An Unexpected Gift

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Jed Curry stood at the window of his second story bedroom in the Nob Hill mansion and watched the sun sink slowly beneath the horizon, blending the ocean and the sky in a brilliant splash of pink and blue and gold. On the street below he could hear the rhythmic clopping of hooves on the cobblestone street as horse drawn taxis and servant-driven private carriages carried wealthy entrepreneurs and their jewelry-laden wives or mistresses to holiday parties where the ultrawealthy celebrated the meager stable birth of the Christ child. Soon there would be carriages arriving at this Nob Hill address, not for a holiday party, but rather a wake.

Kid watched from the window and uttered a mournful sigh as an old man in tattered clothes slowly made his way down the street, stopping at each corner to light the streetlamp that cast a ring of yellow haze on the walk.

Turning from the window, he looked at his neatly pressed, out of fashion blue suit the butler had meticulously laid out on the bed and with a frown on his face, he shook his head. This was not the Christmas he had envisioned.

"Come in," Kid said to a light tapping on his door.

In walked Hannibal Heyes, dressed in his brown suit which was also freshly pressed.

"You're not dressed yet?" Heyes asked.

Kid glanced again toward the bed. "Just don't seem right wearing a blue suit to a funeral."

"It's not a funeral, Kid. It's more of a wake which is a little more informal. Besides, you know Soapy wouldn't care what you show up wearing. He'd care that you came to pay your respects."

Kid knew his partner's words were true, but he couldn't shake the sadness that always seemed to consume him this time of year. Even memories of his early childhood back in Kansas did not bring him comfort as those memories were so fragile and fleeting. Instead, the seasonal holidays of Christmas and the approaching new year were shrouded in somber, ominous thoughts of the loss of family, and now friends as well.

"Guests are starting to arrive," Heyes said to motivate Kid to start preparing for the evening.

Kid nodded. "You go on downstairs. I'll be down shortly," he promised.

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The wake was being held in the ballroom to accommodate the large number of friends and neighbors in attendance. Heyes was relieved to see a few familiar faces. Silky O'Sullivan, in a compromised state of health himself due to advancing respiratory and heart problems, had adamantly refused the use of a wheelchair and had walked in using a cane in each hand to support his signature lopsided gait. Soapy's gentleman's gentleman had large, cushioned, well upholstered Grandfather's Chairs in the front row to accommodate Soapy's contemporary friends, and Silky garnered the center chair.

Despite his nearly ninety years, Diamond Jim McGuffy sauntered in looking regal in a black tuxedo accentuated by a gray cravat tie fashioned lavishly about his collar, and a large diamond tie tack expertly centered. He smiled and offered a warm greeting as he took the seat next to Silky.

The ballroom had been decorated for the holidays just days prior to Soapy's passing. This created a somewhat festive atmosphere with two beautifully decorated trees. Large, colorful glass balls hung from the branches, and candles were placed strategically so the light of the candle flames reflected from the balls, enhancing their sparkling glow. Holly draped the fireplace mantle and doorway entrances and baskets of Poinsettias, Christmas Cactus, and Cyclamen filled corner tables and served as centerpieces in the dining room where food and drinks were available before and after the service. A Harpist sat playing in an inconspicuous spot near a corner of a back wall, the soft music drifting throughout the room as her fingers seemed to dance about the strings.

A few people took their seats early, while most mingled and chatted, reminiscing about their departed friend. In the absence of his yet to arrive partner, Heyes fulfilled the role of host, welcoming guests as they entered the ballroom while servants tended to the guest's wraps, hats, and such things.

"I was beginning to think you weren't coming," Heyes remarked when Kid descended the stairs nearly half an hour after promising to dress and come downstairs quickly.

Kid stood beside his partner and smiled and gave a cordial nod to a couple walking into the ballroom.

"I wouldn't do that to Soapy," Kid replied softly while keeping his eyes on the activities in the room and thus diverted from his partner. "But when this is over, we hafta talk."

"About what?" Heyes asked with some concern.

Still Kid studied the room. "Later," he replied.

Soapy had left detailed instructions about just how his wake was to proceed. The minister was to keep his words short and to the point as the evening was to be devoted to his many friends, not so much to extoll Soapy's merits, but to share and enjoy "one last party at the Saunderson House."

Several such friends, including Silky and Diamond Jim took turns telling of intimate moments, some sad, some humorous, a few even tearful, but all expressed with love and admiration for a man they considered a friend. Heyes and Curry did not speak. Despite their genuine love for this man, neither wanted to draw unnecessary attention to themselves and both were confident that their friend and sometimes cohort, knew their feelings toward him.

Following the service, a dinner was offered to those who whished to dine, but most preferred to linger and mingle in the ballroom where champagne and Soapy's favorite sherry were the drinks of choice.

It was nearly midnight when the harpist stopped playing and the crowd began to thin. Silky and Diamond Jim shared a taxi home. Two valets brought private carriages up the drive for those with their own transportation, and a few chose to walk to their own homes on nearby streets.

