The Outlaws: Sam (29 page)

"Did you find Andy, Miz Lacey?" Rusty
asked.

"No, Rusty, we didn't find him, but I think I
know what happened."

"You don't suppose Sam took him, do you?"

"No, not this time. Sam's gone for good. Some
of Andy's clothing is missing, so is the pillowcase from his bed. I
think he ran away. He wanted to go to California to find his
father. He's just a child, distance has no meaning for him. He's
out there somewhere, lost and afraid. We've got to find him."

"Saddle up, boys," Rusty ordered. "Let's
bring the lad back to his mother."

"I'm going with you," Lacey said.

It was late afternoon when Rusty came upon
the pillowcase with Andy's belongings. Elated, he continued on,
hopeful of finding Andy nearby. Near dusk, he crossed paths with
Lacey and showed her the pillowcase stuffed with Andy's
belongings..

"Where could he be?" Lacey wailed. "It's
getting dark. He'll be frightened."

"Why don't you go home, Miz Lacey? Maybe Andy
got cold and hungry and returned to the house. Me and the boys will
keep searching. All night, if we have to."

"I don't know, Rusty..."

"Please, Miz Lacey, you ain't doing your son
any good wearing yourself out."

Lacey gave a shaky sigh. "Perhaps you're
right. Maybe Andy is home waiting for me now."

Lacey's hopes soared as she rode back to the
ranch. Andy might have headed home as soon as it started to get
dark. She'd probably find him in the kitchen with Rita, stuffing
himself after going without breakfast and lunch. She even managed a
smile as she rode into the yard and led her mare into the barn.

"Sorry, girl," she said, patting the mare on
the rump. "No time for a rubdown tonight." She spared a moment to
remove the saddle, then all but ran to the house.

"Rita!" she called as she flung open the
door. "Has Andy returned?"

Rita appeared immediately, wringing her
hands. "No, Senora, didn't you find him?"

Lacey's shoulders slumped. "I thought...I
hoped... No, we didn't find him. We found the pillowcase with his
belongings, but not Andy."

Rita's face crumbled. "Poor little
bambino."

"The boys will keep searching. They're bound
to find him soon. How far could a little boy on foot have
gotten?"

"Go to bed, Senora. I will wake you when they
return."

"I couldn't sleep a wink. I'll wait in the
parlor."

"I will be in the kitchen, if you need
me."

"Go home, Rita, there is nothing you can do
here."

"I will stay, Senora. Would you like
something to eat? How about some coffee?"

"Nothing, Rita, thank you."

Lacey sank down onto the sofa and rested her
head against the back, listening to the ominous silence. The house
seemed so empty without Andy's boundless energy. Knowing that Andy
was lost in the vast darkness made her want to retch. He was so
small, so young, any number of things could happen to him out
there. He was defenseless in a dangerous world. A sob gathered in
her throat; she closed her eyes and began to pray.

When Rita checked on Lacey a short time
later, she found her sleeping soundly. Clucking her tongue, Rita
pulled an afghan over her and tiptoed from the room.

The sound of voices lured Lacey from sleep.
She opened her eyes, surprised to see sunlight flooding the room.
Her gaze found Rusty, who was speaking in hushed tones to Rita. She
leaped to her feet.

"Rusty! Did you find Andy?"

Rusty's expression was guarded as he answered
Lacey's question. "I'm sorry, Miz Lacey. If Andy was out there we
would have found him."

"What are you saying?"

"The boys and I scoured the area. Like you
said, Andy couldn't have gone very far. It wasn't until this
morning that I returned to the place where Andy had dropped the
pillowcase. Daylight revealed signs I missed in the dark."

"What signs?"

"Hoof prints. At least two riders had been
there before me. I studied on it a long time and came to the
conclusion that someone found Andy and carried him off. The boys
and I returned to report to you."

Hope soared within Lacey. "Thank God! The
only explanation is that a neighbor found Andy. He'll be with us
soon, Rusty."

"That's what I figured," Rusty agreed.

"After the hands eat breakfast, tell them to
go to bed. You, too, Rusty. You were out all night. Tell the hands
that I appreciate their effort. I'm sure Andy is just fine."

"If you're sure, Miz Lacey."

"Very sure. Go get some rest."

