Taken By Storm(38)
She didn’t find him funny. “A good leader knows when her men need rest.”
“And a good leader knows when to rest herself.”
“True enough,” she agreed, “but I’m not tired.”
Burke braced his hands on the boulder and hefted himself up to sit next to her. “I don’t understand how you can exist on such little rest.”
Storm shrugged and attempted to ignore her sudden need to cuddle next to him. She blamed her impulsive desire on the chilly night, convincing herself that she sought his closeness to warm her, chase away her chill and nothing more.
“It’s been my life. Little rest, much work.”
“No time for fun or laughter?” Burke asked.
“Afraid not. My day begins before sunup and lasts long past sunset.”
“Even when you were married?”
“Daniel and I had our moments. Even though our farm was small, there was still much work to be done. The landlord fees were high and climbed each year. We barely had food one winter, but we survived.” She was silent for a moment, and then whispered. “We were always there for each other—always.”
“You need a day of fun,” Burke said firmly.
“That sounds like an order,” Storm said, glad to have her thoughts diverted. Her heart forever ached when she thought of her husband.
“Does it have to be?”
No, it didn’t really need to be. It would be lovely to spend a fun day with the brash American. She could forget all her cares and pretend, if only for a few hours, that life was normal and she was happy.
She shook her head. It was a foolish thought. She had no time for fun.
“You shook your head, therefore I’m going to have to make it an order.”
“An order?” She laughed.
He shook a finger at her. “I’m warning you. You had better take me seriously, or one day soon, I’m going to capture you—no, I’m going to rescue you for a fun day.”
The idea appealed to her, spending a day without worry, without plans, without having to lead and make decisions.
“You can try,” she challenged, and secretly wished that he might just do as he warned.
“I won’t just try,” he assured her. “I will be successful in my rescue and you will have a fun day, even if you attempt not to.”
“You will force fun on me.”
He leaned into her. “I will torture you with it.”
She doubted he would need to torture. She enjoyed his company and would find spending time with him pleasing, perhaps much too pleasing. Since for the moment she thoroughly favored the warmth of his body seeping into hers.
“You’d have to capture me, and being the king’s men are unable to do that, it’s doubtful you could.” She hoped he didn’t hear the regret in her voice.
He laughed and leaned his face next to hers. “You failed to realize one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m an arrogant American who believes he can accomplish anything, therefore, I can do what the king’s men can’t.”
“You truly believe you can capture me?” she asked with a grin.
“Rescue,” he corrected. “I’d always rescue you. No matter where you are. I promise you that.”
His tenacious pledge caused a chill to race through her.
“You cannot promise me that,” she insisted, moving away from him to the edge of the boulder.
He followed. “I most certainly can.”
“You must not. I need your word on it.”
“I will do no such thing,” he snapped.
She had given these same such orders to each person in her group and it had never disturbed her as it did now. She felt an ache within her that she didn’t understand as she relayed her orders to him.
“It is understood that if I am captured, the group will not attempt to rescue me.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Burke said empathically.
“You don’t understand.”
“Enlighten me.”
She sighed to release her own frustration. Why did it disturb her so to say to him what she had said countless times before?
“If caught, I would be taken to Weighton, an impregnable prison. Anyone attempting to rescue me would surely be caught and killed. I will not have that on my account. There will be no rescue.”
“Your men agreed to this?”
He sounded annoyed and she attempted to explain, “You must understand—”
“Never would I understand your men leaving you to rot or be tortured in a prison, impregnable or not. I would give my life trying to save you.”
Storm jumped off the boulder and turned to face him, her hands firmly planted on her slim waist. “You will do no such thing.”