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held up a hand, forestalling any more arguing on exactly whose fault it was.
    â€œWhichever one ofyou—or both of you—is to blame, I don’t give a damn. Just take care of the problem. Now.”
    â€œAnd how do you want us to do that? We’ve already paid her in advance.”
    â€œSo I heard,” Nate replied tightly.
    â€œBesides, we need the help, you know that, Holt,” Shilah said, always the one to use logic in any situation. “Lilly’s surgery is in a few weeks and we can’t spare any of the hands to help out. It’sjust temporary. She can do the odd jobs. Can help Lilly out in the kitchen—”
    â€œHell, no, she’s not working in the kitchen. That’s out,” Nate bit out, the thought of the woman actually in his home, in his domain, something he wasn’t about to allow. “No matter how you reason this out, you both know how I feel about women on the ranch. I should have been consulted.”
    There was a short pause, noneof the men giving an inch, all staring each other down.
    â€œHow’d you find out, anyway?” Holt finally asked, running a hand over the back of his head.
    â€œHow long did you plan to hide it from me?” he asked, raising a brow. When Holt shrugged, his expression sheepish, Nate continued. “Walked into the stable where I’ve been keeping the new horse, and she was there, feeding it.”
    â€œThought that horsedidn’t let anyone near her.”
    â€œShe doesn’t. Didn’t,” Nate corrected himself.
    Thinking of how gentle the horse had been with the woman, the lines of his face wrinkled, momentarily making him forget his irritation with his brothers. “Damnedest thing, too. She was feeding it by hand. It was all but cuddling in her lap, like some kinda lap dog.”
    â€œYour problem is you don’t know how to deal with astubborn female. Horses are no different. You have to be gentle, say all the right things to her. Make her feel special.”
    â€œOh, yeah, and I suppose you know how?”
    â€œDamn right I do,” Holt said, barking out a laugh. “You have to whisper in her ear, tell her how sweet her…tail is,” he said, staring at his brother, laughter lurking in his eyes. “You do remember how to do that, right, Nate? Or doyou need a crash course, brother? ’Cause if you do, I’m here for you, man…I’m here for you,” he said, his voice lowering to a whisper, stringing out the last words.
    â€œYeah, I got your crash course right here,” Nate replied, flipping his brother the bird. This time Holt openly laughed at him.
    â€œYou know what your problem is, Holt? You think everything is a damn joke,” Nate bit out, and caught thegleam of humor in Shilah’s eyes as well. This time he included him in his middle-finger salute as well.
    â€œSince when do we need your permission to hire help around here?”
    â€œSince the help you hired was a woman,” he replied, not giving an inch. “I damn sure don’t need anotherwoman around here. Especially who, after realizing living on a ranch is not some bullshit Hollywood glamorized version,cuts out with the first man that comes her way.”
    â€œMan…what the hell?” Holt asked, frowning.
    As soon as Nathan made the retort, he wanted to snatch the words back, feeling like a fool. He didn’t need or want the pity he saw lurking in either one of his knuckle-headed brothers’ eyes once it dawned on them what he’d said and why.
    Holt grabbed the back of his neck again, rubbing it, his face reddening.“Yeah, well, sorry, bro. I guess I wasn’t thinking. With Lilly about to have surgery in a few weeks and all, I figured she could use the help around the house. I wasn’t trying to hurt you, you know that…” His voice trailed off into an awkward silence.
    â€œYou won’t see much of her, anyway, Nate,” Shilah said,