Title: Whiskey River
Author: Pyro
Rating:NC-17 to R
Disclaimer: Credit goes to Annie Proulx, Larry McMurtry, Diana Ossana, and Ang Lee
Notes and Summary: What if Ennis had said yes when Jack came up to see him after the divorce? What if Jack had then divorced Lureen and they bought a ranch? This is that story.
Whiskey River
Chapter 2
They stayed in bed for two and a half days, relearning each others bodies. Jack held Ennis as he cried tears that he would never let anyone else see. Tears of grief, of sorrow, and of joy. Finally, on the third day they made it to the shower. Ennis groaned deep in his chest as Jack massaged soapy hands down his back, eliciting cracks and pops as muscles turned to jelly. The hot water beat a comforting tattoo as they switched places and it was Ennis's turn to make Jack moan. They were both too sore to do anything more than give gentle comfort. Jack leaned forward and propped his arms on the wall under the shower head, spreading his legs a bit as Ennis worked down his back. He hissed and moaned as long callused fingers gently cupped his balls, sensitive at the best of times, now almost unbearably so.
"Fuckin' tease," he murmured, and Ennis laughed into his shoulder.
"Come on, cowboy. Daylight's burnin' and we've got things to do." Ennis cajoled Jack out of the shower, even as the water went cold. They dressed in fresh clothes, Ennis finishing first. Jack had just tucked in his shirt when arms encircled him from behind and Ennis's clever fingers reached down and worked the zip and button, getting a gentle grope in for good measure. Jack sighed as the arms lingered, leaning back into the big warm body behind him. He smiled when Ennis hummed softly and rocked a bit before letting go. Jack turned into Ennis, reached up and gave him a long, slow kiss, leaving Ennis's eyes closed and his breath coming in pants.
Jack backed up and stomped into his boots. He smiled and said, "Come on, we got to get if we're gonna make it to Brokeback and get that land."
Ennis frowned." I'm not sure I like the idea of this, Jack."
"What's wrong with it? I've thought it all out. It's a ranch, a nice spread. We're ranch hands. We're two divorced men, who've gone in together to buy a ranch. Lord knows we can't afford it any other way. People do it all the time, so what are you worried about? Everything's legal, and nothin's suspicious about it. Hell, Ennis, if anyone asks or cares to find out, that's the truth."
"I don't like owin' you."
Jack snorted." Like Hell you'll be owin' me. If it makes you feel better, you can pay back when we get some money saved."
Ennis finally nodded, and Jack whooped."Come on then, slowpoke. Let's go!"
The drive up to Brokeback was quiet. The land was near the Fitzpatrick Wilderness, just off Whiskey Road. Jack pulled into the gate, and looked around. The fences were old, and in need of mending, the barn and house needed work, but would be easy to fix up. He heard Ennis suck in his breath as he gazed up the mountain at the green pasturage.
"Nearly a thousand acres, Ennis. Most of it goes straight up the mountain, but it's good land."
"Yeah."
"You want it?"
"Yeah." And that was it. They spoke to the fellow selling it. His name was McIntyre. The land had been in his family for years, and he wanted to go to the city, had no use for land. The initial price was steep, but the land had been sitting there for nearly a year, and Jack was able to haggle it down to a more reasonable price. It still cost nearly everything they both had. Jack had been right, there was no way they'd have been able to afford it separately. In fact, Ennis ended up being the one owed, not Jack. Ennis and Jack signed equally and by the end of the day, were the proud, stunned owners of 998 acres and four hundred head of Black Angus cattle. Ennis joked,"Maybe we should get some sheep," and Jack crinkled his nose.
"Hell, no! If I never have to smell sheep again, it'll be too soon."
As the climbed back in the truck, Ennis said, " Robert John? Where do you get Jack from that?"
"Ma wanted to name me James, after her father. My old man, though, he wanted me named after him and his pop. Ma lost that battle, but I never answered to Robert or John. She always called me Jack, so Jack I am. Named Bobby after her father, though." He coughed, then asked, "Ennis Theodore?"
"My Ma, she liked the name. Named me after a President her Daddy was fond of. So you just hush, Robert John."
"Ennis.."
"Jack." And that was that.
They drove back down to Riverton and packed up Ennis's meager belongings. The next morning, they swung by Alma's to let her and the girls know where Ennis was moving, and then drove back up to Brokeback. They opened the door on the old ranch house and went in. The place was dusty and dirty, but furnished in weathered, serviceable pieces. Nothing fancy, but it would do for awhile.
They hauled in Ennis's stuff and settled into picking rooms. Two rooms right next to each other, connected by a bathroom became theirs. Down the hall, a room each was chosen for Alma, Jr. and Francine. Bobby had a room farther down the landing. The girls had their bathroom, and Bobby had one of his own, because, as Ennis said, "Ain't no boy wants to share a bathroom with a girl."
That night they slept together in Ennis's room. The next morning, Jack loaded up the truck to go to Lightning Flats. Ennis leaned on the bed.
"You sure you want to do this?"
"Yeah, been puttin' it off too long now. Need to see what can be salvaged and what should be scrapped. Mamma'll feed me and put me up for a few days, then I'll be back here before I go back to Childress for a bit. Me'n'Lureen got to work this thing out. Her Daddy'll pay me to get gone, but I don't want to trust to that. He's a mean, wiley sumbitch, and more than likely will have conditions on top of conditions. We've already talked about Bobby coming up here for summers. That ok with you, cowboy?"
