The Delivery of Decor (Shiloh Ridge Ranch in Three Rivers #7) - Liz Isaacson Page 0,93

found the three cops sitting on the steps with Lucy Mae, the four of them laughing about something.

She turned toward Judge. “I’m so sorry. Raincheck?”

“Name the date and time,” he said with a perfect smile.

She leaned over the console, and he leaned toward her too. She kissed his cheek and said, “You’re the best, cowboy. I’ll call you,” before sliding out of his truck and facing the cops as they stood.

June needed to be sure that Judge would call her should she stay silent for longer than he’d like, so she added a bit of sway to her hips as she approached the police officers. “This better be good,” she said. “You just cost me a first date with a very handsome man.”

Chapter Thirty

Mister Glover couldn’t believe he’d showered, shaved, and slathered himself in cologne. “She’s going to say no,” he muttered to himself. Yet he couldn’t stop himself from leaving Bull House and getting behind the wheel of his truck.

He should be washing the blanket on the bed where he’d stayed last night, and where he’d be sleeping tonight too. He felt like a ping pong ball, bouncing around from one side of the ranch to the other.

But Preacher and Charlie had been married yesterday, and a man and his new wife required some level of privacy. Judge and Mister had moved down the road to Bull House just for a few nights, as the newlyweds would be leaving for their honeymoon on New Year’s Day.

Tomorrow night, the Glovers were throwing a New Year’s Eve party at the ranch, and Bear had invited everyone he knew. Since everyone in Three Rivers knew Bear, it felt like the whole town was coming. Mister didn’t want to go at all, but he’d promised to be there to help with the refreshments.

He told himself that was why he’d worked all day, showered, shaved, and slathered. So he could go to the grocery store…to pick up trays of cheese and vegetables.

When he got to the highway, he turned left, as usual. He pretended he was going straight to Wilde & Organic. He swore the truck slowed down all by itself, and he didn’t even tell his hands to turn the wheel right.

He drove past Seven Sons Ranch on the left and kept on going. The east highway where Preacher had gone off the road several months ago loomed in front of him, but another right turn took him away from that scene.

And straight to the Bellamore Ranch. Brit Bellamore was Mister’s father’s age, and his eldest two sons worked the ranch with him. He also had two daughters, and they worked on the family land as well. The Bellamores were a lot like the Glovers in that regard, and Mister couldn’t believe he hadn’t ever seen the youngest daughter, Liberty, as more than a friend.

She sure seemed determined to keep him in his place, and Mister sighed as he approached the fence that marked the perimeter of the Bellamore land.

The ranch was actually named the Golden Hour, as Britt’s land sat out on the plain and seemed to be bathed in sunlight twenty-four hours a day. Mister had always liked coming here, as his dad had brought the kids to help at other ranches whenever necessary. Sometimes when it wasn’t necessary, as Stone Glover believed in being neighborly and helpful.

It’s never a bad idea to serve someone, Mister heard in his dad’s voice, the truck moving right onto the Bellamore’s land. You might need help one day, boys, and who’s going to be there?

Mister could see his dad’s bright blue eyes glancing around the room as he waited for one of his children to answer.

“Family,” Mister said, just like he had when he was six years old.

Dad had smiled then, and he’d nodded. Family, yes. And those who love you, because you’ve showed them they’re important to you too. How do we make sure people know we care about them? That they’re important to us?

Bear had raised his hand and said, We serve them, Dad.

Mister couldn’t believe the seventeen-year-old Bear had even been in the meeting. When Mister had finally reached seventeen, the last place he wanted to be was in the living room with all of his siblings. Of course, Cactus was gone by then—off to college. Bear was working the ranch full-time. Dad would be gone in only three more years.

Mister’s chest caved in, but he inhaled, trying to puff it out again. “You can’t get inside your head like this,”