“Bringit on, bro. I can kick your ass anytime.”

“Stopthis!” she shouted, pulling on Joel’s arm. “Don’t do this. Don’t fight overnothing.”

“It’snot nothin’, darlin’.He insulted you or you wouldn’t have slapped him.”

Joelfollowed Josh to the door with Mesa following close on their heels. A crowd ofpeople trailed behind her. Surely it wasn’t anything unusual for the Youngbrothers to fight? With nine of them, it couldn’t be that big of a deal, right?

“Joel,please.”

“No,Mesa. He’s been asking for this since he came onto you at the barn thisafternoon. He thinks he can do whatever he pleases and there aren’t anyconsequences. Well there will be tonight.”

Themoment they cleared the parking lot, Joshua spun around to rush Joel, pushinghim up against the side of someone’s pickup.

“Fucker!”

“Kissmy ass, brother, and leave my girl alone.”

“Sheain’t your girl, dumbass. You’ve known her what, six hours?”

Joelpushed Joshua back and swung, connecting with his jaw. Mesa flinched at thebone jarring sound, not sure if it was Joel’s knuckles or Joshua’s jaw. Joshtook a swing, splitting Joel’s lip. Blood spurted everywhere.

“You’llpay for that.” Joel jabbed Josh in the ribs, doubling him over as he grunted inpain. “I told you I could take you down, asshole. Just go home.”

“I’mgonna kick your ass,” Joshua wheezed, rolling over onto his side.

“Youcan’t even get up, Josh. Just stay down.”

“Fucker!”

“It’snot worth it. Go home.”

“I’llgo when I’m damned good and ready!” Josh rolled to his stomach and pulled hisknees under him as he attempted to stand. One hand braced his ribs. “You fuckin’ broke my ribs!”

“Youasked for it by being a jerk to Mesa.”

“She’sjust a piece of ass, Joel.”

Joelswung again, connecting with Joshua’s jaw. The blow took Josh flat on his backand out cold.

“He’sunconscious!”

“Good.At least he won’t get up again.”

“Youcan’t leave him like this.” Mesa dropped down on the ground near Joshua’s head.Josh moaned but didn’t open his eyes.

“Thehell I can't!”

“Atleast call one of your other brothers to come, Joel. He’s your brother.”

“Hedeserved it.” Joel wiped at the blood on his lip with the back of his hand,smearing it across his chin.

“Iknow he did, but please?”

“Fine.”Joe grabbed his brother’s arm and hoisted him over his shoulder. “He’s ridin’ in the back.”

“Allright.”

“Getin. I guess our night is over.” He sounded disappointed.

Withinmoments, they were speeding down the road back toward the ranch with Joshua inthe bed of the truck. He’d regained consciousness from what she could tell bylooking out the window, but he didn’t sit up or anything, just stared at thestars.

“He’llbe fine. Mom will take care of him when we get home.”

“I’msorry,” she murmured, feeling like shit for causing Joel and Joshua to fight.Of course, she’d never had two men fight over her before, much less two wholooked like they did.

“Forwhat?” He glanced her way, then out the windshield of histruck.

“Forcausing you two to fight.”

“Heasked for it, Mesa. Besides, it’s not like it’s the first time we’ve fought.We’ve done it for years off and on. It’s what brothers do.” He banged his handon the steering wheel. “You didn’t do anythin’. Hetreated you like shit and I won’t have it. He can be a nice guy when he’s notdrinking, but get a little alcohol in him and he turns into a jerk.” He glancedher way again. “Why are you being so nice to him? He called you a piece of ass.”

“I’mnot going to let it bother me, Joel. He’s a guy. It’s what guys do. Since Iknow it’s not true, it doesn’t matter to me.”

“Butwhat about all the people at the bar? They probably think we’re having sex.”

“Whatdo I care? I’ll probably never see them again. You and I know we aren’t.” Sheplaced her hand on his thigh. “They are people. Nothing more.”

