Ennis had been drinking for hours, never moving, ignoring the bartender until he wanted another beer. He was trying his best not to think about Jack yet all he could think of was Jack…trying not to think of all the things Jack had said to him but all those razor-sharp words kept surging through his mind.

Why the fuck would you do this to me, Jack had said.

Ennis thought to himself, It's your fault, Jack! Your fault I did what I did. Talking and laughing with all those ranch hands…can't keep your hands off 'em, huh? I saw you go into the stables with the foreman…bunch a times…just the two of you. What was ya doin' in there, huh, Jack?

Ennis' head was spinning with images of Jack and all those other men…them doing with Jack what only Ennis had the right to do. He was trying so hard to think straight, to try to understand that Jack wouldn't do that to him.

If you loved me, you'd trust me.

Ennis saw how his possessiveness had gotten in the way of that truth.

And then there was J.D. Ennis had seen them hug, seen how close they were…all the time imaging what they must have been doing.

J.D…..

J.D. was only here to talk, Ennis…just to talk. He's like us…he had a man he loved just like us. He had no one to talk to Ennis…all these years, no one to talk to.

Ennis had forgotten what Jack had said during the fight but it surfaced now waving an accusatory finger at him. Ennis winced at how bad he had misinterpreted that scene.

But, if J.D. had been having a hard time…wouldn't Jack have tried to help him feel better? That was Jack…always trying to make people laugh, always looking to make things better. And Ennis knew J.D….knew as he sat there…that J.D. would never try something with Jack…though part of him was dumbfounded by this unforeseen news about J.D.

Ennis sat, holding his hat, pulling it lower on his head to hide the embarrassment no one else saw but that he was feeling intensely.

He knew now, as reality overtook all his irrationality, that he had been wrong all this time…wrong to think Jack was up to anything with all these guys. He took a look at all these instances he had tallied up in his mind, trying to see them in a new light.

Had Jack ever tried to hide from him? Lie to him? Sneak around? Ennis had never seen Jack do any of those things. The truth was that Ennis worked with him each day, was home with him each night, spent the weekends around the house with him. When did Jack have any time to mess around?

And though Ennis knew that Jack smiled and laughed with others, he knew Jack only ever flashed that special smile at him…laughed that special laugh with him.

Ennis saw that he was the only one with a problem here. He was the only one seeing cheating going on. He had made up his mind that what he thought was happening was happening. He hadn't stopped to ask Jack anything, just jumped him like some fucking madman. And had tried to punch him…hit Jack. Hadn't he learned anything about that after the mountain? Ennis couldn't feel any lower at this point.

Ennis, there ain't nothing between me and any other man. You are the only one.

Ennis heard the truth now in what Jack had said.

If you loved me, you'd trust me.

Ennis saw his mistake.

You didn't believe me when I said I loved you

And Ennis put the final piece in place. He hadn't believed Jack. He hadn't given Jack's feelings as much credence as he had given his own need to keep Jack to himself…to hold onto him like he was some kind of possession he didn't want anyone else to see or touch. He thought he loved Jack but it looked like he just wanted his own needs and comfort met by having him around.

He had never really understood what love was about. All this time he could have been learning from Jack but had looked only at what he wanted.

Ennis, there ain't no one else…not now, not ever…you are the only one.

Ennis saw that he didn't need to hold on to Jack, to keep him bound up near so no one else would get him. Jack had told Ennis he stood with him of his own free will…that he wanted to stay with Ennis and no one else. He was telling him that it was always Ennis he would choose.

Ennis had made mistakes with Jack before but this one was up near the top. He needed to talk to Jack. Now. Right away. But what was he going to tell him? How was he going to get Jack to listen to him? All Jack had wanted to do was leave because of what he had done to him. Why would he talk to him now?

Ennis stood up from the bar startling the bartender who hadn't thought of him for some time, forgetting Ennis was even there. He was somewhat wobbly on his feet but made it to the door and out to the truck.

What am I gonna do now? He ain't gonna wanna talk to me. And I don't blame him. I was wrong, I was stupid…but I gotta talk to him…tell him…what'll I tell him?

Ennis sat for a minute, then turned the key and started the truck. He took a deep breath, put the truck in gear and turned towards the highway. He stopped at the end of the parking lot and, without hesitation, turned back towards the Twist ranch.

It was full dark now. Jack and his mother had talked for a long time…about things and in a way that they had not done before. At some point, she had made another pot of coffee.

Jack, his mind clearer and wiser thanks to his mother's viewpoint, decided that a walk outside and a cigarette would be a good thing right about now. He called for Buck who jumped at the opportunity to go sniff out this strange land his daddy had taken him to.

Jack opened the door stepping out onto the porch, Buck raced into the yard. He pulled out his cigarettes and was getting ready to light one when Buck stopped suddenly, his ears pointed, looking off into the night. He barked once, his happy bark, and took off into the dark.

"Buck, get your ass back here," Jack shouted thinking he was after a rabbit or something, but when he looked in the direction Buck was headed, he saw Ennis' truck. Stunned he forgot he was holding a match until it burned his finger. With a mild expletive and a snap of his fingers, he dropped the match. Putting his cigarettes away, he turned, shaking, and headed for the truck.

He saw Ennis was sitting on the tailgate…Buck standing up so Ennis could scratch his head. He didn't turn when Jack walked up. Bad sign, Jack thought. He stopped a couple feet away.

