Indulgence

by Liz Crowe

“You have only three more days to toy with me, missy! After Saturday, you will see, first hand, what your little teasing will bring.”

  Running her hand across his broad shoulders, she gave him a soft whisper, “Promise?”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Early Wednesday morning, Albert, Anne, and Thomas left for Carson City. Anne appeared calm, but Albert sensed underneath all that self-control, her nerves were on edge.

  “Just keep your eyes on me, everything is going to be fine,” he told her confidently. “Remember, this is the last time you’ll have to be subjected to him.”

  Walking into the courtroom together, they saw most of the seats were already taken except in the front row. Reluctantly, they sat there. It was not long before Circuit Judge Henry Clay took his place on the bench and called the court to order, explaining that John Wallace had declined a trial by jury. Instead, he requested the tribunal decide his fate, a risky move on his part, but completely within his rights.

  Albert leaned toward her and took her hand as he reassured her, “Just a little longer. It’s almost over.” Holding his hand, she took a deep breath and waited for the trial to begin.

  She watched as Ray and Chuck brought in the prisoner, her father, John Wallace. Anne’s heart quickened as her father’s angry eyes scanned the courtroom. When father and daughter’s eyes met, they locked in a war of wills. Determined not to look away, Anne defiantly held his stare. None of this was lost on Albert.

  As the judge began, “Will the court please come to order? We are here today for the case of the Territory of Nevada versus John Wallace. The charges are collusion, intimidation, theft, and battery. Mr. Wallace, how do you plead?”

  “Not guilty, your honor,” was the reply.

  “The court will now call Anne Wallace to the stand.”

  After being sworn in, the judge began with very basic questions until he asked, “When did you notice a change in your father’s attitude toward you?”

  “About three months ago, your honor, when he began making plans for me to go to Baltimore to school,” she answered.

  “Why do you think something so minor would cause such a drastic change in his attitude towards you?” Judge Clay asked.

  “Because I refused to honor his wishes. I told him I was not returning to school, and it infuriated him,” Anne explained.

  “When did you suspect your father had ulterior motives concerning you?”

  “The day he hired Joe Young. I immediately told him of my concerns. I explained to Father the problems they’d had at Sky Valley with Young and that the man made me very uncomfortable,” she replied.

  “What was your father’s reaction to this information?”

  “He refused to listen, insisting that Young deserved another chance and that the problem at Sky Valley had all been a misunderstanding.” Anne had kept her eyes on Albert, but just out of the corner of her eye, she could see her father glaring at her.

  “Tell the court what occurred in your home the evening of August 20th, Miss Wallace,” the judge instructed.

  Breathing deeply, she began, “I had returned home from Sky Valley. Henry and Benjamin Stuart had ridden back with me, as Mr. Stuart had insisted they see me home. Upon entering the house, Father called to me from his study. When I entered the room and took a seat, he began a barrage of accusations, saying he was disappointed in me, that I had told Mr. Stuart lies about him. He accused me of all sorts of vile things. He was irrational in his ranting. I tried to calm him by reassuring him that I had not done any of the things he accused me of, but that only fueled his anger.”

  “Was that all that was said during the conversation, Miss Wallace?” the judge asked.

  “No, but the other details aren’t important,” she replied, her eyes still held by Albert’s.

  “Why don’t you let me decide that,” the judge countered. “Please, Miss Wallace, in order to make a fair decision, it’s important that you tell the court everything.”

  At this point, Anne made the mistake of glancing at her father, who sat there with a smug look on his face. Biting her lip, she continued. “Very well, he accused me of listening to Albert about everything, disregarding my Father’s wishes. He was irrational, saying Albert and I had. . .” Here she had to stop. Her eyes full of angry tears as she looked at her father, she added, “He accused me of improper behavior. He said none of his actions would have been necessary if I had not been born. That he had never wanted children, my mother had. That when she died, I was forced upon him, and that I had ruined his life. He said he had never been able to realize his full potential due to being burdened with me.”

  The court sat in stunned silence as Anne sat there quietly, drained of all emotion, waiting for the judge to continue. Albert sat fighting the rage that burned within him for her public humiliation.

  “Miss Wallace, did he threaten you in any way?”

  “Not directly, no.”

  “Thank you Miss Wallace, you may step down.” Anne rose to return to her seat when she was stopped by her father’s voice.

  “Excuse me, your honor,” John spoke up, “since I’m representing myself, may I question the witness?”

  “Yes, Mr. Wallace,” the judge replied. “Miss Wallace, please remain on the stand.”

  Taking his time, a maneuver Anne had seen him use in court before to make the witness uncomfortable and nervous, she sat patiently until her father asked, nonchalantly, “Did you ever want for anything growing up, Anne?”

  “If you’re referring to material things, no, I never wanted for anything.”

  “Did you have a home, clothing, food?” her father continued.

  “Yes,” she replied.

  “Did you receive a good education?”

  “Yes, I imagine so,” she answered, staring straight at Albert.

  “Didn’t I send you to college and had plans for you to become a lawyer, to attend law school?”

