The Outlaws: Sam (7 page)

Her back was bowed, her breath spewing forth
in painful gasps. "I know what you want, Lacey," Sam said as his
fingers continued exploring the intimate flesh between her thighs.
One finger pushed inside her and she arched violently. He began to
stroke, in and out, his rhythm increasing until she was nearly mad
with the need to end it. Then it came, from somewhere deep inside
her, the explosion that turned her body into a raging inferno.
Seized by euphoria, she rode the cresting waves until they finally
ebbed and she lay limp and sated.

"Like that, did you?" Sam asked.

"I...I...damn you, Sam Gentry! You had no
right."

"I'm the only man who has a right."

He pushed himself away from her. Her gaze
drifted down his body, noting with alarm that he was still hard,
still fully aroused. She feared that he would..."

"Don't worry," he said, following the
direction of her gaze. "I'm not going to ravish you. When we come
together it will be because you want me. And believe me, wife, I'm
going to make damn sure you want me. Have Andy ready when I come
for him tomorrow," he threw over his shoulder as he headed out the
door.

Lacey was so angry she grabbed the pitcher
from the nightstand and hurled it at him. It would have hit its
mark had he not closed the door. The pitcher struck the door and
shattered. Even though it had missed Sam, Lacey felt better for
having thrown it.

Lacey couldn't believe what had just
happened. Sam's touch had set her afire. Why had he done it? She
knew he hadn't gained any satisfaction from the encounter. He was
still hard when he'd left her. She feared that this time Sam meant
what he had said. He was going to tell everyone they were married
and move in with her. How could she endure?

# # #

Sam arrived for Andy at precisely ten o'clock
the following morning. Galahad pranced beneath him as Andy ran out
of the house to meet him, his eyes shining with excitement.

"You didn't forget!" Andy squealed.

Sam dismounted. "Did you think I would?"

"Maybe. Mama said not to expect too much from
you."

Sam lifted Andy into the saddle, then swung
up behind him. Lacey had no right to discredit him to Andy. He knew
she believed he had abandoned her and perhaps he had, but he'd had
good reason. He'd had no desire to return to a wife who had
betrayed him.

"Can we go fast?" Andy asked. "Sometimes
Rusty takes me for rides but his horse goes so slow."

"Take care of Andy," Lacey called from the
porch.

Sam glanced over his shoulder. He hadn't
known Lacey was there. "Don't worry. I'll treat him as if he were
my own."

Then he galloped off in a clatter of hoofs.
He didn't hear Lacey whisper, "He
is
yours."

"This is fun," Andy said, laughing. "Being
sick isn't fun at all. Where are we going?"

"See those hills in front of us?" Andy
nodded. "There's a place up there where cool water trickles from
between two rocks into a pool. We'll rest there a while and return
to the house in time for lunch."

Sam pulled Andy's warm body close against
him. The boy felt good in his arms. Maybe he should give Lacey her
divorce, find a woman, and start a family of his own. Then he
thought of Andy, and how miserable he'd be with Cramer for a
stepfather. He wished he had money to give Lacey so she could save
the ranch and not have to take up with men like Cramer, but he had
nothing. Not even his good name. He was still an outlaw, still on
the run from the law.

They reached the spot Sam pointed out
earlier. Sam reined in, dismounted, and lifted Andy from the
saddle. The boy immediately ran to the small pool and quenched his
thirst.

"It's just like you said," Andy said,
beaming. "Do you ever lie, Sam?"

Sam was taken aback by Andy's innocent
question. "Not if I can help it."

"Will you answer truthfully if I ask you a
question?"

"Fire away." What kind of questions could a
five year old ask?

"Do you like Mama?"

Sam shifted uncomfortably. Andy's question
was a loaded one. He thought it out carefully before replying. "Why
do you ask?"

"I was just wondering." He sent Sam a guarded
look. "I wish you could be my new papa instead of mean old
Cramer."

Sam went down on one knee before the lad.
"Would you really like me to be your papa?"

Andy beamed and threw his arms around Sam's
neck. "You bet! Do you think Mama would let you marry her?"

Sam decided that now was as good as time as
any to tell Andy the truth. Especially if he moved into the house
today like he intended.

