Chapter Ten

Ennis stopped the truck in front of the McIntyres house just as Danny came running out of the house shouting, "They're here! They're here!"

The house was a sprawling rambler, the white paint was peeling a little, but not too bad. There was a second huge garage next to the car garage, with a sign that read "McIntyre Auto". Ennis remembered that Colin McIntyre had his own auto mechanic business. The front yard was sparse and tidy and had a flower garden running in front of the house. They got out of the truck and followed Danny to the back yard. Ennis was surprised to see the change from the front yard. Two large dogs, golden retrievers, by the looks of them, ran up and pranced around them, barking excitedly. There was large, basically round area, made up of sand hills and dunes and filled with large toy trucks, which Ennis assumed must be the famous sandbox Bobby loved to play in.

Further on was a very large garden, already looking green and succulent, and next to it, a small shed, in which Ennis could see pots, hoes, rakes, and spades. A small, makeshift greenhouse was next to the shed. It was made of a wooden frame covered with heavy plastic instead of glass. Ennis could smell the charcoal briquets of the grill next to the large picnic table. A small building was beyond the sandbox and Ennis realized it must be a playhouse for the girls, because he could see miniature furniture through the open door.

Colin McIntyre, a thickset man with auburn hair, came out the back door, holding a tray of hot dogs and hamburgers. He put it on the picnic table and went to shake Ennis and Jack's hands. "Hi guys, ladies," he said, nodding at the girls, "glad you could make it. You want a beer?" He smiled pleasantly, already heading back towards the house before they answered.

They both said yes and he came out moments later carrying three bottles. Ellen followed him, carrying a tray of plates, silverware, napkins, and condiments. Two girls followed behind her, carrying a bowl of potato salad and potato chips. "Hello. How are you all? Jack, Ennis, these are our daughters." She pointed to the older one, who was thin, like her mom, but had red, curly hair, "This is Emma–she's twelve." She indicated the other girl, who was a bit more stocky, like her dad, and had straight, blonde hair like Danny's. "This is Hannah and she's eleven." The door opened again and an older, teen-age boy came out, carrying a big bowl of cut up fruit. "Oh, and this is our oldest, Ian. He's sixteen."

"Nice t'meet you all. This is Franny and Junior. It's Alma Jr., but we just call her Junior," Ennis replied. The girls smiled shyly at each other and, of course, it was Franny who broke the ice.

"Can we look in your playhouse? We don't have one."

"Sure, come on," Emma replied, leading the way. Danny and Bobby were already absorbed in building new roads in the sandbox.

Ennis and Jack each shook Ian's hand and said hello. Ellen took them to show them the garden while Colin grilled. "We grow most of it for ourselves, but whatever we have left we either sell or give away." Ellen stooped to pick a weed and toss it into the grass. "The kids are pretty helpful, so as they've gotten older we've added on to it."

"It's real nice," Ennis said.

Later, Jack sat back and patted his stomach. "You sure you got enough to eat?" Ellen asked.

"Yes, ma'am. I couldn't eat another bite," he grinned at her.

"What about you, Ennis?"

"No, I'm full too. It tasted great."

"Well, it wasn't anything special."

"Food always tastes better when someone else cooks," Jack winked at her.

"How do you guys like Minnesota so far?" Colin asked, handing them each another beer.

"I like it jus' fine. Most people seem real nice. Seems t'get a bit humid, though, when it gets hot," Jack replied. "How long have ya'll lived here?"

"We were both born and raised in this area. We bought this house when we got married eighteen years ago," Ellen said. "I like living in a small town. I went to college down in the cities and knew then that wasn't the life for me–too much noise and everyone in such a hurry all the time."

"So, ya know everyone around here?" Ennis asked.

"Pretty much." Ellen raised her eyebrow at him, "Why? Are you wondering about someone in particular?"

His face colored, "No, it's jus' that, we don' know anyone . . ." he trailed off uncertainly.

