The Outlaws: Sam

by Ten Talents Press

  "No, I can't. Not after the way you and your hirelings charged into the Indian camp. Andy could have been killed."

  Cramer's fists clenched at his sides. "I would have watched out for Andy. I was very angry with you for warning Gentry, but I've forgiven you."

  "You forgave me?"

  His voice lowered. "I still want you, Lacey."

  "Why?" Lacey asked curiously. "It's my land you want, isn't it, Taylor? What's so special about the B&G?"

  "Nothing. Nothing at all. It's always been you."

  "Liar."

  Cramer had the decency to flush. "Look, Lacey, if you can't come up with the back taxes by the end of the month you and Andy will be turned out of your home. You'll have nothing. Winter is coming. Where will you go? What will you do? Marrying me is a simple solution. I can pay your taxes."

  "I haven't given on a bank loan," Lacey insisted. "I'm going to reapply for a loan today. Beef is in demand back East after the lean war years and my herd should bring a good price come spring. I'm hoping that will influence Mr. Markle to change him mind about the loan."

  "Don't count on it," Cramer said. "When you come to me for help, you'll find that my offer won't be as generous as it is now." He tipped his hat. "Good day, Lacey."

  Lacey's fondest hope was that she'd never have to rely on Cramer Taylor for help. With that thought in mind, she squared her shoulders and marched into the bank. She asked for Mr. Markle, and after a slight wait was ushered into the banker's office.

  Markle stood politely. "What can I do for you, Mrs. Gentry?"

  Lacey cleared her throat. "You've turned down my loan once, Mr. Markle, but I'm hoping you will consider."

  Markle sighed. "Please sit down, Mrs. Gentry, and tell me why I should change my mind."

  "I have over five hundred head of cattle waiting to go to market in the spring. I'm expecting at least fifteen dollars a head, maybe more. The market is good right now. But the money will be too little, too late, and it won't be enough to cover the five years of back taxes Uncle Hob owed. The money is due in full by the end of the year."

  "I'm aware of your circumstances," Markle said.

  "Yes, well, I'm hoping the sale of my herd in the spring will be sufficient collateral for a loan."

  "How much do you require?"

  "Thirty five hundred dollars. Enough to pay the loan, meet the payroll and satisfy my creditors."

  Markle cleared his throat. "Not an inconsiderable sum."

  "I stand to lose my home if the bank doesn't come through for me."

  "You have to understand the bank's position on this," Markle intoned dryly. "The risk is too much for the bank to bear. Many things could keep your herd from reaching the railhead. Jayhawkers are active in Kansas. Can you pay the forfeit they demand for letting your cattle pass through? Weather is another factor. There are stampedes and river crossings to deal with. You're bound to lose a portion of your herd, which is rather small by Texas standards."

  "Our herd is small because it was decimated by drought and disease. Uncle Hob was unable to buy more stock due to lack of funds.

  "I understand your husband recently showed up after a lengthy period of estrangement," Markle ventured. "Perhaps if he applied for a loan in his name the board of directors might be inclined to grant it. The bank is reluctant to loan money to a woman. They have done so a time or two in the past and suffered severe losses."

  Lacey studied her fingernails. "Mr. Gentry and I are no longer married. Our marriage has been annulled."

  "I see. Weren't you supposed to marry Taylor Cramer before your husband showed up? Once you wed Cramer, you won't need a bank loan. Mr. Cramer is a wealthy man."

  "At present, I have no plans to remarry. Is that your final decision, Mr. Markle?"

  "I'm sorry, Mrs. Gentry, but there is nothing more I can do for you. Perhaps a larger bank in a different city might be willing to bear the loss should you be unable to repay the loan."

  Lacey rose with dignity despite her bitter disappointment. "I won't waste any more of your time, Mr. Markle. Good day."

  Lacey left the bank in a daze. She felt as if her life were falling apart. Sam was gone, there was no hope of saving her ranch, and Andy blamed her for taking him away from his father. Matters couldn't get any worse.

  Of one thing Lacey was certain. She wasn't going to marry Taylor or sell him the ranch. She'd have to make plans for the future after she and Andy were evicted, but those plans didn't include Taylor Cramer. If he wanted the ranch so badly, let him bid for it on the courthouse steps when it was sold for back taxes.

