The Outlaws: Sam (8 page)

Lacey left the house and strode with grim
purpose to the corral. Sam had made a serious accusation and she
felt compelled to learn the truth for herself.

"Going somewhere, Miz Lacey?"

Lacey was startled to find Rusty beside her.
"I'm going on an errand, Rusty. Would you have one of the hands
saddle Ladybird for me?"

"I wouldn't ride out alone if I were you,"
Rusty advised. "Those rustlers could still be around. How is
Sam?"

"He's conscious and in no danger of dying. He
was lucky, the bullet only grazed him. You can visit him later.
Now, about my horse..."

"Sure thing, Miz Lacey. I'll go with
you."

"You're needed here, Rusty. I'm not going
far. Just over to the Cramer spread."

Rusty frowned. "You gonna visit Mr.
Cramer?"

"Yes, it's business."

A few minutes later Lacey rode off. She knew
Rusty hadn't liked her going alone but that couldn't be helped. She
had something to do and only she could do it. She didn't want to
believe that Taylor had tried to kill Sam, and wouldn't believe it
until she heard Taylor admit to the crime.

Lacey rode up to Taylor Cramer's spacious
ranch house and dismounted. She had visited the ranch before but
never alone. Usually Andy was with her, but this time she'd left
him home and the thought of being alone with Taylor in his home
made her uncomfortable. She knew she was being foolish, Taylor
would never hurt her. He loved her. He'd told her so many times.
That was one of the reasons she had agreed to marry him. Even if
she couldn't love him like he deserved, she intended to be a good
wife to him.

Lacey hitched her horse to the post, suddenly
aware that she was being watched. Glancing over her shoulder, she
saw that several of Cramer's hands had stopped their work to stare
at her. Their knowing looks did nothing to reinforce her courage.
Only the thought of Sam being shot at kept her from turning around
and riding home as fast as Ladybird would carry her.

Lacey started up the porch steps. Suddenly
the front door swung open.

"Lacey! I do believe this is the first time
you've come to my home without your br...er...son." He held the
door open. "Come in, come in. I'm pleased you care enough about me
to disobey Gentry's orders. I knew you would find a way to see me.
Has Gentry left?"

Lacey stepped inside. She jumped when the
door slammed behind her. What was wrong with her? Surely she didn't
believe Sam's unfounded accusation. Taylor wasn't the kind of man
to take another's life. She knew he could be ruthless in his
business dealings but killing was an entirely different matter.
Only a fraction of an inch had separated Sam from sudden death.
Furthermore, she didn't like being accused of conspiring with
Taylor to take Sam's life. She needed to know the truth and Taylor
was the only one who could provide it.

Taylor showed Lacey into the parlor. "My
housekeeper is away for the day but I'm sure I can rustle us up
some refreshments from the kitchen."

They were alone in the house! Why did that
bother her? "Don't trouble yourself, I won't be staying long."

"At least sit down." Lacey perched at the
edge of the sofa. "What's wrong, my dear? You appear nervous?" He
sat down beside her. Close, too close.

"Obviously you have something on your
mind."

Lacey cleared her throat. "It's about
Sam."

"He's been shot," Taylor said much too
quickly.

Lacey regarded him narrowly. Did Taylor seem
too knowledgeable? "How did you know?"

Taylor shrugged. "I heard some of your cattle
were rustled, and that someone was...hurt. I just assumed..."

"You assumed correctly. Sam was shot while
chasing rustlers."

"He's dead," Taylor said with startling
joviality. "You mustn't grieve, my dear. He's not worth it. He
abandoned you years ago and won't be missed."

"You misunderstand," Lacey said. "Sam wasn't
seriously wounded and is very much alive. The bullet left quite a
groove in the side of his head but he'll recover. A fraction of an
inch more and he'd be dead."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Taylor
muttered.

"What do you mean by that statement?"

"You didn't let me finish. I'm sorry to hear
that he was wounded. I'm not a violent man, Lacey, you ought to
know that by now."

"Sam thinks he was targeted for death," Lacey
blurted out before she could stop herself.

"A man of his caliber must have countless
enemies," Taylor said silkily.

