Chapter 6
Disclaimers: see chapter 1
As always, thanks to my lovely betas Carol and Grace for their efforts in helping me completing this work.
Thanks to all the readers who waited with patience for the ending of this fiction.
NOTE: this is the end of "Mexico", but I'm working on two new BBM projects, one of them is a possible sequel of this story, but I need your opinion – please - if it is worth doing it before going on.
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Ennis was sleeping lightly when an arm wrapped around his bare chest; he kept his eyes closed but softly intertwined his fingers with Jack's.
Deep in their hearts, they both knew it wasn't possible to sleep apart; Jack felt an obligation to thank Ennis for coming so he got up from his bed to snuggle against the warm body of his man.
"I sleep well in your arms." Ennis murmured.
"Me, too. Three nights in a row without sleeping much."
"You drove too much."
"And you took a big risk with your old truck."
"Was so worried, I heard of the interstate car crash."
"Radio said there were a lot of victims."
"One of them could have been you. I called to be sure and Lureen ..."
Jack swiftly lifted his upper body up to face Ennis. "Wait, you talked with her? With my wife?"
Ennis passed over the word "wife" and especially the possessive "my".
"She answered."
Jack couldn't imagine an Ennis so bold as to make a that call, but thinking about it something must have told him to go South. No way Ennis could have found alone the right direction in a country as big as Mexico.
"Oh God, I can't believe it, she spoke with you after so many years. Sometimes she thinks you are a ghost!"
Ennis turned, there was not enough light to see those blue eyes well but he opened his arms to invite Jack nearer.
"Come here and stop talking about Lureen."
Jack moved fast into the welcoming haven.
" Sorry for shouting before, Rodeo."
"It's all right. Thanks for the ice. It feels better now."
It was good to be so close, after what happened since their last trip, since the divorce and the refusal he gave Jack.
Ennis thought about tomorrow, and the day after, and more, when he'd be back in Riverton to collect his last wages from the foreman, to look for another job, to sleep alone in a small bed. He compared those images with the reality of having Jack, here and now.
"I can't lose you again." There, he had said it, with the help of the darkness and of a Mexican bar.
In the end it wasn't so difficult and considering the way Jack's hand was stroking his face, it was a good choice.
"I know. Me, neither." A murmur. Jack still found it hard to believe, but he prayed that those last words were true.
"Gotta find a way to fix this."
"Ennis, I'll do everything in my power for you. Just don't hide.." Jack stopped to find the right words and not hurt his lover . "..behind the past."
"Lost my job coming here, got fired after three years without a day off, not for illness, not for family."
"We can find you another."
"But there is still the child support. It's $250 a month."
"I'll lend you something...no wait!" Jack felt the tension in Ennis immediately. "You'll pay me back as soon as you start working again. $10 dollars a month, it's a loan, ok?"
"Only ten?"
"Prefer twenty? Let's make it twenty. Not a big deal for me friend."
They felt a little silly talking about loans without plans for the big issues, but it was a start. Jack avoided putting much pressure on Ennis, in the space of few hours his life had changed so much and hope for the future had returned. He kissed Ennis' forehead and cuddled him back to sleep.
Jack remained awake for a while, expecting Ennis' body to tremble and shake during a nightmare, like had happened a few times when they camped together.
Although Ennis had admitted his need a few minutes ago, it was only the first step. Now, together, hidden by the night, nobody around, Ennis wasn't afraid, but real life, with its lights, voices, people, was waiting for them in the morning.
He took Ennis' left hand and kissed the ring finger, where there was a spot of skin more tender.
"I love you Cowboy," he said softly. " Please trust me and it will be all right."
Ennis woke again at dawn; it felt so good to rest in each other's arms. Jack was awake staring at him, propped on his elbow.
"I'm thinking to move to my parents' house soon, after starting the divorce," Jack stated. "The problem is you cannot live too far from the girls, can you?"
"Jack they are the only good part ..."
"I know Cowboy. I'm not asking you to choose between me and them."
It would be his hardest choice, the one that would break – had already broken – his heart in two pieces. Ennis thanked Jack with a soft kiss for understanding him so well.
"So I must move. Thinking about my folk's place for this summer, if the divorce goes well. You can come with me if you want. The house is really in the middle of nowhere, only two other farms around, Jones' six miles south and another ranch eight miles east. The nearest town is as big as a mousehole."
He added purposely the details of the neighbourhoods to ease Ennis' fear of being seen and judged by people.
"We should buy new stock and prepare everything for the next year, you could go to the livestock shows to choose the animals."
"But will your father agree?"
Jack wasn't listening. "We could save a lot of money there. I have my own savings and I think I'll get some from Lureen but it will not last forever. We could build a small cabin for us with room for the kids when they visit. We will tell people we are old friends, both divorced and saving money."
Jack's practical side mixed with the dreamer's dreams; he wondered how many nights he had laid beside Lureen with eyes open and mind flying over open skies, planning for another life.
Jack seemed happy to abandon his former life, like a reptile changing his skin, while Ennis was still disturbed by remorse and guilt regarding his daughters.
So he tried again to make Jack more reasonable, his voice unsteady but strangely happy, because the temptation to jump into Jack's idea - like they did from a rock into the cool lake during the first summer - was so strong and appealing.
"Yes, but how will your parents see us?"
