Chapter 13
It took three days to reach Mewers and they camped in the dense woods that skirted the village. Storm and Philip had arranged a time and location to meet, and after instructing the men and posting guards, she and Tanin were about to leave for the appointed meeting.
“I want to go,” Burke said, approaching Storm as she tucked her dirk into its sheath at her waist.
“It’s not necessary.”
“Not to you, but to me it is, and besides, you’ve ordered us to stay put until you speak with Philip. What else is there for me to do?”
She reiterated her order. “Stay put.”
“No.”
His stance was as adamant as his declaration. His legs were spread, his boots dug in, and his hands rested firmly on his hips. He did not intend to be denied his request, and Storm couldn’t blame him. If it had been her brother, she’d make certain to be along every step of the way.
“I’ll follow whatever orders you give.” He winced. “Let me rescind that. I’ll follow any orders that don’t involve causing you pain.”
“At least you’re honest.”
“And always will be,” he confirmed with a sharp nod.
Storm gave it a moment of thought and decided there was no reason for him not to join them. “You can come with us but—” She walked up to him and poked him in the chest as she spoke. “You will in no way interfere if orders are given that should cause me pain.”
Burke looked ready to protest when she poked him again.
“Think twice, Mr. Longton, before you agree.”
Burke let out an agitated sigh. “I won’t interfere.”
“Your word on it.”
Another agitated sigh. “I give you my word, though reluctantly.”
Burke had proven himself an honorable man, and Storm knew he would keep his word once given whether he agreed with the circumstances or not. It seemed when it came to her, he was overly concerned, but then to him men were meant to protect women. He was doing what he had been raised to do.
“You’ll follow between Tanin and me. I don’t want you getting lost.” She smiled and shook her head. “But then you wouldn’t get lost; you’re too good of a tracker.”
“True enough, but there’s no time to waste so it’s best I do as you say.”
Storm stumbled in jest, her hand to her chest. “Did I just hear you agree with me?”
He cracked a smile. “It’s easy to agree with you when you make sense.”
“I make sense all the time.”
“Women rarely make sense,” Burke said on a laugh.
“Amen to that,” Angus said, passing by.
Storm grinned and sauntered off. “Have your fun, but do remember that it’s a woman who leads you.”
They didn’t have to wait long for Philip to join them at the designated meeting place. He arrived shortly after them, and they huddled beneath a large spruce to hear what he had learned.
“They took a prisoner out of here just before my arrival,” Philip informed them. “It is whispered about in the village as if it is a secret that cannot be divulged.”
“Was a name mentioned?” Burke asked anxiously.
Philip shook his head. “No, though mention was made of the size of the man, and from what Peter told us, the description fits.”
“Then it could be Cullen,” Burke said.
“Don’t get your hopes up,” Tanin advised. “We have yet to learn of a name. We could be chasing after the wrong man.”
“Which is why we must free the young lad,” Philip informed them.
“He knows something?” Burke asked.
Philip nodded. “The lad spent a good two days with the man in the same cell.”
“He would know his name,” Burke said, excited.
“He would know something,” Storm said.
Burke agreed. “Enough for us to learn if it is my brother we chase after.”
“A good chance of it,” Philip said. “And with the prized prisoner gone and only the lad remaining, there is a bare minimum of guards around the prison.”
“Any idea where he may have been taken?” Burke asked.
Philip shrugged. “I can’t even make sense of why this man has been moved around as much as he has been. Usually a prisoner is kept in one location or perhaps moved once, but this many times?” He shook his head. “It makes no sense.”
“He’s right,” Storm agreed. “I’ve never known a prisoner to be moved as much as this man. Something isn’t right. Perhaps the lad will enlighten us.”
“The village has many items we can use,” Philip advised.
“Malcolm, Angus, and Burke will canvass the village tomorrow.”
They returned to camp in silence. With no campfire set, the group munched on the bread and cheese they had brought with them and retired early.
“A moment of your time?” Burke asked after the others had bedded down.
Storm nodded and they walked over to a large rock and sat with their backs against it.
“You seemed worried earlier about the prisoner being moved so often. Why?”
The half moon cast enough of a glow for Storm to see the concern in Burke’s dark eyes, and while she wished to ease his worry, she knew he’d prefer the truth.
“It’s as if someone wishes to hide this prisoner.”
“Why would that be?”
“I’m not sure,” she said, shaking her head. “But we aren’t dealing with a simple crime, which means it isn’t likely that you will be able to buy your brother’s freedom, if this man is truly your brother.”
“You can’t be sure of that.”
She shrugged. “As you’ve often said to me, you never know, though the evidence does prove otherwise.”
“I can’t have come this far to lose my brother this way,” Burke said adamantly. “Money speaks loudly and often erases crimes. It will aid in my attempt to free Cullen.”
“I agree that money can buy almost anything, but be aware there is that small segment money can’t buy.”
“I’ve yet to find something money can’t buy, Storm. It bought you.”
Her eyes narrowed and she sat up straight. “I was never for sale, Mr. Longton.”
“I apologize,” Burke said quickly. “I phrased that inappropriately. I admire your courage and conviction and meant no disrespect.”
“Then why say it?” she snapped.
