Chapter 16: The Family Twist

Sara Twist had called up to Jack several times with no response. Smiling fondly, she decided he must be asleep so she climbed the stairs and knocked on the door to his bedroom. Hearing a muffled moaning sound from the other side of the door, and thinking that perhaps he was ill… after all, the food that he must have been eating up on that mountain can't have been all that good… she carefully opened the door whispering her son's name. Her words died on her lips as she took in the sight before her.

Jack was standing in the middle of his room, clothes and a few other odds and ends strewed across his bed and in a rumpled pile around his feet. The mess, however, was not what caused her to gasp and bring her hand to her throat. That was caused by the sight of her son, now a man fully grown, standing there amid the heap of clothes, his face buried in his hands, sobbing like she had not seen him do since he was a small boy.

Walking up behind him, she gently placed a hand on his shoulder. Lowering his hands, Jack turned to look at her and she gasped again. Etched on his face and radiating from blue eyes that usually twinkled with mischief , was so much pain… the deep despair that only comes from losing something precious… something irreplaceable.

Drawing a shuddering breath, Jack tried to speak but the only thing that came from his mouth was a choked sob. Sara opened her arms, and he nearly collapsed into them, sobbing anew, as though her gesture of comfort gave him permission to let all the pain inside him loose.

Sara said nothing, she simply guided him to the bed, gently pushed him to sit, and then sat next to him and just held him as he cried, his entire body hitching and jerking with each deep sob. Words spilled from his lips. Though she could not make out all he was saying, a few words were coherent enough for her to understand. Something to do with a harmonica that he had lost and someone or something called 'Ennis' that he was never going to see again, though the more she listened, the surer she became that this 'Ennis' was a person, not a thing.

When at last Jack seemed to have cried himself out, he sat up and hung his head, his face turning beet red, obviously feeling shame at breaking down the way he had.

"Well now," Sara said quietly as Jack took another deep breath, struggling to compose himself, "ya hungry? Yer Daddy's more'en likely sittin' downstairs wonderin' where we got off ta and thinkin' he might not be getting any supper tonight."

"Sure 'nough," Jack mumbled his voice hoarse.

Sara smiled and patted his knee as she leaned over and kissed the side of his head, "Ok… you go on and wash up then, an I'll go on down and get yer daddy his supper before he starts fretting."

Jack nodded, and watched as his ma stood up and left the room. She asked him no questions, in fact never mentioned Jack's tears that day, but she never forgot it… never forgot the pain and heartbreak in her boys eyes… never forgot the wracking sobs… and never forgot the broken sound of his voice when he spoke the name 'Ennis' over and over as though calling out to someone and receiving no answer.

That name had not crossed her son's lips again after that day, until one day four years later when he dropped in to visit after a fishing trip. This time, the name Ennis spilled from his lips naturally, as though he had spoken it daily his whole life, and there had never been a day when he had sobbed brokenly while speaking it.

Each trip after that, for 16 years, Sara smiled and listened as her son prattled on about Ennis, whose last name she now knew was Del Mar, and he seemed happy enough when speaking of him, though at times when he was talking or when he thought she wasn't looking at him, she would see a far off, haunted look in his eyes or catch the smallest hint of bitterness and regret in his voice. She knew that he sometimes locked himself in his old room and cried, though she had not gone in to comfort him again, somehow sensing that he would rather she not know.

She worried. She knew he was unhappy with his life, knew he was unhappy with his marriage, knew he was heart-broken by the fact that his father-in-law purposely alienated him from his son, knew that his heart lay somewhere it would be impossible for him to stay and knew how frustrated he was with the fact that he was helpless to change any of it.

She wished that there was some way for her to help him… something she could do to take away the pain and depression that was obvious in him after each fishing trip he came to them from… a pain and depression that seemed to worsen as the years went by.

