The Path.21

Drabble: 1460 Words
Genre: Canon { A/U now }
Pairing: Ennis and Jack; Ennis' POV
Disclaimer: AP created'em, I just love bein with'em.

Feedback: Very much appreciated.

Thank you all so much for reading The Path and letting me know!

The Path.21

Ever since I got to Signal and met this friendly, talkative guy named Jack Twist my whole outlook on life has changed. He showed me what it feels like to have a friend. Never knew what I was missin, and that's for sure.

Had a few buddies at school. We'd knock around a bit together; splash around the swimmin hole, fish at the creek, play mumbelty peg, or do target practice with sling shots. Sometimes we worked on cars. Once we even all worked on my truck but it was too far gone by that time to last much longer. I was usually too busy with chores to hang with them, so eventually they quit askin.

When my mother and daddy died, I really had no time for playin around. Had to quit school and find full time work. Billy, Artie and Mark came to the memorial service for my folks, but I never seen'em since. They all still had parents, so I got the feelin they felt awkward and nervous around me.

We guys had'nt ever talked about any true thing. Just stupid kid stuff. Like how we were gonna grow up and be heroes like Audie Murphy, or cowboys like Hopalong Cassidy.

Not a one a us had any money, so we found ways to enjoy the little time off we had just like everyone did back then. At Artie's house they had a radio, so we sometimes listened to baseball games. His dad would put that radio set right up in the kitchen window pointed outside through the screen and turned up to full volume. He'd sit on the back porch steps, lean up against the railing and listen to the game, while he drank a coupla beers. Us boys'd sprawl out on the grass and close our eyes, 'maginin that ballgame just like we was there to see it. His mom made us a pitcher a grape kool-aid and popped some popcorn that time. It seemed like Artie's dad liked us boys bein there too, he was nice to us.

Actually that only happened one time. My dad didn't like me "wastin time with them losers". He had plenty a ideas about how I could spend my time workin around the place. It never stopped. Got use to workin all the time, no lettin up. Still feels sometimes like my daddy is watchin over ma shoulder to make sure I ain't slacken off.

# # # # # #

Jack knows how to have fun too. That's the first thing I noticed about him other than how nosey he is. Well, nosey ain't the right word. He cares about people and he don't mind askin questions. Personal questions. No one's ever got me to talkin and laughin like Jack. Even if I hadn't, you know, began feelin more than friends with Jack, I'd still like him best of anyone in the world. Truth.

Look at him, sleepin like a baby; a baby who snores like a buzz saw, that is! He don't snore ever' night, just when he's overtired. I can't believe what the crazy man did last night.

He'd set some trotlines in the morning before he headed on down to the jump off for our weeks' supplies. I know this, because he had fresh fish fryin when I come down off that mountain for supper. He had a coupla potatoes in the coals, and some beers in cold water. We also each had a can a peaches for our dessert. I surely do like it when we get fresh supplies. But this was even better than usual. It was a very nice meal.

When we finished our supper I took the plates and utensils and washed them in the hot water Jack had set off at the side of the fire for this purpose. I got him and me a cool beer while I was up, and then went to his side, sat down and snuggled up real close so I could nibble on my own dessert. He turned his face to me and kissed me like he hadn't seen me in a month. He cupped the back of my head, and pulled me into him, just where I always wanta be. Always.

But then he pulls away, in spite of the fact that I ain't done. I'm just gettin started kissin this man, tastin his taste, smellin his smell, feelin his arms around me. Long, strong arms. No I ain't done by a long shot.

When I protest, he says he'll be right back. So I figure he's feelin the call a nature or something. I light a cigarette and wait. But he don't head into the trees, he goes into the tent, comes out with this big package wrapped in brown paper.

"What the hell you got there, Jack Twist?"

"Here Ennis. This is for you."

"What is it? What's goin on? Fancy supper, wrapped packages; What's the Occasion, Jack?"

"Happy Birthday, Ennis! Go on, open it up."

"Shit Jack. You know my birthday already came in April."

"Yeah, it did. But I didn't know you yet, Ennis. Now open the goddamned present, or I WILL!"

"Alright, hold your fuckin horses!"

I cannot remember ever opening a present before. Seen others do it. But not often. Anyway, clumsy as I am, I can't untie the string, nor seem to get a purchase on the brown paper. I'm fumblin like all my fingers is thumbs.

Thought Jack would yank it from me and do it his ownself, but instead, he smiles at me and asks "you need some help there, cowboy?"

I lean over and kiss his mouth. "Maybe later." That seemed to settle me down, and I was able to stretch the string off one end, and open the paper.

"Oh my fuckin god in heaven!!!"

When I opened that paper, out tumbled socks, undershirts, boxer shorts and I don't know whatall. Three pairs of everything. I never had this much new stuff at once in my entire life.

"How? What? When? I can't believe you did this, bud. How'd you do it?"

"Well Ennis, I figured ya don't never get nuthin in life if'n ya don't ask! So I just put'em on my list last week, and first aid supplies too. They even got me the big can a matches I asked for.." Then he blushed. ".. and the lard too!"

We started laughin and I grabbed him and pulled him down onto the ground and laid flat on top of him, kissin his face and ears and neck . . well you know. Ever thin I could reach.

Once in the tent, I undressed him slowly, kissing and licking every body part as I went. When he was completely, beautifully, naked I lay him down on the softest bedroll, in the dry spot, and ran my fingers over his face, touching his eyes, his lips, even his stubble. My eyes drank him in, this man who takes care of me better than I could ever imagine doing for my ownself, let alone for another.

"Thank you, Jack. For my present. Even though we know it ain't my birthday."

"My mistake, Friend! Just wrap it all back up and I'll take it to the bridge next Friday."

"Hell you will!"

"I will if you don't want it. Or like it."

"I'm thankin you dumbass! I like'em! I need'em! And I Love . . . You!

Did ya git yerself any new skivvies too, huh?"

"Naw"

"How come?"

"Figured I could just borry yours, cowboy. . . whether you was in'em or not."

"You bet!"

We made love passionately then. Grabbing and groping and grasping like we could never get enough of this person, this love of our life. Wore ourselves out pretty good. It was outa this world.

Coupla hours later, I felt Jack crawl under the blanket and start nibblin on my ass, lickin and suckin and seekin. He found a place he liked and went to lickin round and round it till it practically opened and put out a sign that said "Welcome Home, Jack Twist". I can't remember ever feelin such tenderness and yet so thoroughly loved in all our time together. I tell him this before he slips into exhausted slumber.

He smiles as his eyelids droop. "Mmmm. G'night cowboy."

# # # # #

It's nearly dawn. He's innocently, sweetly sawin logs but I'm wide awake. I look at his face which is relaxed and peaceful. I see his lashes layin on his cheeks, his mouth fallen open a tiny bit, his hair stickin up, but some strands are fallin over his forehead. There's only one thing to do.

My turn to crawl under the blanket.

Tbc~