Jack was pinned flat against the wall in the hallway that led to the bedroom, strong arms, a man's arms, held him roughly on either side. He was breathing heavy, nearly gasping, and sweat was darkening the back of his denim shirt, right between the shoulders. He was so hot, had to get his shirt off, his pants off, had to give his hard dick room to breath, had to feel his naked skin pressed up against the man that was frantically kissing and sucking up the length of his neck and jaw.

He let a small moan escape his lips when the man thrust his hips forward, digging into Jack's groin and simultaneously kissing him forcefully, lips parted, hot breath exhaling, moaning. Jack sucked hard on the tongue that was working its way around, trying to fuck his mouth, moving slowly in and out. Jack thought he had never been so hard in his life, had never had the need to be fucked fast and rough. He thought he might come right there if they kept it up at the rate they were going.

Jack managed to tear his mouth away, and push the object of his desire from him just enough that he could free his hands and start to unbutton the man's shirt as quickly as possible—wanted to rip it open really, but didn't want to ruin it. He reached down to start on the belt when his hand was grabbed away and roughly pinned above his head. Ennis Del Mar brought his face close enough to Jacks that they could have kissed, but kept a little distance between their mouths. Torture.

He wanted Ennis so badly, he was on fire; he could already feel his dick dripping with pre-cum. He couldn't take much more.

"Ennis," his voice was barely above a choked whisper, all he could manage at the moment. "I need ya in me. I want ya in me so bad."

Ennis, brown eyes, now almost black with lust, leaned forward and kissed Jack again on the lips, but gently this time. Jack opened his mouth for more, wanting to feel his tongue moving inside again, but Ennis pulled away, and instead licked Jack's bottom lip, gave it a passionate nip before pressing full against him and growling in his ear.

"Want somethin' else first."

Ennis released Jack's arm from its locked position above his head and began to undo Jack's belt buckle. Ennis lowered to his knees in front of him, and then pulled Jack's pants down just enough for easy access. Jack thought he would die if he didn't feel Ennis' touch on him soon. Any thoughts of death were immediately tossed from his mind, because then Ennis wrapped his hand around Jack's erect cock. He felt his balls draw up, and nearly came right there, just with the feel of his strong hand. Ennis licked the head of Jack's dick, swirled his tongue around his hole lightly and then his lips were on him.

Jack thought he was going to black out. His vision blurred slightly and when it began to clear, he saw specks of light dancing in front of his eyes. He gave out a little yell when Ennis took him all the way into his mouth, felt his length go down that man's throat. He was massaging Jack's balls with one hand, and he placed his other free hand, palm open, lightly onto Jack's lower abdomen, rubbing his thumb gently across his belly hair. Jack felt his legs weaken, and he stomped his foot slightly, trying to regain his senses and his strength.

"Goddamn! Fuck!"

He didn't have the self control to look down at the man who's lips were wrapped tightly around his cock, better than any woman he'd ever had, better because even though he was on his knees in front of him, he was completely in control of the situation, distinctly male with the rough way he grabbed at him and the feel of stubble that once every so often touched Jack's skin. He knew though, that if he looked down and saw himself in Ennis' mouth, that it would be over and he'd probably come so hard, he'd die.

He wasn't given the satisfaction though, because suddenly Ennis was on his feet again, pressing himself entirely against Jack, grabbing his face with both of his hands and taking him with his mouth and tongue.

Ennis pulled back and let out a small moan when Jack began to rub Ennis' equally hard dick over his jeans.

"Can't wait any longer, Jack. I'm about to come, myself."

Jack saw his opportunity to take control. He pulled his pants up a little with one hand, then grabbed Ennis rough by his open collar and dragged him backwards down the hall. He kicked the bedroom door open gently with his foot, and hauled Ennis in, collapsing on the bed and pulling Ennis down on top of him. He was ready for what ever came next, no matter what he may have told himself before, thought maybe he'd always been ready.