"Who you got working for you?" Colin asked. "Tyler Cloud?" Jack nodded, "He's a good guy. He tell you he wants to go to college? He should've gone right after he graduated, but he felt like he had to look after his dad. His brother and sister aren't good for much, but he's really smart. I went to school with his older brother. He had another brother, younger, but he was killed in a car accident about a year ago. He'd been drinking and was walking home, got hit by a car. I heard his sister moved up to Red Lake a few years ago, has a couple of kids. Tyler used to play football, too. Probably could've gotten a scholarship, heck, maybe he did, but didn't take it."

Jack and Ennis looked at each other. They'd learned more about Tyler in less than minute than they knew about him from working with him for three months.

"Who else is working for you?" Ellen asked.

"Dwayne and Dayle Nelson. They just started a couple of weeks ago. They've worked out good so far." Jack said. "I just worry 'bout somethin' happenin' like what happened with Jim Jackson."

Ellen gave him a knowing smile, "Oh, Jack, I don't think you have to worry about that."

"What'd'ya mean?"

"Dwayne and Dayle grew up with their momma, who's one of the doctors at the clinic, by the way, and her girlfriend."

Jack and Ennis exchanged another surprised look and Jack spoke, "Wow, how'd they do it? Folks accept them all right?"

"Well, they don't go 'round flaunting it, of course, but yeah, they were okay. Nancy, Dwayne and Dayle's mom, grew up here, went to college, got pregnant with the boys, and moved back when she got her medical degree. She came back with Anna Grant. Anna's an attorney. We're friends with them. We'll have to invite you all to our next barbeque and you can meet them."

"The other kids at school, they left the boys alone? Did they get teased?"

"I think they had their share of scrapes, they are boys, after all!" Ellen laughed and went on, "but they survived. Are you worried about Bobby?"

"Yeah, I am."

"I'm sure he'll be just fine, Jack."

Jack looked over at his son, who was back to making roads and hauling dirt in the sandbox. I hope so, he thought.

Ennis didn't like gossiping, but his curiosity got the better of him. "What about Kelly? Did she grow up around here?" Kelly had been both open and closed, at the same time. She was cheery and talkative most of the time, but Ennis had always sensed some deeper sadness lurking below the surface.

"Tyler's brother, Dean, the one that got killed, was Kelly's boyfriend."

Jack shook his head, while Ennis looked down, thinking of his conversation with Jack the night before, about things being hard all over. He was more right than he'd realized.

It was dark by the time they left. The girls had become thick as thieves and gotten permission for Emma and Hannah to come to the farm the next day. The McIntyres promised to come for a barbeque on Saturday, the night before the girls had to leave.


The next morning, Tyler got to the farm and went straight to the stable, without stopping for coffee, like he usually did. Ennis watched him out the window. He noticed Tyler had his hair loose, too, like the night in the bar. He usually wore it in a neat braid or in a long tail held by several rubber bands going down its length. Ennis poured a fresh cup of coffee for himself and one for Tyler and went out the door. He found Tyler in the stable, cleaning out one of the stalls, his head down.

"Hey, Tyler. I brought ya some coffee." Ennis held out the cup. Tyler stopped and turned to face him, but didn't look up right away. When he finally looked up and reached for the cup, Ennis blinked. Tyler's eye was red and swollen and even with his dark skin, Ennis could see a dark purple bruise forming around it. Ennis didn't say anything, just handed him the cup. Tyler took it and half-turned away. After a minute or two, Ennis asked hesitantly, "Ya wanna talk about it?"

Tyler took a sip of coffee, sighed, and shrugged. "Not much t'say."

"Come on. Let's sit fer a minute. There were benches down the center aisle of the stable. Ennis thought maybe he'd just go back to working, but Tyler surprised him by coming out of the stall and sitting next to him on a bench. They were silent for a while, drinking their coffee.

"My brother came home last night. He and . . . he and my dad got to drinking . . ." Tyler put his head down. "I guess you probably figured out my dad's an alcoholic. It's a pretty common thing on the reservation. People got no hope and they try to drown that feeling. It's hard, having no hope, no dreams . . ."