Then came a visit in November, Jack coming to them from yet another fishing trip. This time there was something different about him. He was more quiet, and withdrawn then ever before. For the first time in nearly 16 years, he did not speak of Ennis Del Mar even once. After dinner, he had gone up to bed very early, said he was tired, hadn't slept well on his trip, and the old Rodeo injury to his hip was bothering him.

Shortly after he went up, Sara had filled a hot water bottle and taken it up to him, thinking the heat would ease the ache in his hip. As she raised her hand to knock, she heard murmuring coming from behind the door, the voice was low and broken, but she could easily make out most of what was being said.

"… didn' mean it… God, Ennis… ya gotta know I didn' mean it…could nev'r quit you… jus' miss ya…so fuckin' much… can't stand it…"

Sighing, Sara knocked on the door. When she got no response, she opened the door a crack and said quietly, "Jack… you awake, son?"

"I'm awake," Jack replied, his voice straining with the obvious effort of trying to sound normal.

"I brought ya a hot water bottle, thought maybe it might help ease yer hip." She replied, and opened the door wider causing light to spill into the dark gloom of the room. The flare of light lit up the bed, and Sara was surprised to see that Jack was lying on the bed, still fully clothed and was curled around something that looked like a denim shirt, clutching it to his chest.

"Thanks, Ma." Jack said, sitting up quickly and crossing over to the door to take the hot water bottle. In the process, he stepped into the path of the light, and threw the bed once more into darkness before Sara could get a look at what she was sure was the shirt that always hung way in the back of Jack's closet… the one with the plaid shirt tucked inside it. She was pretty sure she knew who that plaid shirt had belonged to, and the reason why her son had kept them hidden away up there all these years, though she never said anything to Jack about it.

Sara had left and gone to her own room, where she tossed and turned for a long time, worrying about her boy.

Sara Twist was not an educated woman, she had married John Twist when she was only 16… spent the first 6 years of their marriage giving birth to two still born babies and losing another, Caleb, a sickly child from birth, to meningitis before his second birthday. She spent the month after that watching the light in her husband's eyes die slowly, he had loved his son beyond measure, and she knew his heart was broken beyond repair at losing him.

When she discovered she was pregnant again, she hesitated to tell John at first. Caleb had only been gone six months, and though John had recovered enough to go back to his usual work schedule on the ranch, he still had that pained look on his face that said his grief was still there just under the surface.

When Jack was born, she felt an immediate pull to this new baby. He was healthy, was almost never sick, and always seemed so happy. From the first day, his daddy had resented him. Sara had always believed that John's grief over Caleb's death had caused him to harden his heart against loving another child. It had not helped that Jack looked so very much like Caleb, the only difference being his big cerulean blue eyes that looked so much like those of her brother. As he grew into a handsome young man, Sara had delighted at the way his big blue eyes lit up when something made him happy, and her heart ached when anything made those eyes turn sad or fill with pain or fear.

She was horrified by the things her husband did and said to Jack, though she knew the pain that drove him, she hated the rage that he allowed himself to feel toward his own son and tried her hardest to shield him from his daddy's anger whenever she could.

Because of this, she and Jack had formed a bond between them, and for most of his life, Sara knew him better then anyone… knew him well enough to know when he was happy or sad, and when he was hiding something.

She knew that her boy was special, saw with her own eyes his gentle spirit and ability to love deeply, saw also his pride, stubbornness and determination… determination to get past his daddy's hate and spitefulness, and prove to him and the rest of the world that he was a man no matter what his daddy might say differently. A part of her had always believed that that had been the reason for Jack getting married down there in Texas, to prove to his daddy that he was a man.

Sara had seen the emptiness and loss in Jack's eyes when he sat at the table and told her John about his new wife and job in her daddy's company. She remembered that look of loss, and couldn't help but think, two years later, what a sharp contrast there was between the empty flat look that had been in his eyes when he spoke of his new wife and a baby on the way, and the fierce glow in his eyes when he spoke of Ennis Del Mar.

She had been around long enough to recognize that glow. She knew what it meant… that was the same look you see in the eyes of person when they look at and talk about the one they love beyond all others.

