A Promise of Thunder

crest of one of the hills surrounding Peaceful Valley, his dark eyes gleaming with pride. Storm drew her mare up beside him, and Soars-Like-An-Eagle joined her. The large, rambling ranch house was set on a level piece of ground next to a bubbling stream surrounded by numerous outbuildings and paddocks. Horses of all sizes and description grazed on the hillsides and valley for as far as the eye could see. A carefully tended garden surrounded by a white fence spread out behind the house, basking in the afternoon sun.
    “There it is,” Blade said expansively. “Peaceful Valley. Shannon and I moved here before Grady was born, and it’s been our home for nearly thirty years.”
    Storm was visibly impressed by the prosperous ranch that Grady had given up to become a renegade. “You have a right to be proud, Blade,” she said sincerely. “I don’t know how Grady could have left all this behind.”
    “Come along. Shannon is expecting us. I wired her from the train station before we boarded.” Blade led the way, anxious to greet his wife. He hated being parted from Shannon for more than a few hours. But one good thing had come of his trip to the reservation: He was returning with Grady’s wife, and soon there would be a child in the house again. Shannon would be ecstatic.
    The three riders had just entered the yard when the door to the house burst open and Shannon came hurtling toward them. Bending low, Blade scooped her onto his lap and kissed her soundly. Peals of delighted laughter floated past her lips as Blade kissed and nuzzled her neck.
    “Put me down, Blade,” Shannon scolded when it became apparent her bold husband wasn’t about to let her go. “What will our guests think?”
    “They’ll think that I love my wife and haven’t seen her in a long time.” Blade laughed as he carefully set Shannon on her feet. He quickly dismounted and joined her, one arm draped possessively around her waist.
    Storm could feel Shannon Stryker’s inquisitive blue eyes on her as Soars-Like-An-Eagle helped her dismount. Her first glimpse of Grady’s mother gave her quite a start. Shannon Stryker looked young enough to be Grady’s sister. There wasn’t one strand of gray in her gleaming chestnut hair. Her skin was smooth and unlined and her figure was as slim and supple as a girl’s. But it was to Shannon’s eyes that Storm was drawn. Her eyes were the same incredible shade of blue as Grady’s.
    Shannon’s smile was warm and welcoming as she held out her hand to Storm. “Welcome, my dear. I’m so pleased you could come. Blade’s telegram gave me quite a shock. I had no idea Grady had remarried, but I couldn’t be more pleased. Later you must tell me all about myson and grandson. It’s been so long.” The wistful note in her voice tugged at Storm’s heart.
    “I’m sure Storm will tell us all about Grady and Tim once she’s had time to rest,” Blade said. “Why don’t you take our daughter-in-law upstairs to her room, Little Firebird, so she can rest before dinner.”
    “Forgive me,” Shannon said, “you must be exhausted. Come along, Storm, you can have Grady’s old room.” Blade followed with Storm’s bags as Shannon led the way up the stairs.
    Grady’s room was filled with childhood mementos, but Storm saw nothing that reminded her of the proud, ruthless man Grady had become after he left the ranch. The possessions in the room belonged to a youth with dreams untarnished by reality. The man Storm loved displayed no youthful softness and had no fanciful dreams to nurture. Grady Stryker was a man who battled personal demons, a man who had found no room in his heart for love.
    Storm was silent so long, Shannon asked, “Would you prefer another room, Storm?”
    “Oh, no, this is fine,” Storm assured her. “I was just trying to picture Grady in this room. He’s changed, you know.”
    Shannon’s face fell. “I expected as much. Do you think he’ll ever return home?”
    “I believe he will,” Storm said with such heartfelt conviction, Shannon felt her heart constrict with the first stirrings of hope.
    * * *
     
    If not for missing Grady so desperately, Storm would have been truly happy at Peaceful Valley. Shannon and Blade were wonderful. Storm wondered if Grady knew how badly he had hurt his parents by refusing to communicate with them. He had spoken often about his parents, and deep in her heart Storm felt that Grady intended to reconcile with them one day. Both Shannon and Blade were