The sun was shining, the sky a clear blue. A fresh clean white blanket of snow covered the Sherman Ranch. Daisy was already busy in the kitchen preparing breakfast. She had stoked the kitchen stove and the fire in the living room was crackling as new logs ignited to welcome the day. She laid the table and stepped to the window to look out at the white vista that lay before her. ‘Almost Christmas,’ she thought.
It would be Mike’s and her first at the ranch with Slim and Jess - her first Christmas spent without her beloved husband. Tears welled in her eyes as memories of other Christmas seasons celebrated long ago were rekindled in her thoughts. Suddenly hearing voices from Slim and Jess’ room, she quickly composed herself, and wiped away the tears with her apron and returned to the kitchen, thoughts of preparing breakfast for everyone now filling her head.
Jess strolled into the kitchen first, yawning and stretching rather stiffly. He acutely felt the effects of yesterday’s fall.
“Morning, Daisy,” he said as he rubbed the remains of sleep from his face.
“Morning, Jess. Coffee is all ready. Go sit yourself down.”
Slim was already at his desk as they entered from the kitchen, determined to finish the ranch accounts before the work of the day began.
“Morning, Slim your coffee’s here. Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes,” Daisy said as she poured the strong black liquid into their cups.
“Thanks, Daisy.” He left his desk and sat himself at the table with Jess.
They were on their second cup when Slim spoke.
“Jess, how about we take Mike and go and get our Christmas tree this morning? Then I can spend the afternoon on the books.” He paused sipping his coffee. “We’ve only got a couple of days until Christmas you know.” He smiled. Slim loved Christmas and although Andy and Jonesy couldn’t be with them, he intended to make their first Christmas together as a family one to remember.
“Great idea, Slim and we could all decorate it tonight after supper,” Jess beamed. He had never really celebrated Christmas until he had come to the ranch. When he was growing up, his family was poor and there was never much money for the daily necessities of life, let alone for extras like Christmas. Then he had drifted from year to year until he found Slim and a place to call home.
Now he reveled in Christmas. The gifts would be practical of course - Slim saw to that, as he was not a man to be frivolous. The tree would be decorated with homemade trimmings. Tonight, Mike and Daisy would make their own ornaments to put on the tree. Just as Slim, Andy and Jonesy had made Jess carve his own ornament for the tree at his first Christmas.
“Good that’s settled then.”
Daisy had made them a full breakfast of eggs, sausage and pancakes. “Hope you’re both hungry,” she said laying it before them.
Slim and Jess looked up at her sweet face. They both knew that this was going to be a difficult time of year for her and they were going to make sure that the memories of this Christmas would be ones that she would always cherish. They both loved Daisy and either would die to protect her. Slim and Jess both looked upon this dear lady as the mothers they had lost. They were full grown men but there were times when even a man needed maternal comfort and Daisy always seemed to know when that was.
“Thanks, Daisy,” they said and heartily tucked into their breakfasts.
Daisy sat down and helped herself to eggs.
Jess poured her coffee. “Mike not up yet?” he asked.
“Not yet. What with you being so late thought he would have had me up at least once in the night before he settled, but I never heard a sound out of him.”
Maybe, that’s because he woke while Jess and I were still up,” Slim smiled as he continued. “But, Jess got him settled again. Got a real mother’s touch has our Jess.” The smile broadening when suddenly, SPLAT! Egg hit him full in the face. Jess glared at him with a ‘tell-everyone-why-don’t-you’ look on his face.
“Thanks, Mom,” Slim chuckled wiping his face with his handkerchief.
Daisy was smiling discreetly. “No playing with your food, Jess,” she tried to sound stern and scolding, but it was just like Jess for she knew the fondness he had for the small boy.
“Morning.” A small voice came from across the room.
They all turned to see Mike padding across the floor, a blanket trailing behind him. He climbed straight into Jess’ lap cuddling into his chest just as he had the previous night. Jess wrapped the blanket around the shivering boy and held him close.
“See what I mean, Daisy. He’s just got that mothering touch has our Jess.” Slim wouldn’t let it be known but it made him feel good to see Mike and Jess together like this. This was a side of Jess that no one else knew of let alone saw.
The towns-people thought of Jess as a hard but just man. He had lived by the gun but had set that kind of life aside and now only used his experience when assisting the Sheriff for some good or protecting his beloved family. He was definitely the kind of man you wanted on your side in any fight and had proven his loyalty to the town on several occasions. After three years of living amongst them, the town had gained a deep respect for Jess, though none really knew him.
