Milestones part 2
Disclaimer in part 1
Ennis came back a short time later and found Jack sitting in his
reclining chair. Jack didn't hear him come in, he was looking out the
window. He took a good look at his man, from the disheveled hair, sky
blue eyes to the beautiful face with stubble that was rough and Jack
would rub up against his cheek and neck and then his chest, cause he
knew it drove him crazy. He looked at Jack and thought he was the
sunshine that drove the darkness out of his tragic life. He didn't know
what real happiness was before Jack.
"Hey, bud, whatcha smilin about?" he leaned down and kissed him.
"Mm, hi cowboy. Oh I had a good talk with Lureen, the divorce is being
filed and I should be a free man in a couple of days. Which means I'll
be available again." He gave Ennis an impish look. Suddenly Jack's lips
were covered by Ennis' lips, strong arms embraced him and just when he
thought he'd lost all ability to breathe Ennis released him. He kept his
hands on his face and he looked into the dark depths of Ennis' brown eyes.
"You listen up Jack Fuckin Twist, you ain't available, you're mine,
mine!" He said through clenched teeth, he captured Jack's lips again
and held his head immobile. "You know that if you don't know nothing
else, rodeo. Got that?"
"Oh yeah," Jack looked at him and Ennis felt himself drowning into those
water blue eyes. "Now you hear me Ennis Fuckin Del Mar, my heart don't
belong to nobody but you, boy. I don't want anyone else, only you Ennis.
You're mine too, cowboy, love ya Ennis."
The phone rang, Ennis flinched, and he caressed Jack's cheek, nuzzled
against his face and stood up to answer the call.
"Hello?"
"Daddy? Daddy where have you been, Jenny and I have been worried about
you. You left the carnival without a word. Daddy what.."
"Junior, it's okay lil darlin," he tried to calm his frightened daughter
like he'd quiet a skittish colt. "I'm sorry I ran off like that but I
had to leave town for a while. I found out my friend Jack was in big
trouble and I had to go to Texas."
"Texas? Is Jack the friend me and Jenny met a couple of years ago?"
"Yup, he's come back with me, Junior. He's stayin with me. Junior is
Jenny with ya?"
"No she's out with some friends. I'm babysitting for mamma while she and
Monroe went out for lunch together."
Ennis glanced over at Jack who would've left the room to give him some
privacy but it was hard to move around much with the cast on his leg.
He made a quick decision, took a deep breath and asked Junior. "Listen,
Junior, how about you and Jenny come on by for dinner. You both can meet
Jack and well I got something we need ta talk about."
"Okay Daddy, I'll ask Jenny and see what she says I'll call ya back."
"Well I gotta take Jack to the doctor soon, just leave a message if we
ain't home when ya call."
"Okay, Daddy, I'll see ya later. I love you."
"I love you too, Junior." He hung up the phone.
"Looks like I'll be seein your girls again, huh Ennis?"
"Yep, sure nough. I know things are happening pretty quickly but I
figured no time like the present. I hope it's okay."
"Ennis they're your girls, this is your home. Course it's okay. They're
gonna have to get to know me anyhow, seeins how I'm gonna be a stepdad
to em." Jack smiled at him.
"Do what?" Ennis was shocked by Jack's declaration.
"Well, Ennis, I know we haven't got this thing figured out yet so we
gotta feel our way through this. We're startin a new life together,
becoming a family. I'm hoping maybe as time goes on and if the girls
like me that maybe they might think of me as sorta like a second dad. I
don't know, Ennis this is all so new to all of us but I think it would
be nice, dontcha think so too?" Jack rattled on in his usual way and
Ennis listened quietly in his usual way. Then he came over to Jack and
kissed him. "Did I tell ya I love ya rodeo?"
"Nope, not lately."
Jack found himself in Ennis' arms once again and rubbed his stubble
against Ennis' neck cause he knew it drove him crazy. It excited him to
no end that they'd be able to spend their lives discovering all those
little secret things that lovers know about each other to make them happy.
1pm came pretty quickly and Ennis sat in the waiting room for Jack to
come out from his doctor's appointment.
Ennis' attention was drawn away from the cup of coffee he'd been staring
at to Jack and the man in white walking behind him. He stood up and
looked at Jack for a moment.
"Hello mister?"
"Del Mar."
"Mr. Del Mar, I'm Doctor Newton, I've checked Mr. Twist's injuries,
we've taken x-rays and his injuries are healing very nicely. I want to
see him back here next week. I think we'll be able to take off the
bandages around his chest and replace that hard cast on his leg with a
soft one. I've given Mr. Twist a fresh supply of bandages so the ones
around his chest can be changed every day. Till he comes back. Please
see the receptionist and make an appointment." The doctor nodded at
Ennis and shook Jack's hand.
