It had been six months since J.D. had been to Ennis', met Jack and passed on the information about the ranch jobs. In that time, he'd dropped by the house twice but had been so nervous and agitated that he hadn't stayed long. "Hey, you boys doing alright? Job good? No thanks, no beer right now…uhhh…got work to do. Gotta be running. So…okay…uh…You guys take care." And he was outta there.

"Damn, why can't I just ask what I need to ask, say what I need to say." J.D. was not having an easy time with this. He made a resolution to sit down with Ennis and Jack and get this over with…soon…maybe next week…when the time is right…yeah, that's it.

Buck was getting bigger every day. Ennis had originally felt he wasn't going to get very big since he was the runt but he was wrong. Buck was rapidly approaching full-size heeler status. And he was very smart. Jack had to watch him carefully and constantly because there was no telling what kind of mischief he might get into.

Today, Jack was out in the front yard with Buck playing fetch with a stick. Ennis was sitting on the chair on the porch drinking coffee. He enjoyed this time because he got to watch Jack run around and yell and holler and laugh…a side of Jack he found particularly endearing.

Jack had the stick and was running back and forth teasing Buck. When he went to throw it, Buck jumped at him, bumping him…actually, he nearly ran him over…and Jack's throw went wild. Buck took off to get it. Unfortunately for all concerned, it landed in Ennis' lap startling him. When he looked up, there was an airborne blue heeler headed his direction.

Buck caught Ennis full force in the chest and he, Ennis and the chair went flying backwards tossing Ennis onto the front porch spilling his coffee all over the clean shirt he had just put on.. Ennis had only had time to utter the first two letters of a cuss word.

Buck quietly picked up the stick and walked away depositing it at Jack's feet.

Jack froze, rooted where he stood, his jaw dropped. Ennis had picked up the thread of his cussing and now was in full sway.

Jack felt it coming and tried to hold it back but was completely overwhelmed. He started to laugh.

"Goddamn, Jack, what…what the hell were you thinking? You made me spill my coffee! And that shit was hot, too!"

Jack tried to tell him that he did it by mistake but couldn't get the words out he was laughing so hard. He went to his knees when he couldn't stand any longer followed shortly by falling to the ground and rolling over on his back.

"Fucking Twist and his goddamn dog." Ennis was trying to right himself and the chair. "Buck! What the hell is your problem, dog?" Jack could barely breathe.

"Go ahead and laugh, Jack Fucking Twist! Go ahead! You think this is funny, huh?" All Jack could do was nod and continue laughing. Buck just sat next to Jack like nothing much was happening…tongue hanging out of his mouth.

"And I just put this fucking shirt on. Damnit, Jack…." and on and on as he stormed into the house to clean up and try another shirt.

Jack reached over, pulled Buck to him and rolled around on the ground with him for a little while trying his best now to stop laughing. He was only partially successful.

A little while later, Jack came into the house with Buck. Ennis was sitting on the couch, his back to the door, his chin in his hand.

"Ennis…" Ennis didn't answer.

"Ennis, I'm sorry, cowboy. I didn't mean to throw that stick at you like that. Buck bumped me…it was a bad toss." Here a chuckle escaped Jack's lips before he could catch it.

"Fuck you, Jack."

"Come on, Ennis, I'm sorry. Even Buck here is sorry. Ain't ya boy?" Jack had squatted down next to Buck. "You're real sorry, huh, Buck. I know you are. How about you go tell Daddy Ennis how sorry you are, huh. Go on."

Ennis shot a glance in their direction. Buck had lowered his belly to the ground, head down and was shuffling over to Ennis. Ennis didn't look right at him but could see him out of the corner of his eye.

Buck got over to Ennis and shuffled in front of him looking up with sad puppy dog eyes. Ennis was trying to ignore him. Buck got up and stepped towards Ennis, shoved his nose between Ennis knees and pushed his head up to lay it in Ennis' lap. Ennis just put his face into his hand, knowing he had been suckered out of the bad mood he wanted to be in.

"Alright, alright," as he petted Buck on the head, "but Daddy Jack," here Ennis shot Jack a look, "is still on my shit list." Buck raised his head, tongue hanging out, happy to hear Ennis had forgiven him.

Jack had this big smile on his face and walked over to the back of the couch. He layed his arms over Ennis' shoulders, clasping his hands on Ennis' chest, nuzzling the curve of his neck.

"I'm sorry, cowboy. It really was an accident. You ain't hurt are ya?"

"Well…," Ennis said like a little kid.

"Can I kiss it where it hurts and make it feel all better?" Jack felt the immediate shiver that went through Ennis' body, the sudden intake of breath.