"Sam believes you were behind the rustling,
if you could call it rustling, for the stolen cows were found
abandoned not far from the main herd."

"Me?" Taylor said in feigned shock. "What a
ridiculous notion." He sidled closer, placing an arm around Lacey's
shoulders. "You don't believe that, do you, my dear?"

Lacey stiffened. "I don't know what to
believe. I don't know Sam any more. I hardly knew him when we were
married. I don't know if he's lying or if he really holds you
responsible for his shooting. I don't know what he's capable
of."

Taylor's arm tightened. His body felt
threatening against hers.

"Believe me, Lacey," he said blandly, "I
wouldn't lie to you."

Lacey wanted to believe him, but when she
looked into his eyes she saw something she hadn't noticed before.
There was no warmth in their icy blue depths. No, she must be
mistaken. Taylor had treated her with nothing but kindness since
the day they first met. When Uncle Hob died he'd been like a rock,
helping with all the details too painful for her to handle.

"Lacey, you do you believe me, don't
you?"

"I...want to."

"Gentry is a bastard!" Taylor bit out. "It's
obvious he wants to hurt you and is determined to stop our marriage
from taking place. You haven't told me everything, Lacey, have
you?"

No, and she wasn't going to. "What happened
between me and Sam a long time ago doesn't involve you. You're
right in thinking he wants to hurt me, but I won't let him."

Taylor sent her a smug smile. "Good, very
good. I know a perfect way to get him out of your life without
resorting to violence."

Lacey's breath hitched. "I never considered
violence an option and I hope you don't either."

"Not at all, my dear, not at all. I thought
about offering him money but I'm convinced he won't accept it. What
I'm going to suggest might shock you, but it's the only way to send
Gentry packing. If we make a child together, I suspect he'll be
more than eager to let you divorce him."

The shock of Taylor's indecent suggestion
rendered her speechless. Taylor took advantage of her momentary
lapse by turning her against him and capturing her lips in a
brutally demanding kiss. Disgusted and repelled at the same time,
Lacey broke free and shoved him away.

"I'm not going to do it, Taylor. I'm not
going to sleep with you until after the wedding. Sam isn't going to
back down on this either."

"We'll see about that," Taylor said. "Where
there's a will there's a way."

Lacey stood abruptly. "I should leave. I left
Andy with Rita and there's no telling what mischief he'll get into
without proper supervision."

"You won't have to worry about Andy once
we're married," Taylor promised. "We'll send him off to the best
school in the country."

"That's out of the question," Lacey retorted.
"He's much too young to be sent away."

"Whatever you say, my dear," Taylor said
obsequiously. "But in time you'll come to see the wisdom of my
words. You and I will have children together one day; you won't
even miss Andy."

Not miss Andy? Lacey's eyes glared defiance.
"You're wrong, Taylor. No matter how many children we have, Andy
will always be a part of me. I really must go."

"Very well. I hope I eased your mind about
Gentry. He's trying to poison you against me, that's why he accused
me of wrongdoing."

At this point Lacey wasn't sure about
anything; Taylor sounded so sincere. Should she believe a man who
professed to love her and had helped her after Uncle Hob's death or
the man who hated and mistrusted her her? Suddenly her placid life
was mired in conflict. Nothing was the same since Sam Gentry showed
up on her doorstep.

"I have a lot to contend with right now,
Taylor. Forgive me for accusing you unjustly."

Taylor gave her a smile that belied the anger
seething inside him. "I'll come out to the ranch tomorrow."

"No. Please don't. Not until things are
resolved between me and Sam. There is too much animosity between
the two of you."

Cramer had assumed his men had taken care of
that saddle tramp for good. He'd been stunned to learn that Gentry
had only been wounded. He paid his men top wages and expected
results. Now he'd have to approach this in a different way. Another
attempt on Gentry's life would throw more suspicion on him and that
was something he couldn't afford if he was to win Lacey and her
land.

"Very well, my dear, but I'm not going to let
Gentry get away with this. He doesn't frighten me. I won't let him
keep us from being together."

