He found out soon enough that Peter was in no condition to talk and took his leave, intending to look over the weapons that might prove useful on this mission.
He caught sight of Storm entering the woods alone. While everyone there was accustomed to her independent nature, he still had trouble with it. So he followed her.
She appeared set on a destination, remaining focused on the trail she traveled. Burke didn’t find it difficult keeping pace with her though he was amazed at her stamina. She had barely returned from a six-day journey, and here she was walking the woods yet again.
The forest grew thick with trees and brush, making tracking her a bit more difficult but not impossible. Then suddenly the density gave way to a clearing and the ruins of an old structure.
He remained concealed by the brush and watched Storm approach the crumbled edifice. She took a seat on what had once been a stone wall that now looked like nothing more than a few stones haphazardly piled together.
She tilted her head back to the bright sun, and he was captivated by the graceful beauty of her pose. The sun’s rays kissed her slim neck, giving it a translucent sheen and inviting soft, subtle nibbles.
Damn, he couldn’t stop thinking about kissing her. He was going to have to satisfy his temptation sooner or later or he’d drive himself crazy. The one kiss they had shared had lingered much too long in his memory and probably was the cause for his wanting to taste her again.
One more kiss. One more kiss would do it and he’d be satisfied.
“Why don’t you join me, Burke?”
He eagerly stepped out of his hiding place. “When did you realize I was following you?”
“When my sentry signaled me that I had someone on my tail.”
He shook his head. “I forgot about the sentries you have posted.”
“In all honesty I would have never known you were following me,” she admitted. “Who taught you to track like that?”
“Johnnie, a half-breed friend of mine. We grew up together. Johnnie’s father worked for mine and resided on the ranch. We were inseparable. Maybe one day you’ll get to meet him.”
“Not likely, since I have no plans to leave Scotland, and I doubt your friend plans on traveling here.”
“You never know,” Burke said. “Who would have ever thought I’d be sitting on the rubble of a stone wall with a female outlaw in the woods of Scotland?”
Storm laughed softly, and the light tinkle sent a ripple resonating throughout his body until it accumulated in a rush of gooseflesh down his back.
“Actually, you’re sitting on the remains of one of the oldest churches in Scotland.” Storm laughed again. “You look surprised, Burke.”
He grinned at the injustice of it all. He couldn’t kiss her in the middle of the ruins of a church. It just wasn’t right.
“I would have never thought this a church.” What he truly meant was that he would prefer that it wasn’t a church.
Storm glanced over the decayed structure. “It was small, barely fitting ten people. I was married here.”
“Here?” he asked, looking around. “How long ago were you married?’
“Five years.”
“But this structure—”
“Had long been decayed before then,” she finished. “But many couples believe that if they wed among the ruins they will have a strong, long-lasting marriage.” Her eyes saddened as she whispered, “A myth.”
She had opened the subject of her husband so he felt comfortable to probe. “How long were you married?”
“Two years.”
“That’s barely time to get to know each other.”
Storm smiled. “It was as if Daniel and I knew each other our entire lives from the very start. We loved the same things, never grew bored of being with each other, and laughed often. He told me that the heavens had designed us specifically for each other and we would never match with another. I agreed.”
“So you think you will never love again?”
“I know I will never love again.”
“That doesn’t seem fair to you or your husband,” Burke said.
“Why do you say that?”
“You are young and have your whole life before you. It would not be fair to you never to know love again. And as for your husband, if he truly loved you as you claim, then he would not want to see you alone. He would want you to love again.”
“I could never love someone the way I loved Daniel.”
“Of course it would be different. Daniel was your first love. There is nothing like a first love, but don’t deny yourself the chance to taste love again. It may be a bittersweet taste at first but you never know. You may develop a liking for the flavor. All I’m saying is at least take a taste.”