"Thanks for saving me," she said huskily.

"He's funny about birthdays," he said quietly. "I don't guess we made it clear enough for you, but at least he didn't throw the cake at you," he added with a grin. "Old Charlie Greer used to bake for us before we found Mrs. Culbertson, whom you replaced. Charlie made a cake for Brett's birthday and ended up wearing it."

" Why?" Tess asked curiously.

"Nobody knows. Except maybe Simon," he amended. "They were older than the rest of us. I guess it goes back a long way. We don't talk about it, but i'm sure you've heard some of the gossip about our mother."

She nodded jerkily.

"Simon and Corrigan got past the bad memories and made good marriages. Brett..." He shook his head. "He was like this even when he got engaged. And we all thought it was more a physical infatuation than a need to marry. She was, if you'll pardon the expression, the world's best tease. A totally warped woman."

Tess was still getting her breath back. She took the coat Ray was holding. "I'll put it up. Thanks."

"He'll apologize eventually." he said slowly.

"It won't help." she smoothed over the surface of the leather coat. She looked up, anger beginning to replace fear and hurt. "I'm leaving. I'm sorry, but i can't stay here and worry about any other little quirks like that. He's scary."

He looked shocked. "He wouldn't have hit you," he said softly, grimacing when he saw quick tears film her eyes. "Tess, he'd never! He has rages. None of us really understand them, because he won't talk about what's happened to him, ever. But he's not a maniac."

"No, of course not. He just doesn't like me."

Ray wished he could dispute that. It was true, Brett was overtly antagonistic toward her, for reasons that none of the brothers understood.

"I hope you can find someone to replace me," she said with a shaky pride. "Because i'm going as soon as i get packed."

"Tess, not like this. Give it a few days."

"No." She went to hang up her coat. She'd had enough of Brett Hartwell. She wouldn't ever get over what he'd said, the way he'd looked at her. He'd frightened her badly and she wasn't going to work for a man who could go berserk over a cake.

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Ray went out to the corral where the culls and cows were being held, along with the young steers fattened and ready for market. Both groups were ready to be loaded into trucks and taken away to their various buyers. A few more steers than usual had been sold because drought had limited the size of the summer corn and hay crop. Buying feed for the winter was not cost-productive. Not even an operation the size of the Hartwells' could afford dead weight in these hard economic times.

Brett was staring at the milling cattle absently, his heavy brows drawn down in thought, his whole posture stiff and unapproachable.

Ray came up beside him, half a head shorter, lither and more rawboned than the bigger man.

"Well, she's packing," he said bluntly.

Brett's eyes glanced off his brother's and went back to the corral. His jaw clenched. "I hate birthdays! I know she was told."

"Sure she was, but she didn't realise that breaking the rule was going to be life-threatening."

"Hell!" Brett exploded, turning with black-eyed fury. "I never raised a hand to her! I wouldn't, no matter how mad i got."

"Would you need to?" his brother asked solemnly. "Damn it, Brett, she was shaking like a leaf. She's just a kid, and it's been a rough few months for her. She hasn't even got over losing her dad yet."

"Lay it on," Brett said under his breath, moving restlessly.

"Where's she going to go?" he persisted. "She hasn't seen her mother since she was sixteen years old. She has no family, no friends. Even cooking jobs aren't that thick on the ground this time of year, not in Jacobsville."

Brett took off his hat and wiped his forehead on his sleeve before replacing it. He didn't say a word.

Leo came up with a rope in his hand, watching his brothers curiously.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"Oh, nothing," Ray muttered thoroughly disgusted. "Tess made him a birthday cake and he destroyed it. She's packing."

Leo let out a rough sigh and turned his eyes toward the house. "I can't say i blame her. I got her into trouble at the Christmas party by spiking the holiday punch, and now this. I guess she thinks we're all lunatics and she's better off without us."

"No doubt." Ray shrugged. "Well, let's get the cattle loaded."

"You aren't going to try to stop her?" Leo asked.

"What would be the point?" Ray asked solemnly. His face hardened. "If you'd seen her, you wouldn't want to stop her." he glared at Brett. "Nice work, pal. I hope she can pack with her hands shaking that badly!"

Ray stormed off toward the truck. Leo gave his older brother a speaking glance and followed.

Brett, feeling two inches high and sick with himself, turned reluctantly and went back toward the house.

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To be continued.....
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