When Love Takes You In
Author's Notes: Well, I had a fun weekend. Wrote a small portion of a chapter while I was drunk. Read over it…. Still deciding whether I should keep it in or just tear it out of the notebook all together. I still have a couple chapters to decide or not.
Chapter Eleven
Jack turned around, Ennis's arms still around him.
"Nurse Holly gave me her number while I was in the hospital… if I ever needed her for anything'." He told Ennis.
"And that's who you been talkin' to on the phone?"
"Noo… well, a coupla times." Jack admitted. Ennis took his arms from Jack and put his hands in his pockets.
"Well, uh… then who is it ya been talkin' to?"
"Her brother."
"Her brother… the queer?"
"Ennis…" Jack gave him a warning look. He hated that word, especially since his attack.
"Sorry. I don't know what else to call it… she told us he was with another guy." Ennis shrugged.
"So are you."
"Yeah, but I ain't que-- like that. I ain't never so much as looked at another guy 'cept you. Hell, I enjoy a woman's body. If you had tits, that'd just be an added bonus. Yer the only guy I ever wanted." Ennis argued.
"Still don't like that word." Jack muttered.
"Alright, alright…. So what about her brother?" Ennis asked, eager to get out of the small bicker.
"His… er… partner…" Jack said awkwardly, using the word that Holly had used before, "… he's from the Midwest and so Holly's brother, Michael, moved out there to be with Connor. They live in Minnesota and were able to get information for us and connect me with some of the people out there who could help with the marsh."
Ennis stood in deep thought, forgetting the marsh and concentrating on Michael and Connor.
"And these two… do they hide like us? Are they scared of what everybody thinks of them? Scared of takin' a tire iron?" He asked. Jack was taken aback at Ennis's curiosity.
"I… I don't know. Never asked about their personal affairs. But… the way they talk on the phone of goin' out together, I'd assume they don't hide. But Ennis… they live in the big city… St. Paul, the capital of Minnesota. Nothin' like where we're goin'. Ennis, our property is in a town with a population of 400. Warrens, Wisconsin… Cranberry fuckin' Country. It'll probably most likely be just like out here. Nobody's gonna not care." Jack said in a defeated tone. He'd given up any hope of the happy, open and out life he'd once imagined for the two of them.
"Well, I don't care anymore. I don't see why people just can't leave us be. We ain't hurtin' no one so why's it a big deal?" Ennis asked, frustrated. He turned from Jack and grasped the kitchen counter with all his strength.
Jack was shocked into silence The man who'd once refused all of Jack's old dreams, the one who said they'd be dead if this thing took hold of them at the wrong time, the one who had been willing to settle for a mediocre life where they'd only seen each other a few times a year… he was now the one arguing for a better life and living for dreams.
"Who the hell are you?" Jack asked. Ennis ignored him, his whole body trembling with emotions; anger, sadness, hope, wanting.
"It ain't fair, Jack. Years ago I thought I knew everythin' so black an' white. What was right an' wrong. I… I just don't know anymore. I love you more'n I ever loved Alma, so why was it the right thing to marry her? The only good thing to come of that marriage was my daughters… but we wasn't happy together. So how can this be so wrong when it feels righter'n anything' I ever done before?"
Jack left Ennis's side, walked over to the table and picked up a pack of Camels. He pulled two out and lit them both, waiting for Ennis to come and take one before he broke the counter with the grip he had on it. The smoke wafted to the hunched over man and he took the bait, walked to Jack and took the second cigarette.
"Someone once told me that if you can't fix it, ya gotta stand it." Jack said. Ennis squinted at him.
"Guess I can't stand it no more."
"When did you get as fool hearted as I used to be?" Jack asked.
"When did you get as bitter and resigned as I used to be?" Ennis returned.
The conversation ended there. They both knew when the other had changed. They just wondered why they couldn't ever be on the same page.
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Ennis finally quit the job at the ranch when Jack figured they had enough money to last them until the move.
Thanksgiving came and went with Jack and Ennis letting Alma and Monroe have Junior and Kurt for dinner. Ennis figured he and Jack would have more dinners in the future with the two so he let Alma have her last Thanksgiving with their daughter.
Christmas was full of more hustle and bustle than usual with the wedding coming up so fast. Alma was kind enough to drive out to Ennis's house to invite him over for a small Christmas get together and was surprised at his response.
"I don't know if you'd want me there. I can't go without Jack."
"Jack? Jack Twist?" There was a lump in her throat. Her ex-husband expected her to welcome into her home the man that had stolen Ennis from her in the first place?
"He's livin' with me. We're goin' into business together." He told her.
"Ennis, I can't…" She bit her lip and played with her purse. She looked around the house from the table she was sitting at and for the first time she noticed the subtle differences. Strewn about the house were personal affects that didn't belong to Ennis. A belt with a rodeo buckle hanging over a chair, an extra coat on a hook, a 5x7 of Jack Twist and a little boy she assumed was his song.
