Taken By Storm(32)
Storm stared at him for a moment, and he thought that she would argue the point.
Instead, she said softly, “I’ll keep that in mind. And you, Burke? You mentioned once that you have yet to find love.”
“It hasn’t struck me yet.”
“Is that what you expect it to do, strike you?”
“Dead in the heart,” he said, slapping his hand over his heart.
Storm laughed. “It could sneak up on you and gradually claim your heart.”
“I think I’d see it coming,” he said confidently.
“I don’t know. Love can be sneaky,” she warned.
He shook his head. “It’s going to hit me fast and hard and suddenly I’ll be in love.”
“You know, Mr. Longton, love is the one leader no one can usurp.”
He stood and held his hand out to her. “I’ll keep that in mind, but you might be wise to do the same.”
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.