Ennis pulls
Jack's hand to his mouth and ever so gently kisses Jack's
knuckles.
"That summer," Ennis says, "when we
split up, I had bad gut cramps!"
Jack puts his arms around Ennis and, finally getting his courage up, tells Ennis how he has a plan so they can be together just like this always. "We could have a lil' cow and calf operation. It'd be a sweet life".
Ennis sighs. "Look, I goddamn hate that you're going to drive away tomorrow, but I just don't know…"
Jack grabs hold of Ennis. Ennis tries to pull away but Jack has a tight grip on Ennis's arm.
"Look, I know you're afraid. So am I. You may not believe it but I am," Jack says with tears running down his face. Ennis is looking over Jack's shoulder. He lowers his gaze so that Jack won't see that he is crying too.
"I love you, Ennis Del Mar, and I know that you love me, too, though you've never told me so I still know you do," Jack says.
"I do," Ennis says now looking directly into those eyes of blue that he loves so much.
Jack smiles and says "This ain't no little thing that's happened here!" "I know," Ennis says again trying to avoid Jack's stare.
"So, please let's just get out of here," Jack pleads, but before he hears Ennis's answer he awakes in cold sweat. It's midnight and he's lying in bed, his pillow all wet.
That's the way it's been these past couple nights since returning home after Ennis let him down once more. He can never blame Ennis, though. It's not his fault. Hell, maybe he should blame himself instead.
His father always says he is good for nothing!
So before going to sit on the top steps of the back-porch, he opens the fridge and grabs a bottle of whiskey. He has been sneaking it in the house every night just for this reason and he takes a drink once his parents go to bed.