  Lacey had one more stop to make before she returned home. She wanted to visit the land office. There had to be some reason Taylor wanted her land. She was leading her mare toward the land office when the sheriff hailed her.

  "Mrs. Gentry, can you spare a minute?"

  Lacey waited for the sheriff to catch up to her. "Did you wish to speak with me, Sheriff?"

  "That I did, Mrs. Gentry. "I'll bet you were happy to hear your husband has been cleared of charges stemming from that bank robbery in Dodge. I wanted to apologize in person for the law's mistake. Have you seen him? I hope he wasn't seriously wounded. It was a terrible mistake."

  Lacey stared at him. "I...I don't understand. Are you saying that Sam is no longer wanted by the law? How long have you known?"

  Hale's brow furrowed. "Some weeks now. I received a telegram from Sheriff Diller in Dodge stating that the Gentry brothers have been exonerated. He thought I should know since Denison was the last place Sam Gentry was seen. Your husband has nothing to fear from the law."

  "Why didn't you tell me?" Her voice shook with barely suppressed anger. "You had no right to keep something as important as that from me."

  Hale looked properly abashed. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Gentry, but I thought you knew."

  "How could I know? You never told me."

  "I intended to ride out to your place to give you the news as soon as I heard. Then I happened to bump into Mr. Cramer. He said he was riding out to the B&G and would tell you himself. I figured it would save me a trip out there so I agreed. I had no reason to believe Mr. Cramer would deliberately withhold the information from you."

  Lacey's first thought was that this was something Sam needed to know. It could change the course of his life. Of their lives.

  "Thank you, Sheriff, I'll see that Sam receives the good news."

  "Tell him he's welcome back in Denison, and that I hope he bears no grudge against me or the posse. We were only doing our job."

  His words barely registered as Lacey swung into the saddle and rode off. Instead of heading straight home, Lacey made a slight detour to Taylor Cramer's spread. She drew rein in a cloud of dust and flying hooves and leaped from the saddle. Mindless of the curious stares following her, she walked up the front steps and pounded vigorously on the door.

  Cramer opened the door himself. A slow smile stretched his lips. "Lacey, I see you've come to your senses Which will it be? Are we to marry or will you sell me the ranch?"

  Lacey shoved open the door and strode past him. She halted in the foyer and spun around to confront him, her face a mask of fury. "Damn you, Taylor Cramer! Why didn't you tell me Sam had been exonerated?"

  Cramer's expression immediately turned wary. "Where did you hear that?"

  "I ran into the sheriff in town today. He said you were supposed to deliver that information to me. But that didn't meet with your plans, did it? You wanted me to believe Sam was still wanted by the law. Do you know what your omission cost me? Cost Sam? You'll never have my ranch, Taylor. I'll beg, borrow or steal the money to keep you from having my property."

  "Simmer down, Lacey," Cramer cajoled. "You're well rid of Gentry. The man cares nothing for you. If he did, he wouldn't have abandoned you."

  "What happened between me and Sam a long time ago has nothing to do with this, with us. What did you expect to gain by letting us believe Sam was still wanted by the law?"

  "You know damn well what I want
ed," Cramer snarled. "I wanted Sam Gentry out of your life. He was a complication I hadn't counted on. It seems I succeeded. Gentry is gone and you are no longer married to him."

  He moved closer, his demeanor abruptly changing. "Let's put all this behind us, my dear. I really do want you, Lacey. It's more than the land."

  "I doubt that," Lacey spat. "I'll never forgive you, Taylor. If you want the B&G you'll have to bid for it on the courthouse steps. Get out of my way."

  Lacey shoved him aside and charged out the door. "Stay away from me, Taylor. My hands have instructions to shoot trespassers."

  Lacey fumed all the way home. She couldn't begin to count what Taylor had cost her. Because of him her marriage to Sam had been annulled. Had Sam known he was no longer a wanted man there would have been no reason for him to go into hiding. He'd been wounded and hounded like a dog for a crime he didn't commit, and Taylor had known all along that Sam was guiltless. How could she have ever thought Taylor Cramer was interested in her welfare? What a fool she'd been to believe he cared for her.

