Summary: A little story that takes place on the night before Christmas in a dusty western town.
Hearing a noise by the end of his wagon-home, Vin looked out a covered crack he'd sewn into the canvas as a gun port. Apparently, the man standing out there knew he was being observed. There was a large box wrapped in colorful cloth with a big velvet ribbon tied around it in Ezra's hands. "Merry Christmas, Mr. Tanner!" he hailed with a gold-glinting grin.
"What in hell are you up to now, Ezra?" grumbled Vin suspiciously, opening up the "door" to his Christmas Eve visitor.
"I come bearing tidings of great joy," laughed the man in the cranberry red suit.
"Tidings of. . ." Vin rolled his eyes. "Oh hell, all right. Climb on in here."
Pushing aside the buffalo hides which served to block the wind from Vin's wagon, Ezra stepped up and in as Vin steadied him with a grip on his arm. "Thank you, sir."
Once seated, Ezra put on what Vin liked to call his "lawyer fella voice" and announced, "This being both Christmas eve and the eve of the day of your own birth, I would like to present you with this little token of my affection."
"That fancy box is for me?"
"Absolutely." Ezra set it in his lover's lap with a flourish.
Looking skeptical, Vin stared at the beribboned package. "Sure it's for me? Kinda girly."
"That is fabric from Paris, France, my dear Mr. Tanner, which my esteemed mother sent me with instructions to make good use of it. Voila! The best use I could possibly come up with. After you open your gift, perhaps a vest made of the material could show off the blue of your eyes."
Vin frowned. "What the hell would I do with a vest made of fancy cloth from Paris, France, matchin' my eyes or otherwise?"
Ezra winked. "Just a thought."
"Well, think again."
"I certainly will."
"All right, then." Vin's streak of stubborn was certainly in evidence tonight and he felt a little guilty since Ezra had gone out of his way to give him a gift, even though it was probably something so outrageously inappropriate, he'd have difficulty saying thank you and meaning it. . .
Ezra made a soothing gesture, then stroked Vin's knee. "Go ahead. Unveil your surprise."
Warily, Vin untied the midnight blue velvet bow and unfolded the cloth from around a small wooden crate. The smell of fine leather filled the wagon and Vin breathed deeply, closing his eyes in pleasure. Prying off the lid, he looked down upon finely crafted boots made of supple leather. Plain yet beautiful, they made Vin's eyes widen in disbelief as they darted up to meet Ezra's. "These are for me?"
"Custom made in Denver City to my specifications," beamed Ezra proudly. "Go ahead. Try them on."
Vin turned bright red. "That night you rubbed my feet. . . said it was something Li Pong showed you. . ."
"Precisely."
Swallowing hard, Vin picked one up and ran his fingers over the smooth side. "Feels right nice."
"Go ahead. Put them on," Ezra repeated, eyes glowing.
Suddenly, Vin smiled brightly, allowing his happiness to shine. "Reckon I will!"
Waiting impatiently to see if his gift was as perfect as he'd hoped, Ezra breathed a sigh of relief when finally, the grin on Vin's face showed just how well the boots fit as he walked around just outside the wagon, getting a feel for them.
"I ain't never felt something so nice," admitted Vin with a now bittersweet smile, as he realized Ezra had known that the same thing which caused his lean, also caused him to have two boots which were slightly different. He'd hoped no one had noticed that.
Guiltily, Ezra admitted, "I am aware of recent repairs you had done on your old pair and thought winter weather might be a fortuitous time in which to break in a new pair."
Climbing back in the wagon, Vin knelt in front of Ezra as he pulled the skins back down to seal the entrance. He looked up into nervous but clear eyes, then gently put a hand palm down on each of Ezra's perfectly creased trousered legs. "I appreciate the thought and thank you, Ezra, from the bottom of my heart."
Placing a hand on each side of the strong jaw, Ezra leaned forward and lightly kissed the smiling mouth of the man he loved, whispering, "I am ever so glad you are pleased."
After a slow moment of lazy kisses, Vin straightened. "Jest a minute. . ."
Being denied more loving, Ezra waited a little less patiently than before as Vin rummaged around in a trunk. When he came back, he placed a leather pouch decorated with beads and fringe into Ezra's hands. "I feel stupid giving this to you now after what you done but I made you a little somethin' too."
Astounded, Ezra wondered, "You made something. For me?"
"Yeah. I uh. . . well, I wrote you out a poem, too, all by my lonesome, to give you tomorrow when it's light out and you can see it better, but you can have this tonight."
Even in the dim light of the lantern, Ezra could see the slight blush high on Vin's cheekbones and couldn't help smiling. "How unexpected," he admitted, pulling the string which held the pouch closed. Inside, was a braided, tricolor leather thong with a golden ring hanging from it, which sparkled when it turned.
Not able to meet Ezra's eyes, Vin looked down at his hands which he clasped together. "That there ring was my grandfather Tanner's. 'sides her weddin' ring, it's the only thing of value my mama had. I made that," his fingers unclasped long enough to point to the thong, "around it secure like so it wouldn't be lost. It's colors that protect ya and I wove some of my hair in it so's I can watch over you even when I ain't around."
He had to see those eyes so Ezra lifted Vin's chin, needing to know the truth. "You trust me with a Tanner family heirloom?"
"Ain't worth as much as a life but I trust you with mine. Course I do."
Not used to anyone exerting any effort on his behalf, Ezra marveled, "And you made this just for me?"
Looking away embarrassed again, Vin nodded, then looked up, grinning mischievously. "Chewed the leather a bit to make it softer too so I reckon there's a tooth print or two in it."
The joy inside Ezra bubbled out with a laugh. "I swear, I'll never know what to expect with you, Mr. Tanner. Not even should I live to see one hundred!"
"Well, then, I'll just have to keep up that reputation with you, Ezra."
"I am counting on it, Vin Tanner. Yes, indeed, I will always depend upon it."~~~~~~~~
When he awoke on Christmas morning, Ezra pushed back the curled hair from his lovers' face, liking the way the ring on the end of the thong around his own neck settled onto Vin's slightly furred breastbone. "Happy Birthday, sweetheart," he murmured with a soft kiss.
Strong, wiry arms went up and around his back, pulling him down upon a hard body. "Damn, I hope this ain't a dream and you're my present."
"You are no longer lost in slumber and I am indeed at your service as a present to open any time of your choosing."
Vin chuckled, looking down at his raised foot, sporting his only item of clothing. "Maybe you could pull these boots off me now so's I can look at 'em better when we're gettin' together? They bein' so pretty an' all?"
Laughing together, the two men pulled off the boots, then found much more interesting pursuits suitable for a birthday which fell on a holy day celebrating life.THE END