“You’rea better person than I am then. I don’t like worrying about what other peoplethink but it’s in my nature, I guess. I’ve always had to fight to be anindividual since I’m a triplet. It’s hard to make people realize you are whoyou are rather than just one of the Young boys and a troublemaker.”

“Isuppose you got into trouble a lot as a kid?”

“Sometimes.I’m the middle of us triplets so it was pretty rough.”

“I’msorry.”

“Nothin’to be sorry for. It’s how it was.”

Theypulled up to the gate of the ranch, the headlights reflecting off the wroughtiron fence. Joel punched in the code and the bulky piece of metal slowly slidopen.

“Whereare we?” Josh asked from the back while they bumped along the road toward thehouse.

Joelslid the window on the back open. “Home, you jackass,” Joel called from insidethe cab. “You’d better apologize to Mesa. What you said was totallyinappropriate.”

“Sorry,Mesa.”

“Iaccept your apology. You know, if you act this juvenilewhen you drink, maybe you shouldn’t drink.”

“Waita damned minute. I don’t act like a kid.”

Sheraised an eyebrow and smirked. “Are you sure?”

“Allright maybe a little, but it’s only in fun.”

“It’snot fun when someone’s feelings get hurt.”

“DidI hurt your feelings, Mesa?”

“It’snot important.”

“Yes,it is. If Mom found out you acted like an idiot, she’d tan your hide,” Joelanswered even though the question wasn’t directed toward him.

“I’mtoo old for a whuppin’.”

“Notfrom Mom. You know how she is about disrespecting women.” Joel stopped thetruck before he went around to open her door.

“Thankyou.”

“Forwhat?”

“Openingmy door.”

“Sorry.I don’t think about it. It’s been ingrained in us since we were old enough toknow manners.”

“It’sstill a nice gesture and I appreciate it.”

“You’rewelcome.”

“I’mheaded to my place. If Mom sees me, she really will tan my hide.” Josh touchedhis chin. “Damn, dude! Did you have to hit me so fuckin’ hard?”

“Don’tthink I’m not tellin’ her what you did and yes I did. You were an ass.”

“Ialready apologized, Joel. Let it go.”

Sheplaced her hand on Joel’s arm to get his attention. “It’s fine. He didapologize.”

Joshuakissed her cheek before he headed off toward what she assumed to be his house.She could see a small, cabin like structure outlined in the distance. She’dhave to check it out in the daylight although she didn’t want to encourageJoshua, only Joel. “Let me clean up the cut on your lip.”

Hetouched it and winced. “You don’t have to. It’ll be okay.”

“Youwere gallant in standing up for me the way you did. It’s the least I could do.”They walked toward the main lodge in companionable silence. She really wasn’tsure what to think with Joel. He acted like he was attracted to her, but thenhe wouldn’t go against the rules of the ranch it seemed. They could be friendsonly, she supposed, although she wanted him hot between the sheets.

Asthey walked in the side doorway, she caught a glimpse of a cowboy walking outthrough the front door and wondered who he was. She thought she’d met all ofthose working the ranch during dinner. “Do you have someone not in the familyworking as a wrangler at the ranch?”

“No.Why?”

“Ithought I saw someone I didn’t recognize walk outside.”

Joelshrugged. “It was probably one of my brothers.”

“Maybe.He looked older.”

“Mydad?”

“Couldhave been I guess.”

“Letme grab your key from the office. Your room is upstairs.”

“Sure,”she answered although he’d already walked away. A chill raced down her back andshe rubbed her arms. Weird. It’sstill like seventy degrees outside even though her watch read eleven when sheglanced at the dial.

Joelcame back with a grin on his face but frowned the moment his lip started tobleed again. “Damn Josh. My lip hurts.”

“Poorbaby. You’ll be fine. He got the worst part of the deal, I think.” She grabbedhis hand and said, “Lead the way.”