When Jack woke up he felt cold and found himself alone in the motel room. Ennis's jacket was gone from the chair and Jack started getting slightly worried. What if Ennis had woken up and realized that he did love Alma after all? What would happen then? His thoughts were cut short when the door opened and Ennis came in, breakfast in hand.

"Thought you left me" Jack said and Ennis shook his head and handed him a sandwich.

"That ain't gon' happen" Ennis promised before he took his jacket off and sat down on the bed beside his partner. "You didn't wanna stay at your daddy's place, but what are we gon' do then, huh? Barely any money left" Jack sighed. Someday he would tell Ennis about his childhood, and all the things his father did. Ennis suspected there was something he wasn't telling him, but he knew he would when he was ready.

"We'll figure somethin' out" Jack simply said and Ennis sighed at his lack of concern, but gave up for now.

"Did that peasant leave?" John grumbled when he stepped through the door in the early hours. Rose felt her fists clench. How on earth could the wonderful man she married have turned into this over the years?

"He is your son, John" She reminded him, instead of answering his intitial question.

"He's your son" He said before sitting down at the table and grunted something about wanting coffee.

Ennis and Jack had checked out of the motel and were sitting in the car, looking at a map.

"What if we go down to Texas, see if I can get some rodeoin' done and make a couple hundred bucks?" Jack said and Ennis shook his head.

"You'll break somethin' ain't worth it" Ennis grumbled and Jack didn't put up a fight, it was nice hearing that Ennis cared.

"You got a better idea?" Ennis sighed.

"If we get a couple of jobs we can afford somethin' to live in in a few weeks"

"Until then?" Jack said, if they were going to stay in motels they would be spending all the money they were making and would never have enough.

"We got this truck, reckon we can make do for awhile" Jack nodded. Living in a car wasn't ideal, but it would be better than nothing.

"Alright" Jack said and folded up the map. Ennis took his hand and looked down on the floor.

"I love you so much" Ennis admitted and when he looked up into Jack's eyes he thought he could almost see him tear up a little bit.

"I love you too" Ennis smiled and Jack pressed their lips together. Ennis couldn't remember himself saying those words to anybody in his entire life, but it wasn't hard. He loved Jack and despite the danger they may endure, that mattered.

Two days later Jack had gotten a job on a ranch and Ennis had one fixing cars. They figured it would be easier and safer if they had different jobs, and no one knew that they knew each other. Ennis may have started to work past his fear, but they still had to be careful. This wasn't exactly Ennis's dream job but he knew he wouldn't have to keep it for very long. As he struggled getting an engine going, he also struggled with the decision of whether to tell Jack what he and K.E had to see when they were little. He didn't want to scare Jack away, but he figured that Jack knew what could happen to guys like them if the wrong people found out. At this point, Ennis had figured out that there was a lot Jack hadn't told him about his father and childhood. Ennis told himself that Jack would tell him when he was ready, and that's what Ennis had to do as well. Jack deserved to know. He also had to call his brother and sister and tell them that the wedding was off. Everytime he thought about it he shook his head. He doubted Alma would call them and tell them but who knew? Honestly, Ennis was surprised about how Alma reacted, he thought there would be bawling and screaming, but she just sat there. Ennis had decided to call Cecilia and K.E tomorrow, but he wouldn't tell them that he had fallen for a guy. He didn't know if Cecilia would be supportive, as she hadn't seen what Ennis and his brother had. But he knew how K.E would react. He would not be happy.
Jack sighed and exited the barn. He had preferred it if they could have the same job, but he had to admit that Ennis was right. The safer the better. Both jobs were good pay, though. At this rate they could afford to buy at least a small apartment in a couple of weeks, someday they wanted a ranch but an apartment was better than the truck. Jack's back was already in pain despite Ennis's efforts to make him feel better at night. He smiled at the memory of last night.

Jack crawled over to Ennis's side and straddled his lap.
"This okay?" Ennis sighed and Jack nodded.
"Yes" He moaned when he sank down onto Ennis.

Snap out of it, Twist this is not the time.

When they met up in the truck three hours later, Ennis greeted Jack with a deep kiss.

"Missed you"

"You too, rodeo" They kissed again and Ennis looked out the window, at the bar across the street. "We'll be making good money now, reckon we should get us a drink" Jack agreed and pressed their lips together once more before exiting the car.

As they were drinking their beers Jack nudged Ennis and gave him a look that said he loved him. Of course, he couldn't say it aloud here.

"Ennis" They turned to the way of the voice and Ennis managed a small smile.

"Hey. Jack this is Charlie" Charlie sat beside Jack and took his hand.

"Nice to meet you, this the guy who..?" She asked Ennis and he nodded.

"I'm confused" Jack said and looked between them a couple of times. "How do yall know each other?"

"It's a long story" Ennis sighed not wanting to get into detail of it all.

"Not really. I convinced him to go after you" Charlie smiled, proud of herself. She had always been confident, but never cocky. As Jack and Ennis exchanged a few words just between them she felt happy for them. Since her husband passed away last year, she hadn't really had a lot of joy in her life, but she tried her best to make other people happy.

"So where are yall staying?" Charlie asked, taking another swing of her beer. Ennis looked at Jack, silently asking if they should tell the truth.

"Sleeping in the truck right now, figure we have money for somethin' more in a couple of weeks" Ennis mumbled and she nodded.

"Wait you're staying in your car? You can't do that?" When Jack mumbled something about them being fine Charlie got an idea.

"Come on, stay at my place, a couple of weeks is nothing. Between me and my brothers we have so much space it'd be good to fill it up for awhile"

"We can't force you to do that, ma'm" Jack said and Charlie shook her head.

"I insist, and please call me Charlie"

"What are you brothers gonna think, huh?" Ennis asked and shook his head.

"One is eight and my older brother would never judge anyone. You can't tell me it wouldn't be nice to have an actual roof over your head?" Ennis and Jack looked at each other, it would be nice.

"Already then, you're very kind" Jack said and Charlie wrote down an address on a piece of paper that she slid over to them.

"Come over when you're ready"

When Ennis looked over at Jack they were both thinking the same thing, that for once, things may work out. They were gonna have a place to stay and from a looks of it, a pretty good friend. Once they got some money they could get a ranch, fix it up. Ennis squeezed Jack's leg and he knew what he wanted to say.
I love you.