Taken By Storm (19 page)

B
urke maintained his composure though he would have much preferred to repeatedly punch something. He was a fool for even thinking the earl would play fair. Now what choice was left to him?

“That leaves us only one choice,” Storm said.

“Absolutely not. You’re not going into Weighton,” Burke said sternly, and the other men nodded in agreement.

Lady Alaina hurried to Storm’s side, grabbing hold of her hand. “Do you think it could work? Do you think you can really rescue Cullen?”

“I believe that we’d have a fair chance with someone on the inside. Once contact could be made with Cullen, there’d be two who could work together on the escape. The others could secure the outside area
so that when we made our break, there’d be no one to stop us.”

“It sounds as if it could work,” Lady Alaina said hopefully.

“It’s too much of a risk,” Burke said, refusing to even give the idea thought and yet knowing that there was no other choice. But how could he condone sending the woman he loved into harm’s way?

“It may be the only way,” Tanin agreed reluctantly.

“Finally, someone who realizes the dire straits of our situation,” Storm said.

“Sending you into Weighton could mean sending you to your death,” Burke said angrily. He couldn’t help it. He was so frustrated with the circumstances. He couldn’t see how he would find the strength to stand by and let Storm be captured and dragged off to prison. He’d want to kill any man who dared lay a hand on her.

“Your brother faces certain death if we don’t. At least with me going in he has a chance, which is more than he has now.”

Reason certainly was her forte, not that the plan made sense, or made it any easier for him.

Burke suddenly got an idea. “There’s no need for you to go into Weighton. I’ll be going in to ransom my brother and that will put me right where I need to be to help expedite the escape.”

Lady Alaina shook her head. “No, my father does not plan for you to ever reach Weighton. He actually
took great pleasure in knowing he’d prevent a reunion between you and Cullen.”

“That’s it. I go in,” Storm said emphatically.

“What can I do to help?” Lady Alaina asked eagerly.

Burke stood silent, though he felt the urge to shout out his anger. He didn’t want this. He didn’t want to chance losing the woman he loved to save his brother, and yet he knew without a doubt that Storm would advise him that it wasn’t his choice. It was hers.

“Keep listening,” Storm advised. “Let us know of anything you think is of importance. Philip will remain nearby and stay in contact with you. He will also let you know when it is time to join us. You need to make certain your father believes that you are going away to visit friends or something so that he does not become suspicious.”

“I will make a plausible excuse that he will not doubt since he keeps a watchful eye on me, which is why I must return now before he suspects something. Good luck to you all,” Lady Alaina said and walked over to Burke. “I cannot wait to see the look on Cullen’s face when he lays eyes on his brother for the first time.”

“I daresay the look in his eyes when he knows that you will be going to America with him will far exceed it.”

She smiled and kissed his cheek. “Thank you. Thank you for a chance at happiness.”

Once Philip and Alaina were gone, the group continued discussing the plan in relative silence until near dusk, when they stopped for the night. It wasn’t
until later, when all but Burke and Storm were asleep, she taking the first guard as usual, that Burke got a chance alone with her.

“You know I don’t like this,” he said, sitting beside her on a slight rise that allowed a good view of the forest from various angles.

“I know,” Storm said, and slipped her arm around his.

He asked a question he knew the answer to, but he had to voice his concern. “Tell me why I should let you do this.”

“You don’t have a choice.”

“What if I said I love you too much to chance losing you?”

She hesitated, then answered. “I would think I am lucky to have someone who loves me so much, but it would change nothing.”

He took strong hold of her hand. “I will be relieved when this is over and we are sailing home to America.”

Storm sighed. “Burke, you know I cannot go with you.”

He would settle this dilemma once and for all. Actually, she had settled it once she had made the choice to go into the prison to free Cullen. “Do you love me?”

She glanced at him with the most serene blue eyes he had ever seen, and he knew then and there just how much she loved him, though he wished to hear the words.

“I love you very much, Mr. Longton.”

He smiled. “Then it is settled.”

“Burke, please understand my—”

“No,” he snapped. “You understand that now you have no choice in the matter as I have no choice in deciding if you go into Weighton or not.”

“What do you mean?” Storm asked confused.

“You are the infamous outlaw Storm. What do you think will happen once you pull off a successful escape from Weighton? Not only will you have doubled the earl’s wrath, you will most likely have incurred the king’s wrath, and the bounty on your head will surely double, possibly triple. There will be no safe place for you to hide. You will have no choice but to leave Scotland. You sealed your fate, my love, once you made the decision to enter Weighton.”

