Milestones part 29 by Trekfan
Christmas morning and all was quiet. The sun hadn't risen yet and the happy denizens of the Brokeback mountain Ranch hadn't either.
Clara was sleeping all snug and comfortable in her warm doggie bed. The sound of footsteps softly coming down the stairs roused her. She looked up and slowly rose from her bed, yawned and stretched and wagged her tail at one of her human family.
"Hi Clara girl." Jack knelt down on his knee and petted her and hugged her. "Merry Christmas girl." She licked his cheeks and Jack gave her some breakfast, a can of premium dog food. Something special Jack had picked up as a treat for her.
Jack started the coffee maker, then turned on the Christmas lights on the tree. H ecouldn't believe he was the first one up. Usually it was Ennis who was up and at em before the rooster crowed.
'Bet I tired him out from all that rough ridin we did in the barn.' He thought. He started breakfast knowing the smell of coffee was sure to wake his man and have him down here in no time.
It wasn't long before he heard a set of footsteps coming down the stairs. Lips kissed the back of his neck and arms circled his chest. Jack turned the fire on the eggs off. "Okay who is it?" he smiled. He was turned around and he met a set of brown eyes.
"What the hell ya mean, who is it?" Who you expecting?"
"Oh some sexy cowboy. I guess you'll do." Jack smiled and kissed Ennis.
"Merry Christmas, sweetheart."
"Merry Christmas, darlin."
More footsteps coming down the stairs and Clara barking drove the couple apart.
"Merry Christmas." Junior and Jenny chimed in together. They hugged and kissed their father, then jack. Then grabbed some coffee and sat down. Jack had outdone himself for Christmas breakfast.
Eggs, bacon and sausages.
Bobby joined them, he poured himself an orange juice and sat down next to Jenny.
"Mornin," he mumbled.
"Mornin," Jack looked at his disheveled son.
"Merry Christmas."
Bobby looked up, shoveled some food in his mouth and said something that sounded like a holiday greeting.
"Well let's eat up we got presents waitin in the livin room." Jack told the group as he took the last bite of eggs and a sip of coffee and took his plate to the kitchen sink.
"Hold yer horses, bud, gawd yer worse than a kid." Ennis was stalling.
"This is our first Christmas in this house and I don't want to waste a minute of it." Jack said impatiently.
Ennis gave a meaningful look at his girls and they nodded.
"Uh, Jack?" Junior joined him in the living room.
"What is it sweetie?"
"Can Jenny and I talk to you?"
"Now?" Jack was already looking over the gifts.
"Let's take a walk." Junior and Jenny grabbed their coats and waited for Jack to join them.
Jack couldn't believe they wanted him to go for a walk now when there were gifts to open, but he quickly joined them. They walked over to the stables. The stalls were going to need mucking out, but it would wait till after the presents.
"Jack we just wanted to tell you how happy we are you and dad are together." Junior started.
"You are?"
"Yeah, it was hard at first, I mean finding out daddy was gay was a shock. Bu tit sure explained a lot." Jenny spoke up. "We knew something was wrong with daddy. Him and mom argued. I think it all made sense after you'd come up after they divorced. We saw how happy daddy was to see you and how upset you were when you drove away. Daddy's attitude changed he was real sad but he wouldn't' tell us why." Junior remembered.
"Believe me it wasn't easy to get used to the idea, but we love him so much we only want daddy to be happy. We can see how happy you make him."
"You're a good guy, Jack." Jenny kissed him on the cheek.
"And we're happy for you and daddy." Junior hugged him.
"I-I don't know what to say. I ain't never had daughters, but I'd like to think of you like my own. If that's okay."
He had some tears in his eyes.
"We already think of you like family, Jack." They had a group hug then they fed the impatient horses some carrots.
"Hey Bobby, can ya give me a hand." Ennis was putting his coat on and was going towards the front door.
"Whattya want?" Bobby had been halfway up the stairs when Ennis called him.
"I'd like ya to help me bring yer dad's gift in here. It's out in the back of my truck." Ennis stood at the bottom of the stairs.