As she lay in bed trying to let sleep take her, she thought about the things that Jack had murmured, and wondered just who this Ennis Del Mar was and what sort of a man he was…did he care about her son as much as Jack obviously cared about him… what was it about him that had stolen her boy's heart and held it all these years.

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Ennis glanced across the seat at Jack. He was worried. The first hour of the trip Jack had prattled and railed on about what a horrible son he was for not going to see his Ma more often. He cursed himself for not sending money more often, and blamed himself for the stroke, convinced that it was caused by her working too hard because he hadn't taken good enough care of her.

At first Ennis had done his best to convince Jack that none of this was his fault, but after a bit it became apparent that Jack would adamantly refuse to listen to any denial of his guilt, so Ennis had stopped trying to console him, and simply listened to the harsh litany of Jack's supposed crimes against his Ma.

After a while, Jack had fallen silent, and had said almost nothing for over 2 hours. His thoughts were such a jumble of pain and memories, that Ennis found himself blocking them as much as possible because they were to painful to bear.

They stopped in Buffalo to gas up and use the bathroom. Ennis went into the little store and walked up and down a couple of isles looking for something that he and Jack could have for a snack. They had left Riverton at 3:00 AM, and had neither of them had thought about food up until now.

When he got back to the truck, Ennis passed Jack sandwich and a glass bottle of Coke. Jack wrinkled his nose at the sandwich and tossed it on the dash. Ennis popped the caps off the sodas with a bottle opener, and watched as Jack took a long hard pull off his, draining half the bottle in one gulp.

Taking a big breath, he leaned his head back against the seat and said, "Thanks, Bud… needed that!"

Ennis patted Jack's knee and Jack turned his head and smiled, a small tired smile that just barely reached his eyes.

"So damn tired!"

Glancing around quickly, and seeing that there was no one else out and around this early, Ennis reached out and cupped Jack's chin, rubbing his thumb across his cheek and said in a low voice, "Still got about 'nother 4 hours a drivin' 'fore we get ta yer folks place, why doncha try ta get some sleep, darlin'". Jack started to protest, but Ennis hushed him with a finger pressed to his lips and continued, "Yer 'bout done in, bud… can see it in yer face. Ya won' be no good to yer Ma if ya can't even stand up!"

Closing his eyes and sighing, Jack nodded, "'Kay, Ennis." He said in a tired voice that made Ennis worry even more.

Turning away slightly, Jack took his jacket and bunched it up in a ball. Stuffing it into the corner of the seat, he leaned back against it and closed his eyes, sure that he would never be able to sleep but not wanting to cause the lines of worry on Ennis forehead to deepen.

Within 10 minutes he was snoring slightly, and Ennis threw gazes at him every so often, the worry lines lessening slightly and a fond smile playing across his lips.

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Harold Twist was walking across the yard in front of the house when he spotted the strange truck coming up the drive, a cloud of dust billowing behind it. Squinting, he cupped a hand over his eyes and tried to make out the faces of the people.

So many friends and neighbors, mostly church friends of Sara's, had stopped by in the last few days to offer comfort, support and food, that he sighed and assumed it was another set of kindly old women or men wanting to help. Nice enough folks, all of them, and they always meant well, but ultimately ended up standing around Sara's bed talking about her as though she were already dead.

When the truck came to a stop, and the dust cleared, he squinted again, and was able to make out two heads, obviously both men, one of them leaning against the door as though asleep. Starting across the yard, he saw the driver reach across the seat and shake the shoulder of the passenger. As soon as his head popped up, he looked around and opened the truck door. Hopping out, he stretched hard and turned to look back into the cab. Harold heard him say in a familiar voice, "Don't be stupid, Ennis… comeon… ya need to come meet my Ma!"

"Jack!" Harold exclaimed, happiness and relief in his voice.

