Indulgence (160 page)

“I’m not about to answer that, Anne,” he said laughing.

Suddenly serious, she asked, “Please, tell me.”

“Anne, that’s not a fair question. I wasn’t in the best mood
when I arrived home that evening,” he told her.

“It is a fair question; now please tell me, what did you
think? Pretend it’s a game.”

After a moment, he began, “Now keep in mind, I wasn’t
pleased to begin with. I had planned to leave Nevada and go back east, that is
until you and your father wrote and said you were coming. Father talked me out
of leaving until you and your father left, or made Nevada your home. So just
remember that when I tell you of my impressions.”

“I’ll remember, Albert,” she said, tucking her feet under
her, waiting for him to continue.

Sighing, he began, “I suppose the first time I heard your
voice I was intrigued. I wanted to know who possessed the most lyrical, soft
voice I had ever heard in my life. Then, when you came out of the library, and
I saw you for the first time, I was momentarily speechless. Your eyes melted my
heart the first time you looked at me and it has been that way ever since. Oh,
I was pleased with your beauty, but your gentleness and warmness stole my heart
that day.”

Anne had been watching his face as he spoke, and now tears
filled her eyes.

“Now it’s your turn,” Albert told her gently, taking her
hand.

She thought for a moment, then boldly told him, “I believe I
loved you the first moment I set eyes on you. When I looked into your eyes, I
lost my soul to them that very second. The sound of your voice still sends
chills down my spine, and when I’m with you, for the first time in my life, I
know I’m where I was meant to be.”

He sat for a moment, speechless, just looking into her eyes
and then pulled her into his arms. There was no need for words, they knew the
other’s heart, and that was enough.

Albert reclined, lying back on his arm with her next to him.
He brushed a curl from her forehead and asked, “Anne, my father told me your
father has found some land adjacent to Sky Valley that he wants to purchase.”

“Yes, he’s planning on finalizing the transaction today, so
construction can begin on our house, and we will stop imposing on you,” she
replied.

With his hand, he caressed her face, gently telling her,
“Anne, you were never an imposition,” as he pulled her to him.

When they parted, she smiled at him and said, “Albert, I
almost forgot. I brought you a present. I think you will like it.” As she
handed it to him she added, “I noticed you didn’t have a copy of his works.”

Albert opened the gift she had given him, a collection of
Ralph Waldo Emerson’s poems.

“Anne, I can’t accept this, he’s one of your favorite
poets,” he told her.

“Yes, he is, but I know you will enjoy it as much as I have.
Please, I want you to have it.”

They stayed a while longer, talking. Albert, noting the
position of the sun, realized he had to get her back before dark. Riding back,
Albert asked if she would like to ride to the north pasture with him the
following day to see the new foals.

“I would love to. Father will be in town most of the day on
business, so I’m free.”

*****

That evening, after everyone had gone to bed, Thomas and
Albert sat talking. Thomas had decided to have a party at Sky Valley to
introduce John and Anne to their friends since they would soon be landowners.

Thomas sat marveling at the change in his eldest son.
Pleased with the change in him since Anne had arrived, he felt he would be remiss
if he didn’t tell Albert what was on his mind.

“Albert, you’ve been spending a great deal of time with
Anne. You do realize she is younger. You are almost four years older than she
is, and her father is one of my oldest friends. You’re used to being around
women here in the territory who aren’t, shall we say, as refined as Anne,”
Thomas said delicately.

“Don’t worry; I’ve been a complete gentleman. She’s a lady,
and I’ve enjoyed being with her more than any other woman I’ve ever known. We
are a lot alike, and I would never do anything to hurt her or embarrass you. I
will tell you, both she and I are very happy she’ll be staying here and not
returning to England,” Albert confided in his father.

Albert continued, “It’s funny, but I was so dreading this
visit. I had sworn when they left I was going back east. Now, with her here, I
can’t see myself being anywhere else but here with her.” He wanted his father
to know that his intentions were honorable and sincere. Albert knew they had
not known each other long by the standards of the day. Nevertheless, from the
moment they met, there was something different, something very special about
her. Now he knew he loved her.