Ennis made a sloppy trail down Jack's neck with his lips and began to unbutton his shirt, neglected before in lieu of his pants. Jack sighed when he felt the cool air touch his chest, sighed as he ran his hands through Ennis' soft hair, laced with gray, but still predominantly golden. Ennis sat back on his knees and took off his own shirt, then started unbuckling his pants. Jack followed his lead and wiggled out of his shirt, then kicked his jeans off down around his ankles. They were both completely naked now and Jack could see Ennis' own penis, fairly large and uncircumcised, pointing up and red with the blood that had rushed to the area.

Ennis let him look, then eventually caught Jack's eyes with his own and, in a heartbeat, was back on top of him, chest pressed against Jack's chest, mouth pressed against Jack's mouth. He reached down and grabbed Jack's dick, still tingling from the sensation of Ennis' lips and mouth, and pumped his hand up and down a couple times, moving his tongue in and out with the rhythm. Jack moaned and squirmed, wanting more, but was helpless, pinned beneath him.

Swiftly Ennis lifted and flipped him over onto his knees. Jack was panting as he felt Ennis position himself behind him, knew what was coming next, and then the phone was ringing. He tried to ignore it and focus on what was going to happen, but nothing did.

"What the fuck?"

The phone was ringing louder now, not from far down the hallway, but coming from just a few feet away in the kitchen. Jack's eyes flew open, and abruptly realized he was starring at the gray carpet, hanging half off the couch, about to fall to the floor. He realized this too late, though, and he hit the ground hard, hurting his ribs and mostly hurting his dick, which had been more than a little hard. He winced, gave a little yell, and then rolled over onto his back, taking in his surroundings. He was laying in a small living room, the morning sun streaming in through the half open blinds.

As the phone continued, Jack discovered his head was pounding in time with the rings. The world settled around him, and he remembered where he was, and more importantly, who happened to own where he was. The dream returned with a vengeance, making Jack blush slightly and then there was a click and an answering machine came on.

"This is Ennis Del Mar. I'm not home. Leave a message after the beep."

There was a long beep and the sound of a woman's voice followed.

"Hey Daddy, it's me. I just wanted to remind you 'bout this Tuesday. It's Curt's birthday, and remember, you promised you'd come out with us for dinner. I know you said ya didn't feel it was yer place, but we're all family and a family should be together fer celebrations." There was a pause. "Anyway. Also wanted to tell you that I'm thinking 'bout gettin' a new job, quit waitressin' at Q.T.'s. So, since I won't be workin' tomorrow night like usual, thought I might drop by and make ya some dinner. Might be nice, since we ain't had time lately. Call me back when ya get a chance."

There was a click and then silence. Jack lay dumbfounded on Ennis' living room floor.

It had taken him a little while to find the bathroom, remembered Ennis pointing it out the night before, but Jack had been so overwhelmed and drunk, that he couldn't remember where he'd said it was. He finally found it. It was down the hall that connected to the kitchen and across from Ennis' closed bedroom door. Jack flushed as he walked down the hall, the dream he'd had still thick, tightening its grip on him right along with the head ache that was left over from too much drink.

He shuffled into the bathroom, still fuzzy from the eight or nine beers, but close to regaining his senses because of the pitiless knock into consciousness from falling off the couch. Jack noticed Ennis' bathroom was remarkably uncluttered, then remembered that the only reason his own bathroom was cluttered was because of Lureen. There was makeup and bath soap and hair products and jewelry all over their bathroom counter. He could barely find his own toothbrush sometimes, and would have lost it in the jungle of beauty products if it hadn't been for the little ceramic holder Lureen had bought. But this little room was different. It looked used, certainly, but…well it was all man. There was a plain blue vinyl shower curtain that hung from the shower rod, and a gray bathroom mat placed between the shower and the cabinets and sink. On the sink counter there was a toothbrush and a razor blade, and that was it. Jack smiled at the simplicity.

"Think I could get accustomed ta livin' like this."

He took a piss and then washed his hands and splashed some water on his face. He looked at himself in the mirror; saw his blue eyes, and the dark circles under them, dark from exhaustion and from the hangover that he had luckily mostly slept through. He saw hints of the dream that lingered behind his eyes, saw what he wanted to do with the man that owned the house he had woken up in, saw the desire and maybe something else, something deeper.

