Title: Losing My Grip
Chapter 2
Summary: Jack counts the days before his next meeting with Ennis. His longing for Ennis results in some reckless behavior that leads to an explosive confrontation. What will be Jack's fate?
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A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed! I apologize for the short chapters, but they will get longer. It's taking time to get Jack to the places I want him to go. There will be Ennis eventually!
"Lureen?" Jack hollered from the bedroom they shared, as he scrambled to pack for his meeting with Ennis. "You seen my fishin' gear?" When he didn't receive an immediate response, he huffed in annoyance and limped towards the living room, wincing at every step he took and cussing himself for riding that damn bull.
Upon entering the living room, Jack dully noted that his wife was currently lounging on the couch with her latest hair-do reading a magazine, and doing nothing important. Leaning heavily on the wall, he wondered if seeing him in pain gave her enjoyment.
"You seen my fishin' gear?" Jack repeated more softly. Lureen looked up from her magazine, seemingly annoyed at the interruption.
"I reckon it's still in the hallway closet." Lureen's tiny voice was cold, as her dark eyes drifted back to the magazine.
"Right, I'm leavin' in an hour. Don' forget t call Bobby's teacher."
"Sure," Lureen said, not looking up from the magazine.
"I'm serious, don' forget," Jack said as he slowly pulled away from the wall and limped towards the closet.
"Why don' your friend come down here for a change? Yeh can barely walk." Lureen commented.
"We've been through this already, Lureen," Jack said as he rummaged through the closet.
"All I'm say' in is it ain't fair with you always goin' outta your way like that." As though that settled it, Lureen flipped to the next page of her magazine and said no more.
While Jack could only recall a handful of times when he had actually listened to Lureen, her words rang true to him. Jack was always the one that wanted to spend time with Ennis, and not the other way around. Hell, he was ready to give up everything for Ennis after his divorce from Alma, but the man had refused him. There time together was limited to three or four times a year because of Ennis, not Jack.
After packing his fishing gear, which would never be used, Jack grabbed his bags and limped to the door. He paused before leaving and turned to his estranged wife. "Be see' in you in a few days."
"Right," Lureen said coldly.
Jack had always felt a sense of freedom leaving his home in Texas, away from Lureen and his father-in-law, and heading towards Wyoming and Ennis. Tossing his bags in the back of his pick-up, he realized that this trip felt somewhat different. He was usually excited and anxious to see Ennis, but now he just felt beat-up and trapped. Maybe it was because he was finally losing hope that Ennis would one day see things his way. It was a harsh realization, and no matter how loud Jack played the radio as he sped down the highway, his thoughts tormented him.
TBC
A/N: Please Review!