Dallas, Texas

"Sue Ellen? Is everything ok? You seem distracted. Please remember that you can always talk to me". Sitting in Sue Ellen's car as they made their way back to Southfork after a DOA meeting, Miss Ellie was hyperaware of the silence that surrounded them, and paired with the recent awkwardness at family meals and the general tension between JR and Sue Ellen, especially their shouting and arguing a few nights ago, she was concerned. Wincing at the question, Sue Ellen mentally scolded herself for being so obviously distracted, but after a moment of thinking about the situation as a whole, she felt differently. Turning toward Miss Ellie, she gave her a weak smile before speaking a few words, "I suppose I'm just feeling a little out of sorts right now due to all of the issues JR and I have been having lately, and now with Jock's involvement, it didn't seem right to burden you with my troubles. In general, a wife should support her husband, so to make you choose between me and Jock wouldn't be fair". Although it was a little awkward, she realised as she thought about it that it wasn't fair to lie to her mother-in-law by telling her that everything was ok when it wasn't, especially when she was so irritated with JR for lying to her; lying to her mother-in-law to 'protect her feelings' would make her a hypocrite.

In giving a basic explanation of why she seemed distracted, she had assumed that Miss Ellie had at least a basic understanding of the situation she and JR were in and what her own husband had to do with it, unfortunately though, from her quick head turn and strong verbal command, Sue Ellen realised that her assumption wasn't exactly correct. "Jock's involvement? Pull over, right here", hearing her husband's name and knowing that Sue Ellen wasn't a bad person and wouldn't speak slanderously of him without reason, Miss Ellie knew that something was really wrong, and she wanted to know exactly what that was, because Jock certainly hadn't told her anything himself. Hearing the seriousness in her mother-in-law's voice, Sue Ellen turned into a side street and then pulled over to the side. Stopping, she turned toward Miss Ellie and waited for her to speak again, though when she did, her words only made her feel more anxious about the whole situation. "It's no secret that JR hasn't been the best husband lately and it's no secret that you two have been having a few problems, however, my husband's involvement, whether he meant it to be or not, is apparently quite secretive, because I truly have no idea what Jock has to do with this whole situation. So, please, start from the beginning and don't leave any details out, I need and want to know", looking at her daughter-in-law in both a pleading and strong-willed way, Miss Ellie waited for her to begin speaking, and as she did, it soon became clear that JR was not the only deceitful Ewing husband.

"John Ross Ewing Senior! What is wrong with you!" barging into her husband's office without regard to possible important business he may be doing, Miss Ellie slammed the door behind her and walked toward his desk purposefully. Her conversation with Sue Ellen had been enlightening, but not in a good way, and after hearing what her daughter-in-law had to say, she'd demanded that they take a little visit to Ewing Oil right away; she and Jock needed to talk, now. She'd been aware of Jock's intent to force JR into a better way of life, whatever way it needed to be done, she'd gotten all the proof she'd needed to form that opinion months ago when Sue Ellen had left JR and Southfork and had been reluctant to return, and even after, when she did return to JR and Southfork. However, despite being aware of his intentions, she hadn't quite realised how far he would go, especially since he hadn't informed her of any details regarding JR's behaviour since Sue Ellen's return or what role he played in JR and Sue Ellen's recent arguments. She knew that deep down, Jock's motivations had to do with what he believed was right for the Ewing family, but she also knew that when it came to getting what he wanted, he could be ruthless. What she hadn't imagined though were the lengths he would go to to make sure that the family did stay together. She never imagined that he would basically legally force JR into submission, or that he would refuse to amend the contract when requested by both JR and Sue Ellen, and that thought in particular made her angry. It was one thing for JR to make the mistake of agreeing to such questionable terms in exchange for ownership and presidency of a company, but it was another for Jock to deny his request to remove that clause when he realised how wrong it was. Did he not want JR to start acting like a man and own up to his mistakes and try to work toward a better life for him and his family? Did he not see that he was part of the problem when it came to how greatly JR valued Ewing Oil and the mixed messages he'd received in his young adult life in regard to women, power and money? Did he not see that it was a good thing for JR to want to show that he could be a good husband without incentive? Or that he'd managed to get Sue Ellen to see things from his perspective and to support him? Did none of that matter to him? In addition to being frustrated and angry with her husband for his initial actions regarding how he'd dealt with JR's behaviour and position in Ewing Oil months ago, she was also angry with him for what Sue Ellen had described to her as happening recently. She loved him, but that didn't mean she was blinded by her love for him; he had no right to speak to Sue Ellen or JR the way he had and he had no right to keep controlling the situation like he was, and someone needed to tell him that.

To be continued…