"I don't expect ya to welcome him in. I never really did right by you when it came to him. I don't think I ever apologized for that." Ennis said, drawing her attention back to him.
"Your friend is welcome too… it's Junior's last Christmas here and it wouldn't be right without you."
"Thank you." Ennis stood, leaned over and kissed her on the forehead and pulled her out of her chair. At that moment, the front door opened and Jack entered the house with a smile on his face and arms full of groceries.
"Ennis, there's more bags in the- oh! Hello there, Mrs…" Jack paused, searching for her new last name.
"Alma… Hello Mr. Twist." Alma held out her hand politely and then pulled back, embarrassed, seeing that his hands were too full to reach out and return a handshake. She then turned to Ennis.
"I'll just be on my way then. Help your man with the groceries." She said.
"Yes'm." Ennis nodded. He saw her out and then retrieved the last of the grocery bags.
"What did she come to see you about?" Jack asked as they started putting the food away.
"We've been invited to Christmas."
"Both of us?" Jack was surprised. "Do you think we should? I mean… who'll be there?"
"Just family."
"And I'm family now?" Jack dripped with sarcasm, nervousness making him act out. Ennis stiffened at Jack's self-deprecating voice. He turned and pointed at him forcefully.
"You're MY family." He left no room for argument on that topic. Jack was surprised at Ennis's firmness, but he'd be lying if he said that Ennis's clear and loyal devotion didn't turn him on.
When Jack turned his gaze from Ennis's finger to his face, Ennis saw the fire in his eyes. He brought his hand down and stepped towards Jack. Jack took a step forward, meeting him halfway with a kiss so gentle and deep, they didn't even think it could be called a kiss.
Ennis ran a hand through Jack's hair, grasping onto a tuft of it in the back. He felt Jack's hands wandering over his body and shivered. Jack's hands went down Ennis's pants and caressed his cheeks, working his way to his crack. All rational thoughts left Ennis's mind and he started pushing Jack towards the bedroom, ignoring Jack's small chuckle.
Clothes went flying and the two men hit the bed. Jack pulled close to Ennis's, his cock against Ennis's, the friction causing Ennis to thrust his hips instinctively. Ennis reached for an unopened jar of Vaseline on the night stand that he'd purchased after their fishing trip.
"No…" Jack murmured, taking the jar and tossing it aside. Ennis was confused at first, but he saw in Jack's eyes that he was up to something.
Jack grinned at him and pushed Ennis onto his back.
"What're you up to, Rodeo?" He asked, hoarsely. Jack didn't answer with words. He put his hands on Ennis's sides and brought them slowly down to Ennis's hips. Then he ran his tongue over the vein on the side of Ennis's hard dick. Ennis bucket and Jack held him down firmly.
"You want this?" He asked. Ennis nodded, incapable of forming any coherent words.
"Then hold still." Jack said authoritively. Ennis nodded again and gripped the bedposts with tight fists to hold himself still.
Jack went back to his task. He ran his tongue along the back of the member from base to tip and then lightly kissed the tip, teasing Ennis. He played a little more until Ennis was trembling with need.
"Fuck… J'ck…" Ennis pleaded. Jack grinned and finally let Ennis's dick slide into his mouth. He relaxed his throat to slide it in as deep as he could. He started sucking with just a small amount of suction and first and then strengthened it.
Ennis squirmed, trying desperately not to thrust and gag Jack. His hands came from the bedposts and reached for Jack's head. He forced himself not to push or pull at Jack and just let him do what he was doing. His hands just grazed over Jack's hair.
Jack bobbed as he moved up and down Ennis's dick, sucking and caressing with his tongue.
Ennis wanted to warn Jack when he was about to come, but sounds were caught in his throat and he exploded in Jack's mouth. Jack grinned afterwards, licking his lips and savoring the taste of Ennis.
"Ennis?" Jack laid down and put his head on Ennis's chest. He received an incoherent mumbled response and he laughed.
"I'm that good?" He teased.
"Yup." Ennis replied and brought his arms up to hold Jack. As the buzz from the orgasm started to die, Ennis shifted, ready to return the favor. Jack wouldn't move and held Ennis down so he couldn't move either.
"Nope. This was for you." Jack said.
"Love you, Rodeo." Ennis kissed his hair.
"So… Christmas…" Jack wondered out loud.
"I think we should tell them. Alma and Junior already know. Not fair to Francine not to tell. Not fair to ask Junior to keep secrets from her husband to be. And… well, they are family." Ennis said. Jack didn't answer right away and Ennis had to lift his head to look at him.
"We'll be leaving soon after anyway, Jack. There's no danger in lettin' them know."
"It's your call, Ennis. I wasn't exactly able to keep it from my own family."
"So… Christmas." Ennis decided.
End Chapter
