Jack awoke lying on his side, with Ennis behind him, curled round him. Ennis's hand slid underneath his shirt, stroking his arms and chest, his mouth brushing against his neck. Still half asleep, he was roused to wakefulness by early morning bird song, and Ennis's voice whispering in his ear, "Jack, its morning." Jack sighed; facing away from Ennis he smiled but did not stir, and Ennis's touches grew more insistent. He allowed Ennis to roll him on to his back, and could feel his mouth and hands moving over his chest; tickling his ribs, his tongue licking his nipples before moving down his body. Ennis pulled his shorts down, and he could feel Ennis's mouth enveloping him. He reached down and stroked his shoulders and nape of his neck to let him know that he welcomed his attention. Wanting to prolong it he pulled Ennis up, so they were laying side by and facing each other. Jack said to Ennis, "Hmm, I'm goin to miss you wakin me up like this."
They kissed and Ennis lay on his back, his legs encircling Jack's. Knowing what he would asking of him, Jack knelt over Ennis and carefully placed a finger where Ennis wanted him to go, finding Ennis was relaxed, and yielded to his touch, he moved on top of him slowly pressed himself against him. For an instant, Ennis tensed and recoiled pushing the top of Jack's thigh away with the palm of his hand. Jack said, "Easy." knowing this was something that Ennis rarely wanted him to do. He stroked Ennis's belly and could feel the tension leave his body as he softly groaned, and pulled Jack's hips closer encouraging him. Kneeling over him, Jack could see Ennis staring up at him; his gaze was helpless and unguarded, and he was admitting with his eyes what he would never say out loud. Right at this moment, all the time spent apart, the hurts and resentments faded away and disappeared, and did not matter, because now they were close and connected. Ennis reached up and stroked his temple. He bit down on his lower lip, threw his head back then gasped in satisfaction, Jack felt hot cum spurting on to his chest. He looked down at Ennis in dim light of the tent: his hard, defined muscles gleamed with sweat. A few thrusts bought Jack his own rush of relief, and he collapsed on top of Ennis.
He felt Ennis lifting him towards him, and they lay side by side again. Ennis put both hands around Jack's head pulled his head close to his. Jack kissed his forehead and wanting to talk, and to make this moment of intimacy linger. But after lying that way for a for a few moments, Ennis broke away from the embrace and said, "Better get moving, Got a get back by midday." He pulled up his jeans, and untying the ties on the entrance. Jack blinked as harsh, morning light flooded into the tent.
The both knelt together by the side of the lake, washing down with freezing water. Ennis gathered some driftwood and lit a fire. The dawn was still overcast and grey. Jack got some pots out of the back of his pick up and put some potatoes and beans in a pan, cooking breakfast over the fire.
Ennis said, "I told Alma I'd be back by midday. It junior's and jenny's school open day, and she wants me to be there."
Jack suddenly remembered the note he had tied to the fishing line in Ennis's fishing box. With the arrival of morning and the realization that their parting was looming up, he wondered whether he had done the right thing.
"I guess you'll be busy too, if you got them new tractors coming in." Ennis said looking at him questioningly noticing that his expression had changed.
"Yeah, I got ten trade shows lined up," Jack said looking towards the back of Ennis's truck where the fishing case was stored. "And you're startin a new job too. I guess that'll keep Alma happy."
"Like I said Jack, not much is makin her happy. We don't see much of one another these days."
" You still get together in the evenings, right?"
"No that ain't happened for quite a while neither, she don't want no more babies. How about you Lureen?"
"Lureen? Oh sure, but we won't be havin no more babies neither. I mean with Lureen bein so busy runnin the business – I never thought I'd have kids anyways."
They finished breakfast and Jack rinsed the plates off in the lake. From what Ennis was saying, there didn't sound there was a lot left to his marriage to save. He had waited patiently for over eleven years, and now all he needed to do was wait until Ennis's marriage wound it's self out, and then Ennis would be free to spend time with him. Jack wished he could get the note that he had written off the fishing line. As they packed up the camp, Ennis was never far enough from his side to give him the opportunity to get to the fishing box. At last they were about to leave. Just the metal chairs left sitting beside the dead fire. Jack rested a saddle on the back of Ennis's truck, and could see the corner of the fishing box jutting out from under a tent tarpaulin. He was about to reach for it when Ennis appeared by his side.
