"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth, love. Take whatever is coming to you, you deserve it after what that bastard put you through."
"I can't think straight," Lacey said. "So much has happened today. I never wanted this to happen to you, Sam, that's why I wanted you to believe I wouldn't marry Taylor."
"I didn't kill him, love. There really was an assassin hiding in the bushes."
"I have to go," Lacey said, backing away. "I don't know what to think. Even if I believed you, you'd still have to convince the sheriff."
"Nothing can keep me here," Sam bit out. "I need to find our son."
"Don't do anything foolish, Sam. If you're truly innocent, the truth will come out. I have to go. I'm going to go through Taylor's personal papers. If I'm lucky I'll find something to lead me to Andy. I return tomorrow and let you know what I've found."
"You won't have to go through this alone, love. I swear I'll be out of here soon to help you."
Lacey attempted a smile and failed. She choked out a good-bye and fled. She hoped Sheriff Hale didn't have too many question for she was close to the breaking point.
"Did you get the truth from Gentry?" Mrs. Cramer?" Hale asked.
That name. She hated it. "Please call me Lacey. I spoke with Sam. He denies shooting Taylor. He swears another man did it."
"Do you believe him?"
Did she? Lacey wanted to. Dear God, she wanted to. "I don't think Sam is capable of cold-blooded murder."
"I reckon that's up to the judge and jury to decide."
"My son is still missing, Sheriff. What are you going to do about it?"
"You still think Mr. Cramer had something to do with your son's disappearance? Now that's real puzzling, considering you married the man."
"I married Taylor because he held Andy hostage and for no other reason," Lacey retorted. "He said I'd never see my son again if I didn't marry him."
Hale looked unconvinced. "Are you certain?"
"Very certain."
"I'll see what I can do. I'll ask around; maybe someone knows something about your son's disappearance. Go home, Mrs....Lacey. You look done in. That's all the questions for now."
"What about Sam?"
"I'm afraid he'll have to stay here until someone comes up with another killer."
Lacey nodded wearily. "I'll be back tomorrow. Perhaps by then one of us will have learned something about Andy's disappearance."
The buggy was waiting for Lacey on the street outside the sheriff's office. She climbed into the seat and picked up the reins. Seconds later the buggy clattered off down the road.
Rusty and the hands crowded around the buggy when she reached the ranch. Rusty helped her down, his expression grim.
"Is it done then? Where's your bridegroom?"
Lacey nearly pitched forward when Rusty released her, but caught herself just in time. "What's wrong, Miz Lacey? Did something happen in town? Did you see Sam?"
"Sam's in jail," Lacey said dully. "He...he shot and killed Taylor minutes after our marriage, before Taylor could tell me where he'd hidden Andy."
"Gawd amighty," Rusty whispered. "Sam said he'd kill Taylor but I never thought he'd do it. He ain't the kind to shoot a man in cold blood. Are you sure, Miz Lacey?"
"No, that's the problem. I don't believe he did it. I did at first, but I changed my mind after talking to him. Unfortunately, what I think doesn't matter. There is no other suspect and the sheriff thinks he did it."
"What can we do, Miz Lacey? I feel so damn helpless."
"I want you and Lefty to ride over to the Cramer spread and explain everything to the hands. I'm Taylor's sole heir; the ranch and all his assets now belong to me. There might be some legalities before the transfer is completed, but I've already taken money out of his bank account to pay my taxes.
Lefty, I'm appointing you foreman of the Cramer spread until I decide what to do with it. Can you handle it?. Rusty can help out if the hands give you any problems."
Lefty's chest puffed out. "I won't let you down, Miz Lacey. Some of Cramer's hands might leave, but that's all right. With winter coming on, the work load will be light."
"I'll come by tomorrow, on my way to town," Lacey said.
"What about Andy?" Rusty asked. "We're gonna get him back, ain't we?"
Lacey recalled the bundle of Taylor's personal effects and retrieved it from the buggy. "I'm hoping there's something in Taylor's belongings to lead us to Andy. If not, I'll turn his house upside down until I find something. Someone has to know where Taylor has taken my son."
