Taken By Storm(65)

Storm didn’t respond. She simply resumed her position against the rock, Burke joining her. Without preamble he took her in his arms once again. She didn’t object. She settled against him as before, comfortable in his embrace.

Only this time she silently warned herself repeatedly that their time together would be brief and he soon would be out of her life forever. She intended to prepare herself for the inevitable, burn it into her heart and soul so that she wouldn’t feel the pain of his farewell.



They arrived at camp the next day with storm clouds close on their tails. Everyone dispersed to his respective home, reuniting with family and friends for a short time.

Not one to waste valuable time, Storm issued orders to her men that they would meet in two hours at Angus’s place. With rain likely, she didn’t want their meeting interrupted, and Angus’s quarters, though one room, was sufficient to hold them.

Storm made her rounds of the camp, making certain they all had what they needed and assuring them that winter would not pose a problem. The look of relief on their faces reinforced Storm’s stubbornness about remaining in Scotland. There was no way she could leave these people to fend for themselves. They had become a family, relying on one another, and you didn’t walk away from family.

Peter was doing much better, as was Henry, who, Janelle informed Storm, had been a great help to her. She also told Storm that Henry was worried that he would have to leave the camp. Janelle had tried to alleviate his fears and assure him that he was welcome to reside with the group, but the lad seemed not to believe her.

Storm found Henry huddled against a tree, staring up at the racing storm clouds. The chilled wind had picked up, and soon raindrops would fall. In a few weeks, snow could fall, and there was much to do before then.

“Feeling better, Henry?” she asked on approach.

Henry stood upright, away from the support of the tree. “Much better.”

“Janelle says that you have been of help to her.”

“Whatever help I can be to anyone. I will pull my weight while here.”

His last words were barely audible but Storm caught them. “While here? Are you leaving us?”

“There are many mouths to feed here and I am not a good hunter.” He lowered his head, his chin near to his chest. “I have no skills.”

“Of course you do.”

He raised his head, shaking it. “No, really I don’t. I have drifted around trying to survive and I have learned little along the way.”

Storm placed her hand on his shoulder. “You learned to survive or else we would not be having this conversation. You would be dead.”

He focused startled eyes on her.

“There is much you can offer us and much we can teach you. This is your home now. You have a family to look after you and for you to look after, so worry not. You will reside with Angus and he will teach you the skills you need to know.”

“Or,” interrupted Burke, who walked out from behind Storm to stand beside Henry, “you could go to America with me and start a new life with much promise and possibility.”

“Truly?” Henry asked like a child who was just presented with a gift. “I heard there are riches for all in America.”

“Riches aren’t handed to you. It takes hard work and determination, which I have no doubt you possess.”

Henry stuck out his chest. “I’m not afraid of hard work.”

“Then there’s a place for you on my ranch in America and the chance of owning your own land someday.”

The lad’s eyes blazed like round full moons. “Own my own land? Are you certain?”

“Do not fill the lad’s head with nonsense,” Storm snapped.

“It’s not nonsense,” Burke said. “Anyone can own land in America. Of course it’s wilderness and requires much work, but many are doing it and successfully. My father was one of them. He amassed a small empire for himself with the sweat of his own hands and a lot of backbreaking labor.”

Henry stepped forward. “I’d work hard to have a chance to own my own land.” He looked to Storm. “I don’t have a chance of owning land here. There’s no future in Scotland for me.”

Storm shot Burke a heated glare, but spoke softly to Henry. “The choice is yours, Henry. You are welcome to stay here with us or go with Burke to America.”

He gave a huge smile, then suddenly threw his arms around Storm and hugged her tight before stepping away. “You have not only saved my life, you’ve now given me a chance at a future.” He walked over to Burke. “I gratefully accept your offer.”

Burke shook his hand, and Henry hurried off to share his news.