"I am not a queer. I'll be damned if I ever start prancin' round wearing glitter n' goin' ta discos."

But is that really what all queers did? Jack thought probably not. And what qualified as being queer? Did it include thoughts, or was it only official if there were actions involved?

"Thoughts lead to actions."

And Jack was dead sure, that given the opportunity, he would take advantage of any situation that may lead to sex with Ennis Del Mar, damn sure. He didn't feel like going out to some bar and picking up a random guy to have sex with, though, he just wanted Ennis.

"But last night you thought Ennis was lookin' good and you didn't know it was him!"

Jack gave up and left the bathroom. There were too many questions that he didn't feel like addressing at the moment. He wandered into the kitchen and saw, on a clock placed on top of a microwave, that it was a quarter past nine. He felt like going back to sleep, but knew he had things to do and that he couldn't just lay around on Ennis' couch all day.

"He only offered fer you ta stay fer the night because ya didn't have no where else ta go. He wasn't inviting ya ta make yourself at home; he was just offering a roof above yer head. 'Sides, he prob'bly wouldn't want ya hangin' 'round messin' with his stuff, no how."

Jack did want some coffee though. He remembered Ennis saying he could fix himself something to eat in the morning, but he didn't really feel like taking advantage of that. The couch for the night was enough.

He walked out of the kitchen and back into the living room, considered flicking on the T.V., and then told himself to get a move on. He sat down on the couch and lifted his duffel bag onto his lap, unzipped it so he could search for some fresh clothes. He shoved aside several different shirts and then finally settled on a denim one (tried telling himself he hadn't chosen it because he'd been wearing it in his dream) and some new socks. He could wear his jeans for another day.

He was about to set the duffel back on the floor, when he caught sight of the book. He'd forgotten he'd packed it, but there it was, sitting at the bottom of his bag, just as innocent as snow, starring up at him.

Close Range: Wyoming Stories

Jack pulled it out of the bag and turned it over in his hands several times. He ran his finger down the spine and flipped it open. It automatically turned to the first page of Brokeback Mountain, (that was where he usual opened it) the spine had stretched and formed a crease. It spooked him a little reading that first page, spooked him reading about Ennis Del Mar waking before five because he was in Ennis Del Mar's house, and that morning he had woken before five. It was too weird. No, weird wasn't a good enough word. It was…unbelievable. Completely unbelievable. To think, only a little over two weeks before, he had no idea that this book existed, that Ennis Del Mar existed, and most importantly, he'd never had fantasies involving another man.

"Hardly had any fantasies at all."

Truth was, until he'd found Brokeback Mountain, Jack had been feeling old and dried up. He'd been feeling a little worthless, maybe even a little depressed. The saddest part of it was, that Jack had actually been going down hill since he'd married Lureen and become a Newsome Farm Equipment employee. He'd felt it gradually, hadn't noticed it at first, only realized he was sinking lower and lower into the worthless pile a' shit category after it was too late. But then he'd read the story, and everything had started to change. He felt more alive than he ever had, probably the closest he'd come to this kind of thrill was when he used to ride the bulls, but that was short lived and then it was back in the muck for Jack Twist. But now he was riding a constant high (not always a good one), full of questions, and desperate to solve this bizarre mystery. And that wasn't all. There was something else that was different now too, but he hadn't felt it until the night before, when he'd been down on the pavement, and Ennis had sat down next to him, brown eyes full of concern. He'd been thinking on it while he was falling to sleep, but hadn't been able to put his finger on what it was and still felt unsure.

It had just been so long since someone had looked him straight in the eye and shown serious concern for his well being. Lureen hardly ever gave him any looks these days accept maybe annoyance. Hell, he wasn't sure if anyone had ever shown him much concern. Maybe when he was real young and his ma was always running after him because he was always causing some sort of trouble, always falling out of a tree, or off a fence, or off a roof (which he had done once on a dare). Then, he thought he remembered her looking his way with a concerned eye, but it had always been under a mask of anger. Once he'd become a teenager, his mother had tended to leave him alone. It seemed she got quieter the older he got, like since he was old enough to take care of himself when he got hurt, she didn't need to make a fuss over him. Seemed like Jack's dad did most of the raising when he'd gotten older, though, no one could rightly call it "raising". More like trying to beat him into submission. His dad had saved the harsh beatings till he was old enough to handle them; only time he let it get out of hand when Jack was young was the time he'd missed the toilet while peeing, the time that the story mentioned. So it seemed like forever since anyone had really noticed him, really paid him any mind, shown any concern. And seeing it come from the most unlikely of places, from the eyes of this man, the man he'd come to find, that had been the deal breaker.

