5
Wake up
They moved Ennis into a regular hospital room. Jack and Joe were there smiling cautiously as the patient gradually became aware of the sounds and smells of a hospital. His eyes slowly fluttered open and looked toward them. The first thing out of his mouth was "where am I, what happened" he groaned.
Jack bent over him, but at the last second thought against giving him a kiss. But he just grabbed his shoulder, giving it a little squeeze.
Ennis said he couldn't remember anything about an accident. They filled him in with what they knew.
Joe wished them well, and said he'd find a place for them to stay until Ennis could go back to work. He closed by telling Jack to stay in the local hotel and not to worry about the bill, it'd be taken care of it.
Early the next morning, freshly showered in a new shirt and Levi's Jack appeared at Ennis's room to find Ennis sound asleep.
The nurse said he'd been in quite a bit of pain and didn't get very much rest the night before, so please keep this visit brief, come back in the afternoon.
Encouraged by the small bit of good news, Jack did give the sleeping Ennis a light kiss on his cheek.
About 2 PM Jack entered Ennis's room and found a smiling Ennis sitting up in bed, able to talk this time. His first statement was that the pain medications were finally doing their job.
Ennis recalled that both he and the horse saw the big Rattlesnake at the same time. The horse bolted, and instantly pitched Ennis out of the saddle and on to the rocky ground with the snake sinking his fangs into Ennis hand. After that, nothing.
A gentle knock on the door got them both out of the daze they were in. The man introduced himself as Mr. West from the insurance company. He took down the details of the accident and replied that he was sure all the bills would be taken care of until he is able to get back to work.
After he left Jack asked Ennis "if there was anything he needed or someone he should contact, like Alma?"
Instantly Ennis barked "NO, don't call HER... ever! I'm done with her. In the same stressed voice he then asked; What in blazes am I going to do now? I can't walk and sure can't work for months."
Jack quickly replied, "Everything is OK right now, something will turn up, we will get through this!"
The next day Joe showed up again to see how the patient was doing and to take any news of his condition back to the roundup. Especially now since Ennis's accident was the big news item.
At the end of the visit he told Jack to ride along with him back to the main ranch to get his own truck as they'd be needing transportation.
He also said that he'd made preparations for them to stay at his own ranch. Welcome news, especially fortunate since it was the closest ranch to Cody for follow up doctor visits in case they may be needed.
Told them there would be someone there at the ranch to help Ennis since he had to get back to the roundup. He told Jack to return to the roundup too as soon as he felt Ennis was settled there, because right now they were shorthanded all three hands.
Finally the day arrived, the doctor said it was OK for Ennis to travel a short distance in the truck. Hospital personnel helped Jack load Ennis into Jack's truck. Jack followed the hand drawn map Joe had given Jack while Ennis dozed. He had told them they were welcome and expected when ever they arrived at the ranch.
Jack driving his old truck gently as he could over the bumpy dusty lane to an older two story house, that had seen better times. Another truck similar to the age of jack's sat there by the house. As they pulled up a couple dogs came barking off the porch where they had been napping, followed by a somewhat stocky smiling older gentleman.
All three of them came down to the truck as they pulled to a stop. The man put out his hand and said "Welcome, I'm Tony. Joe was here with the news, we have a room all set up ready for you both. You are welcome here for as long as you need a place to stay." His voice had the sound of true kindness; Ennis, always stressed with new situations, could be seen starting to relax already with the sincere welcoming greeting.
He gingerly helped get Ennis out of the truck, up the front steps and into the house. He showed them to the room he'd prepared. A hospital type bed for Ennis and a single bed for Jack against the wall.
Ennis started to protest that this was too much trouble for him to go to for them... strangers.
Tony replied that, "This was no trouble. The bed had been his mom's. She'd passed away last year. Joe told me, you two were in a tight spot, a bit down on your luck, and now with a busted leg, needed a place to stay for a bit. There's room for ya here. If Joe said you are OK, that's good enough for me."
Jack offered to help out with whatever was needed. That answer was "Thanks" but that the roundup meant everything to them, and that is where any help should go to.
Tony said he needed to stay there for the milk cow, tend the sheep, goats and the dogs. Besides it helps keeping the ranch from being sacked with no one there watching over the place.
Ennis wondered out loud about the rest of the hands there. Tony quickly answered that there weren't any others, just him and Joe.
He said "He and Joe had gotten together almost 20 years ago to start 'a little cow and calf operation' this is the result."
Ennis thought for a moment that he'd heard that someplace before. Jack's breath caught in a deep sigh, he turned toward the door to hide his moistening eyes as he heard the words that had come from his very own heart in their conversations back on the mountain.
The very next morning Ennis assured Jack he would be OK with Tony. There was enough pain meds to last a couple weeks, that he doubted he'd need all of em. Told Jack to go back to the roundup job.
Returning to the main roundup ranch Jack found that the west part of the roundup completed. The very next morning they were to move out again to get the stock from the south range herded back to the big ranch.
