Indulgence

by Liz Crowe

  She had challenged his temper and self-control almost immediately. She held her own, debating issues of the day with him, something few men, much less a woman could do. His brothers had been smitten with her from the moment they met. It had taken Albert all of twenty-four hours to fall under her spell.

  Her father, an old friend of Thomas Stuart, had proven to be the most ruthless man Albert had ever known. Appointed to the circuit court bench in the Nevada Territory, John Wallace had sought Thomas Stuart’s help in finding and purchasing land there.

  From the time Albert met him, the man made his daughter’s life a living hell and almost destroyed her until Albert stepped in. The young couple had overcome the many obstacles her father had put in their way, ending only when he was forced by the court to leave the territory.

  After putting his daughter through the trauma of a trial, Albert was shocked when he later sent word that he wanted to see Anne before he left. Albert had gone to see him and told him in no uncertain terms never to try to contact or see her again. He never told Anne of this meeting, deciding it was best she not know.

  Anne possessed everything that Albert had searched for in a woman and he gave her all the love and affection she had hungered for. Today, both their dreams would come true as they became man and wife.

  Albert’s thoughts were abruptly interrupted as his youngest brother, Ben, knocked on his door.

  “Albert, you up yet?” he asked.

  “Yes, Ben,” Albert replied, opening the door.

  “Father said to tell you that breakfast was ready and to come on down. Anne has already eaten, and Henry has taken her riding.”

  “Henry took her riding this morning?” Albert asked. “Why?”

  “I don’t know,” Ben said, shrugging. “I guess Anne wanted to get some fresh air and give you time to come down stairs for breakfast and be with us for a while.”

  Their wedding was to be held at Sky Valley, although Anne’s home was more formal. She hadn’t wanted to have their wedding there. It had too many bad memories for Albert and her. A decision would have to be made as to what to do with the house after they were married. Albert had already decided that they would keep the land, but an empty house did present a problem. When he brought up the matter to Anne, she told him, “Burn it down, tear it down, I don’t care. I’ll never live there again.”

  “Tell Father I’ll be down shortly. There are a few details I want to check,” Albert told his brother.

  After Ben left, Albert checked to make sure everything was in readiness for his wedding. George had seen that his new black suit and white shirt were perfectly pressed and hanging in his closet. He picked up the small box that held Anne’s wedding ring and laid it, along with their marriage license, on his dresser.

  Albert knew that although he eagerly looked forward to starting his life with Anne, he was going to miss his brothers, especially Ben. His youngest brother had been a handful growing up, but Albert was proud of the young man and was certain there would be times he would miss the daily squabbles between him and his brothers.

  Today, however, he was making Anne his wife, realizing his dream of having his own life and a family of his own. Anne was an only child, whose mother had died when she was very young, and had grown up alone. Soon after they became engaged, she had told him, “I want to have a house full of children. The sounds of their laughter filling the house. I never had that, and I want that in our home.”

  Well, I built her a home big enough for many children, Albert thought. Anne, unlike other women he had known, never asked for or expected anything from him. Most women he had seen socially were impressed not only by his good looks, but by the fact he was a Stuart and wealthy.

  Not Anne. She was unimpressed by material things. She treasured the smallest of things he had given her, a bloom he had picked and placed in her hair from the rose his mother had planted outside the front door, a four-leaf clover they found as they walked together in the pasture one day. She had taken both of these and gently pressed them between the pages of her favorite book of poetry. It had been Albert’s idea to build the large home that overlooked the lake. Anne would have been happy and content living with him in a little cabin.

  *****

  While Albert was engrossed in his thoughts, Anne and Henry were enjoying a morning ride.

  “Thank you for riding with me, Henry. You know how Albert can be about me riding alone,” she explained.

  “Aw, I’m happy to take you, Anne. Albert can’t help how he is. He’s still worried about Joe Young,” he replied.