Jack smiled to himself when he thought on Ennis Del Mar. He thought on his strong jaw, his tough closed manner, the way he lowered his hat so his eyes couldn't be seen and the way he curved his shoulders inward. He appeared so tough on the outside, certainly seemed like he could kick anyone's ass that he so pleased, but then there was another side he'd shown. Jack had seen how he came to his side and helped him fight off the assholes in the bar, how he'd let his eyes fall on him full of concern, and then later how he smiled at the things Jack said, and on a couple of occasions how he laughed.

Jack felt his stomach flip flop at the thought of Ennis' laughter. It was a slow sort of low chuckle, his shoulders would move up and down, and his mouth would stay closed, but there would be a lopsided grin plastered across his face and a twinkle appeared in his eyes. Jack thought he'd never seen anything finer, thought he could paw at the moon, decided he would be happy the rest of his life if he could make Ennis laugh like that anytime he wanted.

He sighed and finally put the book back in his duffel bag. He wasn't sure how he was going to tell Ennis about it. Wasn't so sure he wanted to. Jack didn't figure Ennis would be too pleased at the idea, didn't seem like the type that would accept something like that with open arms, and say, "Well that's just swell, Jack, wanna fuck?" Jack laughed. Of course that wasn't what he'd say, didn't seem like something anyone would say given the circumstances. So he decided maybe he shouldn't bring it up at all.

"Well…maybe I will, if the right opportunity presents itself."

Right. Jack figured that might be when pigs decided to pack their bags and get themselves a few plane tickets to the Bahamas. Jack chuckled again and got up to change his clothes and go about his business.

Jack was sitting in the waiting room of Bailey Tire & Auto Service on South Federal Blvd. in downtown Riverton. He discovered there was also a Big O Tires just a little ways up the Boulevard, but he didn't want to take his chances there, since the last Big O Tires he'd been to had told him there was nothing wrong with his truck. Not that he hadn't had a nice time waiting while he'd had it checked out, but Karl had been dead wrong about the light simply having bulb issues.

The waiting area he sat in now was slightly nicer than the one in Cheyenne. It was bigger, first off, and there were windows all around so you could even see into the garage and watch what was being done to your car. There was also a T.V., but all it was showing was the latest episode of the Jerry Springer Show, which Jack had no interest in. He didn't give a damn who was sleeping with who, or how they were doing it. The only thing he missed were the two boys he'd met in Cheyenne, they'd been decent company and had made the time pass quicker.

Jack looked at his watch. It was almost one o'clock. He whistled at how much time had passed, he'd been waiting for nearly two hours now. He settled back in his chair a little and figured he had a bit more to wait. There'd been a few other trucks ahead of him, and they hadn't been working on his F-150 for very long.

After he'd gotten dressed, he'd found a yellow pages and looked up the number of some auto shops around town. He discovered that Bailey Tire & Auto also had a towing service and wasn't located too far from the bar where his truck had given out. He'd called them (wondering as he dialed, why Ennis' phone had been disconnected when he'd tried calling before), and told them where his truck was after he'd gotten through. They said someone would be there in about an hour. Jack figured that would be okay, and said he'd meet the tow truck in the parking lot.

He'd had to walk there, and felt like an asshole the whole way. He found out the nearest taxi agency was located in Thermopolis, Wyoming, which was at least a hundred miles out of the way. Only in Wyoming. So he'd had to walk, had to ask a couple people along the way which direction the Cedar Bar was in, and finally made it there. The tow truck hadn't arrived yet, so he slipped inside a little diner across the street and ordered a cup of coffee. He'd wanted to order something for breakfast, but was afraid he wouldn't have time to eat it. As it was, the tow truck was late, but Jack figured he could eat after his truck was ready. That had been two hours before.