"Hey, Uncle Harold!" Jack said, excitement in his voice. Turning back to look one last time at the other man, who still sat in the truck, Jack muttered just barely loud enough for Harold to hear, "Comeon, Ennis… ya can't jus' sit here!" before he slammed the truck door and strode quickly across the yard to return Harold's bear hug.

"Jack, damn good ta see ya, boy! Was afraid we wouldn' be able ta get hold a ya till next week, knew ya was Wyoming, and knew ya'd wanna be here fer ya Ma." Harold said, pulling out of the hug and clapping Jack on the shoulder.

Jack swallowed hard, and asked in a low voice, "How is Ma, Uncle Harold? Sounded pretty bad when I talked ta Aunt Grechen."

"Was touch and go there fer awhile, gotta tell ya. Doc weren' even sure if she was gonna make it through the first night. He was here bout a hour ago though and said she's improv'd quite a bit… she's awake now and talking. She still can't use her legs too good, but the doc is saying now she'll more'en likely pull through, though he don' think she'll be able to walk again fer a bit… needs ta build her legs back up. Also said she won't be able ta work so hard as before."

Jack breathed a sigh of relief and hung his head for a moment, muttering a quiet thanks to whoever might have been listening to his frantic prayers.

He raised his head in surprise when he heard his uncle say in a friendly voice, "Hello there, ya must be Ennis. Sara tole me all about you and Jack's ranch." Jack glanced over and saw Ennis standing about 6 feet away, hands crammed into his pockets, hat lowered and feet shuffling slightly in the dust.

"Sir." Ennis replied, low and polite, and extended his hand to shake.

"Well!" Harold said, smiling, "let's get on inside and see yer Ma! Told her ya was comin' and she's been champin' at the bit fer ya ta get here. She'll not fergive me if she finds out I kept ya out here jawin' stead of bringing ya in ta see her!"

Smiling, his relief at hearing that his Ma was not dying after all written all over him so that his step was lighter and his shoulders were straight again, Jack walked quickly across that yard in the direction of the house. Harold turned to follow him, his hand on his shoulder filling him in on the rest of what the doctor had said, and repeating how good it was to see him. Ennis trailed behind, listening to Jack and his uncle talk, and worrlying about what people were going to think about him being there with Jack.

As the screen door slapped closed behind them, Harold called out, "Hey, Gretchen, Sara… lookie what the wind blew in!"

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Ennis sat at the table in the Twist kitchen, a cup of cooling coffee between his hands, and a dumbstruck look on his face.

When they had entered the house, Uncle Harold had led Jack back to the bedroom where his Ma was staying. Jack had tried to drag Ennis along with him, but Ennis had resisted and told Jack to go on and see him Ma alone first, he'd come in to meet her later.

Jack had shrugged, too happy to see his Ma to argue much. Ennis had stood in the kitchen for a bit, holding his hat and not quite sure what to do with himself. Finally he stepped on onto the porch and lit a cigarette. As he stood there smoking, he heard the screen door open, and Uncle Harold came out and stood next to him at the porch rail.

"Sir," Ennis said again politely, and offered his cigarette pack to the man. Harold held up a hand and shook his head.

"No thanks, son… quit them 'bout 2 years ago."

"Sure 'nough" Ennis replied, and slid the pack into his shirt pocket. The two stood in silence for awhile and watched the sun climb its way up into the sky.

Suddenly, Harold cleared his throat, and said in a low serious voice, "Jack's my only nephew… didya know that?"

"That so…?" Ennis replied, beginning to tense up, unsure where this might lead.

"Yep… had three older brothers, two stillborn, one died 'fore he was two."

"Damn, that's tough." Ennis said, his confusion growing and mixing with a sense of sadness that this family had suffered that kind of loss.

"Yep… was damn rough on his Ma… damn near killed my brother."

"I can 'magine, can't think what I would do if somethin' happen'd ta my girls."

"Him being the only one… guess ya can probably 'magine how fond we'all are a 'em."

