Thanks to: Micheal J. Evans, dreamcatcher33, Valandil Eluch, kipperoo453, onefreetoroam, and Aayla Security for all of the fabulous reviews.
Title: Hold On!
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Any recognizable characters or places belong to Annie Proulx. Noprofit is being made.
Alright you guys, this is the shortest chapter in the series, but I think it's the most impactful. I'm sorry I have to end it here. The sequel should be up in a few days, if everything stays on schedule. I'm grateful for all the loyal readers who reveiwed or just continued to read. We made it to the end of the fic you guys, hope you don't hate me for it.Enjoy, and goodnight.
"Ennis, I'm surprised to see you here."
"Same. Why would yeh come shoppin' all the way out here?"
"Guess the feelin' jus' sparked me, is all."
"Oh," he stared at her as Jack paid for the groceries, gathered the bags and pushed the girls along.
"C'mon, we'll go wait in the car."
What happened next was a blur to anyone watching, but to Ennis, it happened slower than a turtle taking its time. Alma pulled a gun out of her purse and pointed it shakingly at Jack.
"You'll not take my girls anywhere! You'll leave them be!"
Jack took his hand off Francine's back and put both of them in the air, the cashier stared at Alma and Junior squeaked.
"Alma, he's not hurtin' the girls, jus' put the gun down."
"No! Why'd he touch Francine?"
"He's jus' takin' her ta the car, Alma, that's all."
"The hell he is!" She clicked the safety on the gun.
"First, he takes you away from me," she was crying now, the gun was waving lightly, "Now, if he doesn't rape my girls-"
"I would never touch them!" For the first time he spoke, since the gun had been pointed at him, took a step towards her.
"SHUT UP!" Alma was out of control. Jack could tell that no onein the range of the gun was safe, so he pushed Junior and Francine lightly away from him. "Go stand near yer Daddy," he whispered to them.
"DON'T YOU TALK TO THEM!"
"I was jus'-"
"I SAID SHUT UP!"
She motioned to pull the trigger on the gun, and Ennis jumped in front of Jack before there was a loud bang. Jack felt a warm liquid on his shirt as Ennis slid down him, grasping onto his waist to stay up.
"Jack..."
"Oh. My. God."
A/N: Ok, I'm evil, I know. But that's where the story ends. The sequel will tell you what happens to Ennis and Jack, and Alma and the girls. Please read it! Hoping for lots of reviews on this chapter, even though it was short. It was really just a chapter to let what had to happen, happen.