The Power of Love
Chapter 6 - The Day After
Ennis had a repeat of a couple of days back when he woke up in the next morning. Jack arrived at the main camp and again, he couldn't look him in the eyes. However, it was worse for him this time because rather than merely (accidentally) witnessing Jack naked down by the river he had now, dreamt about him. And not just him – he, himself, had been there too and they had been in bed together, kissing and doing things Ennis had only thought about doing to women before. Never a man.
It was safe to say he was very confused and quite scared. He had been unable to stop thinking about the visions all night, having had no sleep, and all through what had been of the morning so far he had been plagued by them too. Every time he dared glance at Jack when he reached the camp he had been greeted with the image of the dream, his mouth open and gasping his name as they embraced closely. It terrified him. Last night, it had seemed terrible to him but it was even more so when the light had flooded in, as if he had imagined that maybe it was bring some sense into his mind yet had failed.
However, he tried to tell himself it was just a dream and didn't mean anything. Some people he met had said that dreams signified what you were really thinking but Ennis didn't really believe that himself. He knew they had to come from somewhere, though the possibility of every one being what you had in mind was a little silly to him. Maybe some of them were, but definitely not all.
At least, that's what he was trying to tell himself that day.
Because there was absolutely no way he was thinking about Jack like that. He hadn't contemplated anything like it since he'd met him – never even thought about contemplating it – and neither had he done so for any other man. His Father had told him that only people of different genders belonged together and he saw that most of modern America held the same belief. He'd never really thought about it himself, but had known he'd probably go along with them too. He didn't like to be an outsider and would rather be in the safe, uncomplicated side of life than any other.
So, with that thought firmly placed in his mind, he tried to forget and ignore his dream. It had been a one off – didn't mean a thing – and he shouldn't let it mess up his work on the mountain. Like he had said to himself what seemed like a thousand times while he'd been up there, he was here for the money, and nothing else. Making a friend had just been a bonus. No matter what dreams or visions he'd had of him.
***
Jack was worried too about his thoughts of the night before, though Ennis wasn't aware of that at all, and the unease was nowhere near as bad as what his companion was feeling. He was able to look at the fellow cowboy without too much drama inside yet he still felt something twisting a little. Now and then, he'd get memories of the visions he'd fantasized about and a sense of discomfort would wash over him but he knew he must ignore them. If he didn't, he'd just get too wrapped up in it all and wouldn't get anywhere. And by now, he was fully aware of that feeling...
He wasn't about to experience it again.
***
A couple of days onward, mainly due to whiskey and work, the sharp sensation surrounding their passionate night began to soften. They fell into their usual conversations and company and on Aguirre's orders, they moved the location of the main camp a little to become a bit closer to the new fields the sheep were now grazing in. Ennis found himself doing most of this job though as Jack just simply lounged around by the fire as he worked, lazily playing the harmonica he'd brought with him.
'' That don't look right,'' he commented when the tent was finally up again. Jack shook his head, his hat drawn right over his eyes.
'' Well, it ain't goin' nowhere. Let it be.''
'' Mmmm...that harmonica don't sound right either...''
'' That's 'cos it got kinda flat when that mare threw me...'' came the reply.
'' Oh yeah? Thought ya said that mare couldn't throw ya...''
'' Ohhh, she got lucky...''
'' Well, if ah got lucky, that harmonica woulda broken too.''
Jack laughed.
The next few days in their new location passed by as normally as any other time up on Brokeback. They washed the clothes in the river that winded and flowed its way close to the camp and rode out in the mornings together and back in the evenings, sharing beans and soup. Both of these were still extremely unappetizing to them so now and then, they'd go out hunting together, sometimes striking lucky with a deer or an elk but mostly failing. Aguirre was relatively happy with the sheep, seeing as there was so far no loss on profit, and supplies weren't quite as scant. At least now they were getting alternatives to beans and not just them week in week out.
One day though, they arrived back slightly earlier to the main camp together, having left the sheep behind with the dogs to guard them for a while and in desperate need of some food, having not had time for any type of break since breakfast. They ate the beans and soup like they were the last things left on Earth and then relaxed back a bit, knowing they didn't have to head out into the meadows again until the night fell.
Consequently, Jack brought out the whiskey bottle and within a couple of hours, they were drunk. Darkness shrouded the main campsite and they lay, dazed, around the softly flickering fire, tiredness slowly claiming both of them. When all the stars were out, Ennis threw the now empty bottle out of the way, clumsily crawling onto his knees. His head span with dizziness but he attempted to get up, clutching onto the log by his side. He knew the sheep would be waiting for him.
'' S'time ta go up ta the sheep now...'' he muttered drunkenly, not quite managing to stand up. Jack nodded and watched him try again. It was no use. Losing balance, Ennis fell back to the ground, staring up at the sky and gesturing up at it.
'' S'too late ta go up ta the sheep..'' he murmured in response Jack's quizzical glance. '' Look...''
Jack gazed up at the stars above and nodded again.
'' ...you go fetch a blanket...? Ah'm jus' gonna roll up out here, grab forty winks an'...ride out first light...'' Ennis continued, turning over onto his knees again. Jack got up and walked into the tent, returning seconds later with one of the bed covers and draping it over Ennis who gratefully cuddled up underneath it.
'' Y'know, ya'll would be much better off sleepin' in the tent,'' he remarked but Ennis just ignored him. '' Well, alrigh' then...''
And with that, a slight look of disappointment in his face, Jack turned and digging his hands into his pockets, walked back into the tent
TBC