If Not For Fear VII

"Hot damn, Ennis, we done got ourselves a job…and a good one at that! And more money than I ever made!" Jack was jumping and cavorting, yammering on and on. Ennis, as usual, wasn't going to show much of anything but he was just as excited as Jack and was working to keep a full-fledged smile from coming to his lips. Jack was right. The pay here was good and, over time, would let them improve their living condition quite a bit.

Sheriff had been right. Dan was a good man, fair and honest. He had greeted Jack and Ennis like men rather than dirt, looking them straight in the eye and shaking their hands when they were done. The Double A was a well-run operation and Ennis was looking forward to working there…that and working with Jack so he could keep an eye on him.

They were at home now. Their interview with Dan taken place after Ennis got off work. Jack squatted down by Ennis who was sitting in the living room chair.

"Hey, Ennis. How about we go celebrate at the diner. Get us a meal outta the house, huh? Whattya think? This is the best news you and I done got in a long time, huh, Ennis? Come on, cowboy…whattya say?"

Ennis' first reaction was to clam up and retreat knowing that he'd have to go out in public with Jack and "what's all those people gonna think?" But Jack was persistent and had turned on Ennis one of his most powerful weapons – those deep blue eyes and that pouting mouth. Each by themselves was enough to drop Ennis where he stood, but together were devastating and blew away any defenses he had. He knew of course that Jack would get his way, but for his own self-esteem and to maintain his manly standing in front of Jack, he had to show he fought some before giving in.

"Now, Jack, you know we can't afford to be going out and spending that kinda money." Ennis tried not to look at Jack. "And we ain't gonna get paid for a little while yet, so what are we gonna do for food in the meantime?"

Jack's lips pouted just a fraction more…his eyes saddened just a smidgin.

Ennis was crumbling fast but needed to hold out just a little bit more. Part of him felt he was right. There were other things to put that money on but the ever-growing other part of him could only chuckle at Jack's efforts and how skillfully Jack knew how to play him. Ennis risked one glance at Jack.

"Damnit, Jack, now ya know how I am when ya get me around lotsa people. I ain't gonna be no kinda company putting me in that diner like that."

"But, Ennis," Jack said quietly moving a little closer to Ennis, hands in all the right places.

Ennis turned to look at Jack again and that's when Jack hooked him. Ennis was trapped like a fly on flypaper. He couldn't look away from those needy, blue eyes or move away from the body that went with them. Ennis knew it was over…that he had lost from the moment Jack looked up at him. Right about now, he'd give Jack the world if he asked for it.

"Alright, alright, we'll go to the damn diner, ya happy? Anything to keep you from moping around this place like some kinda baby." All this said with a slight smile on Ennis' face and absolutely no conviction behind it. Jack smiled real big, causing Ennis to go weak in the knees.

"Woohoo, we're goin' out on the town!" Jack leaned forward quickly and kissed Ennis. "I'm gonna go get a clean shirt and then we can get outta here." Ennis just stood there, hoping that the tightness in his nether regions would ease before they got to the diner. His hopes were dashed when Jack yelled from the room, "Hey, Ennis, we got anything here at the house for dessert when we get back?"

Ennis' mind was on his own predicament so didn't really catch what Jack was saying. "Don't think so, Jack."

"Well, then, I guess I could be creative with that honey you got in the kitchen. That'd be okay with you, Ennis?"

Ennis shot up so fast from his chair he got dizzy. His ears were turning red, a drop of sweat rolling down his forehead.

In the room, Jack suddenly found an arm around his waist that hadn't been there a moment before. He yelped once as he was picked up and dropped on the bed. Looking up he saw Ennis breathing heavy, eyes glazing over, "I think I'll have my dessert before dinner."

They did go to the diner, but it was much later than they had planned.

Sheriff Parker drove around the territory he was responsible for…aimlessly, his mind far away from his duties. He had been distracted since leaving Ennis and Jack the night before.

