Cramer found Rusty by the corral, doling out chores to the hands who were to remain behind. "Can I have a word with you, Ramsey?"
Rusty sent Cramer a sour look. "What are you doing here?"
"I came by to see Lacey, and it's a good thing. I'll take charge from here on out. I understand you spoke with Gentry last night."
"Yeah, we talked."
"Did he give any indication he intended to kidnap Andy?"
Rusty shook his head. "No, he didn't say a word to me about it."
"Did he tell you where he'd been holed up these past weeks?"
Rusty gave him a mutinous glare. "He was wounded. It took him several weeks to recover."
Cramer gave an exasperated snort. "Let's not beat around the bush. Did Gentry say exactly where he went to recover? Does he have friends in the area who might offer him shelter?"
"No friends that I know of, except..."
Cramer immediately picked up on Rusty's hesitation. "Except what? Gentry does have friends in the area, doesn't he? Could he have taken the boy there?"
For whatever reason, Rusty turned mulish. "I told you, Sam didn't have nobody he could count on in Texas. All he had was Lacey and Andy."
"You're lying, Ramsey. I suggest you tell the truth."
"What truth?" Lacey asked, looking from Rusty to Cramer as she walked up to join them. "I got tired of waiting. What's this all about?"
"I'm trying to get the truth from your foreman," Cramer spat. "He knows where Gentry took Andy but I can't get it out of him."
Lacey rounded on Rusty. "Is that true, Rusty? Is there something you haven't told me?"
"I told you the truth, Miz Lacey. Then I got to thinking back on the conversation I had with Sam. He mentioned something about Indians. I was gonna tell you but haven't had the chance. I didn't think it was any of Mr. Cramer's business."
"You're going to be the first to go after Lacey and I are married, Ramsey," Cramer bit out. "Tell Lacey what you know or I'll beat it out of you."
"Taylor, please," Lacey intervened. "Leave Rusty alone. He's loyal to me." She sent Rusty a tremulous smile. "Do you have any idea where Lacey has taken Andy?"
"I wouldn't lie to you, Miz Lacey. I don't know where Sam took Andy. He did mention an Indian camp, but I can't swear you'll find them there. Sam said an Indian healer saved his life, and that's the sum of all I know."
Cramer lunged for him. "You're lying!"
Lacey placed herself between Cramer and Rusty. "Rusty wouldn't lie to me, Taylor. We're wasting time. We'll spread out and search in every direction. The sooner we find the Indian camp the sooner Andy will be returned to me."
The search began. One day, three days, a week. Lacey grew thin and haggard and the hands were grumpy and weary. The ranch was being neglected while the search continued. After two weeks Lacey came to the sad conclusion that she had to call a halt and let the hands do what they were being paid to do.
Cramer, though, for reasons of his own, refused to give up.
"This is draining you, Lacey," he said on the day Lacey sent the hands back to their jobs. I want Gentry caught as badly as you do. Tell you what. I'll continue the search on my own. An Indian camp can't be that difficult to find."
"I don't want Andy hurt," Lacey warned.
"Trust me," Cramer said. "Once Andy is back where he belongs and Gentry charged with kidnapping, you'll realize how much I care for you."
Lacey stared at Cramer. Had she misjudged him? Time would tell, she decided. "Just bring Andy back to me, Taylor, then we'll go from there."
"Indeed we will, my dear, indeed we will."
Lacey dragged herself up to bed after Cramer left. She was so angry at Sam she would have flayed him alive were he here. How could he do this to her? He knew how much Andy meant to her. Did he have no heart, no compassion?
"Damn you, Sam Gentry!"
Chapter Eleven
Several days passed before Taylor Cramer reported back to Lacey at the B&G. He'd had no more luck than her own men at locating the Indian camp, but he refused to give up.
"Once I locate the camp, I'll hire drifters and out of work cowboys to return with me to rescue Andy," Cramer informed her. "There are plenty of men hereabouts eager to use Indians for target practice."
Lacey didn't care who he hired as long as Andy was returned to her, but she didn't want bloodshed. "I want Andy, but not at the expense of innocent Indians. No killing, please."
