Summary: Ennis to Hudson Wyoming to manage the ranch when his brother becomes town sheriff.
Warnings: If you are a diehard Jack/Ennis fan, you may want to skip on this one. I am under the firm belief that Ennis should move on and not live a life of misery once Jack passes away. Just doesn't seem fair to me.

About a year after Jack passed away, Ennis got a call from KE. He was living down in Hudson on their grandparents old farm and he had just been elected town Sheriff. He wanted to know if Ennis could come down and take care of the farm while he tended to his sheriff duties. KE had said he figured the ranch was as much Ennis' as it was his. Reluctant as always about change, Ennis had his initial doubts but he saw no use in denying the only family he had (their sister having passed away a few years prior of breast cancer) in his time of need. Hudson was just a short trip away from Riverton so he figured he could still see his girls. So Ennis packed his few belongings into his truck, picked up his horses, tied up some lose ends and headed to off to Hudson, Wyoming.

As Ennis drove up to his grandparents place, he was reminded of his childhood. This is where he had learned to love horses. His grandfather had taught him how to ride, his mother had shown him all the great places she used to hide and play when she was little and his grandmother used to make the very best apple pies. He had played cowboys here and slain dragons, he and KE had built a fort with the giant box his grandparents first refrigerator had come in, he'd broken his arm falling off the big apple tree, swung from the tire swing that hung from it's sturdiest branch... He had been a normal kid once upon a time. Had he ever missed this place.

KE and his wife, Abey, came out of the house to greet him when he got there. KE was only a few years older than Ennis with the same sandy blonde hair and brown eyes but unlike Ennis he had put on a bit of weight over the years. He wasn't fat or anything but it was pretty clear to everyone that he wasn't the one that kept this ranch in top shape. His wife Abey, was quite a few years younger. She was almost a foot shorter than KE but she carried herself with such grace and elegance that you would hardly notice. She was fair and strong and yet she had a certain sadness to her eyes. Ennis could see that the minute she shook his hand.

"Welcome home little brother," KE said with a genuinely warm smile.

"KE," Ennis nodded and stuck out his hand. KE just raised his eyebrow.

"I ain't seen you in near 15 years and you're gonna shake my hand? Get your ass over here, boy and give your brother a hug."

Ennis smiled awkwardly and did so.

Soon, the horses were let out to roam and graze, while Ennis' few bags were brought in and he was put in the room he had slept in as a boy. Not much had changed. The furniture was the same and the walls were still sky blue. There were however new linens, no cowboys on his new bed and curtains anymore and all the toys had been put away in a small trunk at the foot of the bed. It seemed smaller which wasn't much of a surprise, he had been smaller back then. They had lunch together as KE told Ennis how he had been voted Sheriff. They had been pretty surprised because Abey was half Native American and folks around there didn't take to kindly to her at first. But she mainly stayed home, didn't have many friends and usually sent KE into town to do the errands for her. KE had been a cop back in Riverton and had transfered to Hudson when he had inherited the farm. He worked hard and had secured the love and respect of the entire town a few years ago when he exposed that the mayor was trying to sell the old abandonned mines for landfill. This according to the mayor would bring lots of money to the town but he hadn't mentioned, it would contaminate the town's water, over time poisoning the crops, animals and the people themselves. After being exposed, the mayor had resigned quickly and had never been heard from in those parts again.

After lunch, KE, who now liked to be called his proper name Kyle, suggested a tour of the property to show Ennis what had changed since he had last been there. The layout of the land was pretty much the same, a few changes. The barn was in better shape than ever before, stocked generously with haybales and farm equipment (nice, large, fancy pieces that reminded Ennis of Jack and made him smile and sad all at the same time.) They grew their own hay, a combination of a few grasses and some alfalfa, and they also grew a fair amount of corn and oats for food and straw. But agriculture wasn't where the farm shined, they were known all over town and even as far as Lander for their horses. Their grandfather had the reputation of one of the greatest horsemen for miles around and his work had been loved and appreciated. The farm was very successful and years after his death, it still seemed to be thriving. Ennis noticed that the stables seemed bigger & Kyle told him they had made an attachment to the stable during a particularily good year. Soon, Ennis was introduced to the hands and found them to be good hardworking people.

"Wanna go for a ride?" Kyle asked him.

"You know it."

