"Yeah, I reckon a boy needs to know his pa loves him. I'll bring Andy, but if you keep him too long, his mother will come looking for him."
"Thanks, Rusty, I won't forget this."
Rusty shuffled from the barn. Sam watched from the doorway as Rusty spoke to Andy. He pulled back into the shadows when Andy glanced toward the barn and nodded. Then he rose obediently and followed Rusty.
"Why are we going to the barn?" Sam heard Andy ask as he and Rusty entered the barn.
"There's someone who wants to see you," Rusty answered.
"Who?" Andy asked curiously.
Sam stepped out from the shadows. "Me, son. Rusty brought you to talk to me."
Joy suffused Andy's face. "Papa! You've come back!"
He took off at a run and Sam scooped him up into his arms. "I couldn't go away without seeing you one last time."
"I'll leave you two alone," Rusty said as he moved toward the door. "Don't keep Andy out too long." Then he was gone, leaving Sam and Andy alone.
"Do you have to leave again, Papa?"
"I don't want to, son, but I have to. I just wanted you to know I didn't rob that bank. I'm not an outlaw."
"I never thought you were. It's all mean old Cramer's fault. Mama is gonna marry him and send me away to school. I don't want to leave Mama but she doesn't love me anymore." Suddenly his face crumbled. Take me with you, Papa," he sobbed. "If you loved me you'd take me with you."
Sam felt as if his heart were breaking. How could Lacey do this to her son? She didn't deserve a son like Andy.
"Please, Papa, don't leave me here. Take me with you."
"Are you sure it's what you want, Andy? You might not see your mother for a very long time." Probably never, but he didn't tell that to Andy.
"Mama won't care. She doesn't love me anymore. She's gonna have babies with Mr. Cramer."
Sam felt a band tighten around his heart. "Did she tell you that?"
"No, but I heard mean old Cramer tell her that she didn't need me cause she'd have his sons to spoil."
"I need you, son. I'll always need you. If I take you with me, we'd have to leave now. You can't take a anything with you."
"Can I tell Mama good-bye?"
"No, I'm sorry. But if you have any doubts, let me know now. You see, I had every intention of taking you away with me tonight, that's why I returned. But I don't think I could have actually done it if you really didn't want to go."
Tears flowed down Andy's cheeks. "Mama doesn't want me. Neither does mean old Cramer." His shoulders straightened. "I'm ready, Papa. I want to go with you. Maybe some day we can come back to see Mama."
Sam didn't think so but he'd never admit it to Andy. "We'll see, son, we'll see. Gallahad is in his stall. Let's go get him."
Sam took Andy's small hand and led him to the stall. Then he lifted the boy into the saddle and led Gallahad out of the barn. Mounting behind Andy, Sam dug his heels into Gallahad's hide. Moments later they disappeared into the moon drenched night.
"Where are we going, Papa?"
"Eventually we're going to California. But for now, I'm taking you to meet some friends of mine. I think you'll like them. Have you ever met any Indians?"
Andy's eyes grew round. "Indians! Will they scalp me?"
"These Indians are friendly, no harm will come to you. They saved my life. You'll be welcome there."
Sam's answer seemed to satisfy Andy for he snuggled down against Sam and drifted off to asleep.
# # #
It was past Andy's bedtime and Lacey began to get anxious when he hadn't returned to the house in a reasonable length of time. It wasn't like Rusty to keep the boy out this late. Because Rusty had been like a surrogate father to the boy, she had allowed Andy to stay up beyond his bedtime as long as he was with Rusty. This was the night she intended to tell Andy that she had no intention of marrying Taylor or sending him away. Somehow she would make her son understand that she was playing a game with Taylor in order to gain vital information.
Lacey opened the back door and found the porch empty. She wasn't really worried, Andy and Rusty sometimes walked to the barn together in the evening. Grabbing a sweater from the hook beside the door, Lacey walked out into the cool air, glad she'd made Andy put on a jacket before he went outside. She strolled to the barn, smiling when she noted the light inside. No doubt she'd find Rusty and Andy seated on a bale of hay, solving the world's problems.
The barn was empty save for the animals. A shiver of panic crept up Lacey's spine, but she brushed it aside. What reason had she for panic? Andy was with Rusty. Rusty would let no harm come to her son.
