A/N: sorry if it switches between first and third person, I did my best.
Ennis couldn't just let the farm go. It had been a week since he had received notice that Mr. and Mrs. Twist had both passed on. The summer had just started and the home and barn were falling apart. Ennis sat out front in his truck staring up at the window that led to Jack's room. Neither of Jack's siblings wanted the place whishing it would be torn down but when he found out he drove right away.
The thought of Jack's room not existing anymore and sent such a pain through his gut that he threw up. Now he sat debating whether or not he should go inside or just turn around and never come back. Did he have the strength to stay in this place?
Sighing he opened the door and walked across the dirt to the front of the house. He took a deep breath before entering the cold white house. The twists had died in a car accident the month previous, everything they had owned still in its spot the same as the first and last time he was here. He felt a small pang when he remembered what he had told Mrs. Twist about coming back and visiting. His fingers brushed the table now covered in dust and headed for the stairs.
One step at a time he slowly made his way up the creaking steps and paused before the open door. He could see the extent of the room from where he stood and he reluctantly stepped forward bringing a wave of memories and emotions with it.
He remembered their first kiss inside the tent on the cold night. The look in his eyes when they met up four years later. The way he smiled whenever Jack saw him. The warmth of his body on cold nights, the way he felt in Ennis' arms. He remembers bad things as well. Watching him leave after that summer. The look Jack made when he told him this was a once in a while thing. The pain in his eyes when he yelled at Ennis the last time they saw each other. The pain Ennis had felt when he found their shirts in Jacks closet knowing how much he had hurt the man over the years.
He sat on the old squeaking bed as the tears welled in his eyes. He cried over what had happened, he cried over what could have happened, he cried over what would have happened. Everything he cried about he knew the result had been his fault. He was so stubborn and ignorant of those who loved him.
He bolted upright when a velvety voice called. "Jack you get back here this instant." The clumping sound of footsteps sounded on the stairs. Quickly he wiped his tears and looked out the doorway just as a young boy appeared. He stopped suddenly at the head of the stairs watching Ennis with curios eyes.
Ennis gasped as he took in the boy. He had dark hair sticking out from under a much too big old black cowboy hat with an eagle feather sticking out the side. His button up shirt was tucked into his blue jeans, and old rodeo buckle attached to his belt. The boy looked straight into the older man's gaze with his dark blue stare.
"Hi." The boy said sweetly. Ennis gazed at the bow a mix of emotions so that he could pick out what he was feeling. "Who are you?" he asked walking into the room.
"Uh…I'm Ennis, Ennis del Mar." He said his voice shaking and unsure. The boy walked over to the small horse carving on the desk and picked it up putting down the slightly bent harmonica he had been carrying.
"Nice to meet ya, I'm Jack, Jack twist."
"Jackson Bobby Twist, what in the world are you doing up there?"A girl said with a southern accent. A tall, slender, woman with long dark hair and a delicately pretty face walked up the stairs. He warm brown eyes caught mine. "Oh I'm sorry, I saw your truck but I didn't realize you where here." She walked in and picked up the boy who squirmed in her arms. Ennis said nothing staring at the little boy. "Um… I'm Heather Twist. Jack's older brother, not this jack the other Jack, told me about the farm. I thought I would come and fix it up." He looked away out the window. "You must be Ennis, Jack's old fishing buddy?" He nodded slightly but stayed silent. "I have read a lot about you." This caught his attention. He looked at the girl.
"What do you mean?" his voice was still gruff from the emotional unbalance he had experienced today.
"Jack. Why don't you go play downstairs? I have to talk some things over with Ennis here." She set the boy down and grabbed for his harmonica leaving the horse behind.
"Ok mama. "He ran off back down the steps. Heather sat in the chair next to the bed.
"I know you probably don't know who I am. You knew Jack had a son right?"
"Yea, bobby I think."
"Yes, well I married bobby." I studied the woman again and realized she was much too young to have a kid as old as hers was. "I Had Jack when I was 18; His birthday is 2 days after the day Jack…" He nodded in understanding not wanting her to say that word. "Well Bobbie's grandfather forced us to marry and we did, moving out of his mother's home to a place of our own. While we were moving I found a box that contained journals." She pawed through the bag she had been carrying and pulled out a small notebook. "Jack wrote them, he dated every entry the first one was August of 1963. It talks about how he spent the summer sheep herding." She handed him the journal. "Almost everything in them is about you." I opened the book to the first page and trace the letters of the familiar handwriting. "Feel free to read it if you want, I them all in the car." I nodded closing the book.
"Thank you." He muttered.
"It's no problem. Anyway. I was pregnant when I was reading they and I realized what a great and loving man Bobby's dad had been. That's why after months of begging He agreed to name our son after his father."
"Alright, but why are you here?"
"Bobby died a year ago. He left me quite a lot of money but his grandfather wouldn't let me take over the company. So when I heard this place was going to go under I decided to move. His brother told me you might be here."
"I have some money too. 10 years of doing nothing you tend you not buy anything either."
"Well that's great. We have months before the winter hits. We can get this place ship shape in no time." He looked at her. "I'm a farm girl. I'm stronger than I look."
"Well good 'cause you don't look strong at all." He stood heading for the door when she called out.
"Ennis," he turned and looked at her. "Jack wrote about the two of you, he wrote about how much he loved you, and how much it hurt him to be away from you. I don't know if you felt the same way about him or not, but I do know from what he wrote that you loved him at least a little. Now I don't know you very well and you don't know me; but Jack Jr. is only 3 years old. If something should happen to me…I know his grandfather won't look after him and Loreen has married again with a new family. The only person he would have left is you."
"Lets pray that nothing happens to you then Heather." He said before walking out.
