He recoiled from her touch, flinching, pressing back against the wall as if he could sink into it and disappear if he tried hard enough. He couldn't quite evade her fingers, however, and there was a stab of terror at the thought of her being able to read him and see the shame and horror that lingered under his skin and know what it meant. But it had been an accident -- he hadn't meant -- his temper had just gotten the best of him. Oh, God, Joseph had been right. He was dangerous.

He curled further into the wall, choking on his explanation even as he tried to get it out. "Joseph, he -- he wanted to talk. Out in the fields. He -- " He couldn't say it; he couldn't tell her that his brother was dead and he'd been the one to kill him.