Picking up the lamp, Lacey made a quick tour of the corral and paddock before returning to the barn and searching every stall in case Andy had decided to bed down in the hay instead of his own bed. Every stall was empty. Lacey panicked. Glancing toward the bunkhouse, she noted that all was dark inside. Had Rusty let Andy bed down with the hands without telling her? It wasn't like Rusty but the alternative was unthinkable.
Lacey marched to the bunkhouse and pounded on the door. She heard a shuffling sound inside. A few minutes later the door was flung open. Rusty stood in the opening, his chest bare, his trousers gaping at the waist. When he saw Lacey he quickly did up the buttons.
"Miz Lacey! Is something wrong?"
"I hope not," Lacey said, frowning. "Will you send Andy out, please? I'm disappointed in you, Rusty. It's not like you to keep Andy with you without informing me. I've been worried sick."
Rusty paled. "Andy ain't in his bed?"
Lacey's heart thumped erratically. "He's not with you?"
Rusty gulped nervously. "No, ma'am."
Lacey's legs threatened to give way beneath her and she made a grab for the doorjamb. "Where could he be? Did you see him at all tonight?"
"I met him on the back porch earlier."
"Then what?" Pressure built inside Lacey. Did she have to drag everything from him?
"I didn't think it would do any harm, Miz Lacey," Rusty said. "He just wanted to see his son. I never thought he would..."
"Rusty, please, tell me what happened? Surely you don't mean that Sam... She paused as Rusty's words registered. "Sam's alive?"
"He's alive, Miz Lacey. I found him in the barn earlier. He'd been shot by the posse and dropped out of sight while he recovered from his wound. He said he wanted to see Andy before he left and I agreed to bring the boy to him, but I told him not to keep Andy out long. I knew you'd be worried and come looking for him."
Lacey's voice rose on a note of panic. "Why didn't you return Andy to the house yourself after Sam saw him? What could you have been thinking of?"
Rusty looked properly abashed. "Sam asked to speak with his son alone and I saw no harm in it." He swallowed with difficulty. "You don't suppose Sam took Andy, do you?"
Lacey knew Sam would dare anything, even take Andy away if he thought she was going to marry Taylor. He'd threatened to do so on more than one occasion. "Did you tell Sam that Taylor Cramer and I were planning to marry?"
"He asked and I told him the truth."
Frustration pounded through Lacey. No one knew the truth but herself. And now Sam had her son.
"I'm sorry, Miz Lacey. I never suspected Sam would take the boy. I like Sam, but he had no right taking Andy away from his mother."
"Do you have any idea where Sam has taken Andy? He can't have had much of a head start."
"I purely don't know," Rusty said sadly. "Somehow I got the idea that Sam was heading West, California, maybe, to escape the bank robbery charges.
"Rouse the hands from bed," Lacey ordered. "I want Sam found immediately." Her lips thinned. "He can't have Andy. He's mine."
"Won't do no good," Rusty allowed. "We can't follow a trail in the dark. Wait until morning. I'll have the boys out bright and early."
"Now, Rusty. There's a bright moon tonight. Waiting till morning could give Sam the edge he needs to escape."
Without waiting for Rusty's reply, Lacey turned and
strode away, She returned to the barn and saddled her horse. Within a few minutes the sleepy-eyed hands straggled into the barn for their mounts. Less than thirty minutes later every available man on the B&G had gathered in the yard for instructions. Lacey spoke to them before sending them off.
"Sam Gentry has taken Andy. I don't know where he's headed but he doesn't have that much of a head start. Spread out and see if you can pick up a trail."
"Shouldn't we wait for daylight, ma'am?" Barney asked. "It's kinda hard tracking in the dark."
Hysteria rose up inside Lacey, nearly strangling her. "We can't wait! I can't lose Andy." Kneeing her mount, horse and rider shot forward. The hands had no choice but to follow.
"Damn you, Sam Gentry!" Lacey shouted into the wind racing by her face. "Damn you to hell!"
