Chapter 14

Ennis tossed and turned the entire night. He felt like hell when the sun finally came up. He figured he'd only slept about two hours altogether. Good thing he didn't have to work. The way he felt, and probably looked, he'd scare all the visitors away for sure. He sat up on the edge of his bed with his head in his hands. He was hung over. He'd only had one beer at the lake, but made up for it upon returning home. Shit, I need coffee.

He staggered to the coffee pot, then into the bathroom. His reflection in the mirror startled him. His eyes were droopy and blood shot. I could even scare a bear away. He reached for aspirin and went to check the progress of the coffee. Back at his little table he swallowed the pills with a small glass of water. I'll be okay...I wonder how K.E. is this morning.

He peeked through a crack in his curtain. Jack's jeep and Rob's SUV were already long gone. Maybe I'd have been better off if I'd been going in today. Maybe I would have controlled myself last night after getting back.

Last night...that was one Fourth of July he wouldn't soon forget. He'd gotten back to join the others just ahead of Jack. He'd been surprised that Jack had even come back to watch the fireworks with them. The last thing he'd expected was for Jack to ditch Gavin after...after what? You don't know anything about what was going on between them.

The coffee maker sputtered, spitting out the last of the coffee as the steam rose. Ennis got up to fill his cup. He didn't add anything, he needed it black. And the last thing he wanted was food of any kind.

He couldn't stop thinking about the night before. Jack had acted normal when he got back from his little meeting...or rendezvous...with Gavin. What the fuck else was it if not some kinda tryst? Way out by themselves hiding around the tufa towers? But why didn't Jack stay and watch the fireworks with Gavin and his grandparents? Why did he come back?

I gotta do something, and fast. But how the hell can I do anything with all these people around? Now there's two more besides all the others. Jack's not gonna have any free time until they leave clear at the end of the weekend, and today's only Thursday. Ennis groaned and rubbed his head.

...

"We were up toward the highway in about the third row. It was a bright red SUV, about the color of your jeep. I don't know how everyone could have missed us," Lureen said with pouty lips.

"I didn't walk around that much. I didn't go in that direction at all," Jack said.

"Alma and I didn't walk up that way either, sorry we didn't find you, Lureen," Liz said.

"Didn't you walk around looking for us?" Jack asked.

"Not much. I was too busy with my out-of-town relatives. We never have a chance to visit."

"Well, as long as everyone had a good time," Alma said. "I know I did."

"Yeah, it was a good time, but now it's nose to the grindstone. I gotta get ready for my patio talk," Rob said.

"I'm in the bookstore today," Liz said.

Everyone took their places and began the day. With the holiday having fallen mid week, that seemed to have cut down on the number of tourists, although Lureen and Alma were both busy with groups at the moment. Jack hoped the morning would be slow because Jeff and Heather were planning to stop in and he wanted to have a little time to show them around. There hadn't been a chance for Jack to get Jeff alone the night before or that morning to get his impression of Ennis. He was dying to hear what he thought.

The front door opened again and Jack figured whoever it was would be his to handle. Before he took his attention away from the computer screen to greet the guest, he heard boots click clicking across the floor and immediately recognized the sound of the footsteps. He looked up and smiled.

"Gavin," he said. Right behind Gavin were his grandparents.

"Mr. and Mrs. Hunter, welcome," Jack said.

"Hello, Jack. Good to see you," Mr. Hunter said.

Gavin's grandmother just smiled.

"We're on a little drive and thought we'd stop in so we could say hello," Gavin said. "Hey, Jack, I got my dogs out in the truck. Ya wanna come meet 'em?"

"Uh, well, I don't know if I should leave the desk. We're pretty busy."

"Go ahead; I don't have to be outside for a bit. I'll stand in," Rob said, as he walked up beside Jack.

"Okay, thanks, I won't be long," Jack said.

"Granma, Gramps," Gavin said to his grandparents. "I'm gonna take Jack out ta see the dogs. Why don't ya relax a bit. Maybe you'd like ta see the film, or...Rob, when's your patio talk?"

"Twenty minutes," Rob answered. "History of the Mono Basin is my topic today."

"Maybe y'all wanna hear Rob's patio talk?"

"That sounds nice," Gavin's grandmother said.

"Well, then let's go outside and get a seat," Gavin's grandfather said.

Gavin put his hand on Jack's shoulder as they leisurely walked toward the front door. Jack pulled away as soon as he could and kept his distance on the walk to the parking lot. The dogs began barking out the half-open window when they saw their master. Gavin smiled and clapped his hands which made the dogs bark even louder and jump frantically on the truck seats. Jack expected them to be larger, but they were about the size of the Border Collie he'd seen tending the sheep.

"These are my buddies," Gavin said when they reached the truck. They told me at the pound they thought they were Labradingers." Gavin chuckled.

Jack laughed. "What the heck is a Labra...whatever?"

"Labradinger," Gavin said, obviously trying to say it with a straight face. "Don't laugh, they're good dogs. Part Labrador and part English Springer Spaniel." Gavin opened the door and they bounded out and proceeded to jump all over Jack.