"Of course not, you know I didn't mean it the way it sounded."
Lacey wasn't so sure.
Sam was grateful to Yellow Bird for welcoming Andy, and for her care of him. Sitting Bear and Andy had hit it off immediately, and Running Buffalo had invited Andy to share a sleeping mat with Sitting Bear. Sam wouldn't have except that the arrangement left him alone at night with Yellow Bird. He wanted to ask for other sleeping arrangements but he realized that all available tipis were occupied. When Yellow Bird invited Sam to share her mat he moved outside to sleep under the stars. But that wasn't always feasible. Rain and cool weather often sent him back inside the tent.
Sam's days passed pleasantly enough. He joined the men on hunting expeditions and honed his skills in mock battles, but the nights were becoming more and more uncomfortable. Yellow Bird thought nothing of baring her body to him before sliding naked into her sleeping mat, and Sam had been without a woman for a very long time. He didn't know what kept him from availing himself of Yellow Bird's body, unless it was the knowledge that she wasn't Lacey. No matter how many times Lacey had betrayed him, he still wanted her.
Sam was pleased that Andy seemed to be adjusting to being without his mother. The first week Andy had asked about Lacey nearly every day. Though Andy's bottom lip trembled whenever Sam asked if he wanted to return, he always answered in the negative.
After an extended length of time, Sam decided it was time to leave Running Buffalo's camp. The longer he remained the harder it be to resist Yellow Bird. Using her would be a mistake, for Sam couldn't be the mate she wanted. He didn't belong in her world any more than she belonged in his. Had she not been untouched, he might have been tempted. Even though Yellow Bird told him she wanted him no matter how long he would be with her, Sam couldn't bring himself to bed her.
Sam spied Andy playing tag with some children and caught his attention. Andy ran over to him immediately.
"Did you want me, Papa?"
"I've been thinking, son," Sam began, "that it's time for us to move on. I'd like to be in California before the first snowfall. We could ride down to Fort Worth and take the stagecoach the rest of the way. I have just enough money left to get us there. Work shouldn't be hard to find in California."
"I rode in a stagecoach once. Me an Mama went from Pennsylvania to Texas in one. I was little and don't remember much about it. I wish Sitting Bear could come with us."
"Sitting Bear belongs with his people."
"Can we write Mama a letter from California?"
"If you'd like. Did I tell you we'll be meeting your uncles in Denver in the spring? Uncle Rafe and Uncle Jess. They'll be surprised to learn I have a son your age, and happy to make your acquaintance." Sam gazed off into space. "It will be good to see them again."
"Do they have children I can play with?"
"Unfortunately, no. "I doubt that Rafe will ever marry, and Jess is too caught up in his profession as a doctor to find a woman to his liking. Go back and play with your friends, son. We'll speak of this again after my plans are in place."
Sam had no idea he and Andy were being observed from the forest of trees that protected the camp from unwanted visitors. Taylor Cramer had finally stumbled upon the Indian camp he'd been searching for these past few weeks. And to his delight, he had spotted both Sam Gentry and Andy.
Cramer's mind worked in devious ways. The camp was a small one by Indian standards, and it shouldn't be too difficult to take what he wanted from it and destroy the rest. An evil smile curved Cramer's thin lips. Perhaps Gentry would die during the attack. That
shouldn't be too difficult to arrange. Yes, Cramer thought gleefully, getting rid of Gentry would be a pleasure. Then another thought occurred. Why not rid himself of Andy at the same time? It would certainly make his life a lot easier if Andy wasn't around to distract his mother after he and Lacey were married.
Crawling back into the cover of trees, Cramer found his horse and rode hell for leather back to town. There was much to be done before he could return and destroy the man who'd been a thorn in his side since the day he'd appeared at the B&G ranch.
Lacey went through the motions of living since the day Andy had disappeared, but her heart wasn't in it. She missed Andy dreadfully and would never forgive Sam for taking him. Even the hands worked with listless energy, as if something vibrant were missing from their lives.
