Taken By Storm (21 page)

It was with a smile that she helped Malcolm up.

She was all right and so was Malcolm.

Burke headed toward her, and her bright smile registered her own relief that he was all right. He, however, didn’t like how quickly it had faded, and he halted in his tracks, not wanting to turn around and see what had caused Storm to lose her smile and turn pale white.

He feared it was his brother, Cullen, and he silently prayed and swore and damned the powers that be that they had better not have taken Cullen away from him. He would never forgive them, never forgive himself for not having protected his brother after finally having found him.

Burke gathered his strength and swerved around.

He froze and his heart near stilled.

Cullen knelt on the ground, Alaina in his arms, and blood covering her chest.

S
torm followed Burke to his brother’s side. As soon as she got a look at Alaina’s wound, she knew death was imminent. She grabbed hold of Burke’s arm and felt his muscles tense beneath his shirt and looked at his face.

His pain tore at her heart, and she was reluctant to glance down at Cullen, for she knew his pain would doubly stab at her heart.

Cullen’s anguished voice drew her glance to him. “God, Alaina, you should have stayed where I told you.”

She tried to shake her head but could only manage to turn it to one side.

“It should have been me. It should have been me,” Cullen cried, and as gently as he could slipped his arm beneath her head and leaned down to press his cheek to hers.

Storm gently eased Burke away from the couple, knowing they needed these last moments alone together.

“Don’t try to speak,” Cullen urged.

“I must.” Alaina struggled with her words. “You must listen.”

Storm heard no more since she and Burke moved a distance from the couple.

He suddenly grabbed her and wrapped her tightly in his embrace. “God, I’m so grateful you’re alive.”

Tears quickly stained her cheeks. She not only cried for Cullen’s loss but she cried in relief that she and Burke had survived. She knew Cullen’s pain, had lived it herself, and she ached for his suffering, but she also rejoiced in good fortune, for in death there was also life.

“We need to get out here,” Storm said, shoving her husband away from her and wiping her tears away.

“She’s right. More soldiers will be coming,” Cullen said.

Burke and Storm turned. Cullen stood, his shirt stained with Alaina’s blood and his cheeks stained with the last of his tears.

“We will bury Alaina first,” Burke said.

“No!” Cullen near shouted.

Storm looked past him to see Alaina lying on the ground, her arms crossed over her chest as if she lay in peaceful repose. “We can’t just leave her.”

“That was what she wanted,” Cullen said.

Storm knew he presently held himself together with the anger and pain of her death, but soon, very
soon, the pain would be beyond bearing and he would break.

“Why?” Burke asked.

Cullen looked to Storm. “You understand, don’t you?”

Storm nodded. “Alaina wants her father to see her, to know that it was her choice to join you, to know that she was finally free of him.”

“She stays as she is,” Cullen said and walked off, not looking back.

They were soon on their way again, the wounded being helped and their pace hurried. They would never withstand another attack. They had to reach St. Andrew by dark and board the ship. It was their only chance.

Cullen remained silent for the remainder of the journey. Storm had cautioned Burke to leave his brother be, that once on the ship he could talk with him, that Cullen would probably want to talk and that Burke should be there when he did.

She told him not to worry about anything else but Cullen. She would see to settling her people. He was not to give them or her a second thought.

He had hugged and kissed her and kept walking, his steps anxious as all the others to reach port and have this done.

The last leg of the journey was the most difficult. Everyone was exhausted and could barely take another step, but they prevailed. It was the promise of freedom and a new life that kept them determined, and with the cover of darkness shielding them little by little, they boarded the ship.

“We’ll be setting sail in a few minutes,” Burke said.

Storm nodded. “We’ll be ready. How is Cullen?”

Burke looked to the railing where his brother stood staring out at the sea. “He wishes to speak with me.”

Storm placed a gentle hand on his arm. “Go, he needs you.”

Burke leaned down and kissed her softly. “I am so relieved you are here beside me.”

She pressed her cheek to his. “So am I.”

Storm watched him walk over to his brother and place a comforting hand on his shoulder. Only time would heal his wounds, but having someone there would help him.

Burke wasn’t certain what to say to his brother. He knew he would be inconsolable if he had lost Storm. He wasn’t even sure if he should mention Alaina. He was at a loss as to how to help his brother.

“You will like America,” Burke said, hoping it would help to speak to him of his new home.

“I am not going with you.”

Burke’s hand slipped off his brother’s back. “Of course you are. You can’t stay here. The earl’s men will find you.”

“They will think I sailed with you.”

Burke spoke bluntly. “Alaina is gone. There is nothing here for you.”

Cullen’s knuckles turned white from how hard he grasped hold of the railing. “My son is here.”

Burke was struck speechless for a moment. “Your son?”

Cullen nodded slowly and looked at his brother. “Before Alaina died she told me of him.”

“But she planned on leaving with you for America.”

Cullen shook his head. “No. She thought my new wealth would help us to locate our son. She planned to tell me when we reached the ship. She figured you would agree to help us and supply us with what we needed. Once we found our son we could then join you and Storm in America.”

