Sam wasn't in the position to answer most of those questions. How could he tell Lacey he was an outlaw, though wrongly accused? He had nothing. No home. No property. Very little money. But he wasn't going to let her off the hook that easily. She had to pay for betraying him. Besides, preventing the marriage between Lacey and Taylor would benefit Andy.
"You're right. I have neither home nor property," he confirmed, "but I have a wife that has both. Now if you'll excuse me, I've had a long day."
He turned his back on Lacey, which was the wrong thing to do. She flew at him, pounding his back with her fists and sobbing her frustration.
"Why are you doing this to me?"
Sam spun around, grasped her arms, and pulled her against him. "You know why."
Her fury was palpable. He imprisoned her against him and stared into the smoldering depths of her green/gold eyes. What he saw there set him back on his heels. He recognized despair, and hopelessness, and something else. Something startling and confusing. He saw need. Need for him, Sam, not Cramer. Something snapped inside him, opening a floodgate of emotions.
A groan rumbled in his chest as he lowered his head and captured her lips. She went still in his arms, her body stiffening. Her eyes widened, then closed when he deepened the kiss, parting her lips with his tongue. Her taste, her scent, the way she suddenly melted against him, all these and more dragged forth long forgotten memories, a long forgotten love.
Lacey couldn't resist the lure of Sam's soft lips. This was the man she'd once loved beyond all reason. This was Andy's father. She whimpered a protest when his hands slid up her back and around to her breasts, cupping their fullness. She sighed into his mouth when his fingers teased her nipples.
"Why did you betray me, Lacey?" Sam whispered against her lips.
The bubble burst. Lacey attempted to free herself from the circle of Sam's arms, which suddenly felt hard and unyielding. "I didn't."
His arms tightened. "Who is Andy's father?"
Lacey gazed up at him, controlling with difficulty the panic rising inside her. Did he suspect? "You tell me."
He shoved her away. "Don't play games with me. You'd like me to think he's mine, wouldn't you?"
Lacey wiped her lips with the back of her hand. "That's the last thing I want you to believe. You'd better leave. I need to find Andy and feed him his supper."
"I'll find him for you," Sam said after a lengthy pause. He started toward the door.
A disturbing thought came to Lacey. "Sam, wait!"
Sam turned slowly, his dark brows raised in askance.
"Do Rusty and the ranch hands know? About us, I mean."
"Not yet, but I doubt they can be kept in the dark for long."
Then he was gone, leaving Lacey confused and traumatized.
What had gotten into her? All Sam did was touch her and she was lost. She prayed he'd never discover just how powerfully drawn she was to him. Their lives could have been so different if only he believed in her innocence.
What had happened to Sam during the years they were apart? she wondered. She knew he had brothers because he'd mentioned them often. There was a farm in Kansas, too. But Sam had as much as admitted that he had nothing, no money, no home and no property. There was a mystery here she wasn't even close to solving. Something had happened to bring Sam to Texas. Something she was probably better off not knowing.
Sam couldn't get Cramer off his mind. The following days were filled with work, work, and more work. And Andy. The lad seemed to enjoy following him around and he had no idea why. Andy didn't appear attached to any of the other hands that way. Not even Rusty, who doted on the boy. Sam had to admit the lad was engaging, and bright as hell. In fact, Sam was growing more than a little fond of the boy and he wasn't sure that was a good idea.
Cramer hadn't returned to the ranch and Sam figured the man was a coward, but he wasn't about to sell the scoundrel short. That thought brought another. The relationship between Cramer and Lacey didn't appear exceptionally warm or loving. Cramer seemed more interested in the ranch than he was in Lacey, and for some reason that bothered Sam.
Tonight Sam had taken supper with the boys in the cookhouse and was walking back to the bunkhouse with Rusty when he saw Cramer's horse tied to the hitching post, swishing flies with his tail.
"Excuse me, Rusty, but I need to see Lacey about something."
Rusty grabbed his arm. "Hold up, Sam. Is there something I should know about you and Miz Lacey?"
