Title: BOY SCOUTS 101
Author: Brokeback Mountain
Rating: NC-17 FRAO
Pairing: Jack and Ennis
Warning: SEXUALLY EXPLICIT M/M
Disclaimer: These characters belong to Annie Proulx. Not to me, darn it all!
Authors note: (Apologies to any boy scouts or leaders.)
Summary: Jack helps Ennis earn some Scout badges.
BOY SCOUTS 101 (AU)
"H'lo?"
"Hey! whatcha doin?"
"It's
middle of the night. Whatcha think I'm doin?"
"Dreamin
of me way down here in Texas?"
"I do that kinda dreamin
'fore I go to sleep. So's I can clean up after."
"Ha ha
ha. Been thinkin 'bout you. Got some news. Wanna hear it?"
"Sure
enough."
"I'm movin to Lightnin Flat."
"All
of you?"
"Huh?"
"Whole family?"
"Oh
hell no. Gettin divorced. All nice and friendly. Gettin a
nice
settlement; nice chunk of money."
"Good for
you."
"Don't sound all that happy 'bout it."
"Divorce
ain't nothin to celebrate."
"Mine is. I get to move back
to Wyomin. Back where I belong."
"That's nice."
"Be
a lot closer."
Silence.
"Won't have to drive near as
far."
"Didn't know drivin was a problem."
"It
wasn't. I'd a driven twice as far to see you."
Silence.
"What's
wrong? Thought you'd be happy 'bout this."
"Can't be
nothin happy 'bout a Pa leavin his boy."
"Jesus, Ennis.
I ain't leavin Bobby. He's my boy. He always will
be. He's goin
off to college in a coupla months. He's talkin 'bout
goin in the
service; the Marines. He wants a degree first so's he
can go in an
officer."
"Can't you talk him outta that?"
"He's
been set on it now all through high school. He'll be 19 in the
fall;
old enough to make his own decisions."
"That's a bad one
though. Ought to try and talk him out of it."
"It's what
he wants. I have to respect that."
"Why? Did you know
what you wanted at 19?"
"I sure as hell did; but I was
too dumb to go after it."
Silence.
"Ennis?"
"Yeah?"
"You
ain't happy 'bout me bein closer?"
"Don't see as how it
affects me. You're the one does all that drivin."
"You're
an ass!"
"You call me up in the middle of the night to
tell me that?"
"You're pissed I woke you up?"
"I
ain't pissed."
"Wish I was there layin beside you. I'd
get you in a better mood
right fast."
"Ain't nothin
wrong with my mood."
Silence.
"You through talkin?"
Ennis asked.
"You still gonna meet me next month?"
"Sure.
Why wouldn't I?"
"Any way I could talk you into makin it
next week?"
"Can't get off next week."
"I'm
talkin the week end. Saturday and Sunday?"
"Instead of
next month?"
"Why not both?"
"Jack, you
know how I feel 'bout that."
"Oh yeah. I forgot. 2 or 3
times a year. That's all you want to be
with me."
"That
ain't what I meant."
"Ain't it the same
thing?"
Silence
"You really think anyone gives a shit
who you're sleepin with?"
"I ain't ready to be dead,
Jack"
"Christ, Ennis. Just forget about it. I'll find
someone else to
spend my weekends with. You just go back to sleep
now. I'll see you
next month."
CLICK
Next
weekend:
"Jack Twist here. How can I help you?"
"Thought
you was movin up here?"
"Ennis! I am. New man's supposed
to start here Monday. I'm leaving
in the morning for
Wyomin."
"Good. You still mad at me?"
"You
know I can't stay mad at you. You are infuriating though, you
know
that."
"I know I am. Sorry."
"It's OK. That
why you called? Wonderin if I was still mad?"
"I was
just thinkin. It's Saturday and I don't usually have nothin to
do
on the weekends. Just lay 'round and get drunk. Where you gonna
be
next weekend?"
