by Liz Crowe
“We are more important than anything in this world and always will be. Nothing has changed between us and nothing ever will,” she told him.
After talking with Mr. Lawrence that evening about the estate and real estate in London, they decided not to do anything until Albert reviewed the entire estate. Anne and Albert were required to sign legal documents making Albert trustee. After which, Mr. Lawrence told them he would go back east the following day and arrange to have the bank accounts transferred to Nevada. After handing over the ledgers and all documents pertaining to the estate to Albert, he bid the couple farewell, promising to continue to correspond with them and to help in any way he could.
After Mr. Lawrence left, Anne told Albert, “I think I’ll walk outside for a while. Today has been a bit overwhelming. I need time to digest all of this.”
Albert let her go, as he sat there thinking, Something more than today is bothering her. She has held up so well through all of this. Today may have been her breaking point.
“Father,” he began, “I think I’m going to see about Anne.”
As Albert walked out the door, he saw she had walked to the corral and was petting Diablo. Joining her, he asked, “Anne, what’s troubling you?”
“Nothing, I just needed some air.”
“Anne, you wanted more than just air.”
“Albert, I don’t know where to begin,” she said. “Today was most unsettling, but I’m used to things like this happening in my life. You’re not. I know this, and it bothers me that you have to be subjected to all of this because of me. Since you have met me, it has been one crisis after another. I’m just wondering how much of this you can take before you decide it’s more than you bargained for.”
“I believe I told you, just the other day, that I can handle anything that pertains to you. I’ve dealt with more crises than you have presented in my life. Have faith in me, Anne. I’m not like any of the other men you’ve known who have been run off by your father and circumstances surrounding you. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Albert, I never let anyone get close to me before you for the very reasons I stated. If I’m having a hard time coping with this, I can just imagine what you feel. I’m asking myself if I’m being fair to you.”
“I knew from the first time we met that your life hadn’t been easy, Anne. I knew your father wasn’t what he appeared to be, but that you were. There’s nothing that will ever make me turn from you. After we’re married, you’ll never have to worry about any of this again. I won’t allow it.”
“Albert, stop! I don’t need you to fix me. I know all of the other women you were seeing before me were completely dependent on you to take care of their problems. You told me this yourself. Perhaps that’s what attracted you to them, your need to fix their lives. Then, after you brought them through their hard times, you lost interest. They needed your strength just to survive. I don’t. I don’t need you to fix me; I just need you to love me. I know I can be a handful, and I can’t promise I’ll change. I can only promise to love you with everything in me.”
“I don’t want to fix you, there’s nothing wrong with you,” Albert began solemnly. I don’t know who you’ve been talking to about my involvements before you, but whoever it was didn’t know what they were talking about. Any other woman I was involved with, I tried to help because they were a friend. You’re not only my friend, you’re the woman who I have fallen in love with and want to be my wife. Whether you believe it or not, you do need my strength. You do need me more than anything. I don’t care about what happened before you met me. As far as I’m concerned, all of the problems you spoke of are over. You’re going to marry me and just be concerned with loving me. Let me worry about the rest.”
After that day, Albert settled into the rigorous task of building their home, and Anne busied herself with plans for the wedding. He would come home with his father and brothers every night, exhausted. He would bathe, dine, and fall into bed. Time together for the young couple was minimal, and he began to feel he was neglecting her. He told her of this the evening before their engagement party.
“Anne, I know I’ve been preoccupied with the house, but it’s moving along nicely now. It’s halfway completed. I swear once. . .”
She stopped his apology with a kiss and said, “Don’t apologize. You’re doing this for us. I only wish I could help you.”
“You are,” he said, holding her, “by understanding.”
She had received news that day she now shared with him. “Ray stopped by today. Father’s trial will be next week. I’m going to have to testify.”
“How do you feel about that?” he asked.
“Nervous, but I’ll get through it. I want him out of our lives once and for all, and will do whatever is necessary to see to it,” she said. “Your father is being called to testify, also.”
“I’ll be there with you,” he told her.
“You don’t have to be. Your father will be with me. You’re so busy with the house right now, I hate to interrupt you,” she told him.
Remembering another item she needed to tell him, she began, “Albert, I have to go to the ranch and pick up a few things. George said he’d go with me.”
Pondering this for a while, Albert began, “I would rather be with you when you go. I assume you need something for tomorrow?”
“Yes, I need more clothes. Besides I haven’t been back since that incident with Father and Joe Young.”
“I’ll take you in the morning,” he told her. “But tonight, I would like for just you and me to go into town for dinner. We haven’t done that in a very long time.”
When they first began courting, Albert saw to it that they had dinner in town at least once a week. They had enjoyed this time alone, allowing them to discuss various topics without interruptions. They had grown closer during those intimate dinners and both longed for the privacy this afforded them.
“I would love to go into town tonight. Let me go change.”
“You look fine in what you’re wearing, Anne. Let’s go now. By the time we get there it will be dinnertime,” he told her.