Ennis didn't want to disturb his horses. They were still poking around, exploring their new home and grazing in the field. So, Kyle brought him through the stable and Ennis went straight for the one horse that no one could break. A beautiful silver horse with a jet black tail and mane. She snarled and huffed at Kyle but cautiously approached Ennis and ate some hay out of his hand.

"Figures," Kyle said.

"What?"

"You always had a way with horses. Just like grandad."

Ennis smiled at this. He only had the best memories of his grandfather. He rubbed the horse's neck and whispered some words only meant for her. "You name her yet?"

"Nah, just got her Thursday."

"Think she'll let me ride her?"

"Your funeral." Kyle laughed.

Ennis shrugged it off. "Hey little lady," he said to the horse. "Seems you've been causing some trouble around here. I guess if I was shoved into a new home, with all these people I ain't never seen before trying to break me, I'd be pretty angry myself. Tell you what, let's go exploring, huh? What do you say? I'm new here too. We can see what kind of new home we're going to be living in. That a girl. Just stay still a little while longer while I tighten the saddle. I got two horses of my own. You'll meet them soon enough. You horses sure do have it good. This stable is a whole lot nicer than that little tin box I was livin' in. There you go, all done. That ain't so bad, huh?"

Kyle, who had saddled and mounted his horse was now just standing there watching Ennis in admiration. Ennis was talking to her like his grandfather had spoken to the horses back when he was alive. He had tried to imitate it but it just didn't seem to work for him. Ennis had always been the favorite, him being the youngest and all. Once upon a time, Kyle would have been green faced and furious but now, he was just glad to see it.

"I should have brought you up here the minute we got the farm." Kyle told Ennis.

"Had a wife then. Wouldn't have been able to make it."

"Well, I'm glad you're here now. Ready?"

They headed off as Kyle pointed out certain spots and reminised about days past while Ennis nodded trying to take everything in. It all seemed so long ago. Well, it was a long time ago but it felt like a different lifetime. Ennis could hardly remember what it was like being a kid and that made him a little sad.

After riding for an hour or so they arrived at the river, they dismounted and let the horses have a drink. They sat by the river in silence for a bit.

"The ranch is doing pretty well." Ennis finally said.

"Yeah, we've been lucky," Kyle smiled and looked over the land lovingly.

"Hey, I've been wonderin'... If you're a cop, who takes care of the farm. I met the hands but... who tells them what to do? Don't you have a forman?"

Kyle smiled and looked down at his boots, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

Ennis just continued to watch him. Whoever it was sure as hell had done a great job over the years. That was all that really mattered as far as Ennis was concerned.

"Abey," Kyle said finally.

"Abey, " Ennis repeated, surprised. "So, why...?"

"Why are you here? She's pregnant now. She's been pregnant only once before. Before she knew me. She was raped. Had to have an abortion. Her father made her. He threatened to kick her out. You know back then there was nothing a girl in that position with no family could do. She had to. Really messed her up."

So that was the sadness Ennis had seen in her eyes. It made sense now but he still felt mighty uncomfortable knowing her business like this but Kyle was too deep in his story and his own troubles, he never noticed.

"The operation had to be hush hush. No damn doctor, just some idiot calling himself a medicine man. She's real fragile now. Wants to take it real easy with the pregnancy, give the child a fighting chance. But you know, it ain't just the baby I'm worried about. I'm awful scared she won't make it either." Kyle shook his head as if to clear his thoughts, he got up and brushed himself off. "So, that's where you come in! I need you to take care of the farm but also, I need you to keep an eye on her. I hate leaving her alone even for a couple of hours. This sheriff job is gonna take me away from here a lot more so I need someone I can trust around here. Now I know I ain't kept in touch over the years, especially after Linda and I got divorced. Was awful ashamed of myself, let her talk me into putting you out to fend for yourself. Said you was old enough and we didn't have the space or means to take care of you. Turned out she was a selfish bitch, only cared about herself. I shoulda been better to you."

"Fuck Kyle," Ennis said, shaking his head. "Ain't nothin'. You did what you had to do. Ain't no one holding it against you."

"I do. Your life coulda been a lot better if I hadn't a turned you out."

"Been different. Don't know about better. B'sides, you didn't just kick me out. Got me that job in Signal."

"Shouldn't a done that. Aguire was a hardass but he was a friend of Linda's daddy. Asshole... Something I'll regret all my life."

"Not me," Ennis said.

Kyle looked at him. He opened his mouth to say something but closed it instead.