The Outlaws: Sam (33 page)

Lacey entered the bank and found herself the
recipient of sympathetic looks. Apparently the news of Taylor's
death had preceded her. She asked for Mr. Markle and was ushered
into his office immediately.

"Let me extend my condolence on behalf of the
bank," Markle said solemnly. "Please sit down and tell me what I
can do for you, Mrs. Cramer."

"Doctor Larsen suggested that I see you
before I return to the ranch," Lacey began. "Taylor and I were
married shortly before...before his death. I'd like a review of my
late husband's assets being held at your bank."

Lacey didn't much care that her request might
sound mercenary to the banker. If she didn't have the money to pay
her back taxes by the end of the week she'd be turned out into the
cold.

"I usually meet with heirs after the
funeral," Markle said with a hint of censure. "But if you
insist."

"Just tell me if there's enough money in the
bank to pay the back taxes on the B&G."

Markle stared at her. "You have no idea of
your late husband's wealth, do you?"

"Not a clue. All I'm interest in now is
paying the taxes and..." She almost said "finding my son," but
decided to keep that knowledge to herself.

"Excuse me a moment while I get the necessary
papers for you to sign. It won't take long to transfer your late
husband's assets to your name. I assume you have your marriage
papers with you."

"I have them," Lacey said.

"Very well. I'll be right back."

Lacey used the time alone to unwrap the
bundle of Cramer's person effects and scan the contents. The
marriage papers were there amid several large denomination
greenbacks and various pieces of jewelry. Lacey removed the
marriage papers and all the greenbacks, leaving everything else for
a more thorough inspection later.

Lacey placed the marriage document before
Markle when he returned. "Everything seems in order, Mrs. Cramer,"
he said after a cursory glance. "Once you sign these papers, the
cash in your late husband's bank account will automatically revert
to you. Mr. Cramer had other assets besides cash. You should visit
his lawyer for a complete accounting of properties and such. He'll
handle all the legal work for you."

Lacey had little interest in anything Taylor
owned beyond the money to pay her taxes. She signed the papers and
returned them to Markle.

"Very good," Markle said. "Is there anything
else I can do for you?"

"I'd like a bank draft in the amount of the
back taxes I owe and fifteen hundred dollars in cash. I'd like to
pay the back taxes on the B&G before I return home."

"On which ranch will you make your home?"
Markle asked. "You now own two ranches."

Two ranches? The thought was staggering. What
was she going to do with two ranches? Sell one, obviously, and it
wasn't going to be the B&G.

"I can't decide anything right now," Lacey
said. "I'll be on my way as soon as I have the money I
requested."

"Don't you want to know how much money your
late husband has in his account?"

"Very well," Lacey said, eager to leave. "How
rich am I?"

"Very rich," Markle gloated. "Mr. Cramer's
bank account has grown to fifty-five thousand dollars. That's a
considerable sum, even in this day and age."

Astonishment rendered Lacey speechless.
Several suspenseful minutes passed before she was able to
speak.

"Did I hear you right? How could anyone be
that rich?"

"Taylor Cramer was a resourceful man, and a
canny one when it came to business. His lawyer can tell you more
than I. You will have no financial worries in the future, young
lady."

Markle left the room for a moment and
returned with the money and bank draft Lacey had requested. He
counted out fifteen hundred dollars in her palm and she left the
bank in a daze. She was still in a daze when she entered the tax
office and produced the bank draft to pay her taxes in full. The
clerk handed her a receipt and extended his condolence for her late
husbands death. Lacey didn't want condolences, she wanted her
son.

Sheriff Hale intercepted Lacey as she left
the tax office. "Your buggy is in front of the jailhouse, ma'am.
One of my deputies drove it from the church for you."

"Thank you, Sheriff. I'd like to see Sam
before I return home. Is that possible?"

"It's all right with me. I need to ask you a
few questions before you return home anyway."

Lacey followed Hale to the jailhouse. He held
the door open for her and she stepped inside. "He's in one of the
holding cells," Hale said, directing her down a passageway. Call
out if you need me."

Lacey walked down the passage and ran into a
row of cells. Only one was occupied. Sam must have seen her coming
for he clung to the bars, his expression anxious.

