Title: PRETTY BOY
Author: Brokeback Mountain
Rating: FRAO NC-17
Disclaimer: These characters belong to Annie Proulx; not me.
Summary: Jack and Ennis meet and size each other up.
PRETTY BOY
"Whewee! He sure is a pretty boy. Wonder what someone like him is
doin drivin a hunk a junk like that!" Ennis Del Mar thought to
himself as he leaned against the building; head bent, eyes shielded
under the brim of his hat.
Jack got out of his truck and stretched, happy to have made it one
more time in his beat up old truck. Hopefully, with the money he
would make on this job, he'd have enough to get some work done on
it. At least enough work so it would get him to the next job. One
other was standing there waiting for work too. Tall, lean, young
like him. Couldn't see his face too good; hiding it under his hat.
He took a few steps toward the young man then decided against it. He
went into his truck and got out his shaving gear.
"Look at that, would'ja now. He's shavin in the rear view mirror.
That pretty boy sure does like to keep himself pretty." Ennis
watched from under his hat and let his thoughts wander. "Must be
down on his luck if he's lookin for work here. Thought pretty boys
like him mostly got 'tookin care of." He looked away quickly, not
wanting anyone to see him watching. "Wonder if it's true what they
say 'bout fellas like him? How they do it for money; or do it with
anyone what wants it. Like a whore. Heard tell they bend over for
you if they're a mind to."
Old man Aguirre finally showed and within ten minutes they were both
employed and heading off to the nearest bar for a brew to
celebrate. After their second beer they loosened up enough to talk a
little about themselves. They were both 19 and both come from
unhappy home situations. Both had been on their own for years.
"Looks like this fella's gonna do alright." Jack thought. "Won't
know for sure though, till we get up on the mountain. He does look
like a hard worker though so he ought to be able to handle his share
of the work."
"Seems like an alright kinda guy. Maybe I was wrong about him being
a Pretty Boy. Just cause he's pretty don't mean he's one of them
funny kinda guys. He been up here last summer so he knows the
ropes. Hell, I don't care how he gets off as long as he pulls his
share of the load."
A week later they had their routine down pretty good. Ennis
maintained the base camp and Jack spent most of his time out with the
sheep; coming in for meals only. Sometimes lingering over that last
cup of coffee. Not all that anxious to get back to the sheep. After
all, he was a young man and it was nice to have someone to talk to
about different things. He got to complaining about sleeping out with
the sheep so Ennis traded places with him. They were both worried
for a while that they'd starve to death as Jack was not as used to
putting out a meal as Ennis was but after a time his meals became
passable.
"He sure is a closed-in kinda fella" Jack thought. "Wonder if he
ever does smile. Talks like he's tryin to hold back the words. Says
he's got a girl but can't see he'd be brave enough to ask someone to
marry him. Wonder if they been doin it. If they have, he must be
hurtin for it now. We been up here three weeks. I sure could use
some myself but don't think he'd be up for that. Never can tell
though. I seen him lookin at me from time to time. Wonder what he's
been thinkin 'bout those long lonely nights in that little tent out
there?"
"That was a mighty find meal Jack Twist." He'd said it out loud one
night over the campfire as they passed the whiskey bottle back and
forth between them. He did think Jack was turning out to be a good
working partner. Things seemed to be going well between them. He
wondered if Jack had anyone back home. He said there was no one
special but there must be someone for a guy as good lookin as he
was. True enough he was as broke as Ennis was, but he had to be
gettin it somewhere. Jack didn't strike him as being the shy type,
all that laughin and talkin he does. And those blue eyes! Ennis
thought he never had seen eyes that color before and wondered why
lookin at them for any length of time made him feel all funny inside.
"He speaks!" Jack laughed.
"What?!" Ennis asked all innocent like.
"You don't say much, do you?" Jack grinned at him and passed the
whiskey bottle.
Ennis took it and drank deeply; handed it back.
"I can speak if I have somethin to say." Ennis defended himself.
"Tell me about yourself then. What do you like to do when you're not
sheep-herdin."
"I already told you 'bout my famiy. There ain't nothin else to tell."
