Indulgence

by Liz Crowe

  By the time Thomas returned home, Henry and Ben had worn Anne out playing checkers, and she was ready for a break. “Anne,” Thomas began. “I spoke to your father. He would like to talk to you tonight. After dinner, Henry and Ben will ride home with you. I would, however, like to see you in the morning. Do you think you could ride over here first thing tomorrow?”

  Not sure what was going on, Anne told him, “Of course, Mr. Stuart. I’ll be here first thing in the morning. How was Father to talk to?”

  Not wanting to alarm her, he replied, “He was fine, Anne, a little upset at first, but he’s all right now,” Thomas explained.

  After Thomas had left his office, John Wallace had closed his court for the day and returned home. He needed to speak to Young before Anne returned. Blasted Stuarts, he thought; now I have to hurry before Thomas spoils everything.

  After dinner, Henry and Ben rode home with Anne, waiting while she entered the house. When they were sure she was safe, they returned home.

  “Anne?” Her father called when she shut the front door. “I’d like to see you in my study.”

  Doing as he requested, she entered, asking, “You wanted to speak to me?”

  “Yes, dear. Sit down,” he answered.

  After she was seated, he began. “Thomas came to see me today, and I must say I’m very disappointed in you.”

  “You’re disappointed in me? What have I done?” This was not at all what she had expected from him.

  Rising from his desk, he walked to the front, leaning on it as he looked at her with angry, gray eyes. “Running to him, telling him you aren’t safe here. Now, Anne, you know that’s not true. Why, I would never let anything happen to you,” he said in an unsettling tone.

  “I didn’t run to anyone. They know why I’m uncomfortable, and with good reason. You wouldn’t listen to me. I had no one else to turn to,” she replied.

  “You always were a little sneak,” he said to her in a voice she didn’t recognize.

  “Father! I have never. . .” she started.

  “You may have fooled them, your mother, and your grandfather, but I know you for what you are. On the outside all sweet and kind, but on the inside devious and calculating,” he spat at her.

  Rising to leave the room, he grabbed her wrist, forcing her to sit back in the chair. “I’m not done with you. You’re just like your mother. She spoiled everything for me by having you. None of this would have ever been necessary if you hadn’t been born. I’ve been saddled with you for the last twenty years and now, when I’m so close to realizing my dreams, you’re determined to ruin everything,” he said.

  Tears pooled in her eyes as she said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve not done anything wrong.”

  “Running to Thomas Stuart, whining to him just like you did years ago to your grandfather. You remember what happened the last time you did that? I sent you away. That is exactly what I’m going to do now. Be rid of you once and for all and live the way I should be able to and not be stuck with you!”

  Anne couldn’t bear to hear any more. She had always suspected he felt that way about her, but had buried it deep within, not wanting to admit this to herself. Now he had said it aloud, and she knew she had been right.

  “Don’t you dare criticize me for anything I did to protect myself. You did nothing after I told you of my fears about Young. Then, you were always good at using my fears against me. When mother died, and you knew I was terrified of losing you, you used that to keep me in line and do your bidding. I was so frightened during that time, I would have done anything to win your favor,” she said, tears welling in her eyes. “I had no one except for you, and you pushed me away. Thank God, I had my grandfather; as much has he hated you, he loved me. Well, I’m not a frightened little girl anymore. I’m grown, and I’m in love with a man who loves me more than I thought possible, and we’re going to be married. Then you will never be saddled with me again. I will be out of your life for good. An event I look forward to. However, I do have something to thank you for. The stubbornness and independence you hate so much in me is because of your treatment of me when I was growing up. I was forced to be that way to survive,” she railed.

  She had derived great pleasure in venting this way for the first time in her life. Albert was right, she should not hold so much inside, and it had felt good to let it out.

  Her father did something that took her aback; he laughed. She feared the man had lost his mind until he began, “Bravo, Anne, you surprise me. You’ve turned into a formidable adversary. As much as you will hate me saying this, you’re just like me.”

  “I am nothing like you!” she screamed.

  “Too bad,” he began. “You should have exhibited these traits before now. It may have changed things.”

  “If I had to choose between being like you and being dead, I would choose death,” Anne exclaimed.

  So be it, my dear, so be it, John thought.

  After entering her bedroom, only then did she allow herself to cry. Anne was terrified. Her father had never looked or sounded the way he had tonight, even during their worst disagreements. After her tirade, there was no telling how he would react. She knew she couldn’t stay there. If she could just get away from the house, she would ride into town and stay at the Frontier Hotel tonight. Albert will be home tomorrow and everything will be alright then, she told herself.

  Anne packed a small bag and quietly slipped down the stairs and out of the house. She would have to pass near the bunkhouse in order to get to the barn. Praying Young would be either busy with something or had gone into town, she slowly crept past it, stopped by the sound of her father’s voice. Listening, she heard him say, “We’re going to have to do something about my daughter right away. When I leave in the morning, wait an hour, and then take care of her. At this point, I don’t care what you do.”

