“Come in, Mr. Albright; we’ve been expecting you.” Thomas took off his hat and followed Mary to the table. Virginia was filling cups. He took an end chair, reached for his coffee, and took a long swallow. “Thanks, Virginia. Your coffee is made the way I like it, hot and strong. It tastes the same as what you used to made in Flat Peaks.
“Thank you, Tom,” Virginia said in an unconvincing tone. Thomas was caught a little off guard. Until two days ago, I hadn’t been called Tom since Virginia called me Tom fifteen years ago. He inwardly grinned. He had also noticed Virginia’s eyes brightened a little when he gave her the coffee compliment. I believe her attitude is much better today than it was yesterday.
“Have you had any news concerning Tommy?” he asked.
Mary spoke up. “I just returned from talking with him. Nothing has changed. He’s still waiting for the judge’s decision.” After a pause, she said, “It doesn’t look good. I don’t see how he’ll get out of serving a lengthy sentence.”
The next few minutes were occupied with small talk. The conversation has stalled a mite, Thomas thought. I might as well chance it and venture into our confrontation. “Have you thought about going back to Flat Peaks with me, Virginia?” Her head jerked up. She glared at him for a long minute. However, it seemed to Thomas that as the seconds passed, her eyes softened, and her facial expression became more pleasant.
“Even if I did want to go back with you, I couldn’t leave as long as Tommy is in prison.”
“Then you and the children would return with me if Tommy was freed?” Thomas asked.
“I didn’t mean to put it that way, Tom, and you know it. I was simply pointing out to you another obstacle had developed.”
“Where would we live…what would we do if we did go back with you, Mr. Albright?” Mary asked.
“That’s a good question. We’d live in the main house at the Double D ranch until we build our own house.”
Mary butted in. “Is the house large enough for all of us?”
“Yes it is, Mary. Let me give you a description of the Double D ranch. First off, after purchasing the Ross Ranch a year ago, we have forty-three thousand acres of land that carries over four thousand cows and their offspring, plus two hundred horses. The main house has four bedrooms upstairs. The downstairs has a kitchen, a dining room, a sitting room, and an office. There are nine people in the clan, those we consider family, and up to a dozen hired men during the roundup times.”
Mary interrupted her father again, “What do you do, Mr. Albright? What’s your job?”
“I’m the ranch foreman. I’m responsible for the success of the ranch. I make all of the plans and give out the orders. Everyone is under me, except for the owners, Herb and Alice Douglas.”
“Wow,” said Mary. “That’s quite a responsibility.”
“Yes, it is. Mr. and Mrs. Douglas are good Christian people who maintain high standards and expect everyone to pull their weight, including me.”
“It’s time I’m getting ready for work,” Mary said. She started to rise, but Thomas reached for her hand and pulled her back. “I have something for you,” he said looking from one to the other. With their eyes on him, he removed an envelope from his vest pocket. “Here’s something for you. It may help out a little,” he said, as he passed the envelope to his wife.
“What is it, Tom?”
“Please open it, Virginia.”
Time passed slowly as Virginia sat looking at the five-thousand-dollar check. “I…I…I can’t accept this, Tom,” she said through tears.
He reached across the table for her hands. “Yes, you can. I want you to have it.” Their eyes stayed fixed on one another for a long time. She had thankful eyes. His were eyes asking for forgiveness. As Virginia wiped the tears away, she handed the check to their daughter.
Mary couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Finally, she raised her head and faced Thomas. “Thank you, Mr. Al…” She stopped. “Thank you, sir.” Thomas reached for his handkerchief.
Thomas had finished breakfast the next morning and had gone to the lobby to read the newspaper. “Good morning, Thomas. Is there any good news this morning?” Thomas looked up; it was Walt. He folded the paper and waved toward a nearby chair.
“Is there anything going on with your boy, Thomas?”
“There’s nothing new I’ve heard of. Maybe I’ll hear something when I visit Virginia this evening.”
“I went to the courthouse yesterday afternoon and bumped into the judge who is handling your son’s case. He told me he’s served notice for your son to be in his chambers at two o’clock this afternoon. His verdict will be handed out at that time. If I was you, I’d attend the sentencing. You have the right, you know. The boy is your son, and he’s underage.” Thomas noticed a twinkle in Walt’s eyes.
“You have something up your sleeve, don’t you, Walt. What is it?”
“Some things are better off unsaid, Thomas. Just make sure you’re at the courthouse this afternoon.”
“What are you doing here, Tom?” Virginia called out when she saw Thomas walking toward Mary and her in the courthouse. It was ten minutes before court was scheduled to start.
“I came to give you support, Virginia. Have you checked in with the judge’s secretary?” She nodded.
“You shouldn’t be here, Tom. It’ll confuse Tommy and get him frustrated. He doesn’t know who you are.”
Before Thomas could respond to her statement, the secretary called them into the chamber. Tommy was sitting across the desk from the judge with his head bent down. The three newcomers sat down.
“Let’s get this hearing started,” the judge said. “It’s a simple case. I’ve read all of the documents very thoroughly and have come to a decision.” Everyone became attentive as the sentence was about to be given.
“Would you stand up, young man?” Tommy rose. He had watery eyes.
Thomas quickly took in the boy. He was of normal height for a sixteen-year-old, a couple of inches short of six foot. Stoutly built but not fat, with unruly brown hair. A shadow of light whiskers showed on his chin. Thomas couldn’t see the boy’s face, but he imagined his eyes were brown, like his mother’s. The judge started speaking.