"Tell me about your girl. You and her do it?" that mischievious look
crossed his face and looking at it made Ennis uneasy.
"More or less" came his answer.
"What the hell kinda answer is that? Either you do it or you don't"
he shoved another piece of wood into the fire.
"Well, I guess, sometimes we do and sometimes we don't. What
difference does it make?"
"Just wondering, is all. Cause if you was gettin it on a regular
basis, you'd probably be hurtin by now. Been three weeks."
"Been three weeks since I seen Alma but not three weeks since I got
off." Wonder where he's goin with this. Maybe he's gonna ask me if
I wanna. Probably was right about him bein a pretty boy. He touches
me, he's gonna get hurt. I could take him; sure enough. It'd be a
shame tho to mess up that pretty face.
"So you take care of it by yourself, then." Jack's eyes cast downwards
to the fire. "Gonna be cold tonight. You'll freeze your ass off
up there. Why don't you stay in camp tonight? Old man Aguirre
doesn't need to know. Hell, I'm the one supposed to be up there
anyway."
Guess he's gonna end the conversation there! Huh! I kinda wanted
him to ask me so I'd know how it's done with pretty boys. Sure
can't get a handle on him. "I'll sleep out here by the fire; go up
at first light."
Jack stood, brushed his jeans off and headed for the tent. "You get
too cold out here, you can always come inside. There's plenty of
room for two." He went on into the tent and turned to watch Ennis
fidget by the fireside.
He sat and thought for a time, watching the flames burn down to
embers. Jack was moving around inside. That tent sure was nicer
than that little pup tent he had and Jack was right about it. It did
smell like cat piss. It would surely be nice to sleep in a nice warm
tent for a change. Hadn't seen a coyote in nearly a week. They're
probably all cozy in their dens as well. No man nor animal goes out
on a night like this if they don't have to.
He wants to come in here, Jack thought. He's just darn scared of his
own feelings. Bet he never did go all the way with his Alma. That
was just the whiskey talkin. It sure would be nice havin him to cozy
up with on a cold night like this.
"OK if I come in?" Ennis lifted the flap of a doorway. "I sorely do
not want to sleep in that pissed on tent tonight. Haven't seen a
coyote in near a week. Think it'd be alright?"
"Sure it would. What the old man don't know won't hurt us." He
pulled back the blankets and Ennis crawled in beside him.
"Nice and warm in here." He snuggled down into the bedroll.
"Could get warmer." Jack whispered aloud.
"Huh? What'cha talking 'bout. It's gonna get colder as the night
goes on. Be freezing by mornin."
They laid in silence for a while then Ennis spoke, "What'cha doin?"
"Nothin." His back was to Ennis.
"Yes you are. I can hear you. You're pleasurin yourself, ain't
you!" He didn't know whether to be angry and run out of there or
stick around and find out what this pretty boy was up to. He decided
on the latter. His curiosity about Jack had gotten the better of him
and he had to know more. It gave him a strange tingly excitement
that drew him on; like a moth to a flame. Couldn't turn back even if
he wanted to. And he didn't want to.
"And if I am? You ain't my Momma so shut up about it." He was sayin
angry words but they didn't sound angry. More funnin than
anythin. "If I'm embarrassin you, I can quit. Just say so."
"Hell, it don't bother me none. I do it all the time myself." He
couldn't think straight anymore; the familiar tightening of his jeans
brought his own hand to his crotch.
"You doin it now?"
"Ain't sayin I am. Ain't sayin I ain't." His breath quickened.
"OK." Jack's breath was coming quicker, his words fewer.
"You a Pretty Boy, Jack?" He had to know and he'd never get the
nerve to ask again.
"A Pretty Boy? You mean do I do this for money? Naw. I just like
doin it. Do it all I can." His breath came faster now with a few
gasps he was finished. "You doin alright over there? You need some
help?"
Just the thought of that suggestion finished Ennis off. He had never
known such excitement. He lay there a long time thinking about what
had happened.; what they had just done. It was wrong. It was wicked.
It was wonderful!!!
The End