-- Disclaimer: No, I don't own anything. Haven't we been through this enough? Sheesh... --

-- After this chapter I might have to start slowing down alittle cause I have no idea where to go but for now, here's chapter 10 so please enjoy! --

Tell Me How Much You Love Me

The next day was spent repairing the fence, brushing down the horses, herding the battle and doing miscellaneous housework. They had decided that morning during breakfast that due to their recent problems, they hadn't been getting practically any work done at all and the ranch hands were tired of doing it all themselves when it wasn't their jobs to do so. Therefore, the entire day between 9 in the morning and 5 in the evening was spent working with the exception of 20 minutes for lunch and random bathroom breaks.

By around 5ish that evening, Jack dropped the rag he was using to polish a bookcase and sighed, plopping down on the couch tiredly. Both he and Ennis had been given hell when they tried (and eventually managed) to round up the cattle on foot because their horses were in the process of getting re-shoed. Now he was exhausted, to put it lightly, and he knew Ennis had to be just as tired. He stood up slowly, cringing when his muscles panged in protest from the hard work that he hadn't done in awhile and headed to the door to call his mate in so they could make dinner.

"Ennis!" He called. "Come on cowboy, i's dinnertime!"

He stood there for a moment, tilting his head when he didn't get a response and called to him again, only to receive more silence. Horrible thoughts flashed through his mind as he pictured Ennis lying dead or dying somewhere and, pain suddenly forgotten, flew out of the house to look for him,

"Ennis? Ennis where are you!"

He screamed out into the vast wilderness but again heard nothing. He ran up to the cliff near their ranch, knowing it was one of Ennis' favorite spots and searched around, his breath catching in his chest with a small whimper when he found him. There he was, not moving, laying on the rocks at the bottom of the cliff.

"God no..."

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"No... no no no no NO!"

His voice rose to a scream as he stared down at his mate then ran down the side to the bottom of the cliff where the other lay.

"Ennis! Ennis please! Please wake up... Please...!"

He begged as he shook his mate, tears streaming down his face.

"I haven't had a chance to make it up to him for our fight... Please God... Please don't take him away from me..."

The prayer sent him into another spasm of shaking the other, his breath ragged through his sobs. Suddenly Ennis stirred and Jack gasped, staring at him in disbelief.

"Was my prayer actually answered...?" "Ennis...?" He said quietly and the other opened his eyes alittle.

"Mmm? Wha' you screamin' bout rodeo? Wakin' me from my nap an'..." He stopped as Jack's face came into focus and he saw the tears glistening on his face, causing him to sit up quickly.

"Wha's wrong baby? Did ya get hurt? Why you cryin'?" He asked, now worried. Jack however didn't answer him, just flung himself onto him and kissed him deeply as he squeezed him tightly.

"Shh... Calm down love an' tell me wha' happened..."

"I... I though'..." Jack muttered between sobs.

"Though' wha' rodeo?"

"You was layin' there an' ya wasn' movin' an I though' you was... you was..." He sobbed again, unable to finish the sentence but Ennis understood either way.

"Baby i's a'right... I ain't dead okay? I was jus' restin' here an' I guess I fell asleep..."

Jack nodded alittle in recognition as his tears started to fade away and his breath started to calm.

"I dunno wha' I'da done if you'd... if you'd..."

"Shh... Don' talk about i'love, a'right? Nothin' happened an' nothin's gonna happen ta make me leave you, ya hear?"

Again Jack nodded and Ennis hugged him tightly.

"Well, we's best get back ta the house... I'm starvin'..."

Jack laughed alittle and wiped the tears off his face with Ennis' help.

"Ya gots a one track mind Ennis an' it's headed straigh' for food."

"Nah, i's headed for you..." Ennis muttered silkily into his ear and Jack shuddered slightly as chills passed through his spine.

"Le's go then cowboy an' we'll see bout the other later..." He said as he stood and Ennis stood up next to him.

"Yeah... An' maybe I c'n have some dessert afterwards..."

"Well, I'm sure we got somethin' in the freezer..."

"Tha' ain't wha' I meant rodeo..."

Jack faltered for a moment then blushed fushia and turned his head away as Ennis winked at him and laughed softly.

"Hornball..." Jack muttered as he shoved him gently but when Ennis went behind him and scooped him up in his arms, his embarassment immediatly faded and he cuddled against the his chest as the other walked back towards the ranch in the dying light of the evening.

-- So as always, tell me what you think! Thanks for reading!