“Why didn’t she just bring the child with her?”

“She doesn’t know where he is.”

Burke shook his head. “How can that be?’

Cullen’s hands fisted at his sides. “Her father took the lad from her at birth.”

“The bastard,” Burke spit out.

“You know I’m going to kill him, don’t you?”

“I can stay and help,” Burke offered.

“No,” Cullen said. “While I appreciate your offer, this is something I must do. Besides, if you stayed Storm would insist on staying with you, and she needs to be taken away from here if she is to be kept safe.”

“You understand my apprehension in leaving you behind?”

“I know, but I also know that you above anyone understands why I must do this.”

“I do,” Burke said. “It is an awful thing for a father to know he has a son out there somewhere but is unable to find him. I will give you all the money you need and any help you want.”

“The money will be the greatest help to me. It will buy me information.”

“You shall have whatever you need,” Burke said adamantly.

Cullen hesitated, then spoke. “I wish there had been time for us to talk more.”

“We will,” Burke assured him. “There will be time when you return home with your son.”

“Home.” Cullen shook his head. “I have never truly had a home.”

“You do now. It waits for you along with your family.”

The brothers hugged and Burke let go of Cullen reluctantly, fearful that he might never see him again.

“Give me your word you will come home,” Burke said, holding out his hand to him.

Cullen grasped his hand firmly. “I and my son will come home, this I promise you.”

The two men turned at the sound of harried voices.

Burke saw Storm speaking with the white-haired man she had freed from the prison. The older man looked agitated.

“I best see what’s going on,” Burke said, and Cullen followed him.

“I must leave,” the older man said.

“What’s the problem?” Burke asked walking up to them.

“I cannot sail to America. I must stay here,” the older man said.

“I thought you had agreed to go with us?” Burke asked.

“I’ve changed my mind,” the man said. “I want to get off the ship now.”

“I’ll help him off,” Cullen offered and looked to Burke.

Burke understood. Cullen didn’t want Storm to know that he wouldn’t be sailing with them. She would certainly disagree and then insist on staying to help him, and Cullen was right. Storm needed to get far away from Scotland if she was ever to be safe.

“Let me get some coins for you,” Burke offered the man.

“How generous. Thank you,” the man said.

“Cullen, come with me,” Burke said, and the brothers walked off together.

When they entered the cabin, Burke said, “I want to make certain you have sufficient funds to find your son.”

Cullen stared wide-eyed at the coins he handed him.

“Enough?” Burke asked, ready to reach for more.

“I believe this will suffice,” Cullen said and tucked the purse in his kilt.

“I also want you to have this,” Burke said, slipping their father’s ring off his finger and holding it out to Cullen. “It belonged to our father and he had hoped to give it to you.”

Cullen looked at it but didn’t take it from Burke. “Keep it for now. Give it to me when I join you in America.”

Burke realized what his brother was saying without saying it. If by chance he didn’t make it to America, Burke would still have their father’s ring.

“I’ll keep it safe for you,” Burke said.

“I’ll be looking forward to getting it from you.”

The brothers stared for a moment at each other and then left the cabin.

“Hurry, Cullen, we leave soon,” Storm said.

“I won’t be gone long,” Cullen said with a smile, and helped the older man down the gangplank.

“I need help with something,” Burke said to Storm, drawing her attention away from Cullen and keeping her busy until the ship had set sail away from the dock.

Burke stood on the deck watching Scotland fade from view when Storm joined him.

“I can’t find Cullen,” she said, sneaking beneath his arm to snuggle against him.

Burke held her tight, knowing her reaction once he told her about his brother. “He’s not coming with us.”

“What?” she shouted and tried to slip out of his arms.

He wouldn’t have it. He held her firm.

“I can’t believe you let him stay behind. Why?”

“He has good reason,” Burke said and explained.

A tear trickled down Storm’s cheek. “Cullen was right. I would have insisted on remaining behind to help.”

“Cullen will come home,” Burke said, hugging her close.

“He’d better or we’ll be returning to Scotland.”

“You’ll not be returning to Scotland,” Burke insisted.

Storm slipped out of his arms and stood with her hands on her hips. “Is that so?”

Burke glanced around him, and with a glint in his dark eyes said, “From what I can see, this is my ship, therefore my command.”

“Then it’s the ship’s commander who orders me, not the man who loves me?”

Burke grinned and reached out to slip his arm around her waist and tug her toward him, though she proved hesitant. “The man who loves you speaks out of love for you.”

“Then the man who loves me will not order me about?” she asked.

“Let me think about that.” He laughed and yanked her into his arms, and she braced her hands against his chest. “Just as I thought, the woman I love could never be ordered about. Besides, I admire and respect her courage. She is my equal in all things and I love her with all my heart.”

Storm melted against him. “Don’t think I’ll always be taken by your sweet words.”

“Maybe not, but you will be taken by this.” He claimed her lips in a searing kiss.

She smiled softly once their lips parted. “Perhaps, Burke, but never forget that
you
were
taken by Storm
from the very beginning.”