  This can’tbe happening, she thought. I have to get away from here. Silently she slipped into the barn and saddled her horse. I’ll have to wait until father returns to the house, she told herself. As she slipped her bag over the saddle horn, she stood at the door, quietly waiting for him to leave the bunkhouse. She didn’t have to wait long. She watched as her father exited the bunkhouse and made his way up the stairs and into the house. She opened the barn door and led her horse out.

  Slipping her boot into the stirrup she heard Joe Young say, “Goin’ somewhere, missy?”

  With her heart in her throat, she turned and said, with more bravado that she felt, “Get out of my way. It’s none of your business where I go.”

  “I’ve had it with that smart mouth of yours,” he snarled as he grabbed her arm, “always acting uppity. ‘Bout time someone taught you a lesson,” he said, drawing back his fist.

  Anne closed her eyes and waited for the inevitable. As he prepared to strike her, a deep voice warned him, “Hit her, and I will shoot you where you stand.” Looking up, he saw Albert and Henry Stuart on horseback, their guns aimed at him, Albert’s eyes dark with anger.

  “Albert!” she screamed.

  “Stuart,” Young snarled, “I didn’t expect you back this soon, but I’ve been taking real good care of your gal while you were gone. Just ask her.”

  Albert got down from Diablo, taking his gun belt off. As he handed it to Henry, Young shoved Anne into her horse, knocking her down, then lunged at Albert.

  Anne was pulled to safety by the massive arms of Henry as he told her, “You stay right here, Anne.”

  The two men grappled with each other, Young outweighing Albert by a good forty pounds. Albert, however, was faster and quickly delivered two blows to the man’s face, breaking his nose. One of Young’s punches caught Albert in the stomach, stunning him momentarily.

  “Albert!” she screamed, rushing toward the two men.

  Henry pulled her back, telling her, “Let him go, Anne. Albert can take care of himself.”

  Albert landed punishing blows to Young’s ribs and mid-section. Anne would swear she heard the soun
ds of bones breaking when Albert’s fists landed on Young’s body. Turning her head away, she couldn’t bear to watch anymore.

  The fight ended when Albert landed a solid blow to Young’s jaw, knocking him to the ground. It was at this point, Henry grabbed his brother and said, “Enough, Albert. Ain’t no more fight left in him.”

  Joe Young lay at their feet in a bloody heap. Enraged, Albert fought to free himself of Henry’s grasp. The big man told him, “I said enough, Albert.”

  When he felt his brother’s body relax, Henry released him. Anne flew to his arms, covering his face in kisses as his long fingers tenderly held her face, asking, “Are you all right?”

  Wrapping her arms around him, she could feel his heart as it raced. “Albert, are you all right?”

  “Anne, I’m fine. Thank God we got here in time,” he said.

  “How did you manage to come home early? I wasn’t expecting you until tomorrow,” she said.

  “I finished with the army early and didn’t want to wait for the stage. So I bought a horse and rode back from San Francisco. After I got home and Father told me of the meeting he had with your father, I felt you were in danger. Henry rode over here with me just in case there was trouble.”

  “Good thing for Young I did,” Henry said. “He’d be dead if I hadn’t come.”

  “Where is your father?” Albert asked.

  “In the house,” she told him. “Albert, there’s more that happened tonight that I need to tell you.” She told him about the argument she and her father had and overhearing him and Young in the bunkhouse.

  Albert told her, “We’re going to the sheriff’s office, and you’re going to tell Ray everything.”

  “Please, Albert, I can’t. . .”

  “Yes, you can, Anne; this has gone on long enough. He’s made your life hell, threatened you, and hired Young for the sole purpose of hurting you. If I hadn’t gotten here in time, I don’t know what would have happened.”

  By now, Henry had Young on his feet and was in the process of tying him to his horse.

  “I’ll hitch up the carriage,” Albert told his brother. “But I want to speak to her father first.”

  “No, Albert, I can’t go back in there. I can’t see him or listen to him anymore.

  Taking her hand gently in his he told her, “Anne, you’re safe now. I’m not going to let anything hurt you. There are a few things I need to say to him, and I want you there to hear them.”

  While Henry watched Young, Albert and Anne entered the house. Finding John in his study, the surprised look on his face told Albert everything.

  “Don’t say a word,” Albert warned him. “Anne has told me everything about tonight and the instructions you gave Young in the bunkhouse. I’m taking her to see Ray. He’ll be very interested in your little plot. She won’t be back here until you’re gone. I want you out of this house by tomorrow.”

  “How dare you give me orders!” John raged. “Just who do you think you are?”

  “I’m going to be her husband very soon, and I’ll tell you as I told Young, if you ever threaten her again, I’ll kill you. I should do it now for what you’ve put her through. You’ll never hurt her again. For now, it will suffice that you’ll be spending time in jail.”

  At this, Albert turned, taking Anne’s hand, and left the house. Henry had hitched up the carriage, and they quickly left for Carson City.

  Chapter Ten

  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 everythin
g 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.”