Chapter 31
Burke turned to Tanin. “Leave us, and rest assured this plan will never see fruition.”
“I’m relieved to hear that,” Tanin said and walked away.
Burke had to calm himself or else he would grab Storm and shake the foolishness out of her. The idea that she would surrender herself to free his brother, while heroic, was simply foolhardy.
He turned with a shake of his head to face her. “You didn’t really believe that I would let you do this, did you?”
“Let me? Since when did you become the leader of this group?”
“Since the leader lost her mind.” He spit out a frustrated sigh. “It’s inconceivable to me that you would think I would allow you to purposely place your life in danger.”
Storm tapped her chin. “Let me think. You presently made a decision that I think is foolish but I do not stop you. I, however, devise a plan that could very well work and what do you do?”
“It is far different and you know it,” he said, not believing this conversation could even be taking place. There was no way in the world that he would ever allow her to be taken prisoner. He’d die defending her.
He grabbed hold of her, his grip strong as if he feared losing her. “Promise me you will think no more on this.”
“It is a viable plan that may prove necessary.”
“Never,” he near shouted. “Never would I allow it.”
“Never is a strong word,” Storm advised softly.
The blue of her eyes was as calm as the sky on a beautiful summer’s day, and that worried him. She wasn’t taking him seriously, and he wanted her to take him very seriously and know for certain her plan ended right here, right now.
“Get this plan out of your head and keep it out of your head,” he insisted. “It will not be discussed again.”
“You will see your brother die rather than consider a feasible plan?”
“A feasible plan does not trade one life for another,” he argued. “I will not chance losing you to save my brother.”
She eased his hands off her and placed a gentle hand to his face. “This really is my choice.”
Burke took her hand and kissed her palm. “No, it isn’t.”
“I’m the leader—”
“No. You’re the woman I love, who I want to marry, have children with, and grow old with. We’ll find another way to rescue my brother.”
“If there is none?”
“Your plan is not an option,” he said firmly, then wrapped her in his arms. “I can’t lose you, Storm. I love you too much.”
He felt her tense and understood. To her way of thinking, they had no future. He would return to America and she would remain behind in Scotland. But she wasn’t aware of his tenacity, especially when it came to protecting the people he loved. And damn if he didn’t love her with all his heart.
“We’ll work this out, don’t worry,” he said, hoping to ease her concern and his own, for he worried that Storm was just as tenacious as he.
Burke often wondered how Storm secured some of the things she needed, and now, seeing the horse and carriage waiting on the road when he emerged from the forest, he wondered even more.
“Don’t ask,” she cautioned before he could question her. “Don’t worry, it isn’t stolen.”
He liked when she fussed with his shirt or jacket, as she did now, her tiny hands smoothing down his collar and toying with his buttons, until finally coming to rest on his chest. It was as if she wanted to touch him but needed to take a roundabout way of doing it.
“Be careful,” she ordered. “And remember the earl is a deceitful man. Do not trust him. Keep to business. Do not waste pleasantries on him, get right to the heart of the matter.”
“Do I look presentable?” he teased, wanting to see her smile. He had already changed into suitable garments that Philip had retrieved from his cabin.
She shook her head and smiled, and he felt a stab to his gut. Stocking cap, smudges, and all, she still was beautiful and her smile confirmed it.
“Your tailored black wool suit speaks of wealth as does that diamond ring on your finger.”
“It was my father’s,” he said, holding his hand up. “I hope to give it to Cullen.”
“I’m sure he will treasure it.”
He leaned down and stole a quick kiss. “I will free my brother. I am sure of it.”
“I am too,” she encouraged, though it gave him a start.
He feared she kept her plan in mind, even worked on it, allowing it to grow, and he’d be damned if he’d see it given birth.
“You be good,” he ordered teasingly.
She grinned. “I’m very good.”
He nuzzled near her ear. “That you are, my love.”
“Tanin and I will wait here for you to return. The others will spread out around the manor house in case you should need assistance. Remember someone is close by at all times.”
“I am grateful and I am confident,” he said and gave her a hug before climbing into the single horse-drawn carriage.
She reached out and took hold of his hand that held the reins. “Take no chances. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
He leaned down close and whispered, “Love me, do you?”
She laughed softly. “How can I help it?”