"You mean it? We can see each other next
weekend?"
"You'll be up here by then?"
"Yeah.
Pick any place. I'll meet you. Anywhere you want."
"Can't
be too far. I have to be back to work Monday."
"How
'bout that place south of Lander? That's close to Riverton. Got
good
roads. Wouldn't have to take the horses."
"Sounds
good."
"I'll be there waitin for you next Saturday
morning."
"Anythin wrong with Friday night?"
"If
there's one thing that's better than Saturday morning, it's
Friday
night!"
"Old man's leavin town for the
weekend. Gonna get off early. 'Bout 4
O'clock. Should be able to
make it there by 6:00 or 6:30."
"I'll be there. Don't
worry 'bout dinner. I'll bring steaks and some
roastin
ears."
"Just bring yourself."
"See you
Friday evening then?"
"Yeah...Jack?"
"Yeah?"
"I...a...be
good seein ya."
"Yeah, Ennis. Be good seein you too.
Bye"
"Bye"
Jack sat on a log shucking corn
and dumping the ears into the boiling
water when he heard Ennis'
truck pull up. He stood, hands on hips,
grinning; watching Ennis
unload a sack of clothes and a case of beer;
Ennis' idea of
supplies for a weekend. He jogged down the incline from
the
roadway to the campsite into Jack's waiting arms.
"Eat First?
or Fuck First?" Jack whispered.
"Huh?"
"Just
wanna be prepared."
"What're you some kind of boy scout
now?"
"Yeah. And I'm workin on my campin badge. Wanna
help me?"
"Never was a boyscout, myself." Ennis
grinned at him.
"It's easy. I'll show you." He reached
over and removed the pot of
corn from the fire and set it aside.
"C'mere." He pulled Ennis into
the new tent.
"Hey,
we can stand up in this one!"
"Won't be doing all that
much standin up in here." Jack pulled him
down on the opened
out sleeping bags and tugged off his boots. He did
the same with
his and pulled his jacket off; then reached over and
unzipped
Ennis's Jacket.
"This part of bein a Boy Scout?"
"First
I gotta check out your equipment. You gotta have the
right
equipment."
"Ain't never had no complaints
'bout my equipment."
He unsnapped Ennis' shirt; took it off
his shoulders and arms, tossed
it in the corner. A hand in the
middle of his chest, laid Ennis back.
Warm eager mouths clung
together; tongues exploring. Hands roamed
over chests; backs;
shoulders; holding heads closer; tighter.
"You got too many
clothes on to be a scout leader." Ennis breathed
through
kiss-swollen lips.
"You're right about that." Jack
answered and began a quick removal of
the offending clothes, then
reached for Ennis' jeans, undid the zipper
and slid them off,
briefs followed to the pile in the corner.
Jack started a trail of
tiny kisses on the inside of Ennis' thigh,
worked his way up
leaving a damp trail. He nuzzled the balls, more
little kisses up
the shaft; little licks from the eager tongue around
the ridge,
across the tip.
"Exactly what badge is it we're workin on
now?" Ennis gasped out.
"Don't know. Must be one
though." He took the head in his mouth and
sucked, lowering
his head to take it all in; his nose down to the
damp curls. He
pulled back and did it again and again.
"Ooohhhhh Jack. You
better quit or it'll be all over before we get
started."
He
let go with a slurp and continued his trail of kisses up over
the
stomach, dipped his tongue into the navel and swirled it
around,
making Ennis wiggle.
"Cut that out! You know that
tickles!"
He kissed up across the chest to a tiny brown
nipple; licked at it,
then sucked it hard.
"Jesus, Jack.
You tryin to kill me here?"
He crossed to the other nipple
and did the same till Ennis was
squirming, then dove back onto
that mouth again. He laid full on him
then; pressing their cocks
together between them; Ennis struggling
for a tighter grip on
Jack's back, shoulders and hip; hands going
from one place to the
other; holding them closer.