Ennis nodded,"Sounds good. We can have the place fixed up by then. Girls can come stay."
"All right." Jack slammed the truck. "I'll see you in a few days then." Ennis nodded, but stopped Jack on his way around the truck.
"Wha?" Jack didn't get a chance to finish as Ennis grabbed him a kissed him. Jack was backed up to the truck, Ennis's leg between his thighs, just enough pressure to get him hard and aching. Then Ennis pulled back, smiled at Jack's rumpled look, and said,"Have a good trip, cowboy."
Jack glared as much as he was able, and bit out, breathless,"Damnit Ennis, now I'm gonna be hard all the way to my folks. I'm gonna get you for that, ya sumbitch. " Ennis laughed as Jack drove off, then reached down to adjust himself.
Lightning Flats was just as dry and barren as the name implied. Little rain fell, and what did came in big thunderstorms with as much threat of fire as of water. Jack pulled in to the dusty drive of his parents ranch, and killed the engine. He sat there for a moment before opening the door and stepping out of the truck. As he walked up to the house, he saw his Mamma meet him at the door.
"Hi, Mamma," Jack hugged her. She held him tight.
"Hello, Jack." His Mamma's voice was soft in his ear. "How long are you staying?"
"Couple a days. I want to make a list of everything that needs doin'. Me'n'Ennis've got a place over at Brokeback Mountain. Just bought it th' other day. Already have four hunnert head a cattle. Me'n'Lureen are getting a divorce, and I'm moving up here. I'll be able to come over and help get this place into shape. Whadda ya think, Mamma?" Jack grinned at her. She smiled back.
"I think it sounds like you blowin' smoke, boy." Jack's father snarled from the kitchen table. Jack stiffened and his smile froze, then faded away.
"Father."
"You been sayin' fer years how yer gonna come up here an' fix this place up. Now yer shackin' up with this Ennis Del Mar. You think I don't know what's goin' on here?"
"Not shackin' up, Father. Me'n'Ennis went in together, fiddy-fiddy, and bought a ranch. S'all nice'n' legal. Me'n'Lureen been headed for divorce for years now. I'm happy, she's happy, ever'body's happy but you, and you ain't never gonna be happy 'bout anything. Ennis is the best damn cowboy I know." He turned to his Mamma," Knows his stuff. We got good land, good stock, and a good chance to make it work. Now I can help you out some. Get this place cleaned up, fences mended, get some stock out here, have some money comin' in for a change."
"What if I don't want no Ennis Del Mar on my land, hm? You ever think about that, boy?"
Jack worked his jaw for a moment. "Then I guess we've got no more to discuss, Mr. Twist." He turned to go, but his mother caught his arm.
"Wait. Don't go yet. Have some coffee, or pie? Stay the night?" Jack looked from his mother to his father, and back again. Mr. Twist snorted and walked away. He smiled at his mother and nodded.
"Just the night, Mamma. You know, you're always welcome at the ranch. We haven't named it yet, I'll send you a card when we do, and let you know when Bobby comes to visit."
That night, Jack slept in his old room at the top of the stairs. He gathered up what few treasures he wanted to keep. A carved horse and rider, a few trinkets, and two shirts, tucked one inside the other. He smiled, maybe it was time to return that shirt to Ennis. His smile widened, maybe not. The next morning, he was on his way back to Ennis, back home.
Ennis looked up from his work as Jack's truck jounced up the drive. He frowned. Jack wasn't due back for another two days. He stood, the hammer dropping to the ground by the fence he was mending. As the truck ground to a stop, he made his way over. Jack crawled out, stood by the door a moment with his hat pulled low over his eyes, a good indication he was upset about something. Then he tilted his hat back and smiled at Ennis.
"Hey, cowboy. I got some additions to the ranch. Found 'em in a bar ditch." He leaned back into the truck.
"Come on, girl. Let's go." A brindle colored dog jumped out, followed by two pups.
"Ennis, this here is Lady, and her pups, Sam," a black and tan male," and Lucy," a little white and tan female. He then reached into his coat pocked and pulled out a grey and white kitten that rather looked like a lynx. Ennis cocked an eyebrow.
"Well, I couldn't just leave him there, either!"
"What's his name?" Ennis and Jack looked at the scruffy kitten. It's hair started short around its head, and got longer towards its flanks. Jack cocked his head.
"Fuzzybutt?" Ennis snorted.
"Good enough. What happened?" Jack hemmed and hawed for a moment.
"Mr. Twist decided not to accept any help. Mamma may come visit sometime, but don't hold your breath. Other than that, nothing."
Ennis knew that there was something Jack wasn't saying, but didn't push. Jack would tell in his own time.
"Well, come on then, cowboy. It's getting to dark to see anyway, might as well start supper."
Jack followed Ennis into the house. A whistle and "Come on, dogs" had them following behind.
"You know they're all gonna need a bath and dip t'get rid a th' fleas and ticks, Jack."
"What? Ennis!"
"They're your critters, Jack."
"Mean sumbitch." Ennis laughed.
The door closed, light switched on, and in the distance a coyote howled.