Indulgence (164 page)

Arriving in town, Henry took Young to the Sheriff’s office
while Albert and Anne went to see the doctor, Peter Martin. Albert knocked on
the door for some time until Peter finally came to the door. Albert explained,
“Sorry to bother you so late, Peter, but Anne needs to be looked at.”

Opening the door, Peter smiled at the girl then asked, “What
happened, Anne?”

“I’m all right, Peter. Albert insisted I come to see you,”
she said.

Albert explained the events of that evening. “I just want to
be sure she isn’t hurt.” Peter had her sit on his table and began examining
her.

The doctor’s fingers touched her arm. Pushing her blouse
sleeve up, he said, “There are no broken bones, but you’re going to have a
whale of a bruise,” Peter explained.

When he was finished, Anne insisted that Peter check Albert
too. His hand was cut and swollen, but other than that, he had no other visible
injuries. Trying to re-assure her, Peter began, “I’ve lost count of the times
I’ve had to patch up the Stuart men. Out of all of them, Albert has the hardest
head. He’ll be fine, but when you get home, soak that hand and put some
liniment on it.”

Thanking Peter, they left his office and went directly to
the jail. When they entered, Ray began, “Anne, Henry has told me what happened.
Do you want to press charges against Joe Young?”

“Yes sir, I do.”

At Albert’s coaxing, she told Ray everything that had
happened that night, including the conversation she had overheard between her
father and Young.

“I can’t believe that Judge Wallace would do such a thing,”
Ray said, shaking his head. “I’ve never arrested a judge before. I’ll go out to
the ranch tomorrow morning and pick him up. He’s not going anywhere before
then.”

“Anne will be staying at Sky Valley, Ray. If you need any
more information from her, you’ll have to come see her there. So that you know,
I ordered her father off of his ranch by tomorrow,” Albert told the man.

“I’ll see to it, Albert. Now you two best get on home. By
the looks of you, you both need some rest.”

On the ride home, Albert guided the horses with one hand,
the other arm around her. “Everything is going to be all right now, Anne,” he
told her. “There are some matters we’re going to have to talk about, but the
worst is behind us.”

At Sky Valley, Thomas met them at the door. “Albert, what
happened? Anne, are you all right? Henry was just telling me some of it.”

Albert explained what had occurred and that Anne would be
staying with them. “Of course she’s staying here. Put her things in the guest
room next to you, Albert. Anne I’m so sorry about all of this. I thought that
after talking to your father, things would be better. I can’t believe I fell
for John’s act. For tonight, rest, we’ll talk more tomorrow.”

“I think Anne and I could use a brandy.”

“Allow me,” Thomas exclaimed as he went to the table and poured
three brandies, handing one to each of them.

Sitting on the sofa, Anne began, “Mr. Stuart, I’m sorry to
impose. I told Albert I could stay at the Frontier. That’s what my plans were,
but he insisted I come here.”

“This is where you belong, Anne. I feel much better having
you here and I know Albert does as well,” Thomas told her.

Putting her head on Albert’s shoulder, she sat staring into
the fireplace. Sensing her mood, Albert suggested, “Why don’t we get you
settled in your room. Tomorrow we’ll talk more, but for now, it’s best that you
rest.”

Albert showed her to her room. Turning to her, he pulled her
to him, asking, “Are you alright? With everything that happened, I haven’t even
greeted you properly.”

Kissing her, he held her close as she replied, “Albert, I’m
fine now that you’re here. Promise me we won’t be apart again.”

“Not in this lifetime,” he told her. “Our time of being
apart is almost over. No more talking tonight, Anne. The last few days have had
to have been a nightmare for you. You’re safe now. Tomorrow, we will have to
sit down and talk with Father. He has some information you need to know about.
Now I want you to listen to me. I’m going to be right next door if you need
anything, or if you just want to talk.” he told her, kissing her good night.

After he closed the door, he returned to the great room
where his father and brothers waited for him. George had brought him a basin of
water for his hand, and Thomas had poured each of them a brandy. As he handed
Albert’s to him, he asked, “What on earth happened over there tonight?”