"Lacey, thank God you came. How is
Cramer?"

"He's dead, just like you intended," Lacey
said on a sob. "How could you, Sam? Didn't Rusty tell you that
Taylor was holding Andy hostage? Why did you have to take the law
into your own hands? Why didn't you let me handle it my way?"

"I admit that I left the ranch in a rage. I
was prepared to do anything short of murder to stop the wedding. I
don't kill men in cold blood."

"If you didn't kill Taylor, who did?"

"Damned if I know, but I did get off a shot
at him. We shot simultaneously, that's why only one report was
heard. I wish there was some way to convince Sheriff Hale of my
innocence."

Lacey was halfway convinced that Sam
was
guiltless. But a tiny degree of doubt still
lingered.

"Lacey," Sam said earnestly, "you know I'd do
nothing to harm my son. Why would I kill Cramer when he was the
only one who could tell us where to find Andy?"

"I'm so confused," Lacey whispered. "I don't
know where to look for Andy and I'm at my wit's end. Marrying
Taylor was my only hope of seeing my son again."

Sam reached through the bars and cupped her
cheek. "I knew why you'd agreed to marry Cramer the moment I
learned he held Andy hostage. I wanted to reach the church before
you married the bastard."

"It was already too late when you arrived. I
was Taylor's wife at the time of the shooting."

"You're his heir," Sam said thoughtfully. "My
God, Lacey, do you know what that means? Your ranch is safe now.
You can pay your taxes. And you have money to hire trained
detectives to find our son."

Lacey swallowed painfully. "I already thought
of that and withdrew money from the bank to pay the taxes. As for
Taylor's other assets, I care nothing for them."

"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth, love.
Take whatever is coming to you, you deserve it after what that
bastard put you through."

"I can't think straight," Lacey said. "So
much has happened today. I never wanted this to happen to you, Sam,
that's why I wanted you to believe I wouldn't marry Taylor."

"I didn't kill him, love. There really was an
assassin hiding in the bushes."

"I have to go," Lacey said, backing away. "I
don't know what to think. Even if I believed you, you'd still have
to convince the sheriff."

"Nothing can keep me here," Sam bit out. "I
need to find our son."

"Don't do anything foolish, Sam. If you're
truly innocent, the truth will come out. I have to go. I'm going to
go through Taylor's personal papers. If I'm lucky I'll find
something to lead me to Andy. I return tomorrow and let you know
what I've found."

"You won't have to go through this alone,
love. I swear I'll be out of here soon to help you."

Lacey attempted a smile and failed. She
choked out a good-bye and fled. She hoped Sheriff Hale didn't have
too many question for she was close to the breaking point.

"Did you get the truth from Gentry?" Mrs.
Cramer?" Hale asked.

That name. She hated it. "Please call me
Lacey. I spoke with Sam. He denies shooting Taylor. He swears
another man did it."

"Do you believe him?"

Did she? Lacey wanted to. Dear God, she
wanted to. "I don't think Sam is capable of cold-blooded
murder."

"I reckon that's up to the judge and jury to
decide."

"My son is still missing, Sheriff. What are
you going to do about it?"

"You still think Mr. Cramer had something to
do with your son's disappearance? Now that's real puzzling,
considering you married the man."

"I married Taylor because he held Andy
hostage and for no other reason," Lacey retorted. "He said I'd
never see my son again if I didn't marry him."

Hale looked unconvinced. "Are you
certain?"

"Very certain."

"I'll see what I can do. I'll ask around;
maybe someone knows something about your son's disappearance. Go
home, Mrs....Lacey. You look done in. That's all the questions for
now."

"What about Sam?"

"I'm afraid he'll have to stay here until
someone comes up with another killer."

Lacey nodded wearily. "I'll be back tomorrow.
Perhaps by then one of us will have learned something about Andy's
disappearance."

The buggy was waiting for Lacey on the street
outside the sheriff's office. She climbed into the seat and picked
up the reins. Seconds later the buggy clattered off down the
road.

Rusty and the hands crowded around the buggy
when she reached the ranch. Rusty helped her down, his expression
grim.

"Is it done then? Where's your
bridegroom?"

Lacey nearly pitched forward when Rusty
released her, but caught herself just in time. "What's wrong, Miz
Lacey? Did something happen in town? Did you see Sam?"

