Taken By Storm Part 21

There was so much to learn and Burke was eager. But once Cullen was found it would mean that Burke

would need Storm no more. They would part ways, never to see each other again.

The thought disturbed him, and try as he might not to think about it, she refused to leave his head. She had remained stubbornly fixed in his thoughts, and like a fool he had nourished those thoughts and allowed them to flourish. Now she was there to stay until he faced the fact that he desired the pea-sized outlaw and ached for intimacy with her.

"d.a.m.n," he muttered."Talking to yourself?"Burke jumped up at the unexpected sound of Storm's voice."It's one person who never disagrees with me.""I don't know," she said with a smile. "You sounded agitated.""Were you looking for me?" he asked, feeling as agitated as she had suggested."Peter remembers something and I thought you'd want to hear what he has to say.""Let's go," Burke said, walking past her, though she was at his side in a flash.They entered Janelle's hut to find Peter sitting up in bed and looking somewhat better than he had. The swelling had gone down but the bruising hadn't noticeably faded.Burke and Storm squatted down on opposite sides of Peter."I don't know if this is important," Peter began."Anything you can tell us might prove helpful," Storm encouraged.Peter nodded eagerly. "I remember how the man grew angry when he learned they were removing him from Glencurry."

"He wanted to stay there?" Burke asked.

"He claimed he belonged there," Peter confirmed.

"How so?" Storm queried.

"I don't know," Peter said. "But whatever it was, he wanted to remain at Glencurry. Even with the

torture they inflicted upon him he-"Burke didn't allow Peter to finish. "How badly was he tortured?""Not as badly as me, which I found strange since he seemed such a prize to them, but then maybe the jailers were instructed not to harm him."

"Who would give such orders?" Burke asked.

"The Earl of Balford decrees the punishment for each crime," Peter advised.

"You've done well, Peter," Storm said. "We appreciate your help."

"Anything. Anything I can do," he insisted.

Storm smiled. "Rest and get well."

Burke hurried out of the hut, and when they were a few feet away, he turned to Storm. "I think I should

go speak with this Earl of Balford.""That would be a foolish thing to do.""Why?" he demanded. "Perhaps I could buy my brother's freedom.""There is always that possibility.""See, you agree," he said anxiously."But not now," Storm insisted. "Not before we know for certain if this man is your brother-""All things point to it.""But we are not certain. Until we know without a doubt, you will sit tight and wait.""If I don't want to?" he challenged."Then you will jeopardize not only your life, but your brother's as well.""I hate it when you make sense," he said, knowing she was right, though it didn't help his concern for his brother.

She placed her hand on his arm. "I know how anxious you are, but if we move too fast we could do more harm than good. We will find your brother, but you must be patient."

He agreed with a nod, and tucked the idea of contacting the Earl of Balford in the back of his mind in

case it should prove necessary.

Chapter 17.

"I don't understand it," Storm said, walking alongside Tanin through the camp. "It's been a week or

more and we haven't gotten any closer to finding out where the prisoner was sent after leaving Mewers.""It is strange," Tanin agreed. "First he's moved around and then he can't be found. You know what thatcan mean when a prisoner simply vanishes."

Storm hadn't wanted to voice her concerns, but with no news of the prisoner's whereabouts, it was

growing more likely that he had been disposed of, his body never to be found.

"We should have heard something by now," Tanin said. "Philip and William have talked with people who have consistently provided us with accurate information and yet none of them know anything."

"Either that or they're not talking."

"What are you thinking?" Tanin asked.

"That people might be afraid to speak of the matter. But why would the imprisonment of a man accused

of theft cause such fear? I believe there's more to this than we know."

"What do we do?" Tanin asked. "The American grows more impatient by the day. He looks about ready to take matters into his own hands."

"Which will not help us or him in the least."

"We also need to consider who will take Burke to St. Andrew Harbor where he claims his s.h.i.+p with the

money should have arrived by now," Tannin said. "He insists that you go with him. I don't think he

realizes just how infamous an outlaw you are and how dangerous such an excursion can be for you."