Jack broke the kiss and went for
Ennis' neck; kissing up behind his
ear; sucking an ear
lobe.
"Missed you...So glad to see you." He whispered
against Ennis'
trembling lips and took them again. Hips moving
back and forth,
rubbing, grinding, bringing them both closer and
closer.
"Jack...losing it..."
" K. Me
to."
Each held on the others hips, pistoning furiously
against one another.
Ennis lost it first, spilling between them.
Jack followed seconds
latter adding to the liquid warmth.
They
laid together for a time; side by side, arms and legs
entwined;
foreheads pressed together.
"So when do I get my
badge?" Ennis grinned at him.
"Soon as you clean up this
mess you made." Jack teased, sitting up;
swiping at the
residue running down his stomach.
"The mess I made? I wasn't
exactly alone there you know."
"Yeah, but I'm the
leader. You wanna badge you gotta do what I say."
"Show
me the badge and I'll get to cleanin." Ennis challenged.
"Here
it is." Jack dug into his bag and pulled out a tube and
tossed
it to him.
"What the hell is this 'KY'?" He read
the label and grinned.
"You be a good little scout and I'll
show you what that's for after
dinner."
"Then I get
my badge?"
"Then you can have anything you want."
Jack promised.
They cleaned up together, ate dinner of steaks
and corn, and sat
passing the bottle of Old Rose back and
forth.
"Think I'm gonna like havin you closer." Ennis
said, staring into the
campfire.
"Hope so. I'd like to do
this as often as we can. As often as you're
comfortable with."
Jack smiled and passed the bottle back.
"So when you gonna
show me what you brought this stuff for?" Ennis
asked pulling
the tube of KY out of his jacket pocket.
"Whenever you're
ready."
"I'm ready if you are." He smiled over at
Jack, his quiet little smile.
"Well, let's get after it
then." Jack smiled standing up and reaching
a hand to help
Ennis up off the log.
Ennis took the offered hand and stood up.
Jack led him over back
behind their tent.
"What's wrong
with the tent?" Ennis asked.
"You want this badge or
not?" Jack asked, grinning and keeping their
game going.
"Yes
sir, I surely do sir." Ennis answered following Jack off
into
the trees. They stopped in front of one and he took Ennis in
his arms
and kissed him thoroughly. They were both breathless when
they broke
for air.
"Turn around." Jack said in a
husky voice.
"Huh?"
Jack pointed at the tree and
Ennis faced it. Jack reached around in
front of him and undid the
zipper, slid a hand inside and caressed the
balls; he leaned his
head against Ennis' shoulder. Ennis leaned his
head back against
Jack's.
"Anythin you want me to do?" Ennis whispered,
turning enough to place
a kiss on the top of Jack's head.
"Grab
hold of that tree."
"Why? It ain't goin no where."
"Just
do it."
"OK." He leaned forward and put his hands
on either side of the tree.
Jack slid Ennis' jeans and briefs down
to his knees; ran his hands up
under her shirt and pinched both
nipples at the same time; tugging at
them gently, rolling them
between his fingers.
"Shit, Jack!"
Jack kissed the
side of his neck and pushed up against Ennis' bare
bottom. "You
like this outdoor stuff?" He whispered.
"Kinda."
Ennis answered with a gasp as his cock was enclosed in a
warm
hand; balls carressed.
"Good. Let's see if you like this."
Jack uncapped the lube and
rubbed some onto Ennis'
opening.
"Ooohhhh. 's cold."
"Won't be for
long." Jack slid one finger in, then two; stretching
him.
"Fuck!" Ennis gasped.
"You got that right."
Jack undid his own jeans and pushed them down.
He pulled his
fingers out then and pushed up inside Ennis with one
long slow
push.
"God Damn!" Ennis pushed against the tree with
both hands and back
against Jack with all his might.