Slim perhaps, was the only one that could actually say that he really knew the true Jess Harper. It had been tough to get to know Jess at first – even now he could be very hard to read when he wanted to be. But working so closely together over the years, Jess had shared a lot of himself with Slim. Slim was glad of the trust that Jess had in him. Trust that Slim returned and had shown by giving Jess, “the best birthday present I ever had.” Slim remembered Jess’ words. For this past year Slim had made him a partner in the ranch, securing both their futures and that of the family. They worked hard together and played hard together. Slim would lay his life on the line for Jess and Jess for him. Brothers couldn’t have been closer.
“Hey, Tiger,” Jess said as he gently rubbed Mike’s back. “Did you have a good sleep?”
Mike yawned again and stretched. “Aunt Daisy, I’m hungry.”
“Got to get you washed and dressed first young man,” she answered as she rose from the table.
Slim rose from the table, picking Mike up from Jess’ lap. “You two finish your breakfast. Okay, Mike let’s go get you ready. Jess and I need your help with something special today.” He threw Mike over his shoulder as he spoke and suddenly Mike was wide-awake squealing with laughter as they headed for his room.
Jess and Daisy enjoyed their coffee in the few peaceful moments Slim has granted them. As suddenly as it had begun, it was over. Mike ran out of his room screaming and laughing with Slim hot on his heels. Mike ran round the table trying to hide behind first Daisy then Jess. Finally Jess snaked an arm out and dragged the squealing boy onto his lap. Once there, he continued to tickle where he knew Mike was most vulnerable. All the while Mike laughing and wriggling pleaded with Jess to stop.
Slim sat exhausted into a chair. “One minute he’s all quiet and sleepy. Next he’s full of energy and mischief. Jess I don’t know how you keep up with him?” He laughed and looked at Daisy. “Maybe I’m just getting too old for this kind of thing?”
She smiled at him, “You, Slim? Never!” she said flatly.
“Jess, stop. We’ll never get him to sit and eat if you carry on like this.” With that she grabbed Mike and made him sit down next to Jess. “You can’t go out in this weather without a hot breakfast. Slim and Jess will wait for you.” She went to the kitchen coming back a few moments later with fresh pancakes and stacked three on a plate and set it in front of the boy.
Mike ate hungrily. “Where are we going Slim?”
“Don’t talk with your mouth full Mike,” he scolded. “It’s a surprise. Now eat up young man. Jess and I want to get going.”
Daisy had made fresh coffee and was pouring Slim a refill when she noticed that Jess had both eyes squeezed shut and was holding his head. She touched Slim on the shoulder to get his attention nodding toward Jess.
Slim reached out and touched Jess’ arm. “You feelin’ okay, Jess? We can go get the, you-know-what tomorrow. Still gives us enough time.” Slim noted that Jess’ eye was almost closed shut this morning, the swelling more pronounced and the skin around the eye now a nice bluish-green color.
“I’ll be fine, Slim. I’ve just got a bit of a headache that’s all. It’s my own fault - shouldn’t have gotten so worked up playing around with, Mike.”
Daisy put her coffee aside. “I have something for that,” she said, departing to the kitchen and returning with a small bottle of brown liquid and a spoon.
“No, Daisy, I’m okay really.” Jess said firmly but knowing that to argue with Daisy was useless.
“Jess Harper,” she began. “You have two choices,” her eyes fixed sternly on his. “One you can take this and I’ll let you out of this house today, or two you don’t and I send you right back to bed to rest.” She stood her ground waiting for his response.
Jess looked across at Slim, hopeful for some assistance. Slim pushed his chair back shaking his head, a smile cracking his lips.
“Don’t look at me, Jess.” He waited to see what Jess would do, he was the worse of patients but Jess always knew what was best in the long run. He just had to put up this show of a fight to save face.
Jess’ gaze fell on Mike, who was also waiting to see what Jess would do. Slim and Jess had something special to do today and he was included. It wouldn’t be the same if Jess had to stay home and go to bed.
Jess remembered how Mike’s face had lit up when they were in town the other afternoon helping Daisy get supplies for the Christmas baking she was planning. They had stopped in at the hotel and Mike had stood transfixed, looking at the decorated tree in the lobby. When Jess had asked him what he thought of the tree, Mike told him that his family had never had a Christmas tree all decorated like this. “Well you will this year and every year after this,” Jess had told him. The look on the boy’s face was a sight that Jess couldn’t even begin to describe it.