“All right, Albert,” she said.
Shortly, they were on their way into town, arriving at the Frontier House. As they made their way into the candle lit restaurant, Albert asked for a table near the rear that afforded them the privacy they both wanted. Taking their seats, Albert ordered wine for them, as the waiter lit a small candle on their table.
“After we’re married, we’re going to do this at least one a week. I’ve neglected this part of our courtship since we became engaged, and I’m sorry,” he told her, taking her hand.
“You’ve been busy. I understand that. But I do love your ideas, we need time just the two of us,” she replied.
“I should have been more organized, making time for you every day. From now on I will,” he promised, leaning over and kissing her.
The waiter brought their wine, and as they sat sipping it, Albert brought up the subject they hadn’t discussed in some time. Contrary to what everyone thought, Albert and Anne had not always agreed on everything. Well read and knowledgeable on current events, she could hold her own with him, a fact that delighted Albert. He had discovered this about her the first few times he brought her here for dinner when they first began courting. Unlike the other women he had kept company with, Anne didn’t try to hide her intelligence and enjoyed their lively debates. He now brought up an issue that he knew they differed on.
“Anne, have you given any more thought on accepting the invitation of the cultural committee to become a member?” he asked.
“No, and you know why,” she told him.
“Anne, it is not a political organization,” he explained.
“Albert, I went to one meeting, and all they discussed was the coming elections. I was subjected to that kind of talk when I was in New York, Washington, and London and I have no desire to listen to that prattle again. I want to be involved in cultural events. And when I brought that poi
nt up, you know good and well what happened.”
“I’m sure they meant no disrespect,” he replied.
“Yes, yes they did. When I tried to ask about music and purchasing new books for the library, they almost laughed me out of the hall. They had the nerve to tell me most of the citizens of Carson City were not cultured enough to appreciate music and books. I’d be willing to bet half of those self-absorbed, old bidd..., I mean ladies have never even read a book or been to a concert. So no, I won’t be involved in an organization of pig-headed people,” she told him.
“I think you’re making a mistake,” he told her. “Every Stuart is involved with affairs dealing with either the school or the city. As my wife, people will be expecting you to do like-wise.”
“That, darlin’, is your opinion. And although I love and respect you, you’re wrong on this issue. I’ll do my part, but not until those people change their attitudes.”
Albert had missed this repartee with her and threw his head back and laughed. It was the first time he had laughed that hard in a long time. “No one can ever say I’ll be able to sway my wife’s opinion on anything.”
They enjoyed the rest of their meal and regretted when the time came to leave. Albert took Anne’s hand, and they walked out into the cool, crisp night. “You know I was only teasing you, don’t you?”
“Of course, darlin’, if you had been serious you would have been far more forceful in your opinions. I’ll always respect your positions, but I won’t always agree with you,” she told him.
“I know,” he said, hugging her. “That’s one of the reasons I love you. You’re not intimidated by me.”
“You, Albert Stuart, have never intimidated me,” she said smiling. “Thank you for a lovely evening.”
“My pleasure. We’ll do this again very soon,” he promised.
Chapter Fourteen
Albert woke at six that morning, taking his time to shave and dress before going downstairs to meet Anne and take her to her ranch. Following his morning routine, he made a few entries into his journal and then made his way to the dining room, surprised she wasn’t already there.
Joining his father and brothers, he mentioned the fact of where they were going that morning. As he was explaining this, George brought fresh coffee in, telling him, “Miss Anne gone. She says tell Mr. Albert not worries, she takes care of what she need herself.”
“Damn it!” Albert exploded, rising from his chair and going to strap his gun on and grabbing his hat. He told his father, “I’ll be back later. She’s gone to the ranch alone.”
As Albert stormed toward the barn, Hank, one of the men from the ranch, pulled up in a wagon. “Morning, Albert. Miss Anne asked that I bring these here,” he said, indicating a trunk and garment carrier. “She said to tell you she’d be back later, had a few things she needed to tend to.”
Furious now, Albert asked, “Hank, did she say where else she was going?”
“No, Albert, she sure didn’t. Just asked me to bring these things over here and tell you not to worry, she’d be back when she was done"
“Thanks Hank. Would you take these on in the house? I’m going to look for her.”
Saddling his horse, he thought, I told her I wanted to go with her. She’s too damn independent. She’s trying to prove to herself and to me that this business with her father hasn’t affected her. I know she didn’t think about it, but Joe Young still hasn’t been caught, and here she’s out running the countryside alone.
Leading the stallion into the yard, he mounted and began his ride. I haven’t any idea where she would go. She didn’t need anything from town, and besides, Anne promised me she wouldn’t go into town alone, he thought. The bluff is where she’s gone; she always liked to go there to think.
Turning west, he headed toward the bluff. He found her horse tied to a low branch, but did not find her in the area he thought she would be. He walked up the hill to the house to be sure she was not there. After arriving there, he realized, Anne wouldn’t come here, she knows I don’t want her to see the house until the wedding.
