- Keep on Driving -

"Well, I guess I'll see ya around, huh."

The words tore through Jack, though he did his best to hide the pain. "Right," he said softly, looking down at the ground and then back up to meet Ennis's eyes. They stood there, looking at each other, both waiting for the other to say something. Then Ennis cast his eyes down to the ground and turned away. Helplessly, hopelessly, Jack watched him go, feeling like a part of him was walking away with Ennis del Mar.

"Ennis!" Jack called out suddenly, and the other man stopped, turning to look questioningly over his shoulder at Jack. Unsure of what had made him say anything, Jack quickly said, "Maybe…maybe I could give you a ride…to wherever it is you're goin'…" He ended it with a question, a final hope, in his voice.

Ennis didn't answer right away; then, softly, "Yeah…yeah, sure…" And he walked back towards Jack's truck, each step seeming to replace a piece of Jack's heart.

They climbed in, Jack settling into the driver's seat, Ennis sitting as close as was possible to the door with his bag on his lap. They said nothing throughout the drive, though Jack fiddled with the radio for a little while, but nothing came in, and he let the silence reign again.

They came to Riverton, and Jack finally turned to Ennis and asked, "Where to?"

Ennis didn't turn his eyes away from the window. "Just…keep drivin'," he said softly, and Jack did.

At the very outskirts of Riverton, Jack again turned to Ennis, feeling very confused. "Ennis?"

"Yeah?"

"We're nearly outta Riverton…"

"Yeah."

"Thought you said you lived 'round here…?"

"Uh-huh."

"Well, d'you want me to stop, or what?"

And Ennis finally turned to Jack. "You still goin' up t' your daddy's place?" he demanded.

"Yeah…why?"

Ennis took a deep breath. "You reckon you could use another set a hands?"

Jack turned to stare at him in shock; Ennis stared levelly back. Jack tried to convince himself that he hadn't heard what he'd heard, because to hope would be too much…

A loud honk sounded, reminding Jack that he was on a road, and he swerved his pick-up just in time to avoid colliding with another. He managed to get the truck over to the side of the road, even with his hands shaking as badly as they were, and turned again to look at Ennis, who still gazed calmly at Jack, untroubled by the near-accident. "Whaddya say, rodeo?"

Jack closed his eyes for a moment. "Yeah," he said softly. "I'd appreciate that."

:>