Indulgence (166 page)

“Now can we eat?” Henry asked. “Champagne makes me hungry.”

“Everything makes you hungry,” Ben laughed.

George came to the young couple, bowing and telling them,
“Miss Anne, Mr. Albert. A thousand blessings on your house. May it be
overflowing with your love and your children.”

“Thank you, George. As a matter of fact, Anne was just
telling me just how many children she wanted,” Albert began.

“Albert, that was private!”

“I know, sweetheart, I just want to let George know we have
plans on filling our house with children,” Albert replied.

“Good, I need grandchildren and soon. Your sister and you
need to make good on it. I’m not getting any younger!” Thomas laughed.

“And neither is Albert,” Ben added, laughing.

That night at dinner they discussed the wedding, the house,
and their party. Thomas asked, “Are you inviting anyone from England to the
wedding, Anne?”

“I would like to, Mr. Stuart, but I don’t know if they would
be able to arrive in time as fast as Albert wants to get married,” she
answered. “Besides, with all of the love and support that you all have shown
me, you’ve made me feel that my family is sitting right here with me. I don’t
need anyone else. But you’re inviting Mary and her husband, aren’t you?”

“Yes, yes,” Thomas replied. “I’ll send them a wire tomorrow
telling them to come.”

Albert took her hand, kissing it as they smiled at each
other. Thomas watched the exchange between the two, thinking,
Elizabeth, our
son has found his other half. Albert will be alright from here on out.

After dinner, when they retired to the great room for
coffee, as Anne sat making notes of details for their wedding, Henry
volunteered, “Albert, I’d be glad to give you a hand with the house.”

“Me, too,” Ben offered.

“I would appreciate all of the help I can get. I don’t want
Anne to see it until the wedding. The sooner I finish it, the better. We had
discussed staying in the little cabin out there until the house is completed,
but with all of your help that won’t be necessary.”

“What about Anne’s house? Couldn’t you stay there until
yours is finished? There won’t be anyone staying there,” Ben asked.

Anne watched for Albert’s response, as he replied, “No, Ben.
We do not want to stay there. It will be in our house or the little cabin.”

“Well, if we all pitch in, we can have it done in two
weeks,” Thomas declared. “Branding is done and anything else on the ranch can
be handled by the ranch hands.”

“Father, I can’t ask you to do that,” Albert told him.
“Being one man short will be difficult enough for you to deal with.”

“You didn’t ask, I volunteered. Your brothers and I want to
help you two in any way we can,” Thomas replied.

“I can help, too,” Anne offered.

“No, the house is a surprise, and you’re going to be too
busy with the wedding,” Albert told her. “I’ll help as much as I can with the
arrangements, but if you can manage that, it would be a big help, and I can
concentrate my efforts on the house.”

“Agreed!” she told him. “I’ll see to the wedding
arrangements. If there’s something I believe we need to discuss, we will.
Otherwise I’ll accept the responsibility of planning it.”

After the brothers drew up a rough schedule for the house,
Henry said, “If you don’t need me and Ben any more tonight, we wanted to ride
into town and see what’s going on.”

“Hey, Albert, why don’t you go with us?” Ben grinned. “Might
just be your last chance to kick up your heels and have a good time before
you’re married.”

Anne watched with interest to see Albert’s response. “No,
Ben, I better not. There are things Anne and I have to discuss. You and Henry
go on. We’ll start work on the house day after tomorrow,” Albert told them.
“After our meeting with Mr. Lawrence, I can concentrate on everything else.”

“Well, while you two and Father are at your meeting, Ben and
I can go up and finish clearing the brush,” Henry told him.

“That would be helpful, and then the following morning we’ll
get started. I’ve already arranged for the lumber to be delivered that day, and
we can set the posts at first light,” Albert explained.

“Then it’s settled. We’ll be getting back after you folks
are in bed, so good night, see you tomorrow,” Ben replied, grinning.

Albert caught a brief glimmer in Anne’s eyes and instantly
knew something was wrong. “Yes, Albert,” she began. “Maybe you should go kick
up your heels and have a good time.”

“No, Anne, I am done with that life,” he told her.

Thomas, sensing there was something amiss, told them, “I’m
going to walk your brothers outside and check on a few things.”