"Me and Lefty will leave right away, Miz Lacey."
"As soon as you return, let me know how the men reacted to Taylor's death," Lacey said. "I don't want any trouble."
Lacey strode to the house. It seemed an eternity since she'd left her bed with Sam sleeping in it, but in truth it had been less than twelve hours. The most eventful twelve hours of her life.
Lacey found Rita in the kitchen and had to go through the whole story again.
"Senor Sam did not do it, Senora," Rita staunchly defended. "He is not a killer."
"I'm inclined to think the same thing, Rita, but I'm not the judge or jury. I don't know what I can do to help him."
"Senor Sam could find Andy, I know he could," Rita declared. "He loved the bambino."
"I wish I had some idea who wanted Taylor dead."
"Rita snorted. "A man like Senor Cramer must have many enemies."
"You're right, Rita, and I'll track down every one of them, if I must. But first, I'm going to inspect Taylor's belongings for clues to Andy's whereabouts."
She placed the bundle on the kitchen table and slowly unwrapped it. One by one she examined the contents. There was a letter from a man in Washington that she didn't bother to read, and several notes pertaining to business. Nothing to indicate where Taylor had taken Andy.
"Did you find anything?" Rita asked anxiously.
"Nothing," Lacey sighed. "Perhaps I'll have better luck at Taylor's house tomorrow. I'm going upstairs, Rita. Call me when supper is ready. Something light will do, I don't have much of an appetite."
Lacey picked at her food without appetite and finally pushed her plate aside. She moved to the parlor while Rita cleared the table. Rusty arrived from the Cramer ranch to report in soon afterward.
"How did it go?" Lacey asked anxiously.
"Pretty good, considering. Two hands quit immediately after hearing that Cramer was dead, but the others seemed to accept Lefty as foreman. It helped that the foreman of the outfit was away on some errand or other for Cramer. We won't know what it was until he returns. He might give Lefty some trouble but I reckon he can handle it."
"I'm going out there in the morning and speak with the hands myself. Perhaps I'll send extra men from the B&G to help him."
"Let me know if there's anything else I can do. Good night, Miz Lacey."
"Good night, Rusty."
Lacey flirted with sleep became but had difficulty attaining it. She hadn't seen Andy in days and missed him dreadfully. What had Taylor done with him? So many appalling scenarios came to mind that she couldn't bear thinking about them. Instead, she shifted her thoughts to...Sam, and the fate that awaited him should he be found guilty of murdering Taylor.
Had it been just last night that she had told Sam she loved him? It seemed like eons ago. Did she still love him? Love wasn't an emotion one could turn on and off at will. She'd never stopped loving Sam, not when he had professed to hate her and not now. Sam might be many things, but he wasn't a cold-blooded killer. If he said someone else had shot Taylor, then she believed him.
Lacey finally drifted into an uneasy sleep, but sometime during the night she awoke from a frightening nightmare. She dreamt that Sam was hanging from a tree, his face horribly contorted in death. She saw herself standing beneath the hanging tree. She was grieving alone, which in itself was even more frightening because Andy wasn't with her. What did it mean?
Sleep was impossible after that. Closing her eyes wou
ld only bring more terrifying dreams. She felt as if the weight of the world was balanced on her shoulders and she was faltering beneath the onerous burden.
At first light Lacey dressed in riding clothes and went downstairs. Rita had just arrived to begin her duties.
"No breakfast for me, Rita," Lacey said. "I couldn't swallow a bite. I have no idea when I'll return, there's so much to do and so little time."
Lacey hurried to the barn to saddle her mare. Rusty was already there.
"I've saddled your mare, Miz Lacey. You want me to go with you? It won't be no trouble."
"No, Rusty. Stay here, I'll be fine."
Lacey mounted and rode off.
The Cramer hands were milling around Lefty when Lacey turned into the yard. She took Lefty off for a private word before addressing the hands.
"You all know what happened in town," Lacey began. "Though our marriage was of short duration, Mr. Cramer and I were indeed married when he was slain. I'm not sure yet what I'm going to do with the ranch, but no one will lose their job because of the tragedy. I placed lefty in charge and expect everyone to work with him. If anyone wishes to leave, he is free to do so. Your pay will be immediately forthcoming. Any questions?"