It was then that an elderly gentleman wearing a nametag with 'Reggie' written on it opened the glass waiting room door and approached Jack.

"You Twist, with the fancy F-150?"

Jack stood up and extended his hand. He hadn't met this man yet.

"Yep, that's me. Nice ta meet ya, sir."

The old man coughed and waved away Jack's comment, ignoring his hand.

"Don't get all respectful on me, now. My name's Reggie and that's what everyone calls me. Now," he turned and headed back out the door, then waited for Jack to follow. And Jack did.

He let the old man lead him to where his truck was still raised up on the lift and then Reggie continued.

"There's some good news and some bad news involvin' yer truck."

It was noisy in the garage from another car that was having its tires rotated, and Jack felt like he had to yell to be heard.

"What's the news?"

"What?" The old man cupped his hand to his ear.

Jack rolled his eyes. "I said, WHAT'S THE NEWS?"

Reggie chewed on his thoughts for a minute and then looked Jack in the eye.

"Well, the good news is that I know what's wrong with yer truck."

Jack nodded for him to continue.

"Ya see, these new trucks, they're gettin' too high tech fer their own good. Most folks ain't caught up with all the upgrades. Often times the truck's computer system detects trouble and if the problem's subtle enough or hasn't progressed enough, most folks won't notice, even some with the trained eye. Luckily, though, I noticed what's wrong. Took a little while, but not much gets past me."

The old man spit on the ground by his feet before he continued talking.

"Yer electric cooling fan is shot, it's malfunctioning, somehow got warped."

Jack laughed incredulously. "But my truck is brand new. Only six months old!"

Reggie shook his head. "May be, but that don't change what's wrong with it. Sometimes even new trucks can have faulty parts, 'specially some a' these new Ford F-150s. I've been gettin' a lot in the garage recently with similar problems, seems like there was a whole lot of 'em made with faulty cooling fans."

"But wouldn't the distributor or the supplies factory notice? Wouldn't they do tests?"

"Don't know. Reckon they didn't, since ya got this here trouble. Probably wasn't obvious enough at the time to give it a second thought. You ready for the bad news?"

Jack threw his hands up in the air. "We haven't gotten ta that yet?"

Reggie laughed. "Nope. The cooling fan needs ta be replaced, the wiring needs ta be redone, and the temp. sensor needs replacin' too, just ta be on the safe side. It's pretty messy, but shouldn't be too bad to fix once we get the parts."

"What?" Jack wasn't sure he'd heard the old man right. Once they get the parts?

"Remember when I said that these new models were too high tech fer their own good? Most folks haven't caught up yet? Well, I'm one a' the folks that ain't caught up. We don't got the part you need in stock. We got some cooling fans from the old Ford model, but this new one's been updated fer the new millinium, I reckon, and the old one won't fit yer engine. S'against the rules to interchange parts from different models anyway, more often than not it don't work. Long story short, I won't know exactly how much it'll cost 'till I order the parts, but it should be around $800-$1200. I'll order the part fer ya today soon's I get a free moment, should get here in a couple a' days."

"A couple a' days?"

"Yeah. Sorry bout that."

Jack froze. His heart jumped up in his throat and his blood went cold. He felt like jumping for joy and disappearing all at the same time.

"A couple a' days. That means a couple more days with Ennis…a couple more days wanting something that's so close, but I still can't have. That is if Ennis offers ta let me stay…"

He hadn't thought about that. Maybe Ennis wouldn't want him there any longer. He only offered for him to stay the night, anyway, and it was just because it was so late and he'd had nowhere else to go. For all Jack knew, Ennis expected him to be gone by the time he got home from work. Probably wouldn't be too keen on the idea of Jack having to stay for a few more days, probably wouldn't want…

"Twist? Boy, are you listening ta me?"

Jack snapped out of his reverie and looked back at the old man.

"Pardon?"

"I said, you can get a ride from one a the boys in the garage, they can take ya back ta yer house, and then I'll give ya a call when the parts come in, when yer truck is ready. Just fill this out."