"Thanks, doc." He smiled at Ennis then hobbled over to the receptionist
and made his appointment for the same time next week. They made their
way out of the hospital and Jack sat down on a planter outside the
hospital entrance while Ennis went to get the truck from the parking lot
and picked him up.
"So you wanna get lunch cowboy?" his hand was on Ennis' thigh.
"Looks like you got some ideas on what kind of lunch you want, rodeo."
Jack squeezed his thigh. "Hey easy there bud, you're gonna make me run
us off the road." His hands grabbed the steering wheel tightly.
"Can't help it, handsome, I keep thinkin about what's on the menu."
"Jack." Ennis acted annoyed but his heart skipped a few beats just
listening to Jack's voice. "How about Arby's," Ennis spotted the
restaurant at a truck stop on their right.
"Sounds good, I like their roast beef sandwiches," he leaned over to
Ennis when he'd parked the truck and said "you know I also like a little
something on the side too. "He put his hand on Ennis' crotch and rubbed
it lightly. "Maybe something not so little too."
"Come on Jack, stop messing around, we gotta get back home in case the
girls call."
After lunch they headed back home.
"Home, sweet, home, huh Ennis?" Jack commented as he plopped down on the
couch.
Ennis sat next to him and placed his hand on Jack's forehead.
"What?" Jack asked.
"I am wonderin if you're feelin okay, I know your head wasn't hit but
still if you think this dump can be called home I gotta wonder if your
heads all still there. Cause this place is a shit hole, can't ya see
that boy?"
"Ennis this is the first time we're in a place together, a real roof
over our heads." He put his arms around him. "I don't care if it's a
shack, trailer or a mansion or all those tents we spent time in, my home
is anywhere you are."
Ennis kissed him, "I never thought of this place like that, felt pretty
empty and lonely," he looked deeply into Jack's eyes, "till I went and
got ya lil darlin. Can't tell ya how happy I am." Strong arms came
around him and pulled him close. Jack rested his head on his shoulder
and sighed. He enveloped Jack in his own embrace."
"Ennis, I been wonderin, what made you come down to Texas? Ya said you
thought I was in danger. How'd you know that?"
Ennis took a deep breath, he knew Jack was gonna think he was nuts.
"Well I know you're not gonna believe this but..." just then the phone
rang and Ennis got up to answer it. After a few minutes he came back and
sat on the couch.
"That was Junior, she and Jenny are coming over around five. You're in
for a treat, rodeo, Junior said she's gonna cook for us."
"She cook like you, Ennis?"
Ennis shoved him gently "No ya dumbass, she's a real good cook. Learned
from her mamma."
"Ya mean I'm gonna be eatin REAL food for a change. Finally put on a
little weight?"
"Well, ya gotta help me straighten this place up, bud. I want my
daughters to have a nice impression."
They both cleaned up, Jack did as much as he could with the cast on his
leg. He was nervous to be meeting Ennis' girls, he wondered how well
they remembered him.
Ennis had disappeared in the bedroom and Jack started getting curious.
He hobbled over and smiled as he saw that Ennis had fallen asleep on the
bed. Jack decided this was his chance to get his surprise ready for
Ennis and the girls.
When Ennis came out he was looking around the room. "What's that smell?"
"Oh just a little surprise I made for everyone." Jack had tried covering
up the smell of what he baked up with some air freshener. He tried to
distract Ennis with some conversation.
"Think they'll like me, Ennis?"
"Yeah, I think they'll be real fond of ya" he put his hands on Jack's
face and kissed him, "Just like I am." He winked at him and went into
the bathroom to clean up.
Jack was brushing his teeth when there was a knock on the door.
Jack checked himself in the mirror and came out to see two very pretty
young ladies smiling and hugging Ennis. They abruptly stopped when they
saw Jack enter the room.
"Girls this is Jack Twist, Jack this here's Junior." Ennis had his hands
on the older of the two girls, she had reddish hair, like her mother,
but had Ennis' eyes and freckles. "And this is Jenny" her hair was the
same color as Ennis' but her face looked more like Alma's.
"Hi ladies," Jack hobbled over and nodded politely at them. He sat down
gingerly on the couch.
"Hi Mr. Twist." Junior smiled at him, he knew both girls were checking
him out.
"Just call me Jack."
"Daddy I got food in the car, can you please help me in with it." Junior
asked him.
They went outside and brought in the boxes of food and soda.
"Junior you didn't have to bring all this."