Jack resumed his duties with Joe as before. The only trouble this time was rain, for an entire week, every day it poured down for hours. Everyone and everything was completely soaked making the cold bite all the way to the bone. Finding a dry place to sleep was a real challenge, but it helped Jack take his mind off Ennis. It took a lot of large fires to get their gear dry enough to use. Even the the four wheel drive chuckwagon truck got stuck in the mud several times. A couple of horses pulled it free again.
But in the end they made it, the rounding up finally done for the year.
There were lots of new calves that needed to be branded. Adult cows and steers to be taken by their owners back to their ranches to live on the hay waiting in the barns at home. The most mature stock was sent off to market. The trucks hauled load after load of the stock to the proper ranches in seemingly endless parades, until it was time to take Joe's stock home.
It was high noon by the time all the stock were safely inside the huge coral. The ringing of that old iron bell on the porch announced that dinner was ready. From all the stress and running that morning Jack felt like he was starving. In another way he was starving for Ennis. It had been two long weeks since he'd last seen him there at the house. Big smiles were all around as Joe and Jack entered the kitchen door. Ennis in his walking frame and Tony greeted them warmly. It was all Jack could do to not grab Ennis in a big hug.
Over lunch Joe told how the roundup went and that the stock looked healthy. Tony said he wanted to see them himself, could Jack please stay with Ennis for an hour or so while he inspected the herd.
That request came as music to Jack's ears, he and Ennis would get a chance to be alone for that much delayed kiss n hug.
After a breathless few minutes Ennis cautioned, that they should keep 'things' simple since they didn't want to be caught in an embarrassing situation. Kiss's and hugs would have to do for right then.
Jack asked how Ennis and Tony had gotten along while he was away with Joe herding cattle. Ennis smiled, "We got along just great. He is like someone I've been friends with forever. He doesn't ask those open ended questions wanting to know my entire history. I did tell him about the cold treatment I got from Alma. He told me he'd been there and done that too. Many years ago his wife took off leaving only a note saying so-long-sucker.
Ennis wondered if Tony and Joe were sharing the same bed upstairs. Said with his leg he'd never made it up there to see where they slept. Jack quickly replied that he didn't think so, Joe was all business on the roudup and he didn't have time for idle chatting. So he really had no idea.
Too soon, laughter could be heard as Joe and Tony approached the house from their tour. Tony said he was delighted with the quality of the herd, and said the count was impressive too.
Joe asked Jack if he would help with the fence around the feedlots that needed to be strengthened since some of the stock were young and didn't even know what a fence was.
Joe opened the gate of the coral letting only a few cows at a time, into the feed lot for some hay, and to let get them slowly accustomed to a fence. Jack considered it a fair trade since Tony was staying close to the ranch house to keep an eye on Ennis and get supper started.
Tony seemed to love cooking. That first evening he'd set a huge table of great food. He called it his 'Harvest Celebration Dinner.' An awesome dinner it was.
All the fixings you could ask for. Over dinner Jack and Ennis both wondered how the place was ran with only the two of them. The answer was "hard work from sun up to sun down" and told old stories from years gone by.
Joe startled them by saying now it was his time to ask the questions.
He began by saying "I'd noticed you two right from the first day. He said he was impressed at how you guys seemed to work so perfectly together, regardless of the duty. I could hardly believe it when you got Ennis's bed roll out for him, making it ready, checking underneath for rocks and things. Him tending the horses. All without even one word between the two of ya. You two must have been team mates for many years to get along this well.
I saw the kindly way you look at each other. Then one night I overheard you talking when it was time to change cattle watching shifts.
Most guys don't talk to your other workers with sounds like you were making then. Please excuse me if I'm wrong, but the two of you are an absolutely beautiful team when you are together. It's Tony and my's opinion that the two of you are much much closer than just good pals...? Are we right?"
Ennis had never heard anyone talk to him in words like that, he sat there frozen, speechless, 'the deer in the headlight look' on his face. Jack, a small grin just beginning on his lips, gave a big sigh and proudly got up and went behind a startled Ennis's chair, bent down gave him a warm hug and kiss on the cheek. With faces touching side to side, they looked at Tony and Joe and said "Yep, you bet we are more than pals, one heck of a lot more!"
Joe, grinning like crazy, looked over at Tony's smile and said "Told ya!"
As they both loudly clapped their hands in applause! Then Tony grabbed Joe and the passionate kiss he put on him made Ennis blush. Jack was speechless too, his eyes not believing the scene they just witnessed.
Joe stated that they had always believed there are other guys out in the world like them; They really weren't alone.
Tony said, "Well OK folks, I've been saving something old for a very special occasion like this." He got out a ancient bottle of rum and popped the cork.
Joe poured out four healthy drinks. "SALUTE... Love always wins!"
"Welcome guys, we've waited a long time for this!"
A lot more drinks and tons of talk and many stories later, Ennis slurs his words a bit and asks,
"Now did I have to break my leg for this to happen?"
Their tear filled laughter filled the entire house well into the night.
Is this The End... Or the Beginning?