Crossword Genius

Like the hands who ride around at the rear of the ranch (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

hired

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'like the hands' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'ride around at the rear of the ranch' is the wordplay.
'around' indicates an anagram.
'at' means one lot of letters go next to another (I've seen this in other clues).
'the rear of' indicates one should take the final letters.
The last letter of 'ranch' is 'h'.
'ride' anagrammed gives 'ired'.
'ired' put after 'h' is 'HIRED'.

'who' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for hired that I've seen before include "Paid to work" , "Chartered" , "Engaged for wages" , "Employed for wages" , "like a Merc" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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