"Felix and Oscar!" Gavin shouted. "No jumping on Jack," he commanded. They didn't seem to know what he said, or didn't care.

"They're learnin' real good, really...they haven't hardly been jumpin' on granma and gramps at all. I guess they like you," Gavin said with a smile.

Jack tried desperately to keep their paws off his uniform. "Shit," he said, but then broke into laughter.

Gavin pulled them away by their collars. "Sit down," he commanded. They both calmed down some, but didn't sit. Their tails looked like they were wagging a hundred miles an hour.

"They're real nice dogs," Jack said.

"Thanks for comin' out ta see 'em," Gavin said. There was an uneasy silence, but it didn't take Gavin long to fill it. "Glad ya weren't afraid ta come out and be alone with me." He looked Jack in the eye and grinned. "Seriously, last night...last night..."

"You don't have to say anything, Gavin," Jack said.

"But I want to...I was a little bit drunk I guess, yeah, I was...but...well, you know how I feel about you..." Gavin looked away. Jack hated that Gavin seemed so forlorn, but there was little he could do about it. It wasn't right to lead Gavin on when he was attracted to someone else. Maybe that made him a fool, but the fact was, it was Ennis he was interested in.

Jack was relieved when they heard a car driving up. The dogs began to bark again, so Gavin hurried to put them back inside the truck. Jack recognized Jeff's blue Kia. He smiled and waved. "Those are my friends from L.A.," Jack explained.

"Oh, good, then I can meet 'em."

"Yeah," Jack said.

Jeff and Heather quickly joined them. Their breathing sounded labored from the brisk walk across the parking lot. Evidently Heather was a big dog fan because she noticed Felix and Oscar first thing, and instead of waiting to be introduced to Gavin, she went straight for the dogs, talking to them through the window. While Jack still had Gavin's attention, he hurriedly introduced him to Jeff before Gavin stepped over to his truck to introduce himself to Heather and show off his dogs.

"So, that's Gavin Hunter," Jeff whispered.

"In the flesh," Jack said. He and Jeff shared a laugh.

Jack was glad when Jeff didn't say anything further about Gavin, rather joined in on the conversation about the dogs. Gavin had let them out of the truck again. Jack wished they could talk some more because he was enjoying the dogs too, but he'd left Rob tending to his duties, and it was time to get back.

"Hey, you guys...can we move this inside? I'm not really on a break so I've gotta get back," Jack said.

"Yeah, let's all go inside," Gavin said. "You two will wanna see where Jack's been spendin' his time this summer."

"This building is really impressive, and the lake, wow, I can't even begin to find the words," Jeff said as they walked up to the front door.

Inside, visitors needed help. Jack had to relieve Rob so he could get outside for his patio talk. Gavin decided to join his grandparents, and Heather also went out to take in Rob's talk. Jeff hung around inside checking out some of the displays. When Jack was able to take a breather, he introduced Jeff to Lureen.

"Jack, Alma and I can handle things for awhile if you and your buddy want to talk. Go on outside, or upstairs if you want," Lureen offered.

"Okay, thanks, I'll make it fast."

"Jeff, how 'bout we take a walk down the boardwalk." Jack motioned for him to follow.

Before they even reached the wooden walkway, Jack started in with the questions. "I've been dying to hear what your impression of Ennis is. What did you think?"

"Yeah, Ennis...the tall serious guy with the blond hair." Jeff chuckled.

"What's so amusing?" Jack asked.

"Oh, nothing. Just that I don't think it's gonna matter what I think. I can tell you're crazy about him the way you look at him."

"Damn, do you think other people know?"

"Probably not. You forget how well I know you."

"Right...but I'm really interested in what you thought about him."

"I thought he was nice. Real handsome, no question about that."

"But..."

"Did I say but?"

"No, but I sense there's something you're not saying."

They had reached the boardwalk by then. "Hey, there aren't any snakes along here, are there?" Jeff asked. "That scrub brush is pretty close to the walkway. I can just picture a big fat rattle snake coiled up ready to strike." He shook his head, closed his eyes, and hunched up his shoulders as if trying to remove the image from his mind.

"Don't change the subject, Buddy. I really want your opinion."

As they walked, Jeff's voice took on a serious tone. "It's just that...well, what are you hoping will happen between you two? I mean, in less than two months you'll head back to Los Angeles, and then what? Are you interested in a summer fling?"

"I could ask the same thing about you and Heather. After you graduate, you're planning to move to Colorado. What about Heather? If you're still together would you ask her to go with you, or what?"

"That reminds me, I haven't asked you what you think about Heather?"

"I think she's real nice. Pretty, down to earth. I like her just fine."

"Me and Heather will have a chance to get to know each other for a whole year before I graduate. We should have some idea if it's serious by then and can go from there. You and Ennis will be separating before you've had much of a chance to get to know each other."

"I know. I've thought about that...but, it's not like we're worlds apart. I mean, there are telephones, it's just a six hour drive, and we can visit if we want. Then after I graduate, if I can get a job up here, well, problem solved."

"Do you think he'd go for a long distance relationship?"

"I don't know...like I said before, there are some issues to work through before even thinking about stuff like that."

"Is there anything you're not telling me?" Jeff asked.