"Well mamma thought you could use some groceries so don't look a gift
horse in the mouth, Daddy."
When they came back in Jenny was sitting with Jack on the couch. From
the looks of it it looked like they were having a nice conversation.
"Junior did you know that Jack was in the rodeo?" Jenny was impressed.
"Really? I sure would like to hear more about that. Jenny can you come
help me get dinner ready?" Junior was taking out the groceries and
putting things on the counter.
"I hope you like fried chicken, Jack, it's Daddy's favorite."
"Wow that's a coincidence, it's mine too!" Jack was smiling, he loved
fried chicken, and he wondered what other things they would learn they
had in common the longer they lived together.
Dinner was made in silence, Junior and Jenny working as a team. Jack and
Ennis set up the foldaway dining table.
"Is there anything I can help you girls with?" Jack asked tentatively,
he wanted to take steps to get to know the girls, but he still didn't
know what they thought about him, so he was nervous.
"No, we're set, Jack, thank you." Junior told him. She seemed to be the
more forward of the two girls. He'd have to make sure he gave Jenny some
attention too.
A short time later they were all sitting down to dinner. Fried chicken,
mashed potatoes, gravy and corn on the cob were sitting in the middle of
the table.
"Ooo, whee, Ennis you told me I was in for a treat, but I didn't think
it was gonna be this good. You girls can cook for me anytime." He smiled
as he leaned back and patted his full belly. "I musta gained ten pounds."
Yeah, girls, ya spoilin us, neither of us can cook this good."
"Thanks, Daddy, Jack." The girls said simultaneously and they all laughed.
The guys cleaned the dishes Ennis washed and Jack dried. After dinner
they sat in the small living room. Ennis was in his favorite reclining
chair and Jack and the girls were on the couch.
"So, Daddy says you're a rodeo cowboy, Jack?" Jenny spoke up softly.
"Well I was, I got too busted up back in '67 so I had to quit while I
could still walk."
Junior was sitting forward listening intently as Jack spoke about his
bull riding days. He even let slip about how a bull almost killed him
one time, something he had not told Ennis about and now regretted
mentioning cause of the painful look in Ennis' eyes.
"Wow, how did you manage to survive? Junior asked.
"Every bull rider can thank his life on a good rodeo clown. I was lucky
to have this guy Hank lookin out for me. He got that bull away from me
before he could send me to kingdom come."
Jack looked over at Ennis and could tell there was a mixture of
gratitude and jealousy in those eyes at the mention of Hank's name. He'd
have to have a long talk with him later.
"Did you ever win any awards or stuff, Jack?" Junior asked.
Before Jack could answer, Ennis reached over to one of the boxes on the
floor and put it in front of the couch and pulled out one of the belt
buckles and proudly showed it to the girls. "This here is Jack's
collection of buckles he won."
Jack was speechless, no one had ever been proud of anything he did,
except his mamma, let alone his rodeo accomplishments. Not Lureen, or
her asshole father or especially not his own daddy, himself a rodeo
cowboy who never even came to see him ride. Here Ennis was not only
bragging about him, but to his girls.
"Did you ever see him ride, Daddy?"
"No I never did, he was ridin in Texas and I was with you girls and your
mamma here in Riverton." Ennis looked over at Jack," I sure wish I had."
Jack blushed and smiled, he couldn't believe Ennis wanted to see him ride.
"How did you two meet?" Jenny asked.
"We met back in the summer of '63 when we were herding sheep on
Brokeback Mountain. We've kept in contact over the years."
"You've been friends for twenty years. That is a long time, Daddy.
You're lucky you two have been able to stay together that long. I just
broke up with my friend Ellie. We've been friends since grammar school."
"Why'd ya break up?" Jack asked her.
"She got real jealous cause she thought I was flirting with her
boyfriend, Steve, but he and I are just friends."
"Yeah cause she's seeing Kurt now." Jenny chimed in.
Junior gave Jenny a push. "So? Daddy what did you think of Kurt?"
"He seems like a nice boy, respectful, so long as he treats you right.
That is what is important to me."
"Yeah he's a gentleman Daddy. You don't have nothing to worry about."
"How did you get hurt, Jack?" Junior asked him.
"I was on my way to a sales call. I sell combines to farmers and my
truck got a flat and as I was fixing it some guys showed up wanting to
rob me and it was three against one. I thought I was a goner until your
Daddy showed up."
"Daddy how did you know Jack was in trouble?"
Ennis knew this was going to come up. He narrowly avoided having to
tell Jack about it when Junior called him.