"You have plenty of time to wash up and
change before breakfast," Rita said after she let Rusty out.

"Yes, perhaps that would be best," Lacey
agreed. "Call me if Andy returns while I'm upstairs."

"Si, Senora."

Lacey washed and changed clothes in short
order, anxious to return downstairs to wait for Andy. She wouldn't
rest easy until he was safe within her arms. A niggling fear
persisted and she tried without success to put it from her mind.
What if Andy hadn't been found by a neighbor? What if he'd run into
outlaws or wild animals?

Sighing despondently, Lacey tied her long,
blond hair back with a ribbon and hurried downstairs. She had just
reached the middle of the staircase when she heard a commotion at
the front door. A smile stretched her lips and her eyes lit up as
she rushed down the remaining steps and flung the door open.

"Andy..."

Her smile dissolved. "What are you doing
here? I thought I told you never to darken my door again." She
started to close the door.

Taylor Cramer held the panel open and shoved
past Lacey. "I think you'll want to hear what I have to say," he
said, whirling to confront her.

"I doubt that."

"Shall we talk about Andy."

Color leached from Lacey's face and the
breath left her lungs in a whoosh. Speech was impossible, though
she had countless questions to ask.

"Andy is missing, isn't he?" Cramer asked
smugly.

Her voice restored, Lacey whispered shakily,
"What do you know about Andy?"

"He's safe," Cramer said.

Relief shuddered through Lacey, but another
worry took it's place. "Where is he?"

"Where he won't interfere in our plans."

"Plans? Damn you, Taylor Cramer! What have
you done with my son?"

"Let's go into the parlor, my dear. We have
our future to discuss."

Cramer strode into the parlor. Lacey followed
as if in a trance.

"We have no future together, Taylor."

He sat down on the sofa and patted the place
beside him. "Sit here, Lacey."

"Not until you tell me what you've done with
my son."

"I told you, he's safe. A lot safer than he'd
be wandering the countryside in the dark. What did you do to him to
make him run away?"

"He told you he was running away?"

"He said he was going to California. That
bastard Gentry doesn't deserve that kind of devotion."

"If you have any compassion at all, you'll
bring Andy home. Now. I'll bring the law into this if I have
to."

"No, you won't, my dear. You can't prove I
took Andy. The boy ran away. He could be anywhere. He could have
met up with a coyote, a bear, or even a wolf. All manner of wild
animals prowl at night."

"And you're the worst of the lot," Lacey
spat. "What do you want from me, Taylor? What will it take to get
Andy back?"

"Ah, now we come to the heart of the
matter."

"You win, Taylor. I'll sell you the ranch.
All I require is enough money to tide me and Andy over until I can
find work."

"Why should I pay you anything when I hold
all the cards?" Cramer said nastily. "The taxes, which aren't
inconsiderable, I might add, will be paid from my own pocket. No,
Lacey, I'm not going to buy the ranch."

"You expect me to gift it to you?" Lacey
gasped.

"In a way. Once we marry, it will be
mine."

"The thought of marriage to you revolts
me."

"At one time you were damn eager to marry
me.'

"That was before..."

"Before Gentry?"

"Before you showed your true colors. You
never liked my son. You wanted to send him away."

"Andy was an inconvenience. But you have no
choice now, Lacey. We will marry, and quickly. Before..." His
sentence ended abruptly.

Lacey was instantly alert. "Before what? Does
your haste to wed have anything to do with my land?"

"You ask too many questions. You do love your
son, don't you?"

"You know I do."

"Good. We'll marry on Saturday. That's three
days from now. Leave the arrangements to me. I'll come for you in
my buggy Saturday morning."

Lacey's chin quivered but her voice was firm.
"I'm not going to marry you, Taylor, so you might as well bring
Andy home."

Taylor sent her a superior smile. "You'll
marry me. Otherwise you'll never see your son again. Expect me on
Saturday, my dear, around ten o'clock. You know," he mused as he
rose to leave, "I'm quite looking forward to bedding you." His eyes
settled on her breasts. "I spoke the truth when I said I wanted you
as much as I want your land. Taming you should prove
interesting."

Lacey bristled. "You've never told the truth.
Forget about marriage. I'll deed the ranch to you. Just bring Andy
home."