"Go do it yourself." Bobby muttered as he headed up the stairs.
"You get your ass down here now, boy. I know ya don't like me, but yer gonna help me with Jack's gift. Now get down here and help me."
They stared at each other for a moment before Bobby relented and trudged down the stairs. They pulled the tarp off and he and Ennis carried it into the house.
"Hold onto it while I get these nailed on then we'll put it up."
"What's this for?" Bobby's curiosity curtailed any hard feelings toward Ennis.
"You'll see."
Bobby's eyes lit up when he saw what Ennis was up to. He helped Ennis putting the finishing touches on the gift then they covered it with a cloth.
Ennis could tell Bobby was a hard nut to crack but he hoped that before he left for college they'd come to some kind of understanding.
Ennis heard the backdoor open and the sound of laughter coming from the threesome, Clara brought up the rear. She barked and wagged her tail enthusiastically.
"Come on girl, it's present time." Jack petted her head and they all gathered around the tree in the living room.
Jack grabbed a box and read the name tag, "Junior and Jenny," he read the second box Ennis handed to him. He wanted both girls to open their gifts at once.
Ennis had gotten his girls necklaces with their birthstones.
They watched their father open up their gift to him and watched him tear up when he unwrapped a framed photo of them.
He kissed and hugged them both then put the photo on the mantel place.
"Thank you, girls, now I can have you with me when you're not here."
Bobby went over to the tree and gave his father his present.
"Here, dad, something I know you're gonna like." He sat on the couch next o his father as he watched him tear in.
"Oh Bobby." He'd given him a collection of his favorite BBQ sauces you could only get in Texas and a case containing BBQ utensils. He hugged his son and kissed him on the forehead.
"I had a feeling you might be missing these, I know you can't get nothing like that here."
"You know it, this is gonna see plenty of use, thank you."
Jack showed Bobby his gift, a mini refrigerator for his dorm room.
"Dad!" he hugged his father, "This is great."
The girls put a box on the coffee table.
"What's this?" Ennis asked, he glanced at Jack who shrugged.
"This is for both of you."
They tore open the present, it was a book filled with photos of the "Mountains of Wyoming." They slowly opened it and flipped through the pages until they came upon the one photo. Junior and Jenny then Bobby looked over their shoulders.
"Is that it?" Junior asked.
Ennis and Jack stared at the photo. "Yeah, that's Brokeback." Ennis whispered, Jack unconsciously reached out and took Ennis' hand.
"That's where we met, sometimes it feels like yesterday, don't it?" Jack couldn't take his eyes from the photo.
"Ahem," Bobby coughed uncomfortably.
"I got something for ya," Jack jumped up and went to the tree and plunked down two packages in front of Ennis.
"What did ya go and do Jack?" Ennis opened up the first on, it was a shirt similar to the one on Brokeback. The other box contained a pair of boots.
"I figured you almost wore holes in yer old pair so I got you those."
Ennis felt uncomfortable giving Jack a kiss or a hug but said warmly. "Thank ya."
"So?" jack leaned forward and grinned at him.
Ennis feigned ignorance. "So what?"
"Whattcha get me?"
"Who the hell said I got ya anything?" he got up and walked towards the fireplace.
I know ya got something for me."
"You sure are pushy."
"I know you like me that way."
Three groans behind them made Ennis and Jack stop their play. Ennis took jack to the far wall in the living room, Jack hadn't noticed the blanket covering something.
"What in the world?" Jack murmured.
"Well I made a promise to ya, Jack, and I fill my promises. " Ennis said shyly.
Jack pulled off the covering and his mouth fell open. Ennis had made him a display case for his rodeo buckles and awards. And had taken the dusty box that was their resting place for so many years, dusted them off and filled the shelves.
"I promised them awards would be proudly displayed once we got our own home and, well I.." Ennis didn't get to finish as Jack wrapped his arms around Ennis and kissed him. Kids be damned.
