A/N: hey everyone i know it's been awhile, i've been kinda swamped lately. well here's chapter six. please sent comments not sure if your liken or hating this don't know if i should continue or not so please let me know. thanks to those who have commented so far.

Choices

Chapter 6: Road to a fresh start

After they finished breakfast Ennis Jack and Bobby crowded into the truck, Ennis driving. When they were settled Ennis started the truck and left Childress heading north. Bobby was very excited as he had never been out of Childress in his life. Jack and Ennis were just as excited to get their life together started. Jack pulled the map out to see where good places to stop might be, he thought it was a good idea to plan this trip properly. His trips to Wyoming in previous years he hadn't payed much attention to a map. He knew the route and only stopped when needed, pushing his truck as much as he could.

"What does it look like bud?" asked Ennis.

"Well friend Liberal just outside of Oklahoma looks like a good stopping place," answered Jack.

"Sounds like a good place, but you know Jack I woulda thought you had that map memorized," Ennis said mischievously.

"First off not in front of the boy, second we aren't gonna start that subject," stated Jack.

Jack didn't like talking about all the times he had to drive to Wyoming and back. Too many bad memories all them years without Ennis, now that Jack had Ennis he would drather forget the years he had spent driving this road alone. The trips back without Ennis were usually spent crying, though if you asked him Jack would never admit to it. Then once he got back to Childress every minute he didn't have top work was spent trying to drown his sorrows in a bottle of whiskey. Jack was happy that Bobby had decided to come with him and Ennis, because for the first part of his life Jack wasn't there for him, too rolled up in his feelings for Ennis. Jack hoped Ennis wouldn't regret the decision to live with him because he missed his girls too much. Ennis had been trying to as jack a question, "Jack what time do you wanna stop for lunch?" asked Ennis.

"JACK!" said Ennis a little louder.

"Huh, what?" said Jack.

"I said what time do you want to stop for lunch?" repeated Ennis.

"Oh, uh, how about we see what time it is when we get to Liberal," suggested Jack.

"Okay, are you alright Jack you looked a little there for a moment?" asked Ennis.

"I'm fine Just got taken back for a moment s'all," said Jack.

"Back to where?" asked Ennis.

"Don't matter," said Jack.

The subject was dropped after that. The rest drive to Liberal was mad in silence. Bobby's excitement had finally wore him out and he fell asleep before they reached the Texas state line. Ennis and Jack rode along each in their own thoughts about the future, what it could and would bring them.

It was twelve thirty by the time they reached Liberal. Jack decided they should have lunch while they where stopped. They found a little diner about three miles into town, it wasn't much to look at but it was really they only place in town to eat.

During lunch Jack and Ennis Discussed the next leg of their journey.

"The way I see it we just follow eighty-three thru Kansas and spend the night in McCook, Nebraska," suggested Jack.

"You're the one with the map bud, you just tell me where to go," replied Ennis.

"One question Ennis, do you wanna go thru Wyoming or South Dakota to get to Montana?" asked Jack.

"Whatever's easiest," answered Ennis.

"Well I thought I could drive to McCook, no reason you should have to do all the driving," said Jack.

"No Jack, I want to, after all who's been doin' the drivin' during this entire relationship?, by the way we aren't stopping in McCook," stated Ennis.

Jack backed down after that he realized that Ennis didn't want to do it, but had to for himself and for Jack. After they finished lunch, and got more gas in the truck they were once again on the road toward Montana. During this part of the drive Jack and Bobby sang along with the radio. Ennis sat in the driver's seat keeping his eyes on the road with the biggest smile on his face, knowing that this was his family and Jack was now happy. During the last few hours of driving Ennis had realized that he was happy too, and that there would be no turning back for him. He would not go back to the life that had brought him nothing but misery. Soon Bobby feel asleep and the only noise in the cab was the radio softly playing.

The silence was broken when Ennis said, "Jack, I been thinking, we haven't really discussed what we're going to do when we get to Montana."

"Buy a house start a ranch," stated Jack.

"I know that Jack, I meant the particulars, Like what kind of cows?, How many? How many horses? How much land?" asked Ennis.

"I don't know Ennis hadn't thought it all out yet figures I'd wait till I saw the land," said Jack.

"Don't you think we should be deciding?" asked Ennis.

"Well I figured as much land as we can afford, then stock it accordingly," stated Jack.

"What kind of cattle?" asked Ennis.

"Well I figured seein as you the knowledge on all things ranch related you should decide," stated Jack.

"Very funny Jack, But since you asked so nicely for my opinion I thought the best choice would Black Angus," stated Ennis.

"I guess as far as numbers we'll have to decide that once we buy the property. So does that answer all your questions Ennis?" asked Jack.

"For now till I think of something else," said Ennis with a smile.

Ten miles outside of McCook they once again fell silent, it was starting to get dark. Ennis was tired from driving all day but he wanted to get thru this he needed to. All those years jack drove to Wyoming never really complaining, Ennis needed to know what Jack went thru all those years. Jack and Ennis both decided it would be best to stop in McCook anyway for dinner. They found a little diner about as nice as the one they ate in earlier that day. They went in sat down, the waitress immediately came over with some menus and asked about drinks. Ennis and Jack both ordered coffee while Bobby ordered milk. The waitress returned to the table after a few minutes with their drinks and took their order, hamburgers and fries all around. As they waited for their food and then ate when the waitress returned not much was said among them, they were all tired from the trip and they had a lot further to go.

After they had finished their meals they paid and went back out to the truck. The got in Ennis decided it was probably best to get gas while they where in town. After they finished with the gas Ennis started towards Montana again, they would reach their destination by early morning Ennis was Sure. Jack and Bobby spent most of this part of the drive sleeping. Ennis had turned the radio on low to help keep him awake, since no one was awake to hear he also started to hum along with a couple of songs.

By daybreak Jack had woken up and guiding Ennis into Montana it was another hour to Jordan.

"Do we have enough gas to make it to Jordan?" asked Jack.

"We should be fine Jack, not much further." answered Ennis.

Around seven in the morning they drove into Jordan, it was a small town. Even though it was small it was awake and bustling with the activites of its inhabitants. As they drove along the main street they saw a grocery, post office, laundry mat, a couple apartment buildings, a bar, a motel and even a library.

"Ennis why don't we get a room at that motel sleep a few hours then get breakfast," suggested Jack.

"I think that's a good idea Jack," agreed Ennis.

Ennis pulled the truck into the parking lot of the motel. Once parked Jack got out and went to the office, he got a room with two beds he and Bobby would share like they had in Childress. He returned to the truck where Ennis was already getting the overnight bags out of the truck. Jack showed Ennis and Bobby which room they would be in, after he opened the door Ennis took the bed farthest from the door. Within minutes all three of them where asleep.