Chapter 9
Storm marched right up to him. “There’s room for only one leader in my group, Mr. Longton. If you cannot accept that, then you can leave.” She turned and hurried her pace since she felt an overwhelming need to punch the arrogant American.
One minute he was tender and caring and the next minute he was claiming himself a leader. Well, not here was he, nor would he be. She had warned him, and she had the feeling she would continue to warn him about following orders. It was already tiresome, but the money—
She halted so quickly that she kicked up a cloud of dirt around her.
She hadn’t had time to discuss an exact fee with him, and she suddenly wondered if it was worth keeping the American around.
Storm turned, intending to do just that, and almost collided with Burke.
“Were you following me?” she accused.
“We weren’t finished,” he said
“There is no room for discussion. You either—”
He cut her off. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t follow your orders.
I also didn’t say I wouldn’t object now and again.
From what I’ve seen in the short time I’ve been here, it’s obvious that you not only allow your men to voice their opinions but you also consider them.
I’m expressing my opinions, maybe a little more forcefully, but it’s only natural since I’m accustomed to leading. ”
“Since you are a leader, you know only one person can lead.”
“Believe me,” he said with a shake of his head. “I’m trying to remember that.”
“I’ll keep reminding you,” Storm said with a chuckle.
“I have no doubt of that, but be aware you may tire of reminding me,” he cautioned, his smile spreading slowly.
“A leader must chastise when necessary.” Her smile grew as his faded. She knew her words stung his pride, but then they meant to remind.
“Were you returning to speak with me?” he asked.
She was relieved he’d changed the subject. There had been enough debate. Any further discussion would not change the outcome.
“We never discussed a fee.”
“I thought the same myself,” he said.
They entered into a brief discussion since the sum Burke offered was more than generous for what he asked of her in return. The money would sustain them for a year or more if they were careful.
He baffled her, this American who had entered her life so chaotically and continued to cause anarchy. Yet she could not help but respect him and admire his courage.
She watched him walk off to wait for her beneath the tree. After she told him she would speak with William and Philip privately before they left, he insisted he’d wait to help her get to her quarters.
She hadn’t argued with him, perhaps because she felt it more sensible not to irritate her injured arm, or had she liked the comfort of his arms?
Storm was shocked by her own thoughts and shook the nonsense from her head. Wherever had that idea come from? She had known the man barely two days and he had annoyed her more than not.
It had to have been the kiss, she reasoned, returning to the campfire. It reminded her of bittersweet memories, memories she thought she kept tucked away. It had been three long years since her husband had last kissed her, held her, made love to her.
She shivered and hugged herself tightly. She missed the warmth of Daniel’s arms, his body next to hers at night. They would cuddle in each other’s arms and fall asleep content. She hadn’t been able to sleep for weeks after his death. She had felt a constant chill without him beside her.
It had taken time to cope with his death, to make sense of it, accept it.
She shook her head. She really had done neither. His death made no sense and she had never truly accepted his demise, she had simply learned how to live with his absence.
Now this brash American appeared and stirred long-buried emotions that she preferred remain buried. She didn’t want to be reminded and feel the dreadful pain of losing Daniel yet again.
“You’re cold.”
Storm jumped and glared at Burke as he dropped to his knee and added more wood to the dwindling fire.
“You must stop sneaking up on people,” she admonished, holding her hands out to the rekindled flames to warm her hands.
“I wasn’t sneaking, and besides, you looked deep in thought and I didn’t wish to disturb you.” He sat on the log beside her. “Is something troubling you?”
You.
She shook her head. She had no time to let nonsense interfere with her mission. No time for a man and no desire to love again. She had sworn over her husband’s body never to let another suffer so senselessly, and she would spend the rest of her life fulfilling that oath.
“Are you sure?”
She appeased him with an answer. “I have much on my mind and it sometimes overwhelms.”
“The way of a leader. That is why a leader should have a diversion now and again.”
“And what do you do for a diversion?” she asked, curious.
“I ride across my ranch, sometimes for two or three days. Its vast, raw beauty puts everything into a clearer prospective. What once overwhelmed then seems inconsequential, and I return a much more satisfied man.”
“That sounds appealing. Unfortunately, I don’t have the luxury of time. A moment by the creek, a brief glance from the tree house, or catching the flight of a soaring hawk are my diversions on occasion. Minute ones, though I do cherish them.”
“Do you ever rest?”