Jack
pulled out then all the way back in again; slowly at first;
then
faster, deeper, harder. Jack held him by the hips and pounded
into
him as fast and as hard as he could stand. Ennis let out a
howl,
grabbed his cock and came all over the tree. Jack kept the
pace until
Ennis settled then with a few more thrusts came to a
shuddering
climax. They stayed clinging together for a time before
Jack pulled out.
Ennis pulled up his jeans and shorts, and grabbed
onto Jack.
"Jack...never...I...we..shit!" He had no
words to describe his
feelings.
Jack held him tight. "I
love you, Ennis. And one of these days
you're gonna realize you
love me too." They went back into the tent,
cleaned up and
slept soundly.
Morning woodys were taken care of eagerly and
they sat by the fire
after breakfast, enjoying a cup of
coffee.
"Think we could do some serious talkin without
fightin?" Jack asked,
refilling both their cups.
"Sure.
Whatcha wanna talk 'bout?" Ennis was still wearing
his
'afterglow' smile.
"Would you come live with me if I
could protect you?" Jack asked
quickly before he backed
out.
"Jack..." The smile disapeared and a frown
replaced it.
"I know you're afraid, Ennis. We could be real
careful. No reason
for anyone to suspect nothin."
"Two
men living together, Jack, is just...askin for
trouble."
"Ennis...How many trailers in your trailer
park?"
"Huh?"
"You heard me. How many
trailers in your park?"
"Don't know. 10, 12 maybe. Don't
much pay attention."
"Who lives in them? You know any of
your neighbors?"
"Mrs. McIntosh lives across the way.
She's a widow woman."
"Who does she sleep with?"
"How
the hell should I know?"
"You ever wonder about
it?
"Hell no. I don't care who she sleeps with!"
"Then
what makes you think she'd care who you sleep with?"
"Now
that's different, Jack and you know it."
"How? How is it
different?"
"She's an old woman. Don't matter."
"Oh.
So you don't think it matters if you're old?"
"Jack!"
"I'm
serious here, Ennins. I'm tryin to understand how you see
things.
So if this lady moved another old lady into her trailer that
would
be OK?"
"Why wouldn't it?"
"It's OK for old
ladies to live together, but not old men?"
"You and me
ain't exactly old men."
"So this thing has an age limit
on it?"
"Jack you're bein ridiculous.!"
"Ennis,
I'm trying to show you how ridiculous your arguments are. You
don't
care who other people sleep with; what makes you think other
people
care who you sleep with?"
Ennis dumped the remainder of his
coffee and walked over to the
stream to rinse his cup out. Jack
followed him, knelt down beside him
and put an arm around Ennis'
shoulders.
"I love you Ennis. I want us to be together. I
know you're scared
and to a point, that's a good thing. We do need
to be careful. We
wouldn't take any chances. We could stay out of
places where we might
get in trouble. Do our drinkin at home. We'd
put us up a good fence;
get us some guard dogs. We could get us a
coupla guns. You could
teach me how to shoot."
"Jack,
this is just foolish talk." He stood and took his cup back.
"Is
it foolish to be with the person you're in love with? Or are
you
gonna tell me you don't love me? Can you tell me that?"
"Now
I didn't say none of that." Ennis argued, hands jammed into
his
jacket pockets.
"You don't have to say it, Ennis. I
know you love me. I just wish I
could make you understand that
bein together would be worth any risk
we had to take." Jack
sat back down on the log and poked the fire
back to life; added
more wood.
Ennis sat down beside him.
"You know how I feel
'bout you, Jack."
"Yeah. You love me; just not enough to
live with me."
"Don't say it like that."
"It's
the truth, isn't it?"
"All them things you talked 'bout.
They cost money; lots of money."
"I told you I got money
now. I been savin all these years; got a nice
chunk of cash in the
divorce."
"You talkin 'bout buyin a place; buyin dogs,
buyin guns, fencin.
