SHIRTS AND SUITS

Friday April 22nd Ennis and Jack headed to Denver leaving just after dawn not only to pick up supplies for the ranch, but take in the premier of "Young Guns" playing at a multi theater in the Cherry Creek Mall in Denver. Jack had been echoing reviews to Ennis, Ennis giving in mostly to shut Jack up. Although not in danger if being a classic both Ennis and Jack enjoyed the movie, unspoken between them but noticed by both the handsome stars as cowboys. After a meal sampling various culinary arts in the international food court the pair made their way to Macys men's department, largely deserted on this early Friday evening . Ennis who had only ever worn one suit on the day he married Alma and had never shopped anywhere outside of the old J.C. Pennys in Riverton, looked around an awe at the dozen or so mannequins, rows upon rows of suits, silk ties fanned out in concentric circles, dress shirts in a soft rainbow of stripes and colors, flanked by dark hardwood cabinetry and paneling.

"Looks like this might be expensive Jack. Sure is fancy." Ennis looks nervously at Jack.

"Do worry none. Look their having a 40 percent off coupon sale today." Jack patted him on the back.

"We got a coupon?"

"We don't need one, it's from the paper."

Wha…"

"Gentlemen how may I be of service." Greeting them warmly is a young 25ish tall very thin man dressed in a dark suit, horned rimed glasses with round lenses. A name tag reviled his name was Charles.

"We need ourselves a couple of suits 'n shirts 'n all…fer me and my friend here…fer a celebration." Jack tossing his head at Ennis.

Ennis felt himself tense up, looked at Jack beaming back at him and relaxed.

"Well gentlemen we should have something to your liking. My name is Charles, I will be most happy to help you. Your Mr.?"

"Please call me Jack…this is…"

"Ennis". They all exchanged handshakes.

"Ennis, you look like you a 40 regular, come this way…"

"A what…?"

"That's you size Ennis, I think he's right. Come let's look.."

From a row of about sixty suits in the 40 regular isle Ennis and Jack picked out three all wool worsted suits for Ennis to try on, a very dark charcoal with just a hint on pinstripe, a navy blue with white pinstripe and a light tan heather pattern. Jack found a white pinpoint oxford button down shirt, size 16" x 33" that he thought would fit Ennis and tossed it to him.

"Put his on first, help see how it looks."

"Whut's with these pants?...Huh?"

"That the way the come, they hem 'm up to the size of your leg. Go on, get in there and try one on." Jack pats him on the back gently pushing Ennis to the dressing rooms.

Jack walks back and finds Charles. "Charles…you from around here aren't ya?"

"Yes sir! Is there something I can do for you!"

"Is there somewhere here in Denver…" Jack nod in the direction of where Ennis is. "Where a couple of fellas c'n get all dressed up nice and….you know…nothing' different just…."

Charles very clear on what Jack need to know. "So no more Jack…leave it to me, set you up with some clubs."

"We don't want…."

"I know….I could see it the way you look at each other. If you don't mind my asking…what are you celebrating?"

"I guess you could say it an anniversary."

"Is it now!….how long?" .

"It's…it's 25 years, next month….weren't together until the last four years time, buts it been that long since we met…"

Charles looks enviously. "That's sure something special….my best to the both of you."

Jack walks over to check on Ennis, call from outside the dressing room. "Hey Ennis! What's goin' on in there? Be in there all day er what!. Gonna come out so I can see the goods er what?"

Ennis steps out in bare feet. Jack looks, completely taken aback by the sight Ennis standing there before him, dark charcoal suit, jacket fitting perfectly across his shoulders, double vented in back, white shirt bringing out Ennis's tan, cuffs peaking out just right at the sleeves, open at the collar. This man, his man he had known since they were barely more that boys, his man that he woke up with against, in a tangle of arms, legs and sheets now before him so handsome.

"Oh Ennis…..Ennis your beautiful…just beautiful!" Jack takes Ennis's hand in his own leans toward him.

"Jack…we can't…"

Jack tossed his head in the direction of the sales counter. "You think he'd mind?…huh?…no one else here"

Ennis smiles. "Guess mebe not…"

Jack gently brushes Ennis's hair away from his face, pulls him, touches his forehead to Ennis, kissing him. Jack then steps back holding Ennis's arms looking. into his eyes. "Your beautiful Ennis. Come on lets get a look in that three way mirror they got." Jack leads him by the arm out of the changing area on to the platform with the mirrors.

"I see you Jack but where I'm I?" Ennis looks puzzled

"That's you right there cowboy."

"That's……that's me…?" Ennis looks back at his own reflection, not recognizing the handsome dapper man before him.

"Sure is bud."

Ennis beaming, chest out, fingering the smooth wool fabric, looks at his refection from all angles with a new air of confidence.