"You might find this hard to understand,
Andy, but your mama and I are already married. We've been married
for six years."

Andy's eyes grew huge. "I'm only five." It
took a long time for it to sink in, but when it did, Andy appeared
more confused than ever. "Are you my papa? Mama said my father died
in the war."

Sam's fingers tightened on Andy's shoulders.
He didn't want to lie, but neither did he want to hurt the boy. "I
didn't die in the war. Your mama and I lost track of one another.
War is a terrible time when bad things happen to people."

Andy's five year old mind appeared stuck on
one subject. Andy could only grasp one thing at a time and there
was only one thing he wanted to know. "Are you my papa for
real?"

Sam went still. God, this was difficult.
"I'll be your pa if you want me to be," he said after a weighted
pause. It was the best he could offer without lying or hurting
Andy. Lacey would probably be livid at what he'd done but he didn't
care. His own flesh and blood or not, Sam wasn't about to
relinquish custody of Andy to Cramer.

Andy suddenly turned shy. "Can I call you
Papa?"

A lump formed in Sam's throat. "If you'd
like."

"I'd like that very much, Sa...Papa." Andy
still didn't seem satisfied. "If you and Mama are married, why are
you living in the bunkhouse?"

"I won't be for long. I'm moving in with you
and your mother tonight. I'm going to help her run the ranch. She's
doing a pretty good job but she doesn't know a whole lot about
ranching." Neither did he, but he'd bet he knew more than she
did.

Sam stretched up to his full height. "We
should be starting back. You must be hungry."

Andy seemed reluctant to leave. "Can I ask
you one more question?"

Sam hesitated. Andy was too astute for his
own good. Nevertheless, he owed it to the boy to provide answers to
his questions. "How long are you gonna stay with us?"

Sam went weak in the knees. Truth to tell, he
didn't know the answer to that himself. If the law ran him to
ground he might be leaving real quick. He wasn't even sure he
wanted to stick around for an extended period. Too much pain and
heartache lay between him and Lacey. Could he learn to forgive her?
Could she forgive him? How set was she on marrying Cramer? Too many
questions, so few answers.

Andy was still waiting for Sam's answer.
"Let's just take it one day at a time, son. I'm not going anywhere
in the foreseeable future."

Andy brightened perceptibly. "I reckon that
means forever. I'm ready to go home now...Papa."

Lacey was waiting for them on the porch.
"It's about time," she said, snatching Andy from the saddle. "Go on
inside, honey, Rita has your lunch ready. I'll join you in a
moment."

Andy ran off, paused at the door, then turned
and waved at Sam. "Bye, Papa. I'll see you tonight."

The color drained from Lacey's face and she
clutched the porch railing to steady herself. She felt as if she'd
been punched in the gut.

"What did Andy mean? You didn't... You
wouldn't... Oh, God, I'm going to be sick."

Sam leaped from the saddle and helped Lacey
over to the rocker swaying back and forth in the breeze on the
porch.

Then Lacey lit into him. "Why? Why did you
hurt him? Andy has always wanted a father. It will kill him when
you leave."

"I told Andy that you and I were married, he
figured out the rest himself. I didn't tell him I was his father. I
merely said I'd
be
his father if that was what he
wanted."

"He's only five years old! He isn't mature
enough to recognize deception. I'll never forgive you for this,
Sam."

"What's Papa done, Mama?"

Lacey stared at her son. "Andy, how long have
you been standing there?"

"Not long. Rita is waiting lunch for you. Are
you coming?"

Lacey rose unsteadily. "Yes, certainly."

"Are you coming, Papa?"

"No, he's not!" Lacey said before Sam had a
chance to answer.

Sam sent Lacey a speaking look. "You and your
mother go eat your lunch. I'll see you both later."

"Promise?" Andy said.

"Promise," Sam answered.

He made a hasty retreat before Andy could
come up with any more questions.

Sam was walking his horse to the corral when
a cowboy rode hell for leather into the yard. It was Amos. He and
four hands were riding guard on the herd this weekend. Amos reined
in sharply before Sam. Sam knew immediately that trouble was
afoot.

"What happened?" Sam asked.

"Rustlers in the north pasture," Amos ground
out. "I came for reinforcements. Are you the only one here?"

