The Outlaws: Sam (26 page)

Sam's mind raced. "Lacey's gone? Are you
sure? Did Andy go with her?"

"Yellow Bird nodded. La-cey took An-dy with
her."

Sam cursed fluently. "She promised! I trusted
her! Damn her to hell! She lied. She looked me in the eye and
deliberately lied."

Sam set his foot in the stirrups and started
to mount.

"Where are you going?"

"After my son."

Yellow Bird tugged urgently at Sam's leg.
"You are not thinking clearly, Sam. Do you wish to spend your life
in prison? That is what will happen if you returned for your son.
Let them both go."

"You don't understand, Yellow Bird. I didn't
know I had a son until a few months ago. I love that boy and I
don't want to spend my life without him."

"You have no choice, Sam. La-cey lied to you.
She cannot be trusted. She told me she does not want you. She is
going to marry another man."

Sam released his foot from the stirrup.
"Lacey told you that? When?"

"Many times. She made no attempt to hide her
scorn for you when we spoke together. I saw her shortly before she
left. I asked her to walk to the river with me to fetch water. She
declined. Had I any idea she planned to leave, I would not have
left her. She and Andy were gone when I returned."

A wealth of emotions coursed through Sam, but
he couldn't say precisely which one hurt the most. Once again he
had trusted unwisely, and once again Lacey had betrayed him. After
the passionate night they'd spent together he'd been so sure things
might work out for them. He wouldn't make that mistake again.

Sam had been anxious to return to camp and
tell Lacey that he believed her about everything, that he trusted
her. He'd already accepted that she hadn't betrayed him to the
Yankees, and that the sheriff had learned about the bank robbery
from another source, but he had trusted in vain. He'd become so
enthralled with Lacey that he believed all her lies. How could he
have been so gullible?

Yellow bird tugged on Sam's arm. "Come with
me. I have food prepared. You are tired and not thinking clearly.
When you've had time to think you will realize that La-cey's
leaving is for the best. I can be everything she was not to you,
Sam."

Sam shrugged her aside. Nothing Yellow Bird
said registered above the sounds of anger roaring through his head.
He valued her friendship but she couldn't reach him on a personal
level. Not like Lacey, who had reached him on every level possible
between a man and woman. What a fool he'd been, he'd thought as he
strode angrily toward the beckoning silence of the forest.

Sam, where are you going?"

"Somewhere to think."

"I will come with you."

"Suit yourself, but I warn you, I won't be
fit company."

"La-cey is a bad woman," Yellow Bird said,
running to keep up with him. "Let me comfort you."

Sam into the darkest part of the forest, then
abruptly dropped down beneath a lofty elm. He paid little heed to
Yellow Bird as she sat down beside him. Sam's thoughts ran amok. If
he went to California he'd never see Andy again. If he stuck around
here, however, he could end up in jail. What a mess he'd gotten
himself into. He would have been better off had he never
encountered Lacey again and learned he had a son. But he did have a
son, one he couldn't abandon.

"What are you thinking, Sam?"

"About the cruel jests life plays on
unsuspecting fools."

"I would not be cruel to you, Sam. Do not
leave. Come with me to our winter camping grounds. Let me be the
woman you need."

Sam stared at her, seeing the woman who had
saved his life, a woman who would never betray him, a woman who
freely offered the love Lacey withheld. Could Yellow Bird provide
the solace he craved?

Grasping her slender shoulders, he pulled her
against him, molding her soft body to his. No time like the present
to find out, he thought as he lowered his head and pressed a kiss
to her eager lips.

Kissing Yellow Bird was a mistake. There was
no fire, no uncontrollable passion, no sensation except a pleasant
feeling of soft lips opening beneath his. Even as her body moved
sensually against him his mind began to reject her. His sex was
limp and flaccid. Not even close to arousal. Perhaps he was
tired.

He tried again, pulling Yellow Bird beneath
him, touching her breasts, cupping her between her legs. Still
nothing. What the hell was wrong with him? He'd never had a problem
bedding a woman before, no matter how exhausted he was. Damn Lacey!
What had she done to him? He rolled away and lay on his back, one
arm flung over his eyes.