"I'm not gonna to tell them what we do together and I don't care at all what they think! Fuck, it's our business ... Dad better keep quiet, I told you the place is quite deserted, if he shouts nobody will hear him. But the ranch comes from Ma's family and it needs so much work. We will all be too tired to argue much. And Lureen will let me see Bobby easier if I live with his grandparents. Ma will be so happy."
Ennis agreed for the moment – there would be time in the morning to discuss again - and let himself be cradled in Jack's optimistic vision. If it was a dream, he didn't want to be woken up for the moment.
The skin of the arm he was holding was warm, Ennis started moving his hand up and down, feeling heat and softness beneath.
He murmured in Jack's ear words that sounded like "babe" and "darling". Jack knew his man well enough not to make further inquiries.
Instead he moved a little closer so their bodies were touching perfectly; Ennis licked and kissed the inside of his lover's arm.
Jack pushed Ennis to his back, putting his head just above the heart he loved the most. It was beating strong and secure, the rhythm increased when Jack opened Ennis' fly and an eager hand found heated flesh, glistening on the head.
Jack went for a slow hand job, using time to touch every inch of Ennis' dick the way Ennis liked best. Ennis took his jaw, signalling Jack to look at him. The faint light from the window was enough to reveal the pleasure over the man's face. Only Jack could touch him in such an intimate way. Ennis lifted up his face and searched the other's man mouth. They kissed slowly at first, then faster in time with Jack's rhythm.
Soon hips started moving and Ennis released his seed.
"Turn around." He said after catching his breath a little.
Jack complied without hesitation and lowered his jeans.
Nowadays they often remained face to face while making love, but Jack sensed that it was a sort of repetition of their first time ever, with less rush and more warmth, always with the same passion. Ennis kissed the back of his lover, used his tongue to lick every point of the spine, marvelled at how perfect it was, how bones and muscles melded together, forming that unique creation that was Jack.
He found himself hard again soon, ready to caress, touch, kiss, knead and finally enter his lover. His fingers opened the way as gently as possible without the help of a lube. It was like coming home, being surrounded by an intense heat, feeling every part of Jack not as a separate entity, but as a part of himself. He and Jack, one.
Jack cursed himself for being so stupid; he travelled so far with the idea to fuck a stranger when all he needed was in the usual place, above and around him. His good luck had protected him again, because in Mexico the chance of losing Ennis forever had never been so close.
They made love in silence, some tears spilled from Jack's eyes when he felt Ennis explode inside him shortly after his own release. After, both spent, they kissed softly stroking each other's face, before sleep captured them again.
They woke up together, late in the morning; there were sounds in the alley, floor maids were cleaning everywhere. Ennis' perfect inner clock - which allowed him to be always on time for work - was for once in his life not working. His head was spinning and for a second he didn't realise what had happened.
He had dreamed a lot, the kind of dreams he dared to remember only during their first summer, when the rest of the world always vanished in Jack's arms. But the reality was Jack at his side, carefully looking at his face, smoking a cigarette.
Jack knew Ennis had not agreed yet about living together in Lightning Flat. Time to continue his effort to persuade him.
He imagined he'd need lot of time, maybe months, to persuade Ennis to open up a little more. The first thing now was to be closer, separated by less than 14 hours of driving.
When they'd be in Wyoming, freed from wives and former bonds, Jack was sure to win over Ennis' fears and insecurities.
"It will not be easy, I know. My Dad can be impossible. We'll need time. If you want to remain in Riverton I'd be nearer, we could meet more often. Try to solve the situation."
Ennis took his time before answering, looking deep in his man's eyes. He found respect, love and devotion within, mixed with a special strength, the one reserved for those Jack really loved. Ennis was proud to be so important for Jack,
"Okay, I'll do my best. Can't manage another trip like this for you. Beside I got no work and I need money soon, so for the moment - if you swear to keep your mouth closed with your Pa about our situation - I'll take the kind offer of Mr. Twist Junior."
"My hero. Let's see if Dad figure it out by himself, okay?"
"Okay. One more thing Jack."
"Go on."
"A promise. No more Mexico. Can't bear it. And no mention of this trip to your folks up there." Ennis was damned serious and Jack sensed his mood.
It was time to start anew and forget old mistakes, so he agreed easily. He imagined Ennis' quiet attitude compared to his father's harsh behaviour. Life as a family in Lightning Flat would be a little difficult, especially the first weeks, but it was worth trying. Jack wondered why he had never asked Lureen and Bobby to go live in Lightning Flat. Apart from Lureen's angry reaction at the idea of leaving Texas and her work, that was the only home Jack had. A home to share only with a true love.
"Promised! But only if it all goes well we'll live there, if not, we'll try to buy our own place, maybe something smaller."
Jack was aware of hard times for them, living with his parents. The notion of having Ennis so close and yet so far away was disturbing: how could they even kiss - let alone consider making out, an idea too dangerous - under Twist Sr's intense gaze?
"We'll see. So you'll go back to Childress now?"
"Gotta talk to Lureen. Give me ten days and I'll reach you somewhere 'round Riverton, okay? I'll give my Ma a call to advise her we're coming."
Ennis nodded. Ten days, enough time to talk with his girls, empty out the rented room and pack his few belongings.
Jack chose purposely the short period of time to avoid the possibility of a change of mind.
Ennis should be able to find a trailer for his horses, the only important things he had to take with him.
It was decided. Now it was time to leave the room, have breakfast and full the tanks with gas. Time to start living, finally.
Seeing joy and happiness shine in shades of blue was a precious reward for every mile of the road Ennis had travelled and a sweet promise for the return trip.
The end (?)