Victoria waited for her rancher son's to come home for lunch so they could discuss Jarrod quitting. After she had talked to her eldest she did some soul searching and made a few rather startling observations.

Jarrod never once complained about all the work he was doing at his Law Offices or taking care of the ranch business but he was right, the family had taken advantage of him. He wasn't mad at them but instead at himself for allowing it to continue as long as it had. Before Jarrod had graduated from law school Victoria had taken care of the books and the accounting but after Tom was killed Jarrod stepped in and took that over.

Never once did Victoria offer to help Jarrod or take back control of the books once her mourning period had passed. She knew there had been many nights Jarrod would be up well after midnight working on the books, doing payroll or reviewing contracts. And without missing a beat he would be at the breakfast table the next morning with a smile on his face. Victoria often worried about Jarrod working all those long hours and now realized he was doing what he thought he needed to do.

What had brought a smile to Victoria's face was Jarrod's admission that he wanted to get married once again and have a family of his own. She had worried about him a great deal after Beth was been killed. She had never seen him react the way he had; anger, pure hatred and revenge. If it hadn't been for Nick and Heath she wasn't sure that Jarrod would not have killed Cass Hyatt. It had been a long and hard road for Jarrod but eventually he seemed to have finally forgiven himself for going after Cass Hyatt. But Victoria knew Jarrod had been eaten up with guilt for marrying Beth so suddenly then bringing her home only to be killed.

Jarrod quite literally threw himself into his work, sometimes working fifteen to eighteen hours a day. She knew he would work himself to the point of exhaustion but if one of the family members approached him about it he would get defensive and walk off. It definitely had been a hard time on Jarrod but now it sounded like her eldest was ready to move on. Victoria always wanted grandchildren and to hear one of her children admit they also wanted children warmed her heart.

The slamming of the front door brought a grimace to her face.

Nick and Heath both walked in and kissed the top of Victoria's head before sitting down.

Nick bellowed, "Well?"

Victoria sighed as she looked at Nick, "Well what Nicholas?"

Nick frowned at his mother, "Did you straighten Jarrod out?" Nick asked as he fixed his plate of food.

"Not exactly," Victoria answered.

Nick stopped filling his plate and looked at his mother, "And just what does that mean?"

Heath had been quietly fixing his plate and stopped to look at his mother waiting for her answer.

Victoria straightened up, placed her hands on the table and said with authority, "I'm taking over the books and accounting while you and Heath handle the contracts."

Nick yelled, "What?"

Victoria looked sternly at Nick, "Did I stutter?"

Heath answered shyly, "No mother."

Nick asked, "I thought you were going to talk to Jarrod."

"I did and he brought up a very good point. So from this point forward I'm taking back over the books and payroll..."

Nick interrupted his mother, "No, that's Jarrod's job."

Victoria glared at Nick, "I used to do it before your father was killed and was quite good. The only reason Jarrod took it over was to give me time to grieve and I never took it back. He did the same thing for you Nick regarding the contracts." Nick was going to say something but Victoria held up her hand to silence him, "This is not up for discussion. We have taken advantage of your brother's good will long enough. He has responsibilities to his clients at his practices."

Victoria paused to let Nick and Heath absorb what she just said before she continued, "Do you realize how many hours a day your brother was working?" Both rancher's shook their head no. "Anywhere from twelve to fifteen hours a day. He would go to work at his law office then come home only to be bombarded with ranch business. Do you know when the last time was he took a full day off of work or a half a day? What about going fishing or hunting with you two? It is time we start doing our share of the ranch business."

Nick slammed his fist on the table and said, "So he gets to sit back and enjoy the benefits of our hard work?"

Victoria glared at Nick as she answered, "As a matter of fact yes. He has been doing everything we didn't want to do and never once complained. If you would like to have a family vote on it Nicholas I can arrange that but you will be overruled."

Nick huffed, "Doesn't seem right to me."

Heath spoke, "Well now that you mention it mother I couldn't tell you the last time Jarrod took off to go fishing or hunting with us." Heath took a bite of food and continued, "And he never goes into town with us anymore on Friday or Saturday nights when we play poker."

Nick asked, "So what are we supposed to do? Hire another lawyer if we need help?"

Victoria smirked, "No he has offered to continue to handle the legal aspects of the ranch on one condition. That we make an appointment with his secretary so it can be discussed while he is at the office."

Nick bellowed again, "What? That is ridiculous considering he lives here."

Victoria shot back, "Well Nicholas considering he has agreed to continue to handle the legalities of the ranch I don't think that is asking too much."

"I don't have time to make an appointment to see him this is a working ranch after all."

Victoria blew out a disgusted breath and said, "So you would rather pay someone who is at your beck and call day and night?"

Heath chuckled at Victoria's statement as Nick glared at him, "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Your brother is not going to charge us for his legal expertise; he is giving us the family discount."

Heath said, "Can't beat that."

Nick shot Heath a warning glare, "Hmph."

Victoria added, "We will discuss this further tonight when Jarrod and Audra are here." She looked directly at Nick, "This is how it will be for now on Nicholas."

Nick sighed and decided to eat his lunch instead of arguing, he could do that later tonight.