"I had a mighty powerful feelin that something was wrong like stuff ya
might see in a nightmare crossed my mind and all I knew was I had ta get
to Texas and see him. See if he was okay." Ennis hated lying to his
daughters, but they'd think he lost his head if he told them about Natasha.
"It's a good thing he came along when he did or I woulda been done for.
Your daddy's a hero girls." Jack smiled and patted Ennis on the back.
"Oh go on, Jack." He blushed, but he scanned the faces in the room. They
were all beaming with pride.
"So you're taking care of Jack till he gets on his feet?" Junior inquired.
"Well now that's the thing I gotta tell ya girls. Jack and I been talkin
and we're gonna go into business together."
"Really Daddy?" Junior said excitedly, she was sad and worried about her
father spending his life all alone in this trailer.
"Yep, we haven't worked out all the details yet."
"We're gonna try for a cow and calf operation." Jack reiterated the
statement he'd made to Ennis several years ago at the campfire after
their four-year reunion. He's never dreamed he'd be saying it again and
this time for real.
"Sounds like a great idea," Jenny commented. "Will you be living around
here?"
"We haven't really discussed where it will be, yet. But I'll make sure
to let you girls know." Ennis assured them.
"Is everyone ready for dessert?" Jack asked.
"Sure," Junior and Jenny answered together.
Jack opened up the oven where he'd been hiding his surprise.
"I hope you all like apple pie," he put it on the table.
"You make this Jack?" Ennis was shocked. "I thought you told me ya
couldn't cook."
"I cain't cook, but I know how to bake, my mamma makes the best cherry
cake in the world. She started showing me how to bake when I was about
ten. We'd do it when my pa wasn't around. He'd get awful mad if he saw
me baking, think I was a girl or sumthin. No offence" he said to Junior
and Jenny.
Jack took the whipped cream from the fridge and put it on the table.
They each put some on a piece of pie and they all dug in. After dessert
Ennis hugged and kissed the girls goodbye and they even hugged Jack
goodbye too and left.
"Well seems there's a lot we gotta learn about each other." Ennis lit a
cigarette and offered one to Jack as they sat outside enjoying the
evening air and each other's company.
"Yes sure is, like I'd like to know why you lied to the girls about how
you knew I was in trouble."
"Whut? Whatta ya mean?" Ennis took another drag on his cigarette and
looked away.
"Ennis we've known each other for over twenty years, one thing about us
is we're pretty honest with each other 'bout most everything and one
thing I do know is truth has a way of coming out and a lie has a way of
being caught. And I caught this one a mile away. So ya gonna tell me the
truth?"
Ennis took another long drag on his cigarette, threw the butt on the
ground and stamped it out with his boot. Took a deep breath.
"Okay, I was gonna tell you the truth anyway Jack, ya gotta know I
would. I just couldn't tell the girls. Once I tell ya you'll see why.
And even then you might want to call the crazy house to carry me away."
He told Jack about going to the carnival with the girls. And about
being dragged in by the fortune teller. "I didn't want to believe her
Jack, you know me. But when she called you by name and said you were in
trouble, it was like being hit by a bolt of lightening. She told me she
was psychic and saw pictures in her head. I got this awful feeling in
my gut that she might be right. SO I hightailed it down to Texas as
fast as I could. I figured maybe we could get a big laugh if it all
turned out to be nothing but a wild goose chase." He stopped long enough
to look at Jack's face. His eyes were staring at him and his mouth was
wide open. "Okay Jack I know you think I've lost my mind, don't ya."
Jack was still silent. "Jack? Say somethin, you're scaring me now."
Jack didn't say anything, instead he grabbed Ennis by his shirt and
pulled him close to him and kissed him.
Ennis pulled away real quickly. "Jack maybe it's you that done lost your
mind. We can't be doing that out here in the open," he whispered.
"Right now I don't care if the whole fuckin world can see us. Ennis
I've never had anyone care about me as much as you do. You told me
you've never left Wyoming in your whole life, that you came down to me
to see if I was okay. I can't put it into words." Jack was smiling at him.
"Jack I got this information from some psychic. Don't that strike you as
odd?" Ennis couldn't believe it, he was worried about Jack's reaction
to how he found out he's in trouble, he didn't expect this.
"Ennis I don't care if you found out by reading the coffee grounds at
the bottom of the coffee pot." Jack stamped his cigarette out, stood up
and got his crutches and went towards the door. "Come on inside,
Ennis. I got a whole can of whipped cream we need to use up."
"But we ate up all the pie, Jack." Ennis was following him inside.
"Who says I am gonna use it on pie." Jack smiled sweetly as he hobbled
into the trailer. The door shut behind them and the lights were turned
off in the living room."
TBC
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