A Gift from the Heart
Troy's three-month leave had come to an end and as ordered, he reported to an Army strategic planning office in the recently dedicated Pentagon building. The facility was quite impressive, but he couldn't see himself spending too much time at this location. He much preferred being closer to the action, wherever that may be. Still, he knew he was here for several months for informational and training meetings. It would be dull, but he hoped it led to his being sent back to Europe to help with the reorganization and rebuilding of war-torn countries. There was also the matter of making sure Nazi leaders were brought to accountability.
He was surprised to see a large envelope addressed to him in his in-box. This had not come through the interdepartmental mail but through the U.S. Postal Service. It was postmarked from New York City and the return address was from Matthew Hitchcock. He wondered what Hitch's father could be writing to him about. The team had visited with the Hitchcock family several weeks ago where they had been received with open arms and hearts by Hitch's family. He slit the envelope opened and emptied the contents on his desk. A type-written letter spilled out along with a thicker, smaller envelope that appeared to contain a packet of papers. Taking up the letter, he read,
Dear Captain Troy:
I wish to again express my appreciation for all you did for my son while he was in your command. He has shared enough with me to know you were a great influence upon him while in the Army. I know you saved his life on several occasions and for that, I am eternally grateful and in your debt. He is a much better man for having known you and I am in awe of how he has matured and grown over these past several years. I guess that's a product of war—it makes you grow up quickly in order to survive.
I am very proud of the man Mark has become and I know you were responsible for much of this.
Mark would say I have a very bad habit that embarrasses him no end. I can't help but show my appreciation for those who have done me some service. It is simple with my employees and staff through bonuses and monetary gifts to express my gratitude. The debt I owe you is far greater and priceless since it is the life of my only son. How does one put a price on something so precious? It is impossible but I would like to present you with a token of my appreciation. I would be most grateful if you didn't mention this to Mark, since he would look upon my gesture as crass and self-aggrandizing. That is not my intention. I merely wish to do something for you as a means of thanking you for your wisdom and guidance for my son during the war. I truly hope you will accept this gift in the spirit in which it is given. It is in no way an attempt to curry favor with you or "buy" friends for my son.
I have been planning this for some time and thought long and hard about what I could do that would be meaningful to you. When I discovered through one of Mark's letters that your mother was planning to sell the family ranch, my path became clear. I purchased the ranch through one of my corporations and wish to present you with the deed to the property. You will find all the paperwork enclosed in this packet. It doesn't matter if you intend to live there upon your retirement from the Army or decide to sell it yourself, it is yours to do with what you will.
Again, this is not an attempt to "bribe" you for future favors or embarrass you in any way. It is just the gift of a most grateful father to the man who helped get his son safely home. I have been blessed with great wealth and part of that blessing includes sharing it with others. I so hope you will accept my gift without overthinking matters. Mark says you tend to "stew" about things. There is nothing to stew about, it's a gift, free and clear.
You have already surmised that Tully's scholarship came through one of our family foundations. It too, is a gift of gratitude for someone who greatly deserves the opportunity. Moffitt will also be the recipient of my appreciation. Once again, I ask you not to share this information with Mark. He also tends to "stew" and he will interpret this as my attempt to "buy" your continued friendship. Nothing could be further from the truth. Having seen the four of you together, it is obvious you are brothers in every sense of the word.
I wish you well in your Army career and let me know if I can ever be of any service to you or your family.
It was signed Matthew Hitchcock. Troy opened the packet of papers and sure enough, there was the deed to the ranch. He immediately started thinking he couldn't accept this gift and began to "stew." He read and re-read the letter several times. Finally, he decided it would be best to accept Matthew's gift. He could decide what to do with the ranch later. He removed paper from his desk and began to write a thank you letter in which he protested it wasn't necessary but expressing his gratitude for Matthew's generosity. He really wasn't the ogre Hitch had often made him out to be when telling stories of their relationship. Then again, it was probably a lot different having Matthew as a father than a friend. He hoped Hitch and his father could continue forging a new relationship of mutual respect and admiration. He wondered what gift Matthew had in store for Moffitt.