"Not yet, Rusty. You'll be the first to know if there is."
"I ain't sure what's going on here but I don't want to see Miz Lacey hurt."
Sam spun around to confront Rusty. "You think I'll hurt her and Cramer won't?"
"I don't know what to think. I was upset to learn that Miz Lacey was going to marry Cramer, but I'm not sure you're the one for her."
"Set your mind at ease, Rusty. Almost anyone would be better for Lacey than Cramer." He pulled free of Rusty's grip. "I'll see you back at the bunkhouse."
Sam's mounting anger matched the roiling storm clouds brewing overhead. If Cramer didn't back off he'd be damn sorry. He was so emerged in his dark thoughts that he failed to see Andy skip up to him.
"Hey, Sam, slow down."
Sam turned and waited for Andy to catch up to him. "What are you doing outside? It's going to storm soon."
"I sneaked out," Andy whispered. "He's here again."
"I know. I was just heading for the house to have a little talk with him."
Andy beamed. "I sure do like you, Sam."
"I like you too, Andy," Sam heard himself saying. "Tell you what. Why don't you sneak back up to your room before your mama comes looking for you?"
By the time Sam reached the house he was mad enough to toss Cramer out on his ear. The parlor was ablaze with light, but Sam circled around to the back and entered through the back door. Rita was preparing supper.
"Don't scold," Sam said as Rita opened her mouth to reprimand him. "There's something you should know, but I'm trusting you to keep it between the two of us until the time is right to tell everyone."
Rita's brow furrowed, but she said nothing, apparently waiting for Sam to continue.
Sam hoped telling Rita was the right thing to do but he saw no help for it. She deserved an explanation for his barging into the house without an invitation.
"It's a long story, Rita, but you should know that Lacey and I are married. We've been husband and wife for six years."
Sam could tell by her stunned expression that she didn't believe him.
"It's true, Rita," Sam explained. "My name is Sam Gentry."
"But...but, Senor Sam, Senora Lacey is going to marry Senor Cramer. Her husband died in the war."
"As you can see, I'm very much alive. We...we lost track of one another and she believed me dead. Now that I've found her, there will be no question of Lacey marrying Cramer. Are Cramer and Lacey in the parlor?"
"Si, Senor, I will tell her you're here."
"Don't bother, I'll tell her myself."
Lacey sat on the edge of the sofa, hands tightly folded, listening to Taylor as he paced back and forth in front of her, ranting and raving.
"How could you have done this to us, Lacey?" Cramer blasted. "We were to be married in two weeks. Now it will have to be put off until I can send Sam Gentry packing." He stopped in front of her and pulled her into his arms. "It's what you want, isn't it? You don't want to stay married to that penniless cowboy, do you?"
"Of course not," Lacey said without hesitation. She wanted Andy's future to be secure, and Taylor could provide what Andy needed. A home, security, money to give him an education.
Cramer's smile held no warmth. An unexplainable chill slithered down Lacey's back. "Good," Cramer said. "I hoped you'd say that. Leave everything to me, my dear. One way or another, Sam Gentry will be out of your life. I won't let him interfere with my plans for the ranch." He paused, as if aware of what he had carelessly revealed. "Forgive me, my dear, I meant our wedding pl
ans."
Sam entered the parlor in time to hear Lacey say, "What do you intend to do about Sam?"
"Leave the details to me, Lacey. I know exactly how to get rid of Sam Gentry."
Before Lacey could gather her wits, Cramer's arms tightened around her. Then he lowered his head and kissed her. Lacey had been kiss by Cramer before but this time she felt repelled by his hard lips and probing tongue. Nor did she remember his taste and scent being so repulsive. She felt his hard fingers crushing her breast moments before all hell broke loose.
A roar filled her ears at the same time Sam came hurtling out of nowhere. Cramer was literally torn away from her and backed up against the nearest wall.
"I warned you once about bothering Lacey," Sam snarled. He pulled his arm back, his hand fisted, ready to let it fly into Cramer's face.