Despite some grumbling, no one spoke up. Lacey took that as a good sign and went inside to speak to Mrs. Beaver. She found the housekeeper placing dust sheets over the furniture in the parlor.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Beaver," Lacey said with feeling. "I know how fond you were of Taylor."
"If it wasn't for you he'd still be alive," Mrs. Beaver spat venomously.
Lacey staggered beneath her vicious barrage. "How can you say that? I had nothing to do with the shooting."
"I heard Mr. Cramer was shot by your former husband. He was jealous of Mr. Cramer and took his life. If that's not your fault, I don't know what is."
Lacey squared her shoulders. "I'm sorry you feel that way, Mrs. Beaver. For your information, Sam Gentry didn't kill Taylor."
The housekeeper sniffed disdainfully. "That's not what I heard. One of the hands rode into town last night and got the whole story."
Lacey bristled indignantly. "Under the circumstances, I feel it best that you leave."
"Wasn't planning on staying anyway. I'm already packed. I'm going to live with my brother's family in town."
"One of the hands will drive you to town. Follow me into Taylor's office and I'll see that you receive a generous severance pay."
Mrs. Beaver's deep-set dark eyes glittered with hostility as she accompanied Lacey into Cramer's study. Lacey's gaze went immediately to the safe.
"Do you happen to know the combination to Mr. Cramer's safe, Mrs. Beaver?"
"Why would I know a thing like that?"
Lacey said nothing as she dug into her skirt pocket and pulled out a sheath of bills. She peeled off a one hundred dollar bill and handed it to the housekeeper. Mrs. Beaver's eyes bugged out. It was probably more cash than she'd ever seen at one time.
"Why are you giving me this?"
"I'm sure you deserve it."
Without so much as a thank you, the housekeeper marched out the door with her nose in the air. Lacey gave scant thought to the woman as she methodically began a search through Cramer's desk. An hour later, after pulling out drawers and scattering papers, she had found nothing that could lead her to Andy. But she did make one discovery.
She found the combination to Taylor's safe taped to the bottom of a drawer.
Chapter Eighteen
Lacey's hands shook as she knelt before the safe and spun the combination dial to match the numbers on the paper. She made a mistake and started over. Her relief was palpable when she pulled on the door and it opened.
One by one she removed the contents of the safe and laid them out on the desk. When the safe was empty, she carefully inspected each item. The land deeds puzzled her. What did Taylor want with property in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona? She set the deeds aside, reminding herself to question Taylor's lawyer about them. Next, she emptied one of the three cloth sacks she'd discovered inside, stunned when gold coins tumbled out.
Setting the sacks aside, Lacey perused the letters she'd found in the safe. She learned nothing from them and quickly discarded them. They mostly pertained to railroad rights. Perhaps later she would delve more deeply into them. The safe also contained several pieces of jewelry. Once her inspection was completed, Lacey put everything back in the safe and closed the door. She was no closer to finding Andy now that she had been yesterday.
Lacey left the ranch and rode to town. Before visiting Sam, she intended to pay a call on Taylor's lawyer. Someone had to know something about Andy. Lacey located the lawyer's office above the barber shop. She climbed the stairs, rapped on the door and stepped inside.
The lawyer looked her over, then greeted her with a lascivious smile. "Come in, don't be bashful. If you are in need of a lawyer, you've come to the right place."
Lacey was instantly alert. Lawyer Collins didn't impress her, and he seemed more interested in her person than he was her business.
"I'm Lacey Gen...er...Cramer."
"You're Taylor's widow. Terrible thing, that. I wasn't expecting someone as beautiful as you." He indicated a chair. "Please sit down."
Lacey perched on the edge of the chair while Collins circled her like a bird of prey. "Did my...husband leave a will?" she asked when he seemed in no hurry to open the conversation.
Collins made an impatient gesture. "I advised him many times to make out a will but he always put me off. He refused to consider his own demise. He was in his prime and healthy as a horse. He said wills were for the elderly."