In a small voice, Ennis said, "Well, it kinda hurts here,"…a kiss…"and here,"…another kiss…"and a little over here." Jack smiled, glad to ease his man's pain…real or imagined.

It was just Jack and Buck home that Saturday when J.D. came by. Ennis was taking care of one of the horses at the ranch that a new ranch hand, out of ignorance, had hurt. When Ennis had heard what had happened, he had stormed over to stomp on the head of the guy that had hurt one of his babies…which is how he had come to think of these horses. Luckily the guy wasn't there.

Jack had been outside sitting on the front porch which had just been roofed…one of a number of things that had been done to the house now that there was good money coming in. He had just finished playing fetch with Buck and was sitting down enjoying a beer.

J.D. drove up in his cruiser but was dressed in civilian clothes when he got out. Jack didn't know J.D. that well since he hadn't met him but a couple of times, but he could tell something was wrong by the set of his shoulders, the way he walked, the way he looked everywhere but at Jack. He knew J.D. was upset over something.

"Hey, J.D., what brings you out this way?"

"Hey, Jack," J.D. said absently. "In the neighborhood, just thought I'd drop in. Where's Ennis?"

"He's out at the ranch. One of the new ranch hands apparently didn't know much about horses and hurt one of 'em. He went out there to check on her, see if there was any damage and such. You wanna beer?"

"Sounds good. You don't mind some company? I ain't interruptin' nothin' am I?"

"Nah, sit down. Just finished playing with Buck and was resting up some. I'll be right back."

J.D. sat down trying to stay calm, twisting his hands, looking down at his shoes. Damn, hoped that Ennis would be here, too. Know him better. But he's kinda closed up. Don't know how much I'd get out of him. Jack, I don't know so well, but at least he'll talk.

Jack came back out. "Here ya go." J.D. took the beer, drank some and put it down by his seat.

J.D. was quiet. Jack didn't think a conversation would start if he didn't start it.

"So, J.D., what's up? You doing okay?"

J.D. didn't lift his head. Jack could see J.D.'s hands shaking. Jack moved his chair a little closer.

"J.D. what's the matter? This ain't like you to be so quiet."

J.D. looked up at Jack, his eyes moist. Jack couldn't figure out what J.D. was feeling and this made him kinda nervous.

"Jack, you and Ennis…you guys known each other for awhile, right? You guys are pretty close?"

Jack felt a twinge of apprehension shoot threw him.

"Uh, well, J.D., yeah, I guess."

"I mean, uh, you guys are living in the same house here. You're always together." J.D. shot a glance at Jack, saw his discomfort. He stood and walked a couple of steps away.

"Ya know, people might think there was more going on here than just a couple of friends." J.D.'s voice was shaking.

Jack stood. Buck stood feeling Jack's distress.

"Don't know that this is any of your business, J.D. Me and Ennis…"

"The two of you…I need to know…you…are you guys queer?"

Jack's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched, his fists tightened, "There ain't no call for this…" J.D. spun on Jack.

"I NEED TO KNOW, DAMNIT!" Jack went still and quiet inside. He stepped once toward J.D.

"You got a need to let out some hate, J.D.? You gonna need to beat on me, take a tire iron to me….kill me? You don't look like the type. But you're a lawman so's I figure you'd get away with it. "

J.D. just looked at him…stunned. This wasn't the way he had wanted this to turn out. His desperation had gotten to him. He had lost his head and caused Jack to get defensive.

Jack was waiting. Buck was barking. Jack was saying goodbye to Ennis in case he never saw him again.

Tears had started to flow down J.D.'s cheeks.

"I'm sorry, Jack. I ain't here to hurt ya, I promise. I just need to know. I ain't talked to no one in…it's been so long and I ain't had a chance…" J.D. started crying softly.

Jack's tension started to fade leaving him weak. He sat down.

"J.D., sit down, okay. Come on, you're gonna fall over. Just sit down."

J.D. sat. Holding his head in his hands.

"J.D., don't you move, okay? I'm gonna go get us some whiskey. I'll be right back. Buck you come on inside." Jack took Buck with him and walked to the kitchen. He stood at the counter for a moment, taking deep breaths, letting the fear fade from him. When he could, he reached up and took the whiskey and two glasses down and walked out to sit with J.D.

"Here ya go. Here, drink this." Jack handed him a glass of the whiskey. J.D. sat, catching Jack's eye for a moment. Jack could see the desperation and apology there. J.D. downed his shot.

"Jack, I'm sorry…I didn't mean…"

"It's okay, J.D. I can see something's bothering you awful fierce. You wanna talk about it? Would it help?"

J.D. looked over at Jack for a moment, looked down at his feet, looked around everywhere else. When he looked back at Jack, a slight smile came to his face along with a nod of thanks.

"His name was Nathan…"