Part 17 (2/2)
”This will only take a moment.”
Reluctantly, Storm rose to her feet, keeping her eyes on Grady's still form while trying to concentrate on what the sheriff was saying.
”What do you know about this, Mrs. Stryker? This sort of thing is illegal in Guthrie. I warned your husband once about making trouble.”
”This isn't Grady's fault, Sheriff,” Storm said indignantly. ”I was with my husband when Mr. Turner and Bull-the dead man-came up and challenged him.”
”Why did your husband feel it necessary to accept? This whole unsavory mess could have been avoided if he had refused. Stryker was involved in one killing already, as you well know. He should have walked away from this one.”
”Are you going to arrest him?” Storm asked, aghast.
”Mr. Turner seems to think it was your husband's fault.”
”He's a liar! I was there when Bull challenged Grady.”
”Rumor has it your husband once rode with a band of renegades. Some say he's a gunslinger called Renegade. Frankly, I'm confused. Who is he?”
Storm hesitated, unwilling to divulge anything that might hurt Grady. ”Gossip is unreliable. Don't believe everything you hear. My husband is a family man.”
”Turner insists the rumor is true, but Captain Starke says Stryker came from good stock, that his father was a hero. I decided to give your husband the benefit of the doubt as long as he caused no trouble.”
”What happened today isn't Grady's fault, Sheriff, I swear it. Turner wants our land and will go to any lengths to get it. You've got to believe me.”
”Frankly, I don't know who to believe. Personally, I like your husband. That's why I haven't pursued the rumors. But I don't relish having drifters come looking for trouble in Guthrie. This town doesn't need men who live by the gun.
”Guthrie is still a raw, new town. The law is just being established here, and I don't want Guthrie to be known as a lawless place. Captain Starke is a powerful man in the territory, and if he says your husband is a law-abiding citizen, then I'll take his word for it, until he's proven otherwise.”
Just then two men arrived with a litter, and the doctor directed them as they lifted Grady onto the stretched canvas.
”I'm sorry, Sheriff,” Storm said distractedly, ”but I must go now. They're taking Grady away.” Without waiting for a reply, she hurried after Grady and the men carrying him away.
Grady's face was white as a sheet, and he was so still, Storm could barely detect the slow rise and fall of his chest. The stench of her own fear filled her nostrils. She couldn't lose Grady, not now, not after she had learned to love him in a way she had never loved even Buddy.
The operation went well. When Dr. Finney came out of his surgery two hours after the operation began, he was grinning from ear to ear. ”I told you your husband was a strong man, Mrs. Stryker. He's going to be just fine. It was a little tricky removing the bullet, but he came through it with amazing fort.i.tude.”
Storm had spent the two hours it took to remove the bullet pacing the waiting room, her mind in turmoil. Hearing the doctor's words now brought such a rush of grat.i.tude, it was all she could do to keep from falling on the doctor's neck. ”Can I see him now?”
”You can peek in on him, but he won't know you're there. He's heavily sedated. I suggest you go home and rest. By tomorrow he'll be able to speak to you, though he won't be up to carrying on a long conversation.”
”Go home?” Storm asked, dismay coloring her words. ”I want to stay with Grady.”
”I don't think-”
”Please, Doctor, I must. What if he wakes up in the night and wants something?”
The doctor sighed wearily. ”Very well, young lady. You certainly are persistent. I'll see that a comfortable chair is available so you can rest.”
”When can I take Grady home?”
”Not for several days. It's best he remain here in case infection develops.”
Grady awoke several times during the night, asking for water. He didn't appear to know her or recognize his surroundings or recall the circ.u.mstances that brought him to such a pa.s.s. Toward dawn Storm managed to s.n.a.t.c.h a few hours of uninterrupted sleep. She didn't awaken until the doctor came in to see his patient the next morning, before he opened his office.
”How long before Grady regains consciousness?” Storm asked as the doctor inspected Grady's wound and changed his bandage.
”He should awaken soon,” the doctor predicted. ”See that he stays calm and does nothing to dislodge the bandage or reopen the wound. I'll be in my office seeing patients. Call me if you need me.” He started out the door, then turned back to Storm. ”I'll have my wife carry you up some breakfast.”
It was nearly noon when Grady began showing signs of coming out of his stupor. When he began thras.h.i.+ng around in the bed Storm had to literally hold him down. He opened his eyes, looked at her without comprehension, then drifted off again. He was still in a state of semi-awareness when the door to the room burst open and Laughing Brook stepped inside.
Storm whirled, shocked by the wild look in the Indian girl's black eyes. ”Is he dead?” Laughing Brook asked. She was in a state of near panic. ”It is your fault! If Thunder wasn't thinking about you and your decision to leave him, this wouldn't have happened to him. He's faster with a gun and more cunning than any man alive.”
”Laughing Brook! What are you doing here? How did you know?”
”When Thunder didn't return home last night I knew something terrible had happened. I went to the sheriff's office and he told me what happened and where to find Thunder. Is he dead?”
”No, don't even think it. The doctor operated and he's going to be just fine. He should be coming around any moment now. Where is Tim? You didn't leave him alone, did you?”
”No, Little Buffalo is outside.” She walked to the bed, her eyes filled with tears as she searched Grady's face. ”Why is he so white?”
”He's lost a great deal of blood.”
Just then Grady opened his eyes, searching the room restlessly until his gaze settled on Storm, standing at the foot of the bed. His first attempt to speak failed, but he was finally able to ask, ”Where-am I?”
”In Dr. Finney's surgery,” Storm said, moving closer. ”You were shot yesterday. Do you remember?
For a moment Grady looked confused. ”I-”
”Don't try to speak. Rest now; you're going to be all right. Would you like some water?”
He nodded, and Storm offered him a sip from the gla.s.s sitting on the stand beside the bed. Suddenly his eyes narrowed and he looked at her strangely. His penetrating gaze sent a p.r.i.c.kle of apprehension down her spine. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. ”Grady, what is it?”
”Storm-don't want you-go away.”
”What!” Storm's heart was pounding so loudly it drowned out everything but his startling words. Was Grady trying to tell her he didn't want her anywhere near him? Was he still angry at her decision to leave him?
His eyes glittering like two brittle diamonds, Grady struggled to speak again. ”Don't want you-go away.”
”Oh.” Storm's hands flew to her face. Grady's rejection was like a knife thrust to her heart. Abruptly, she whirled and fled from the room, unable to bear Laughing Brook's gloating look.
Had she remained one moment longer she would have heard Grady say, ”Storm, I-don't want you-to go away.” Only Laughing Brook heard Grady's plea, and nothing short of death would drag it from her. When she saw that Grady had fallen back to sleep she quietly left the room. She found Storm standing just outside the door, weeping into her hands. Laughing Brook taunted her cruelly. ”You abandoned him when he needed you. You have no reason to stay with him now; you heard what he said.”
”He didn't know what he was saying,” Storm said defensively. ”Who will raise his son?”
”I will continue to do what I have done since Summer Sky's death. Little Buffalo is like my own child, and Thunder belongs to me. It is the way of the People. What further proof do you need?”
What proof indeed? Storm thought bleakly. Grady had spoken his mind and obviously couldn't bear the sight of her. She had hurt and angered him by leaving when he needed her and now he truly wished her gone. In her absence Laughing Brook would gladly care for his son and warm his bed.
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