"What does that mean to me? Was I wrong to draw funds from Taylor's bank account?"
"No, indeed. You had every right to claim Cramer's money, and everything else he owned. You're his next of kin. With no will to indicate his wishes, you stand to inherit his estate. If you'd like, I'll prepare the necessary papers and present them to the judge next time he comes to town. But since there are no other heirs, his estate is yours to claim. In addition to his money, I helped him acquire certain lands he was interested in. He kept the deeds in his home safe."
"Do you know why he made those land purchases?"
"He didn't confide in me. Taylor Cramer was a very private man. I doubt anyone knew why he did the things he did."
"One more thing, Mr. Collins. Did my...husband ever mention my son?"
"He might have mentioned him casually a time or two, why do you ask?"
"This is important, so please think carefully before you answer. Andy is missing. I have reason to believe that Taylor was holding him hostage. Do you know where Taylor hid him?"
"That's a serious accusation, Mrs. Cramer. What proof do you have?"
"Just answer my question, please."
"The answer is no. I haven't spoken to your husband in several weeks."
"Thank you, Mr. Collins. Go ahead and prepare the necessary papers. Whatever you charge is fine with me."
"Very well. My fee," he said, lowering his voice to a seductive level, "can be paid...in many ways, if you get my meaning. You're a beautiful woman, Mrs. Cramer. I'll enjoy doing...business with you. Lonely widows are my specialty."
"I'll pay in hard cash, thank you," Lacey said indignantly. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have business elsewhere."
Rising stiffly, Lacey walked out the door with as much dignity as she could muster. How dare the man! How many unsuspecting widows had he compromised? she wondered as she descended the stairs and headed over to the jailhouse.
Lacey was eager to learn if Sheriff Hale had discovered anything new about Andy's disappearance since she'd last seen him. And she wanted to see Sam. Even if Sam had shot Taylor, he didn't deserve to be punished. Taylor Cramer was a man without scruples, a man who had kidnapped an innocent little boy in order to get what he wanted.
But Sam hadn't killed Taylor, of that she was confident. The man she loved wasn't a killer.
The sheriff rose from
behind his desk to greet Lacey when she entered.
"Have you learned anything about Andy's disappearance?" Lacey asked without preamble.
"Sorry, Lacey, I wasn't able to turn up a thing. I won't give up, though."
Deflated, Lacey sank into the nearest chair. "Someone has to know something."
"I agree, but I haven't come across that person yet. Don't give up, Lacey."
"I won't. I can't!" she said fiercely. "I want to see Sam. He must be worried sick about Andy. Have you learned anything that could clear Sam of Taylor's murder?"
"No, nothing. I reckon you'll just have to accept the fact that Sam Gentry killed Taylor Cramer."
"Never!" Lacey said ardently. "Sam isn't guilty. I'd stake my life on it."
"Your faith is commendable, Lacey, but unless another suspect comes forward, Gentry will be brought to trial."
Lacey sighed despondently. The whole world was turning against her. She might never see her son again and the man she loved could spend the rest of his life in prison...unless a necktie party got to him first.
"Can I see Sam now, Sheriff?"
"Go right ahead, Lacey, you know where to find him."
Lacey walked down the corridor on wooden legs. What was she going to tell Sam? How could she face him? He must feel helpless. Unable to prove his innocence and prevented from searching for Andy. She found Sam sitting on his bunk, looking as thoroughly dejected as she'd ever seen him. He saw her and his face lit up.
"Lacey! Any news of Andy?"
"No," Lacey said morosely. "I searched Taylor's desk and safe and found nothing to link him to Andy's disappearance. I didn't have time to go through Taylor's bedroom, but I doubt I'd have found anything. Taylor was very clever. Oh, Sam, I...I'm so frightened. What if I never see Andy again?"
Sam clutched the bars so tightly his knuckled turned white. "Don't talk like that. It's not like you to give up. Andy will be found."
"What about you, Sam? Will Taylor's killer come forward? Will you be convicted of a crime you didn't commit?"
Sam's heart swelled with love. "You do believe I didn't kill Cramer. I feared you wouldn't."
The Outlaws: Sam Page 25
