Chapter Two
"You don't like it." Andy was dejected and confused about why his gift didn't please Jess.
The Texan didn't respond. He remained still, entirely focused on what the box held. The only reaction Slim now noticed was the movement of Jess's Adam's apple as he swallowed hard. Finally, his voice came raspy and so low it was barely audible.
"It's…" Jess drew a shallow breath. "It's just fine, Andy."
All three of the others in the room looked at each other, completely baffled, and then returned their view to the dark-haired man seated in front of them. Andy still felt he had failed in his attempt to give Jess a special surprise that would bring joy. "I'm sorry, Jess. I guess I was wrong in thinkin' peppermint is your favorite candy."
Jess finally raised his head and looked at the boy. Slim was startled to see the dark blue eyes glistening with moisture. "Nah, you ain't wrong. It's my favorite, all right." The words came with a huskiness, and no change in expression, no smile. Jess again looked down at the four peppermint sticks lying amid the paper in the small box.
Of course, he saw peppermint sticks all the time. Nothin' new here. Nothin' that should bring tears to a grown man's eyes, he told himself. Dadgum, it was just some candy.
Except, it wasn't. He was looking at a box full of memories. Of feelings. And heartbreak.
A peppermint stick was the last Christmas gift his mother ever gave him.
And he had given it away.
He distinctly remembered the look in his ma's eyes when she watched him do that. To this day, every time he saw peppermint, he could see that picture of her fresh in his mind again. He could hear what she'd said to him. He could sense the emotion that came through in her voice. He could feel her hands on his face, the warmth of them, the pressure from them against his cheeks, accompanying her words.
When those memories came back to him so sharp and real, he could usually handle it without being overwhelmed. Even welcomed the recollections. Anything, just to see Ma's face again in his mind's eye. But at this time of year… With a gift given to him that was like the one from her… It hit him unexpectedly and hard. He continued to stare at the candy as he tried to pull himself together and tamp down the ache that was grabbing hold of his heart.
Still bewildered, Andy looked at Slim. "Lots of times when Jess goes to town, he brings back some peppermint sticks for me 'cause he knows it's my favorite. But whenever I offer one of them to him, he never takes it. Always says his sweet tooth is full up. I know how much Jess likes sweets, so I figured he always eats some of the candy on his way home from town. Reckoned it must be his favorite too… so I wanted… to surprise…" His voice trailed off as he looked down at the floor.
Slim placed a comforting hand on his brother's shoulder. Then he watched Jess, trying to figure out the peculiar reaction─or lack of one─that was occurring here. Jonesy was as puzzled as the Sherman brothers, but unlike them, he was becoming a bit perturbed at what he saw as the rude lack of appreciative response. "What's the matter, Jess?" Jonesy asked testily. "Don't you like the taste of peppermint anymore?"
Without taking his focus from the candy, Jess replied in a voice barely above a whisper, "I don't know. I ain't never tasted it."
The eyes of Jonesy, Andy and Slim all widened. Sugary stick candy of various thicknesses, often flavored with peppermint, was usually readily available, even out west. It was found in a jar on the counter of almost every general store in a town of any noteworthy size. Jess obviously bought it every once in a while, as Andy had just described. And they all knew the ravenous sweet tooth the man had. Yet, in all those times Jess must have come across one of those jars in his travels, and all the times he'd brought the treat home to Andy, he had never once tried a bite? Slim was about to ask why, when Jess suddenly stood up.
He clutched the box of candy in his left hand, pressing it against his chest, over his heart, and walked over to the boy who stood with head hanging.
"Hey partner," Jess said, and waited until the brown eyes looked up at him. Sadness lingered in them from Andy's feeling that his gift had disappointed his hero.
"Thank you. I'm surely much obliged," Jess continued. "I love your gift. It's the best one I ever got." His voice was gruff. "Now. And back then."
Jess reached his right arm around Andy's shoulders in a brief hug. Slim and Jonesy were relieved to see a heartfelt thanks finally offered for the boy's thoughtfulness. But why was Jess so overcome by such a simple gift? And what was the "back then" he mentioned?
Andy's gigantic grin reappeared. "You're welcome! I'm glad you like it! But I don't understand. Why'd you say you've never tasted peppermint?"
"'Cause it's true," Jess replied quietly. Then, cocking his head toward the chairs, his voice sounding stronger now, he added, "How 'bout we sit down, and I'll do my best to explain."
With relief at Jess's belated gratitude and more relaxed demeanor, the other three sat down and waited to hear the reason for the odd initial reaction to Andy's gift. Jess pulled his chair nearer to the fireplace and sat facing the others.
"My folks sharecropped in the Panhandle. We never had much," he began. "We didn't really celebrate birthdays. Except for a big hug from Ma. But Christmas…" Jess paused as a soft look came into his eyes. "We did celebrate that. With a nice meal and making each other somethin'. Like drawin' a picture, makin' a card, buildin' some kinda toy for the littles. Francie always wrote a poem." He smiled, and it was easy for the others to see that sweet memories must have come to mind. "Pa would read the Bible story 'bout Jesus bein' born. And Ma always gave us some new socks she knitted for us. That was as much a gift as we got, and we were glad for 'em. The important thing was… we were together."
His voice seemed to catch in his throat, and he stopped again. The other three waited. Slim noticed the twitch in Jess's jaw muscle. Over the past year or so, the rancher had come to realize this mannerism evidenced his pard dealing with strong emotions. Jonesy marveled at the boy actually opening up some about his past. He never did that unless it was during a fever or nightmare mumblings. Even then, not many details came out. Andy sat in patient attention, thrilled at finally hearing something about Jess's family. He was on the edge of his seat, eager for Jess to tell them more.
