Vignette 10 - 1976

Spring

Jack watched from the back porch as Ennis emerged from the stables, leading Lily out on one of their calmer horses. He could hardly believe than she was eleven already, and would turn twelve this year. Sometimes she made him feel old, but then he would remember everything they'd experienced with her and he knew it was all worthwhile.

Anyway, he and Ennis were no longer young themselves. They would both turn thirty-three this fall, and they were both starting to feel age creep up on them. They were a lot stronger now than they used to be, but they didn't have quite as much boundless energy as they used to. Jack was just glad that their sex life hadn't taken a nosedive.

He could recall their conversation long ago, in a motel in Wyoming. They had wondered if things between them would change as they aged when it came to sex, and Jack had to admit that things were a little different. There were times when they could go more than one time a night, but not as much as they used to be able to. Still, Jack had no complaints. When they were alone and were struck by their attraction to one another, no other force on earth could hold them back.

Jack smiled to himself as he saw Lily sitting high in her seat, looking like a natural. He then saw the look of pride on Ennis's face and knew that it was worth everything else.

Summer

Ennis and Jack dismounted from their horses and approached the grave, both of them silent. Neither of them could quite believe that it had been just over ten years since Becky died, yet here they were. Both of them missed her terribly and knew that Lily wanted a mother, but there was nothing they could do about that now. They had done the very best they could as surrogate parents to their niece, and all of their friends had complimented them on the great job they'd done.

They laid their flowers down on the ground in front of the headstone, Jack blinking back stinging tears. The pain of losing his little sister was always raw at certain times of the year, this being one of them. When they stood back, he felt Ennis put an arm around him, squeezing him.

"S'alright, Jack," he murmured, kissing his hair. "You can let it out if you want...just you an' me here." Ennis didn't judge Jack; he never had.

Jack leaned into him and a few tears escaped from his eyes. He wiped them away and took a deep breath, smiling through his tears.

"Sure do miss ya, Becky. Wish you was still here with us."

"I reckon she is," Ennis said softly, looking down at the grave. Jack nodded.

"Yeah." He sighed. "Well...happy birthday, sis. We'll bring Lily to see you later, alright?" He touched the headstone, Ennis murmured similar words and they turned back, heading for the horses and home.

Fall

Jack hurried up the stairs, eager to get to their bedroom. It was his birthday and Ennis had told him to lock up, as he had a surprise for him. When he got to their room, he knocked on the door. "Ennis?"

"Come in," replied a low, sexy voice that went straight to Jack's groin. When he entered the room, he stopped in his tracks. His cowboy was sitting there naked, leaning against the headboard and his legs wide, deep brown eyes full of lust. "C'mere, Jack."

He needed no further prompting. His clothes were quickly discarded and he crawled onto the bed, kneeling between Ennis's legs and pulling close for a kiss. He suspected that the red wine was making Ennis a lot bolder than usual, and he sure as hell liked it. "Ennis..."

His lover didn't respond, but rolled him over onto his back and went to work, lips travelling down his body as Jack grew even harder. He reached his target and took Jack into his mouth, holding his hips as Jack bucked upwards, chest heaving. Jack grabbed the bars and held on tight as Ennis worked him over, one hand now moving around. It slipped around Jack's waist and headed south, working its way inside him.

Jack moaned aloud and released into Ennis's mouth, gasping for breath. Ennis crawled back up and kissed him, letting Jack taste himself. Jack's hands sought his face.

"Happy birthday, darlin'," he said softly, brushing Jack's hair from his forehead.

Winter

It was almost midnight, and everybody was in position for the midnight kiss as 1977 approached. Ennis and Jack were stood waiting, their eyes on each other and smiles on their faces.

They thought back to the years they'd already had together, and were looking forward to the years ahead. Jack smiled and squeezed Ennis's hand.

"Five, four, three, two, one...happy New Year!" everybody cheered, leaning in for kisses and embraces. Two particular pairs of lips met like magnets, arms wrapping around each other.

"Happy New Year, Jack," Ennis murmured, both of his hands holding Jack's face in the way he liked. Jack's eyes sparkled up at him, full of happiness.

"Happy New Year, Ennis. Can't wait to see what's gonna happen this year. I know things are changin', with Lily gettin' older, but...I still know that things are gonna be good for us. One thing that'll never change...is how much I love you."

Ennis kissed Jack again and pulled him close. "Right back at you, bud. Love you too, Jack." They stood there and swayed a little. Even though the room was full of people, it felt as if they were completely alone, lost in their own world where it was just the two of them, like on a mountaintop so long ago. Lots of things in their lives had completely changed since then, but their feelings for each other would never fade away. It would remain steady and strong no matter what life might throw at them.