That's a whole lotta buyin. You ain't got that
kinda money."
"There you go, jumpin to conclusions
again. Don't have to buy a
place. Already got one."
"You
talkin 'bout the old man's place?"
"Yeah."
"Like
that's gonna happen!"
"He's an old man, Ennis; hasn't
been able to handle the place for
years. He's lettin it all go to
hell. When he's gone, it comes to
me. I'm already startin on the
place. Got new fencin goin in next
week; new gates; already talked
with Momma about some dogs. She
loves 'em. Pa hates 'em. We need
to get some full growed so's he
can't kill 'em off. We'll have to
watch him on that."
"Thought the two of you didn't get
along? Thought he run you off?"
"Well, that was a long
time ago. I'm not no kid no more that he can
knock down and spit
in my face. He try that now he'd be eatin dirt."
"You
can't hit your Pa, Jack."
"You don't know my Pa. I won't
as long as he leaves me alone but I
ain't takin none of his
shit."
"You come draggin me into the picture, how you
think he's gonna like
that?"
"I don't give a damn
whether he likes it or not; we're already
cross-ways 'bout the
fence. Says it's a waste of good money. His
daddy put up that
fence and he thinks we should keep it up till it
turns to
dust."
"Fencin is important." Ennis agreed.
"You're
darn right it is! Can't use the south pasture at all cause
it's
down every time the wind blows. The rest of it is just as bad.
Been
patched up so many times, it's more patches than fence!"
"Arguin
'bout the grass too. He wants to put in the cheapest stuff
they
got. I already got seed on order for the better stuff. You give
cows
shit to eat, they gonna end up shitty cows. Give them the good
stuff,
they produce twice as much! You come out ahead in the long run.
Any
damn fool should know that."
"You talk to them 'bout
me?" Ennis chewed his thumb nail.
"Uh huh. Been talkin
to them 'bout you since '63."
"You kiddin me!"
"Nope.
Told them one of these days I'd bring you home with me and
we'd
whip the ranch back into shape."
"What'd they
say?"
"Momma cried, she was so happy. Pa just spit and
said it'd never
happen. Sure as hell hate to see him right about
that."
"Do they know...you know...'bout
us?"
"Yeah, told Momma that first summer. Told her I
loved you and I'd
bring you home with me someday."
"She
didn't...get upset?"
"Why should she? She loves me. She
want's me to be happy."
"She know 'bout the divorce and
all?"
"Uh huh. She's OK with it."
"You know
if you take me up there, it'll just give the old man
somethin to
ride you about."
"I ain't gonna lie to you Ennis. The
old man's got a tongue on him
like a snake. Always has. I just
been ignorin him. I'm doin what
the ranch needs, and if he don't
like it, he can take a walk. Same
thing with you; he don't like
it, he knows where the front gate is."
"He won't just
run you off again?"
"The place is in Momma's name. Come
to them from her family; comes
to me next. I already spoke to her
about what I wanted to do with the
place. She's all excited about
it. Says it's as good as mine now.
So the old man ain't got no
say. I ain't 14 years old anymore. No
way he's runnin me off
again. One of us goes, it'll be him."
"He's your Pa,
Jack."
"He's a son of a bitch, Ennis."
"Don't
seem right, you talkin 'bout your Pa like that."
"Wait
til you meet him. You'll see."
"He got that big a mouth,
probably be tellin stuff 'round town. Stuff
that could get us
killed."
"Not in a million years. The old fart is so
ashamed he got a faggot
for a son; he'd deny it if he walked in on
us and saw it with his own
eyes."
"That's a horrible
thought!"
"That it is." Jack agreed.
The
rest of the weekend went about the same. Jack pleading his case
for
a life together, Ennis terrified to make that step. As they
were
saying good bye Sunday after dinner; they stood by their
trucks talking.
"You promise you'll give serious thought to
this?"
"I always think about it." Ennis
answered.
