Disclaimer: Not mine. Ain't that smart.
He was crying. Crying over the desolation he was feeling. Crying with the heartbreak. He had to pull over a few times to clear the tears from his eyes. The last time he pulled over was near the ranch. He just sat there letting the tears dry and smoking a cigarette. Guess he doesn't love me, he thought. Maybe all this is just a big fling for him. Something to do one day and laugh off the next. Well, fuck him. I'm tired of bein' kicked all the time. Don't need him no how. With that decision made, he started his truck and drove on up to his folks place.
Walking up to the house, he saw his momma come outside to meet him. Taking one look at him she knew something had happened. Without saying a word she just hugged him to her, letting him cry on her shoulder.
"It's alright, Jack. It's gonna be alright. Come on inside and sit down," she said trying to soothe him. Getting him inside and sitting him down at the table, she poured him a cup of coffee and sat down across from him with her own.
"Where's Pa?" he asked.
"He's over helping the Johnson's put a new well in. Seems the old one got too plugged up to use anymore. He should be back in time for dinner. Wanna talk about it?"
"Nothing much to talk about, Momma."
"Ok. We'll just sit here in silence for a bit then," she said knowing it was the quickest way to get him to talking. All momma's have their ways and this one was hers.
"He don't want me, Momma. He sent me a card telling me he got divorced. Now why would he do that if he didn't want me up here, huh? He had to've known I'd come up here just on the off chance. But, when I got there he told me I couldn't stay. Said he had the girls for the weekend. Said something bout missing them last month cause of a round-up. I can't take it no more, Momma. He just keeps coming up with one excuse after another. Guess he don't love me at all like I thought."
"So, what're ya gonna do, now?" she asked taking his hands in hers. She hated seeing him hurting like this and knowing there was nothing she could do. It broke her heart.
"Guess I'm gonna have to tell him goodbye. I can't go on hanging around hoping he'll change his mind." He got up and headed upstairs. When he walked back into the kitchen, she couldn't help the sharp breath she took.
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Ennis pulled into his driveway that evening after taking the girls home and stopping off at the bar for a few beers. He wasn't drunk, but, he was buzzing pretty good as he got out of the truck and into the shack he called home. It wasn't till he started to open the door that he noticed the box laying there. Wondering what it was he picked it up and carried it inside and laid it on the table while he took off his coat and hat. Looking at it he noticed a letter taped to the top of the box with the words "Read First" written across the envelope in what looked to be Jacks handwriting. Somehow he just knew it was bad news. He still felt like shit turning Jack away like he had. He was still kicking his own ass for not letting him stay, but, he knew that what Jack wanted was just not possible. Two fellas just could not live together and survive. After sitting there for what felt like hours just staring at the box and downing two beers, he finally decided to see what Jack had to say.
Cowboy,
I know this is a short letter, but, most of what I have to say
Can be found in the box. Don't open it till after ya read this.
First off, I shouldn't have done what I did. It was foolish of me
To just show up out of the blue. I shoulda realized that ya'd
Never change, not even for me. Guess I finally got the message.
Took me long enough to see that ya don't feel for me what I've
Felt for ya since seeing ya outside Aguirre's office that day.
Guess what I'm trying to say is, goodbye, Cowboy. Guess it
Just took getting kicked to the curb enough times for this
Dog to finally get what ya been saying these past eight years.
Have a good life, Cowboy.
Rodeo
After reading the letter twice, he just sat there stunned. The first emotion was anger, as a beer bottle took flight across the room to smash against the wall the words "Jack Fucking Twist" following it. The second was heartbreak, as though someone was burying a dull knife in his chest. No, not someone. Jack Fucking Twist is doin it. He's the one cutting my heart out. Pulling my guts out hand over fist.
Finally, pulling himself together as best he could, he decided to open the box. When he looked inside the only sound you could hear was the sound a soul makes when it shatters.
The End
