A Promise of Thunder

was Storm trying to tell him she could never love him? he wondered bleakly. It didn’t matter, he tried to tell himself. She would make a wonderful mother for his son, and obviously she cared for him a little or she wouldn’t respond with such passion to his loving. Better to accept what Storm freely offered, he reasoned, than to long for what could never be.
    “If passion is all we will ever have, then I will settle for that,” Grady finally said, “as long as you are content.”
    Content? Storm thought bitterly. Hardly that. Why couldn’t Grady love her as deeply as he had loved Summer Sky? It would be so easy to love Grady if only he wanted her love, she reflected sadly. Though he gave every appearance of accepting the white man’s life, she knew that deep in his heart he still harbored bitterness and resentment for the white race. Until he learned that violence begat violence and that a heart filled with hate soon withered and died,there was little hope of their finding love.
    “For the time being I am content,” Storm said. “But the first time you go courting violence or allow another woman to come between us, I will leave you and Tim.”
    “I am done with violence. Avenging Summer Sky’s death has turned me from my family and friends. I pray someday they will forgive me for the abrupt way in which I left six years ago.”
    “Have you ever thought of returning for a visit?”
    Grady remained silent so long Storm thought he hadn’t heard the question. She started to repeat it, but his soft words forestalled her. “Many times, but I am afraid.”
    “Afraid,” Storm scoffed. “I didn’t think you were afraid of anything.”
    “Sometimes the bitterness in my heart frightens me.” His strangled words sounded as if they were torn from his soul, but Storm heard them and was stunned by the anguish he was suffering. It was also the first time he had truly opened up to her about his past.
    “Perhaps if you told me about Summer Sky’s death it might help,” Storm suggested hopefully.
    Silence.
    “Grady? I truly want to help you.”
    Silence.
    “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.”
    “No, I will tell you. It happened six years ago …”

Chapter Thirteen
     
    Storm turned in Grady’s arms until she could see the harsh outline of his face in the lamp’s dull glow. The flickering light danced provocatively on his stark features, revealing all the misery and anguish he was suffering.
    “I take it Summer Sky’s death was unexpected.”
    Grady snorted bitterly. “Not only was it unexpected but an act of depraved cruelty by despicable men.”
    Storm held her breath, waiting for him to continue without being prodded. She truly believed that by opening up to her some of the hurt and bitterness he harbored in his heart would heal.
    Grady’s mind traveled backward in time, reliving again that terrifying day when hiswhole world fell apart. He had been barely twenty-two years old and Summer Sky a few months younger. Tim wasn’t quite a year old, and Summer Sky was already swelling with his second child.
    When he spoke again his voice was devoid of all emotion.
    “I was with Father the day it happened, helping round up horses for the army, and Mother was visiting a sick neighbor. Summer Sky took the wagon to town to purchase material for baby clothes. She left Tim at home with Sweet Grass, Summer Sky’s mother. Summer Sky’s parents lived on the ranch, where Jumping Buffalo worked for Father. That’s why Summer Sky and I were raised together. Laughing Brook was three years younger than we were. A boy, born later, died at birth; only the girls survived.”
    He paused, dragging in a ragged breath that seemed to sear his lungs. Storm didn’t know if he would continue, but he cleared his throat and proceeded in a toneless voice, as if reciting something that had been indelibly etched upon his brain.
    “Somewhere between the ranch and town, Summer Sky was attacked by three desperadoes. We learned what happened from Summer Sky before she died. She said that three thugs stopped the wagon and began tormenting her, calling her ‘Indian squaw’ and ‘white man’s whore.’ They noticed her pregnancy and taunted her about carrying a white man’s bastard.
    “Oh, Grady, how terrible,” Storm said, genuinely appalled.
    “Summer Sky was the gentlest, most giving creature alive,” Grady replied bitterly. “She wouldn’t have hurt a living soul. Her entire life was devoted to making me happy and