"I know," Ennis agreed, barely audible.

"Anyway, Steve and I had an argument and he punched me. Kicked me out, too," he added softly.

Ennis looked at him sharply. "What'd'ya mean, kicked ya out? Of yer own house?"

"Ain't my house, it's my dad's and he agreed with Steve, so that's that." Tyler looked down at his hands that held the coffee cup. His hair fell forward to cover his face. Ennis was watching Tyler's hands on the cup and saw the clear drop hit the copper skin and roll down, leaving a darker mark in its path.

Ennis acted before he thought about it. He put his own cup down, turned, and put his arms around Tyler, making those soothing noises that Jack was so good at. Tyler cried silently for a few moments, his shoulders shaking. Ennis held him and smoothed his hair, just like he was one of his girls. He knew that there was more grief behind those silent sobs than just last nights fight.

Tyler drew a shuddering breath and broke away from Ennis slowly, then wiped his hands down his face.

"Did he really mean it? That ya can't go back?"

"Yeah."

"Got someplace else ya c'n stay?"

"Nowhere good."

Ennis looked at him again, considering. "Well," he finally said, "you c'n stay with us. You're already here most o' the time anyway an' we got a spare room, even with all the kids havin' their own."

"No, Ennis, I couldn't."

"Don't be silly, o'course ya can. 'Sides, where else ya gonna go?"

Tyler sighed. "No where, I guess." Pause. "I'll take ya up on it, if it's okay with Jack, too."

"Of course I gotta ask Jack, but I know he woulda suggested it himself if he'd been here. Come on, let's to t'the house and get some more coffee an' I'll talk t'Jack."

As it turned out, he didn't even have to ask. As soon as Ennis told him Tyler's brother had kicked him out, he insisted Tyler stay with them.

Ennis took a hard look inside himself, wondering if he was playing with fire. He came to the conclusion that he wasn't. Whatever little spark he'd felt regarding Tyler seemed to have fizzled, but he did genuinely like him and so did Jack. He was a friend and friends helped each other.


"We should clear out some o' this brush, put in a real nice beach, maybe a little shack fer changin' in." Jack was standing behind Ennis, who sat with his lawn chair next to the water, soaking his feet. Tyler was in the water with Franny and Bobby, helping them perfect their minnow catching. Junior was stretched out on a towel, reading. Jack had convinced Tyler to take the rest of the day off and spend it down by the water with them.

Ennis swivelled his head around and looked at the shoreline. There was a dock in the water, but not much of a beach before the trees and brush began. "I don' think uncle James spent a lotta time down here swimmin'."

"He didn't have kids," Jack said, brushing his hand gently along Ennis's back before sitting down in the chair next to him. "I have a feeling this is gonna be a popular place in the summer." As if to prove his point, Danny, Emma, and Hannah emerged from the trees at a trot, shouting to Bobby and the girls. Emma sat next to Junior, while Danny took his t-shirt off and ran into the water, splashing Jack and Ennis while he was at it. Hannah took her sundress off a little slower, revealing her swimsuit underneath. She waded into the water slowly, trying to get used to the water gradually. In the end, it didn't matter, because the boys started splashing her as fast as they could and she was soaked in seconds. They even got the older girls, who squealed and held their hands up, as if to stop the water. Jack yelled at the boys to knock it off, so they did.

Ennis felt contentment seep into him. It was a beautiful day, he was here with his girls, and Jack, and he was completely relaxed. He glanced at Jack out of the corner of his eye. Jack had his head back, his eyes closed, as if he were sleeping. Ennis's eyes were drawn to the long lines of Jack's neck and had the sudden urge to kiss him there. Jack seemed to feel his eyes on him; he cracked one of his own open, peered over at Ennis, and grinned a slow, lazy grin. Ennis smiled back, a secret, sexy smile, meant only for Jack.

