
“Judge.” The two men shook hands and exchanged smiles, and Judge took the clipboard and signed it.
“Thanks for bringing all of this.”
“Anytime,” Blaine said, and he and his team vacated the house.
“Wow, you’re really off your game,” Judge said.
June blinked away from the sweater, which actually had lights sewn into it. Blinking lights. “Where did you get that?”