Receiving My Inheritance

Rufus and Rebecca are gone. Their parting was bitter. It was difficult seeing them say goodbye to their daughter. I drove them back to town to catch their stage around 9 o'clock. The trip was painfully quiet; there weren't even any birds singing. Rebecca refused my hand when I offered to help her from the wagon. She walked past me and got right into the stage coach. Rufus got down next. I searched his face for some sign that the events of Saturday night had not been completely lost in the drunken sleep that followed. He stepped off the wagon, his eyes refusing to meet mine. I took up their luggage and followed him to the coach. The driver and the shotgun rider took the luggage from me and began to secure it to the roof of the coach. I was about to turn and leave when Rufus turned to face me. He stood, stone-faced. For a brief second I thought I saw the flicker of a smile appear on his lips, then he drew back and punched me hard on the left side of my head. I hit the ground dizzy and disoriented. I looked up through my watering eyes and saw the blurry figure of my father-in-law board the stage and shut the door.
I stood up, and began to walk back to the wagon, my head pounding and my heart hurting, when something struck me in the back of the head causing me to stagger. I turned around to see the coach start moving back East, then looking down at my feet, I saw Rufus's pocket watch lying in the dust. I picked it up, dusted it off, and placed it into my pocket.
Say what you will, but I think the watch was meant as a final sign of acceptance. I think Rufus was giving his watch to the son he never had. That is why I will pass it on to William when he is old enough. Even though it stopped working when it struck me in the head.