“You sound as if you accuse me of a crime,” she said and was suddenly caught in the depths of his rich brown eyes.
They explored her face with an intensity that made her wonder what he searched for.
That he had many questions was obvious. That he asked few disturbed her.
He was patient in his exploration, which meant he was determined.
“A good leader knows rest is essential to performance and accuracy.”
“A good leader knows she will be called on to perform and make decisions, whether rested or not,” she recounted. “Why do you try so hard to get me into bed, Mr. Longton?”
A wicked grin spread across his face, and she laughed at her ill-chosen words.
He leaned in closer to her. “Given the opportunity, I don’t think it would be hard for us to fall into bed together.”
“Confident in your prowess, are you?”
“Astute when it comes to attraction.”
Storm didn’t have a chance to respond, for William and Philip approached and Burke took his leave.
She saw the two men off once the plans were finalized. It was agreed that if they had not returned in a week’s time, Tanin and Angus would come after them. She said a silent prayer for their safe journey and returned to sit for a moment alone at the campfire.
What had Burke meant by “astute when it comes to attraction”? Was he attracted to her? Did he think she was attracted to him? They barely knew each other. How could he surmise anything?
It hadn’t taken Daniel a long time to make his attraction known to her.
He had stopped one day at the farm where she lived, and she had given him and his horse water.
He returned every day after that until finally, a month later, he proclaimed his love for her and asked her to marry him.
He told her he was a tenant farmer two villages away, and while his plot of land was small, it could sustain them both.
She left with him, but her dream of finally finding someone who would love her and never leave her ended when Daniel died only two years after they wed, leaving her alone yet again.
The crunch of leaves alerted Storm to someone’s approach.
“Deep in thought again?”
“Taking a moment for myself,” she said as Burke stepped out of the dark. “Thank you for letting me know of your approach.”
“Didn’t want to startle you again and I don’t want to intrude on your privacy.” He turned to walk away.
“You’re not intruding. I had my moment.”
He turned around and sat beside her. “It was awfully brief.”
“I would ask how you knew that, but no doubt you have been watching me.”
“Keeping a safe eye on you. You were injured only a few hours ago,” he reminded with a glance to her shoulder.
“I appreciate your concern, but I really am fine and I can really look after myself.”
“You’ve proven that, but I”—he tapped his chest—“feel better keeping an eye on you. You never know. You may faint again.”
“And you’ll be there to give me a good solid slap.”
Burke laughed and shook his head. “Not likely. You’d be in my arms before you could hit the ground. Then I’d carry you to bed, where you should be now resting, and would see that you stayed there until properly healed.”
Storm cut loose with a hearty laugh, and when she was done and holding her side from the laughter, she said, “That will never happen, Mr. Longton.”
“You’re sure of that?”
“I’m sure,” she said with the last snicker of laughter escaping. “I’ve never fainted, and I seek my bed when I’m ready and rest when I want to. So what you suggest could happen is simply impossible.”
“Never faint?”
She shook her head. “Not once, and as you’ve seen today, I prevented it. And as far as carried to bed?” She stuck her booted feet out and wiggled them. “I have two good solid feet to get myself to bed.”
Burke stuck out his arms. “And I have two good solid arms to carry you.”
Before Storm could scoot out of his reach, he had her up in his arms and was walking off with her.
“Put me down,” she ordered calmly though firmly.
“I will,” he agreed.
“Now.”
“No.”
“I order you—”
“To put you down and I will,” he said.
“Now,” she reiterated.
He dropped her to her feet, grabbed her around the waist, and coiled the rope around his arm to have them springing up the tree.
Before she could voice her objection, he once again had her up in his arms and carried her into her quarters to plop her down on the narrow bed.
“Is this supposed to prove me wrong and you right?” she accused, hurrying off the bed, only to be stopped short by a searing pain to her shoulder. She stumbled and would have toppled over if Burke hadn’t grabbed hold and eased her down on the bed.
“You are stubborn,” he said, keeping hold of her.
“I’m vigilant,” she corrected and took a deep breath against the throbbing pain that remained. “I must be, and dare I say, you’re just as obstinate?”
“You can, but that doesn’t mean I agree.”
“You are forthright.”
“And that you can always count on,” he said and released her to stand. “You and I clash for a reason.”
“And what is that?”
“We are alike.” He walked to the door and turned. “Which means we understand each other more than we realize. Sleep well.”
He disappeared out the door, and Storm sat there staring after him.