Taylor watched Lacey ride away in silent
fury. His last words had produced nothing but a nod from her. She
was becoming too involved with her husband and it didn't bode well
for him and his plans.

Lacey marched directly to Sam's room the
moment she returned home. She found him sitting up in bed, eating
the lunch Rita had prepared for him.

"Where were you?" Sam asked sourly. "You were
gone a long time."

"I went to call on Taylor Cramer."

"You what! After I told you to keep away from
him?" His eyes narrowed. "Did you consult with him on the ways to
bring about my demise? The last attempt didn't work, what have you
two devised next for me?"

"I had nothing to do with your shooting and
neither did Taylor," Lacey defended.

"Likely story," Sam muttered.

Lacey blanched. "You must hate me a great
deal. Do you truly think I'm capable of murder?"

"My murder," he said beneath his breath.

Lacey's cheeks flamed. She wasn't really
surprised at Sam's refusal to trust her. He'd refused to believe
she hadn't betrayed him, so why should be believe her now? "Put
your mind at ease, Sam. I don't want you dead. I just want you to
leave me and Andy alone."

"So you can marry Cramer and live happily
ever after," Sam shot back.

His outburst must have caused him pain for he
grasped his head and moaned. Lacey was immediately contrite.
"You're in pain."

"I've had a headache since that blasted
bullet plowed a groove in my head."

"Let me take a look," Lacey offered. "That
bandage should be changed."

"Leave it," Sam growled when she reached over
to loosen the bandage.

"Nonsense," Lacey said crisply. "Don't be
such a baby. I'm not going to hurt you."

Deftly she removed the blood-soaked bandage
and inspected the wound. "The bleeding has stopped. I'll spread
more salve on it and replace the soiled bandage with another. I'll
be right back with salve and clean cloths."

Sam watched Lacey leave with less than
charitable thoughts. Despite her protests of innocence, he didn't
know what to believe. Lacey would certainly benefit from his death.
It would free her to marry Taylor Cramer. But did he actually think
her capable of conspiring with Cramer to murder him? Despite his
earlier words, he couldn't quite bring himself to believe Lacey
would resort to murder.

A noise at the door caught Sam's attention
and he turned his head carefully in that direction. Andy stood in
the doorway, staring at him uncertainly.

"Mama said I shouldn't bother you."

Sam waved him forward. "It's all right, Andy.
You're not bothering me. Is there something on your mind?"

Andy hesitated a moment, then sidled forward.
"You're not going to die, are you? My real papa died and I don't
want you to die, too."

An unexpected emotion clogged Sam's throat.
He'd never been around children much and knew little about them,
but this bright little lad had somehow wormed his way into his
affection. He couldn't blame Andy for his mother's sins.

Sam cleared his throat. "I'm not gonna die,
Andy. My wound isn't even serious. I'll be fit as a fiddle in a
days or two."

"Promise?" Andy asked tremulously.

"Promise."

A grin spread across the child's face.
"That's all I wanted to know."

"What did you want to know?" Lacey asked from
the doorway. "I thought I told you not to bother Sam."

"Papa said it was all right," Andy said. "I
didn't bother him. I just wanted to make sure he wasn't going to
die."

"He's going to be just fine," Lacey said.
"Run along now, I need to tend to Sam's wound."

Andy skipped off. Lacey waited until he was
gone before rounding on Sam. "You shouldn't encourage him. You'll
never be his father. It will be hard on him when you leave."

"Who says I'm gonna leave?"

"I do," Lacey said with conviction. "Turn
your head so I can spread salve on your wound."

A grimace contorted Sam's face as he moved
his head to comply. "When will this aching stop?"

"I brought laudanum for the pain. I'll give
you some as soon as I'm finished with the bandaging."

"No laudanum. I prefer to keep my wits about
me. Perhaps a mild headache powder, if you have it."

"Men," Lacey said with a hint of disgust.
"Must you always be in control?"

"I don't like not knowing what's going on
around me."

"Very well, I'll get you a headache powder
when I finish here. Tomorrow you should be recovered enough to
return to the bunkhouse."

Sam folded his arms across his chest and
regarded her with amusement. "I'm not going back to the bunkhouse,
Lacey."