A Promise of Thunder

Grady’s father, but she had assumed that Blade Stryker no longer dressed like an Indian or followed their customs.
    “I am Jumping Buffalo, father of Laughing Brook. I have come for my daughter. Her mother has great need of her.”
    Storm allowed herself to relax, realizing this man would not hurt her. “Laughing Brook is not here. She and Tim are in Guthrie with Grady. Grady has been shot.”
    Jumping Buffalo turned his dark gaze on her. “Why are you not with your husband? Are my daughter and grandson all right?”
    “They’re fine, Jumping Buffalo. Laughing Brook stayed in town to care for Grady until he can be brought home. He was shot defending himself against one of the men who—who—caused Summer Sky’s death.”
    Jumping Buffalo’s stoic features gave away nothing of what he was feeling, yet Storm could tell her words gave him enormous satisfaction.“It is not like Thunder to allow himself to become careless. Am I to assume the other man is dead?”
    Storm nodded. “Not only is Bull dead, but so are the other two men who were with him that day in Cheyenne. They were killed in a bank robbery.”
    Jumping Buffalo’s nostrils flared and his eyes glowed darkly with pleasure. “It is as it should be. Summer Sky’s spirit is at peace now and Thunder’s soul will no longer be troubled. I will take my daughter home with me. It is not her place to care for your husband.”
    Suddenly Storm became very busy as she struck a match and lit the lamp, flooding the room with light. Then, because she intuitively knew Jumping Buffalo would see through her lie, she faced him squarely and said, “Grady prefers Laughing Brook. He doesn’t need me.”
    Jumping Buffalo searched Storm’s face, her expression revealing all the anguish she was suffering. “I am sorry that my daughter has interfered in your life. It is good that I have come for her. Times are hard and food is scarce on the reservation, but her mother is ill and needs her.”
    “Do not blame your daughter, Jumping Buffalo. Oh, I’ll not deny that jealousy wasn’t involved, but Laughing Brook is not the cause of the trouble between me and Grady. Our problem is much more complex. I cannot abide the violent life Grady lives. My first husband died because of a senseless act ofviolence, and I cannot bear to see Grady killed in the same way. I told him I’d leave him if he engaged in a gunfight with Bull, and he chose vengeance over me. I can’t live that way.”
    “Thunder did what his pride demanded. He is wounded. Would you leave him when he is helpless?”
    “I was given no choice,” Storm said stonily. “It’s what Grady wants. I’ll abide by his wishes.”
    “I am sorry for both you and Thunder,” Jumping Buffalo said slowly, “but it doesn’t change my decision to take Laughing Brook back to the reservation with me. Sweet Grass needs Laughing Brook to care for her, and I will not return without my daughter.”
    “Laughing Brook must care for Tim while Grady is recovering,” Storm said.
    “I will take my grandson back to the reservation with me,” Jumping Buffalo decided.
    “No! You can’t do that. Grady needs Tim here with him.”
    “I will do what must be done,” Jumping Buffalo said philosophically. “I will leave now.”
    “No, wait!” Storm cried in sudden inspiration. Jumping Buffalo stared at her curiously, waiting for her to continue. “Let me go with you in Laughing Brook’s place. I will care for Sweet Grass so Laughing Brook can remain here to care for Grady and Tim.”
    It seemed perfectly logical, Storm thought, since Grady didn’t want her and she really hadno place to go for the time being. If she quietly disappeared from his life for a short time, he might come to his senses about her. And if she left a note telling him where to find her, perhaps he would come after her.
    Jumping Buffalo wore a stunned look. “You would do that? You must love Thunder a great deal. The reservation is not a pleasant place. It offers little luxury for a white woman unaccustomed to hardship. If not for the beeves and food my good friend Blade Stryker sends me, we would have starved long ago. He is aware that I have been caring for our grandson these many years and did not wish for him to starve.”
    “Grady’s father knew that Grady and Tim were living on the reservation?” Storm said, more than a little surprised.
    “Blade and Shannon both know and were deeply hurt by Thunder’s refusal to see them. But they have abided