The Delivery of Decor (Shiloh Ridge Ranch in Three Rivers #7) - Liz Isaacson Page 0,124

him.

“I’m gonna go get started with the horses in six,” he said. “Is that where you want me, boss?”

“I’m not your boss,” Preacher said.

“But you are,” Judge said. “I know you and Ward are the boss, and that’s another thing I learned in the cowboy cabins. The work is hard, and it never ends, and the boss tells you what to do, and you do it.”

Judge actually didn’t mind that. He knew who he was, and it wasn’t to be Preacher or Ward. He’d never survive as a leader the way they did. He didn’t like all the pressure on him when tough decisions needed to be made.

He could work like a dog, and he often had around the ranch. He had around other ranches when their owners needed help. Judge liked to work. He just didn’t want to be in charge.

“I follow orders too,” Mister said.

“I’m not saying you don’t,” Judge said. “I’m saying I don’t think you have any idea what it means to bend your will to someone else’s. After all, you’re still asking Libby out, and she’s still telling you no.”

“You are?” Preacher asked. “Didn’t she tell you no like six months ago?”

“The horses in six?” Judge asked.

“Yep,” Preacher said, and Judge reached for the doorknob. He yanked the door open and stepped outside—and right into someone standing there, their hand reaching for the doorbell.

Their fingers hit his shoulder, and he grunted at the same time the woman there yelped. He reached out and grabbed onto her so he wouldn’t knock her down, and that was when Judge looked into the gorgeous, brown eyes of Juniper Nichols.

In the flesh.

His heart leapt to the back of his throat. “June,” he gasped out, his hands moving down her arms and settling on her waist. He looked over his shoulder, quickly dropping his hands from her body so he could close the door.

He faced her, noting the nerves—and tears?—in her eyes now. “What are you doing here? Is everything okay?”

Sneak Peek! The Networking of the Nativity, Chapter Two:

Juniper Nichols told herself to be cool. Play everything so cool. In reality, she was hot under the collar, with burning tears behind her eyes.

“You look upset, June,” Judge said. “What can I help you with?”

“I was just down the lane at Ace’s,” she said, stepping with him as he pressed her toward the edge of the porch. This one only had three steps leading to it, and it was clearly decades older than the house she’d just visited. “They needed some help with their WiFI. I got them a new cord, and they’re good as new.”

“Great,” he said with a smile. “I’m headed over to the stables. Do you have a minute to walk with me?”

“No,” she said, and Judge continued down the steps before he turned back to her. “I just heard that Ward is getting married this weekend. Holly Ann was on the phone with someone.”

“Yes,” Judge said, looking toward the homestead. That house dwarfed this one, though where Judge lived was twice as big as what June had.

“Why didn’t you ask me to go with you?” June went down the steps too, and when she reached Judge, she laced her arm through his. “Can I go with you?” Her voice broke on the last word, drawing the cowboy’s attention.

“Can you come with me to the wedding?” he asked. “Of course you can come with me.” He leaned down and touched his lips to her forehead. “I didn’t ask you, because I was afraid you’d say yes, and then cancel on me.”

Instant defenses flew into place. “I didn’t cancel any of the times because I didn’t want to go out with you.”

“I know that.”

“You canceled on me too.”

“I know that.”

June let the morning silence settle over them. “Life has been really funny the past six months.”

“Yes, it has.” Judge tucked her arm closer to his body. “Plus, I don’t believe you didn’t know about Ward’s wedding. You’re on that text with all the women.” He looked at her, his eyebrows cocked.

June’s emotions stormed through her like an army of soldiers. “Actually, I asked Willa to remove me,” she whispered. “It was too hard, knowing all the amazing stuff they were doing together and not being able to do any of it. I didn’t…I don’t…I don’t belong with them.”

“You could,” he said.

“Judge Glover,” June said, a smile dancing across her face. “You best not be sayin’ things you don’t mean.”

He started to laugh, and June joined him. “It’s been an