A Promise of Thunder

greet her grandson, who still sat astride Grady’s horse, smiling shyly. Shannon held out her arms and Tim slipped happily into them.
    Storm had been so swept up in the tender reunion that she had failed to notice the second rider. It wasn’t until Laughing Brook dismounted and sidled up beside Grady that Storm realized the Indian girl was still with Grady. Her loud gasp ended in a sob, making her presence known as surely as if she had called out. Slowly Grady turned and saw Storm. Visibly shaken at finding his wife at Peaceful Valley, his face turned white. His shock at seeing her was so obvious, Storm realized he couldn’t have come to Peaceful Valley on heraccount. His mouth formed her name, but no sound emerged.
    She could feel the searing heat of his piercing gaze as it settled upon her, and a shudder of primitive yearning shook her to the very depths of her soul. Grady had grown so still, Shannon turned to look askance at him. It was Tim who finally spoke her name.
    “Storm! What are you doing here? Papa said we’d never see you again.”
    The excitement and unexpectedness of the moment was too much for Storm. Turning abruptly, she fled into the house and up the stairs to her room, where she slammed the door behind her and threw herself on the bed in a tearful rage. Nothing had changed. Grady and Laughing Brook were still together. He
hadn’t
come for her as she’d first supposed. Finding her here had been a complete shock to Grady. Sending Laughing Brook home to the reservation had never been Grady’s intention.
    Storm’s furious tears flowed freely while Grady fought for composure. Not in his wildest dreams had he expected to find Storm at Peaceful Valley. He had so many questions to ask he didn’t know where to begin.
    Shannon solved the problem handily by asking, “Why have you waited so long to come for Storm? Your father and I don’t care what brought you here, we’re just grateful you’ve come. Go to her, son, your wife needs you.”
    Grady lifted one shoulder in a dispirited shrug and looked away. “I had no idea Storm was here, Mother. If I had, I might not have come. She made it perfectly clear that she wanted nothing more to do with me.”
    Shannon looked bewildered. “But her note. I assumed you traveled to the reservation first and Jumping Buffalo told you where to find Storm.”
    “The reservation? What are you talking about, Mother? What in the hell would Storm be doing at the reservation? She left no note.”
    Shannon glanced purposely at Laughing Brook, who refused to meet her eyes. “I think I understand. What do you know about Storm’s note, Laughing Brook?”
    Grady’s face turned stony as he rounded on Laughing Brook. “Answer my mother, Laughing Brook. Did Storm leave a message for me?”
    “I saw nothing,” Laughing Brook said sullenly.
    “I can’t abide liars.”
    “I didn’t think it was important,” Laughing Brook whined.
    “Where is it?”
    “I put it under your mattress and forgot about it until your mother mentioned it just now. I’m sorry, Thunder. I meant no harm.”
    “Take Tim to the kitchen, Laughing Brook,” Shannon said, diffusing a volatile situation. “I imagine he’s hungry after the ride from town.” Sending Shannon a grateful look, Laughing Brook took Tim’s hand and hurried off.
    “Don’t be too hard on her,” Shannon said. “She’s young and fancies herself in love with you. You’re here now, and so is Storm.”
    “Why did Storm go to the reservation? How did she get there? This is all so confusing.”
    “I can only tell you what I know,” Shannon said as she gave a brief explanation of why and how Storm went first to the reservation and then came to Peaceful Valley. She concluded by saying, “You have chosen wisely, son. Both your father and I have grown to love Storm. She will make a wonderful wife and mother. You must reconcile with her.”
    Grady’s expression hardened and his eyes grew cold. “I don’t think reconciliation is possible, Mother. Storm left me, I didn’t leave her.”
    His words gave Shannon hope. Grady thought Storm had left him, yet Storm said that Grady had asked her to leave. Something was very wrong somewhere. “You’re as stubborn as your father,” Shannon said with a hint of exasperation. “When your face is set like that you look just like him. Go to Storm, son, while I reacquainted myself with my grandson. Blade will be ecstatic when he returns and finds you’ve come home at last. We