The Delivery of Decor (Shiloh Ridge Ranch in Three Rivers #7) - Liz Isaacson Page 0,48

the set list up on his screen, and everyone can sing as much or as little as they’d like.”

He gave Judge a moment to put in the list, and his cousin said, “We’re starting with something the kids will love. Frosty the Snowman.”

A little boy of probably eleven or twelve raised both hands and made a sound like an elephant. His parents laughed, and Ward leaned toward her and whispered, “Mitch is deaf, so he’ll sign the song.”

“Oh, that’s great,” she said, grinning back at the screen. Judge started to play the introduction, and a very loud tambourine came on the scene too. Ward fiddled around with his strings, and right when it was time to start singing, he added a beat with his palm against the box of the guitar.

Dot sang every word to every song, because singing Christmas carols with the Glovers was one of the most enriching experiences of her life. She felt herself slipping down the slope toward being in love with Ward Glover, and she had no idea how to stop herself.

She wasn’t even sure she wanted to stop herself.

Chapter Fifteen

Bishop Glover honestly didn’t mind that his step-daughter, Aurora, had included her boyfriend on the family caroling. He couldn’t fathom getting married at eighteen, but the truth was, Aurora would be an adult soon. She didn’t need his permission, and she didn’t need her mother’s.

He sang the last few words of Silent Night, his soul filled with wonder and gratitude. He’d gotten up from the desk where he kept his laptop, and he’d sat next to his beautiful wife during the caroling. He squeezed her hand and leaned over to kiss her temple.

“I love you,” he whispered, his joy complete this Christmas Day.

“Love you too, Bishop.” Montana rested her free hand on her belly and smiled at him with exhaustion in her blue, blue eyes. He swept a lock of her bright blonde hair off her face.

“You should take a nap, baby, while I make dinner.”

“Already on my agenda,” she said, leaning her head against his shoulder. She wasn’t due until March, but she looked like she’d swallowed an extra-large beach ball already. With only ten weeks left in her pregnancy, she’d claimed she was on the home stretch, and she’d make it just fine.

Bishop had still taken her off the heavy construction schedule they’d been keeping around the ranch for the past three years—since she showed up on the doorstep of the homestead and asked him if there was any work for her to do.

He wondered if she regretted her decision to come to Shiloh Ridge that day. He sure hoped not, and he’d worked hard to give her and her daughter the best life possible.

“We could call Uncle Bob and Aunt Jackie like this,” he said, gesturing to the computer screen. “Wish them Merry Christmas.”

Hope entered her expression, and she nodded as Ward started thanking everyone for being there.

“I wanted to ask Mother and Aunt Lois something,” he said, and because he was speaking, he took up the whole screen on Bishop’s laptop. He put down his guitar and edged closer. “If you need to go, that’s fine. I don’t care if everyone hears though.”

No one left, and Bishop certainly had nowhere to be. He’d actually really enjoyed the past day trapped in his home with his family. Mother and Donald had come to his house, and he was pleased as punch to host them. Of him and Montana, he definitely liked entertaining more than she did.

She allowed him to pamper everyone who walked through the door, and that was good enough for him.

“Mother,” Ward said, clearing his throat. He glanced at Dot, who nodded at him encouragingly. Bishop had known his cousin was seeing someone, but he hadn’t realized it was Dot Crockett. The woman was tall like Arizona, and Bishop could see why Ward had been attracted to her in the first place.

She had thick, silvery blonde hair that would’ve drawn his attention too.

“First,” Ward said. “I wanted to let you guys know about something that happened this morning. I’m fine, obviously, but I got stuck outside in the blizzard. Dot had to come rescue me and get me warmed up again.”

“My goodness,” Aunt Dawna said, and the screen switched to her. It jumped around as others expressed concern too and questions got asked.

“The generator is out of gas here,” he said. “We keep it in the shed, so I’d gone out there to get it. I forgot a rope, and