The old man handed Jack a clipboard with spaces for personal information, address, phone number, etc.

"Um…Reggie, I, uh…I'm from outta town, n' I'm just stayin' with a friend right now, and I might not be stayin' there fer much longer…"

The old man gave him a thoughtful expression.

"Yer lady kickin' ya out, then?"

Jack stared at him blankly. "My…what?"

"Yer lady. Sounds like trouble in paradise."

"No! I'm…I mean, my friend's a guy, I just…don't know how much longer I'll be there."

Reggie shrugged. "Well, just fill in his phone number and put yer name down and we'll give ya a call when yer truck's ready."

Jack wrote down his name and Ennis' number. Area code (307) 857-4286. Jack didn't think he'd ever forget that number.

He handed the clipboard back to the old man and told him he didn't need a ride. He'd walked there and he could walk back, wasn't too much trouble. The walking probably did him good anyway. And besides, he wanted to stop in the diner that was across the street, get himself some lunch. He was hungry enough to eat an entire horse, raw if need be.

He waved to Reggie, gave his truck one last look, then headed out into the hot sun now directly overhead in a cloudless sky.

Ennis pulled his Chevrolet into his drive around 5:30. He was dead tired, as he usually was when he got home from a long day working at Owl Creek, but this evening there was something else hiding below his exhaustion. Something he hadn't felt in a long time: excitement. He was eager as hell to get inside the house and see Jack Twist. He'd been thinking on him all day long it seemed, and now he felt he had to have him in his sights, had to reassure himself that he wasn't just a figment of his imagination, something created out of a lonely mind.

He hopped out of his truck after parking in the carport and jogged up the walk to his front door. He felt he couldn't get his key out of his pocket and in the keyhole fast enough. He stopped when he finally unlocked it to get himself in check.

"Damn, take a look at yerself! What's gotten inta you? You'd think ya just won the lottery and the prize was waitin' fer ya right behind the door. Get a hold a' yerself. He's just an ordinary man, nothing special, yer just workin' yerself up over nothin'."

But for some reason he couldn't convince himself that Jack wasn't something special. Ennis had certainly never known anyone like him, never known anyone that made him feel like he did. And what exactly was it that he was feeling? Ennis didn't linger too long on the thought, and then opened the door, barely opening it completely before stepping into the living room.

Jack was nowhere to be seen. Ennis didn't even see his bag. He immediately began to panic. Had he left? Where did he go? Did he get his truck fixed and not even say goodbye? Ennis felt his chest start to tighten and his breathing became slightly labored. He was suddenly lost. This was not what he'd expected.

"How could he jest leave without sayin' goodbye? Without even a fuckin' 'thankya fer lettin' me stay'? How…"

He'd lost his new friend. He'd found him and lost him just like that. Leave it to fate, to dangle something like that in front of his nose, some thing he'd never even thought possible, and then snatch it away from him without so much as a 'fuck you'. Ennis felt like punching something, and would have too if there hadn't been a crash from the kitchen and then a loud, "Shit!"

His fears were suddenly forgotten, his need to defend his house taking over all other emotions. It sounded like someone had broken into his house and he was damned if he was going to let the stupid sonofabitch get away with it.

Ennis looked around the room for something he could use as a weapon, settled on a poker from the fireplace that was across one side of the living room, and crept into the kitchen with it held firmly over his head. He stopped when he got to the edge of the kitchen, back against the wall where he knew he couldn't be seen. He took a deep breath and then charged into the kitchen, yelling in as menacing a voice he could manage.

"What the fuck do ya think yer doin'?"

The intruder turned and dropped the beer bottle he'd been holding. It shattered when it hit the ground. He held his hands up in the air.

"Holy shit!"

The two men starred at each other for a few seconds. Realization struck Ennis and he let the poker hit the ground.

"Jack?"

He looked around the kitchen, saw that Jack had pulled out a couple of beers, one that was now shattered on the ground, the other still on the counter, and had ordered a pizza. He still had his hands in the air.