Her silence told him that she weighed the impact of his words and knew them to be the truth.

“In my zeal to free your brother, I had not given the consequences thought. You are right. I will be hunted viciously, as will anyone associated with me. No place will be safe.”

“Give it thought now,” he said. “And while you’re thinking on that, think on this.” He brought her hand to his mouth for a kiss. “Storm, will you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?”

She stared at him.

“The choice is yours. I do not want you to feel that you must marry me in order to go to America. If you don’t wish to marry me, I will see you safely to America and I will provide for you until you get on your own feet. However, you do love me, so it would seem reasonable that you would want to marry me. Would you? Marry me, that is.”

She smiled.

“A smile is a good sign. Let me remind you again of how very wealthy I am, how much you adore my sense of humor and how deeply I am in love with you.”

Her smile grew. “You forgot your leadership qualities.”

“See what a good catch I am.” He grinned.

“There is only one thing that matters,” she said softly.

“What is that?” he asked and leaned his face down near hers.

“Love, that you love me and I love you. Nothing, absolutely nothing else matters. Foolishly, I thought it did.” She shook her head. “I thought rescuing people was my fate, but I realize it’s not forever. Life changes. It always does whether we’re ready for it or not. I admit I’m not ready. I don’t believe I ever would be, but it looks like fate has decided that my life is about to change.” She kissed him.

The kiss was gentle and Burke favored it for it sealed their future, their fate.

She rested her cheek against his. “I can’t believe I am agreeing to this. What will happen to my men, my group of people who depend on me? There’s so much to consider. Is this really a wise choice?”

“I will offer passage to America for all those who choose to go, and for those who do not, I will give them sufficient coin to go elsewhere.”

“You would do that?”

“I would do that for you, for I know you would worry over their fate and I want you to leave
Scotland free of worry for those who choose to remain behind.”

She shivered, and he took her in his arms.

“This has been the only home I’ve known. I had never thought to leave it. It will not be easy.”

“There is nothing left for you here. We will build a new life together in America and you will have friends there to share it with. I would bet that most all of your men and people would go with you to America. In a way, you will be taking part of Scotland with you. I have no doubt Tanin would go.”

“I agree,” Storm said, snuggling against him. “I know he and Ellie yearn for a real home, land to work, children to raise, and of course Janelle would go with them. They are her only family.”

“All of your group is family, and I doubt if any want to be left behind.”

Storm poked his chest. “I never intended to fall in love with you.”

“You couldn’t help yourself. I’m just too wonderful.”

She laughed. “I will not lack laughter being married to you.”

He took hold of her hand and kissed it. “You will never lack love, for I will love you always.”

“You are generous with people and you are generous with your love. I truly am a lucky woman.”

“I keep telling you that.”

She giggled and poked him with her free hand. “Modest you are not.”

“No, I am not,” he said and took hold of her other
hand, holding them both together. “You can always count on me speaking the truth, always count on me admiring you, respecting you, and loving you. And always, always being there for you, no matter the circumstances.” He gave her shoulder a gentle shove with his. “We can always discuss your faults in private.”

She laughed again. “What of your faults?”

“It’s rare that I’m wrong.”

She continued laughing as she pulled her hands free of his and slipped them around his neck.

Burke wrapped his arms around her, kissing her with an intense passion that let her know just how very much he loved her, wanted her, ached for her.

“I wish we were in my cabin on my ship sailing home,” he whispered in her ear.

“We will be soon enough.”

He brushed his lips faintly across hers. “You don’t know how relieved I am to hear you say that. I didn’t know how I was going to convince you. I only knew that I couldn’t—wouldn’t—leave Scotland without you.”

“I seemed to have made it easy for you.”

He nodded. “You certainly have. You’ve finally admitted you love me. That was all I needed to hear.”

“And if I hadn’t?”

He laughed solid and strong. “I knew you loved me. I was just waiting for you to realize it.”

“You are incorrigible.”

“But I’m right.”

“That’s right, you’re rarely wrong,” she said teasingly.

He patted her hand. “You know your future husband already.”

“Do you know your future wife?” she challenged.

“I know her very well,” he murmured and nuzzled her neck.

She giggled softly and scrunched her neck. “Tell me what you know.”

“She is an extraordinarily brave warrior.” He nibbled at her ear. “A skilled swordsman.” He tickled her neck with his lips. “A woman of deep conviction.” He brushed his lips along her warm cheek. “A woman of honor.” He kissed her lips lightly. “A beautiful, loving woman whom I shall cherish forever.”

