Chapter Seven

June, 1976

(three months later)

They were settling into a routine. Jack had shown more interest in learning about the business side of things, while Ennis preferred to deal with the day-to-day running of the farm. He'd always loved horses, but working with them every day had awakened in him a new respect and new love for them. He had a gift for knowing what they needed and a way of soothing them that he'd never tapped into before. Tyler commented that his uncle had the same gift. They had not gotten around to hiring another farm hand, yet. Tyler had started coming earlier and staying later. Ennis appreciated it and told him it wouldn't always be that way, but he was wary of hiring someone new with them starting out fresh. Especially after Jim.

Jim had indeed been spreading the word around town about Jack and Ennis, trying to stir up trouble for them, but fortunately, he wasn't well-liked by anyone, so his word didn't have much impact. Ennis still worried, though. He knew that men like Jim eventually found each other and with that finding, a cancer could grow.

It seemed Gordon was correct; however, in that his uncle had been very well-regarded in town and that regard seemed to extend some credit to Ennis and by that token, it extended to Jack, too. He knew he and Jack would have to work hard to earn respect of their own, though, so he would do what he could. They'd already made friends with the owner of the feed store, Rusty, and his son, Bill, who ran it together. They'd gone to the supper club where Kelly's mom, Alice, worked and met her. She hadn't been too sure about her daughter working for "boys like them", but Kelly had spoken highly of them, Jack had been his charming self, and Bobby clinched the deal. Alice found him adorable and she had a grandson about the same age, so Bobby asked Kelly if she'd bring him with her someday. She promised she would, if it was okay with his parents. Alice even let him follow her into the kitchen and see the big grill and told him next time he came he could run the power washer and wash some dishes. That sounded good to him.

It was evening and Jack was sitting on the edge of the bed, while Ennis brushed his teeth. "I was thinkin'," Jack started, earning a look with a raised eyebrow from Ennis. Jack smirked and went on, "we could bring in more profit if we took over the books ourselves. We pay that accountant a pretty penny every month." Ennis didn't say anything, so he went on, "I know a bit about bus'ness, but could use a little polishin'. I checked into that community college in Goosedown and they got a summer accounting class startin' next week. Thought maybe I'd go check into it. Unless you want to?" Jack still felt like this was Ennis's farm and he was here only by his good graces.

Ennis spit in the sink and rinsed his mouth. "I ain't takin' no accountin' class, Jack. You go ahead if'n ya want to." He looked at Jack, said more kindly, "Sounds like a good idea, bud." He crawled under the covers and turned to face Jack. "We need t'hire a couple more hands, though. Tyler's been great, but it ain't enough."

"I know. I was thinkin' o' that too. More buyers comin', wantin' more. An' now that the mares have started foaling there's even more t'be done. If we weren't payin' the accountant, we could start addin' more horses."

Ennis grunted in agreement. "Maybe we should try t'hire someone by the end o' the month, afore the girls come out t'visit. I'll wanna spend time with them, not workin' from sunup t'sundown and half the night, too, sometimes."

"I gotta go t'the feed store tomorrow. I'll talk t'Rusty, maybe he knows some good guys."

"Sounds good."

Jack went to brush his teeth, then got in his side of the bed. Ennis pulled him close; Jack met his lips for a deep kiss. "Mmm . . . you taste good," Jack sighed.

Ennis smiled against his lips. "It's the toothpaste, dummy."

"It's more'n that. I love the way you taste." As if to prove his point, he ran his tongue down Ennis's chin, his neck, and stopped to kiss his adam's apple before making his way back up the same way.

"Jack . . ." Ennis moaned, even as Jack's lips claimed his again. It didn't take long for Ennis to declare that he loved the way Jack tasted, too, and then all words were lost in the night, except the sounds of the spring peeper frogs coming in the window and the soft sighs and moans coming from the bed.


School had ended the last day of May, so Bobby was home all the time. He'd made a friend who lived close, within biking distance. Danny McIntyre was a blond-haired, blue-eyed imp, in Ennis's opinion. Those two boys together could get into more trouble than he'd ever even dreamed of. It wasn't malicious or even usually planned, but luck didn't seem to follow them when they were together. Both boys fell in love with the miniature horses and Bobby had taken it upon himself to be their personal caretaker, but when Danny helped him they sometimes forgot to lock the gate or one of the stalls and so they had to catch one or more that had wandered off. They seemed to have a radar for finding mud and a penchant for falling out of trees, resulting in minor injuries. Danny was the youngest of four and his parents were nice, but a little scatter-brained. Jack was relieved that they seemed to like him and Ennis and that they allowed Danny to spend time at their house.