"Ennis…," Jack said very softly, "Ennis, what're ya doin' here? I thought you had left to go back to Riverton?"

Ennis just kinda shrugged, "Well…," and continued petting Buck.

Jack walked around to stand in front of Ennis pulling Buck away so Ennis would look right at him, except that Ennis just kept looking at the ground.

"Ennis…"

"Jack…," Ennis, still looking at the ground, took a deep breath, "I…I'm real sorry for what happened. I had some time to think about it and I shouldn'ta done what I did to you. It's just…I don't know…I can't think when I'm around you. I see you with these guys and I go blind." Jack started to say something but Ennis held up his hand to stay him. "But I heard what you said, Jack. I don't love you if I can't trust you. And you're right. I didn't trust you and I thought you would do what I know you wouldn't do…," and then very quietly, "but I do love you, rodeo. I do."

Jack, relief beginning to sweep through his body, took a moment to vent his own frustration. He reached out one hand slowly, grabbing Ennis by his coat lapel and pulling him a little closer…Ennis offered no resistance closing his eyes…willing to accept whatever Jack was getting ready to do.

"Stupid sonofabitch," Jack said quietly, his grip tight on Ennis for a moment, "I ain't never given you reason to think there's anyone else." He lets go of Ennis' coat and sets his hands on each side of Ennis' face, "It's only you, asshole, only you." Tears come to Jack's eyes. Ennis' lip quivers at Jack's tone and touch.

Ennis reaches up and takes one of Jack's hands into his placing it on his chest which pulls Jack a little closer. Jack reaches up and takes Ennis' hat off so he can see his eyes more clearly.

"It was all me, Jack. It was me wanting you all to myself. I wanted to be the only one to touch you, to be close. And then seeing you and J.D….," Ennis hung his head.

"I'm sorry, Jack, and nothing like that will ever happen again. And I heard all those things you said to me, I did…," Ennis' voice catches and he looks up at Jack working hard to get out what he needs to say, "and you got every right to stay away from me if you want…but I'm asking you, please, come on back."

Jack was at a complete loss now. Only rarely did Ennis open up like this to show him an inside no one else in the world was allowed to see. He pulled Ennis to his chest, his hand on the back of Ennis' neck, and kissed him on the top of the head.

He knows if he speaks at that moment, he won't be able to get anything out besides a sob. So he just holds Ennis.

"I ain't gonna lie, Ennis," Jack says into the top of Ennis' head, "you hurt me bad yesterday and all I wanted to do was run, but I know now that I left today because of what happened to me back when not because of you. I shoulda stayed and talked…I mean as long as you wasn't gonna try to punch me again," Jack said with a slight chuckle.

Ennis draws back to look at Jack, "Punch you again! I can barely eat after that right you swung at me," Ennis let out. "But I guess I know where you learned to fight like that."

Ennis blushes, "Guess that makes us even?" Jack smiles, "Guess so." Ennis lays his head back on Jack's chest.

"God, Ennis, I love you so much," Jack whispers softly, his hands in Ennis' hair. Ennis reaches around with one arm and pulls Jack tightly to him.

"I'm sorry, rodeo. I'm sorry I hurt you."

"We both had our part, cowboy. Enough blame to go around."

They stayed there pressed close…the pounding of each other's hearts loud and clear.

Ennis looks up at Jack, eyes pleading, afraid to ask what he needs to know, "You gonna come back? You gonna come back home with me?"

"Yeah, baby. I'm coming home." Jack says as he brushes the hair from Ennis' forehead. "Ya like them damn sheep, all the time following me around. What else am I supposed to do?" Ennis blows out the breath he has been holding.

"But right now, we need to go introduce you to my ma. She's awful anxious to meet the man her son loves." Ennis' look of puzzlement and confusion was too much for Jack who started laughing.

"She made me tell her, Ennis. And when my ma says you gotta talk…"

Ennis sits back. Jack saw Ennis' instinctive panic rising, "It's okay. Calm down now. We been talking a lot tonight…she's an amazing woman. It's gonna be fine. Besides, you can't drive all the way back to Riverton and, by the smell, you been drinking, so likely need something to eat. You don't know how happy it makes my ma to cook for someone else."

"Well, okay, Jack…"

"Come on, Ennis. She ain't got nobody to talk to ya know. Found out my pa died last year so she's pretty much been alone since then." Ennis' head snaps up at this news of Jack's father. "His horse threw him. That's why the ranch looks like it does." Ennis mouths an "I'm sorry." Jack nods.

"Thanks…but time to get that ass up and go on in, okay?" Jack moves to step away from Ennis but Ennis tightens his grip as he stands pulling Jack's hands to his posterior. "You mean this ass?" Jack nearly looses it but manages to choke out a "yes, that ass," as his the blood rushes to his head.

Ennis leans in close, "I love you, rodeo," then kisses Jack softly but with feeling. Jack responds but can only think, I almost lost him 'cause of my foolishness. They finally step apart, Jack drawing a finger across his lips, trying to hold on to the sensation of Ennis' lips on his. Then taking Ennis' hand he leads him to the house. Buck follows bounding around them like some kinda gazelle, happy that both of his daddies are there.

Mrs. Twist steps back from the kitchen door window to make coffee and get some food started.