A tear lingered in the corner of her eye and Burke caught it on his finger.

“I had hoped for a smile, not tears.”

She smiled while another tear slipped out. “I have never heard love spoken of so eloquently.”

“I promise you will hear it often from me. Not a day will go by that I won’t express how I feel about you or show you. Who knows, you may even grow tired of hearing it.”

“Never,” she said. “Never will I grow tired of hearing it.”

He rested his forehead on hers. “How lucky I am to have found you. I never would have suspected from our first meeting that a pint-sized woman dressed as a lad and wielding a sword would work
her way into my heart. I do believe fate had a heavy hand in it.”

“It had to have been fate for I would never have thought that I could fall in love with a brash, stubborn American, let alone marry him. And go to America?” She shook her head. “That was simply impossible and it was the furthest thought from my mind.”

“I warned you about fate,” Burke reminded with a smile.

“I stubbornly refused to listen, but what difference does it make,” she said with a shrug. “Fate won out as you warned me it would. Let us hope fate once again is on our side when we enter Weighton prison.”

“It has to be,” Burke said, drawing her close in his arms. “Fate couldn’t possibly bring us together only to tear us apart.”

Storm cuddled closer in Burke’s arms, and he knew her thoughts, for he was certain they mirrored his. Fate couldn’t be that cruel.

This time Burke did not intend to leave anything to fate. This time he would be the one in charge. He would determine the outcome. He would make certain the escape plan was foolproof, that nothing would go wrong, and most importantly, that no harm would come to Storm.

He would do anything to keep her safe.

“You’ve traveled all the way from America to fulfill your father’s dream. Don’t let anything stand in the way of freeing your brother,” Storm said, her head resting against his chest.

Burke remained silent. He knew what she meant and he refused to acknowledge it. He would not trade her life for Cullen’s. He would make certain both she and his brother were freed, if he had to die doing it.

C
amp was a bustle of activity once the news of the rescue plan had spread and the fact that each and every one of them was free to make a choice of going to America to start a new life or remaining behind with funds to help them survive for a while.

Time was of the essence, so it was necessary that everyone make a choice quickly, for soon their home would exist no more. Those going to America would be escorted to Burke’s ship to await departure, while those choosing to remain in Scotland would be provided with funds and be on their way.

Storm stared up at the homes they had fashioned in the treetops and the various shelters on the ground that had served them well. She thought of the months of hard work constructing the homes and the camaraderie that had gone into it all. They truly were a family.

By late afternoon, she wasn’t surprised to learn that the young ones wished to adventure to America while several of the older people preferred to remain in their homeland. Out of the twenty-five people who comprised the camp, only four had chosen to remain in Scotland.

All her men had chosen to join her in America.

There was joyfulness in the camp that she had never seen or felt, but then there was finally hope, and hope brought joy.

Janelle walked over to her. “Do I interrupt a moment of solitude?”

“A moment of memories,” Storm said with a smile, and hooked arms with the older woman to walk.

“I wanted to tell you that I am glad you have finally allowed yourself to love again. It is long past time for you to release your hurt and pain and begin to live, and to allow the others to live,” Janelle said.

Storm stopped and looked at her strangely. “Allow the others to live?”

“No one here would have ever deserted you even if they grew tired of such a confining life. They are all loyal to you and would have it no other way.”

“Do you tell me some wished to leave?”

Janelle patted her arm. “Weren’t there times you wished to leave?”

Ellie’s anxious call for help had Janelle running off but not before saying, “Ellie is so excited about a chance for a new life for her and Tanin. Thank you for being unselfish and allowing my son, his wife, me, and all the others to take this chance.”

Storm stood staring after her. She had never
considered how the others had felt. She assumed this life had been their lot, but had it? Had she pursued it with a vengeance without thought of others? Had she carried her revenge beyond the necessary?

“What’s wrong?”

Storm went easily into Burke’s arms as he spun her gently around and embraced her as if she had been gone too long from his arms.

“I have been wrong,” she said softly.

“Wait,” he said and paused. “I want to savor this moment, for I doubt I will hear those words from your lips again.”

Storm gave a short laugh and shook her head. “Incorrigible.”

“No, I’m honest,” he whispered and kissed her cheek. “Now tell me what you were wrong about.”

She realized at that moment just how much she loved her future husband. He had caused her to laugh and feel at ease before addressing her problem. Her feelings were of the utmost importance to him, and what a wonderful thought that was.