Jack claps him on the shoulder. "That the one ya want?"

Ennis begins to pull at the price tag from sleeve.

Jack covers his hand and the tag. "If that's the one ya want, it's what we'll get, ' sides 40 percent off. Come on, my turn." Jack said before Ennis could answer.

Jack picked out a very dark grey brown and a charcoal of a slightly different pattern and shade than Ennis's. He found a white cotton shirt with fine blue stripes to put on underneath. Ennis starts to follow him. "Come on now, ya gotta see me way I saw you, all at once, go on out an keep lookin' at yourself in that three way mirror… go on get."

After a few minutes Jack emerges sans jeans and boots, fine feathered in worsted wool and cotton, finding Ennis still staring at his reflection.

"Ennis."

Startled Ennis turns, stares wide eyed at Jack, speechless.

"Ennis…….Ennis What da yer think?"

Ennis still taking the sight of Jack looking back at him dressed in finery. Looking so sharp and handsome this man before him, his man he had known from so long ago, this man he had leaning against that old black pickup that morning in Signal, the day they will celebrate. Ennis turns away, looks own.

"Should I try on another?"

Ennis nods head .

"Then what is it? Look at me Ennis." Jack touches his hand to Ennis's chin.

"Can't…Afraid I might start bawlin' Jack. ….Jack yer the purttiest thing I ever saw….damn you Jack." Ennis bits his lip.

"All yours bud." Jack takes his hand to Ennis's face. "Come on…need at get some shoes 'n belts." Jack leads Ennis.

"Shoes and belts!" Ennis recovered looks back at Jack. "This is gonna be expensive."

"Cant wear cowboys boot 's with these threads Ennis"

"Butt…." Ennis 's words were lost on Jack.

Jack picked out a pair of cordovan 'Florsheim' penny loafers and a matching elegant leather finely braded belt for himself. Ennis looking at the price tags picked up a simple black belt. Watching over Ennis, Jack took it from his hand replaced it with a finely crafted soft pigskin black belt. With Jack's help and Charles measuring Ennis's foot he picked out a pair of black 'Florsheim' oxford shoes.

"Jack….these cost almost a $100.00.…Jack."

'Those are the best Ennis, last ya forever….'sides how much does a good pair of cowboy boots cost?" Jack feeling the fit of the shoes on Ennis's feet.

"But Jack….we…."

"Can't hear you Ennis. Walk around see how they feel, pick out couple more shirts while yer up, size 16"x 33" is what you got on.."

"More shirts!. What da I need nother shirt for?…Huh?"

"Cause I ain't gonna be seen with ya wearin' the same shirt in that suit all the time, that's what. They's 40 percent off so don't ya worry none."

"Where else we gonna be wearin' this here suits."

"Don't know. Your Jenny might be getting' married soon, Bobby too. We might even go at church once in a while, now let's get." Jack nodding toward the shirt rack. After some persuading Ennis picked out a muted red and white candy stripe cotton oxford button down as well as a light blue in the same style. Jack got a white one the same as Ennis's and a blue shirt with white collar. While Ennis was holding a shirt up to the suit Jack drapes several silk ties over his shoulder.

"Ties!"

"Yeah…Them's what they are. Which do ya like best."

"Gotta wear ties too ?"

"Yup…Which da ya like best?" Looking over Ennis's shoulder.

"This one I guess…." Ennis picks out a striped rep tie.

"And?" Jack's eyebrows raised to Ennis.

"And?"

"Yeah, and? Pick out three more"

"We can share the ties 'n shirt's, that way we don't have ta….."

"Yeah we can…..pick out three more." Jack is determined.

Ennis looking back to Jack. "Damn you, Jack"

Jack smiles.

With Charles help they both were measured for alterations, Ennis gazing back at the reflection of Jack standing behind him and himself in the mirror still seeing the smiling faces of the young men they were a quarter century ago looking so different, so polished in woolen thread. Following Jack's he lead chooses a cuff hem for the pants, it seemed to look just right with his new shoes. With the feel of the rich fabric, soft cottin shirt on his skin, Ennis felt like a new man. The jacket a perfect fit needed nothing.

Now donned back in their familiar cowboy garb Ennis and Jack are at the counter ready to pay the bill.

"What's that?" Ennis said indicating a large canvas bag.

"That there is what is called a garment bag, fer storing' a suit."

"We gotta have a special bags at store them?"

"Yeah, have ta keep moths away."

"Moths? "

"The wool attract moths."

"Wool?…Can we at least keep both out suits together in the same bag?….Not get two?…Huh?"

"That kinda what I was thinking'. When the these suits aren't on our backs, be together in this here bag."

"Well…Alright then." Ennis with a look of satisfaction feeling he won this round.

"Your suits will be ready next Tuesday after five, it was a real honor to serve you this evening." Charles warmly smiled.