Albert took a seat, submerging his swollen hand in the
water, and began telling them everything Anne had told him. “From what Anne
said, John seemed almost crazed when he talked to her after she returned from
Sky Valley. He accused her of telling us stories about him. There were parts
I’m sure she omitted, hurtful, hateful things he said to her that I can only
imagine.”

Continuing, Albert told them of her plan to get away from
the house and ride into Carson City until he got home. “On her way to the barn
is when she overheard her father and Young’s conversation. John had told Young
to take care of her, that he didn’t care what he did to her. Father, I believe
if Henry and I hadn’t gotten there, he would have hurt her, possibly killed
her.”

“I never dreamt it was that bad, Albert,” Thomas said,
shaking his head. “Anne wouldn’t tell me anything, and I know she never told
you how bad it was.”

“No she didn’t,” Albert replied, slowly flexing his hand.
“She always avoided the subject of her father and growing up. I never
understood why until now. She told me a few things about England and how she
didn’t care for New York when she attended school there. I had no idea it was
as bad as it was.”

“Well,” Henry began, “that little girl has had enough sorrow
in her life. It’s about time you took care of that, big brother.”

“I plan to, Henry, and soon. I swear she’ll never know
another sad day,” Albert promised.

“I don’t get it,” Ben said. “Anne’s always nice to everyone.
She even puts up with you, big brother. How could anyone treat her so bad?”

“I don’t know, Ben,” Thomas replied. “There is just no
understanding someone like John Wallace.”

After talking a while longer, Henry and Ben excused
themselves, deciding to turn in for the night.

“Boys, you are going to have to handle things here tomorrow.
There are a few things I need to talk to Anne and Albert about first thing in
the morning,” Thomas explained.

“Sure thing,” Henry said. “We’ll see to it.”

Rising, Albert told his father, “I think I’m going to turn
in, also. It’s been a long day.”

“I’m sure you’re tired with that ride from San Francisco and
everything else that’s happened this evening. Albert, Anne is going to get
through this. It may take some time, but she will. And, in time, she will
heal.”

“I know she will. I can see to anything Anne needs. Good
night, Father.”

Before going into his room, Albert passed outside of Anne’s
door. Hearing a faint sound, he slowly opened the door. She was standing by the
window, looking out into the night that was as black as ink.

“Anne, is something wrong?” he asked.

She turned around, and he saw she had been crying. Going to
her, he gently took her in his arms, asking, “Can I do anything?”

“No,” she replied softly. “I have to come to terms with this
on my own. But thank you for asking. Now go on to bed, you have to be
exhausted. Is your hand any better?”

“It’s alright, I soaked it for a while,” he answered.

Taking his injured hand in hers, she raised it to her lips,
kissing it. Then she quietly told him, “Go on to bed, Albert, I’m fine.”

Albert was hesitant to leave her, but knew she needed this
time alone. As she had said, she would have to work through today’s events on
her own. He hated that she was hurting, and as much as he wanted to bear the pain
for her, he knew he could not. Tonight, she had to work this out on her own,
but tomorrow, he would take over, and she would never be alone again. Kissing
her, he told her, “I love you, Anne.”

“I love you, too. Good night, Albert.”

After he had left, she sat on the bed, reflecting on the
past day and telling herself,
After tonight I will not let my life prior to
now affect Albert or me again. Father will be out of our lives, and I pray I
will never see him again.

Sunlight streaming through her window woke her the next
morning. She had finally fallen asleep as the grandfather clock in the great
room had struck midnight. Lying in bed, she smiled, thinking,
Today begins
my new life with Albert. Nothing is going to spoil our life together.

Slipping out of bed, she washed, did her hair, put on a
clean dress and then made her way downstairs. All four Stuart men were seated
at the table having coffee, talking. Albert saw her first and came to the
stairs to meet her.

Kissing her cheek, he said, “Good Morning. I trust you
slept.”

Returning his kiss, she told him, “Yes, I did. Did you?”

“Yes, I did. Anne, today will be a better day.”

“Morning, Anne,” the other men greeted her as she walked
into the dining room.

“Good morning,” she replied, smiling at them.

“We waited breakfast for you,” Thomas told her.