Lacey grabbed his arm. "Please, Sam, don't do it." She knew Cramer's vindictive nature and didn't want his anger directed at Sam.
Sam hesitated, then he shoved Cramer away. "Get out, Cramer, before I really lose my temper. You can thank Lacey this time for saving you but I promise I won't be so lenient the next time."
Cramer slithered away, eyeing Sam with loathing. "I won't forget this, Gentry."
"I'm counting on you remembering," Sam barked through gritted teeth. "And just to make sure you won't bother my wife again, I'm moving into the big house, into Lacey's bed."
Lacey couldn't believe this was happening. Just when her life had gotten back on track, Sam showed up and ruined everything. He intended to move in with her and share her bed, did he? Well, she'd have something to say about that!
"You'd better leave, Taylor," she advised. "I can handle Sam."
"He's a savage. I don't trust him with my future wife. Stay away from him, Lacey. Sam Gentry is trouble."
"I want nothing to do with Sam," Lacey averred. "I can't wait until he's out of my life."
"I'll see what I can do to make your wish come true," Cramer said, slamming his hat down on his head. "I'll be in touch, my dear."
Lacey confronted Sam the moment the door shut behind Cramer. "Do you have to settle everything with your fists? What kind of man have you become?"
"You don't want to know," Sam muttered, rubbing his knuckles.
Never had Sam wanted to hit a man more. But Lacey was right. The one thing Sam needed to avoid was the law, and he knew intuitively that Cramer was the kind of men who wouldn't hesitate to bring the law down on him had Sam hit him.
"You had no business telling Taylor you were going to share my home and my bed."
"I meant every word," Sam growled. "I'm your husband. It's time the hands were told."
"You abandoned me!"
"You betrayed me!"
"You don't even like me."
"I thought the feeling was mutual."
Suddenly Sam's eyes darkened and his anger renewed itself. "You kissed Cramer."
Lacey's shoulders firmed. "He kissed me. There's a difference."
"Did you enjoy it?"
Her mouth thinned. She had no intention of telling Sam that she'd hated Taylor's kiss. "That's none of your business. I am going to marry Taylor. Engaged couples do kiss."
Sam's temper ignited. Grasping Lacey's upper arms, he dragged her against him, his fingers digging into her soft flesh. "What else have you done with Cramer? Is he one of your legion of lovers?"
Lacey exploded. She pushed away from him and dealt him a stinging blow to his face. Sam was the one who had abandoned her, the one who refused to listen to her explanation. How dare he accuse her of promiscuity when he'd probably bedded more women than he could count.
Sam reeled backward, his hand flying to his cheek. She'd struck him! No woman had ever done that to him before. Women liked him. He'd never had problems finding willing women for his bed. Even Lacey had come to him willingly.
His voice held a note of controlled fury. He took a menacing step forward. She stood her ground, her chin still jutting forward. He'd never known her to be pugnacious and he felt a grudging respect for her courage. Nothing he did or said seemed to intimidate her.
"Don't ever do that again," he warned.
"You don't frighten me, Sam Gentry."
"Frightening you was never my intention. Making you pay for betraying me is."
"The war was over a long time ago."
"The war between you and me never ended. Expect me to move in and share your bed very soon."
His wolfish grin offered Lacey scant comfort. Having Sam show up at the ranch after all these years had been a stunning blow. Having him live in the same house with her and Andy could only lead to disaster. Sam had broken her heart once, she couldn't survive having it broken a second time.
"Sam, think about this before you do anything rash. What about Andy? What's he to think?"
"Andy likes me. I don't suppose he'll think anything about it."
"He's bound to learn that we're married and...well, he'll assume you're his father. Are you prepared to explain to him why you've been absent all these years?"
"I'll think of something," Sam replied, not at all sure he was ready or willing to claim a child not of his own blood.
"Hurt him and I swear I'll kill you," Lacey grit out.
The threat didn't bother Sam at all. Lacey couldn't hurt a flea, even if she wanted to. But nevertheless, he heeded the warning and filed it away.
