SANTA ENNIS AND JACK, CHRISTMAS 1988

Over the next weeks and months saw Ennis Pulling the wheels, checking the brake linings(cable operated, no master or wheel cylinders to worry about.), packing the wheel bearings with fresh grease, lubricating the chassis at all fittings, Jack ever by his side handing him tools, providing a warm presence of support. Now a few days before Christmas under the Twist Del Mar Christmas tree were six brand new 29" x 5.30" Goodyear reproduction tires (each front fender carried a spare)with tubes, new water pump, fuel pump, floor jack, fan belt, spark plugs. Jack and Ennis were up in there attic, sounds of Christmas rising from their stereo, assembling new bicycles they had bought for the three older Nelson children, the two younger were going to find themselves Big Wheels this Christmas. Ennis and Jack's Broken Arrow ranch was turning a modest profit, and they paid their ranch hand Andy Collins, Ennis's old friend and work partner from Riverton days as best they could, but with five small children money was tight. Hidden in the small building that housed the Willys for over 50 years was a brand new 1989 GMC Safari minivan, maroon lower and white on the roof and upper sides with red interior Jack and Ennis purchased for the Collins family last week at Grand Buick GMC in Denver.

"Can ya hand me an acorn nut?" Ennis ask, focused on the task at hand.

Jack with a puzzled look searches the hardware, picks up what he thinks Ennis will want hands it to him.

Ennis picks it up looks at then back at Jack. "Jaaack...you know don't you ...that this ain't no acorn nut...don't cha?"

"Um...course I do...um sorry..."

"Jack Twist...whadda I'm gonna do with ya?...huh? Just you better not be taken off in that Willys by yourself now...no tellin' what would happinen if it quit on ya..."

Jack looked back to Ennis, smiles. "Don't ever plan to bud, lot more fun when your along, me riddin' next ta ya. Sides, your the driver in this household."

"Well alright then..."

"Ennis...ya don't mind do ya...the driving...just a habit we'es got into..." Jack said with a serious look.

"No...no Jack...don't mind a bit...all those years you drove all the way up from Childress ta Wyoming just ta see me when I would...no don't mind none at all. 'Sides, I was the one that started that habit."

"Still I'll take a turn whenever ya want..."

"I know Jack ." Ennis looked back at Jack. "And you can take a turn when ever you want."

"Don't know if I can still remember how ta handle a clutch in the Willys er the fancy truck of yours ya like so much." Jack laughs.

"Didn't all those fancy tractors at Newsoms have clutches." Ennis consentrating on the bike.

"Naw...not fer a long time, just a bunch of levers and buttons."

"Well ya know it's kinda somethin' ya never fergit, just like riddin' a bike."

"Ennis...I...I never had a bike..." Jack now quiet.

Ennis looks back at Jack, reaches over runs his fingers through his hair, squeezing a large clump in his hand, then a hard rub in the scalp. The pair finished the three bikes in companionable silence, sitting cross legged knee to knee, enjoying the others touch.

A few days later in the very early hours of Christmas morning Ennis and Jack had awoken to the alarm set to 2:30 AM. Each still full from a turkey dinner with all the trimmings enjoyed at the Collins. After donning warn jackets, scarf's and boots they headed out Jack holding Ennis's hand in the pocket of his parka to get the GMC minivan and load up the bikes.

"Look at 'em stars. Hardly need the flashlight." Jack said as they were almost to the building.

"Sure is ah pretty night."

Back at the house Ennis and Jack carefully load the three bikes and two Big Wheels into the back of the van. "Ya got the bow Jack? ...Huh?...Ya know this ah'd be hardly worth doing if we didn't have a bow."

"Yep, got it. Wouldn't wanna shoot a hole in your balloon." Jack laughs, producing a huge red faux velvet bow, large enough to cover the roof of the van.

"Ya think them them kids are asleep? ya know bein' Christmas 'n all? My girls could hardly sleep"

"Neither could Bobby. If we hear them just say were Santa."