  Anne had not allowed herself to think about the man Henry spoke of since her father’s trial. Convinced that since her father had been exonerated, so would Joe Young once he was found. Young had been hired by her father to frighten her into leaving Nevada, but had escaped from jail shortly after being captured.

  “I’m sure he’s nowhere near here, Henry. Someone would certainly recognize him, and besides, with my father being freed, they most likely have dropped the charges against him already.”

  “Well, they may have dropped them charges, but Albert is still pushing Ray to file new charges for the way Young did you,” Henry told her.

  Reining up her horse at a watering hole, she climbed down, as did Henry. “I wish he would just let it go,” she sighed, “I don’t want to go through another trial.”

  “Now, Anne, you know my brother ain’t gonna let nothing go that could hurt you. It about killed him when your father got off. He ranted about that for days.”

  “He never said anything to me,” she said, petting her mare’s neck.

  That’s because he said you were too upset to know how mad he was, Anne. Albert can be one stubborn man, but he usually is right about things. Now you know after you’re married he’s gonna be mighty particular with you. It ain’t because he’s trying to boss you; it’s because he loves you and wants what’s best for you. It took me and Ben a lot of years to figure that out,” Henry explained.

  “I know, Henry, and I’ll be patient with him,” she replied, gently patting the big man’s arm. “Now, I imagine we should be getting back and start getting ready for the wedding.

  Chapter Eighteen

  “Good morning, Albert,” Thomas Stuart boomed as he greeted his son.

  “Morning, Father,” he replied, taking his seat at the large table.

  “What has happened to the house?” Albert asked, as he looked around at the downstairs, which had been transformed into a sea of white. White candles, white bunting, and yard upon yard of white ribbon cascaded down the walls with large floral arrangements adding splashes of color.

  “This ain’t nothing,” Ben added. “Wait until you go outside.”

  Ignoring Ben’s interruption, Thomas answered, “George and his family members are responsible. They began early this morning and already have the inside completed. They’re working on the outside now.”

  “Where did all the flowers come from?” Albert asked, examining a petal of one particular bloom. “There’s no florist in Carson City.”

  “They’re from the gardens at Anne’s ranch. Anne and George went there yesterday, while we were at your house, and cut down every flower in that garden and brought them here,” Thomas explained. “I’m to tell you your boutonniere is in the cold pantry. Anne made it this morning, using one of your mother’s rose buds. It’s beautiful, Albert.”

  “I would have expected nothing less,” Albert said, smiling.

  Thomas saw that his son showed no signs of nervousness, but then Albert never did. From the time he was a small boy, he kept a tight rein on his emotions. That is, until he met Anne Wallace. From then on, it was as if a completely new Albert had been reborn. Thomas Stuart had prayed for the longest time that his eldest son would one day find someone who made him happy, and Albert had found that in Anne. He saw the joy and peace his son had attained because of her. He was no longer dark and brooding as before.

  “Albert, when Anne returns, you know you aren’t
going to be able to see her. When you hear her and Henry ride up, perhaps you could wait in the kitchen until she returns to her room,” his father suggested.

  “All of these customs are just superstition. I can’t see why Anne and I can’t see each other before the wedding,” Albert said.

  “Because you’ll have a string of bad luck,” Ben told him as he ate breakfast.

  “Now where did you hear that?” Albert asked, sipping his coffee.

  “George told me. He said if the groom sees the bride before the wedding, they’ll have years of bad luck. Now you don’t want to start out your life with Anne with that hanging over you, do you?” Ben asked.

  “Great, George has turned my youngest brother into an oracle,” Albert laughed.

  “Hey, I ain’t no ora. . .whatever you said. I’m just telling you what George said.” Ben protested.

  It was then they heard the arrival of horses. Ben ran to look out the window, announcing, “Anne and Henry are back. You better make yourself scarce, Albert.”

  “This is archaic,” Albert grumbled, making his way to the kitchen, “intelligent people insisting I hide in the kitchen and not see my fiancée until tonight.”