"The boys went to town last night and haven't
returned," Sam said. He checked his guns. "Let's go."

They rode at full gallop. Sam heard shots
before they reached the herd. The ground shook beneath him. The
cattle had bolted.

Stampede!" Amos shouted over the din.

Sam rode into the midst of the stampeding
herd, joining Amos and the other cowboys who were trying to head
them off. From the corner of his eye he saw several men with
neckerchiefs covering the lower half of their faces cutting cows
out of the herd and driving them off. Sam turned his horse and rode
off to intercept them.

He had nearly caught up to them when one of
the rustlers turned in the saddle, raised his gun and took aim at
Sam. Sam clearly heard him say, "Good-bye and good riddance,
Genty." Then the rustler fired. The bullet came too close for
comfort. Sam drew his own weapon but it was too late. The rustler's
second shot whizzed past so close it dug a deep groove in the side
of Sam's head.

Sam reeled in the saddle but managed to keep
his seat. His hand flew to his head and came away covered with
blood. He knew he was bleeding profusely, for head wounds were
notorious bleeders. He also knew he was perilously close to losing
consciousness. Turning Galahad, he headed back to the ranch.

By the time Galahad carried Sam back to the
ranch, he was weaving back and forth in the saddle. Galahad halted
at the corral gate. Rusty, who had just returned from town, saw him
and ran over to see what was wrong.

Barely conscious, Sam lurched sideways and
slid from the saddle before Rusty reached him. Blackness engulfed
him and he knew no more.

Sam awakened in pain. His head hurt like the
very devil and his whole body felt like he'd been beaten. He opened
his eyes slowly. Once everything came into focus he realized he
wasn't in his bunk in the bunkhouse. The room was cheerful, the bed
beneath him soft and the sheets sweet smelling.

The pain in Sam's head was unrelenting. He
groaned and explored his head with his hand. His fingers
encountered a thick bandage.

"You're awake."

The voice was softly feminine and soothing,
putting him immediately at ease despite the grinding pain. Then
Lacey came into his view.

"Lacey." His voice sounded rusty, his throat
felt raw. "Water."

Lacey reacted quickly. She poured water from
a pitcher into a cup, gently lifted his head and held the cup to
his lips. Sam drank greedily then lay back against the pillow.

"Where am I?"

"In my spare bedroom."

Sam tried to grin but could only manage a
weak grimace. "I'd prefer to be in
your
room, in
your
bed."

Lacey ignored him. "Can you tell me what
happened?"

"Rustlers. Amos rode in to get reinforcements
but the boys hadn't returned from town yet. I rode out to help.
Were any of the others hurt?"

"No, just you. The raid doesn't make sense.
Rusty reported that the rustlers didn't even take the cattle they
had made off with. The hands found them grazing not far away from
the main herd. Rusty doesn't know what to make of it."

Sam shot her a speculative look. "The man who
shot me knew exactly who he was aiming at. If what you say is true,
I believe I was targeted as the victim. The rustlers didn't want
the cattle, they wanted me...dead," he added.

Lacey's eyes widened. "Why?"

"You tell me," Sam bit out.

"Me? What makes you think I know anything
about this?"

"I distinctly heard you tell your lover you
wanted me out of your life. And Cramer promised to see the deed
done. Killing is permanent and quite effective, I might add."

Lacey recoiled as if she'd been struck. "I
may want you out of my life but not in the way you think. I would
never... How could you even think such a thing?"

"Easy," Sam said. "Your lover was simply
carrying out your wishes."

"You're delusional," Lacey insisted. "Try to
rest. Rita will bring some broth up to you soon." She turned to
leave.

"Wait! Who bandaged me?"

"I did."

"How did I get up to the house?"

"Rusty and a couple of the boys carried you.
Anything else?"

Sam closed his eyes. He had much to think
about, but his head hurt too badly to concentrate. "No."

Lacey closed the door behind her and leaned
against it until the anger left her. How could Sam think she had
anything to do with the shooting? His unfounded accusation gave her
a clear picture of exactly what he thought of her. He might want
her sexually but she meant nothing to him as a person. The world
was populated with men like Sam. She was more determined than ever
to keep her heart out of Sam's reach.