Then one morning Taylor Cramer rode into the yard accompanied by a dozen men. From the jubilant look on his face, Lacey knew immediately that he'd found the Indian camp. Her face lit with excitement as she ran out to meet him.
"You've found him! You've found Andy!" Lacey exclaimed. "I can be ready to ride in a few minutes."
"You're not going anywhere, Lacey," Cramer argued. "I hired men to do the dirty work. You're to wait here for us to return with your son."
Lacey took a good look at the men riding with Taylor and didn't like what she saw. They appeared to be hardened criminal types who would do anything for money. Even kill.
"Rusty said the Indians who gave Sam shelter were friendly. You promised there would be no bloodshed."
Cramer's lips thinned. "You want Andy, don't you?"
"Of course, but killing isn't the way to go about it." She lowered her voice. "I don't trust these men to keep their guns holstered. Look at them. They're the dregs of society."
"I picked these men for the very traits you mentioned," Cramer defended. "One look at them will discourage the Indians from defending Gentry. I've seen the camp. It's small and loosely defended."
"They're friendly, they have no need for caution. Promise me there will be no killing."
Cramer shot her an offended look. "I can't promise anything, Lacey. If the Indians resist, my men have orders to defend themselves."
"Shoot to kill, you mean."
"Do you or don't you want your son?"
"You know I do."
"Then leave the particulars to me."
"Just where is this camp located?" Lacey asked curiously.
"Why do you want to know?"
"I was just wondering why it took so long to find it."
"It's well hidden in a clearing surrounded by forest. I was a good fifteen miles from town, following the south fork of the river, when I found it. I had almost decided to turn back when something told me to see what was around the bend."
"What are your plans?"
"My men and I will hide in the forest until dark. Then we'll attack."
Attack! Lacey didn't like the sound of that. Andy could be hurt in an attack, and innocent people killed. She couldn't allow that to happen.
"Thank you for stopping by and telling me," Lacey said, anxious for Taylor and his mercenaries to leave. "I'll wait here for you to bring Andy to me."
"I knew you would see things my way," Cramer smirked. "Look for us tomorrow."
Lacey waited as long as it took for Cramer and his henchmen to disappear in a cloud of dust before hurrying to her room to change into a split riding skirt and buckskin jacket. She retrieved her gun Uncle Hob had given her from the bureau drawer, loaded it and stuffed a handful of bullets into her pocket. Then she went the barn to saddle her mare. Rusty hurried in after her.
"What was that all about, Miz Lacey? Those were some rough and tumble men with Mr. Cramer. Are you going somewhere?"
"I don't have time now to talk, Rusty. Taylor found the Indian camp."
"I figured as much. Why didn't he wait for you?"
"He didn't want me along. I'm worried, Rusty. There's going to be bloodshed and I don't like it. You saw his hirelings. They're a trigger happy bunch if I ever saw one. Andy could get hurt."
"What are you planning?"
"Taylor intends to attack after dark. I think I can find it on my own. I need to get there first and warn them. Once I speak with Andy I know he'll want to return to the ranch. Sam will have to let him go."
"Sam might have different ideas about that."
Lacey's chin notched upward. "I'll cross that bridge when I come to it."
"I'm going with you."
"No. Someone has to stay here and look after things. Everything will be fine, I promise." She patted her pocket. "I have my gun."
Lacey pulled herself into the saddle. "Tell Rita not to worry, but I'm not leaving the Indian camp without Andy.."
Lacey rode away and didn't look back. She knew she wasn't far behind Taylor and his henchmen; she could see their trail of dust ahead of her. She rode steadily, following the south fork of the river, stopping when they stopped to water their horses, remaining a safe distance away. It was early evening when the forest Taylor spoke of loomed ahead. She drew rein and waited until the riders entered the forest.
Lacey dismounted and followed, making a wide circle in order to skirt around them. The men were trying to be quiet but Lacey still heard their hushed voices and the horses' restless movement. She realized, however, that unless the Indians were expecting trouble, they would suspect nothing. She recalled what Taylor had said about the camp being loosely guarded.
Moving cautiously, Lacey led her mare through the woods. It was growing darker and she feared that time was running out. How much time did she have before Taylor and his men would launch their attack?