Thomas was still trying to figure out what had caused the
change in Albert. He was kinder and more patient with his brothers. What had
caused the dramatic change in Albert. It was due to Anne. She had brought this
softer side out in Albert. He had watched the two together and knew his brother
had found happiness and contentment with this girl from England.

John Wallace had also sensed a change in his daughter. He
knew he would have to act quickly to see that Anne’s silly infatuation with
Albert Stuart did not disrupt his plans.

Living in their own house now, John had the freedom to
conduct his business dealings without Anne or the Stuarts becoming curious. The
last time she had become inquisitive, she had cost him dearly. Anne had been
fourteen and John had been involved in a land grab scheme in southern England.

Being an attorney, he had access to private information that
the average person would not. Using this information, he had purchased hundreds
of acres of land at a fraction of its value. That is, before Anne had stumbled
upon the paperwork. When she began questioning her father, he realized she was
becoming too aware of his dealings and could eventually become a problem. Too
late, he learned she had told a friend, the daughter of a local magistrate,
that her father was grabbing land. Learning of this, he immediately arranged
for her to attend boarding school in New York.

It was shortly after she left for school that his business
dealings came under the scrutiny of her friend’s father. Aware of this, John
decided he would quietly liquidate his assets until he found another business
to become involved in. He had always blamed Anne’s mother for him being forced
into unsavory ventures.

Choosing Anne’s mother, Margaret, to be his wife had given
him a lifestyle he had only dreamed of. He had met her early in his career as a
struggling, young lawyer. Her family was wealthy and highly respected in London
society. Unfortunately, it had not worked out the way he had planned. Her
father had distrusted him immediately and cautioned his daughter against
marrying him.

Margaret, however, had disregarded her father’s wishes and
married John. An act of defiance she soon regretted. To escape his
father-in-law’s watchful eyes, John moved his wife and himself to Baltimore,
where Anne was born five years later. During their time there, John had
complete access to his wife’s fortune.

Shortly after Margaret’s death, Anne’s grandfather took
great pleasure informing John that he had changed his will, and that Anne, not
John, would inherit everything when he died. Since that time, John had gone to
great lengths to hide the truth from his daughter. John knew he must keep Anne
occupied with other matters while he completed his plans; otherwise, Anne
Wallace would become a very wealthy woman when she turned twenty-one.

He remembered the conversation he had with his father-in-law
the day John found out the old man had learned of his indiscretions and had
changed his will. “I will see to my granddaughter, but you will be out on the
street. You cheated on my daughter and deprived Anne of a father’s love. I
cannot do anything about that now, but I will see that you receive nothing. You
broke Margaret’s heart and for that, you will pay,” William McDonald told him.

John felt he was entitled to his wife’s estate. He had put
up with Margaret during her illness, and had taken care of Anne. He saw to her
education and provided her with the best of everything. Despite the fact it was
his own daughter’s money, John had been plotting how he would go about
circumventing her grandfather’s will since the day the old man died.

Now, when he was so very close to success, Albert Stuart had
come into her life.
Albert is like Thomas, he will see something amiss and
start delving into matters. As her husband, Anne will give him complete
control. That, I cannot allow,
John thought.
I’m going to have to proceed
carefully. I don’t want to raise anyone’s suspicions when I’m this close.

If he hadn’t stood to lose everything, he would have
encouraged Anne’s attraction to Albert. He came from a fine family, and Thomas
Stuart wielded a great deal of influence in the territory. Influence that, had
they married, would have proved to be very valuable to John’s career. However,
for now, it was imperative that his daughter’s attentions be elsewhere, until
after her birthday, giving him time to finalize the sale of the manor. A sale
he had no legal right to negotiate, for the manor belonged to Anne.

