A Promise of Thunder

abusing a woman.” Then he turned and continued up the stairs.
    Alone in her room, Storm had taken off her dress and petticoat and stretched out on the bed. She did seem to tire more easily these days, and the afternoon heat was oppressive. The sheets were cool against her cheek and she closed her eyes. But no matter how hard she tried to drift off to sleep, thoughts of Grady kept intruding. If he continued to avoid her, she would have to track him down and tell him about their child. Soon no one would be able to mistake her condition.
    Her stomach was no longer flat. A little bulge protruded where once she had been slightly concave. Her breasts were larger than she could ever remember them being, and somewhat tender to the touch. But it was her narrow waist where the most noticeable difference lay. It was at least two inches thicker than it had been before her pregnancy, and she had already let out the seams in her dresses. She knew if she and Grady had been on intimate terms these past days he would have noticed the changes immediately.
    As if just thinking of him had conjured him up, the door flew open and Grady stepped into the room. She didn’t notice his glowering expression as she cried out his name in joyful welcome. It wasn’t until he slammed the door behind him and stomped toward the bed that she knew something was amiss.
    “What is it, Grady? Are you angry about something?”
    “You could say that.”
    “Do you want to tell me about it?”
    “Oh, I’ll tell you, all right. But first, take off your clothes.”
    “What?”
    “You heard me. Take off your clothes—all of them.”
    Storm’s mouth went dry. “If you want to make love, you have only to ask. What’s wrong? I’ve never seen you like this before.”
    “I’ve never been this angry before. Are you going to take off your clothes or must I do it for you?”
    A tremor of fear snaked down Storm’s spine. She had a good idea what had angered Grady. She took her time removing her underwear, stockings, and shift. When she lay naked and vulnerable to his penetrating gaze she glanced up at Grady, taking heart when she saw something flicker in his eyes. But it quickly passed, replaced by simmering anger. She started violently when he bent down and placed a large callused hand on the swelling beneath her ribcage.
    “Why didn’t you tell me? Hearing that I’m to become a father in a roundabout way makes me furious.”
    “I wanted to tell you. I truly intended to tell you.”
    “When? After I discovered it for myself?”
    “If you hadn’t been avoiding me, I would have told you days ago.” Her voice was rising steadily. How dare he direct his anger at her when she was guilty of nothing. She wouldhave told him in her own good time.
    “When am I to be a father?” he asked in a voice far too calm for her liking. She feared his icy contempt more than she feared his anger.
    “In six months.”
    “I see. And what would you have done if I had gone back to Oklahoma alone as you insisted?”
    Storm’s chin jutted out at a stubborn angle. “I would have survived.” Suddenly she flung his hand aside and jerked upright. “And get your hands off me. I won’t let you intimidate me. You might frighten big bad gunslingers, but you don’t frighten me.”
    Grady rocked back on his heels, shaken by Storm’s words. Good Lord, had he sunken so low that he resorted to intimidating pregnant women? “I’m not trying to frighten you, Storm,” he said more reasonably. “I just want to know why you saw fit to keep your pregnancy a secret from me. Did you think I wouldn’t want our child?”
    “I didn’t know what to think,” Storm admitted shakily. “I told you before, I thought you no longer wanted me in your life. When you showed up at Peaceful Valley with Laughing Brook I assumed you preferred her to me. Telling you about our baby would have only complicated matters.”
    “For the last time, I never told you to leave. What you thought you heard wasn’t what I said. I was wounded and helpless when you left. Laughing Brook stayed to care for me andTim. I’ve always wanted you, Storm. Grandfather Spirit predicted long before I knew you that I must meet and conquer the Storm before I would find peace. I believe the Storm he spoke of was you. He also said Thunder can exist only in the bosom of Storm.”
    “I don’t understand,” Storm said softly. A glimmer of hope soared in her heart, but she desperately wanted to hear Grady say the words.