"We'll shut off the engine and coast to under the tree. No lights on, except fer maybe night lights." Ennis said as they both climb into the van.

Ennis starts the van and they drive the short distance to the Nelsen home, cutting the engine, coasting to a shop next to the house under a large oak tree.

"Ya got the bow taped down on your side?" Ennis whispers to Jack.

"Yep...all set. Come on lets get."

"Ya got the card?"

"Right here on the bow. Er ya ready." Jack whispers.

They both stand back staring the shiny new van with bow on the roof and walk huddled together only partly because of the cold back home.

"Hey Ennis...you wide awake?" Jack asks as they step on their porch, with a devilish grin.

"Course I am...running around all over in the middle of the night." As he gathers up some logs from the wood pile.

"You ah...you wanna..." Jack nods toward inside.

"Aw come on Jack...Why do ya think I'm gatherin' up firewood ?...Huh?...Just ta sit an watch by myself.? Didn't wake in the middle of the night just ta go movin trucks around 'n tiein' bows an all...huh?." Arms full with firewood Ennis leans hard against Jack as he steps inside.

"Merry Christmas Ennis."

Ennis unloads the firewood into the box, takes Jake in hard embrace, chin on his shoulder, each warming the other. "Merry Christmas ta you to bud."

A few hours later as the sun rose over the plains in the Nelson family room, were the five children, mom and dad looking on as the they excitedly opened each of their stockings. Ennis and Jack were due by 8:00 for breakfast and watch kids in the remainder of the gift opening. Andy Collins in pajamas and robe looks toward the window see an unfamiliar shadow, stands up patting his oldest on the back as he walks over to the window.

Eyes wide he calls out. "Rita..." Almost breathless." it..."

"Is something wrong honey?" Rita concerned.

"No...no...not at all...come over here and look."

Youngest in her arms Rita walks over to her husband looks out the window, sees what he sees. He places his arm around her.

"What the..."

"Oh my god!...what... " Rita's response to the maroon and white GMC van with the big red bow glistening in the sunlight.

"What is it daddy." Matthew on of the two oldest boys walks up to his parents and looks out the window.

"Wow!!!!...mommy, daddy look! Whose is it? Can we go outside and see?"

"Come on son get yourself a jacket and get your brother to help you sisters get somethin' warm, we'll all go."

The seven members of the Collins family made their way out side gathering around the shiny new van. Seeing the bow Andy reached out sees the card. He reads what he clearly knows to be Ennis's handwriting.

Merry Christmas to the Collins family

Andy
Rita
Matthew
Delano
Gabby
Jessica
Nathan

From Santa

Andy looks to his wife, nods.

Daddy can we go open the door?" Echoed the children.

Andy walked over to the sliding door followed by Rita, with tears streaming down her face holding little Nathan. As he pulls open the door unseen before because of the dark tinted side and rear windows are the bikes and Big Wheels nestled on the seats, each with a small metal license plate bearing the name of the rider.

"Are those for us?"

"Can we ride?"

"Let's race!"

"Big Wheel daddy!"

And carefully takes out each bike and Big Wheel handing to each his child reading the name on the plate.

"Is there one for me Dad?" Matthew the oldest exclaimed as he looked in..

"Ah….looks like Santa forgot you son." Andy looks at his son trying to hide a grin.

"Oh lookie here! There is another bike back here between the two seats." And lifted it over the seat and hands it to his son. He watches his children on the bikes, turn to Rita face wet with tears.

"You …..you know it's from Ennis and Jack."

"Yes…yes I do….them two, so sweet…"

"Heard them talkin' once when they were workin' on that old Willys. Jack was wantin at get Ennis a new pickup, Ennis said he wanted at keep the one he had, the one Jack got him that time down in Rawlins, surprised him with, how special it is to him. That sure is some story, maybe we c'n get them ta tell it today. Anyways I think this is instead."

"Uncle Ennis, Uncle Jack look what Santa got us!" Little Jessica beamed up at the pair, a bit disheveled but wide awake as they strolled toward to the Collins home from her Big wheel. "We all got new bikes! And mommy and daddy gots a new van!"

