"I'll think of something," Storm said dispiritedly as she turned away to busy herself with a task that would take her mind away from Grady and the dilemma that faced her.

Jumping Buffalo looked up from the tedious ch.o.r.e of attaching steel tips to his arrows and stared into the distance, an arrested look on his rugged features. A man driving a wagon was just entering the village. Shading his eyes against the glare of the sun, Jumping Buffalo stared at the man with an increasing sense of familiarity. Something in the set of his ma.s.sive shoulders and the way he held his head gave Jumping Buffalo his first clue to the man's ident.i.ty. Suddenly a broad smile creased his weathered features and he began to walk briskly out to meet the visitor.

Strong, capable hands the color of burnished bronze drew the team of horses to a halt beside Jumping Buffalo. The two men looked at each other for the s.p.a.ce of a heartbeat before the man in the wagon jumped to the ground and warmly embraced Jumping Buffalo.

"It has been a long time, old friend."

"I have missed you, Swift Blade," Jumping Buffalo said, thumping Grady's father on the back in exuberant welcome. "If you have come for your grandson, he is not here."

Blade Stryker's dark eyes betrayed the anguish in his heart. "I didn't think he would be, but I had to find out for myself. Shannon is beside herself with grief over the boy. If not for you, we would have no word at all about Tim. Nothing has been the same since Grady left the ranch and took Tim with him. Where is my grandson?"

"Little Buffalo is with Thunder."

"Thunder," Blade repeated, swelling with pride. "He is also called 'Renegade,' is he not? Thunder is a fit name for my son, but Renegade brings him no honor. Even in Cheyenne we have heard of the Sioux renegade who is sometimes called Thunder. Shannon and I are deeply saddened by Grady's pursuit of violence since Summer Sky's death. Lord knows, the boy wasn't brought up like that. Living with the People and learning their customs has been a fine experience for him. What saddens me is the way he has chosen to conduct his life."

"Living with anger changes a man," Jumping Buffalo said cryptically. "Especially a very young man. Thunder was a green youth when he lost Summer Sky. He has changed much from the boy you once knew, Swift Blade."

"Shannon and I feared we had lost our only son forever until we recently heard a bit of news that gave us hope where none existed before. I pray it is true. That's why I've come in person this time to deliver food and clothing to the People. I deliberately stayed away before because it was what Grady wanted."

"What is it you learned?"

"When Captain Starke came to Peaceful Valley recently to purchase horses for the army he told me he saw my son in Guthrie, Oklahoma. He said Grady had taken part in the race for land in the newly opened Cherokee Strip. Is that true, old friend? Has Grady finally decided to abandon his violent life and become a farmer? And if it is true, why hasn't he contacted me or his mother? Doesn't he know he is still our son no matter what he has done?"

"It is true, Swift Blade. Thunder-it is difficult to think of him as Grady-won a quarter section of prime land that he is homesteading. I saw him last when he came to collect his son. Laughing Brook accompanied him to care for the child until he felt comfortable with his new surroundings. The reservation is the only home Little Buffalo remembers."

"Has Grady married Laughing Brook?" Blade asked, surprised. "It would please me if he has, but I was under the impression that he thought of Laughing Brook as one of his younger sisters."

"There was no marriage, yet after many moons Laughing Brook is still with Thunder in Oklahoma."

Blade frowned, displeased by Jumping Buffalo's answer. "Has Grady changed so much? Has he dishonored your daughter?"

Jumping Buffalo remained thoughtful for a long interval before answering. "I do not think so. Thunder is an honorable man, and he swore to protect my daughter. I trust him. But there is something else you should know. Thunder is married."

"Grady is married?" The news was startling indeed. "If he is married, why is Laughing Brook still with him? I don't understand."

"Thunder's wife is no longer with him. I will tell you all I know." Then Jumping Buffalo proceeded to tell Blade everything, from the time he encountered Storm at the cabin until the present. When he finished Blade was more bewildered than ever.

"It appears as if Grady has married an extraordinary woman," Blade mused thoughtfully. "I'm anxious to meet Storm and judge her for myself. My son must be a fool to let someone like her go. Her decision to come to the reservation to care for Sweet Gra.s.s was a selfless act of charity."

"Sweet Gra.s.s and I have come to love the girl and think of her as our daughter. But there is another thing I must tell you about Storm."

"What is it? Have you found some flaw in her character?"

"If she has a flaw, we have not found it," Jumping Buffalo said with a smile. "Since Storm's arrival a change has occurred. And these past few days has strengthened our belief that Storm is carrying Thunder's child. She probably did not realize it at first, but now she cannot deny the truth."

"My G.o.d! Have you any idea what caused the rift between Storm and Grady? If she is to bear his child, she must go back to him."