"The trip at least would distract him from the matter of his brother and provide us more time to hunt down his whereabouts."

Tanin scrunched his brow. "You're not thinking of going with Burke, are you?"

"Going where with me and why not?" Burke asked, stepping from behind a tree Tanin and Storm pa.s.sedby.Storm halted and shook her head. "You must stop lurking.""I'm not lurking. Now what about going where with me?" Burke asked.Tanin answered him. "To the harbor to get your money."Burke smiled. "Yes, you must come with me. I'll have it no other way. You deserve time away from here and a day of fun."

Storm had often thought about the day of fun he promised. It was a foolish idea, and besides, if shetasted such a pleasant day, wouldn't she want more of it?"She can't do that," Tanin insisted firmly."Why not?" Burke challenged just as firmly. "She deserves a break from this place."Tanin was blunt. "She's a wanted outlaw with a high price on her head. She's sure to be caught and imprisoned."

"Tanin is right," Storm agreed, though she hated admitting it. It would have been nice to spend a day as an ordinary person, doing ordinary things. "I'd risk not only my life but the safety and well-being of this camp. I cannot do that."

"There must be a way," Burke demanded.

"There isn't," Storm confirmed. "One of the men will go with you."

"What if I devise a way for you to go without the chance of being caught?"

"That's not possible," Tanin said.

"But if I do," Burke said, his eyes fixed on Storm. "Will you go with me?"

"Why not?" she said, confident he wouldn't be able to guarantee her safety.

"You heard her, Tanin. She's agreed to go with me."

"If there's no chance of her being caught," Tanin added. "Which there isn't, so it doesn't look like she'l

be going with you.""But she did agree and you heard her," Burke said. "Now about my brother."A gust of wind swirled the dirt and leaves around their feet and fat raindrops followed."My quarters," Storm said to Burke and told Tanin she'd speak with him later.In minutes they were safely tucked away in Storm's room while the rain beat down on the pine thatched roof.

Storm removed her worn brown jacket, slipped her stocking cap off her head, and shook her dark hair free. She settled both items on the bed then joined Burke at the small table. He had removed his gray

wool jacket, and his white s.h.i.+rt was rolled up at the sleeves, which seemed to be a habit of his. Sherarely saw him with his sleeves down."Haven't found out anything new, have you?" he claimed more than asked."Unfortunately, no," she admitted reluctantly."Why do you think that is?"Storm folded her arms on the table. "You aren't a fool, Mr. Longton. I imagine you have a.s.sumed the same as I have."

"That my brother could very well be dead?"

"Precisely, though for some reason I think someone wants more than death for him."

"And what would that be?" he asked.

"Possibly revenge. Remember Henry told us that the man had claimed to have stolen something of great

value that could never be replaced. That certainly would be a motive for revenge."

"What could be irreplaceable?"

"That's what we need to find out," Storm said. "And if it is true, then no amount of money offered would

save your brother's life."

"How do we find out what was stolen?"

He paid no regard to her warning, though she knew well enough he understood the severity of such

actions. He wasn't a foolish man, but then wise men could be pushed to foolishness when feeling helpless. And right now, she knew Burke felt helpless to a.s.sist his brother. She felt his pain and empathized, for she had been there once herself.

"I'm not sure," she said, feeling helpless herself with the situation. "Nothing new has been found and we

seem to have hit a dead end."

"One thing I discovered that is the same in all cultures is that people love to gossip. It seems in this case no one dares open his or her mouth. Which means they fear to, so it would lead me to believe that the person who holds my brother prisoner has the power to make people fear him. Who would be the logical candidate for that?"

Storm admired his intelligence. He was much like her in thinking things through and reaching a conclusion

that made sense, though he wasn't as patient as she was.

"Logic would follow that it would be the Earl of Balford. His connection to the king is known. He asks and gets what he wants," Storm informed him.

"Then we can go with the idea that Cullen stole something irreplaceable from the earl and he now seeks revenge."