“You shouldn’t have, you must be starved,” she declared.

Her demeanor is better today, almost like she was before
all of this began,
Albert thought.

Albert held her chair out as she took her seat beside him.
Henry poured her coffee as George brought the breakfast platters to the table.

“Good morning, missy Anne. You look good. Now eat,” the cook
told her.

While the four men dove into their breakfast, Anne sat
sipping coffee watching them. She was relaxed; she felt that this was where she
belonged. Anne enjoyed the loving interaction between father and sons. She had
always wanted a family like them and now she almost was a part of this one.

George brought her warm muffins as Ben asked, “Why does Anne
get George’s special muffins? We’ve got to be sick to get them.”

“Missy Anne nice to George. Not yell like men,” he told Ben.

Laughing, Thomas told her, “George doesn’t make those for
everyone, Anne. You should fee honored.”

“I do, Mr. Stuart, I do.”

After breakfast, Thomas asked to speak to Anne and Albert.
He had the young couple join him in the great room. Sitting on the sofa, he
began, “Anne, first of all I’m so very sorry for what you’ve been through the
past few weeks. I had no idea.”

“Mr. Stuart, please stop. I should be apologizing to all of
you. My father took advantage of not only your friendship, but also your
hospitality. He was at fault. I’m so ashamed for how everything has turned out.
So please, don’t apologize.”

“Anne, Albert knows some of what I’m about to tell you,”
Thomas began. He told her of his suspicions about her father from the very
beginning, explaining why he had contacted the attorney in London. “We’ve been
corresponding, sharing information. In his most recent letter, he informed me
that he would be here in Carson City the day after tomorrow. Mr. Lawrence was
your grandfather’s attorney, and he wants to meet with you and explain your
inheritance.”

Anne had listened intently while Thomas continued telling
her what he had discovered about her father.

When he was done, she told the men, “I had forgotten about
any inheritance until I remembered my last discussion with my grandfather. It
was before I was sent to New York. He died while I was away. He told me that he
was going to make sure that father never profited from my mother’s death. I
didn’t understand what he meant until now. If it’s not too much to ask, I would
like you to be with me, Albert, when I meet with this attorney. I want you to
know everything he says. I know you feel you should be there also, Mr. Stuart.
I only wish all of you weren’t troubled by this.”

“You know I want to be with you, Anne, and I’ll do whatever
you want,” Albert told her.

“Anne, if I may suggest,” Thomas said delicately, “with
charges against John forthcoming, it might be wise to ask the local magistrate
to sit in on this meeting with Mr. Lawrence.”

“Whatever you and Albert think best,” she said. “I really
can’t believe that this inheritance is worth all of the trouble it’s caused.”

“Well, until he arrives,” Thomas told them, “we’ll have to
wait for any more answers.”

Rising from the sofa, Albert addressed his father, “If we’re
done, I have a day planned for Anne and me.”

“That’s fine son. Your brothers and I can handle ranch
business today. You and Anne go have some fun.”

“We’re going on a picnic. Something we haven’t done in a
while.”

At this announcement George brought out a large basket as
Albert asked, “Everything is in there that I requested, George?”

“Yes, Mr. Albert, everything.”

As they walked outside to the porch, Anne saw the carriage
was waiting for them in the courtyard. “You’ve had this planned for a while,
haven’t you?” she asked, raising an eyebrow, smiling.

“For a while,” he said, giving her a grin as he lifted her
into the carriage. He then climbed in, taking the reins, as he steered the
horses towards the bluff. When they arrived, he helped her down, grabbed the
basket, and let her to their favorite spot.

After Albert and Anne had left, there was a knock on the
door. Opening it, Thomas greeted Ray Jones. “Morning, Ray. You’re out early.
Come on in and have some coffee.”

Ray stood in the doorway, nervously twisting his hat in his
hands. “No coffee for me, Thomas. I need to speak to Albert. You might want to
listen to this, also.”

“I’m sorry, Ray, Albert’s not here right now. May I help you
with anything?”

“Thomas, I don’t rightly know how to tell you this. I went
to pick up Judge Wallace early this morning. When I got there, he was gone.
Hank told me he lit out of there last night.”