"Ennis looks at Jack. "We have at leave 'm here, we gonna come back next week?"

"Naw, Andy and Rita will pick 'm up fer us when they take off fer here next week." Jack looks at Ennis who is consumed admiring their packages. " Said we'd take care of the kids."

"Alright….Huh….what?" Ennis looks back at Jack.

"They's taken off, comin' here at Denver fer a couple of days" Jack replied casually.

" An were takin' care of the kids? All five of 'm? ….Huh? Fer how long?"

"Yep all five of them, that was the last count. They be gone two, three days"

"Two er three days! Just when wuz ya gonna tell me all this?"

"Thought now was as good a time as any." Jack look sat Ennis. " Ya don't mind do ya?"

Ennis looks down, then at Jack, leans ever so slightly into him shoulder to shoulder. "Course I don't."

Jack knew that Ennis's fussing about the kids was a ruse, nothing much he liked better than that having the children at foot. Ever since Andy and Rita Collins moved from Riverton to take up Jack and Ennis's offer to work on their ranch in 1985, to the five Collins children they were their much loved uncle Jack and uncle Ennis. Unspoken between them, being with the children revealed a one of many sides each had not witnessed from the other, fatherly nurturing, tenderness and ease in their company. One of Jack favorite memories was of Ennis rocking Nathan, the youngest of the Collins children, a few months after he was born feeding him with a bottle while he sang to him. Jack thought back to what Ennis said at the Collins dinner table between bits of steak and mashed potatoes not long after they moved on the ranch..

"Dont seem fair...you and Rita havin' the kids to yerselves all the time when all I's got is Jack...Mebe ya can have 'm stay over once in a while regular like...wouldn't mind ah bit...you know cuz all I got is Jack." Jack knew is was a ploy to allow Andy and Rita some time to themselves, but most of all he knew Ennis wanted to be uncles with him. With the blessing of their parents the kids reacted with excitment to be able to stay at uncle Jack and Ennis's.

On the walk back to their home Jack said as he bumped into Ennis. "Ya know what's gonna happin' don't 'cha?"

"Whut?"

"Andy 'n Rita be bringin' home 'nother kid."

Ennis looked down said quietly."Hope'n they have ten."

"What did ya say?"

"Ya heard me Jack."

"Say it again."

"Damn ya Twist...said I's a hope'n they have ten...ya otts get yerself a hearing aid or somethin'"

Jack put his arm around Ennis, pulled him in tight. "Me too." Jack whispered.

When they watching them the kids took turns riding Ennis and Jack 'horseback' around their living room, games of 'hide-n-go seek', shoulder ridding, 'Simon says' , the seven of them camping out on the rug covered mat it front of the fireplace in sleeping bags Jack and Ennis had just begun teaching the two older boys, Mathew 7 and Delano 6 always eager to help them or their dad on the ranch, how to ride a real horse.

" 'Sides thought it was the least we could do, seein's how were gonna be up in Wyoming fer two weeks er so, first of June." Jack replies.

"Yeah well….Huh?…What ?…were going toWyoming?"

"Yep."

"What fer?"

"Got a lot more celebrating at do, go at the Big Horns, haven't been up since we moved to Denver. Also…thought …thought it was time I took ya to Lightning Flat."

"And just when wuz ya gonna tell me all this?…Huh?" Ennis looks back at Jack.

"Seem like now ah good a time as any. Ya wanna go don't cha?" Jack looks back feigning disappointment leaning against Ennis..

Ennis looks down. "Sure I do…Just like at know what goin on one day ta next is all, don't need you…."

Ennis words are interrupted when Charles keeping himself available while mindful of his customers privacy returns presenting the receipt. Jack pushed Ennis away with his shoulder so he couldn't see the total as he signed it. This turns into a contest of force, Jack pushing away with his left arm and the rest of his body while he signs, Ennis pushing against Jack so he could see.

"How much did we spend?" grunted Ennis as he is attempting to see over Jack's shoulder.

"Grrrrrrrr…..Don't matter none….got ….40 percent…..off". Jack managed to get out between heavy breaths. "Be worth every penny."

"Just how many pennies."

"Ennis!…" Jack gave a look that there was no negotiation and nothing revealed.

Before any wares were toppled over the slip was handed back to Charles the two relaxed their thrust, still leaning against each other.

"Not gonna tell me are ya?"

"Reckon not."

As the pair gathered their bags, and began to walk out to the parking lot to Ennis's pickup ,Ennis could be head mumbling. "That Jack Twist, thinks he got ever thing figured out draggin' me down here, all over Wyoming…"

"What was that?" Jack said as reached his hand to Ennis's shoulder, squeezed his neck.