“I was wrong to think that my life consisted only of rescuing people. There comes a time to live life as these people have proven, embracing the opportunity with joy and eagerness and not a bit of regret.”

“Sometimes it takes others to open our eyes for us,” Burke said.

“I certainly had blinders on. I not only prevented myself from living, but others as well.”

“You did what you believed necessary. One last rescue and it will no longer be necessary. Life changes.”

She smiled at him and placed her small, cool hand to his warm cheek. He felt so very good, so solid, and so strong, and he belonged to her. The feeling overwhelmed her and she nearly shivered. She moved closer against him, not wanting to think of the last rescue, not wanting to believe that it could fail and that she could lose everything. Just as she had nearly lost him because she was too stubborn to see that there was more to life than only thinking of herself and revenge.

“I will be glad when it is over,” she said.

He hugged her close. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“I know, but there will be two days I will be a prisoner before the rescue can be attempted.”

“Remember what we discussed,” Burke said, gently pushing a strand of dark hair away from her eye with his finger. “If you cannot locate Cullen within that time you will leave on your own.”

“So you have reminded me several times,” Storm said, stepping away from him.

“Which means you have no intention of following my orders.”

“This is my rescue plan, therefore my decisions rule,” she said firmly.

“Tanin warned that they might not wait to torture you. If that is so, you will have no chance to find Cullen, you will be too busy suffering.”

Storm began to pace in front of him. They had gone over this repeatedly, and repeatedly Burke had protested her remaining in the prison more than a
few hours. It had taken much discussion among the men to convince him that wouldn’t work. It was two days or nothing.

“It is rare that torture is immediate. It is much preferred that the prisoners be left in their cells for a few days to grow fearful of what awaits them,” Storm said.

“You can’t be sure of that,” Burke protested. “Having the infamous Storm in their clutches might give them itchy fingers and have them eager to begin torturing you immediately.”

“That’s not likely, but it is a chance I must take.”

“I don’t like it and I’m going to want to kill the man who dares make you suffer,” he snarled.

She stopped pacing and shook a finger at him. “You are not to enter the prison. You will stick to our plan.”

“As long as you come out of the prison at the agreed-upon time. Otherwise I go in.”

“Don’t make me worry about you,” she warned. The idea that he would endanger his life by charging into a fortified fortress upset her beyond reason.

“You worry about me?” he asked incredulously and shook his head before reaching out and grabbing hold of her. “How do you think I’m going to be able to keep hold of my sanity while you’re in Weighton? I’ll constantly fear that you’re suffering horrible torture while I sit by and do nothing. I don’t know how I will do it.”

“Our plan is a good one and it will work if we all work together as agreed,” she said. She understood
his concern, for she would feel the same. She would find it impossible to sit idly by while Burke attempted such a feat.

“It’s easy for you to say. You’re not the one waiting. You’re the one doing something. I still wish there was another way.”

“We either go in and get your brother out or he dies,” Storm said, not meaning to sound harsh but reminding him what he already knew. This was their only chance.

Burke wrapped her in his arms, and she knew by the way he held her he feared ever letting her go. His arms were strong around her, his muscles taut and his heartbeat fast.

“Two days and we set you up for capture,” he whispered in her ear. “Those two days are mine.”

How she wanted that to be so.

“There is much to do before we leave—”

“The days will be busy enough, but the nights belong to us.” He squeezed her tightly. “I will have it no other way.”

She wouldn’t either. If their plan should falter, at least she would have this time with him to always remember and to keep her strong.

“Neither will I,” she murmured.

They hugged, holding on tightly to each other, both afraid, both determined to protect the other, and both knowing they’d give their life if necessary to save the other.

Storm sat by the campfire wrapped in a wool blanket, enjoying the broth Janelle had prepared. She
hugged the warm tankard in her hands and sipped at the steaming liquid, grateful for its warmth.

The chill of winter reminded her that autumn was near to ending. A good portion of the day had been spent on the rescue plans, while other plans were made to get those going to America to the ship.

She finally had a chance to sit and take a breath and not think. She didn’t want to think anymore tonight. Burke was busy with Malcolm and Angus trying to determine what weapons would best serve their purpose.

Then soon, very soon, she and Burke would be alone for the night, and the thought tingled her skin, running gooseflesh over it.

“Mind if I join you?” Tanin asked.

She patted the ground beside her. “Have a seat.”

He plopped down beside her.

“I thought you and Ellie were busy gathering your belongings. From what Janelle told me, Ellie is thrilled to be going to America.”