Ennis started chuckling. Jack started chuckling. Soon, both men were laughing so hard tears were rolling down their cheeks. Ennis had to grab at his side and lean against the wall. Jack was bent over with his hands on his knees, his face red. Ennis had never laughed so hard in his life.

"Goddamn! Ennis, you scared the shit outta me. Thought I was gonna die jest then. Woo-wee!"

Ennis was still laughing, but finally had control over himself. He stood up and walked to where Jack was standing.

"I thought you was an intruder. Thought you'd left already. Was damn disappointed let me tell ya."

Jack's own laughter trailed off then and he gave Ennis a serious look.

"You was disappointed?"

Ennis, suddenly self-conscious that he'd said that out loud, looked down at his feet.

"Well, ya know. Didn't get a chance ta thank ya fer all them beers last night."

"Friend, lettin' me stay fer the night was thank ya, enough."

The two men were quiet fer a moment longer and then Ennis looked back up and walked past Jack to where the pizza was sitting on the counter.

"See ya ordered some pizza. Pepperoni. Good, my favorite."

"I figured you'd be gettin' home soon, so I went ahead n' ordered one from the Pizza Hut. Pulled you out a beer, but I, uh…"

Jack looked down at the bottle that had shattered at his feet, and then Ennis noticed there was also a cracked plate a little distance from the beer.

"I seem to've made a mess a' yer kitchen. I was trying ta balance the pizza and the beers and the plates, so I could carry them to the table, and I dropped one. Set 'em down so's I could clean up the mess, but then, well, you came chargin' in like a bull with a hornet up its ass, and I dropped the beer too."

"A bull with a hornet up its ass?"

"That's a frightenin' sight, let me tell you."

There was a moment of silence and then they both started laughing again. The fit didn't last as long this time, and it wasn't nearly as hysterical, but it was still harder than Ennis had laughed before today.

He picked up the pizza and Jack got the one beer and plate. Jack sat down and then Ennis got another plate out of the cabinet and grabbed himself another beer from the fridge. There was comfortable silence as Jack opened the pizza box and grabbed himself a slice and Ennis twisted the cap off his beer bottle and took a deep swig.

"That's one a' the two things I need right now."

Jack took a bite. "What's the other?"

"Well, a little friendly conversation certainly wouldn't kill me."

The two men sat and talked for a while, laughing and relaxing. Eventually they finished their beers and Ennis grabbed two more out of the fridge, set one down in front of Jack. He sat back in his seat and looked across the table at the man wearing a denim shirt, leaning back in his chair, legs crossed at the ankle, one arm propped up on the table. Ennis smiled, suddenly wished he could reach over and place his hand on top of Jack's, feel his skin, have some sort of contact. Any sort of contact with Jack would solidify his presence, put Ennis at ease. Had he ever felt like this about anyone? Ennis couldn't remember. It was an odd feeling, and even odder that he'd developed it after knowing Jack less than a day. But still…

"How was yer day out workin' in the fields?"

Ennis was shaken from his thoughts. "Ya make it sound like some kinda slave labor."

Jack smiled. "Well, after years of not doin' it, that's what it seems like ta me."

Ennis chuckled and settled back in his chair. "Wasn't too bad. Wasn't too good. The usual. S'better than sittin' at a desk, I'll tell you that."

"I hear ya there. I do have ta admit that I miss bein' out side, miss bein' active. I'm tired of the sales business, been tired of it since I started."

Jack took another sip of his beer and sat starring at the floor in thought. Ennis watched him for a minute then began to fiddle with the beer cap that was lying on the table. He cleared his throat.

"So, did ya get yer truck fixed? Do ya know what's wrong with it?"

Jack looked at him and his eyes got a little darker. He sat up in his chair and turned fully towards Ennis.

"Well, yeah. I found out what was wrong with it. Had it towed and walked out ta the auto shop."

"Which one?"

"The, uh, Bailey Tire & Auto service. Anyway, seems like the cooling fan is shot. The man that works there doesn't have the part in stock though, so he's goin' ta order it fer me. Only problem is it prob'bly won't be in fer another couple days."