"Well sweetheart that sure is nice! You must ah been a good little girl this year."

"Watch me ride!" the rest of children ran to hug and climb on Ennis and Jack.

"Bet you can't ride faster than I can run." Jack said to Delano.

Rita and Andy bid their turn as the children greet their favorite uncles.

"Thanks Buddy, can't tell you how much we appreciate you getting us that van!" Andy said as he hugs Ennis.

"You boys are so sweet to us." Rita said as she kissed both Ennis and Jack on the cheek.

"Don't know what your talkin' about." Ennis looks down.

"The beautiful new van….we sure thank you!" Rita pats his shoulder.
.
"Came from Santa….just like the kids say. He sure picked out a pretty color"

"Ennis…"

"You heard the man." Jack grins. "Came from Santa….Looks like Santa buys his vans at Grand GMC in Denver." Jack indicating the license plate placket. Ennis elbows him in the stomach grinning at Ennis.

"Daddy, can you take us for a ride in the van."

"Yeah, daddy can we go for ride."

"Ride, daddy…ride!"

"Now come on we gotta go inside, feed your uncles a good breakfast."

"Aw…."

"It's ok Andy , lets take it fer a spin, see what she do." Jack said. "Come on lets all get in."

"Rita …you otta drive….seeing how you is gonna be usin' it most…get use to it." Andy said, helping his wife into the drivers seat.

Ennis Jack and Andy help all the kids into the van, the three oldest on the rearmost seat, Ennis and Jack in the center seat, two youngest in their laps with Jack at the window.

"Keys are in the ignition." Ennis said. The all look to Ennis.

"What….I can see 'em, right there."

Rita looking carefully over the controls and gauges. "Where's the knob for the wipers?"

"Um…" Andy trying to assist his wife.

"It's on the end of the turn signal switch, ya just turn the end of it." Ennis said.

"How'd you know that Ennis?" Jack looked at him.

"Um…that's how a lot of these new cars 'n trucks have it now." Ennis looked back.

"But your truck doesn't. It's on the dash….so how…."

"An how would you know? ….Huh?….you don't never drive my truck….something' 'bout the clutch." Teasing Jack.

"Cause it's the same as my pickup…remember? ….their both Fords." The kids are giggling at this banter.

"Guess I musta read it in the paper or something' , can't a fella read the paper.? Huh?"

"Why would they put that in a newspaper? I know not much happens round here to report but I don't think their gonna start printin' stuff out of an owners manual. Huh Ennis?"

Ennis turning red elbows Jack in the ribs. Jack respond by tickling Ennis, Laughing the kids join in bringing Ennis to the floor, Jack and the kids on top of him shrouding him with laughter.

A half hour later the adults are sitting around the tree on the two couches with accompanying TV trays enjoying a bountiful breakfast of scones, fresh fruit, apple strudel, sausage, eggs and homemade biscuits with real churned butter and honey while the five Collins children ripped into their presents. Striped of the wrapping paper were Tonka pickups and fire engines, John Deere toy tractors, beautiful dolls, tea sets for the girls, miniature horse and riders topping off a life like barn with authentic looking cows and hay bales for the older boys.

"Mommy can we give uncle Ennis and Jack their present?" gabby the oldest daughter as her mamma.

Shyly Rita answered. "Um …yes sweetheart…get you older brothers to help you."

Thinking they were in for some of Rita's very fine baked goods Ennis and Jack watch as Gabby, Matthew and Delano carefully take a large package from it's sacred spot behind the tree while Jessica excitedly looks on, Nathan the youngest is on his mother lap. Jack and Ennis sitting together on the couch are handed a flat brightly wrapped package, at least three by two feet, a few inches thick, paper giving inward on the upper side.

"Oh my….ya didn't hav'ta give us nuttin'." Ennis said, eyes wide looking at the package spread across both their laps.

"Open it! Open it !" the children cheered.