*****

When the house was empty except for the two of them, he
asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, except why do I get the impression you were torn
about going to town with your brothers and having a good time or staying here
with me?”

“I wasn’t torn. I have no intention of going to town and
sitting in a saloon,” he told her.

“Evidently, Ben thought there was a chance you would or else
he wouldn’t have invited you,” she said.

“Anne, this isn’t the first time my brothers have asked me
to go into town with them. Each time I’ve refused. There was a time that, yes,
I did go with them and, yes, I had a good time. However, all of that was before
you. I haven’t been into town other than on business since I met you.

Looking at him for a long time, she said, “I apologize. I
was out of line; I should have questioned your intentions.”

“No, you have that right now, just as I do with you,” Albert
told her. “I haven’t the slightest interest in anything now except you, our
wedding, and our house. Anne, don’t ever doubt my commitment to you. It is you
who I want. I don’t need anything or anyone else.”

After the brothers had left, Anne had wanted to speak to
Thomas with only Albert present. When he returned, she began, “Mr. Stuart, I
know I’ve imposed on you far too much already, but I have one more favor I must
ask of you. Due to the present circumstances, I have no one to give me away at
our wedding. I know it’s asking a great deal, but would you?”

“Anne, it would be my honor,” Thomas told her.

“Thank you,” she said, hugging the older man. “It means a
great deal to me that you’re willing to do so.”

They sat, discussing what time they would leave the
following morning for town. The magistrate would meet with them at ten after
Mr. Lawrence arrived on the nine o’clock stage.

“We should leave by eight,” Albert suggested. “Mr. Lawrence
will not know anyone in town. Someone should be there to meet him.”

“With that settled, if you gentlemen will excuse me, I
believe I’ll retire for the night,” Anne announced.

“I’m ready for bed, also. Good night, Father,” Albert said.

“Albert,” Thomas stopped him, “may I speak to you for a
minute?”

Sensing Thomas wanted to speak to his son alone, Anne
excused herself. “Albert, I’ll go on to bed. I’ll see you both in the morning.”

After they heard the door to her room close, Albert asked
his father, “What’s wrong?”

“Ray stopped by this morning after you and Anne left. He
wanted to speak to you regarding John and Young. Albert, they both escaped.”

“What?” Albert asked, not believing what he had heard. “How
could they allow something like that to happen?”

Thomas repeated everything Ray and then Chuck had told him,
finally saying, “John has already been captured on the road heading towards
California. Young has been seen heading in the same direction. Ray has wired
every town between here and San Francisco to be on the lookout for him. He’s
confident Young will be captured very soon. I didn’t want to say anything in
front of Anne until I told you.”

“Of all the incompetence,” Albert raged, “how could Ray and
Chuck allow this to happen?”

“Albert, what’s done is done. John is behind bars, and Young
will be soon. I didn’t want to spoil your day, but thought you and Anne should
know everything.”

“I better tell her immediately. I don’t want her finding out
from someone else,” Albert said, dreading this responsibility.

Anne had not changed into her bedclothes knowing Albert
would want to see her before he went to bed. Shortly there was a knock on her
door. As she opened it, Albert asked, “May I come in?”

“Please do,” she said opening the door.

Albert told her everything regarding her father and Joe
Young escaping and how John had subsequently been captured. When he finished,
he waited for her reaction.

“All right, at least they caught Father. That’s what’s
important,” she said calmly.

Not sure if she had heard him correctly, he asked, “You do
understand Young is still loose somewhere between here and California.”

“Yes, I understand. I’m not worried. Young wouldn’t dare
show his face around here. I’m just glad they caught my father, he’s far more
dangerous,” she told him.

“Anne, are you sure you’re okay? You’re taking this much
better than I thought you would.”

“Albert, today is the happiest day of my life. I’m not going
to allow anyone or anything to destroy that happiness. Thank you for your
concern, but really, I’m all right,” she promised.

“Well, if you’re sure,” Albert replied, “I guess I’ll go on
to bed. We have a big day tomorrow.”

“Yes, I’m fine,” she said, kissing his cheek.

Albert held her and said, “Trust me; I won’t let anyone ever
hurt you.”

“I do trust you,” she said looking into his dark eyes. “I
always have.”