"I want you with me, Ennis. I got big plans for the
place and I can't
do it alone. I need you; workin beside me and
sleepin beside me." He
caressed the side of Ennis' neck.
"You
make it sound almost possible." Ennis grinned up at him
from
under his hat brim.
"It is possible, Ennis. We can
make it happen. You just have to want
it. Want it bad enough to
take the risk."
"Never been much of a gambler."
"Won't
be that much of a gamble. Promise you that." Jack kissed
him
then and they held onto each other, dreading that moment when
they had
to drive away from each other.
The phone call came
about midnight. Ennis had been asleep about 2
hours.
"H'lo?"
he said sleepily.
"Is this Ennis Del Mar?" A frightened
little voice asked.
"Yes, ma'am. Who is this?" He had a
chilling feeling up his spine.
"My name is Rosemary Twist.
I'm Jackie's momma."
"What is it?" Fear grabbed him
by the throat. He could barely get the
words out.
"Jackie's
been in an accident. His truck ran off the road near
Shoshoni.
That's right near to Riverton, isn't it?" She was crying,
he
could tell.
"Is he alright? He's OK, ain't he?" He stood
now, kicking blankets
out of the way, pacing the length of his
small trailer.
"He's in the hospital there in Shoshoni. They
just called here.
There's no way I can get to him. He told me,
long time ago, anythin
happen to him, I was to call you."
"You
did the right thing. That's only 'bout 20 miles out. I'll get
over
there right now."
"Ennis?"
"Yeah?"
"Call
me when you see him. Let me know?"
"I will. Doctor's say
anything?"
"Just talked to the Highway Patrol; he said
they found Jack's truck
in a ditch and took him to the hospital in
Shoshoni. Didn't say how
bad he was hurt. But I'm afraid, Ennis."
She was weeping again. "If
he wasn't bad hurt, he'd a called;
'stead of the officer."
"I'll get over there right now.
Give you a call soon as I know anything."
"Thank you,
Ennis. Thank you so much." and then, as she always said
to
her son, she added "Drive carefully."
It was only a
20 minute drive but it seemed like a lifetime to him.
Jack's
momma had sounded so scared. Momma's had a sense about such
things.
The thought sent a shiver through him. "He's alright. He's
gotta
be alright. Can't be anything but alright." he muttered
to
himself; chasing all other frightening thoughts away.
He
parked and ran into the emergency entrance coming to a stop at
the
admittance desk.
"Jack Twist? He was in an accident?
Highway Patrol brought him in?"
"Oh yeah." the
receptionsit consulted her charts. "He's still here
in the
E.R. Dr. Sullivan's patient."
"Can you tell me his
condition? He OK? Can I see him?"
"You'll have to speak
with Dr. Sullivan. I'll see if I can catch him;
tell him you're
here."
"Thank you." He paced the floor until he saw
two Highway Patrol men
coming down the hall.
"Excuse me"
He stopped them. "You the ones brought Jack Twist in?"
"The
pick-up in the ditch? You a relative?" one of them asked.
"Yeah.
His mom called me. Asked me to check on him for her. She's
up in
Lightning Flat. He OK?" He tried to keep the panic down.
Just
the smell of this place scared him.
"He's busted up
pretty good." the fat one answered. "We found him in
his
truck just outside of town. No other vehicle involved. Looks like
he
just ran off the road into the ditch."
"They took him
to X-ray. His legs busted, maybe his arm too; got a
bump on the
head, scrapes and bruises. That's all we know."
The other one
answered.
"Thanks" He stepped aside and the officers
went on their way. He
followed the signs pointing towards X-ray
until he came to a set of
closed doors. He waited outside until
they came out, pushing a
hospital bed.
"Dr. Sullivan?"
Ennis asked approaching the man with the chart. He
glanced down at
the bed. Jack's head and arm were covered in
bandages. He was
asleep.
"Yes. Are you a family member?"
