Gem arrived in Texas cold, sleepy and hungry. When she pulled in the driveway Masque trumpeted a welcome that could be heard all over the grounds. Gem yawned widely as she stumbled to the rear of the trailer and opened the door. Masque nudged Gem's shoulder and walked with her to the barn, Gem just plodded along beside her horse. Once Gem settled Masque in a spacious stall she slid down the wall. Masque laid his head on Gem's leg as she drifted off to sleep. Jack leapt off the couch as soon as he heard Masque's trumpet, he looked in the truck but dashed for the barn when he heard the nickers of his own horses. He smiled when he saw Gem fast asleep with her horse. Masque stirred when he heard Jack entered, Gem patted his nose, "Go back to sleep…" she muttered. Jack shook her gently, "Hey, no sleeping with the horses." Gem smiled sleepily at Jack and hugged him tightly. "I've missed you so much!" Jack was grinning like a fool, "How is everyone?" Gem now more awake sat up, "Ennis is good, being a stubborn son of a bitch as usual." Jack kissed her cheek, "I'm glad everyone's ok." Gem smiled wildly, "I bought Masque from Ennis, the first colt I broke." Jack looked over Masque, "That's just like you Gem, got a soft spot for oddities of nature." He chuckled and ruffled her hair, "Just like us." Then he hauled Gem to her feet and led her into the house.

Gem collapsed into the bed as soon as she saw it, Jack chuckled, it was his bed. He lay down beside Gem and kissed her cheek and wrapped his arms around her before joining her in the land of Nod. When Jack awoke the next morning Gem was gone, however he didn't have to look far. He looked out the window and saw her and Masque; they were loaded into the chute awaiting the release of the roping animal. As he watched LD opened the other chute and a small lamb bolted through the pen. Masque dashed after it, once Gem threw her rope Masque stopped as if he'd hit a brick wall. Gem slung herself out of the saddle and tied the lamb up quickly. LD applauded loudly, "Twenty seconds! Best time I've ever seen!" Jack bolted out of the door, "Good job! Let's see if you've gotten rusty, put her on the Terminator" LD's eyes glowed, "Yes, there is a rodeo coming up, if you can stay on then we'll enter you in it."

So ten minutes later Jack slung Gem over the gate and onto the bull's broad, freckled back. The bull slammed her legs into the sides of the gate as they tightened the girth. Gem gritted her teeth and landed a heavy hit on his tender flanks with her crop. "Ready!" LD roared. Gem nodded and clamped her knees around the bull. As soon as the gate sprang open the bull launched into a series of bucks, side-hops, and twists. Gem let her body flow with the erratic motion; she was doing once again what she loved. Once the eight seconds were up Masque came to rescue her, he galloped up to the bull with no tack and let Gem grab his mane and pull herself onto him. Then the dynamic pair herded him back to the pasture.

Later that night everyone was gathered around Lureen as she lay in bed, Gem was at the helm, she prepared everything before sending everyone but Jack out of the room. She coaxed Lureen through her labor pains, giving her helpful tips on managing pain with out screaming loud enough to rattle the glass. Now that the baby was ready to be born Gem could see the umbilical cord was wrapped from torso to throat. She was trying her hardest but she wasn't sure she could save mother and child. Just when she was ready to give up she felt familiar hands on her shoulders, Ennis rubbed them gently. Gem was finally able to untangle the baby and deliver him safe and sound. When the cord was cut and the baby safe in Lureen's arms Gem turned to Ennis and punched him hard enough to make his head spin. "Never touch me again" she said, voice low and dangerous.

She stormed out of the room, past the waiting grandparents and into the barn where Masque was. Angrily she leapt on his back and they rode at a gallop into the pasture. When Masque could go no further Gem slid off and sat on the ground. She stared angrily at the ground for the longest time before she noticed her brother beside her. "You love him don't you?" he asked, there was no conviction in his voice, only curiosity. Gem nodded, "I realized when it was too late, and he's married with a family." Jack hugged her tightly, "You need to find yourself a place to settle down, raise a family." Gem shook her head, "No Jack, I'll be alone as I always have been, I'm going to go west and see if I can't win at roping, maybe I'll get my own ranch, raise some sheep, cows, and horses." Jack nodded, he could see Gem's mind was made up, "Well at least come and say goodbye." Gem hugged her family tightly, she almost couldn't leave. But she forced herself to load Masque and climb in her truck.

Ennis was waiting in an alley next to the stop light he knew Gem would have to pass, when he saw her truck he leapt at her and drug her out of the driver's seat. Gem stared into his livid face as Ennis slammed her against the cab, "Why won't you stay! Huh! We need you!" Masque thrashed inside the trailer, sensing Gem was in trouble. Gem spat into his face, "I don't like things being held in front of me that I can not have." While Ennis absorbed this Gem kneed him in the groin and jumped into her truck and hit the gas, leaving behind the only man she'd ever loved.

Ennis watched Gem drive away, the only woman he could ever have and be happy with, he tried to rise but sank onto the pavement and let the tears of anguish he'd held in for so long run his hot rivers down his face.

Author's Note: How do you like it? I detoured away a bit from the first plot idea I had. What do you think? Plz let me know!