A Promise of Thunder
mattress, and several other functional pieces of furniture.
“You’ve been busy.”
For a moment Grady looked startled, then a slow smile spread over his features. “You have no idea. Are you ready to go to the land office and then have something to eat?”
“I—there is one stop I’d like to make before we leave town.” Grady looked at her expectantly. “I’d like to visit the cemetery. I haven’t bid Buddy a proper good-bye.”
The thought that Storm felt more for her dead husband than she did her living one gave him a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. But what did he expect? There was no great love between them, only a mutual need that made marriage appear attractive and the right thing to do at this particular time. My God, they weren’t even going to share the same bed, so why should he be upset by Storm’s need toremain true to her dead husband’s memory?
“I’ll drop you off and wait in the wagon,” Grady said tightly.
It was snowing quite heavily by the time they left the land office, had a rather subdued lunch, and drove to the cemetery. Grim-faced, Grady watched as Storm made her way slowly to Buddy’s grave. It was still unmarked, but Storm had ordered a modest gravestone to mark his final resting place. Grady frowned when she knelt in the mushy snow and bowed her head. He could see her mouth moving and realized she was either speaking or praying, but he was too far away to hear her words.
The silence was deafening as Storm knelt beside Buddy’s grave. The world seemed wrapped in a chilling blanket of snow that muffled all sound, including her soft sobs. She knew it was time to let Buddy go, that he would want it that way, but it was hard to part with him. Time stood still while she spoke to him, telling him her hopes and dreams for the future, explaining about Grady and her reason for marrying him. She remained on her knees for so long a time, the cold and her grief had numbed her to everything but the fact that she’d never see Buddy’s smiling face again.
When snow began piling up around Storm and she seemed to be unconcerned that she was in danger of freezing to death if she didn’t move, Grady took matters into his own hands. Leaping from the driver’s box, he rummaged in the wagon bed until he found one of the newblankets he had purchased and walked resolutely to where Storm still knelt in the snow. She looked so small and vulnerable that Grady’s heart went out to her. She must have loved her husband a great deal to mourn him so deeply, he thought, feeling a pang of regret for the way he had insisted upon a quick wedding without allowing her sufficient time to mourn. He could sympathize with her, for he had mourned Summer Sky just as deeply.
Storm started violently when she felt Grady wrap the blanket around her shoulders. When he swept her into his arms, she cried out in dismay. “What are you doing?” He looked into her face, not too surprised to see icy tears frosting her pale cheeks.
“Taking you home, lady. Nursing you through pneumonia is hardly my idea of a honeymoon.”
“But Buddy …”
“You’ve said your good-byes. Buddy wouldn’t want you freezing to death at the foot of his grave.” He lifted her onto the seat, tucking the blanket around her. “I just hope we reach home before the snow gets too deep. I bought a set of runners for the wagon, but I don’t exactly relish the idea of attaching them in the middle of a snowstorm.”
The ride home was slow and bitterly cold. By the time they reached the cabin Storm felt like a solid chunk of ice. The fire had gone out, and Grady saw to it immediately. While Storm huddled before the kindling blaze trying to thawout, Grady carried their purchases inside.
“When you’re sufficiently warm perhaps you can start supper while I set up the bed,” Grady said, sliding her a sidelong glance. He couldn’t help but wonder if she would insist on enforcing her silly rule that they not share a bed. Her forlorn figure bending over her dead husband’s grave had touched him deeply. He wanted to comfort her, to help her forget the past and look toward the future. Making love to Storm would be a healing rite, and pleasurable for both of them. If she would allow it, mutual gratification had much to commend it.
If she would allow it …
The supper dishes were done and Grady was outside seeing to the animals. Storm used his absence to wash herself and slip into her nightgown. When he returned, stomping
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