With the departure of the last guest, Heyes and Kid retired to the Study and poured themselves double shots of fine, imported whiskey.

"I think Soapy would be pleased how the evening went," Heyes sighed as he settled into a soft, wide leather chair.

"Likely sorry he missed it," Kid added, then realized what he had said, and they both smiled.

"I'm going to miss Old Soapy,"

Kid nodded. "Closest thing to family since…."

'I think in a lot of ways, Soapy was family," Heyes mused. "You said earlier we had something to talk about?"

Kid took a sip of his whiskey and let his eyes drift to the flickering flames in the fireplace. "When Soapy was our age, he weren't much more than a flimflammer operating his little shell games on street corners and just look at what he managed to accomplish," Kid said with a wide wave of his hand."

"A house on Nob Hill?" Heyes asked.

Kid frowned and shook his head. "More than that. I ain't talkin' about possessions or even money, Heyes. I'm talkin' about being respected, admired… eulogized. Soapy managed to make somethin' of himself."

"He did indeed," Heyes replied with a thoughtful smile.

"How?" Kid asked. "He was a con man his whole life, yet folks respected and admired him. How did he manage that?"

Heyes sighed and gave the question some thought. "When I think of Soapy, the first words that come to mind are kind, respectful, almost meek sometimes. But he was also quite sophisticated and one of the most intelligent men I've ever known. He was a master at flimflamming and people never saw it coming and never knew what hit them or how. But if you were his friend, and I think we were, he was as honest and loyal as they come."

Kid sighed. "So how do we get on that path? How do we go from former outlaws with twelve dollars between us to honorable men of distinction? How do we end up with a hundred people attending our wakes instead of just seven sorry souls as Wheat likes to describe the gang."

"I don't think it's as difficult as you might believe, Kid."

"Yeah? Then how? How do we go from being nothin' to being something?"

"I think we've already taken the first step by seeking amnesties. Once we have those, we just start slowly climbing the ladder of success."

Kid uttered a spontaneous chuckle. "That's it? It's that simple?"

"Kid, do you remember the last Christmas we had with our folks?"

Kid looked at his whiskey and twirled the liquid in the glass. "I was ten and we all spent the day at your place."

"Do you remember what my pa gave me that year?"

Kid nodded. "That ring you took to wearing recently."

"I decided I was less apt to lose it on my finger than in my saddlebags," Heyes replied with a chuckle. "Do you remember the inscription inside?"

Kid shook his head.

"Beware the anger of a patient man."

"That sounds more like me than you, Heyes."

Heyes nodded knowingly. "And I think that's exactly why Pa gave it to me."

"To remind you to keep an eye on me?"

Heyes smiled but shook his head. "No. I think maybe for me to keep an eye on myself. Remember, we were both just kids, and you were anything but patient growing up. In fact, you were pretty annoying. I was the one everybody was telling to be patient and not complain every time you insisted on tagging along wherever I went."

"I still don't understand."

"Anger can brew and simmer beneath a façade of patience. He was reminding me of that fact, and by doing that, I think it kind of sealed the bond between us."

Kid gave this some thought, then nodded. "I think your pa may have been a very wise man."

Both men suddenly turned their heads when they heard a knock on the door to the Study.

"Come in," Heyes called.

Walter, Soapy's Gentleman's Gentlemen stepped into the room, leaving the door just slightly ajar.

"Excuse me Mr. Smith, Mr. Jones, but will you be needing anything else this evening?"

"No Walter. Thank you," Heyes replied. "And we'll be leaving in the morning."

"Very good, sir. Mr. Saunder's final instructions not only included you both staying here during this visit to San Francisco, but he also left instructions to give you both these envelopes." Walter said while handing them each an envelope. "Mr. Saunders was quite fond of you both," he added.

"What will happen to you and the rest of the staff now that Soapy, I mean Mr. Saunders is gone?" Heyes asked as he took both envelopes and handed one to Kid.

"Not to worry, Mr. Smith. Mr. Saunders was more than generous to each of us. A few of us will be staying on at least until the estate is settled."

"How long will that take?"

"Quite some time, I'm afraid. Apparently, Mr. Saunders had relatives he never spoke of but included in his Will. I don't know how many such relatives, but it will take some time for the lawyers to find them, I would assume."

"Soapy was a fine man," Kid said. "But I didn't know he had any relatives. He never spoke of em."

"Indeed," Walter replied. "If there is nothing more, gentlemen, I bid you good night."

Walter slipped out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Kid fingered the envelope in his hands and smiled. "Feels like money."

"And something else in the bottom of the envelope."

Kid slid his hand to the end of the envelope where he felt something oddly shaped and hard. "What is it?'

"One way to find out," Heyes replied and tore open the top pf the envelope.

Opening their envelopes, both men pulled out a stack of hundred-dollar bills wrapped in a white sheet of paper. Unfolding the paper, they discovered a note written of the paper in Soapy's handwriting. Heyes read his aloud.