"Friend
of the family. Jack's momma called me. He and I had been on
a
campin trip. I live in Riverton."
"I see. Well, looks
like he has a compound fracture of the left leg;
left shoulder is
dislocated. Got a bump on the head but that's not
too serious,
possible concussion. He's got a few good weeks of hurt
ahead of
him; but he'll be alright. He was lucky. From what I hear,
he
totaled his truck."
"Yeah. Lucky. Why's he asleep? He in
a coma or somethin?"
"No. He's just asleep. I gave him
something pretty strong for the
pain. I knew we'd be setting that
leg and pullin that shoulder back
into place. It's best for him to
sleep for a spell."
"Yes. Sure thing. How long he gonna
be here?" Ennis asked following
them back into the E.R.
"We
need to get that leg in a cast and then we'll get him set up in
a
room. He can probably go home in a day or two. After a trauma
like
this, it's best he stay under observation for at least 48
hours."
"OK. Thanks. There a phone 'round here?"
"Up
front by the desk."
He spoke to the operator and had the
charges for the call put on his
home phone and waited while the
phone rang at the Twist home.
It was answered on the first
ring.
"Yes? Ennis?"
"Yes, Ma'am. He's gonna be
alright." He told her what he knew she
needed to know
first.
"Oh thank God! Can I talk to him?"
"Not
right now. He's sleepin. They gave him somethin for the pain.
He
busted his leg, dislocated a shoulder, got a bump on the head.
He's
scraped up a little bit. Doctor says he wants to keep him here
under
observation for 48 hours."
"Oh my goodness! Do they know
what happened?" she asked, relieved but
still
frightened.
"Don't know yet. I spoke with the Highway Patrol.
They said they
found his truck in a ditch. No other vehicle
involved; looks like he
just ran off the road. We'll know more in
the mornin when we can talk
with Jack."
"Oh thank
you, Ennis. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you
seein to
him; callin me."
"Not a problem. I'll see to him till he
gets home. I'll have him
call you tomorrow."
"Thank
you, Ennis. You're a good man. I knew you would be."
"Thank
you, Ma'am. I'll bring him home to you. That's a promise."
"I'll
see you soon then."
"Yes, Ma'am." he hung up the
phone and went back to wait outside the
curtain where they were
working on Jack. The curtain opened and he
saw the nurse working
over the cast on Jack's leg, His arm was now
in a sling. He was
sleeping soundly.
He spent the rest of that night beside
Jack's bed. Thinking. He'd
almost lost him. His eyes burned from
lack of sleep; and the tears
that slipped down his cheeks from
time to time. He'd almost lost him!
It came to him, over and over
again. What would he have done if Jack
had died? He almost lost
him. He could have died. He nearly did.
He almost lost him.
He
awoke with a start when he heard the noise. It took a second
to
remember where he was.
"You been here all night?"
the nurse asked him as she took Jack's vitals.
"Aaahh I
promised his Mom, I'd see to him." Ennis mumbled, standing
and
stretching, "Could we get a phone in here? I promised her
I'd
have him call soon as he wakes up."
"Sure thing."
She made her notations on her chart and left the room.
Jack was
still sleeping so he slipped into the adjoining bathroom and
relieved
himself. He splashed water in his face and dried off with
paper
towels and went back to Jack's bedside.
A few minutes later the
nurse returned with a telephone and hooked it up.
"Dr.
Sullivan should be in in a little while to check on him. All
his
vitals look good though." She smiled at him and left the
room.
"Did you get her phone number?" Jack asked
with a tired smile.
"Jack! You son of a bitch! What the hell
happened?" He caressed the
hand sticking out of the sling;
bent and kissed the cracked lips lightly.
"Oh shit. I wrecked
my new truck!"
"Fuck your truck! What
happened?"
"Ohhhh." He put his good hand to his
forehead. "Can't believe I did
that!" He tried to sit
up, reached for the control on the side of the
bed and raised
himself up.