“Frustration, foolishness, exhaustion? Have I found one that suits you?”
She laughed softly and relaxed once again against the rock.
“This is difficult for me, though I don’t like to admit it.”
“I understand. You don’t wish to fail your father. You gave your word, and your word is your honor.”
He looked at her, startled that she understood. “My father died with a smile when I gave him my word that I would find Cullen. He knew I would not fail him.”
“Yet this land and its people are foreign to you and you must depend on the assistance of a stranger to help you keep your promise. Which means you have no control over the situation, and that alarms you.”
“You are damned perceptive and damned beautiful.”
“It surprises you that the two mix so well together?”
“You are quick-witted,” Burke said with a smile.
“Part and parcel of being perceptive.”
“Your husband must have found you a handful.”
Storm smiled with joy. “Daniel claimed he wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Neither would I.”
Storm felt her heart catch and she quickly stood. “It’s best we turn in.”
“If you say so,” Burke said and stood.
“Good night,” Storm said and turned to leave.
Burke took hold of her arm and pulled her to him. “Not so fast, pretty lady.”
He leaned down and claimed her lips in a gentle kiss.
His tenderness did her in, or perhaps tenderness was what forced her response. Whatever it was, she soon found herself lost in a kiss that stirred her long-dormant passion. It had been so long since he had kissed her, and she allowed herself the pleasure of enjoying the taste of him.
He knew how to kiss, how to titillate with his lips and his tongue.
She pulled away suddenly and ran off without a word, her husband’s face vivid in her mind and her heart in pain at betraying his memory.
Morning found Storm busy with Tanin and purposely ignoring Burke. She didn’t wish to address her sudden departure last night, and least of all did she want to discuss their kiss. It had been a mistake and one she would not make again.
She finished with Tanin and intended to make herself scarce until Burke and Malcolm left, but then she turned to find Burke standing in front of her.
“Was my kiss that bad or that good?” he asked.
“Neither. It was a mistake.” She tried to push past him.
He held her in place. “I don’t think so.”
“It doesn’t matter what you think. Now let go of me,” she ordered him quietly and calmly, not wanting to attract attention.
“Not until I have an answer.”
“I gave you one.”
“Not good enough,” he insisted.
“You need to be going. Malcolm is waiting.” She gave a nod to where the young man stood near the edge of the woods.
“He can wait. I told him I needed to speak with you first.”
“This mission is too important to be held up by a kiss,” she scolded.
“My sentiments exactly, so give me an answer and be done with it.”
“I can order—”
His eyes narrowed. “An answer, Storm, here and now.”
She knew he’d go nowhere until she responded and she thought to lie to him, but she had a feeling he’d see through it.
“Like or don’t like,” he reminded. “It’s that simple.”
He was right. It was that simple, and she was being foolish. It would be her choice whether he kissed her again. Her answer would make no difference.
“Like,” she said, getting it over with quickly.
Burke grinned. “I liked it too.”
Her cheeks burned red as he walked away, and she turned so that no one would see her blush. She did not have a problem baring her naked breasts to this man, and yet knowing that he liked the kiss made her blush like a young lass enamored of a lad.
But then removing her shirt had been her choice and had also been meant to put him in his place. The kiss was entirely different.
I liked it too.
She hadn’t considered how he had felt about their encounter, and learning that he had enjoyed it only made her more uneasy. And more apt to think that he would attempt to kiss her again. She would have to speak to him about this and make it clear that he should never kiss her again.
Why not?
The question nudged at her mind. She did not intend to fall in love again and Mr. Longton would return to America when this was over.
So what harm would there be in enjoying a few kisses with him now and then?
It would be nice to have a man’s arms around her once again, share a kiss, a gentle touch.
Storm walked over to lean against the rock she had sat by last night with Burke.
Would it be so wrong for her to think of herself?
Hadn’t she thought of others for most of her life?
She hadn’t considered the consequences of her actions when she attempted her first rescue.
It was simply necessary, and when it was done she had been marked an outlaw.
With little choice left to her and a burning need to fight injustice, she set out to free the helpless with no regard for her own life and no thought of her future.
It didn’t matter anymore. Her reputation had grown, and as Peter had warned her, there were plans for her capture. She always thought it would happen someday and she’d be sent to Weighton to await her death.
Weighton housed the most wanted criminals, those whose acts branded them traitors to Scotland. She didn’t think of herself as a traitor, and many believed her a savior to the common Scot. However, the ruling class thought otherwise and they were the law.
So what was left to her but to enjoy what she could of the life she had left? Perhaps a kiss or two from Burke would brighten her day and lighten her heart, if only for a short time.
She glanced at Tanin, who was speaking with Angus and William.
She had advised him long ago that when the day came that she was caught and sent to Weighton, he was to disperse the group and direct the members to make their way out of Scotland.
He was not to help her, for they both knew he would die trying.
Tanin had objected, but she insisted that she wouldn’t see Ellie suffer the pain of being a widow.
He had finally agreed and given her his word.
Burke would never have agreed.
She smiled and whispered. “He would foolishly attempt to rescue me.”
Her smile faded and she recalled her husband’s words.
There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do to save you, I love you that much.
She had felt the same, but unfortunately, she had been too late.