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tears. It always had, even in college, but he’d stuck it out and got his degree with the highest of honors, because it was expected. Thornes weren’t quitters, his father liked to boast.
    â€œBut why you?” Nita asked. “Can’t he sell the business?”
    He sat back in his seat. “You sure do ask a lot of questions.”
    â€œYeah, I have a curious nature. It gets me into trouble.”
    â€œYou don’t say.” He didn’t have any difficulty imagining that. She had trouble written all over her.
    â€œLike the time when I was six and I played I’ll-show-you-mine-if-you-show-me-yours with Bo Wilders behind the bunkhouse.”
    A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Six, huh?”
    â€œDon’t tell me you never played that game.”
    â€œNot to my recollection.”
    â€œWell, Bo was bragging that he could pee on a tree, and made fun of me because I couldn’t. Of course I had to prove him wrong, and you can imagine the mess that created.”
    Connor broke into a grin. “I can imagine.”
    â€œMy daddy caught us and I got the whole birds-and-bees speech.”
    If Connor had been caught doing that, it would have cost him a lashing from his father’s belt and a long lecture on respect and responsibility. As far as Connor could tell, his father had two expressions when it came to his sons—disinterest, and disappointment.
    And maybe in Jake’s case, exasperation.
    â€œSounds like you had an exciting childhood,” Connor said.
    â€œYeah, that’s one way to look at it. I’m not sure my daddy would agree with you, though.” She polished off the last of her burger and took a long pull on her soda straw. “You about ready to go? We’ve got work to do.”
    Connor nodded. He pulled out his wallet and tossed a tip down on the table. “Let’s get to it.”
    â€œI hope you know what you’re getting yourself into,” Nita said as they stood to leave.
    â€œDon’t worry about me. I can take whatever you can dish out.”
    â€œThat’s good,” she said with a grin that could only be described as devious. “Because by the time I’m finished with you, you’re going to be a full-fledged cowboy.”

Four
    C onnor limped up the stairs to his bedroom. He’d always considered himself in supreme physical condition—until Nita got her hands on him, that is. He never imagined learning the proper way to ride a horse could do so much damage to a man’s… pride . He ached something fierce in places he’d never ached before, in muscles he hadn’t known existed until today. Rangers training had been a breeze compared to what she’d put him through.
    After she felt confident he knew how to ride, and despite Jimmy’s assurance that the boys had done a thorough job, she and Connor had gone out to make sure all the holes had been adequately filled and it was safe to let the horses back out to pasture. It was nearly dark before they rode back.
    Since Jane wasn’t there to cook, Jimmy had made a roaring bonfire and they roasted hot dogs on sticks. Afterward, they sat around the fire under a sky blanketed with stars drinking beer and swapping stories. Socially, the hands treated Nita like one of the men. An equal. But when it came to her running the farm, it was obvious they respected her authority and had no trouble taking orders from her. She was tough, but fair.
    It had been a long day and now all Connor wanted to do was collapse in bed and sleep off the pain. Instead of going home and sleeping last night after receiving his assignment, he’d spent half the night doing his laundry and preparing for another who-knows-how-many days away from home. He’d had a total of about six hours sleep in the past three days. Hopefully, after a solid eight hours, he’d feel half-human by morning.
    â€œYou’re walking a little stiff, there,