"Storm says she cannot live with the violent way of life Thunder has chosen. He has killed two men in Guthrie, one of them Storm's first husband."

"Then he hasn't changed," Blade said sadly. "I had hoped ..."

"It would be remiss of me if I didn't tell you that I suspect Laughing Brook of contributing to the dissension between Thunder and Storm. My daughter is one of the reasons Storm refuses to return to Thunder. And Storm insists that Thunder ordered her to leave him."

"If that is true, then I don't know my son anymore," Blade lamented.

"Only Thunder can tell you if it is true," Jumping Buffalo said. "But it does not sound like the brave Sioux warrior I have always loved like a son."

"What will Storm do now that Sweet Gra.s.s has recovered and no longer needs her?"

"I do not know. She may stay here as long as she likes, but conditions on the reservation are deplorable and she would be miserable raising her child here."

"Grady's wife has a home," Blade said with quiet authority. "Her home is at Peaceful Valley with me and Shannon."

Inside Jumping Buffalo's tepee Storm sat beside Sweet Gra.s.s, brushing her long blonde hair and thinking of Grady and the child she carried. She looked up as two men entered through the open flap, their bulk blotting out the sun. Storm paused, resting the brush in her lap as she tried to see the men's faces through the filtered light. When Jumping Buffalo greeted Sweet Gra.s.s, the ident.i.ty of one of the men was solved, but it wasn't until the other man moved more fully into the tepee that recognition came to her.

The incredible width of his shoulders and ma.s.sive chest, the narrow hips and muscular thighs; everything she'd ever loved and admired about Grady Stryker was standing before her. At long last Grady had come for her. Leaping to her feet, she threw herself into his arms, repeating his name over and over.

Stunned, Blade opened his arms wide to receive his son's wife. If Storm didn't love Grady, then she was a wonderful actress, he thought as he held her close for a moment until she gained her composure.

Storm realized her mistake the moment Blade's arms closed around her and she lifted her head to stare into the darkest eyes she'd ever seen. Black and quickly intelligent, with a touch of humor, she decided, as she carefully studied this older version of Grady. His father was every bit as handsome and a bit more rugged, with jet black hair liberally sprinkled with silver and a commanding strength so impressive in a man his age that it nearly took her breath away.

"I wish I were Grady," Blade said with a hint of amus.e.m.e.nt. "But since I'm not, I'll settle for being your father-in-law. I'm very happy to meet you, Storm. I can't wait to introduce you to Shannon."

Chapter Seventeen.

Blade Stryker used the kind of logic Storm found difficult to argue with. When he invited her for a walk so they might have a private conversation his questions about Grady and Tim and the kind of life they were living in Oklahoma were filled with concern and yearning. But when he suggested that Storm come to Peaceful Valley she had a million excuses why she couldn't.

"I don't know what has happened between you and Grady and I don't want to interfere, but Shannon and I would love to have you visit, if only for a short time. Or do you have something else in mind? I feel sure Grady would be happy to have you with him on the homestead."

Storm's teeth sank into her lower lip as she searched for an answer. How could she tell Grady's father that his son didn't want her? Their marriage had been a mistake from the very beginning. Grady had felt a misguided sense of responsibility toward her and she had needed a home. It was as simple as that.

"I-can't return to Grady," Storm said in a strained voice. "He's made it abundantly clear that he doesn't want me. Please, I don't want to say things about your son that will hurt you."

"I have no illusions about Grady," Blade said bluntly. "I know what he has become and how he's conducted his life since Summer Sky's death. I also understand what drove him to turn renegade. Grady's life until that time had been storybook perfect. He wanted for nothing. The family was respected in Cheyenne and he had all the advantages money could buy.

"Summer Sky was his childhood love, his soul mate. They married very young, had a son after only nine months of marriage, and another on the way a few months after that. The incident in Cheyenne was such a shock, it changed Grady's entire outlook on life. His hatred for whites extended not just to the despicable men who had caused Summer Sky's accident that day but to all people of the white race."

"Grady told me he took Tim and went to live on the reservation," Storm said.

"We didn't know he had turned renegade until rumors reached us in Cheyenne. I worried about Tim, but Jumping Buffalo sent a message saying the boy was living with him and his family. I wanted to go after him immediately, but Shannon stopped me. She feared Grady would resent us for interfering. We prayed that our son would come to his senses one day and bring Tim home. Then Captain Starke showed up and told me he'd met Grady in Guthrie, and I had to come to the reservation to find out for myself what had happened to my son and grandson."

"Tim is fine," Storm a.s.sured him. "Grady would never let anything happen to his son."

