The Return
Characters belong to Annie Proulx and Brokeback Mountain.
That year, even for the high country in Wyoming, winter came early.
Ennis had thought on it, dismissed it, then…….as the years passed – decided he'd go for it – it was now or never –this year.
Got a few days vacation – he'd earned it , all the work he did around that ranch – a ranch that wasn't even his own!
He took his own horse, and another as a pack horse – kinda like Jack's old mare, and just as ornery.
The last part of the journey was under a dark sky with a million stars. The cold nipped at Ennis's nose and bones, his toes and fingers, taking its toll, for he was no longer a young man. A light snow began to fall. Ennis's breath and that of his horses clouded the air. The horses, catching a sense of joy and expectation from Ennis, were good, did as they were urged straightaway, got a move on.
Later, up on Brokeback, Ennis camped up – had brought many warm blankets for himself and the horses. Sat a while at the front of the tent in the light from a little lamp, holding his steaming cup o' coffee - Alma Jnr. had bought him a new fangled stove that heated the water piping hot.
Presently, soft as a butterfly's wing, gentle as a sigh or summer breeze, Jack was with him – long dead though he was these past years.
'Miss you so much I can hardly stand it', murmured Jack.
In the clearing, under the starlight and within the glow from Ennis's lamp, stood Jack, the soft snow falling all around. Ennis could see love in his eyes and sadness too. Quick as a flash the vision was gone.
'Ah seen you', whispered Ennis, eyes straining but seeing him no more.
Tears fell then, but presently and with the sense of joy returning, Ennis finished his coffee – snuggled down for the night, listened to the comforting sounds from the horses – dreamed of Jack as he'd first seen him – curly haired, beautiful, lively - waiting for him…..his Jack……his own.