  No sooner was he in the kitchen than Henry came in the door to check to see that Albert was not in the room.

  “Albert is waiting in the kitchen, Henry,” Thomas told him, “have Anne come in. He’ll stay there until we call for him.”

  Henry soon returned with Anne. “Enjoy your ride, my dear?” Thomas stood, asking the young woman.

  “Yes sir, I did. It was enjoyable to take a leisurely ride before the insanity begins,” she laughed.

  Thomas understood why his son loved the young woman standing before him. She and Albert were so very much alike. They both spoke their minds, yet both were extremely private. Where Albert had an air of physical strength about him, Anne had a quiet strength and a will of iron. Thomas was sure that, together, they could overcome anything.

  “Where is Albert? I still need to check with George on a few things, but we must not run into each other,” she explained.

  “Albert is in the kitchen,” Thomas told her.

  “I best go back to my room as he’s not going to like being trapped in the kitchen. When George isn’t busy, would you ask him to come see me? And, Henry, don’t forget to see that Albert gets my note,” she reminded him as she made her way to the downstairs guest room.

  When he heard the door shut, Albert came out of the kitchen and asked, “How’s Anne this morning, Henry?”

  “That gal is just fine. Wanted me to give you this,” Henry replied, handing a small envelope to his brother.

  “Henry, I don’t like the idea of Anne gallivanting around the countryside with Young running loose. I know you were with her, but until he’s caught, I’d prefer I be the one to take her riding,” Albert told him.

  “Albert,” Henry began, “Anne wasn’t gallivanting around the countryside. She wanted to go riding, and I took her. I wouldn’t let anything hurt that gal, you know that.”

  “I’m sorry, Henry. I know you wouldn’t let anything happen to her. I just want her close to me, just in case Young should be around.”

  “It’s alright, Albert. I know you didn’t mean anything by what you said,” Henry said, smiling at his brother.

  “Thanks, Henry,” Albert said as he took a cup of coffee, walked to the front porch, took a seat, and opened the ivory envelope. Inside, on creamy ivory stationary, she had written,

  Albert, my love,

  Today is the day we have dreamed of for so long. Delight in the knowledge that we will soon be one. I love you, my darling. I will see you at five, don’t be late.

  Anne

  Smiling, he folded the note, placing it back in the envelope, and put it in his pocket. Albert wasn’t the least bit nervous, and he knew she wasn’t, either. This was the day they had both fought for, to be married and united forever.

  The rest of the day passed quickly for Albert as he prepared for his wedding. His brothers, as usual, had received a tongue-lashing from their father for bickering. Thomas had stressed that today was Albert’s wedding day and they were not to upset him. Albert just laughed; nothing could upset him today.

  At three o’clock, after Anne had bathed, she sat at the dressing table, brushing the long auburn curls back, twisting and pinning her hair up in a more formal style. Soft tendrils of curls framed her face. She was in the process of checking the items she would need for today, Albert’s ring, her dress, when there was a knock at her door.

  “Anne, may I come in?” Thomas Stuart asked.

  Opening the door, she greeted him, “Please do.”

  “Anne, is there anything I can do for you? Anything you need?”

  “No, Father, I believe I have everything. I was just going over a few last minute details.”

  “Anne, I was hoping you would do Albert’s mother and me the honor of wearing these today,” he said, opening a black velvet box. Inside were perfectly matched pearl earrings and necklace. “I gave these to her on our wedding day and thought Albert’s wife should have them now.”

  Accepting the box, her eyes misted and she exclaimed, “It would be my honor to wear something that belonged to Albert’s mother.”

  “Anne, I know this has been difficult for you, not having a woman here to talk to and assist you with everything. I hope we’ve helped in some small way,” Thomas declared.

  “You’ve all been wonderful. As I told you the other night, you are all my family, and Albert is my life. I don’t need anyone else,” she said kissing his cheek.