Slowly and with precision Jack and Ennis unwrapped their gift. All looked in anticipation.

"Oh….oh…" Ennis biting his lip, unable to say more. And for the first time Ennis or anyone could remember Jack Twist was at a utter loss for words.

Looking back at them were their own images on canvas rendered in oils. Both standing in front of their home with the ranch as a backdrop, arms casually draped around one another, big wide smiles, heads cocked just a little looking at each other, capturing perfectly the look they saw in each other. In the bottom left hand corner Rita Collins '88.

"Rita…you….painted us? How…when….I never even saw a snapshot like this. How did ja….?" Ennis clutching the frame.

Jack manages to wipe his eyes with the backside of his hand.

Rita so happy at Ennis and Jack apparent joy. "Didn't need one exactly, have the one ya gave us when you were camping. I see 'enough to know how ya look when you 'n Jack are together."

"This….this….is the most beautiful picture I ever seen!….Can't never thank you enough Rita. When…did ya paint it? ..Never saw ya paintin' before." Ennis still holding on to the frame, as well as Jack.

Jack manages to catch a tear rolling down his cheek with the back of his hand, eyes red, lashes wet. Still silent side to side with Ennis.

"I did most of it last summer, when you boys went up ta Wyoming. Little each day while I watch the kids in that playground you men folk built fer the kids. Wasn't nothing really." Rita smiling.

"Sure is something'……lot more valuable than any old van…..we...we'll treasure this always, can't never tell you how much this means ta me 'n Jack….put up over the fireplace…..won't we Jack?" Ennis leans further against Jack.

Jack starts to speak, then shuts his eyes tight, bits his lip, runs his hand across his face and manages to nod. Gabby and Jessica move next to Jack, pat him on the shoulder to comfort him. He give the his hand.

"Well you boys sure are welcome, nothing could make me happier than to do fer you boys."

"Ennis." Andy spoke up. "I was telling Rita maybe I could get you to tell that story 'bout how Jack got ya that Pickup. I don't think I even know nearly all of it, just bits and pieces."

"Well…..Jack was the one that…..should" Jack claps him on the leg letting him know it's ok.

"Tells us, tell us ….pleeeaaase!" The four older children echoed.

"It was a couple ah days for Thanksgiving 1983. Jack an me we just got back from camping at Lake Lewis up in them Tetons. Up there more in two weeks that time, I couldn't make the August trip that year, so I was tryin' at make it up ta Jack. Anyways we get back ta Riverton at the stables at the ranch up there. I think you was there that day Andy, 'member seein' ya said hey.

"I think so Ennis…what I remember most was the day after." Andy said.

Ennis smiles. "Jack here gets this idea 'bout drivin' all the way to Rawlins fer some chicken fried steak, thought he was a gonna burst if I didn't go'. I was kinda sad ta see him drive away right then so I agreed and went with him."

"How far is Rawlins uncle Ennis?" Matthew asked.

"Well from Riverton it takes over two hours at get there 'bout 130 miles or so."

"Anyways we get there that afternoon, Jack here buys me a real nice meal at that Aspen Steakhouse. After we's done Jack says he want's ta take a walk 'round the block, walk off the big meal. I says ok but we's best be quick, long ride back. Were almost back where we's started and we get to this Ford lot and Jack wants ta go in. I says I'll just wait at the sidewalk but he drags me on in. He walks up ta this fancy truck with a new horse trailer attached." Ennis nods toward their house. All in the room are listening intently. " I tell him we'd better get moving, but he ain't budging. Asks me 'How do I like this one.' Says something' 'bout 'A fella could get a lot of use with a rig like this' or somethin'. I hardly even look, do need ta get ta wantin' an all. Next thing I knows Jack tosses me this envelope with printin' on it. He's sayin'……." Ennis looks down a second, bits his lip. "Sayin' that this here truck 'n trailer is all fer me. Didn't know what was going on, just stood there lookin' at it."

"Did you drive it aways then?" Delano asked.