"Sam, please do not stop."

"It's no good, Yellow Bird. I can't do this.
Any man would be proud to make you his. It's not you, it's me."

"I won't give up, Sam. I can wait. One day
you will come to me. I do not want you to go to Cali-fornia."

Sam sat up, gazing absently into the
distance. After a long pause, he said, "I can't go to California
and leave Andy behind. Perhaps I will go with your people to their
winter camp. It's not nearly as far away as California."

"Running Buffalo will be pleased. You make me
very happy, Sam Gentry."

"Don't hold any false hopes, Yellow Bird. I
can't give you what you want."

"One day I will change your mind, Sam. I will
never give up on you."

Sam felt nothing but pity for Yellow Bird. He
wasn't capable of loving her, neither emotionally nor physically.
He'd suspected it for a long time and now he was certain. And he
knew the reason why. He'd never stopped loving Lacey despite her
many betrayals, despite his effort to forget her over the
years.

"Go find your bed," Sam said gruffly. "The
hour grows late."

There was a dull sameness to her days since
Lacey returned to the ranch. She immersed herself in bookwork,
trying to balance the losses against the meager profits, but
nothing had changed since the last time she'd gone over the
figures. She still owed five years back taxes, which were due the
last day of the month, only three weeks away. Had Uncle Hob told
her about his financial woes before he'd died she wouldn't have
been so shocked when she'd learned the truth.

Andy moped around as if he'd lost his best
friend and nothing she said or did seemed to lighten his mood. He
asked about Sam so often Lacey was forced to tell him that Sam was
had to leave Texas to keep from going to prison. To Andy's credit,
he steadfastly refused to believe Sam was capable of committing a
crime.

Lacey chose a mild, sunny to ride to town to
reapply for a loan. The first time she'd asked been turned down,
but this time she had a healthy herd waiting to go to market. She
considered it a good bargaining point, but would the bank? After
the spring drive she'd have hard cash in her hand as proof that the
ranch was profitable. But that was spring and this was now.

Lacey went to the barn for her horse. Andy
skipped up to join her. "Are you going somewhere, Mama?"

"I have business in town, honey. I won't be
long."

"Can I come?"

"Not this time. Rita will keep an eye on
you."

"What if Papa comes and wants me to go with
him again?"

Lacey dropped to one knee, her hands lightly
grasping Andy's slender shoulders. "I explained why Sam won't be
returning to the ranch, Andy. You're getting your hopes up for
nothing."

"Papa isn't an outlaw," Andy said
belligerently.

"I don't believe he is, either, but the law
thinks so. Why don't you see if Rita has taken the cookies she was
baking out of the oven. I'll bet she has some nice fresh milk to go
with them."

"You think?" Andy said, his eyes alight with
pleasure. "I hope the cookies have chocolate in them."

"I wouldn't be surprised," Lacey said as Andy
ran off. She wished she could be so easily distracted. There seemed
to be no end to her worries. If it wasn't the ranch, it was
Sam.

Sam. Did he hate her for lying to him? Had he
turned to Yellow Bird for comfort? Lacey had been torn between her
son's welfare and her love for a man who didn't deserve it. In the
end, her son had come first. She'd had to deny her own feelings to
keep Andy from being hurt. That's what a mother did, even if it
broke her heart.

Lacey rode at a leisurely pace, planning to
reach the bank about the time it opened. The shade on the bank door
was just being raised when Lacey drew rein at the front entrance.
Dismounting, she draped the reins over the hitching post and waited
for the clerk to unlock the door.

"Lacey! Is that you? Thank God you've
returned!"

Lacey spun around, stiffening when she saw
Taylor Cramer hailing her from across the street. He was standing
in front of the saloon, talking to some unsavory looking cowboys.
She kept her distaste under control as he hurried over to join
her.

"Lacey, I'm so glad you're safe! I've been
worried sick about you and decided to hire men for another rescue
attempt." He gestured toward the cowboys milling around him. "We
were just discussing strategy." There was a biting edge to his
voice when he said, "I'm surprised Gentry let you go."

"I'm here, that's all that matters," Lacey
said. "You no longer need those men. Pay them off and let them
go."