Slim and Jess had discussed Christmas at length back in November. It was going to be their first Christmas together as a family, and although Andy wouldn’t be there, they planned on making it the most special Christmas ever for both Mike and Daisy. Jonesy was going be staying with his brother who was ailing worse than Jonesy and as there was no fare money involved, it was decided that Andy would go with him. Jess was still deep in thought when Slim broke into his thoughts.
“C’mon, Jess. What’s it to be?”
Jess sighed sitting back in his chair. He closed his one good eye. “Let’s get it over with then,” he said opening his mouth.
He swallowed as fast as was possible without choking, opened his one good eye and grabbed his coffee cup taking a large mouthful to wash it all down. A shiver ran through him and he screwed up his face as he got a slight after taste of whatever it was Daisy had given him.
“Awe…Daisy that was disgusting,” he declared still grimacing at the taste and drinking more coffee in an effort to wash it away.
“My grandmother always said, the worse it tastes, the more good it does! Daisy quoted, putting the stopper back in the bottle.
“Yeah right,” Jess retorted.
Daisy and Slim laughed.
“Where are we going Slim?” Mike asked again finishing up his last mouthful of pancake.
Slim rose from the table and crouched down beside Mike, a twinkle in his eye. “We, young man are going to get ourselves a Christmas tree,” Slim announced with a broad grin.
“Our very own tree?” Mike asked in a high-pitched shrill. “With decorations on it and everything?”
“Well, they don’t grow with decorations, Mike,” Slim smiled. “But tonight I’ll go up into the attic where we keep all that kinda’ stuff and after supper we’ll all set about decorating it and getting the house ready for Christmas.”
“Yahoo!” Mike yelled jumping out of his seat and running round the table.
Jess smiled at Mike’s joyous outburst, but the pain in his head wasn’t subsiding and his eye was beginning to throb. He put his hand over the eye and the dressing, resting his elbow on the table. As Mike raced round the table Jess’ movement caught Slim’s eye. He grabbed Mike gently, stopping the onslaught of thundering feet that was making the whole room shake. Mike looked at him and Slim nodded in Jess’ direction. Mike understood and sat back down in his chair. Slim rose and moved to Jess’ side.
“Best check that dressing, Jess,” he said, taking Jess’ hand and moving it away so that he could view the condition of last night’s handiwork. Slim pulled the dressing back slightly. “Looking just fine but I’ll change it this evening before supper,” he looked questioningly at Jess. “How’s the headache?”
Jess smiled and nodded that he was feeling okay. Slim looked him straight in the face - he was wearing his ‘I know better’ look, but he didn’t say anything. Mike hero-worshipped Jess and he didn’t want to tarnish that image for the boy by ordering Jess back to bed to rest.
“Well,” Slim began. “I need to finish the accounts, so why don’t I do that first, then we can head out to the woods after I’m done?”
“Good idea, Slim,” Jess said, a look of grateful thanks on his battered features. He needed to let the painkiller get to work before he felt capable of riding through the woods. Jess rose from the table, the sound of clattering hooves and rumbling wheels entering the yard.
“Morning stage,” Daisy said. “I didn’t think it would be running today, what with the fresh snowfall last night. Best get some fresh coffee on.” She piled together some of the breakfast dishes in her hands and headed for her kitchen.
Jess moved towards the door. Slim put a restraining hand on his shoulder and stopped him. “No way, Pard. You sit yourself down.” Then grabbing his jacket from the peg, “come on Mike you come help me.”
Slim helped Mike into his jacket making sure it was buttoned up tight. They pulled their hats firmly on their heads and Slim opened the door. A cold icy blast swept into the room and Slim hurried Mike outside and closed it quickly behind them. Jess watched from the window. He hated being idle when there was work to be done. He turned, looking at the remains of the breakfast dishes, loaded his hands up and sauntered out into the kitchen.
Daisy looked up, “Jess, go sit,” she scolded taking the dishes from him and beckoning him to return to the living room. He gave her a weak smile but no argument - there wasn’t any use in arguing; he wouldn’t win and he knew it.
Jess lay down on the leather couch near the fire. He enjoyed the comfort of a roaring fire, especially on a day like this or in the evening when the work was done. He watched as pictures formed and faded in the flickering flames, the rainbow of color dancing before him. Feeling the warmth on his face he closed his eyes and listened to the crackling of the logs.