"I ain't believin' this. Just good friends, my ass. Damnit, they're in love…plain as the nose on my face. I never thought Ennis…I mean, who would ever have thought…" J.D.'s fingers were nervously tapping on the steering wheel.

"What the hell am I supposed to do about this now?"

Things had been going real good at the ranch for Jack and Ennis. Ennis had been assigned to the horses…of which there were many…which made him happier than a pig in slop. Dan found out that Jack was kinda good with numbers and put him to watching inventory and such. Counting this and that. Jack was fine with that since he'd had shit jobs for so long and thought this was a real step up in the world.

One day after Ennis and Jack got home, Ennis said he had to leave to take care of something and would be back soon. Jack tried to question him on where he was going, but Ennis was evasive and wouldn't give Jack a straight answer. When Jack continued to push, Ennis just told him he'd be back as soon as he could and stormed out.

A couple of hours later, Jack heard the screen door slam knowing of course it was Ennis returning. He was in the kitchen peeling potatoes for dinner and had his back to Ennis.

"Jack." Jack didn't respond. "Come see, Jack, I got something for you." Jack still didn't turn around. "Look, Jack, I'm sorry for leaving like I did. I had something I had to do. Will you come here for a minute."

"No."

"Come on, Jack, now don't be like that." Ennis walked into the kitchen closer to Jack. "I really do have something for ya. Wanna see?" Jack put down his potatoes but didn't turn around. "No call for you to have to treat me like that, Ennis." Ennis agreed and stepped right behind Jack.

"I'm sorry, Jack, I really am." Ennis took the puppy out of his jacket where he had been keeping it warm. "I won't do it again." He put the puppy's nose up against Jack's neck. Jack waved Ennis away,"Go on, Ennis, you ain't getting nothing right now. I'm still mad at ya." Ennis smiled. Then the puppy barked a little puppy bark. Jack spun around.

"Ennis….what's this?" Jack whispered, clearly surprised.

"I got you something, Jack. I remembered that little heeler you kept in your jacket when we was up on Brokeback. I thought…maybe…"

Jack's eyes got moist as he looked from the dog to Ennis and back. "He's mine? You got me my own dog, Ennis?" To Ennis' eyes, Jack started to shine, his excitement for the puppy starting to show.

"I'm sorry I jumped on ya earlier. Ya wouldn't let up on me and I hadn't thought of some kinda excuse to give ya. I didn't wanna tell you what I was going to do." Ennis' heart was swelling seeing Jack so happy.

"I gotta dog!" Jack had taken the puppy and was walking around now talking baby talk to him, holding him close. Ennis couldn't have been more happy with the result of his efforts.

Jack had put the dog down and was crawling on the kitchen floor with him. He looked like a little boy who had just been given a great treasure.

"You like him, Jack?"

"Like him? Ennis, I love him. I don't know what to say. The fact you remembered that little dog on Brokeback…" Jack was at a loss.

"He's a real heeler, Jack. I did a favor for this guy and he let me have the runt of the litter since they're real expensive. He won't be the biggest dog out there but he'll sure be the scrappiest."

"Whattya gonna name him?" Ennis asked.

Jack looked into the distance for a little then said, "Buck. When I was a boy, I read a book…

"You read a book?" Ennis poked at Jack.

"Yeah, asshole. It was a great book. I had to hide it because my pa thought that if you had time to read, you had time to work. Call of the Wild…that was the name of it. There's a dog in there and his name was Buck. I thought that if I ever had a dog, that's what I'd name him."

"Seems like a good name for a dog."

Jack looked up at Ennis, his blue eyes and smile dazzling Ennis, "Thank you. This means a lot to me. You don't know. I always wanted a dog but my daddy wouldn't have it."

"Well, now ya got one, Jack. You make sure you teach him to do his business outside. I don't want no dog peeing in the house."

"You got it, cowboy." Jack smiled and turned to Buck. He picked him up and held him high.

"Ya hear that Bucky boy, you're my very own puppy dog."

Ennis turned around to the sink to hide the tear that had rolled down his cheek.