"Like what?"

"I don't know. I get the feeling there's something."

Jack wondered if Jeff had picked up on his concerns about Ennis' brother. That could sure be a stumbling block. "I'm not sure really. For now it's not relevant."

"What's not relevant?" Jack was silent. "Jack, come on, tell me."

"Ennis has a brother who could be a problem. I don't know much about him though."

"Yeah..." Jeff said. He had a worried look on his face. "Which is why I really don't know what to say, Jack. Sure, he's good looking, nice, seems to have a lot in common with you, but..."

"Yeah, I know."

"And, now I've met Gavin too."

"What does he have to do with anything?"

"Well, I mentioned the way you look at Ennis? I saw the way Gavin looks at you."

"I told you before that as far as I'm concerned, it's Ennis all the way."

"All right, you handle it the way you see fit. I'll support you whatever you do, you know that...and if things progress, of course I won't mind if Ennis comes to L.A. to visit. We have room. No problem."

"I suppose you want me to say that I don't mind if Heather stays over, huh?"

Jeff laughed. "Well, yeah, that'd be nice."

"You know I wouldn't mind," Jack said. "Uh, you did tell her I'm gay, right?"

"Yeah, course I did. She's cool with it. Nothin' to worry about there."

They had reached the end of the quarter mile boardwalk which put them fairly close to the lake shore. The water looked especially blue that morning. Perhaps it was the big, white, fluffy clouds above that made the color so intense, or the white island that was visible from where they stood. Whatever it was, it was alluring. Perhaps Gavin's idea about skinny dipping in the lake wasn't so bad….would have to be the right person though to get Jack to shed his clothes and jump in naked. Ennis was that person.

They turned around to head back. When he wasn't conversing with Jeff about the lake and area, Jack had Ennis on his mind. The work schedule wasn't on his side. It would be Monday before they worked together again, and who knew when they'd be off on the same day. And back at their home base, the only chance they had to talk was sitting in the chairs outside Ennis' trailer in plain view of everyone. Besides that, Jeff and Heather were there till Sunday morning, and he had an obligation to try and be a good host. There just wasn't going to be any time for him and Ennis for awhile.

Last night they may as well have been on different planets as little as they talked. Ennis wanted to go off to visit with Don, and then Jack almost really blew it by going for that walk. Why had he gone off with Gavin anyway? That was really a stupid thing to do. They could have walked around where all the rest of the folks were, but no, he followed blindly, way out to the tufas. He'd given Gavin the wrong idea, he knew that, and it sure wasn't going to happen again. Besides that, he'd gotten an ear full when Gavin let his anger out about Ennis. Too much information, and he knew that Ennis would be embarrassed, to say the least, if he knew what was said.

Jack had to focus on building a relationship with Ennis. He needed to try and put a plan in motion. How could he do that without spooking him...that was the million-dollar question.

...

When Rob's patio talk was finished, Gavin and his grandparents, and Jeff and Heather stopped at the desk to say goodbye. "We're on our way to ride horses," Jeff said.

"You'll have a good time," Jack said. He felt bad to abandon them being stuck at work like he was, so he was glad they could go out and entertain themselves. He'd been lucky to get the actual holiday off though, and he'd be off Saturday and Sunday, so he couldn't complain. And that night he planned to drive to Mammoth with them for dinner and a movie.

"You going to the stable on the loop?" Gavin asked.

"Yeah," Jeff answered.

"We had fun ridin' that day, didn't we, Jack?" Gavin asked.

Jack did have fun that day and smiled when he thought about it. "It was a real nice day," he said.

Gavin sighed. "Well, shall we head on out?" he asked his grandparents.

"Yes, I think we're ready to go," Gavin's grandmother said.

"Nice seein' you again, Jack. Nice meeting you all," Gavin's grandfather said.

"Later," Gavin said. He took his grandmother's arm and the three of them walked slowly out of the center.

"We'd better get going too," Jeff said.

"Okay, have fun. I'll see you after work," Jack said.

After they were gone, Jack got back into work mode and began putting maps and brochures in order. He felt like he'd slacked off what with all the personal visitors he'd had that morning.

Just then another familiar face appeared. It was Helen along with two kids who looked about ten and twelve years old. "Helen," Lureen greeted with a smile. "These can't be your grandchildren, can they?"

"Yes, they are. Haven't they sprouted up like bean poles? Megan's nearly a teenager already." Helen and Lureen laughed. Helen ruffled the boy's scraggly dark hair. He looked awkward and embarrassed. His sister rolled her eyes.

"Lureen, go ahead and visit with Helen and the kids. I'll cover for you," Jack said.

"Are you sure?" Lureen asked.

"Get going before I change my mind," Jack said. "Is Alma in the mediaroom?"

"Yes, she's starting the film. She should be out soon, and Rob will be down after his break."

The four of them headed toward the bookstore. Jack heard them talking about getting the kids some posters and water bottles with Smokey Bear on them.

Jack was reminded that there was work to do when a man stepped up to the desk. "Sir, I have some questions about camping."

"Ask away," Jack answered, giving the tourist his undivided attention.

To Be Continued...