A Promise of Thunder

“I had to leave, Dad. I was bitter, disillusioned, and too immature to accept the terrible blow fate had dealt me.”
    “You were a youth when you left, Grady, and now you’re a man. The years may not have been kind to you, but you’ve learned lessons I couldn’t have taught you had you remained at Peaceful Valley.”
    “Can you and Mother forgive me for my neglect? And—I’ve done things you might not want to forgive me for. The kind of life I’ve led since leaving the ranch would shame you and Mother.”
    “I know everything—or nearly everything,” Blade said quietly. “We’re not so isolated out here that we didn’t hear about the renegade Indian who fought against oppression on the western plains.”
    “The People call me Thunder.”
    “Jumping Buffalo has already told me. Returning to the People and learning their ways was a bold and brave thing to do. It made a man of you. We won’t speak of the otherbecause I hope you’ve given up that kind of life now that you have a wife and home of your own.”
    “I suspected you’ve kept in touch with Jumping Buffalo. I shouldn’t have hurt you and Mother by taking Tim away.”
    “He’s back now,” Blade said simply. “I’m proud of you for the way you’ve taken hold of your life once again. Storm has told me so much about your homestead. It pleases me, though it would please me more if you came back to the ranch and took your rightful place here at my side. This will all be yours one day, you know. Dawn’s husband has no desire to live away from San Francisco, and Spring writes that her future husband has a thriving law practice in Boise. What will happen to Peaceful Valley if you return to Oklahoma?”
    “You’ll be here many years yet, Dad, keeping tight rein on the ranch. Though I love the place, it isn’t mine as the Oklahoma homestead is mine. I won that piece of land in a grueling race and earned the right to settle there. It’s all mine, just like this ranch is yours and Mother’s. If you must leave it to someone, leave it to Tim. He’ll appreciate it when he’s older. The homestead will be my legacy to any children Storm and I have together. If there are children,” he added darkly.
    Blade searched Grady’s face, suddenly aware that Storm hadn’t told Grady that she was carrying his child. He knew there had been ampletime for Storm to tell him while they were alone upstairs, for Shannon had told him Grady had gone to Storm’s room immediately. He speculated a moment on Storm’s reluctance to reveal her pregnancy to Grady, but shrugged off his inclination to tell Grady himself. It was best, he decided, to let them work out their problems in their own way.
    “I’m sure there will be children,” Blade offered. “Your mother mentioned that Laughing Brook destroyed the note that Storm wrote to you before she left. Has that all been settled between you?”
    “Storm is too stubborn to listen to reason.” Grady’s voice was harsh with exasperation.
    “Your mother and I have become very fond of Storm. She has a deathly fear of violence, and with good reason.”
    “What has Storm told you about her first husband?” Grady asked curiously.
    “Only that he was killed accidentally. You and Storm have a lot in common.”
    Grady made a harsh sound deep in his throat. “I don’t think Storm will ever forgive me for the death of her husband. You see, I was involved in a gunfight and a stray bullet hit him. Buddy was the great love of her life. She married me because she needed a home, and I needed a home for Tim.”
    Blade knew differently, but wisely kept his counsel. “What about Laughing Brook? Why is she still with you?”
    “She was ready to return to the reservationwhen I was wounded. When Storm left so abruptly Laughing Brook stayed to care for Tim.”
    “You didn’t ask Storm to leave?” Blade asked sharply.
    Grady looked disgruntled. “Is that what she told you? I certainly would recall if I asked her to leave. No, Dad, just the opposite is true. I begged her to stay.”
    “Perhaps neither of you recall what was said,” Blade suggested. “It was a very trying time. If I were you, I’d concentrate on finding a way to make your marriage work. A good start would be sending Laughing Brook back to the reservation.”
    “Laughing Brook is my responsibility.” The tautening of his jaw gave Blade an indication of Grady’s stubbornness on the subject of Laughing Brook. “I’ll do as I see fit. Storm left me; she