"What about Andy? Is he still with
Gentry?"

"No. Andy is home with me."

"Wonderful," Cramer said with little
enthusiasm. "I have good news for you. That's why I was anxious to
get you away from Gentry. Your annulment has been granted. You're a
free woman, Lacey. We can marry immediately. Today, if you
like."

A buzzing began in Lacey's head. She was no
longer married to Sam. After six years she really was free. Why did
that make her feel so sad?

"I can't marry you, Taylor."

Cramer's eyes narrowed. "Of course you
can."

"No, I can't. Not after the way you and your
hirelings charged into the Indian camp. Andy could have been
killed."

Cramer's fists clenched at his sides. "I
would have watched out for Andy. I was very angry with you for
warning Gentry, but I've forgiven you."

"You forgave me?"

His voice lowered. "I still want you,
Lacey."

"Why?" Lacey asked curiously. "It's my land
you want, isn't it, Taylor? What's so special about the
B&G?"

"Nothing. Nothing at all. It's always been
you."

"Liar."

Cramer had the decency to flush. "Look,
Lacey, if you can't come up with the back taxes by the end of the
month you and Andy will be turned out of your home. You'll have
nothing. Winter is coming. Where will you go? What will you do?
Marrying me is a simple solution. I can pay your taxes."

"I haven't given on a bank loan," Lacey
insisted. "I'm going to reapply for a loan today. Beef is in demand
back East after the lean war years and my herd should bring a good
price come spring. I'm hoping that will influence Mr. Markle to
change him mind about the loan."

"Don't count on it," Cramer said. "When you
come to me for help, you'll find that my offer won't be as generous
as it is now." He tipped his hat. "Good day, Lacey."

Lacey's fondest hope was that she'd never
have to rely on Cramer Taylor for help. With that thought in mind,
she squared her shoulders and marched into the bank. She asked for
Mr. Markle, and after a slight wait was ushered into the banker's
office.

Markle stood politely. "What can I do for
you, Mrs. Gentry?"

Lacey cleared her throat. "You've turned down
my loan once, Mr. Markle, but I'm hoping you will consider."

Markle sighed. "Please sit down, Mrs. Gentry,
and tell me why I should change my mind."

"I have over five hundred head of cattle
waiting to go to market in the spring. I'm expecting at least
fifteen dollars a head, maybe more. The market is good right now.
But the money will be too little, too late, and it won't be enough
to cover the five years of back taxes Uncle Hob owed. The money is
due in full by the end of the year."

"I'm aware of your circumstances," Markle
said.

"Yes, well, I'm hoping the sale of my herd in
the spring will be sufficient collateral for a loan."

"How much do you require?"

"Thirty five hundred dollars. Enough to pay
the loan, meet the payroll and satisfy my creditors."

Markle cleared his throat. "Not an
inconsiderable sum."

"I stand to lose my home if the bank doesn't
come through for me."

"You have to understand the bank's position
on this," Markle intoned dryly. "The risk is too much for the bank
to bear. Many things could keep your herd from reaching the
railhead. Jayhawkers are active in Kansas. Can you pay the forfeit
they demand for letting your cattle pass through? Weather is
another factor. There are stampedes and river crossings to deal
with. You're bound to lose a portion of your herd, which is rather
small by Texas standards."

"Our herd is small because it was decimated
by drought and disease. Uncle Hob was unable to buy more stock due
to lack of funds.

"I understand your husband recently showed up
after a lengthy period of estrangement," Markle ventured. "Perhaps
if he applied for a loan in his name the board of directors might
be inclined to grant it. The bank is reluctant to loan money to a
woman. They have done so a time or two in the past and suffered
severe losses."

Lacey studied her fingernails. "Mr. Gentry
and I are no longer married. Our marriage has been annulled."

"I see. Weren't you supposed to marry Taylor
Cramer before your husband showed up? Once you wed Cramer, you
won't need a bank loan. Mr. Cramer is a wealthy man."

"At present, I have no plans to remarry. Is
that your final decision, Mr. Markle?"

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Gentry, but there is nothing
more I can do for you. Perhaps a larger bank in a different city
might be willing to bear the loss should you be unable to repay the
loan."