Standing on the bluff afforded him a view of the entire lake. His eye caught a slight movement on the far side. He saw her sitting on the eastern shore. Walking back down the steep incline, he mounted Diablo and began the ride to the eastern side of the lake.
Tying the stallion to some scrub bush, he walked the rest of the way. “Anne,” he said, approaching her, “I thought we agreed I was going to take you this morning.”
Startled to see him standing there, she jumped, saying, “Didn’t George tell you I wanted to do this on my own?”
“Yes, he did. But after Hank brought your clothes to the house, I became concerned and came looking for you,” he explained.
“You didn’t need to do that. I just wanted some time alone to sort some things out,” she told him.
“What did you have to sort out that I couldn’t be with you?” he asked.
“It’s not that you couldn’t be here with me. I didn’t want you to drop everything to see to me. I’m through being dependent on everyone.”
“Anne, I wanted to help you. I knew you were capable of going out to the ranch this morning alone. I just thought it might have been hard for you, seeing it would have been your first time back there,” he told her.
“I love it here,” she said, looking out over the lake. “I’ve never been anywhere that brings me such peace.”
“I know,” he said softly, standing beside her. “It has the same effect on me.”
“There is something else,” she began.
“I thought we had resolved everything yesterday, but all right, go ahead,” he told her.
“Albert, what happened to the dreams you told me about when I first arrived here, of leaving here and going back east and going to sea?” she asked.
“I met you, and my whole life changed,” he told her. “Those things aren’t important to me anymore.”
“I remember the look on your face when you spoke of those places and the excitement in your voice. You had such plans, such dreams. I don’t want you to lose your dreams because of me,” she said, then hesitantly added, “Perhaps we should wait a while before we’re married and give you the opportunity to do all of those things.”
“Anne,” he began slowly, “are you breaking our engagement?”
“No,” she said, watching his eyes. “I’m giving you the chance to. I don’t want you to feel obligated to marry me, and I certainly don’t want you, years from now, to regret what you gave up by marrying me.”
“I’m not obligated to marry you. I want to marry you, I love you,” he said, wording his response carefully. “I had those dreams, Anne, because I was disillusioned with my life until I met you. I’ve never wanted anything more than to make you my wife.”
“Albert, swear to me that’s the truth,” she said, her eyes locked on him.
“I swear to you, the only regret I have is waiting this long to make you my wife,” he replied.
At this, she wrapped her arms around his neck and said, “I don’t know what I would have done if you had taken me up on my offer to let you out of our engagement.”
“That, sweetheart, I would have never done, no matter what. I told you once before, don’t ever doubt my love or my commitment to you. They are both unwavering and always will be,” he said. “Now, is there anything else we need to talk about?”
“That’s all, Albert. I just wanted you to have the chance to change your mind.”
“Anne, I’m a patient man where you’re concerned, but I do have my limits,” he said, holding his temper. “I’m growing tired of your questioning me about my commitment to you. I don’t want you to ever doubt my love and devotion for you or bring this up again. I decided early on I was in love with you and would never leave you, and I’ve not changed my mind. Now this is the last time I want to have this conversation, agreed?” he asked, adding, “And if you want to take off again like you did this morning, I will warm your backside.�
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“All right, Albert, never again,” she said, kissing him and holding him to her.
“Let’s go home, Anne,” he laughingly told her. “I should help with the preparations for the party tonight.”
She had almost told him about the windmills, but decided this was not the time, and she wasn’t really keeping a secret from him. This was keeping a surprise from him, not at all the same thing, or something he could get angry about, or so she thought.
Upon returning, they found George busy basting a large side of beef being turned on a spit over hot coals by one of the ranch hands.
“Missy Anne,” he called to her. “George use sauce you make. You try, very good.”
“George is letting you help him cook? He never allows anyone in his kitchen.”
“I just made a sauce for the barbeque. Come, I want you to taste it,” she explained, taking his hand.
Albert selected a spoon from the makeshift table George had set up. Dipping it into the boiling sauce, he waited until it had cooled and tasted it. “This is really good, Anne. I didn’t know you knew how to cook.”
“Albert, who did you think would cook for you after we were married? Of course I know how to cook,” she laughed. Pulling her close, he whispered, “After we’re married, cooking is not going to be my first concern of what talents you possess.”
“I swear, Albert,” she laughed. “Are you sure you don’t want to have Ray marry us tonight and live in the cabin until the house is done?”
“As appealing as that is, we’ll wait. I wanted to surprise you, but the house will be finished on Tuesday. Then all I have to do is move the furniture in. We can have our wedding next Saturday,” he said, smiling.
Throwing her arms around him, she said, “That’s wonderful! Why didn’t you tell me before now?”
“I told you, Anne, I wanted to surprise you.”
“Well, I have a surprise for you. I finished everything for the wedding. While you were working yourself into exhaustion, I took care of all of the wedding plans. When you have time, I would like to go over them with you to be sure we’re in agreement.”