Actually, with Cullen being a wanted man, there was no way he’d be able to remain in Scotland. He would always be hunted unless, of course, he could buy his way out of his crime, and he would certainly have the money to do that.
Their father had been brilliant when it came to investing, and money really was not a problem for either of them. They could live an entire life and not spend the wealth their father had accumulated, which continued to grow each day.
He wanted to make certain Cullen shared in that wealth, and he hoped to find in Cullen the brother he had missed while growing up.
But what of his brother? Was he a thief or falsely accused? Was he a good man or a troubled man? Would he welcome a brother into his life or take his share of the wealth and want nothing to do with Burke?
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.
“Damn,” 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.”