The trees thinned. Lacey peered through the twilight at the camp. All appeared peaceful. The glow of cooking fires illuminated the area. She saw children playing. Her heart began thumping. Was Andy with them? Should an attack occur, the children would be the first to be cut down. She hurried forward, unwilling to let that happen.
She saw them before they saw her. Sam and an Indian woman sitting side by side outside a tipi. The woman leaned into Sam, offering him a tidbit from her fingers. Sam smiled at the woman and accepted her offering. Their easy manner suggested an intimate relationship.
The thought of Sam bedding another woman was a painful one, though it shouldn't be. He'd probably bedded more women than he could count during their six year separation. Lacey knew she shouldn't feel betrayed, but she did. Tearing her eyes from Sam and the Indian woman, Lacey looked for Andy. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw him playing tag with another child. Pulling herself together, Lacey realized she had to act fast if she wanted to prevent a massacre.
Suddenly a child spied her and shouted a warning. A tall, imposing Indian brave stood up and strode toward her just as Andy saw her and called to her.
"Mama!"
Lacey spun around, dropping to her knees and opening her arms as Andy ran into them. She hugged him tightly, fearing to let him go lest she lose him again. Lacey would have stayed like that forever if a harsh voice hadn't asked, "What are you doing here?"
Lacey gazed up into Sam's piercing dark eyes. "I came for my son."
"Did you bring the law with you?"
"No, of course not."
"Why should I trust you?"
"Because I'm telling the truth." She rose slowly, still holding tightly to Andy's hand.
"How did you know where to find me?"
Suddenly Lacey recalled why she had come. "Never mind that now. You're in danger. The whole camp is in danger. I came to warn you."
"Andy, go with Yellow Bird. Your mother and I need to talk in private."
"Do I have to go? You won't send Mama away, will you?"
"We'll discuss it later. Please do as I say."
Yellow Bird, Lacey thought. So that was his squaw's name.
"Come, An-dy," Yellow Bird said. "We will find Sitting Bear. Perhaps he will share his meal with you so your papa and the bad woman can talk."
"Bad woman!" Lacey huffed indignantl
y. "Is that what you told her?"
"Why did Yellow Bird call Mama a bad woman, Papa?"
"Please, Andy, not now. Go find Sitting Bear."
Andy left with Yellow Bird though Lacey could tell he wasn't happy about it.
"What did you tell your squaw about me?"
"The truth. And she's not my squaw. Yellow Bird is a healer. She saved my life." He grasped her arm and pulled her into his tipi and shoved her inside. "Enough of this. What makes you think Chief Sitting Buffalo and his tribe are in danger?"
"Rusty mentioned that Indians had saved your life. Taylor suspected that you'd taken Andy to their village and set out to find it. I had already called off the search and sent the hands back to work when my own search turned up no trace of you or Andy, but Taylor continued on alone. He promised to return Andy to me. He finally found the village and hired thugs to ride with him. They're waiting for darkness to launch their attack."
Sam searched her face. "Why are you telling me this?"
She grasped his shirt-front, desperate now to make him understand. "To prevent bloodshed, damn you! Why won't you believe me? Do you think I want to see my son harmed? Or innocents die? You have to do something, Sam. Their attack could come at any moment."
Sam must have believed her for he loosened her hands and shoved her away. He left the tipi. Lacey ran after him. He marched determinedly toward the tall Indian Lacey assumed was the chief. They spoke together in hushed, urgent tones. Then the chief whirled about and disappeared into his tipi. He returned moments later carrying a rifle, which he raised in the air and shook vigorously. Sam strode back to her while men dropped whatever they were doing to attend their chief.
"What's happening? Where's Andy? I'm worried."
Sam didn't answer. He motioned to Yellow Bird and she hurried over with Andy and another young boy in tow.
"Take the women and children to safety, Yellow Bird. Lacey says bad men will attack the camp." He turned to Lacey. "Go with them."
"I'm staying. Taylor won't harm me."
"I don't have time to argue, Lacey. Go."
The Outlaws: Sam Page 15