“Truth be told, Storm, so am I.”

“Don’t sound so guilty,” she said. “It is I who should feel guilty for not considering that you and Ellie might want more than a life of crime.”

“It was forced on us.”

“But we didn’t need to pursue it. We could have stopped along the way and attempted to live an ordinary life. I unfortunately never gave it a thought. I believed myself a savior—”

“You are,” Tanin argued.

“For a few perhaps, but in the end what did I really accomplish? Landlords continue to treat their
tenants badly. There is no justice for the poor and the starving, and few if any truly care. Better that I had lived a normal life and fought to improve conditions than fight the law. Or perhaps I should have been adventurous and left Scotland for distant shores.”

“This is your home.”

Storm shook her head. “I believed it was, but really my home is with the man I love, just like you and Ellie. Your love is your home and always will be.”

Tanin grinned. “You speak of love as one who is in love.”

She laughed and hugged the tankard more tightly in her hands. “It took a stubborn American to convince a stubborn Scotswoman that she could love again.”

“Burke is good for you,” Tanin said with a nod.

“When did you determine that?”

“From the very first day he argued with you. I knew he was a man you would respect and admire and one who would be able to penetrate the shield you kept so firm around your heart.”

“He certainly did that.”

“You let him, otherwise he would have never succeeded,” Tanin said. “You wanted to love him as much as he wanted to love you.”

Had she wanted that from the beginning? Had she been searching for someone to challenge her stubbornness? Her pain? Her hurt? And prove that she could truly love again?

“I am glad we rescued the American that fateful day, for he now rescues us.”

“He certainly does,” Storm agreed with a smile.

Tanin left Storm with her thoughts, and it didn’t take long before various people joined her for a few moments to express their appreciation for all she had done for them and the opportunity that they had been given.

By the time Burke joined her she had tears in her eyes.

He reached down and eased her to her feet.

“Your people are grateful,” he said.

“It is you they should be grateful to.”

He slipped his arm around her slim waist, and they walked from the campfire. “Not really. If it wasn’t for your courage and persistence none of this would have been possible. It is because of you that they have a chance at a new life.”

“I refuse to take all the credit.”

“Too bad, it’s yours,” he teased and hurried her along. “But if you feel you owe me something, then I suggest—” He leaned down and nuzzled her neck.

“How romantic.” She giggled and scrunched her neck, trying to prevent his sensual tickles.

“You want romance?” he whispered, and suddenly scooped her up, flinging her over his shoulder. He grabbed hold of the rope and they were up to the tree house before Storm could protest.

She sighed and rested her head on his chest while he carried her into her small quarters. Then slowly he began to undress her piece by piece while gently kissing every exposed part of her.

Her passion lit like an ignited flame, bursting
with a quivering heat. She melted under his kisses, his touches, and was aching with the want of him by the time he stripped naked and took her to bed.

“Lord, I’d love to take my time with you but I want you so badly I don’t think I can wait.”

“I feel the same,” she urged, her hands reaching down to feel his readiness.

He groaned. “Damn, but I love when you touch me.”

“I love the feel of you, especially inside me.”

He took her lips in a frantic kiss before saying, “Then let me give you what you love.”

She grabbed hold of his arms, strong and taut as he eased himself inside her slowly and gently, until she swung her hips up and took him in her with a solid push.

They both groaned and set a rhythm that had the bed rocking, their hearts pounding, and their bodies sweating.

Afterward they lay beside each other, hands clasped, while their breathing eased and their satisfied bodies completely relaxed.

“Promise me you’ll take no unnecessary risks,” Burke said softly.

Strange that he should say that since she was thinking the same herself. This would be one rescue mission that she wanted desperately to survive. The others never mattered to her, but then she didn’t have anything to live for. Now she did.

Now she had Burke.

“I promise,” she said, and meant it with all her heart.

“I don’t know what I would do if I lost you.”

The tremor in his voice told her just how sincere he was, and it touched her heart and quivered her stomach. Lord, but she wanted a chance at a life with this man.

“I feel the same about you. I never believed I could feel that way again; perhaps I feared feeling that way again. Now, however, I’m glad I have you to love. I forgot how truly wonderful loving and being loved feels.”

He leaned on his side and ran his finger gently over her lips. “I want you to keep my love strong in your heart while on this mission. Know I am with you at all times and know I will not let anything happen to you.”

Storm kissed his finger and attempted to ease his concern and possibly her own. “My stubbornness will not allow me to remain captured.”