Only after he left did she let her resolve slip and allowed
fear to overwhelm her.
We couldn’t even enjoy today without something to do
with my father spoiling it. When is this going to end? I have to trust Albert
that everything will be all right. If I don’t, my fears will eventually come
between us.”

As Albert closed the door to his room, he told himself,
She
is not all right. I watched her eyes and saw fear there.
She has got to
learn to trust me that I will never let anything happen to her.

Anne rose early, having slept little the night before. She
was eager to have this day behind her. After making her bed, she washed and did
her hair. She then selected a dark blue suit and white blouse to wear for their
meeting. When satisfied with her appearance, she tucked a document into her
purse and went downstairs to join the others. She could hear Thomas and Albert
talking. Henry and Ben’s voices were noticeably absent. Usually their
good-natured banter dominated talk at the table.

Stopping their conversation, Albert looked up, greeting her
as he rose from his chair and met her as she stepped into the great room. “Good
morning, did you sleep well?”

“Yes, I got in bed and didn’t hear a thing,” she said,
easily skirting the truth. “Where are your brothers? Surely, they aren’t
sleeping in.”

“You won’t believe it. They’re on their way to the bluff to
start working on the house. When Father told me, I was astonished. Henry must
have gotten Ben up at daybreak,” Albert replied. “Now come and eat something.
We have to leave in a little while.”

Anne accepted a cup of coffee, but declined anything else.
“I’m a bit nervous. I’d better pass on food for now.”

“Anne, you really should eat something,” Albert told her.

She wasn’t hungry, and the thought of food made her
nauseous. “Not now, maybe later. After the meeting,” she said firmly.

Soon they were on their way to town to meet Mr. Lawrence,
arriving before the stage.

“Good,” Thomas remarked. “It wouldn’t do to have Mr.
Lawrence standing here on the street waiting on us.”

As he finished his statement, they heard the stage
approaching. When it pulled to a stop, the only passenger, a tall,
distinguished, white haired man got off.

“Mr. Lawrence?” Thomas asked, removing his hat.

“Yes, Mr. Stuart?”

“I’m Thomas Stuart,” he said, shaking the man’s hand. “This
is my son Albert and . . .”

“You’re Anne Wallace,” he interjected, taking Anne’s hand.
“I remember those eyes and that hair. Of course, you were just a little girl
then. Now you’ve grown into a beautiful woman. I’m sure you don’t remember me.”

“No, sir, I’m sorry, I don’t,” Anne answered.

“Shall we go on to the courthouse? I took the liberty of
asking the local magistrate to sit in on our meeting,” Thomas explained.

“Very well, Mr. Stuart, I will present my credentials to
him,” Mr. Lawrence replied.

Thomas had a valet take the attorney’s bags to the Frontier
Hotel, where he had reserved the visitor a room.

As they entered the court, Thomas introduced the magistrate
to Mr. Lawrence. The attorney presented his papers, identifying himself, and
then took a seat at the large table and opened his briefcase.

Taking their places, Mr. Lawrence began, “Miss Wallace, I
regret we have to meet under these circumstances. I had sent you numerous
inquiries, all of which were returned to me, I’m assuming by your father. I was
concerned something might have happened to you. Thankfully, Mr. Stuart
contacted me. He has been most kind to keep me informed of events that have
occurred the past two months. From the information I’ve gathered, through
various sources, I assume you know nothing of your grandfather’s will.”

“No, sir, I don’t,” Anne replied.

“Very well then, we shall go over everything. First, you
should know I was your grandfather’s attorney for over twenty years and was
well aware of the animosity between him and your father. William had left
explicit instructions, written into his will, pertaining to your inheritance,
on how he wanted it to be administered. After your grandfather’s death, your
father petitioned the courts in London that he be named trustee of the estate.
There was nothing illegal or unusual about his request. He was your father and
assumed to have your best interest at heart. Therefore, he was granted
trusteeship. While living in England, there was no hint of any wrongdoing. It
was after moving that irregularities were uncovered. I had to rely on family
members, Jackson McDonald for one, to supply me with information on your
whereabouts. He informed me you had written to him and were now residing in
Nevada. I traced you here and sent inquiries to your father.” Here the man
paused.