Have a Cup of Coffee

Ennis had come down from the sheep for supper. Jack had supper ready – potatoes, beans, bacon. The bean diet they had had after the bear the week before was gone now, replaced by new supplies.

Ennis, though more vocal lately, hadn't talked much while they were eating except to discuss the sheep or the weather or coyotes, and then only in single syllable words. He seemed preoccupied and nervous, like he needed to say or do something but couldn't figure out how.

Jack, as usual, kept up his a running dialogue of anything and everything that came to his mind. Ennis had lately begun to open up and would now answer questions and join in the conversation instead of saying nothing for an entire evening, letting Jack do the talking. Jack had hoped that the more he talked to Ennis, the more Ennis might come to trust him and start looking to him as a friend. Jack didn't know if he could get Ennis to be more than that, but he'd settle for a friend right now.

So his lack of conversation tonight was a little odd and it didn't go unnoticed by Jack.

As it came time for Ennis to pack up and get on back up to the sheep, he seemed to kinda hesitate, like he was trying to stretch out the time he had before he left. He would do little things that didn't need to be done, light another cigarette, help Jack with cleaning up.

Jack saw this and was kinda curious as to what was going on, because Ennis was always prompt to get back up to the pasture right after dinner…them damn sheep needed protectin', ya know. But today, Jack saw he was antsy and fidgety, like he didn't know where to put himself.

Jack glanced up once and caught Ennis looking at him with this kinda needy look in his eyes. Ennis had quickly turned away and walked off a little distance, scuffing at the ground.

Jack felt he needed to gently prod Ennis to find out what was going on.

"Ennis, I'm pretty much done here. There ain't nothin' else you gotta do."

"Hmm." Ennis grunted.

"You got all the blankets you need? It's gonna get some kinda cold tonight."

"Yeah."

Ennis turned and, looking everywhere but at Jack, said, "Jack, is that coffee still good?" He knew it wasn't.

Jack was figuring out what was happening here.

"Hell no, Ennis. Been sitting here seems for days now." Jack stood up and looked straight at Ennis. Ennis now looked straight at Jack.

Jack said, "If you want, though, I could make some more."

"Sure, that'd be good."

Now Jack had his number.

"Ennis, what about them sheep?"

Ennis looked up to the pasture, hands in his pockets, and said kinda gruffly, "Damn sheep can wait a while. Ain't nothin' gonna eat 'em if I stay to have a cup a coffee."

Jack smiled. This was the first time that Ennis had shown he wanted company. The first time that he had stepped forward to say, so to speak, that he wanted to stay for a little longer with Jack. His heart kinda did a leap of joy.

"Well, that coffee'll be ready in just a little bit. Come on and have a seat while we wait."

And Jack started talking like he usually did. When he would look over at Ennis, he'd see a slight smile on his face as he'd watch Jack talk and move around.

Jack had made himself a friend.