Part 16 (2/2)
”You won't be.” He swung onto the seat beside her and picked up the reins. Storm's face was mutinous as they left Guthrie. By the time they reached their homestead she was so angry she could neither speak nor look at him.
Laughing Brook knew something was amiss the moment Storm jumped from the wagon and stomped into the cabin. She lingered outside while Grady unhitched the horses. The muscles of his face twitched and his motions were short and jerky as he struggled to keep his rage under tight rein.
”What happened in town, Thunder?” Grady sent her an oblique look, then turned back to his task.
”Why is Storm so angry?”
”Dammit, Laughing Brook, it's between me and Storm.”
”I sense it goes beyond that,” Laughing Brook said quietly.
Defeated, Grady turned to face her. ”In a way it does concern you.”
”Storm does not want me here.”
”This has nothing to do with your presence in our home. It concerns your sister.”
”Summer Sky?” Laughing Brook's lovely features wore a bewildered look.
”I encountered one of the men responsible for your sister's death in town.”
Laughing Brook went still. ”Are you certain?”
”As certain as I can be.”
”Did you kill him? Is that why Storm is angry?”
”I didn't kill him-yet. But I will when I meet him tomorrow at sundown behind the livery. Storm begged me not to accept the challenge, but once I realized who he was there was no turning back.”
”Your wife should never have asked such a thing of you,” Laughing Brook said spitefully. ”It is your right to avenge Summer Sky's death.”
”Storm doesn't see it that way,” Grady replied. ”Her first husband's death occurred as a result of a gunfight and she made me promise to avoid violence.”
”Surely you didn't promise such a thing!” Summer Sky said, aghast. ”You are Thunder, a man admired by the People for your courage. Your enemies fear you because you are cunning and fearless. You were not meant to be a farmer. Farming is women's work, unfit for a Lakota warrior.”
”Times have changed, Laughing Brook. Indians no long reign supreme in the west. They have been herded like animals to reservations that can't support half their numbers. I am doing what I deem best for myself and my family.”
”But you didn't keep your promise, Thunder,” Laughing Brook reminded him. ”Tomorrow at sundown Summer Sky's death will finally be avenged.”
”And I will have lost my wife,” Grady said bleakly.
”Storm isn't the woman for you. She never was.”
”That's for me to decide,” Grady said as he stared toward the cabin with a look of utter hopelessness. ”Go help Storm with supper. My marriage isn't up for discussion.”
Supper that night was a grim affair. Storm waited until everyone had eaten before sitting down to her own supper. Then she closed herself in the bedroom and for the first time since their marriage, latched the door. When Grady found himself locked out of his own bedroom he seethed with anger and humiliation. He felt Tim's eyes on him and knew that if he failed to command proper respect from his wife, his son would hold him in contempt. The certain knowledge that Laughing Brook already thought him a fool made him react violently to Storm's deliberate snub. Raising a booted foot, he broke the flimsy door open with one well-aimed kick.
The door flew inward and Storm whirled, her face a mask of astonishment. And fear. Grady's fierce expression sent her stumbling backward, one hand clutching her throat. She'd always known he was a violent man, but thus far his anger had never been directed at her. She watched in trepidation as Grady calmly set the door straight, then pulled it shut. When he turned back to glare at her she swallowed her fear, lifted her chin, and glared back at him with all the bravado she could muster.
”Don't ever try to lock me out of our bedroom,” he gritted out. ”I won't be made a fool of before my son.”
”You should have thought of that before you accepted a challenge from that gunman.”
”I had no choice,” he bit out harshly.
”You had two choices. You could have walked away.”
”You know why I agreed to meet Bull.”
”I know, but it makes no difference. You broke your promise.”
”I never thought I'd find one of the men responsible for Summer Sky's death. It's been several years.”
”Think, Grady, think what this will do to your son,” Storm pleaded. ”If you don't care about my feelings think about Tim.”
”It's too late for logic, Storm. I'm meeting Bull tomorrow at sundown and nothing you can say will dissuade me. Go to bed, lady.”
”I'm not sleeping with you.”
”I said go to bed. I won't touch you, if that's what you're concerned about. You'll feel differently about this tomorrow after you've had time to think about it.”
”Never!”
Sleep did not come easily for Storm. She was more frightened than at any time in her life. The thought of losing Grady was terrifying. How many times must she mourn someone she loved? She had told him she'd leave if he went through with this insanity and she wouldn't back down now. She could be just as stubborn as Grady. If he insisted on facing Bull in a shootout, she wouldn't be here when he returned. She'd been stupid to think Grady was ready to give up violence. If he broke his promise once, doing so the next time-and the next-would come easier, until Storm would be afraid to go into town for fear some drifter looking to make a name for himself would challenge Grady.
Grady was up at dawn and gone from the house shortly afterward. When Storm heard the distinct sound of gunfire she knew Grady was practicing for tonight. Bull had been correct in a.s.suming that Grady had lost some of his skill during the months he'd been inactive, Storm reflected, else he wouldn't be out there right now practicing. The thought was not comforting.
Grady didn't return at noon, and Laughing Brook carried lunch to him. When she returned she marched up to Storm and asked, ”Why are you doing this to him?” Her voice was ripe with condemnation.
”I'm doing nothing that I'm aware of.”
”You don't deserve a man like Thunder. If you loved him you'd stand by him and support him. It's what Summer Sky would have done. Thunder could do no wrong in my sister's eyes.”
”I am not Summer Sky, nor will I ever be. Grady knew that when we married. Had he wanted a replica of Summer Sky he would have married you.”
Laughing Brook bristled with silent indignation. ”Today may be the last day he walks the earth.”
A terrible pain knifed through Storm. ”I'm aware of that. I begged him not to do this, but he refused to listen to me.”
”As well he should,” Laughing Brook said huffily. ”My sister's spirit will not rest until her death is avenged.”
”You're as bloodthirsty as Grady,” Storm said with disgust. ”I can't live with violence, not the kind Grady seems to enjoy, so I've decided to leave if he goes through with this madness.”
<script>