"Up the stairs, Senor Sam. First door on the right. His door is open, you will be able to see him."
"Much obliged, Rita."
Sam hurried off, hoping to avoid Lacey. He didn't know if he could survive another confrontation with her. Every time their paths crossed he remembered...and wanted. He was finally willing to admit that he wanted her in his bed. He wanted her under him, over him, wanted to toss up her skirts and thrust himself inside her. He wanted to hear her scream his name as she climaxed.
Sam paused on the upstairs landing in an effort to control his body's response to his erotic fantasies about Lacey. It wouldn't do for Andy to see him with the front of his trousers stretched out. He adjusted his tight denims, took several deep breaths, and continued down the hall. The door to Andy's room stood open and he walked inside. Andy was staring out the window, his expression wistful. He saw Sam and gave a whoop of joy.
"Sam! Sam! I was hoping you'd come."
Sam settled on the edge of the bed. "I didn't know you were sick, Andy. I've been a mite busy lately."
"I know. Everyone has been busy lately. How did you know I was sick?"
"I spoke with your mother earlier. She said you've been under the weather."
"I can get out of bed tomorrow. Mama said I can."
"Your mama said you can get out of bed if your fever is gone tomorrow," Lacey said from the doorway.
"Mama! Sam came to visit me. He didn't know I was sick."
"So I see," Lacey said coolly.
"Tell you what," Sam said, surprising himself. "If you're well enough tomorrow to get out of bed, I'll take you for a ride on Galahad. It's Sunday. All the hands except those guarding the herd are going into town tonight, and Sundays are pretty dead around here."
Andy's eyes glowed with excitement. "Is Galahad your horse? I'd like that. It's all right, isn't it, Mama?"
"We'll see," Lacey hedged. She turned her attention to Sam. "Aren't you going into town to carouse with the others?"
"Nope. There's nothing much in town that interests me."
"I find that hard to believe," she said with a hint of sarcasm.
Sam's eyes narrowed. "Are you trying to get rid of me?"
Sam could tell Lacey wanted to spit out a harsh reply and held her tongue because of Andy. He rose and smiled down at Andy. "If we're going riding tomorrow, I suggest you get all the rest you can today. I'll come for you around ten tomorrow morning. Does that sound about right to you?"
"That sounds just fine to me, Sam. I'll be ready."
Lacey sent Sam a potent glare. "I'd like a word with you before you leave."
"Whatever you say," Sam answered.
He followed her out the door, admiring the sway of her hips beneath her split leather skirt. Unfortunately his arousal reasserted itself just as she turned around to face him. Her gaze slithered downward. He heard her gasp before her gaze flew upward, settling disconcertingly on his face.
Sam chuckled. "You're not surprised, are you? You're a beautiful woman, Lacey. You've improved in many ways during the six years we've been apart. I won't deny that you tempt and arouse me, for it's obvious. I'm a man who enjoys women and you're all woman." He closed the gap between them. "More importantly, you're my wife."
Lacey retreated, until her back was pressed against the wall. "Do you enjoy taunting me?"
"Actually, no." His words surprised the hell out of him, and scared him even more. Hadn't that been his purpose in staying on at the B&G? "Actually, what I would really enjoy is making love to you. Surely you haven't forgotten how good it was between us."
"I've forgotten everything about you."
"Like hell," he growled. "It's long past the time for everyone to know about our relationship. I'll move my things from the bunkhouse tomorrow, after Andy and I return from our ride."
Lacey's panic was palpable. "No! You can't do that."
Sam's answer was to snag her around the waist and pull her close. Her soft breasts flattened against him, making him aware of every luscious curve. His arms tightened, bringing her even closer. Her eyes widened and he smiled, for he knew she could feel his erection prodding between her legs.
"I want you, Lacey," he whispered against her lips. "That has never changed despite our years apart and your betrayal. I didn't realize how much I still wanted you until I saw you again."
"It's too late," Lacey hissed. "You let me believe you were dead. I can't forgive you for that. We can never have a meaningful relationship. Let me go, Sam. It was over for us years ago."
Sam was quick to respond. "Who said anything about a meaningful relationship? You misunderstand. I'm not going to divorce you so we may as well make the best of the situation. I can tell you want me. Your lips and body tell me all I need to know. You're a passionate woman, Lacey," Sam continued. "I haven't forgotten that about you. Since Cramer is out of the picture, why not share your passion with me?"
"That does it, Sam Gentry!" Lacey charged. She raised her arm to strike him but this time Sam was too fast for her. He caught her wrist. Then he scooped her into his arms and carried her down the hallway until he found another door.
Sam shoved the door open with his foot and pushed into the room. He smiled when he saw how well he'd chosen. The bedroom definitely belonged to a female, probably Lacey. He slammed the door shut with his foot and carried Lacey to the bed. He dropped her, watched her bounce a time or two, then flung himself on top of her.
Lacey's words were tinged with fear. "What are you going to do?"
"Prove something to both of us," Sam bit out.
"Get off of me!"
"I will, in time. Tell me you don't want me."
Her chin lifted pugnaciously. "I don't want you."
"Tell me after I kiss you."
His mouth came down hard on hers. His kiss was not gentle, nor was it particularly brutal. It was very persuasive, utterly demanding. Lacey thought she had survived the worst of it quite nicely until he prodded her lips apart and thrust his tongue past her teeth. He kissed her so thoroughly she felt the compelling need to kiss him back. She fought it as long as she could, then her mouth softened beneath his.
Sam lifted his head and smiled down at her. "Tell me."
Gathering her scattered wits about her, Lacey cried, "I don't want you!"
Lacey was forced to endure another assault upon her senses as his mouth returned to feast on hers. Then his hands covered her breasts and she lost the ability to think. Lacey had no idea Sam had worked her buttons free until she felt his fingers tweak a bare nipple.
"Remember how it was between us, Lacey? We couldn't keep our hands off of one another. The few times we were together weren't nearly enough. I hadn't satisfied my lust for you before I was taken away. We have all the time in the world now to explore our unsated passion."
"You can't mean that," Lacey whispered. "You can't mean for us to stay together."
Sam appeared too interested in her breasts and puckered nipples to answer. She watched in trepidation as he licked and nipped at them. She bit out a gasp when he took one aroused tip into his mouth and suckled her.
"You always did like it when I sucked your nipples," he said, raising his head and grinning down at her. "You liked it when I did this, too."
Lacey tried to stop his hand from crawling beneath her skirts but she wasn't fast enough. She felt the pressure of his fingers between her thighs, inching upward, close, so close. No one had touched her intimately since Sam. Holding her breath, she anticipated his fingers there, where she was slick and needy. She nearly screamed when the delicious pressure ceased.
"Shall I stop, Lacey?"
"Yes! No! Oh, please!"
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 de
ep 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.
The Outlaws: Sam Page 5