As he raced through the night, Sam began to have second thoughts. Not for taking Andy, never that. But he did regret the anguish Lacey would suffer once she realized he had taken Andy. He tried to tell himself she deserved it. Any woman who would send away her own son to please her new husband didn't deserve his pity. Hard-hearted bitch. No son of his was going to mistreated by a bastard like Cramer.
Sam maintained a steady pace throughout the night as Andy slept against his chest. He stopped briefly to let Gallahad drink from a stream but allowed himself no respite. He knew that Lacey would have men on his trail the moment she realized Andy was missing. Rusty would tell her about his visit and she would put two and two together and come up with the right answer. She might even bring the law with her. The law was one of the reasons Sam was returning to Running Buffalo's camp. Not only was the camp difficult to find, but no one would think to look for him and Andy there.
Andy stirred and awakened just as the sun began to rise.
"I'm hungry, Papa," he said, squirming in Sam's arms.
"We'll be at Running Buffalo's camp soon," Sam said. "I'm sure Yellow Bird will find something for us to eat. Would you like to stop and stretch your legs? We can't delay too long, it looks like rain and I'd like to reach the camp before we get drenched."
Andy nodded. "I have to...you know."
Sam drew rein and set Andy down on the ground. "Go ahead, son."
Andy returned a few minutes later and Sam lifted him into the saddle in front of him. "I hope Yellow Bird is a good cook," Andy said, rubbing his stomach. His brow furrowed. "Who is Yellow Bird?"
"Yellow Bird is the woman who saved my life. She's known as a healer among her people. You'll like her."
Andy remained thoughtful. Suddenly he said, "Do you think Mama is crying?"
"Perhaps," Sam allowed. "Do you regret coming away with me?"
"Mama was going to send me away and marry mean old Cramer. I'd rather be with you."
Sam gave Andy a quick hug. "There's no one I'd rather have with me, son."
They reached the Indian camp shortly before noontime. Clouds hung low overhead and the scent of rain filled the air. Running Buffalo came over to greet him as he dismounted and lifted Andy down.
"Welcome back, Sam Gentry," Running Buffalo said. "Yellow Bird has missed you. Who do you bring to us?"
Sam pushed Andy forward. Chest swelling with pride, he said, "This is Andy, my son. Andy, this is Chief Running Buffalo."
"Pleased to meet you," Andy said somewhat skittishly.
He appeared frightened of the bare-chested warrior and Sam sought to soothe his fears. "Running Buffalo's tribe is friendly to whites. You will like him. He has a son your age with whom you can play."
Andy seemed only marginally appeased but he put on a brave front as he held out his hand to Running Buffalo. The chief grinned and solemnly shook Andy's small hand.
"My son is called Sitting Bear. He will be your friend. But first things first. You must be hungry. I will summon Yellow Bird."
"I am here," Yellow Bird said as she cleared a path through the crowd surrounding them. She stopped before Sam, smiling as she gazed down at Andy. "Your son is much like his father."
Andy grinned. "Papa said you saved his life."
"An-dy," Yellow Bird said softly. "Welcome. Are you hungry?"
Andy nodded vigorously. "I haven't had anything to eat since supper last night."
She offered her hand. "Come with me and I will fill your stomach." She glanced at Sam. "Bring your father."
Andy placed his hand in Yellow's Bird's and followed her to her tipi. "Are you coming, Papa?" he called over his shoulder.
"I sure am, son. I'm as hungry as you are."
Sam thought the smile Yellow Bird gave him promised more than food should he desire it, and after what he'd learned at the B&G last evening he'd be foolish to reject Yellow Bird. Lacey had betrayed him, disregarded her son's feelings, and turned to a man who cared nothing for her or Andy. Taking Yellow Bird to his bed would be no hardship...if he could forget Lacey.
Moments after they ducked inside Yellow Bird's tipi, the sky opened up and rain poured down from the heavens.
Rain put a quick end to the search. Lacey and the hands drifted back to the ranch. Drenching rains that began around noontime had killed all hope of tracking Sam. Lacey's spirits were about as low as they could get as the boys headed to the bunkhouse for dry clothes before going to the cookhouse for their first meal since the previous evening.
Soaked to the skin, Lacey's steps dragged as she entered the house through the kitchen door. Rita met her, clicking her tongue sympathetically.