His eyes glittered with dark desire. "I want
more than that. I need the land but you're the bonus. Three days,
Lacey. Resign yourself to it. I want a flesh and blood woman in my
bed, not a marble statue. Don't bother to see me to the door, I'll
let myself out."

"Bastard!"

His laughter lingered long after he was
gone.

Lacey waited until Cramer rode away before
leaping into action. She wasn't afraid of Taylor Cramer. She was
going to go to the sheriff despite Taylor's threats.

Lacey saddled her horse and rode to town. She
didn't tell anyone where she was going. Rusty and the hands were
still sleeping and Rita would only worry. When she reached town she
rode directly to the sheriff's office. She found Sheriff Hale
sitting behind his desk, browsing through wanted posters. He lifted
his head and greeted her with a smile.

"What can I do for you, Miz Gentry? Has Sam
Gentry returned yet?"

"Unfortunately, no. Andy is missing,
Sheriff," she blurted out. "He's been gone all night."

Hale's brow furrowed. "Missing, you say?"

"Kidnapped. He went out last night and failed
to return."

"What makes you think the boy's been
kidnapped? He's probably lost and can't find his way back
home."

"Andy run away," Lacey revealed. "He wanted
to go to California to find his father."

"There you have it," the sheriff said
complacently. "The lad can't be far away. Send your hands out to
look for him. If he's been out all night he's probably more than
ready to return home."

"The search began yesterday and continued all
night. I just found out this morning what happened to him."

"Then getting him back should be a simple
matter," Hale said, clearly annoyed."

"You're not listening, Sheriff. I said Andy
was kidnapped. Taylor Cramer took him without my permission."

"That's a pretty harsh accusation, Mrs.
Gentry. Do you have proof?"

"Only my word. Mr. Cramer came out to the
ranch this morning and told me he had my son. I asked Taylor to
bring Andy home, but he refused."

"Why would he refuse?"

"He's holding Andy hostage until I agree to
marry him."

Hale stared at her. "Now don't that beat all.
I never heard of such a thing."

"It's the truth. I need your help, Sheriff.
Taylor will have to release Andy if you ride out there with me and
demand his return."

"I'd feel mighty foolish if you're mistaken,"
Hale said. "Taylor Cramer is a respected citizen of this community.
I don't think we should go off half cocked."

"Please, Sheriff, don't let me down. You were
elected to uphold the law."

Lacey's state of panic must have gotten
through to him for he rose and strapped on his guns. "You win, Mrs.
Gentry, I'll ride out to the Taylor spread with you, but I don't
expect anything to come of it."

Lacey's fear escalated as she and the sheriff
ate up the distance to Taylor's ranch. Had Taylor hurt Andy? Was
her son hungry? Andy was a growing boy, he required nourishing food
and adequate sleep.

Lacey rode into the yard ahead of the sheriff
and drew rein at Cramer's front door. She leaped from the saddle
and was up the porch stairs before Hale had even dismounted. With a
fervor born of desperation, she pounded on the door, calling out
Andy's name.

"Lacey, Sheriff Hale, what brings you out
here?"

Lacey spun around at the sound of Cramer's
voice. He stood behind them, hands on hips, his most charming smile
stretching his lips.

"I was in the barn. One of my hands informed
me I had visitors. What can I do for you?"

"You know good and well what you can do for
me," Lacey said through clenched teeth. "Release Andy. I'm taking
him home."

Taylor sent Sheriff Hale a puzzled look.
"What is my fiancée talking about, Sheriff?"

Sheriff Hale removed his hat and wiped his
brow on his sleeve. "Mrs. Gentry says you kidnapped her son. What
do you have to say about it?"

Lacey quelled the urge to strike Cramer when
he gave a bark of laughter. "I fear my fiancée is delusional,
Sheriff. What makes her think I kidnapped her son?"

"Because you told me!" Lacey all but shouted.
"You're holding him hostage."

"What a perfectly ridiculous idea. Are you
feeling well, my dear?"

"Do something, Sheriff! Search the house. I
know Andy is in there."

Cramer sighed. "Go ahead, Sheriff. Lacey
won't be happy until you search the house. After you finish, you're
welcome to search the outbuildings."