Jack sat up. "Hey, cowboy. We oughta go see if Kelly needs help bringin' that lunch out here."

"Sure 'nough," Ennis replied, standing up.

"Hey, Tyler, c'n ya keep an eye on ever'one till we come back with lunch?" Jack asked.

He turned and started up the trail after Tyler nodded in agreement. Ennis followed. As soon as they were out of sight of the others, Jack turned around, grabbed Ennis's hand, pulled him off the trail, and pushed him up against the white bark of a paper birch tree. His lips met Ennis's in a fierce, bruising kiss.

"I've been wantin' t'do that all mornin'," he said, pulling away.

Ennis hooked his fingers in Jack's belt loops and pulled him back, met his lips again, tasted the salty-sweet sweat around Jack's mouth, and pulled him closer. Jack braced one hand against the tree behind Ennis, put the other on Ennis's waist, just under his t-shirt, and ran his thumb up and down. Ennis bucked against him, "Shit, Jack, stop it," he said, smiling into Jack's mouth.

"Why, you ticklish?" He moved his thumb against that sensitive spot again and Ennis bucked again.

"Jack, I'm warnin' ya," he pulled Jack tight against him, trapping Jack's hand.

"Hmm . . . I've learned somethin' new an' exciting about the mysterious Ennis Del Mar."

"Jack . . ."

"What? What're ya gonna do t'me?" Jack asked, his voice low and deep.

"You'll see, ya little devil," Ennis replied. He pushed Jack away. "Later," he promised. "Stop it now," he said, through a smile that took the sting away. "How're we supposed to go in the house lookin' like this?" He made a sweeping gesture that included both of their jeans, straining tight at the crotch. "Not t'mention it's damn uncomfortable."

"Sorry, darlin'," Jack said, in a sing-song voice that didn't sound sorry at all.

Hearing that endearment, usually his for the saying, come from those lips, disconnected something in Ennis's brain. He grabbed Jack and turned around so Jack was held against the tree and kissed him long and hard before he finally broke away.

"Wow," Jack said, breathing hard, his eyes heavy-lidded, his body sagging against the tree.

"I don' know what it is ya do t'me, Jack," Ennis said, his face still close to Jack's, eyes on those sweet, red lips. He looked up, met those summer blue eyes, said the words he'd never said face to face to anyone before. "I love you."

Jack was stunned, felt tears prick at his eyes. Felt his heart fill so full it might burst, swallowed, and replied hoarsely, "I love you, too."

Ennis kissed him one last time, there in the birch trees, a soft, gentle kiss, then turned and went back to the path to the house.


The light on the horizon illuminated the sky and reflected off the grass, trees, and the polished wood of the deck, giving everything a soft, golden glow. The barbeque at their house with the McIntyres had been a success. Jack had insisted that Tyler join them, and then extended the invitation to Kelly and Alice. Jack was happy to see Kelly have a good time. He was so grateful that she was working for them. Bobby had begun to adore her and she seemed to return the feeling. She was wonderful with the girls, too.

Everyone had gone home, though, and it was just him and Ennis and their children on the deck, enjoying the sunset. Junior curled up in a chair next to her dad, her head on his arm, while Ennis held Franny in his lap. Her eyes were almost closed and he knew it wouldn't be long before she was sleeping. Ennis knew that next time she came, she'd probably be too big to curl up in his lap like this, so he indulged her. Bobby was sleeping on Jack's lap and Jack had the same feeling as Ennis–that this was a fleeting pleasure and all too soon, Bobby would be too big and grown up to sit in his daddy's lap.

Jack watched the sun disappear, then turned to Ennis, "Red sky at night, sailors delight . . ."

Ennis smiled, "What're you talking about?"

"It's an old saying my momma use'ta say. 'Red sky at night, sailors delight. Red sky in morning, sailors take warning'."

"You're crazy, Jack."

"Crazy fer you, maybe," he said softly and took Ennis's hand in his.

It sounded so corny, Ennis almost said so, but just smiled instead and squeezed his hand.