Ennis was finally free. He was making the right decision, and he knew it. With full speed he tore off his property, the dirt flying off his back wheels. He heard the typical words of Alma ringing in his head, "Ennis, slow her down, you keep this up we'll cross borders within the hour."
He never listened to her then and he sure as hell wasn't gonna start now.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Jack cried out one name, "Ennis."
"What's that queer?" A young boy snarled his words and kicked Jack in the stomach.
"He's cryin' for his lover," another boy, a little older, stooped down to look over Jack. His one eye was swollen and the other covered in blood, gashes ran across his arms and legs. "Would'ya look here, this one's got a wedding ring." He turned to face Jack, "So you thought havin' yourself a wife would keep you safe?" He jabbed him with a hard left in the stomach, "Did you?"
Jack didn't say anything. He had fought back as well as he knew how to, there were just too many, five maybe six.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Ennis's heart raced, he was finally doing it. He began to plan everything in his head. He would walk in, politely ask Laureen for the whereabouts of Jack. He'd walk up to the office, open the door slowly then poke his head in and say softly, "Hey Cowboy." Ennis pictured the look on Jack's face. He knew he'd be seeing that smile, a smile that could be held above all others. And then his eyes, those brilliant blue eyes would hold a look of disbelief and pure ecstasy all at once. At that point, Ennis would step fully into the room, carefully shut the door and then run to Jack. He'd press him against the wall, making sure any part of Jack he could hold on to would be safely within his arms. When Ennis saw another truck pass by on the road, he came back to reality and saw his knuckles, white and clenched tight about the steering wheel. He laughed and said, "Jack fucking Twist, look what you've done."
Within a matter of hours Ennis was at Jack's home. He took a deep breath, even took off his hat and ran his fingers through his hair a few times in the rear view mirror before placing it back on his head and marching out of the truck. He found his way to a door and knocked a couple times. A quick response came.
"Ja- oh, hello, can I help you?"
Ennis faltered, was this woman about to call him Jack? "Well I," Ennis lost his confidence and avoided any contact," I'm Ennis Del Mar." He tipped his hat to who he presumed to be Laureen.
"Oh yes, you're Jack's friend. I've heard a lot about you. I'm his wife." Laureen spoke with a certain distaste that Ennis picked up on immediately.
"Is the old man around? I was just driving through an' I thought I'd give a visit."
She cleared her throat, "No, actually I was hoping you might be him. He said he was headin' out earlier an' I ain't seen him since."
Ennis's heart fell, "Oh, so, you think you might know where he is?" Dammit. Ennis knew he sounded suspicious, "I mean I'm only a short time here and I just wanted to see how things were doing."
She sighed as though something was just confirmed for her. "Try the field behind the garage; he had said something about tires earlier." She pointed Ennis off in the right direction.
Ennis tipped his hat again, "Thank you ma'am."
She simply nodded then shut the door in haste.
He should've been concerned with what he knew Laureen now knew but he was too excited to see Jack. Knowing there were windows about him, he walked slow and casual. Ennis first poked his head in the garage calling out for Jack. When no reply came after some time he turned about and headed into the field.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Jack was scarcely hanging on, so much blood and energy had been drained from his body that any one move would send him over the edge. He knew many of his bones had been broken, particularly his ribs, those steel tipped boots had done a real number on him. His aggressors had left him to die slowly now, with gashes still oozing blood, his body aching all over. He wouldn't have been surprised if those damned boys had covered as much of his body as Ennis had. Ennis. Jack wanted nothing more than to spend his last moments with that man. In his mind's eye he pictured that face, he remembered it well, from the hardened hazel eyes that he imagined only he had seen cry, to the rough stubble that Jack had so many times run his hand over just to know the texture and caress his lover's face. Dammit. Even in his dying breaths Ennis Del Mar would haunt his mind. With most of what strength was left, Jack managed to yell, "Dammit Ennis Del Mar! You fucking…I love you."
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Ennis had heard something. He plunged forward in the direction it came from. This looked promising, the grass had been flattened out a lot here and…"Jesus Christ." Ennis just found a good sized blood stain on the weeds. He began to bolt through, jumping over anything in his way. The clearing started getting wider and suddenly as Ennis stumbled over the last few rocks he looked ahead to see Jack's body.
All in one swift moment Ennis took in the most horrifying scene of his life. Jack had his limbs lying at awkward angles and all around him the dirt and weeds were soaking his blood. Ennis knew exactly why this had happened and couldn't imagine the pain his Jack had just gone through. The sadness choked at his throat as tears clouded his eyes. He ran to lie at Jack's side.
"Don't do this too me Jack. Jack Fucking Twist, don't you dare leave me."
Jack opened his one working eye with a great deal of effort, and even with the blood clotting around it, Ennis still saw that look of disbelief and ecstasy all at once. Closing his eye, in a wheezing voice Jack said, "Ennis, I-"
Ennis put his hand over Jack's mouth, "Don't speak," he ran hand through Jack's hair, it caught in a clot of blood so Ennis pulled away his hand and brought it to Jack's cheek instead, "I'm so sorry Jack." He took a deep breath, "But you're gonna pull through you know that right?" Ennis was speaking through sobs, "Listen I'm gonna, I'm gonna get you out, and then," he crawled closer, placing his forehead against Jack's, "you're gonna get better, you hear it? You're gonna get better Jack."
Jack made a soft noise to let Ennis know he was listening.
"I'm gonna have to pick you up Jack," he stopped talking, his breathing heavy and his sobs great, never had Ennis felt so much sorrow at once. He held on to Jack's face with both hands and planted a light kiss on Jack's blood stained lips, "This is gonna hurt, but I'll do my best alright?"
Jack winced and took a deep breath, he answered, "I know."
Ennis stroked Jack's cheek and then sprung up, wiped his eyes, and sprinted around to the other side of Jack's body. He tenderly slid one arm under Jack's head, and even more so gently, one under his knees. Slowly he began pulling Jack's body away from the ground. He knew every second was Jack's life slipping away, he didn't dare look down for fear he would tear up again and drop the beautiful body in his arms. He stood straight up now and whispered even as he continued to gasp through sobs, "Jack, that's right you've got it, you just rest now, alright? Just keep going."
Jack's head was cradled in the arm of Ennis, he could still feel death so close to him, but he felt safe with Ennis. He didn't know how it had happened but by some act of whatever god is up there, Ennis had come to save his life.
Ennis walked as fast as he knew how to without hurting his Jack anymore. Within minutes he was out of the field and from there he was able to pick up his speed without all them damn weeds in his way. He made it to the door and kicked hard on it repeatedly until Laureen came back down. She opened the door and gasped.
"Bring him in."