Junior and Francine were coming to visit for a week at the end of June. Ennis was nervous. He was going to drive out and get them, so he'd have time to talk to them about him and Jack before they got there. He also had never spent more than an overnight with them since the divorce. He hoped they would like the farm and Jack and Bobby. Honestly, he hoped they still loved him, once he'd had his talk with them, something he felt was almost too much to ask for. It didn't stop him from hoping for it, though.


Jack talked to Rusty and had gotten some recommendations for new farmhands. Two guys were coming the next day. Today, however, one of the fences on the outer pastures needed fixing. It was a warm day in early June. The sky above was pale blue, with pristine white clouds piled high upon each other. Tyler was holding the board for Ennis, while he drove the nails in. Ennis liked Tyler, liked working with him. He was quiet, thoughtful, and hard-working. He knew what needed to be done without having to be told and could do it without supervision.

Tyler had shared with him that he was Anishinabe Indian, which meant "original people", but most people called them Chippewa or Ojibwa. He lived nearby on the reservation with his father and sometimes other relatives lived with them. He didn't share much more and Ennis didn't ask.

Ennis stood there, waiting for Tyler to get the board in the right spot and he realized that he was staring at Tyler's hands. They were the same dark, coppery color of his skin, lighter under his nails. They were nicked with scars from hard work, like Ennis's, and strong, with long graceful fingers. Ennis felt something shift in his brain and he looked up to see Tyler's dark, soulful eyes meet his. In that heartbeat, he knew that Tyler knew what he'd felt. Only, he didn't really know what it was. Just knew that it was something. He looked away quickly, finished pounding the nails in, using more force than necessary. When they'd finished with the last board, they picked up their tools, mounted their horses, and rode back to the farm in silence.

In the stable, they took the saddles off the horses, then brushed and rubbed them down, the silence still thick between them. Neither was normally very talkative, but there was a tension between them now and neither knew what to do with it. Ennis went into the house and up to the office, where he knew he'd find Jack. Before he entered the office, though, he stopped and made a quick turn into their bedroom instead. He sat on the bed, his head in his hands. "Fuck." He ran his hands through his hair then down over his face. Ennis had never looked at another man before. Not in that way. Never even considered he might. Jack had always been the only one–his only one. Still is, he thought vehemently. But what happened with Tyler unsettled him. And the way Tyler had looked at him, with those deep, dark eyes. Like twin bottomless wells of darkness and light. Ennis shook his head, cursed some more.

He heard Jack's footsteps come from the office and stop at the doorway. Ennis looked up to see him leaning against the doorjam. "Hey, cowboy. What's up?"

"Hmph. Nothin'. Jus' tired, is all. Got up early with Brownie–had her foal this mornin'."

"Oh, okay." Jack knew something else was wrong, but also knew it would do no good to try and get it out of Ennis. He'd talk when he felt like it and not before.

"How's yer class goin'?"

Jack laughed. "It's goin' better, though I still feel mighty out o' place in it."

Ennis smiled wanly at him, "I'm sure you're doin' jus' fine, darlin'."

"Yeah, I like it." Silence stretched between them. Jack broke it first, realized Ennis wasn't yet ready to share what was troubling him, "I got some more studyin' t'do. Let me know if ya need me," he started back for the office, turned back, "You seen Bobby anywhere?"

"Not lately."

"Maybe I should go look fer 'im."

"No, you go back t'yer studyin'. I'll go find 'im. He's prob'ly doin' something he's not supposed to with that little McIntyre trouble-magnet," he said, with finally a small smile for Jack.

Jack grinned and turned around, went back in the office. Ennis went down the stairs. Kelly was in the kitchen, peeling potatoes at the sink. Ennis asked if she'd seen Bobby.

"He rode his bike over to Danny's house. Danny's dad hauled in some new sand for the sand pile, so the boys were going to break it in with their cars and trucks. Oh, and Tyler said to tell you that he's sorry, but he had to leave early today . . . said he'd be back in the morning."

Ennis didn't reply, just went back to the stable and saddled his horse again, intending to ride the perimeter of the fences, make sure no other repairs where needed. When he finished that, he tilled up the little garden plot Kelly had asked for. She wanted to plant a small kitchen garden for them. He'd been putting it off for a week. She came out of the house, drawn by the noise and the aroma of freshly turned earth.

"Oh, Ennis, thank you! I hoped you'd have time to do that today. I want to get my starter plants in the ground." Her face was lit by her wide smile.