All three 'kids' stared non-plussed for a moment then Junior and Jenny smiled. Bobby was stunned then looked down at the floor. Junior and Jenny looked away too then Ennis and Jack caught their breath and separated.
"Um thank you, Ennis."
The sound of footsteps on the stairs drew their attention.
"Bobby?" Ennis called up to the young man, who thought they were done and was halfway up the stairs. "Yes?"
"I got something ta show ya."
Bobby looked at him skeptically but followed Ennis as he grabbed both their coats and led him out to the barn. Jack stayed inside with the girls. Ennis opened the sliding door and let Bobby go in first.
"Ennis?" Bobby whispered. Inside the barn was a wooden desk and chair.
"It's for school, I figured you'd need a place to study."
Bobby was running his hands over the wood. "You…" Bobby cleared his throat. "You made this for me?" he said softly.
"Sure nough, I always did like workin with wood."
"But after I… I ain't been nice to you, why would you do this for me?"
"You're family, Jack's son. Since Jack and me got together we been thinkin about how our kids was family to both of us. I know I ain't yer dad, Bobby, but I sure would like to be yer friend, if that's okay."
He noticed Bobby's shoulders slumped and he turned around, some tears streaked his cheeks.
"I'd like that too," Bobby walked slowly over towards Ennis, who had his hand out for a shake, instead Bobby threw his arms around Ennis and hugged him.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, Ennis." Bobby was sobbing against his chest.
"It's okay, son," he patted the boy's head to calm him. Bobby stepped back and wiped his eyes. "Thank you for this, sure will come in handy at school. I didn't get anything for you." He whispered with his head down.
"You gave me the best gift I could ever have, son." They both smiled as they walked back into the house, walking side by side.
Jack looked up from stoking the fire. Ennis and Bobby took off their coats. Bobby sat down beside Jenny on the couch. "So what did you get?" Jenny asked him.
"Your dad made me a desk and chair."
"That's great," Jenny leaned her shoulder against his.
"Well looks like we're all done with the gifts." Jack proclaimed.
"Ruff, ruff," Clara barked as if asking 'what about me.'
"Clara, I'm sorry, girl. We didn't forget you." Jack said, Ennis took out a chew bone for her, a box of milk bones and some toys. She wagged her tail and brought the bone to the fireplace and sat in her special place and chewed on it.
The girls packed up to leave for their mom's place."
"Call us when you get there." Ennis hugged and kissed his girls.
"We had a great time, thanks for the gifts." Junior said. Both girls hugged Jack. Bobby hugged Junior then hugged Jenny for a little bit longer. Jenny had given Bobby her phone number and told him to call her.
Ennis followed his girls out to the car. Junior got into the driver's seat but her father stopped Jenny before she opened the passenger side door.
"I know it's none of my business, but you and Bobby you ain't, um I mean." Ennis didn't know how to ask his youngest this question.
"We're friends, dad, I mean I hope it's not going to be a problem if we hang out together?"
"I just, I mean it's all so new for all of us. I just hope you'll go slow."
Jenny kissed her father's cheek and was touched by his concern. "Don't worry, daddy, we aren't going to do anything dumb. I'll speak to you soon. I had a great time." She opened up her door and sat down and put on her seatbelt." Bye Daddy and Merry Christmas!"
"Merry Christmas Daddy." Junior added.
"Merry Christmas girls. I love you."
"We love you too." They both said in a chorus, Junior started the car and they were off. Ennis stood for a few moments watching them leave. A pair of arms circled his chest and Jack put his chin on his shoulders as he joined his husband as they watched their girls leave.
"This has got to be the happiest Christmas ever." Jack whispered.
"Yeah, sure is." He turned and kissed Jack tenderly. Ennis pulled Jack towards the barn.
"Are we going to go for round two in there?"
"No dumbass we gotta muck out the stalls and take care of the cattle, there are no holidays on a ranch remember?" Ennis grunted.
"Can I help?" Bobby had put his coat on and joined them.
"Sure son," Jack said, and with that the three men trudged into the barn with smiles on their faces knowing that just for today all was right with the world.
TBC
