A Promise of Thunder

you’d do is spread the word that the man known as Renegade no longer exists. He’s a peaceful farmer now, with a family to support.”
    Darnell hesitated for a brief moment while he mulled over Grady’s words. Then his features hardened and the gun in his hand steadied and took aim. Still hidden in the crevice of the alleyway, Storm drew in a ragged breath. She loved Grady too much to see him gunned down by a man with no scruples and even less conscience. She could see Darnell’s finger slowly squeeze upon the trigger, and in that instant she reacted out of pure instinct and an all-consuming love that knew no right or wrong. After all, it was her fault Grady had gone out unarmed to face a desperate man like Darnell. If she hadn’t pried that stupid promise from him, he wouldn’t be facing certain death now.
    Resolutely, the shotgun came up to her shoulder and she took careful aim, fearing that if she merely shouted a warning Darnell would still have time to squeeze off a shot. Though the light was fading, she saw clearly enough to fix her target and jerk on the trigger. The shot reverberated in her ears, deafening her to Darnell’s shot, which was loosed almost at the same instant. Grady lurched sideways in time to avoid all but a grazing wound as thebullet took a good-sized notch out of his ear. Darnell hadn’t been so lucky. Storm’s aim was true and straight, peppering his buttocks with buckshot.
    Howling like a banshee, the gun flew out of Darnell’s hand and he danced from foot to foot like a cat on a flame. Holding his bleeding ear, Grady’s stared in shock as Storm stepped from the shadows of the alleyway and ran toward him.
    “Where are you hurt?” she cried, fearing she’d been too late to save Grady from grave injury.
    “It’s not serious,” Grady said, finally finding his tongue. “What in the hell are you doing here? Don’t you ever do anything I say?”
    “Not if I can help it,” Storm replied saucily. Pulling his hand away from his ear, she saw that it was indeed a minor injury. Other than losing a fair chunk of his earlobe, he seemed to be unhurt. Tearing a strip from her petticoat, she pressed it to his ear.
    From the corner of his eye Grady saw Darnell reach for his gun, which he had thrown to the ground when Storm’s buckshot struck him. Reaching out a booted foot, Grady placed it over Darnell’s hand and ground it into the dirt. Then he calmly picked up Darnell’s gun and shoved it into his belt.
    Darnell yelped in pain. “Bastard! Go ahead and kill me.”
    “I’m not going to kill anyone, Darnell. Maybe now you’ll realize that I meant what I said. I’m going to let you go. But in doing so I’ll expectyou to spread the word that the Renegade has laid down his guns for good. Now get the hell out of here before I change my mind.”
    “How in the hell am I supposed to sit my horse with my ass full of buckshot?” Darnell complained.
    “I don’t care how you do it, just do it. If you don’t, I’ll turn my wife on you again.”
    The insult wasn’t lost on Darnell as he shot Storm a fulminating look. Then he turned and limped away, trailing blood behind him. Grady waited until he was out of sight before grasping Storm’s shoulders and giving her a little shake. “Dammit, Storm, what were you thinking? Coming here like this was a foolish thing to do. You’re carrying my child, for God’s sake!”
    “I’m aware of that,” Storm said with amazing calm. “That’s why I came. I suddenly realized that the father of my child could be killed. Meeting Darnell unarmed was a stupid idea. It struck me that Darnell isn’t the kind of man who’d care whether or not you were armed. All I could think of was stopping him from killing you.”
    Grady placed an arm around her shoulders and led her toward the street. “What happened to the woman who abhors violence? I did it for you, you know. If I showed up unarmed, I sincerely thought I could talk Darnell into leaving peacefully.”
    “I was wrong, Grady, so damn wrong. You can’t help it if violence comes looking for you.”
    “I don’t think it will any more, sweetheart. I feel certain Darnell will spread the word and I’ll be left in peace. Let’s go home. If I remember correctly we have some unfinished business there.”
    “That’s what I love about you, Grady. You are most diligent about taking care of unfinished business,” Storm said, her eyes twinkling.
    “When the unfinished business involves you, lady,