Chapter Four
During the following days Sam was so busy that he found no time to move into the ranch house. As for sharing Lacey's bed, he'd said it to taunt her, and her vigorous protest didn't surprise him. Especially if Cramer was her lover. That thought made him want to spew out his guts.
Sam was walking to the bunkhouse after an exhausting day in the saddle when he spied Lacey walking across the yard. It was washday, and she was headed toward a clothesline stretched between two trees, where dry clothes were blowing in the breeze.
Sam watched her long, graceful strides, admiring the way her skirts outlined her shapely legs and clung to her hips and thighs. He knew from experience that there was a lot of passion packed into her neat little form. From the first, Lacey had been hot and eager for him. His heated gaze settled on her breasts. They no longer resembled the small, unripe mounds he remembered. They were full and temptingly round, exactly how he liked them. Her waist was slim, her hips gently curved, and her face had grown even more beautiful, if that was possible.
His steps carried took him in her direction without conscious thought. In fact, he was surprised when he found himself standing beside her. She gave him a cursory glance and promptly ignored him as she continued plucking clothespins and clothes from the line.
"I haven't seen your lover around lately," Sam said. "Let's hope he took my warning to heart and gave up on you."
Lacey merely glared at him.
"Where's Andy? I haven't seen him around. He isn't ill, is he?"
"A cold and fever, nothing serious. I've had a devil of a time keeping him in bed."
"Tell him I'll look in on him after I clean up."
"That's not necessary."
Sam's jaw firmed. "Just tell him."
"Why? Why do you care? Andy is...nothing...to you."
Lacey nearly choked on her words. Lies didn't came easily to her. But Sam didn't deserve a son like Andy. The only reason he'd stuck around this long was to punish her for something that happened long ago, something of which she was blameless.
"Andy is innocent of any wrongdoing," Sam replied. "I like the tyke. It's his mother I hold responsible for...what happened in the past."
"Why are you still holding this grudge against me? You never went to prison. You escaped and went through the war without a scratch."
"Just because I lived doesn't right a wrong. Love isn't supposed to hurt. Your betrayal hurt me beyond repair. Now it's your turn to hurt."
His words served only to enrage her. "You think I didn't hurt when I was told you were dead?"
"That's exactly what I think. Andy is livin
g proof that you didn't mourn very long. Don't tell me you were vulnerable and Wiltshire took advantage of you for that's a bunch of bull."
Lacey gave him a defiant glare. "I won't tell you anything of the sort because it wouldn't be true."
"I suspected as much," Sam bit out.
Why were men so dense? Lacey wondered. Sam hadn't an inkling what her answer meant. Captain Wiltshire hadn't taken advantage of her. She'd only seen him a time or two after Sam was taken away and then only on a professional level. Had he been even remotely interested in her nothing would have come of it, for she wasn't interested in him. She'd been too distraught over Sam's alleged death to look at another man with romantic intent. And in six years she still hadn't found a man she could love like she'd loved Sam.
Lacey watched Sam walk away with tangled emotions. Suddenly her whole life was crumbling around her. She still had a ranch to run and little hard cash to see her through until the cattle were driven to the railhead. She was so desperate for money she considered taking them to market before winter. She'd thought marrying Taylor would solve her problems, but then Sam showed up and ruined everything.
An hour after he left Lacey by the clothesline, Sam returned to the house to visit Andy. He hadn't lied about his feelings for the lad. He did like Andy, even though he'd tried not to. A long time ago he recalled wishing for a son just like Andy. But he and Lacey hadn't been intimate enough times to produce a child. He could count on the fingers of one hand the times they had made love. Three, four times at the most. Hardly enough time to plant his seed in her.
Sam entered through the back door. This time Rita merely smiled at him and motioned him inside.
"Senora Lacey is in the parlor."
"I've come to see Andy. How is he?"
"Much better. I do not think we will be able to keep him in bed much longer."
"Point me to his room," Sam said.
The Outlaws: Sam Page 4