"I'm glad to hear that," Blade said. "I was afraid Grady had turned into someone I no longer knew. Shannon is grief-stricken over the way Grady left and the violence that has become a part of his life. But just knowing that he has married someone like you has given me renewed hope."

A dull red crept up Storm's neck. "Our marriage was-not a love match. I needed a home and Grady wanted someone to care for Tim. It's a very long story."

They were walking toward the stream when suddenly Blade clasped Storm's hands and led her to a fallen log. "I have plenty of time." He sat down, pulling her down beside him. "Jumping Buffalo tells me you were a widow before you and Grady married. He also intimated that Grady was partly to blame for your first husband's death."

"It wasn't really Grady's fault," Storm said, absolving Grady of all blame. "It was an accident, a horrible accident."

"Yet despite this 'accident' you married."

"I really don't want to talk about the reasons behind our marriage, Mr. Stryker," Storm said. "They are no longer valid. Grady no longer needs me, and I refuse to stay where I'm not wanted."

"I'd feel honored if you'd call me Blade. What will you do? Where will you go?"

"I don't know," Storm said truthfully. "I could sell my quarter section of land or the cattle I purchased with my own money."

"But you really don't want to do that, do you?" Blade said astutely. Storm shook her head. "You love my son, don't you?"

Storm lifted her head in surprise. How could Blade know that after speaking with her for such a short time? "I ..."

"It's all right, Storm, I understand. You remind me of Shannon many years ago, when she tried desperately not to love me but couldn't deny what was in her heart. You and my wife are alike in many ways. Life was not easy for us in the beginning. Even now there are people who despise me because I am a half-breed."

"Nothing is guaranteed in life," Storm said bitterly. "I thought Buddy and I would live happily forever-after when we were married. I must have been terribly naive."

"Are you carrying my son's baby?" Blade asked, stunning Storm with his bluntness.

"I-yes, both Sweet Gra.s.s and Crooked Nose have told me it is so."

"Then you must come to Peaceful Valley, where Shannon and I can care for you. Unless you wish to return to Grady. I'm sure that would be the best solution."

"No! I mean," she said more calmly, "I don't want to go back to Grady. I couldn't live with a man who doesn't want me."

"Are you absolutely certain Grady doesn't want you?"

"Yes," Storm said with quiet conviction. "He has Laughing Brook to look after Tim. He doesn't need me. But I don't want to burden you and your wife with my problems."

"Burden us?" Blade laughed. "My dear girl, it would be a pleasure. Our daughter Dawn has married and moved to San Francisco. And Spring is in Boise visiting her Branigan relatives. Her last letter indicated that she has met a young lawyer whom she intends to marry. With Grady and Tim gone, our lives are quite empty. We would welcome you and your child with open arms. I won't take no for an answer. I'll wire Grady so he'll know where to find you when he comes to his senses."

"No! You mustn't! I'll come to Peaceful Valley, at least until my baby is born, but you must promise not to tell Grady where I am."

"Storm, be reasonable," Blade argued. "Grady has a right to know about his child."

"If you don't promise, I won't come." Her jaw was set, her mouth tight with resolution. She was even more stubborn than Shannon, Blade decided, realizing that if he didn't agree she would leave and he would lose another grandchild. Later, once she was settled at the ranch, he and Shannon could try to change her mind.

"Very well. I promise. How soon can you leave? We'll travel overland to the nearest railhead and take the train to Cheyenne."

"I can leave whenever you like," Storm said. "Now that Sweet Gra.s.s is well she no longer needs me. Perhaps they will accompany us. Life on the reservation is very difficult for them."

"I've already asked," Blade said. "Jumping Buffalo wishes to remain on the reservation with the People. But one of the young braves expressed a desire to work on the ranch. He is unhappy with the slim opportunities that exist on the reservation for an ambitious young man, and I have promised to teach him the art of raising horses. His name is Soars-Like-An-Eagle."

"I know him," Storm said. "He is a fine young man. We have spoken many times. He wishes to marry Laughing Brook."

"It's settled then. We'll leave in two days," Blade decided. "I don't like leaving Shannon alone any longer than necessary."

"You must love her very much," Storm said wistfully.

"Little Firebird is my life and my salvation," he said with such feeling it brought tears to Storm's eyes. To be loved like that by Grady would be all that she could ever ask for in life.

Blade reined in at the crest of one of the hills surrounding Peaceful Valley, his dark eyes gleaming with pride. Storm drew her mare up beside him, and Soars-Like-An-Eagle joined her. The large, rambling ranch house was set on a level piece of ground next to a bubbling stream surrounded by numerous outbuildings and paddocks. Horses of all sizes and description grazed on the hillsides and valley for as far as the eye could see. A carefully tended garden surrounded by a white fence spread out behind the house, basking in the afternoon sun.