Ennis considered all Jack said silently with his eyes cast to the ground. What he wanted to do was jump out of his seat and invite him to stay as long as he needed, but that wasn't something Ennis would ever do, so he just stayed where he was with his eyes locked on the floor. When he didn't say anything, Jack continued.

"So, looks like I'll need ta get a hotel room, or somethin'. Should probably get around ta doin' that soon, before it gets too late."

They were both silent. Finally Ennis looked over to Jack.

"You can stay with me as long as ya need. I don't mind."

Jack stared back at Ennis. Finally he broke eye contact, finished off his beer and then set the bottle on the table. He leaned forward in his chair, folded his hands, looking ready to do business.

"Ennis, as much as I'd like ta take you up on yer offer, I wouldn't wanna be an inconvenience. So ya don't have ta offer if'n ya don't want to. I don't mind findin' a motel."

Ennis shook his head and mirrored Jacks position. He looked him straight in the eye.

"Wouldn't invite ya ta stay if'n I didn't want ya to."

Jack was thoughtful for another minute. Ennis found himself hoping Jack would say 'yes', didn't want to miss the opportunity to spend a few more days with him.

"You'd make a pretty good sales man, you know that?"

"You must not know me very well, then."

They looked at each other for a moment and then both laughed.

"Well, all right, I'll stay. Can't thank ya enough fer this."

"Don't worry 'bout it. Jest hope this won't mess up yer plans er anythin'. Didn't ya say you was jest passin' through?"

"Yeah, uh, jest passin' through."

"What brings ya here, anyway?"

The color drained from Jack's face. He looked a little like he had the night before after Ennis had introduced himself, a little like he'd just seen a two-headed cow doing a juggling act. Jack reached for his beer, realized it was empty, then rubbed at his face with his left hand.

"I was…was headin' up ta my folks place, up near Lightenin' Flat. Was goin' ta check out the ol' farm n' ranch, see what's what. Took a rest from drivin'. Then, well, I ended up here."

Ennis nodded, then stood and stretched. He picked up the pizza box and tossed it into the trashcan. Next he grabbed Jack's two bottles of beer and put them in the sink, then wet a rag that was hanging on the stove handle and started wiping up beer from the floor. Jack came over to where he was, kneeled across from him, and started collecting the broken pieces of glass onto the broken plate. At one point their hands touched and Ennis felt a jolt of electricity go through his body and land at his groin.

"What the fuck?"

"Sorry." Jack said.

"No problem." Ennis felt like he'd just been kicked by an angry mare. He wasn't sure what had just happened. It certainly wasn't unpleasant, though.

Jack stood and threw the broken glass in the trash.

"Oh, hey, fergot ta mention. Yer daughter called earlier. Left you a message. Said she wanted ta come n' cook dinner fer ya tomorrow, I think."

"Junior?"

"Yeah, I think so."

Ennis tossed the beer soaked rag into the sink and walked over to the answering machine, pressed play. Sure enough, Junior wanted to come over and cook Sunday dinner. It had once been a tradition for them. Junior would come over every Sunday evening and cook a good home cooked meal for Ennis, since he usually didn't eat too well. It wasn't that he didn't have enough money, he just wasn't that great of a cook and he didn't have the patience to try and learn how to make himself a good meal.

He thought about what Junior had said in her message. Was glad she was getting a new job, Q.T.'s had never paid her that well anyway, and he was even gladder at the thought of being able to spend Sunday nights with his daughter again. He didn't think it was right, her having to work late on Sundays. And since she was coming over tomorrow…

"Hey, Jack, tomorrow you can meet my daughter Junior."

Jack smiled. "I'd love that Ennis. She sounds like a very nice woman from what ya told me 'bout her. So longs I wouldn't be getting' in the way. I'm sure she wants ta spend time with her daddy."

"Yeah well, she'll jest be pleased that I've made a friend, she keeps tellin' me I oughta go out more n' be social."

"So are we friends then, Ennis Del Mar?"

Ennis leaned against the counter and looked straight at Jack, who was standing near the trashcan with a devilish grin on his face.

"I would like ta think so."

Jack's smile widened, and he stuffed his hands in his pockets.

"Well good. So would I."