Nick huffed in disgust as he ate his lunch. Going over the contracts had not been as bad as he thought it would be since Jarrod had already done everything. But Nick was upset Jarrod had not informed him of this. Of course when he complained to his mother Victoria simply said if he would have looked at them he would have realized everything had already been done instead of belly aching all night. He knew his mother would side with Jarrod.

Nick angrily stabbed at the meat on his plate thinking back to last night. He knew instead of arguing with Heath he should have taken his time to look over the contracts but they were both so busy arguing neither one of them had bothered to look through the papers. Victoria had finally had enough of the arguing and decided to look at the contracts herself.

Audra had been correct; Jarrod had already done everything all they needed to do was sign the contracts. When Victoria informed her son's of this Heath just shook his head while Nick started ranting and raving once again.

Victoria looked at Nick and sternly said, "This is all your fault Nicholas. If you would have paid attention to the paperwork instead of complaining you would have realized your brother already finished the contract."

Now he sat here waiting on Jarrod to make his appearance. He didn't join the family at breakfast this morning so Nick made a point to come home for lunch hoping to see his brother and give him an earful. Heath stayed on the range enjoying the peace and quiet while Audra went to town to help prepare for tonight's dance.

Victoria had other things she needed to tend too but she knew she needed to be present when Nick approached Jarrod.

Walking into the dining room with a wide smile on his face he strode over to his mother and kissed the top of her head as he said, "Lovely Lady."

He glanced at Nick and smiled politely while he fixed his plate. Since he had slept through breakfast he was hungry so he filled his plate heartily.

He sat down beside Victoria and proceeded to dig into his lunch. He knew by the scowl on Nick's face he was angry but Jarrod just hoped he could eat first before Nick started in but he wasn't that lucky.

Nick bellowed, "Hungry?" As he pointed at Jarrod's plate.

Jarrod never looked up as he responded, "Yes."

Nick glared at Jarrod and asked, "Did you have a good time last night?"

Jarrod swallowed his food before answering and said, "As a matter of fact I did. Thank you for asking," Jarrod never looked up.

"You know what I did last night?"

Jarrod sighed as he finally looked at his hot headed brother, "What did you do Nick?"

"I looked over the ranch contracts." Nick leaned back in his chair as he folded his arms on his chest.

"Oh?" Jarrod took another bite of food. Nick was fuming and Jarrod knew it but he also knew his brother had probably wasted half of the night complaining about doing the paperwork instead of looking at it and realizing Jarrod had already done it. "Why would you do that when it was already completed?"

Nick leaned towards Jarrod as he sneered, "I didn't know it was already been done."

"Why not? I thought you could read," Jarrod regretted that comment as soon as it came out of his mouth.

Nick jumped out of his chair and raged, "If you would have told me..."

Jarrod continued sitting in his chair and said quietly, "I shouldn't have to tell you that when all you had to do was look at the contracts and you would have seen they were completed. But I'm sure based on your mood right now all you did was complain, shout and holler about me not doing my job." Jarrod took a bite of food as he looked at Nick.

Nick frowned at Jarrod's statement as he knew his brother had been correct but that wasn't the point. "Mother may be on board for doing your job of the bookkeeping and accounting but I'm not." He put his hands on his hips.

Jarrod finished his bite of food and said, "My job? I don't think so Brother Nick, I told you I quit."

"This is a family business and you can't quit."

Jarrod raised his eyebrows at Nick and said, "Says who?"

Nick pointed to himself and said smugly, "Me."

Jarrod pushed his plate back since his appetite was suddenly gone, "Is that so?"

Victoria intervened, "Boys please. Nicholas..."

Jarrod interrupted his mother, "Please mother let Nick explain himself."

Nick spoke, "You're living under this roof..."

Jarrod interrupted him, "That father built for the family."

Nick cleared his throat, "Very well. But while you're living here we expect you to help out around here since you enjoy the profits like we do."

Jarrod cut his eyes at his brother and spoke, "Help out? What exactly have I been doing the last ten years? Doing the books, accounting, contract negotiations, helping with round-ups and traveling all over the countryside meeting with business partners so what do you call that? All the while I have two law practices I have to take care of in between. Do you help me with that?" Jarrod now stood up to face Nick eye to eye as he continued, "And take a look at the books Nick, take a good look at the books. I have not paid myself for doing anything for this ranch because it is family. And as far as the profits are concerned I haven't touched a penny of my share and if you don't believe that go look at the bank accounts."

Jarrod walked around the table to look Nick in the eye and spat, "You will no longer order me around like you do the ranch hands. I'm your brother and your equal and you will treat me as such. If you want to discuss the ranch business I'll gladly do so once you make an appointment with my secretary."

Jarrod turned to leave but stopped and said, "All of those years of handling the ranch business I never once complained but after one night you go ballistic and want to chew me out because you didn't bother to look at anything. All I have to say to you is suck it up Brother Nick."

Jarrod turned to his mother, "Sorry mother." He turned and left going out the front door.

Nick sighed in disgust as Victoria glared at him, "Nicholas I have half a mind to get the wooden spoon after you."

Nick sat down heavily in the chair as the talk he wanted to have with Jarrod did not go as planned.

"We'll be lucky if he still agrees to handle the legal dealings of the ranch after your tirade."

Nick looked at his mother and said, "I'm sorry mother. It sounded good in my head but once it got to my mouth it didn't sound so good." Nick put his head into his hands.

Victoria sighed and said, "Just leave him be and let him cool down. I'll talk to him later on about handling the ranch's legal business."

Nick looked up and smiled sheepishly at his mother. He rose up and said, "As you wish Duchess."