"There it is," Blade said expansively. "Peaceful Valley. Shannon and I moved here before Grady was born, and it's been our home for nearly thirty years."

Storm was visibly impressed by the prosperous ranch that Grady had given up to become a renegade. "You have a right to be proud, Blade," she said sincerely. "I don't know how Grady could have left all this behind."

"Come along. Shannon is expecting us. I wired her from the train station before we boarded." Blade led the way, anxious to greet his wife. He hated being parted from Shannon for more than a few hours. But one good thing had come of his trip to the reservation: He was returning with Grady's wife, and soon there would be a child in the house again. Shannon would be ecstatic.

The three riders had just entered the yard when the door to the house burst open and Shannon came hurtling toward them. Bending low, Blade scooped her onto his lap and kissed her soundly. Peals of delighted laughter floated past her lips as Blade kissed and nuzzled her neck.

"Put me down, Blade," Shannon scolded when it became apparent her bold husband wasn't about to let her go. "What will our guests think?"

"They'll think that I love my wife and haven't seen her in a long time." Blade laughed as he carefully set Shannon on her feet. He quickly dismounted and joined her, one arm draped possessively around her waist.

Storm could feel Shannon Stryker's inquisitive blue eyes on her as Soars-Like-An-Eagle helped her dismount. Her first glimpse of Grady's mother gave her quite a start. Shannon Stryker looked young enough to be Grady's sister. There wasn't one strand of gray in her gleaming chestnut hair. Her skin was smooth and unlined and her figure was as slim and supple as a girl's. But it was to Shannon's eyes that Storm was drawn. Her eyes were the same incredible shade of blue as Grady's.

Shannon's smile was warm and welcoming as she held out her hand to Storm. "Welcome, my dear. I'm so pleased you could come. Blade's telegram gave me quite a shock. I had no idea Grady had remarried, but I couldn't be more pleased. Later you must tell me all about my son and grandson. It's been so long." The wistful note in her voice tugged at Storm's heart.

"I'm sure Storm will tell us all about Grady and Tim once she's had time to rest," Blade said. "Why don't you take our daughter-in-law upstairs to her room, Little Firebird, so she can rest before dinner."

"Forgive me," Shannon said, "you must be exhausted. Come along, Storm, you can have Grady's old room." Blade followed with Storm's bags as Shannon led the way up the stairs.

Grady's room was filled with childhood mementos, but Storm saw nothing that reminded her of the proud, ruthless man Grady had become after he left the ranch. The possessions in the room belonged to a youth with dreams untarnished by reality. The man Storm loved displayed no youthful softness and had no fanciful dreams to nurture. Grady Stryker was a man who battled personal demons, a man who had found no room in his heart for love.

Storm was silent so long, Shannon asked, "Would you prefer another room, Storm?"

"Oh, no, this is fine," Storm a.s.sured her. "I was just trying to picture Grady in this room. He's changed, you know."

Shannon's face fell. "I expected as much. Do you think he'll ever return home?"

"I believe he will," Storm said with such heartfelt conviction, Shannon felt her heart constrict with the first stirrings of hope.

If not for missing Grady so desperately, Storm would have been truly happy at Peaceful Valley. Shannon and Blade were wonderful. Storm wondered if Grady knew how badly he had hurt his parents by refusing to communicate with them. He had spoken often about his parents, and deep in her heart Storm felt that Grady intended to reconcile with them one day. Both Shannon and Blade were eager to hear everything she could tell them about Grady and Tim and hung on her every word. She told them about the land rush, their homestead, and mentioned how much Grady doted on Tim. She tried not to dwell on the code of violence by which Grady lived, or the men he had killed in Guthrie. She also saw no reason to tell them that Grady didn't love her, that their marriage was strictly one of convenience. And she d.a.m.n sure wasn't going to admit just how desperately she had come to love her husband.

Storm still hadn't found the courage to talk to Shannon about the baby she carried, though she realized Blade had surely imparted that bit of information to his wife. Since she was nearly three months pregnant, the baby would soon make its appearance known in the most basic way. Though still slim as a reed, Storm knew it wouldn't be long before her body would expand. Already her clothes were becoming snug at the waist and bust, but if one didn't know her well it would be difficult to tell that she was increasing. The one thing Storm continued to insist upon was that neither Shannon nor Blade inform Grady of her presence at the ranch. Though they gave their reluctant consent, Storm knew that one day they would refuse to honor her request.

At the end of two weeks Storm felt extremely comfortable with Blade and Shannon. Their love for one another was so tangible it reached out and touched her. She had never known two people so profoundly in love after nearly thirty years of marriage.