Title: Wait for Me
Rating: PG, I guess.
Summary: "He decided that this must not be Heaven after all, because not even dying had hurt as much as this loneliness"
Disclaimer: All characters mentioned (and those who are not) belong to Annie Proulx.
A/N: Third of three parts. I tried not to go overboard on the fluff. Hopefully I've succeeded! Oh, and I suppose I should mention that the title comes from the song "Til Kingdom Come", track 13 on Coldplay's X&Y album (which I also do not own).
Part 3
The cabin is almost everything he imagined. Tightly built, with none of the drafts that plagued the house of his childhood, it has a wraparound porch furnished with deck chairs and an oversized hammock, bay windows that look out over the mountains and a lake, and a huge fireplace in the living room. It's beautiful, and he can't stand to be in it, because in his imaginings he was never alone.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
A soft wind ghosted through the forest, ruffling leaves and pine needles, kicking up waves on the mountain lake. It skirted along the crest of a hill and whisked up Jack's neck, scooping up his hat and tumbling it down the slope. He jumped up and tore after the hat, snatching it up just before it fell into the lake. Laughing, he turned. "Ennis, did ya . . . "
Kindly, the wind dried his tears.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Jack sat by the fire, tipped his head back, and watched as glowing sparks danced into the sky. He reached down and ruffled his dog's silky brown ears. "How 'bout that, Rodeo? Betcha that's where stars come from." Unimpressed, Rodeo groaned, rolled onto his back, and waved his paws in the air. Jack rubbed the offered belly and chuckled at the lolling pink tongue. "Who're you showin' off for? Ain't nobody here . . . "
He stopped laughing and decided that this must not be Heaven after all, because not even dying had hurt as much as this loneliness.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Jack wandered along the edge of one of the meadows, his head down, hands shoved into his pockets. He'd gotten antsy all of a sudden, and didn't know why. It was a bit like the restlessness he'd felt on Brokeback when that hailstorm had come rolling in, but as long as he'd been here–and he knew in his gut that he'd been here a long time–there had never once been a storm. The feeling was similar, though: a sense that something was coming, that something was going to happen, and that he could do nothing to stop it.
"Jack Fuckin' Twist."
Jack jerked his head up, caught a glimpse of blond hair and brown eyes; then Ennis' callused hands grabbed his collar and he was crushed against a tree, no chance to return the endearment before Ennis attacked his lips.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ennis leaned on the smooth log Jack had arranged near the fire. He stretched out his legs and smiled when Jack nudged them apart and sat between his knees, his back snugged against Ennis' chest. They sat quietly for awhile, Jack with his head resting on Ennis' shoulder, Ennis with his arms tight around Jack; then, with no warning, Ennis shivered and began to cry.
Jack half-turned, caressed Ennis' face. "Hey there, cowboy . . . " he whispered anxiously.
"'M sorry, Jack, I swear. I should'a never left you all them times, but I was so goddamn scared . . . " he choked out.
"Ennis, Ennis, shhh." Jack rose, straddled Ennis' lap. He held the other man's face in his hands and stared into his reddened eyes. "It don't matter, not anymore," he said earnestly, tears welling in his own eyes. He shifted his grip to Ennis' arms, tugging him clear of the log. Then he reversed their earlier pose, clutching Ennis to his chest and stroking his hair.
"We got forever, friend," Jack promised, as Ennis began to calm. "Ain't nobody gonna take that away. I swear."
