Read Online The Outlaws: Sam by Ten Talents Press - Free Book Online

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.
     
    Sam awakened in pain. His head hurt like the
very devil and his whole body felt like he'd been beaten. He opened
his eyes slowly. Once everything came into focus he realized he
wasn't in his bunk in the bunkhouse. The room was cheerful, the bed
beneath him soft and the sheets sweet smelling.
    The pain in Sam's head was unrelenting. He
groaned and explored his head with his hand. His fingers
encountered a thick bandage.
    "You're awake."
    The voice was softly feminine and soothing,
putting him immediately at ease despite the grinding pain. Then
Lacey came into his view.
    "Lacey." His voice sounded rusty, his throat
felt raw. "Water."
    Lacey reacted quickly. She poured water from
a pitcher into a cup, gently lifted his head and held the cup to
his lips. Sam drank greedily then lay back against the pillow.
    "Where am I?"
    "In my spare bedroom."
    Sam tried to grin but could only manage a
weak grimace. "I'd prefer to be in your room, in your bed."
    Lacey ignored him. "Can you tell me what
happened?"
    "Rustlers. Amos rode in to get reinforcements
but the boys hadn't returned from town yet. I rode out to help.
Were any of the others hurt?"
    "No, just you. The raid doesn't make sense.
Rusty reported that the rustlers didn't even take the cattle they
had made off with. The hands found them grazing not far away from
the main herd. Rusty doesn't know what to make of it."
    Sam shot her a speculative look. "The man who
shot me knew exactly who he was aiming at. If what you say is true,
I believe I was targeted as the victim. The rustlers didn't want
the cattle, they wanted me...dead," he added.
    Lacey's eyes widened. "Why?"
    "You tell me," Sam bit out.
    "Me? What makes you think I know anything
about this?"
    "I distinctly heard you tell your lover you
wanted me out of your life. And Cramer promised to see the deed
done. Killing is permanent and quite effective, I might add."
    Lacey recoiled as if she'd been struck. "I
may want you out of my life but not in the way you think. I would
never... How could you even think such a thing?"
    "Easy," Sam said. "Your lover was simply
carrying out your wishes."
    "You're delusional," Lacey insisted. "Try to
rest. Rita will