  “Those were your plans, not mine,” she answered.

  This question by John had taken Albert aback. Although they had discussed their schooling, Anne had never told him what her course of study had been, and Albert had never asked.

  “But surely you can understand my disappointment in your apparent disregard for my wishes and my anger at you for throwing a promising career in law away to marry a rancher,” John said disgustedly.

  “I didn’t throw anything away,” she declared, adding, “A career in law was your dream, not mine. My life didn’t begin until I moved here and met Albert Stuart.”

  “If I was such a terrible father, who by your own admission did all of the things a father should do, please explain to me how you could possibly think I would do you harm? I’ve provided for and protected you all of your life, yet here today, you testify against me, calling me irrational, telling the court lies about me. Isn’t this all because you want your inheritance now instead of waiting until you turn twenty-one? That you’re furious with me because I suggested you had fallen under the spell of Albert Stuart, and he might just be interested in you for your money?”

  “You are a liar,” she stated calmly.

  Shocked, Albert had never heard her address anyone the way she was now speaking to her father.

  She continued, “I’m here because I overheard you instructing Joe Young to harm Albert and me. If you had been successful, Albert and I would be dead. You never said anything about an inheritance to me. Up until that night when Mr. Stuart told me about it, I didn’t know I even had an inheritance. You kept that hidden from me for years. If anyone was concerned about money, it was you. That’s what this is really all about. You had to be rid of me in order to collect what money there was. You could have had every bit of it, I didn’t care. I don’t care now, but you tried to have Albert and me murdered.”

  It was at this point that Anne’s resolve faltered, “You’re a father. A father is supposed to love his child and protect them. You failed miserably in both areas. Thomas Stuart has been more of a father to me that you ever we
re. After today, I hope I never set eyes on you again.”

  “Your honor, as you can see, my daughter is overwrought because of my trial. She’s not herself,” John explained. “Anne is saying things she doesn’t believe. I never stole from my daughter. Any money I obtained from the trust was for her support. If I’m guilty of anything, it was loving my daughter too much and wanting the very best for her. My daughter has enormous potential and to see her throw it all away to marry a rancher and live in the middle of nowhere, breaks my heart.”

  Anne laughed aloud, and after composing herself, her eyes took on a hardened look as she declared, “You disgust me, and I meant every word I said. Do you really believe that the people in this room are so gullible they would fall for this act of yours? You’re a disgrace to the legal profession and fathers everywhere.”

  “Miss Wallace, that is enough!” Judge Clay told her. “One more word, and I will find you in contempt. You may step down.”

  Disregarding the judge’s warning, anger consuming her, she continued, “The only thing contemptible in this courtroom is him,” she said, pointing at her father. “He was given a trusted position, and he betrayed us all. I hope this court has the ability to see him for what he is and send him away for many years.”

  “Miss Wallace! I warned you. While the court understands the emotional pressures you have been under, I will not allow you to blatantly disregard my instruction. Now step down!”

  Anne walked right past her seat and continued out to the street. Albert followed her and asked, “Are you all right?”

  “No, yes, now that this is over. I don’t care what they decide to do with him as long as I never have to see him again after today,” she replied, holding on to Albert, fighting tears of rage.

  “Let’s go home, Anne,” he told her, gently taking her arm.

  “I can’t, Albert. I can’t let him win. As much as I want to go, if I leave now, it’s as if I’m surrendering. I won’t give him that satisfaction. I have to see this through to the end, no matter what.”

  “You don’t have to stay and listen to his lies. We all know the truth, and that’s what’s important.”

  “Albert,” she said firmly, “I’m staying. If you want to leave, go, but I’m staying until the end.”

  “I’m not leaving without you,” he said. “We’ll sit in the back of the courtroom until it’s finished.”

  They remained until the very end. The judge, after taking a brief break to make his determination, returned to the courtroom and began, “I agree with all the parties involved that John Wallace is not a good example of a father. However, from the testimony given here, he did nothing criminally wrong. There is no physical proof he stole anything, and it’s his daughter’s word against his that he hired Joe Young for the sole purpose of harming her. Therefore, this court has no choice but to find the defendant not guilty of all charges. I encourage him to ask for re-assignment to another territory and he is not, under any circumstances, to contact or try to see his daughter. Please release the prisoner. Court is adjourned.”

  There was an audible gasp by every observer in the courtroom as the verdict was read.

  Albert took her hand, holding her close as she shook her head with a sad smile and said, “I should have known. We can leave now, Albert.”

  On the ride back, she was strangely quiet until Albert, although seething inside himself said, “He received something, Anne. He must leave the territory and can’t contact you.”

  “You’re right, at least he received something. I never have to see him again. That alone, was worth today. Now it’s done, and as far as I’m concerned, he’s dead,” she said. “Albert, I promise you that our children will never have a second in their lives that they don’t know how much we love them and want them.”

