A Promise of Thunder

Darnell. I know I seen ya someplace.”
    “The name’s Grady Stryker, and I seriously doubt we’ve met before. I own a homestead ten miles west of town.”
    “Homesteader, huh. That’s damn interestin’. Didn’t know they let half-breeds homestead. Ya sure look like someone I should know.”
    “Sorry, Darnell, you’ve got the wrong man. We’ve never met.” He finished his beer in one gulp. “Well, better get going. My wife is waiting for me at the general store. See you around, Darnell.”
    “Yah, see ya around, Stryker.” Grady left the saloon as quickly as possible without seeming to be in a hurry. While Darnell had been talking he had suddenly recalled where they had met.It was at the Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City, Kansas.
    Grady had just paid for the services of a young whore and was accompanying her upstairs when Darnell, drunk and looking for a fight, insisted that he had already engaged her services. Though the whore had said otherwise, Darnell had persisted, until Grady had been forced to throw the man from the saloon. Darnell had picked himself up from the dirt and drawn on Grady. Because Darnell had been drinking, Grady hadn’t wanted to kill him, so he had merely winged him in the left arm. When Grady returned downstairs after his romp with the whore, Darnell was gone. Afterward Grady had forgotten all about it. But apparently Darnell had not.
    Grady hurried across the street to the general store, where he had left the wagon. He waved and grinned when he saw Storm waiting for him. Her pregnancy was quite noticeable now, and a warm, melting feeling spread upward through his body whenever he looked at her. Which was quite often. He couldn’t believe that Wakantanka had given him such happiness. He took the packages from Storm’s hands and placed them in the wagon bed. Then he lifted her onto the seat.
    “Are you ready to go home, sweetheart?”
    “All set. Did you get a good price for the cattle?”
    “The army is desperate for cattle to feed the troops through the winter months. The price Ireceived is slightly more than I expected. Someone will be out to inspect them in a couple of days.”
    Grady waited until Storm settled comfortably on the seat, then started to walk around to the driver’s side. He had managed only a few steps when he saw Darnell hurrying across the street toward him. He let loose a few choice words beneath his breath. He wanted to leap onto the wagon and whip the horses into a fine froth, but it was too late. Even as the thought came to him, Darnell was standing before him.
    “I recollect who ya are now, Renegade. Yer the hombre what winged me a few months back. I was laid up fer two weeks and had ta pay a doc ta patch me up. I swore I’d make ya pay if we ever crossed paths. Pick yer time and place, Renegade. Right now would suit me jest fine.”
    “Grady!” Storm’s voice rose on a note of panic. This couldn’t be happening again. How many times would Grady be forced to defend himself before he’d be left in peace? “Please, tell the man to go away.”
    Grady’s face was stark as he fought his natural inclination to oblige Darnell. But he had promised Storm, and he had every intention of holding to that vow. “You heard my wife, Darnell. Go away. I’m not interested in drawing against you.”
    “Well ain’t that too bad.” Darnell raked Storm’s swollen belly with contempt. “Has the little woman stolen yer guts?”
    “Get out of here, Darnell, before I forget I’ve sworn off violence.”
    “Sounds ta me like ya turned yellow,” Darnell said slyly, seeming to know exactly the right words to goad Grady.
    Grady’s hands balled into fists and his face grew so red Storm feared he would explode. Slowly his hands inched upward, pausing scant inches above his holstered gun.
    “Go ahead, Renegade, I’ll even let ya draw first. I ain’t drunk this time, and I’ve been practicin’ some. I rode with the Dalton gang fer a spell.”
    “Grady!” Storm’s voice brought Grady abruptly to his senses. It wasn’t easy to let a miserable, worthless skunk like Darnell call him a coward and get away with it. He slanted Storm a look filled with regret and apology, then turned back to Darnell.
    “This is neither the time nor the place, Darnell. My wife is pregnant and doesn’t need the aggravation of seeing me gun you down.”
    Grady’s words brought Storm’s world tumbling down around her feet. Did Grady’s word mean nothing to him? Why couldn’t