You boys have always been family to me, and I hope that throughout the years I have managed to bridge the gap that created a dark void for you both. Rest assured I am extolling your virtues to your family at this very moment (provided I secure entry into that heavenly oasis). I do hope this monetary gift sustains you through your quest for amnesty. I'm sure, if you are reading this note, you have discovered the other small token of my gratitude….

"An uncut diamond," Kid interrupted as he held the rock in the palm of his hand.

At this point in your lives, you are both diamonds in the rough and your value has yet to be determined. I have every confidence that you will succeed with your quest for amnesty, so the question is, what lies ahead for each of you? I know you will succeed wherever you set your sights, be it family, fame, fortune, or a combination therein. These uncut diamonds serve as a reminder of that to you both. All my love and all my gratitude. Soapy.

"There ain't many as kind as Soapy," Kid reflected as Heyes walked over to the bar and returned with the bottle of whiskey and filled each glass.

Heyes settled back into his chair and set the bottle on the table. "What does yours say?"

Kid took a drink from his glass and set it down on the table beside his chair, then unfolded the note and began to read it aloud.

Heyes thinks with his brain, but you think with your heart. The two of you are a formidable pair. My brother used to say….

Kid stopped midsentence and raised his eyes above the letter to look at his partner. Heyes saw an expression of shock on Kid's face.

"What is it?" Heyes asked with great concern.

"My brother used to say, 'beware the anger of a patient man.,'" Kid read with a stunned voice.

Heyes smiled. "Well, I'll be."

"Heyes, you don't suppose….?' Kid asked, unable to bring himself to complete the thought aloud.

"It would explain a lot," Heyes replied. "Like why he always treated us like family."

"But we're still wanted, Heyes. If we are family, we can't come forward to collect on the estate."

Heyes nodded, his mind already trying to formulate a plan. He absently tapped the envelope against the palm of his hand, then stopped and a broad smile crossed his face.

"I think Soapy already came up with a plan, Kid."

"What plan?" Kid asked cautiously.

"Between us we have twenty thousand dollars and two uncut diamonds."

"Yeah, and?"

"Twenty thousand is enough to pay off the bounties on us, and two uncut diamonds should be enough to convince the governor to negotiate the deal with the railroads."

Kid smiled a wide, exuberant smile. "And then we walk into all this!" he exclaimed with a gesturing wave about the room.

"Home Sweet Home!" Heyes declared.

Kid's smile suddenly disappeared. "Heyes, we shouldn't go counting our chickens before they hatch. This might just be some cockeyed idea we came up with that don't really mean nothing at all."

The smile vanished from Heyes' face and Kid absently glanced down at the note still in his hand.

"Heyes, there's two more paragraphs."

Heyes sighed tentatively. "Go on, read it."

I assume by now you have taken a pause to consider the possibilities. Yes boys, I am, or rather was, your uncle, and our meeting all those many years ago was not by happenstance. I was already in California when your family tragedy occurred and by the time my letter of inquiry reached the Sheriff in Lawrence, you boys had gone to a Convent that found placement for many displaced children. Their records were strictly confidential, and I was forced to continue my search independently. It took me three years to find you and by then you were on your own in Denver. The rest of the story you well know.

"It's all starting to make sense," Heyes said thoughtfully.

So, use the gifts in the envelope wisely and get things done as quickly as possible. If you need any assistance, the lawyers at Stanford, Winston, and Dover will assist you in any way they can. They are on a retainer, and they do have negotiation skills. Their office is located at the corner of Pennsylvania and Union Streets in San Francisco. Stay at the house as long as you need to get the job done. It will soon be yours anyway."

Kid looked up from the note in his hand. "You think this is all possible?"

Heyes laughed. "We're dealing with a politician, anything's possible!" he exclaimed.

"So, what do we do first?"

"We let Walter know in the morning that we're not leaving and then we go pay a visit to Stanford, Winston, and Dover."

"Heyes, if Soapy really is, or was our uncle, why didn't he ever tell us?"

Heyes shook his head as he reflected on the question. "There could be a lot of reasons. Maybe Soapy and his brother weren't close. I mean, he wasn't named in the family tree Ma wrote down in her Bible."

"He weren't in our family Bible neither," Kid added.

"Maybe he carried too much guilt, being as he didn't find us until we was on our own. Maybe he just didn't want us taking for granted that we would be coming into all this wealth one day…. Whatever his reasons, Kid, he always treated us like family. He never turned us down when we came to him for money or help. I think you and me know better than most not to let a man's past decisions define him."

"I hafta admit it's kind of odd the way things turn out," Kid mused.

"How so?"

"Well, just this afternoon I was talking about how Soapy managed to go from rags to riches in his life and just a few hours later, we discover we just may be doing the same thing."

"It's been a long, hard road to get to this point," Heyes reminded his partner.

"I think Grandpa Curry would say there's a lesson to be learned here, Heyes."

Heyes smiled. "What lesson is that?"

"It takes a mighty storm to make a rainbow."

Author's Note: Just a little story for those with time on their hands today. I think the story can stand alone, but I might reconsider at some point. Time will tell.