Just over an hour later, clock on the dashboard radio dial reading 9:38, Ennis had turned the pickup north on State Road 52, leaving the two ribbons of well traveled Interstate 76 with huge semis heading to north eastern destinations, students returning to eastern universities from spring break, snowbirds making their slow way north after the winter, to a nearly straight deserted two lane country road, no sign of traffic this time of night. Still almost twenty miles to go now long after dark with nary a quarter moon, their faces bathed in the light of the instrument panel, in companionable silence lulled by the hum of the motor, hiss of tires on the pavement. Jack stretched out on the passenger side, his left foot resting on the transmission tunnel vying for space with the floor mounted gearshift, his knee next to Ennis. Jack rested his arm on the two boxes of shoes sat on the bench seat between them, the large fancy Macy's bag with all their shirts, belts and ties on the floor next to his right leg. Jack nudges Ennis's leg with his knee. "So Ennis over there ….Ya have fun today?"

Ennis watching the road ahead, hands on the wheel, left arm resting on the window sill. "Yeah…it was ok."

"Did ja like the movie?"

Yeah…it was alright."

"Like your new suit?" Jack nudging his leg again.

"Guess I will when I get it."

"Ennis I've been thinking…"

Ennis looks at Jack. "Seem at be doin' a lotta that lately."

"Ah …we need at get good haircuts…you know professional ones."

"What! ….Been cutting' each other's hair."

"Yeah that's why be a good idea ta let…."

"Even at Brokeback that summer we cut each others hair. You know after…."

"Good thing no one else around at see us . 'Sides even now we usually got are hats on."

Ennis is silent staring at the road.

"Boy, in those suits with good hair cuts you an me, we'll look like movie stars. Charles says a place we c'n go, not to expensive, cut it real good, bet they can teach us at cut better on each other. We c'n just head in early at Denver that day , get a cut….what da ya say Ennis?" Jack looks pleadingly at Ennis.

"Guess your not gonna let me say no are ya?"

"If ya don't want to….I mean I'd be their right with ya….Won't let anybody do anything to ya you don't want….but if'n you'd rather not…." Jack leans his leg against Ennis.

"I'll go." Ennis said quietly.

"You will! " Jack smiled at him, reached over and squeezed his neck, then resting his arm on his shoulder.

A few minutes later Ennis grew quiet looking at the road ahead. Jack looked to him. " Somethin' wrong Ennis?"

"Nope...Just...Just real glad yer here...sittin' right with me...is all." Ennis reaches over to Jack's knee next to the gearshift, squeezing it.

"Well I tell you what." Jack looking at Ennis. "I ain't never goin' nowhere."

"I know." Ennis said looking ahead.

"Want ya hanging on ta me when I's takin' my last breaths." Jack said more serious.

"What!...Are you...gonna..." Ennis replied with a worried look on his face." Is that why...were..."

Jack places his hand on Ennis's neck, kneads it. "It's ok cowboy...I ain't gonna be plannin' that event fer a good 40 or 50 years at least."

"Damn you Twist, goin' an givin' me a scare like that...otta hang ya..." Feining anger.

"And then where would you be?" Jack laughing.

Ennis recovers, eyes on the narrow two lane road. After a mile of pavemant pased underneath them he looks at Jack then back on the road. "I'll...I'll be there with ya...you know ...holdin' ya..."

Ennis clapped him on the knee gripping him. Jack moved the shoe boxes to the floor, stretched out on the seat resting his head against Ennis's side, almost immediately falling into a peaceful sleep. Among the night sounds of even breath of Jack's slumber, hiss of the tires on the asphalt, insulated hum on the pickups engine Ennis reached down cradeling Jack's head in his arm. running his fingers through his hair and said almost in a whisper. "I...love you Jack" Remaining that way until they reached the long driveway to their ranch, Ennis needing to shift down as he slowed on the gravel, dirt road.

Ennis sets the parking brake as he turned off the lights . He slaps Jack hard in the leg. "Were home bud. Time at get that carcass of yours in the house." Ennis takes the two shoes boxes out as he exits the pickup.

Jack sits up still sleepy takes his hat from the floor puts it on. Ennis walks around the front of the truck looks at Jack slowly emerging from his open door. Ennis gently sets the boxes on the hood, walks to Jack and takes him in a fierce embrace, holding him hard, nearly knocking his had off, taking his breath away, pushing his face tight against Jack's, chin on his shoulder. "Thank you Jack." Ennis whispers almost inaudibly.

After a minute Ennis releases Jack picks up the boxes, walks up the steps to the front door turns back. Jack still sleepy and in a daze stares back at Ennis.

"Comin' in er what cowboy?…..Er are ya gonna stay out there with your hat all crooked?" Ennis tilts his head to the front door.

Ennis opens the door turns to head in. "You might be bringin' those bags in." he call back.

Jack follows.

END OF PART TWO.