  Lacey rode into the yard and dismounted. Lefty ran up to take the reins.

  "Is Rusty around, Lefty?"

  "He's in the tack room, Miz Lacey."

  "Thank you." Lacey hurried off. She needed to talk to someone and Rusty was the only one who would understand.

  Lacey entered the tack room. The scent of leather and horses was overpowering, but it wasn't an unpleasant smell. Lacey knew she would miss everything about the ranch after she was forced from her home.

  Rusty saw her immediately. "Did you get the loan, Miz Lacey?"

  "I need someone to talk to you, Rusty."

  Concern colored his words. "What is it? Did something happen in town?"

  "Yes. Something good. I spoke with the sheriff. The charges against him and his brothers were dropped some time go. Sam is no longer wanted by the law "

  A smile lit up Rusty's craggy features. "Glory be! Is this something Sheriff Hale just learned?"

  "No, and that's the problem. He's known for a long time. Taylor Cramer was supposed to tell me but conveniently forgot to mention it. Everything that's happened since needn't have happened at all."

  Rusty spit out an oath. "Do I have your permission to shoot Cramer if he shows up here again?"

  "You can run him off my land but shooting him will only get you in trouble."

  "What are you gonna do? Sam needs to know the charges against him have been dropped."

  "My sentiments exactly. I'm going to return to the Indian village and tell him. He might not welcome me but he'll surely welcome the news I bring."

  "I'll ride along with you."

  "No need for that. I can find the camp on my own."

  "You ain't going alone, Miz Lacey, and that's final. How soon do you want to leave?"

  "First thing in the morning. It's too late to start out now. I hope and pray Sam is still there. He might be on his way to California by now."

  "I'll saddle the horses and be ready to leave first thing tomorrow morning," Rusty said.

  Lacey headed out the door. "I'll be ready."

  "Miz Lacey, before you go, did you learn anything in town about your land, or why Cramer might want it?"

  "I never got to the land office. I did get to the bank, though, not that it did me any good. Mr. Markle turned down my request for a loan. Then I learned about Sam and was anxious to return home and make plans. When I return, the first thing I'll do is to find out why Taylor is so eager to get his hands on my land."

  Lacey returned to the house, anxious to talk to Andy. She found him in the kitchen with a big piece of cake in front of him. His eyes lit up when he saw her.

  "Mama! You're home. Did you take care of your business?"

  "Yes, honey, I did. I also learned something that should make you happy."

  "You saw Papa!"

  "No, son, but I did learn that Sam is no longer wanted by the law. The charges have been dropped."

  Andy squinted, as if trying to digest what Lacey had just told him. Apparently it was too much for his five-year-old brain. "What does that mean, Mama?"

  "It means that your papa can come home without fear of being sent to prison. The law doesn't want him anymore. He's a free man."

  Andy let out a yelp of delight. "Can we go to Running Buffalo's camp and tell him?"

  "Rusty and I are leaving first thing in the morning. I can't take you with me this time."

  "Aw, Mama, I want to be the one to tell Papa he can come home."

  "Sorry, honey, but I'll tell him for you. I'm sure he'll want to see you as soon as he knows he's free to return."

  "Promise?" Andy said.

  "Promise."

  Lacey prayed she wouldn't have to break her promise. What if Sam decided not to return? What if he had already left for California, believing he was still wanted by the law? What if he loved Yellow Bird?

  After supper that night, Lacey tucked Andy in bed and sought her own bed. She wanted to be well rested when she started out for the Indian camp in the morning. And she had to prepare herself for disappointment if Sam had already left for California.

  Lacey and Rusty left early the following morning. They reached the Indian village at sundown. Lacey's heart plummeted when she saw that nothing remained of the camp except cold fire pits.

  "This is the place, I'm sure of it," Lacey cried.

  "They were here, all right," Rusty concurred as he hunkered beside one of the fire pits and examined the contents. "I'd say they left three, maybe four days ago. The women and children will be walking, I could easily catch up with them."

  Tears of remorse dampened Lacey's cheeks. "For what purpose? Sam won't be with them."

  "Maybe, maybe not. If Sam's not with them, they can at least tell me if he rode West like he planned."

