Chapter 14: Fear and Anger

Alma Williams had only met Ennis' brother and sister three times. Once at she and Ennis' wedding, the second time when Alma Jr. was born, and the third time when Jenny was born.

Though each of these meetings had been brief and uncomfortable, their presence, obviously a familial obligation insisted on by the women, had served as an eye-opener to Alma in regards to Ennis. From the first time she observed their interaction, she could plainly see that Ennis did not get on well with his siblings.

His dealings with his sister were polite enough, but other then a brief uncomfortable hug when she and her family arrived, little that could be considered family affection passed between the two.

Ennis reaction upon his brother's arrival had surprised and confused her. K.E. Del Mar was a tall, rangy man. Wider set then his younger brother, and a good four inches taller, he looked almost to big to be real. Alma's only experience with brothers was that of observing her own, so she expected some jostling and roughhousing, a few good natured insults, perhaps even a few feigned punches. What she had not expected, was the look of barely veiled fear that came into Ennis eyes at the sight of his brother.

As each visit wore on, it had become more and more apparent to her that something had taken place in their past that caused Ennis to be terrified of his own brother. Even more frightening to her, was the way Ennis seemed to withdraw even further into himself… something she had not thought possible… when KE was present.

Ennis had refused to even discuss it with her, and she had not pushed it the first two times. The third time, at the hospital after Jenny's birth, Alma had point out asked Ennis why he was afraid of his own brother, and they had had one of the worst fights of their marriage, ending with Ennis storming out of the hospital, and Alma sobbing for an hour.

Now as she stood in the reception hall and watched her ex-husband as he stood still as stone looking at his brother, she felt a trickle of fear in her own belly.

Dear God… please don't let there be blood shed on my baby's wedding day!

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"Yer brother?" Jack said his voice low.

"My brother," Ennis replied, sweat trickling down his back and pooling under his arms.

Shit!

"Jack… listen… ummm… migh'be better if'in he didn' know 'bout us… huh…ma'be better if ya…" Ennis continued, his voice still low.

"Ennis…"

Shit… don't wanna leave ya here ta face 'em alone…"

"Jack… jus' git… please…" Ennis said, his voice pleading and a bit desperate.

"Umm… yeah…" Jack answered, his voice strange. He looked at Ennis, and saw the fear there, the grey clamminess of his skin, the sweat rolling down his face, "I'll ah… I'll just go get me somethin' ta drink… maybe a bite ta eat." He said quickly.

He raised his hand, meaning to give Ennis a reassuring pat on the back, but at that moment, KE raised his eyes and spotted his brother. Thinking it best that the man, who was waving his hat and starting through the crowd, not see he him with Ennis at all, Jack quickly faded into the crowd.

Jack knew how scared Ennis was of his older brother, not that Ennis would ever come out and admit it. He was worried about that sick look on Ennis' face, and wished that there was some way he could have stayed to support him, but he knew that Ennis would never have allowed it… would only be pissed at him for trying. So he quickly walked away, though not to far away… in case Ennis should need him.

Walking to the food table, he grabbed a few things without even looking to see what he had, and wrinkling his nose at the shrimp that he popped into his mouth, he turned to watch the reunion.

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Although K.E. had been only a boy himself, things that had been said at the time led Ennis to believe that KE knew of their father's involvement in, and perhaps himself participated in the murder of old Earl. Either way, the calm and disinterested way he talked about the murder, and the venom in his voice when he talked about 'fags', 'queers' and 'perverts' had been enough to make Ennis terrified of what would ever happen if his brother should find out about Jack.

Now as he watched his brother make his way toward him, the grim expression on KE's face sent warning bells to chiming all over Ennis' body.

"Hey thar' lil' brother," KE drawled as he approached Ennis, "long time no see, huh?"

"KE." Ennis replied stiffly.

"Quite a crowd, huh? Hard ta believe that lil' red-haired baby a yers is gettin' hitched! Seems just yesterday Tess and me was comin' up here ta see her jus' born!"

Ennis grunted in response. As had become his instinctive habit in times of stress, he scanned the room, his eyes finally spotting the black head he was looking for over at the food table.

Actively scanning the crowd, he did not see the eyes, very similar to his own, following the path of his gaze and narrowing slightly when they too landed on the black haired man.

The site of Jack, just knowing he was there reassuring him, Ennis relaxed a bit and turned back to look at his brother.

"How ya been?" Ennis asked, trying to keep the nervousness out of his voice.

They exchanged pleasant though tense conversation for several minutes, and Ennis relaxed even more. He was beginning to think he had worried for nothing, and KE's appearance was nothing more then an uncle showing up for the wedding of his niece.

After several minutes, KE looked at him and said, "Was hopin' ta buy ma lil' brother a drink. What say after this shindig is over, you and me head on over ta a bar and catch up a bit… been a long time."

Ennis looked again at the black head over by the food table, his eyes meeting a pair of blue ones watching him with concern. He tensed when he noticed that KE's eyes were following his gaze and fearing them focusing on the same black haired man, Ennis moved his gaze away and continued scanning the room in what he hoped was a causal way. The move was too late… that similar pair of brown eyes had locked with and were currently engaged in a glaring contest with a pair of blue ones.