  Albert pulled the carriage over under a tree. Putting his arms around her, he drew her to him as she began to cry. He let her rid herself of the tears she had bravely held inside all of this time. When she had finished, he gently tipped her face up to him as he told her, “You’ll never shed another tear because of him. We’re rid of him, forever.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Friday came, and with it, a bustle of activity on Sky Valley. The wedding was to be the following day. Anne was busy with last minute wedding details while Albert spent time with his brothers and father. The couple had agreed they would dine together that evening then not see each other until the wedding.

  Albert had decided to move his and Anne’s things to the house, and Thomas, Ben and Henry offered their help. While at the new house, Thomas brought up the subject of Anne to Albert. “Albert, I know you’re a grown man and have been with a number of women. However, keep in mind Anne is different. She’s never been with a man. You’re going to have to be patient with her on your wedding night.”

  Caught off guard, Albert could not believe his father was talking to him about such a private and delicate subject. He, more than anyone, knew all of this and was confident he and Anne would be fine. He would be patient and prepare her for this part of their life together. But he was not about to discuss this with his father.

  “I know, Father. I’ve thought of all of this. Don’t worry, I’ll see to Anne,” Albert told him.

  “I just want you to realize that. . .” Thomas started.

  “Sir,” Albert began, “I do realize. Anne and I will be fine. Trust me. You’ve always said I could handle anything, and I will handle this with my wife.”

  “Albert!” Ben called from downstairs.

  “Up here, Ben,” he replied, grateful for the interruption.

  Henry and Ben carried one large trunk, and too many garment carriers to count, up the stairs.

  “We got all of Anne’s things from the house; she and George packed all this up. Told us just to set it out of the way, she’d see to putting it away later,” Henry said.

  “Just set the trunk in the dressing room, and you can hang the garment carriers in the closet,” he instructed.

  “That gal’s got more clothes than anybody I ever seen,” Henry observed.

  “Hey, Albert, where are you and Anne going on your honeymoon?” Ben asked as he hung a carrier in the closet.

  “It’s a surprise, Ben,” Albert answered.

  “You can tell us, we won’t say a thing,” he urged.

  “I’d rather keep it a surprise until tomorrow,” Albert explained. “I really think Anne should know before my brothers where we’re going on our honeymoon. Well, that’s everything, let’s go on downstairs.”

  When the four men had reached the lower level, Albert pausedand said, “I can’t thank all of you enough for everything you’ve done with the house, for Anne and me. If I can ever do. . .”

  “Don’t worry, brother, when me and Ben meet and marry our gals, we’ll be calling on you to help us. Don’t you worry none,” Henry assured him.

  Smiling, Albert walked out to the front porch and told his family, “I’m going to miss living with you, but I can’t say I’m going to miss all the bickering with my brothers. I want you to know, I’ve never been happier in my life than to marry Anne. I’m excited to live here with her and start our life together. One day we will all have our own families, live on this land, and watch our children grow. I only hope we can be as good a father as you have been, Father.”

  Continuing, Albert solemnly said, “Nothing will ever change that. Anne is a part of me now, but also a part of all of you. I won’t live at Sky Valley anymore, but we’ll be together as we always have. We’re a family, and nothing will ever change that. Our family will continue to grow as Henry and Ben marry and start their families. We’ll be there for each other as always. You’ve always stood by me, supported me when I know there were times I didn’t deserve it. Just because I’m marrying Anne doesn’t mean I’m gone from you. I’m a stone's throw away, and my door is always open to my family, don’t ever forget that.”

  With that, the four Stuart men left the house, mounted their horses, and headed back to Sky
Valley as they had done hundreds of times before. Each knew after today their family would change. No longer four lone men, they would now have a woman in their midst with the Stuart family growing by one. Perhaps one day Mary would return. It was a bittersweet moment as they realized four lives that had been intertwined for so many years were about to change.

  Albert eagerly looked forward to his life with Anne. They had started on a path, what seemed so long ago, finally arriving here. The journey had been hard, but they had made it through together. As he looked back at their home one last time, he thought, I’m closing one chapter of my life, but tomorrow starts a whole new beginning.

  Chapter Seventeen

  The morning of his wedding, Albert Stuart had risen before anyone else in the household. He went down to the kitchen and made coffee, poured himself a cup, and then returned to his bedroom. Enjoying this peaceful time, his thoughts drifted back over the events of the past year, leading up to today.

  Anne Wallace had come into his life and turned it upside down almost a year ago. He had been unhappy with his life as a rancher. He had made the decision to leave his family and travel back east, where he had gone to college. There he hoped to work for a while, after which he was going to secure passage on a schooner and see areas of the world he had only read about. After telling his family of his decision, as a concession, Albert had promised his father that he would stay until their visitors from England departed.

  After meeting Anne and spending time with her, all thoughts of travel and adventure were forgotten. His one goal was to quickly make her his wife. Visiting with her father, Albert soon discovered she was unlike any woman he had ever known. Anne was educated, well versed in current events, beautiful, and she captivated him within a few moments of meeting her. She was not what he had expected a woman from England to be. He had been of the opinion that she would be helpless, spoiled, uneducated, and self-centered. Anne was none of these.