  Lacey shook her head. "It's too late. We'll stay here the night and return home tomorrow. I hope I can find the words to explain to Andy why his Papa won't be coming home."

  The farther Sam rode away from the B&G the more he regretted leaving. Nothing was right in his world. He wasn't an outlaw and he shouldn't have to be on the run, worrying about when the law would catch up to him. He should be with Andy, teaching his son how to ride, and all the other things a son learns from his father.

  Sam tried to blame Lacey's for the problems he'd encountered in Texas, but his heart knew it wasn't true. The wanted posters would have caught up to him sooner or later. The more he thought about Lacey lying to him and taking Andy away, the more he realized that she'd been acting in Andy's best interest. Sam was angry, but he understood. He'D taken Andy away without Lacey's permission and that was just as bad. Of course he'd had a good reason. Taylor Cramer would make Andy's life miserable and he didn't want that for his son.

  Sam glanced over his shoulder at the long line of women and children trudging after the pack horses. After three days on the trail left them weary and haggard. The life of an Indian woman was hard, Sam reflected. They were expected to raise and dismantle the tipi's each night and morning and prepare food for their men. All the manual labor associated with every day living, except for hunting, fell on their shoulders. He admired them a great deal. But he also admired Lacey for carrying on without him after she gave birth to Andy. It couldn't have been easy for her.

  "Your mind is far away, friend," Running Buffalo observed as he rode up beside Sam. "Your woman and son are gone and you are bitter."

  "Lacey will take good care of Andy," Sam replied, "but I will miss him. I would go to him now if I dared."

  "You are right to fear the white man's justice," Running Buffalo said sagely. "Will you remain with us? Yellow Bird is fond of you. She would accept you for her mate if you would have her."

  "Yellow Bird deserves a man who will be around to provide for her," Sam said. "I am not that man."

  "Your honesty speaks well for you, Sam. I value your friendship, but I believe as you do. My sister should choose a mate from among our people. Many braves have asked for her but s
he has refused them. I have not forced her to accept one of them for I respect her wishes to choose her own mate."

  "Don't worry, Running Buffalo, I agree wholeheartedly. Your sister is lucky to have you for a brother."

  My sister is strong-willed. She will not easily give up on you."

  "I don't want to cause any trouble, Running Buffalo. I have tried to discourage Yellow Bird but I fear you are right. She is as determined as she is strong-willed. I've noticed some of the young braves aren't as friendly to me as they once were. They look upon me as a contender for Yellow Bird's affections. I don't want to cause dissention among your people. Perhaps I will go California like I originally intended."

  "It is your choice, Sam Gentry."

  Though the chief hadn't asked him to leave, the conversation left little doubt in Sam's mind that Running Buffalo thought his sister's infatuation with Sam was damaging to the tribe. Sam was beginning to think the same thing. But he'd been too hurt to think clearly after Lacey had taken Andy away. The knowledge that Lacey had looked him in the eye and deliberately lied had plunged him into despondency.

  Suddenly Sam's choice became clear. "Time has come for me to leave," he told Running Buffalo. "After I'm gone, tell Yellow Bird I left because I am not the right man for her."

  "I will tell her. Will you go to Cali-fornia? Is it very far?"

  "California is farther away than I want to be," Sam said, "but it will be a safe haven for me. In a few months I will travel to Denver, in Colorado, to meet my brothers. I pray all is well with them."

  "Family is a good thing," Running Buffalo maintained. He searched Sam's face. "My heart tells me you do not wish to go to Cali-fornia."

  "You must be a mind reader. You're right. I don't want to leave Andy behind. I might never see him again."

  "I think it is your woman you do not wish to leave. Go to her, Sam. Your heart will not be at rest until you have made peace with her."

  Sam thought about Running Buffalo's words the rest of the day. He was still deep in thought when he found a secluded spot away from the main camp that night and crawled into his bedroll. A sleepless hour later Sam knew exactly what he was going to do. He wasn't going to California. He was going to Dodge City and try to clear his name. He didn't like being an outlaw. He and his brothers were innocent and he was determined to prove it. Somehow he intended to make banker Wingate admit that the robbery was all a hoax.