"Not just then. Got all scared 'n mixed up, told Jack he had ta take it back. He says 'To late, all bought and paid fer, papers say it belong ta me'. Next thing I know Jack's not even there, he's breakin' inta a run down the street to his truck an I start ta chase him." The image of this brings laughter among the kids. "He's almost a block ahead of before I even start. An I'm waving my arms sayin' 'You get yerself back here Jack, how 'm I suppose ta get back ta Riverton."Ennis waving his arms for emphasis. Everyone is near hysterics by now.

"I never heard this part of the story Ennis." Andy got out.

"Jack makes it ta his truck opens the door and shouts 'Ennis' an drives away with me chasing after him. 'For I know it I'm standin' in an intersection in downtown Rawlins with somebody honkin' at me!" The kids are rolling on the floor by this time.

"I realize then that I 'm still holdin' the envelope Jack gave me with the keys an all ta that truck there on the lot…." Ennis clutches the picture frame. "Had no other choice but ta walk back ta where the truck was."

Gabby walks to Ennis, put her small had on his knee. "You mean Uncle Jack left without say goodby?"

Putting his hand on her head. "Oh sweetheart it was ok. Your Uncle Jack and me, we said goodbye earlier that day when we was still in them mountains…never forgot sayin' goodbyes."

Gabby look back at him confused. "See your Uncle Jack was real smart . Didn't think I'd 'ccept that truck if he just took me down an bought it fer me. Knowed I wouldn't let 'm do it. So he went an got it and that new trailer 'for hand, way down in Rawlins where no one knew me. Told the man there at the Ford lot, Mr. Harris he, your Uncle Jack, worked fer me, why he was the one makin' all the arrangements, so not ta embarrass me an all.. Mr. Harris was a real nice man shownin' me the truck an trailer, all the new tack Jack got fer me, tellin' me how the truck was ordered special an all. By that time it was getting' kinda' cold and would be dark soon an I had this shiny new truck and trailer your Uncle Jack wanted me ta have, so he did the right thing ta get me ta take it, even put sandbags in the trailer to help on the ride home case it got windy."

Andy spoke up. "That next day honey, that's when your Uncle Ennis gave me his old truck fer your mamma ta use. Didn't have nothing' else."

"Did he take you somewheres and make you take it?" Matthew asked his dad.

"No. Your Uncle Ennis always gave me rides ta the ranch we was workin' at, didn't have no car er nothin' . End of that next day , we was walkin' back toward his old truck, he tosses me the keys. Thought he just wanted me ta drive, long day an all. then he presses this paper inta my hand, was the title signed over ta me, told me the truck was mine. Said he still take me ta work so your momma could use it. When I ask how he said he'd show me when we got ta his trailer. Your Uncle Ennis was so proud of the new truck and trailer, said he was gettin some lumber and siding ta make a roof for it next ta the trail, keep it otta the weather."

"Ya helped me build it Andy, remember?"

A few hours later after Jack and Ennis giving at least two horse and or piggy backs rides to each of the children, a quick ride to look in on the stock, the pair carefully hung their portrait over the fireplace. Jack still unable to take in a clear view before his vision blurred with tears. Ennis mentioned something about getting on of them lamps above it like in art galleries, Jack wondering where he had ever seen one. Tri-tip roast was set in for a timed cook for Christmas dinner at their table late that afternoon with the Collins family, awake since 2:30 AM with the alarm set the pair collapse into each others arms.

Just before the even breathing of sleep overtakes them, Jack whispers. "Sure is a good Christmas, wasn't it Ennis?"

"Sure is bud."

"Kinda' glad we'll be together 'nother day for we take off….sure miss…." Jack speaking of Ennis driving up to Riverton to visit his girls and jack to Childress to see Bobby.

"Me too…miss…ya….that …ol face…..ya…….zzzzzzzzzzzzzz………zzzzzzzzz."

"…….Love ya………Ennis………can't wait…..ta New ….Years…eve...when……..zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz……………zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz."

End of chapter 3