Dallas, Texas

"Bobby, come here a minute, I want to run something by you", turning around as he made himself a drink, Bobby braced himself for what he guessed was about to come next, the thing that always seemed to be the topic of conversation lately, Jack. "How much do you know about Jack's living situation?" resisting the urge to laugh at just how right his guess was, he considered the question for a moment before actually answering. His father would hate to be called predictable, he tried so hard to be a step ahead of everyone in business, but in this case, his plans were completely transparent. JR was pretty transparent too, though if he were to guess, after their weekend together, his strong dislike of their cousin was beginning to lessen, not that JR would actually admit that though. As for his own feelings, Bobby didn't personally have a problem with Jack, he liked him from what he knew of him, and Ewing Oil did need someone to take his place when he left, so he didn't really have a problem with Jack making his interest known and putting his foot forward. Where JR saw him as trying to weasel into the family by appealing to Jock's nostalgic side and talking up his own abilities as they applied in a contemporary setting, he saw Jack as what he probably was, young, bored with his current life, and excited by the prospect of making a Ewing fortune of his own. Sure, Jack had probably come to Dallas with an ulterior motive, no one was that interested in Jock's stories, but somehow he doubted he'd boarded the plane in Alaska with the intention of doing evil once he found his new life.

JR was sensitive about the way things were with their father and that sensitivity combined with his naturally suspicious mind and constant thoughts of future schemes meant he saw everyone's intentions as if they thought the way he did. In that sense, he and Jack were probably actually suited to each other, if only JR would give Jack a proper chance. Jack was the lesser of the two when it came to experience in manipulating things to suit their needs, however, the fact that he even had Jock interested in including him in the family and the family business said something about his ability to exploit situations to his advantage. If trained, Jack would probably be very capable of performing the tasks required of the roadman; he already had the personable nature required and it didn't seem that he had any problem being a little manipulative to get what he wanted, plus, he didn't appear to be scared of JR despite his unfriendly welcome. Ewing Oil needed someone soon and while it wasn't really his business anymore who that someone was, he didn't see the harm in throwing his support behind one candidate or another, not that he knew who the other candidates were that Jack was up against, but still, based on what he knew, he supported Jack.

Considering the question his father had asked him, he answered to the best of his ability, "not much to be honest; I know he's currently at a motel somewhere, but I haven't been there to see it and it never came up in conversation exactly when he plans to move somewhere more permanent. I do get the feeling from spending some time with him though that he's biding his time until he gets a job, he probably doesn't want to commit to signing a lease on an apartment until he's actually employed and has a steady income to pay the rent. He must have some money though because he's paying for accommodation by the day at the moment, albeit that accommodation is a motel rather than a hotel, so I assume money is a bit tighter for him than it is for JR or me, but I think that's understandable when you consider where he's come from. I doubt he's poor, oil pays well, for the men in offices and the men out in the fields, or on rigs, but I think he's definitely budget-minded, to an extent at least. As I said, I have to assume too that he's probably waiting to see how things unfold with us before settling down here. It wouldn't do much good for him to rent an apartment only to find out JR's told everyone in town not to hire him, or you and I don't like him and suddenly the family he came here for isn't so appealing. I don't know though, I'm really guessing here since we've never really spoken about it in such a direct manner. Why do you ask anyway?"

Briefly wondering whether his father had done as JR had done and broken into Jack's motel room or whether JR had let him know the full extent of his investigations into Jack's journey to Dallas and that had tainted his father's opinion of Jack, unfair as it was, he was pleasantly surprised when his father responded, reiterating his established opinion. "Mm, I see your point; it would be a shame to waste time and money on a deposit on an apartment if he's not able to support himself here, or there was nothing for him here. There is though, he has us, and if I can get JR to sign the papers, he will be able to support himself, he'll have a job. I admire his directness when it comes to saying what he wants; there are no questions with Jack, apart from those between family. I admire his respect for the process too though, not creating a permanent life for himself here before he's actually been offered anything, and whether or not he means it, saying the right things where other candidates for the job are concerned. I like that, it tells me he's confident but not too confident, it also tells me he's socially aware. JR is the same, though at times you wouldn't think it. JR knows his ability and he's extremely confident in his ability, sometimes to the point of arrogance, he's also charming though, it's amazing the things he can get done using charm. His ruthlessness is what enables him to cross the lines you won't, but that's not everything, we need a mix of both and with JR not out there, selling himself and the company, we need someone to assist; you were that someone, with your own brand of charm, now it's another man's turn".

"I'm getting away from the point though. I was thinking, seeing as Jack's family, we should help him out. Your mama is sensitive about all of this for some reason, she seems to think me treating Jack like family is some kind of strike against JR, I don't know what she's thinking there, but I do know she'll overreact if I start running ideas past her at this early stage. Instead, what I want to do is get your opinion. JR and I have already informally decided Jack has the Ewing Oil job and I know a deal is never a certainty until hands are shaken and contracts are signed, as interested as Jack is though, I have no doubt he'll say yes. Anyway, I was thinking, as things are about to get busy for you two, with the job training and all, he won't have much time to look for somewhere to live, so perhaps he could stay at the condo, temporarily, until things get settled and he has the time and money to search for somewhere more permanent. I know you sometimes use the condo though, so I wanted to run it by you, make sure you weren't expecting to share it with company any time soon…"

Unable to resist the urge to laugh aloud as his father made a point he hadn't expected him to make, Bobby was surprised at how much lighter he felt simply knowing that he wasn't being asked to answer questions based on information gathered by a private investigator, but instead information based on his father's knowledge of his lifestyle. Where it was completely inappropriate for JR to even consider using the condo for privacy anymore, unless of course his companion was his wife, it was accepted and even encouraged for him to use it, and use it he did. Technically, the condo was supposed to be for the comfort of guests Ewing Oil was hosting, whenever it wasn't being used for that purpose though, it sat empty, and that seemed like a terrible waste.

"Don't you worry about me daddy, plans can be rearranged just as easily as they can be arranged", responding, he didn't go into details about what plans he did or didn't have, partly because the next woman he intended to take to bed was a Barnes, but mostly because his father didn't need to know details. "If you want to offer the condo to Jack then I don't have a problem with that. I think you might want to make that informal offer a formal, signed agreement before you do anything though. I just can't see JR loving this idea, not to mention what you just said about mama…" Hating that he probably sounded down on the idea, because he really did support it, he knew he had to say something, because as smart as his father was, he had extreme tunnel vision at present. The JR he knew would never let Jack just walk into a job and a complimentary condo that easily, and his mother, well, he didn't know her exact opinion, but he did know it would be in his father's best interest to include her in discussions and decisions, she didn't take kindly to being ignored or disrespected.

To be continued…