The doctor walked in then reading off the chart.
"How're you feelin?"
he asked.
"Everything I got
hurts." Jack answered.
"I'm not surprised. Get used to
it. You're gonna be feelin like that
for a while. We can give you
somethin to make you a little more
comfortable. Everythin looks
good. You got a mild concussion,
dislocated shoulder, seriously
broken leg and just about evrery thing
else is either scraped or
bruised. Other than that, you're fine."
"Don't feel
fine."
"You will shortly. Feel like you can handle some
breakfast? Nurse
will be in with it in a few minutes. She's got
some pain pills for
you and I ordered a tray for your friend as
well." He left the room
making notes on the clipboard.
"You gonna tell me now what happened?" Ennis asked.
"Shit! You'll break my other leg!" Jack touched his upper
lip.
"Hey, where's my moustache?"
"Half of it's
still there." Ennis grinned.
"Half? He felt the rest of
his lip "Why'd they take half off for?"
"You busted
your lip. Looks like you got a coupla stitches in it."
"Oh
fuck!"
"Jack. I need to know what happened. How'd you
end up in that ditch?"
"Promise you won't
laugh?"
"Laugh? Why would I laugh?"
"Jesus,
Ennis!" Jack rubbed a hand over his face.
"Talk!"
"I
wasn't payin attention, is all."
"More to it than that.
Why would I laugh at that?"
"I was just thinkin, is
all"
"Bout what?"
"you and me and that
tree..."
"And?"
"And rememberin that time
up at Pine Creek when we was goin at it and
bumped into the
support and the tent came down on us. Remember that?"
"Yeah,
I remember that. What's that got to do with you endin up in
a
ditch?"
"And you didn't wanna stop? And we kept
goin and goin, the canvas all
over us, gettin in the
way?"
"Jack!"
"OK. OK. I was...well
...I was jackin off."
"You were WHAT??" He threw
his head back and laughed out loud.
"You promised not to
laugh!" Jack pouted.
"You almost got yourself KILLED!"
His laughter quickly turning to
anger. " Do you have any idea
what that would have done to me? To
your Momma?"
"Don't
yell at me. I'm hurt." He looked up with those puppy-dog
eyes.
"YOU! ...Jack!...You son of a bitch! I almost lost
you!!!" He
turned away from him then; walked to the window
and stared out.
He stood there for a time, staring out the
window without seeing
anything. Jack kept quiet. He knew he'd done
a stupid thing and was
paying the price with Ennis' anger. That
hurt more than his broken bones.
Several minutes passed then Ennis
truned abruptly came back to the
bedside and picked up the
telephone. He dialed the ranch and spoke to
the foreman.
"Ernie?
Ennis. Somethin's come up. I gotta leave town." Pause
"No.
Not tomorrow. I won't be back. Just send my final check to my
P.O.
box." Pause "Yeah. I'm sure. Thanks."
He dialed the
Twist ranch. Mrs. Twist answered first ring.
"Yes?"
"Ma'am?
It's Ennis. He's doin fine. Here you can talk to him." He
handed
Jack the phone; Jack staring at him big-eyed. He held the
phone
against his chest. "What'd you quit for?" he asked in a
whisper.
"You gonna need someone to do for you for a while. I
reckon that's
gonna be me. Talk to your Momma; tell her I'll be
bringin you home
in a coupla days; and I'll be stayin."
Ennis
walked back over to the window, leaned back against the ledge,
and
stood, arms crossed, staring at Jack.
"Momma?" Jack put
the phone to his ear but his eyes never left Ennis.
"Yes,
Momma. I'm fine. Just busted my leg again." he listened to
the
soothing words of his Momma and watched Ennis staring at him,
with
that little smile of his and all the sudden he didn't hurt
anymore.
All his empty places were filled. He was complete.
Looked like Ennis
was gonna be working on his nursing badge!
The End