"Sam's in jail," Lacey said dully. "He...he
shot and killed Taylor minutes after our marriage, before Taylor
could tell me where he'd hidden Andy."

"Gawd amighty," Rusty whispered. "Sam said
he'd kill Taylor but I never thought he'd do it. He ain't the kind
to shoot a man in cold blood. Are you sure, Miz Lacey?"

"No, that's the problem. I don't believe he
did it. I did at first, but I changed my mind after talking to him.
Unfortunately, what I think doesn't matter. There is no other
suspect and the sheriff thinks he did it."

"What can we do, Miz Lacey? I feel so damn
helpless."

"I want you and Lefty to ride over to the
Cramer spread and explain everything to the hands. I'm Taylor's
sole heir; the ranch and all his assets now belong to me. There
might be some legalities before the transfer is completed, but I've
already taken money out of his bank account to pay my taxes.

Lefty, I'm appointing you foreman of the
Cramer spread until I decide what to do with it. Can you handle
it?. Rusty can help out if the hands give you any problems."

Lefty's chest puffed out. "I won't let you
down, Miz Lacey. Some of Cramer's hands might leave, but that's all
right. With winter coming on, the work load will be light."

"I'll come by tomorrow, on my way to town,"
Lacey said.

"What about Andy?" Rusty asked. "We're gonna
get him back, ain't we?"

Lacey recalled the bundle of Taylor's
personal effects and retrieved it from the buggy. "I'm hoping
there's something in Taylor's belongings to lead us to Andy. If
not, I'll turn his house upside down until I find something.
Someone has to know where Taylor has taken my son."

"Me and Lefty will leave right away, Miz
Lacey."

"As soon as you return, let me know how the
men reacted to Taylor's death," Lacey said. "I don't want any
trouble."

Lacey strode to the house. It seemed an
eternity since she'd left her bed with Sam sleeping in it, but in
truth it had been less than twelve hours. The most eventful twelve
hours of her life.

Lacey found Rita in the kitchen and had to go
through the whole story again.

"Senor Sam did not do it, Senora," Rita
staunchly defended. "He is not a killer."

"I'm inclined to think the same thing, Rita,
but I'm not the judge or jury. I don't know what I can do to help
him."

"Senor Sam could find Andy, I know he could,"
Rita declared. "He loved the bambino."

"I wish I had some idea who wanted Taylor
dead."

"Rita snorted. "A man like Senor Cramer must
have many enemies."

"You're right, Rita, and I'll track down
every one of them, if I must. But first, I'm going to inspect
Taylor's belongings for clues to Andy's whereabouts."

She placed the bundle on the kitchen table
and slowly unwrapped it. One by one she examined the contents.
There was a letter from a man in Washington that she didn't bother
to read, and several notes pertaining to business. Nothing to
indicate where Taylor had taken Andy.

"Did you find anything?" Rita asked
anxiously.

"Nothing," Lacey sighed. "Perhaps I'll have
better luck at Taylor's house tomorrow. I'm going upstairs, Rita.
Call me when supper is ready. Something light will do, I don't have
much of an appetite."

Lacey picked at her food without appetite and
finally pushed her plate aside. She moved to the parlor while Rita
cleared the table. Rusty arrived from the Cramer ranch to report in
soon afterward.

"How did it go?" Lacey asked anxiously.

"Pretty good, considering. Two hands quit
immediately after hearing that Cramer was dead, but the others
seemed to accept Lefty as foreman. It helped that the foreman of
the outfit was away on some errand or other for Cramer. We won't
know what it was until he returns. He might give Lefty some trouble
but I reckon he can handle it."

"I'm going out there in the morning and speak
with the hands myself. Perhaps I'll send extra men from the B&G
to help him."

"Let me know if there's anything else I can
do. Good night, Miz Lacey."

"Good night, Rusty."

Lacey flirted with sleep became but had
difficulty attaining it. She hadn't seen Andy in days and missed
him dreadfully. What had Taylor done with him? So many appalling
scenarios came to mind that she couldn't bear thinking about them.
Instead, she shifted her thoughts to...Sam, and the fate that
awaited him should he be found guilty of murdering Taylor.