Read Online Taken By Storm by Donna Fletcher - Free Book Online Page B

for the soldiers toregroup and return,” Storm suggested. “So which then is the better choice?”
    “Are you leaving the decision to me?” Burke asked, surprised.
    “He’s your brother.”
    She hadn’t considered that when she made the decision to send the men in the first place. She hadn’t even consulted him, so why did she do so now?
    “Let the men rest,” he said.
    Storm nodded and looked to William and Philip. “You leave shortly; get ready.”
    Burke jumped to his feet, the two men hurried off, and the other men drifted away from the campfire.
    “Why give me a choice when you had no intention of honoring it?” That he was annoyed resonated in his gruff tone and his stoic stance.
    “I wanted to see what you would do.”
    She sounded as if she judged him, and his annoyance grew. “And you don’t like what I did?”
    “You thought of the men, not the prisoner.”
    “I thought of both.”
    “There is only one who can be considered,” she said sharply. “His life depends on it.”
    “If the men are too tired—”
    “They’ll get over it and do what they must.”
    “Like Tanin?” Burke challenged.
    To his surprise, she smiled.
    “Are you angry because Tanin did what was necessary and you could not?”
    That fired his defenses. “I would not have slapped you. I would have handled it differently.”
    “And gotten the same immediate results?” Shedidn’t wait for an answer. “I need my men to follow my orders without hesitation. It could mean the safety or loss of a life or lives. Each one of them understands this and does what he is told. You, Mr. Longton, find it impossible to do.”
    “There is a simple answer for that, Storm.”
    “And what is that?”
    “I don’t follow; I lead.”

Chapter 9
    S torm marched right up to him. “There’s room for only one leader in my group, Mr. Longton. If you cannot accept that, then you can leave.” She turned and hurried her pace since she felt an overwhelming need to punch the arrogant American.
    One minute he was tender and caring and the next minute he was claiming himself a leader. Well, not here was he, nor would he be. She had warned him, and she had the feeling she would continue to warn him about following orders. It was already tiresome, but the money—
    She halted so quickly that she kicked up a cloud of dirt around her.
    She hadn’t had time to discuss an exact fee with him, and she suddenly wondered if it was worth keeping the American around.
    Storm turned, intending to do just that, and almost collided with Burke.
    “Were you following me?” she accused.
    “We weren’t finished,” he said
    “There is no room for discussion. You either—”
    He cut her off. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t follow your orders. I also didn’t say I wouldn’t object now and again. From what I’ve seen in the short time I’ve been here, it’s obvious that you not only allow your men to voice their opinions but you also consider them. I’m expressing my opinions, maybe a little more forcefully, but it’s only natural since I’m accustomed to leading.”
    “Since you are a leader, you know only one person can lead.”
    “Believe me,” he said with a shake of his head. “I’m trying to remember that.”
    “I’ll keep reminding you,” Storm said with a chuckle.
    “I have no doubt of that, but be aware you may tire of reminding me,” he cautioned, his smile spreading slowly.
    “A leader must chastise when necessary.” Her smile grew as his faded. She knew her words stung his pride, but then they meant to remind.
    “Were you returning to speak with me?” he asked.
    She was relieved he’d changed the subject. There had been enough debate. Any further discussion would not change the outcome.
    “We never discussed a fee.”
    “I thought the same myself,” he said.
    They entered into a brief discussion since the sum Burke offered was more than generous for what he asked of her in return. The money would sustain them for a year or more