It was these thoughts that ran through John’s mind as he sat
in his study, composing a letter to Joe Young, a man he thought would take care
of all his problems. The bartender at the saloon had provided information about
the man to him, with the assurance that he would deliver John’s message, for a
price.

Mr. Larkin,

I have a business proposition I wish to discuss with you.
Meet me in my office at the courthouse tomorrow morning at seven o’clock. I
believe you will find it most beneficial. I trust you will be discreet.

Judge Jonathon McDonald

John needed someone who would be capable of dealing with the
problems his daughter and Albert presented, and be trusted to keep his mouth shut.
He had found, in his experience, money bought most people’s silence.

Completing the note, John sealed the envelope from prying
eyes. He would drop it off to the bartender to give to Young, when he and
Thomas Stuart went into town that afternoon.

John Wallace had an appointment very early the next morning,
so the prying eyes of Carson City would not see the man that now entered his
office.

“Judge, I got a message you wanted to see me,” Joe Young
said.

“Shut the door,” John instructed. “I don’t want the busybodies
of this town knowing my business dealings.

“Sure thing, Judge,” Young said as he closed the door. “Now,
what did you want to see me about?”

“Mr. Young, I have been told you are experienced in taking
care of problems,” John said.

“Yeah, I know how to take care of any problems that need to
be taken care of. But what problem could a judge have that requires my help?”
Young asked.

“I want to see if you’re capable of seeing to a few issues
I’m having. I thought I could hire you to be the foreman of my ranch. This
would give you firsthand knowledge of my daughter’s comings and goings. It just
so happens she’s one of my problems.”

“Sure, Judge, anything you say. What kind of problems you
been having with your daughter that you need to see to?”

“It pertains to her involvement with Albert Stuart,” John
explained.

Young’s interest piqued when he heard who the two people he
would be dealing with were. He had been looking forward to seeing the Judge’s
daughter again, and it would be a pleasure to bring Albert Stuart down a few
pegs.

“When can you start?” John asked.

“How ‘bout right now,” Young responded. “But first we need
to talk money. I want to know what my pay is gonna be for solving your little
problem.”

“Whatever Thomas Stuart paid you, I'll double, and there
will be a bonus when I’m satisfied with the results,” John explained.

“I can live with that, Judge. Now let’s hear what you want
done with your
problem
,” Young said sitting back in the chair, listening
intently. “I can move into your bunkhouse today and get started on your
daughter. You sure ain’t like any of the judges I met. Well, it's no matter to
me, money’s money; ‘sides, I'll enjoy takin’ care of her.”

“Remember, Young, show some restraint. I do not want her
hurt; just scare her. Whatever else you do is up to you. As far as Albert
Stuart goes, handle it any way you see fit,” John said.

John Wallace was not a man prone to violence, but he had to
do something about Anne and Albert. She was going to balk about going back
east, and he would take any steps necessary to bring her into line. He knew she
would not allow anything to happen to young Stuart and hoped Young would show
some restraint dealing with her.

However, if the man got a little too heavy-handed, so be it.
He had waited a long time to control the fortune Anne's mother had left her. No
one, not even his own daughter, would stand in his way. It was imperative that
she not know of her inheritance until everything was finalized. By the time she
found out, it would be too late. If he were unsuccessful, she would inherit a
virtual fortune when she turned twenty-one, and her birthday was only two
months away.

*****

Young stepped out into the dusty streets of Carson City on
his way to the hotel to pack his things and move to the judge’s ranch. He would
meet Anne Wallace when he got there. Her father had given him a letter of
introduction to give to her.

He wants her out of the way pretty bad to hire me to
rough her up,
Young thought.
I wonder what he stands to gain. I need to
find that out; there may be more money in it for me before this is over.

Anne Wallace was in the process of planning her day. She
went to the kitchen to speak to their cook and, after selecting the menu for
that evening, made her way to the corral. She heard a horse approaching,
assuming it would be Albert. She turned only to find Joe Young, the man Albert
had cautioned her about, before her.