The Path.23

Drabble: 550 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.

This is the final chapter. There will be an Epilogue in May, and

perhaps visits to these boys throughout their sweet life together.

Thanks to each of you for reading and caring about The Path. It has meant a lot to me to hear from you.

The Path.23

That sunufabitchin snake in the grass, Aguirre!

When I was up sleepin with the sheep, it snowed. Big fuckin deal. That snow barely stuck an hour.

Aguirre sent one a the Basque cowboys up to tell Jack'n me that we're through. Bring'em down, he sez, Big storm comin, he sez.

It's only the middle a August. He's screwin us outa a full month's pay. It ain't right!

Never expected this; I feel gut shot.

Jack ain't takin it near as hard as me. He's over there breakin up camp. But I am heartsick over this. Every pot and pan he packs up, is another pain in my gut.

Ya see. I found ma'self up here. I'm happy up here. Ain't never even known such happiness existed before Brokeback Mountain. Before Jack.

Don't believe this is happening to me. Think I'm actually gonna cry. Shit. *sniff* If I wipe my eyes on my shirt sleeve, he prob'ly won't notice.

What will Jack think a me? Big man, full grown. Yeah, right.

They can't make me leave! NO, I won't go. What if we just stayed up here anyway? What if we never left? Guess the forest service 'd have somethin to say about it.

I guess there'd be no one to meet us every Friday at the jump off. No food'n supplies comin in.

No wages neither. So what's the point?

The point is, I don't wanna go. *sniff*

We're alone up here, we run our own jobs. We're the only people

in the world. This is heaven, pure and simple. Our heaven.

Oh shit. Jack's comin up. Have to wipe my eyes so he won't know what a baby I am.

"Time to get goin, Cowboy." He swings his lariat and lassoes me, thinkin he'll make me laugh, and I'll feel better.

I look up at this beautiful man, and it's suddenly all too much. The tears puddle up afresh and one big one rolls right down my face before I can catch it.

Jack's face grows alarmed. "Ennis! Ennis! What is it?" He falls to the ground and cuddles his body around mine, like he's trying to protect me from a mountain lion.

I'm so ashamed, look how I'm acting. I didn't even cry when my folks died. I have never had anything that belonged to me. Nothing to lose.

When ya ain't got nothin, ya don't need nothin.

But I GOT SOMETHIN UP HERE. I GOT JACK.

"Jack, I don't wanna go." Hafta swipe my tears off again, with my sleeve.

Jack helps me sit up; he wipes his sleeve across my face, blots up the remaining tears. Both our shirt sleeves are dampened with my tears.

"Ennis, ain't gonna leave you. Not ever."

I look at him and I hiccup.

"It don't matter that we're comin down off this mountain early. It don't matter that we're getten short pay."

I sniff again.

"All that matters is that we're goin ta be together. . . and we're goin to make it. Don't never doubt that."

I nod.

"Come on, Cowboy. Kentucky is awaitin."

I pull on the rope he still has around me, and haul him down beside me.

"This ain't no rodeo, Jack Fuckin Twist. But you caught me fair'n square. Guess you gotta keep me now."

The End