Her words reverberated in his head as the carriage bounced down the rutted road.
In her own way, she had admitted she loved him, and the joy of it overwhelmed him.
He was going to make everything work—from freeing his brother, to reuniting Cullen with Lady Alaina, to marrying Storm, to taking them all back to America with him.
They’d be family, all of them, and his father and mother would have been pleased knowing that the ranch they had worked so hard to build would see family grow and prosper on it.
Burke entered the Earl of Balford’s manor house with strength and determination, ready to do what he had to, to protect the people he loved.
He had expected Lady Alaina to greet him, but a manservant escorted him to an ornately decorated parlor, where he was told the earl would be with him shortly.
The room’s garish furnishings shouted wealth and gave Burke hope. Since the earl favored money, he just might favor releasing Cullen for a goodly amount that would fatten his coffers considerably.
“Mr. Longton.”
Burke turned from admiring a painting of a young lass with a small dog on her lap to greet the Earl of Balford.
“My lord,” he said with a respectful bow of his head.
He had no idea if he was addressing him correctly but instinct told him it wouldn’t hurt.
And the way the tall, slim man held himself so rigid and with his garments matching the style of the room, he could tell the earl was a man who deemed himself important.
The earl walked over to a white, ornately designed chair trimmed in gold and sat, then pointed to a less garish chair and with a careless wave ordered Burke to sit.
Burke sat on the edge of the chair.
“My daughter mentioned something about a business proposition,” the earl said as if not at all interested.
Burke couldn’t help but notice that there was no resemblance between the earl and his daughter, not even the slightest. Their natures even seemed opposite since Lady Alaina appeared a caring soul and the earl…
Burke took a good look at him and knew right away he was a cold-hearted bastard.
“I have a proposition that would award you substantial financial gain,” Burke said.
“I’m listening.”
Burke didn’t waste a minute; he did as Storm had advised. He got right to the point. “You hold my brother prisoner and I wish to pay for his release.”
The earl’s posture grew even more rigid and his face brightened with interest. And why not? Releasing a prisoner was an easy way for him to make money and an easy way for Burke to gain his brother’s freedom.
“Your brother’s name?” the earl asked casually.
“Cullen.”
The earl’s demeanor changed in a flash, his eyes narrowed, his lips pinched tight, and his slim hands gripped the arms of the chair. “That man is charged with a grievous crime and must suffer his punishment.”
“What was my brother’s crime?” Burke asked, knowing full well it was forbidden love that had imprisoned Cullen, but knowing he could never acknowledge that to the irate man.
“Treason!”
Burke tensed. Treason wasn’t dealt with lightly in any country, but money had opened prison doors before and he hoped it would now.
“I can promise you more than sufficient restitution for my brother’s bad judgment.”
“Nothing, absolutely nothing, could redeem your brother’s foolish actions.”
Burke remained calm. “True, foolishness can brand a man forever, but why let him rot in a jail cell when you can exchange him for a sizable amount of money and a guarantee that the man will never set foot in Scotland again.”
“Money cannot make right the horrendous wrong that this man did.”
Burke could have sworn the man hissed like a snake getting ready to attack, and he knew he had to tread very lightly. If he wasn’t able to secure Cullen’s release, what alternative was there?
Storm’s capture.
He didn’t want to give it thought. He had to make this work.
“Of course not,” Burke agreed. “But exiling him from his homeland is a death sentence in itself.”
“This man would never leave Scotland,” the earl argued.
“What choice would he have? He’d be tied and secured in a cabin and not released until far enough out at sea, where he could do nothing about it.
” Burke knew this was the time to make the proposition too appealing to turn down.
“Besides, I’m willing to offer you full ownership of a gold mine in America in exchange for my brother’s freedom. ”
The earl couldn’t hide his surprise or pleasure. “A producing gold mine?”
“A powerfully producing gold mine,” Burke confirmed.
“That is an interesting proposition,” the earl said and eased back in his chair.
“I can have the papers drawn up immediately, and by the end of the week we can make the exchange.”
The earl gave it thought, and Burke waited anxiously for his answer. He didn’t believe he’d be turned down; few if any men could refuse a gold mine dropped in their lap. To Burke it was a small price to pay for his brother’s freedom.