"You're welcome. Sorry it took so long."

"No, no, it's okay. I'll get Bobby to help me plant them when he gets home. I think he'd like that."

Ennis put the tiller away in the shed. He still felt restless and out of sorts, so he went to the stable and checked each horse, double-checked the new foals, and finally got a beer and sat on the deck, lost in his thoughts. After an hour, and another beer, he convinced himself that nothing had happened, that he'd imagined the whole thing, that he was tired from being up so early, and that was it.


That night, he and Jack went to bed with a tired good-night kiss, curled up facing away from each other. Ennis drifted to sleep, uneasily, only to wake a couple of hours later with a throbbing hard-on. He heard Jack's even breathing, saw his face bathed in moonlight, his lips parted slightly, his hair a black hole on the white pillow case. How c'n a man be so fuckin' beautiful? Ennis thought, not for the first time. The guilt he'd been feeling was pushed out of the way by his love and his aching need for Jack.

Ennis ran his fingers lightly across Jack's chest and heard a hitch in the even breathing. He moved his hand lower, over the silkiness of Jack's stomach. Jack turned his head toward Ennis, but didn't open his eyes. Ennis knew Jack wasn't awake yet, but couldn't stop himself from continuing his exploration of Jack's body. He was rewarded with a purring moan from deep inside Jack as he bucked his hips the slightest bit. Suddenly, Ennis wanted Jack in his mouth; he knew Jack loved it, but it was something they didn't do often. He pushed the blankets off Jack and moved down the bed, settling himself between Jack's legs, smiling to see that Jack was as aroused as he was. He touched him lightly with his tongue, once, and again, before taking the tip into his mouth.

Jack opened his eyes partway, thinking he was dreaming. He bucked his hips again and then realized that Ennis was down there, nestled between his legs and oh my god, that feels so good. He lost himself in the sensation as Ennis licked and sucked and fondled. Finally, he couldn't take it anymore and told Ennis so, told him he needed him inside him right now, so Ennis raised up and obliged him. Release came quickly for both, having been most of the way there already. Ennis collapsed on Jack's chest, both breathing hard.

"Wow," Jack finally whispered, "what brought that on?"

"You did," was all Ennis would say, kissing Jack deeply, then rolling off him. Jack curled himself around Ennis, sensing he needed to be the one to be held tonight.


Tyler came in the house in the early morning and got himself a cup of coffee, as usual. No one else was around, but he figured Ennis had been down to make the coffee. He sat at the dining room table in the near dark. He heard a noise and glanced up. He could just see the door to Ennis and Jack's bedroom from where he was sitting. Ennis had opened the door, fully dressed, but Jack, in just a pair of boxers, had pulled him back, almost inside, his arms around Ennis's neck. Ennis turned, took Jack in his arms, and met his lips for a long, lingering kiss. It was the first sign of affection Tyler had observed between the two men. He couldn't move and couldn't look away, until Ennis broke the kiss, said something to Jack in a low voice, earning another quick kiss from Jack. Tyler came back to himself and realized he'd just observed a very intimate moment and felt like an intruder. He shifted his body, silently, so he no longer could see the bedroom door and directed his gaze out the window. Ennis came down the stairs a moment later and looked startled to see Tyler sitting there.

"Mornin'," Ennis greeted him.

"Morning," Tyler nodded back, taking another sip of his coffee, then stood and followed Ennis outside.

The two new hands showed up about an hour later, so Ennis and Tyler were busy the rest of the day showing them around and breaking them in. Ennis was thankful that by the end of the day, they were back to being comfortable with each other. By the end of the week, Ennis had almost forgotten the whole thing had happened.


Ennis was jittery. He was leaving to pick up his daughters and they were coming back with him to spend a week on the farm. It was much like the last time he'd gone back to Wyoming. He and Jack were in the garage, arms around each other, not wanting to let go. The only difference was, this time, Jack was staying and would be here when he got back.

"You drive careful, you hear me?" Jack was telling him.

"I will, darlin'. Don't worry."

"Call me when ya get there, else I'm gonna worry the whole time."

"I will, but I told ya not t'worry." Ennis smiled his lopsided smile, their foreheads touching, blond curls mingling with the shiny black hair.

"I love you, Ennis."

Ennis nodded, throat closed, I love you, too, he thought, but couldn't get the words out.

Jack smiled, knowing–met Ennis's lips in a kiss that seemed to go on forever. Then he was gone and Ennis was in the truck. He met Tyler's car at the end of the driveway, raised his hand in a half-wave, met those twin bottomless wells of darkness and light, and drove on.