"Sure 'nough." Ennis finally replied, unable to come up with an excuse that KE would buy.

"A'righty… meet ya at the door after the bride and groom make their exit." KE replied as he turned away from the glaring blue eyes and looked once again at his younger brother.

Ennis nodded, and walked off through the crowd. He wanted to go to the food table and talk to Jack… tell him what was happening and that he would not be going back to the hotel with him, but he could feel KE's eyes boring into his back as he walked away and he didn't dare let him see he and Jack together. Instead, he walked over to where Alma and Monroe stood with Jenny.

Alma looked at him reproachfully, for a moment before asking in a voice laced with irritation and fear, "What does he want Ennis?"

"Jus' want'd ta see his niece git married I guess… take me out fer a drink after…" he shrugged, looking down at his boots and scuffing his toe along a floorboard.

"Jus' you see to it that there ain' no trouble here, Ennis… this is yer daughter's weddin' day, I won' have ya ruinin' it by gettin' into a fight with yer brother!"

Alma's voice was stern, and Ennis flinched, feeling suddenly like a child being chastised for running in the house.

Feeling a flash of anger at her for using the same tone of voice with him that she had used with the girls when they were little, Ennis raised his eyes and looked her in the face as he said, "Don'cha worry yerself none Alma… won' be no trouble!"

With that, he spun on his heel and stomped over to the food table. Glancing around defiantly and almost hoping KE was somewhere staring at him, he walked up to Jack and said in a low voice, "Gotta talk ta ya, Bud."

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"Yer gonna, WHAT?" What the fuck is this shit??

"Keep yer voice down, Jack!" Ennis hissed and looked around quickly to see if anyone was looking at them.

They had stepped out onto the porch in front of the reception hall, and were standing off to the side smoking.

"Don' tell me ta keep my voice down, asshole! What'a 'xpect me ta do… sit around and count the ceiling tiles while yer off gettin' drunk with yer brother? Don' see why I can't go along to… tell him I'm yer business partner… everyone else believes it!"

"Jack… I can't… ain' no way ...it ain' safe…" Ennis stumbled though the words, trying to find a way to say what he meant.

"Ain' safe?? Christ, Ennis, don' know 'bout you, but I don' remember seein' a tire iron in the pocket'a his jeans! What the fuck ya think he's gonna do, huh... not like he can do much, one man against botha us! Jus' admit it, Ennis, this don' have a thin' ta do with anythin' not bein' safe! Ya jus' don' wanna haveta answer no questions! Yer still asham'd a bein' with me! That's what this is all 'bout… ain' it! Too fuckin' ashamed ta admit who ya are, and stand up ta some asshole who don' like who that is!"

"Ain' like that Jack…" Ennis began, shaking his head, his voice low and terse.

"Oh, yeh?" Jack cut in, his voice a little lower, but still to loud for Ennis' taste, "Then jus' wha is it like, huh, Ennis?" Christ… this is so fuckin' stupid… shoulda jus' stay'd the fuck home!

"Jack… lil' darlin'… listen ta me fer…" Ennis began, his voice a whisper that cut off abruptly when his jaws suddenly clenched in reaction to Jack's suddenly low and dangerous voice.

"Don' ya dare, Ennis Del Mar… don' even think 'bout standin' there and callin' me that right 'fore you take off and leave me alone in a town fulla strangers! Fuck… knew it… knew I shoulda just stay'd the hell home… shoulda never come here where ain' one person wants me ta be… not even the person who made me come ta begin with… had 'nough a that bein' LD Newsome's son-in-law!"

Ennis opened his mouth to speak, but slammed it shut again, biting his tongue hard, when Jack slashed his hand through the air and ground out, "Fuck you, Ennis… you go have yer drink with yer brother… go right ahead and keep on bein' 'fraid a him and asham'd a me… too much of a fuckin' coward ta even admit ya know me… ya know where ta find me when ya decide ya want me again! If yer fuckin' lucky, I might ev'n still be there!"

Shaking off the hand that Ennis had put on his arm to stop him, Jack spun on his heel and stomped down the stairs.

"Jack…" Ennis began, his voice harsh and pleading, taking a step forward, before he was suddenly cut off by the double doors behind him opening, and the crowd suddenly surging out through, Junior and Kurt at the center, ducking and dodging the fistfuls of rice being tossed at them and laughing happily.

When the crowd thinned so that Ennis could make his way through to the sidewalk, the truck was gone… Jack was gone.

Sighing deeply, Ennis straightened his slumped shoulders and steeled himself for the walk ahead. Need to get this shit straightened out fer he really gets himself work'd up… stupid asshole!

Suddenly he froze when he felt a strong hand land on his shoulder, "Jack…I'm…" he began as he swung around, thinking that Jack had changed his mind and come back for him. His words ended with an intake of breath as he looked up and met his brother's eyes.

"Ready fer that drink lil' brother?" KE asked, his voice cold and steely, the same as his eyes.

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