"Get out of those wet clothes, Senora, before you catch your death. There is plenty of hot water on the stove. I'll fill the tub so you can soak the chill from your bones."
"Thank you, Rita," Lacey said despondently. "I don't suppose Sam sent word back to the ranch while we were out looking for him."
"No, Senora, I have heard nothing. Senor Sam will not hurt the boy, he loves him."
"I know, Rita," Lacey said wearily. "That still doesn't excuse what he did. As soon as the rain lets up we'll be out looking for him again." A sob escaped her throat. "I hope he knows enough to keep Andy dry and warm." She headed up the stairs before she broke down completely.
Taylor Cramer was just leaving the barber shop in Denison when he bumped into Sheriff Hale.
"You're just the man I wanted to see," Hale said in greeting. "I received news yesterday I think you'll be interested in hearing."
"If you don't mind, Sheriff, I'm in a bit of a hurry. Can we discuss this another time? I'm on my way to the B&G to see my fiancée."
"Fiancée? Are you talking about Mrs. Gentry?"
"Soon to be ex-Mrs. Gentry," Cramer crowed. "We're going to marry as soon as her annulment is finalized."
"My news is for both of you," Hale said. "I received a telegram from Sheriff Diller in Dodge City yesterday. The situation with the Gentry brothers has changed since I last contacted him. All three Gentry brothers have been exonerated. They are no longer wanted for bank robbery. The charges have been dropped and their names cleared."
Cramer felt as if the bottom had just fallen from his world. This could be disastrous for his plans to gain control of Lacey's land. Once Lacey learned her husband was not wanted by the law, she might change her mind about going through with the annulment of her marriage to Gentry.
"I was going to ride out to the ranch and tell Mrs. Gentry myself," Hale continued, "but as long as you're headed out there, you can save me the trip."
"I'll give Lacey the news, Sheriff," Cramer lied. "Though I doubt it will affect Lacey one way or the other. She doesn't really care what happens to Gentry."
"Still, she has a right to know that her husband is a free man."
"Sure thing, Sheriff. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be on my way."
Cramer fumed in impotent rage all the way out to the ranch. The cold drizzle did nothing to improve his mood. By the time he rode into the yard he knew precisely what he was going to do. Or rather what he wasn't going to do. There was no way in hell he was going to tell Lacey that Sam Gentry was not an outlaw. He'd let her go on believing the law w
as after Gentry until he had a ring on her finger and the marriage license in his pocket.
Lacey managed a couple hours of sleep before Rita, following instructions to awaken her when the rain ceased, shook her awake.
"The rain has stopped, Senora. But you must eat first. You cannot go out without hot food in your stomach."
Lacey nodded groggily. "You're right as usual, Rita. I'll be down directly. Fix me something to carry in my saddlebags for later. No telling when I'll return."
Lacey hadn't realized she was hungry until she sat down to the meal of hot soup, a thick beef sandwich and apple pie. When she finished, she felt ready to face anything, even the man who had taken her son.
Lacey was striding out the door when Cramer rode into the yard. She waited on the porch for him to dismount, impatient at the delay. But she supposed there was no help for it.
Cramer must have guessed from her distraught expression that something was wrong. "Lacey, what is it? Has something happened?"
"Andy is gone," Lacey said on a sob. "He disappeared last night. I'm so worried."
"Gone? Where would he go?"
"Sam took him," Lacey blurted out. "He threatened to take Andy from me if I married you but I didn't believe him."
"Gentry is alive?"
"Alive and well enough to ride to the ranch and kidnap my son."
Cramer thought that was dismal news indeed, not that he cared about Andy. He'd hoped Gentry had succumbed to his wounds. Then a thought occurred to him and he smiled inwardly while outwardly commiserating with Lacey. A way for him to ingratiate himself with Lacey had just presented itself. If he returned Andy to her, Lacey would be indebted to him.
"I'll join the search," Cramer said. "I'm a pretty good tracker."
"The rain last night all but obliterated Sam's tracks. We don't have much to go on."
"Did anyone see or speak to Gentry last night?"
"Just Rusty." Lacey decided it best not to tell Taylor that Rusty had left Andy and Sam alone.
"I'll have a word with him. Go saddle your horse, we'll leave when I return."
The Outlaws: Sam Page 14
