Taken By Storm Part 46

"Sometimes it takes others to open our eyes for us," Burke said.

"I certainly had blinders on. I not only prevented myself from living, but others as well."

"You did what you believed necessary. One last rescue and it will no longer be necessary. Life changes."

She smiled at him and placed her small, cool hand to his warm cheek. He felt so very good, so solid, and

so strong, and he belonged to her. The feeling overwhelmed her and she nearly s.h.i.+vered. She moved closer against him, not wanting to think of the last rescue, not wanting to believe that it could fail and that she could lose everything. Just as she had nearly lost him because she was too stubborn to see that there was more to life than only thinking of herself and revenge.

"I will be glad when it is over," she said.

He hugged her close. "I won't let anything happen to you."

"I know, but there will be two days I will be a prisoner before the rescue can be attempted."

"Remember what we discussed," Burke said, gently pus.h.i.+ng a strand of dark hair away from her eye with

his finger. "If you cannot locate Cullen within that time you will leave on your own."

"So you have reminded me several times," Storm said, stepping away from him.

"Which means you have no intention of following my orders."

"This is my rescue plan, therefore my decisions rule," she said firmly.

"Tanin warned that they might not wait to torture you. If that is so, you will have no chance to find Cullen,

you will be too busy suffering."

Storm began to pace in front of him. They had gone over this repeatedly, and repeatedly Burke had

protested her remaining in the prison more than a few hours. It had taken much discussion among the men to convince him that wouldn't work. It was two days or nothing.

"It is rare that torture is immediate. It is much preferred that the prisoners be left in their cells for a few

days to grow fearful of what awaits them," Storm said.

"You can't be sure of that," Burke protested. "Having the infamous Storm in their clutches might givethem itchy fingers and have them eager to begin torturing you immediately.""That's not likely, but it is a chance I must take."

"I don't like it and I'm going to want to kill the man who dares make you suffer," he snarled.

She stopped pacing and shook a finger at him. "You are not to enter the prison. You will stick to our plan."

"As long as you come out of the prison at the agreed-upon time. Otherwise I go in."

"Don't make me worry about you," she warned. The idea that he would endanger his life by charging into

a fortified fortress upset her beyond reason.

"You worry about me?" he asked incredulously and shook his head before reaching out and grabbing hold of her. "How do you think I'm going to be able to keep hold of my sanity while you're in Weighton?

I'll constantly fear that you're suffering horrible torture while I sit by and do nothing. I don't know how I will do it."

"Our plan is a good one and it will work if we all work together as agreed," she said. She understood his

concern, for she would feel the same. She would find it impossible to sit idly by while Burke attempted

such a feat.

"It's easy for you to say. You're not the one waiting. You're the one doing something. I still wish there was another way."

"We either go in and get your brother out or he dies," Storm said, not meaning to sound harsh but

reminding him what he already knew. This was their only chance.

Burke wrapped her in his arms, and she knew by the way he held her he feared ever letting her go. His arms were strong around her, his muscles taut and his heartbeat fast.

"Two days and we set you up for capture," he whispered in her ear. "Those two days are mine."

How she wanted that to be so.

"There is much to do before we leave-"

"The days will be busy enough, but the nights belong to us." He squeezed her tightly. "I will have it no

other way."

She wouldn't either. If their plan should falter, at least she would have this time with him to always remember and to keep her strong.

"Neither will I," she murmured.

They hugged, holding on tightly to each other, both afraid, both determined to protect the other, and both

knowing they'd give their life if necessary to save the other.

Storm sat by the campfire wrapped in a wool blanket, enjoying the broth Janelle had prepared. She hugged the warm tankard in her hands and sipped at the steaming liquid, grateful for its warmth.

The chill of winter reminded her that autumn was near to ending. A good portion of the day had been spent on the rescue plans, while other plans were made to get those going to America to the s.h.i.+p.

She finally had a chance to sit and take a breath and not think. She didn't want to think anymore tonight. Burke was busy with Malcolm and Angus trying to determine what weapons would best serve their purpose.

Then soon, very soon, she and Burke would be alone for the night, and the thought tingled her skin, running gooseflesh over it.

"Mind if I join you?" Tanin asked.

She patted the ground beside her. "Have a seat."

He plopped down beside her.

"I thought you and Ellie were busy gathering your belongings. From what Janelle told me, Ellie is thrilled

to be going to America."

"Truth be told, Storm, so am I."

"Don't sound so guilty," she said. "It is I who should feel guilty for not considering that you and Ellie

might want more than a life of crime."

"It was forced on us."

"But we didn't need to pursue it. We could have stopped along the way and attempted to live an

ordinary life. I unfortunately never gave it a thought. I believed myself a savior-"

"You are," Tanin argued.

"For a few perhaps, but in the end what did I really accomplish? Landlords continue to treat their tenants

badly. There is no justice for the poor and the starving, and few if any truly care. Better that I had lived a

normal life and fought to improve conditions than fight the law. Or perhaps I should have been

adventurous and left Scotland for distant sh.o.r.es."

"This is your home."

Storm shook her head. "I believed it was, but really my home is with the man I love, just like you and Ellie. Your love is your home and always will be."

Tanin grinned. "You speak of love as one who is in love."

She laughed and hugged the tankard more tightly in her hands. "It took a stubborn American to convince

a stubborn Scotswoman that she could love again."

"Burke is good for you," Tanin said with a nod.

"When did you determine that?"

"From the very first day he argued with you. I knew he was a man you would respect and admire and

one who would be able to penetrate the s.h.i.+eld you kept so firm around your heart."

"He certainly did that."

"You let him, otherwise he would have never succeeded," Tanin said. "You wanted to love him as much