It had been five months and the wedding day was finally here. It would have been sooner, but first they had to wait on the round-up to finish and then for the family and friends to arrive from all parts of the country.
       The rancher was anxious, but he greeted every guest with a warm smile and a strong handshake. Where on earth was that golldanged Jake? It was the day of the wedding and he still did not have his son's gift. A flood of relief washed over him as he saw Jake motioning to him from the side of the crowd. Under his arm was a package wrapped in brown, waxed paper. Thank God! It was here.
       He rushed over to Jake and together they found the rancher's son. Sneaking away from the crowd, the three of them ended up in the quiet of the den. The rancher took the package from Jake and laid it on the desk in front of his son. "It's for you." was all he said.
       The young man was dressed up in his wedding suit and being used to ranch clothes, he had been fidgeting in the uncomfortable suit all day. But now he forgot about the suit entirely. The package before him looked like a box but it could have been anything under that brown paper and twine that he knew Jake had quickly used to wrap it. He reached for the knife on his father's desk and carefully cut the twine. To the side, Jake was wearing a big grin. He already knew what was under the paper.
       As the twine was cut and the paper peeled back, what appeared before them was a box made of fine wood and shining brass. On the top was an engraved brass plate. It read

To my son, on his wedding day. I'm proud of you. Dad

       Jake pulled a key from his coat pocket and handed it to the boy. Taking the key from Jake, he turned the lock and undid the clasps. All the while he was trembling with excitement. Just what could be in such a beautiful box? Taking one last look into his father's eyes, he raised the lid. Cradled gently in the rich velvet was a shining new pair of....