  Thomas cleared his throat and dabbed his eyes with his kerchief. He said, “It’s time I went and checked on my son and got dressed myself. I’ll be back for you at four-thirty so you can go marry your groom.”

  “I’ll be ready,” she said, smiling at the grey haired man she had grown to love as her own father.

  After leaving Anne, Thomas made his way to Albert’s room, preparing to knock as Ben and Henry rushed out of their brother’s room, arguing. “I told you not to make Albert mad. Now with all your foolishness, you gone and done it, Ben,” Henry said, scolding his younger brother.

  “What have you two done now?” Thomas bellowed.

  “I didn’t do anything, Father, it was all Ben,” Henry exclaimed.

  “It was not,” Ben declared. “I just asked Albert about tonight, how he’s going to handle the reception when all those gals he courted show up.”

  “We didn’t invite anyone Albert saw socially,” Thomas pointed out.

  “No, we didn’t,” Henry said. “Ben did! He invited a couple of them as his dates.”

  “Benjamin, you didn’t!”

  “They’re my dates. They’re not going to be a problem,” he promised.

  “Benjamin,” Thomas began through clenched teeth, “I don’t care how you do it, but you un-invite those girls, and do it now. I will not have your brother’s wedding turn into a three ring circus. Now take care of it immediately! You have two hours until the wedding.”

  “But,” Ben pleaded.

  “Now, Benjamin!”

  Ben Stuart knew that tone his father used left no room for discussion. “Yes, sir, I’ll take care of it right now.”

  “Now I mean it. You two stay away from Albert until it’s time for the wedding,” Thomas warned.

  “Yes, sir,” they both answered.

  Shaking his head, Thomas knocked on his eldest son’s door. “Albert, may I come in?”

  “Come in, Father,” a deep voiced answered from the other side of the door.

  When Thomas entered, Albert was busy shaving. “Albert, I’m sorry your brothers have upset you.”

  “I’m not upset,” Albert declared, continuing to shave.

  “But, Henry said. . .”

  “I just acted mad to get them to leave. They were just fooling around, asking foolish questions.”

  “But, what about those girls Ben invited?” Thomas asked.


  “Father,” Albert said, wiping his face with a towel he had thrown over his shoulder, “Anne knows everything about me. I’ve been completely honest with her. Anne and I are committed to each other. There’s no one or anything that will ever come between us.”

  “You’ve told her everything?” Thomas asked.

  “Everything. We have no secrets,” Albert said. “Anne knows everything about my life just as I know everything about hers.”

  “Good, son, it’s important that you and Anne always be honest with each other. Don’t keep anything from her, Albert, and don’t try and shoulder everything. Anne is going to be your wife, sharing in everything,” Thomas told him. “Albert, you’ve been my rock, my confidant, my strength. From the time you were a boy, you’ve been right beside me building Sky Valley. I will miss our times together, but I’m happy you’re starting your own life now. You’re marrying a young woman who has brought out the best in you. I’ve watched you grow from a small boy to a rambunctious teen, to a troubled young man. Then a mere year ago, you met someone who turned you upside down and now, before me, sits the man I always knew you would be. You’ve reaped the rewards of living as a moral, honest man. I’ve always been proud of you, Albert, but never more than now.”

  Albert listened to his father, fighting tears that gathered in his eyes, as he hugged the older man, saying, “Anne tells me when I feel something for someone I should tell them, otherwise, I may never get the chance again. I have something to tell you now, Father. I’ve been with you and seen you have emotional and physical pain that I didn’t think a human being could survive. How you managed to raise the four of us alone for as long as you have, I will never know. I only hope I’m half the man you are, and when Anne and I start our family, I pray I can be half the father you are.”

  “Albert, you’re a fine man and will be a wonderful father. Son, I love you,” Thomas told him.

  “And I love you, Father.”

  Clearing his throat and wiping his eyes, Thomas asked, “Now is there anything I can help you with?”

  “No, I think I’m pretty well ready, other than dressing and I can do that on my own,” Albert said, grinning.