“For the crime of stealing from a store, in which you were caught, and other suspicions where you were not caught, I sentence you, Thomas Albright, Junior, to five years in Maryland’s Juvenile Correction Center.” After a long pause, the judge asked. “Do you have anything to say, young man?”
With tears, Tommy responded, “I ain’t got nothing to say except, I’m sorry…what I’ve done is wrong.”
The judge eyed Tommy for over a minute and then continued. “However, if there is someone who would be willing to be your guardian and take you completely away from the state of Maryland, say to Colorado or some other western state, I’d be willing to remove your sentence, setting you free. Do you have such a person, young man?”
“No, sir, I don’t.” There was a long pause before the boy said, “I’ll just have to serve my time, Your Honor.” Thomas quickly stood and said, “Your Honor, he does have someone who’ll be his guardian and take him to Colorado to live.”
“And who might that be?” the judge asked.
“It’s me, Your Honor. I’m his father.”
The room became deathly quiet. Finally, the judge nodded and said, “So be it. You’re free to go with your father, young man.” Tommy quickly looked at his mother. “Is that true, Ma? Is that man my father?” Virginia couldn’t speak. She only nodded.
The judge rose, excused Tommy, and left the chamber.
Virginia, Mary, and Tommy hurriedly swarmed together and gave each other hugs and kisses. Thomas was left standing in the background. Seconds later, Mary turned to him. “Thank you, Mr. Albright…Dad,” she said, as she hugged him.
Tommy was standing close by. When Mary stepped back, he stepped forward and said, “Thank you, sir, for saving my neck. I guess I’m in your keeping now.” The boy extended his hand for a handshake, but Thomas didn’t take his hand. Instead, he pulled his son to him and held him for a long minute.
Virginia was slow coming to Thomas, but she came. She had a smile with tears of joy running down her cheeks. “Thank you, Tom. I don’t know how you pulled this off, but I know you’re responsible for getting our son set free.” And with that, she kissed Thomas’ check. Then she slid back and looked at him with a smile.
When she parted and went to Tommy, Thomas thought, That wasn’t just a friendly peck on the cheek kiss. I think I’ve got her back.
Suddenly, Virginia said. “I’ve got to get to the chicken plant. They only allowed me two hours off for the hearing.”
“I’ll take Tommy home, Mamma. You’ll be home by the time I go to the tavern.”
“Neither of you are going anywhere except to my hotel,” Thomas commanded. “Tommy can stay in my room. You two can stay in a nearby room. And another thing, you won’t be working at those jobs anymore. That’s a thing of the past.”
“But,” Virginia started; Thomas cut her short.
“No buts about it. I won’t allow either of you to spend any more time than is necessary at the boarding house, and your jobs have come to an end right now. You three need to gather up your things you want to take to Flat Peaks and take them to the hotel while I visit the tavern and chicken plant to tell them you won’t be coming to work anymore. We’ll all meet in the hotel’s lobby and talk about our next move.” Thomas looked around at his family. They were all looking at him with smiles.
The next two days were busy. Railroad tickets back home were scheduled and purchased. A telegram was sent, saying they’d be home in three days. During that time, Mary and Virginia did a limited amount of shopping. Thomas had warned them a different kind of apparel was worn in the west and Betty’s dress shop could provide whatever they wanted.
The family ate their noon meal and supper together, getting to know one another and discussing their future. Thomas explained the Double D in detail and talked about the folks that would become a part of their lives. He described Betty’s dress shop and Jake’s newspaper, the prairie, the mountains, and the long cold, snowy winters. He talked about the roundups, the ranch parties, the herds of buffalo, the eagles, the bugle of the elk, and he explained the waterfall and the cave that preserved their food. He also discussed, for the children’s sake, the early years when he and Virginia lived together in Flat Peaks. He told how they worked hard to become the owners of thirty-five thousand acres, only to have him gamble it away and became a drunk…a bum called Jug. He explained the pain and suffering he put their mother through, and the day she left him, leaving behind the horrifying letter that said she never wanted to see him again.
Thomas looked at his wife. She was crying. He reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze.
Then turning to Mary and Tommy, he said, “I’ve told you these things, so there’ll be no surprises when we get to Colorado. I’m a respected man now, but I haven’t always been.”
Thomas rose early on their departure day to have breakfast with Walt. Suitcases had been packed the night before with plans to leave the hotel that morning by nine o’clock. They were to catch a ten o’clock westbound train for St. Louis.
“Good morning,” Thomas said, as Walt sat down. A waiter hurried to the table with coffee.
“I understand your son got off scot-free,” was the first thing Walt said. Thomas nodded and was about to express his gratitude when Walt hurriedly brought up another subject. “My desk clerk told me you checked out earlier and paid your bill.” Thomas nodded again.
“What time does your train leave, Thomas?”
“At ten o’clock, but we plan to leave here at nine.”
“I’ll arrange the transportation to the station.” Again Thomas nodded.
Thomas was starting to express his thanks when Walt stood. “Where are you going, Walt? Aren’t you going to eat breakfast?”
“I’ll eat later,” he said. “I’m not hungry right now.” He started off, but Thomas called him back. Walt turned.
“Thomas, I don’t like goodbyes, and as far as the other matter you want to discuss…” He paused. “Let’s just say some things are best left alone.”
As Walt walked across the dining room, Thomas mumbled to himself, “Thank you, Walter Smith. You gave me back my family.”