A Promise of Thunder Read Online Free

should despise, she dragged herself from his arms, standing back and staring at him as if he were the devil himself.
    “Don’t touch me!”
    A dull red stained Grady’s neck. “I’m sorry.” It startled him to hear himself apologizing again.
    “Good-bye, Mr. Stryker.” Deliberately she turned her back on him.
    But Grady was not ready to leave. “What will you do now?”
    “That’s none of your business.”
    “I’m making it my business. You’ve accused me of causing your husband’s death so I’m accepting responsibility for your welfare. Do you need money to return to your family?”
    Storm whirled to face him, and Grady was mesmerized by the swirling mass of blond hair that settled around her like a gleaming veil of gold. She was the most provocative woman he had ever encountered, and the most contrary. Summer Sky had never offered a harsh word or argument of any kind in all the years they had known one another.
    “Very well, since you asked I’ll tell you exactly what I’m going to do. I intend to participatein the land rush. I’m going to be right there at the starting line when the signal is given, racing with the rest of the homesteaders to claim a piece of land for myself.”
    Her voice was fervent, passionate, intense with defiant determination. Vaguely, Grady wondered what it would be like to be the recipient of all that passion and intensity. Then, abruptly, the meaning of her words sunk in.
    “You’re what!”
    “You heard me, I’m going to claim the land Buddy and I had staked out for ourselves.”
    “You’re a woman.” His voice was incredulous. “A woman clings to her man. She doesn’t set out to accomplish things women have no business attempting.”
    “In case you hadn’t noticed, I have no man. No one, do you hear me, no one, will stop Storm Kennedy from taking part in the land rush three days from now. Certainly not some half-breed gunslinger.”
    Grady heard nothing past the name Storm had inadvertently supplied him.
    Storm.
    It was as if a sign had been given to him by Wakantanka. His vivid blue eyes grew distant as he recalled that fateful day atop the mountain, when he had sought his vision and Grandfather spoke to him.
    “The peace you seek will come with the Storm. Until you meet and conquer the Storm your spirit will know no rest. Always remember that Thunder is the harbinger of Storm,but Thunder can only exist in the bosom of Storm’s soul.”
    Grady’s face turned white beneath the bronze of his tan, and he stared at Storm as if his life had just been blown to hell.

Chapter Two

    “What are you staring at?”
    It was a struggle to drag his thoughts away from the prophecy and concentrate on what Storm was saying. “Don’t you know how dangerous it is for a woman to participate in a land rush? In town you’re treated with respect because of your fair sex, but once you join the men at the starting line it will be every man, woman, and child for himself. With one hundred thousand participants, there can’t possibly be enough land to go around.”
    “Why should it matter to you? I’m willing to take the risk and that’s all that counts. It’s what Buddy wanted, and now it’s what I want. When the shot announces the start of the run I’ll be in line, Mr. Stryker.”
    “And should you succeed, you won’t be ableto hold on to your land,” Grady snorted derisively. “You’re only a woman.”
    “And you’re a pigheaded, opinionated, half-breed savage,” Storm returned indignantly. “I’m no meek Indian squaw. Too bad you won’t be around for me to prove you wrong.”
    “Perhaps I will, Mrs. Kennedy, perhaps I will,” Grady said tightly. “But don’t expect me to pick you up when you fall flat on your face.”
    “I expect nothing from you. Just leave me alone! If not for you, Buddy would still be alive. Good day, Mr. Stryker.”
    September 16, 1893
    The run was going to be even more unruly than Grady had imagined. Troops of the Third Cavalry were