"I guess this it Bud," Ennis said.
"You'll make Riverton in plenty of time to get to please Alma. How come she got so upset? She don't like you spending time with an old buddy?"
"It's only been this time she done that. A few times before we met up she asked me bring you back, invite you in for a coffee."
"Well, I never knew that before."
"Yeah. I mean… goddamn. What the hell are we all meant to say to one another." Ennis said, and Jack a stronger feeling than ever that Alma knew and maybe wanted to try and understand what had happened to her marriage.
"I won't be seein you for six months. I hope it all goes well for you when you get back home."
Ennis looked down at the ground and said, "You know, I wish it didn't have to be this way but we can't take a chance on spending more time together, if word gets out …you know what can happen."
Jack wanted to say, "Maybe it needn't be that way. Let's take a risk. At least we'll be together." He opened his mouth to speak and the words wouldn't come out. Instead he said, "Good luck with everything, I'll see you in September."
Ennis looked away and then said, "Jesus Christ. You nearly left your gun here." He walked back over to where the chairs still sat. Ennis opened the gun box, checking that the gun, making sure the trigger was locked. Jack reached out his hand to open the fishing box and get the note of the line. He hesitated. His hand hovered over the lid again uncertain what to do. If Alma wanted to him invite him for coffee, maybe she would be open to talking – because it was how she reacted, Jack knew Ennis was most afraid of. And in her frustrations over the way the marriage had turned out, she could wound Ennis; make him retreat further into himself. He had delayed too long and Ennis was walking by carrying his boxed gun.
Ennis set the box down in the cab of his truck then held him in a tight hard in embrace. One last rough kiss and he said, "See you in September."
He turned, got into his truck, and started the engine without looking back.
Jack stood beside the cab of his truck watching him drive away; the tires hitting the gravel road leaving a spray of dust. His heart was pounding.
Now Ennis was gone, he was reluctant to go. He packed up the chairs and threw them in the back of his truck. The sun came out, and the sunlight played on the water. It was a beautiful spring day. Jack thought about how much he missed Wyoming when he was down in Texas. Ennis aside, this was still his home. He stood for a while looking out across the lake. The tranquility was disturbed by a horn blaring from the gravel road. Jack turned and saw the van owned by the hippies driving by. Lucy was sitting in the passenger seat. She waved to him smiling. The van stopped and she called out, "Why are you standing there. Has your truck broken down?"
Jack called back, "I'm just about to leave. I took your advice."
Lucy looked at him curiously, and then got out of the van and walked over to where he was standing.
"What about?"
"Bout trying to change the way things are. Damned if I know what's goin to come of it. It's either the dumbest thing I ever done, or maybe something good I'll come from it. I don't know. I'm scared, and there ain't much I'm scared of – I used to ride bulls for a living."
"From what you said, you weren't happy with the situation. Maybe its best trying to change it then letting it drag on. You mind asking me what you did?"
"Oh I just tried to get the truth across, and it was the only way I could think of."
"The truth shall set you free."
"What the hell is that? Is that some kind of goddamn hippy saying?"
"No man, that's in the bible. I hope it works out in the way you want it to." She turned back towards the van and Jack watched as they drove off. He climbed in his truck and started the drive to his folks place at Lightning Flat.
Authors Note
In the movie the conversation went like this –
After she had seen Ennis and Jack kissing, and before they went to the mountain, Alma asked Ennis, "You know, your friend could come inside, have a cup of coffee." Ennis replied, "He's from Texas." And Alma had reacted by saying, "Texan's don't drink coffee?" I wonder what she was thinking when she made that invitation. Was it complete bafflement, shock and horror at what she had seen, or curiosity, and a desire to understand, or maybe all of these emotions?