Ennis nodded, his stomach tightening as he began to realize what the man was getting at.

"Do jus' 'bout anythin' fer em… would put a serious hurt on anyone that did wrong by 'em… ya know. Me and Gretchen… we weren' never able ta have any young'uns of our own, so Jack… he's pretty special ta Gretchen." He said this last in a tone that said that he was equally special to him as well.

The words were spoken in a conversational tone, the way that someone would speak if talking about the weather, but the meaning behind them was not lost on Ennis.

Cringing as soon as the words left his mouth, Ennis replied with a bit of bite, "From what Jack tells me, his daddy ain' a'ways so fond!"

Bracing himself for either a blow or an order to get off the property, Ennis jumped hard when Harold suddenly burst out laughing. Smiling, he patted Ennis on the shoulder, and said in an amused voice, "Doncha pay John no mind now… his barks lot worse then his bite. He's had a tough life… no excuse fer the way he treated Jack, nor the way he still talks ta em when he's drinkin' mind ya. Doncha worry bout it none. I'll keep 'em in line while yer here."

Clapping Ennis on the shoulder again, he said in his friendly offhand manner, "Good ta know we're in agreement on the Jack thin'."

Ennis wasn't to sure what he meant by that, didn't remember agreeing to anything, but he nodded anyway.

"A'right then… let's get on inside. Gretchen made a apple pie when she heard ya was comin', and I think I can scare us up some coffee."

Ennis followed him into the kitchen. Standing at the counter, slicing an apple pie into wedges and placing them on plates, was a woman that Ennis assumed must be Jack's Aunt Gretchen.

Harold walked over and placed a kiss on her cheek, and she turned to look at him. They exchanged a quick look and a nod, and Ennis realized that she was aware of Harold's conversation with him, that it had been planned, and that somehow he had passed their examination and been deemed acceptable.

Turning around, and wiping her hands on the apron tied around her waist, Gretchen crossed the room and, to Ennis' complete shock, threw her arms around him in a big hug.

"Welcome, Ennis," she said in the same friendly tone as her husband, "we've heard so much about ya from Jack an Sara… feels like we a'ready know ya!"

Smiling, she pulled away from Ennis, who hadn't moved and was still as a stone a look of complete amazement on his face, and patted his cheek.

"Ok, Dear, ya sit right on down here an I'll get ya a cuppa coffee an a piece'a pie. Ya do like apple doncha?"

"Yes'um," Ennis responded, still not quite sure what had just happened.

Now, as he sat at the table, the pie eaten, though he wasn't sure he remembered doing so, and his cup of coffee cold in his hands, he heard footsteps in the hall and Jack came into the room saying in a loud happy voice, "Comeon Ennis! Come an meet… Ennis?" Stopping in his tracks, Jack looked at Ennis' shell-shocked expression and then glanced at his aunt and uncle, who simply smiled at him.

Shit! Leave 'em alone fer a minute and the wolves attack!

Jack walked slowly over to Ennis, and laid his hand on his back. "Hey Ennis… wanna come meet my Ma now? She's 'bout ready fer a nap, but she says she wants ta say hi ta ya first."

Ennis glanced around quickly, and seeing everyone looking at him and smiling, he flushed, quickly nodded and walked ahead of Jack out of the kitchen. As he walked out he heard Jack ask in a somewhat hushed but slightly amused voice, "What the heck did ya do ta 'em?" and heard chuckling as a reply.

Turning back and glancing once over his shoulder as they left, he saw Jack's Aunt and Uncle standing in the kitchen, still smiling at him.

Ennis held his hat in front of him as he entered the room where Jack's ma lay in her sick bed.

" Hello there, Mr. Del Mar," a hoarse but friendly sounding voice came from the bed, "comeon over here so's I can see ya."

Swallowing hard, Ennis walked slowly across the room to the side of the bed, and looked up at the woman lying there. He felt himself jump at bit when he saw the twinkling blue eyes looking up at him. So much like Jack's, though not so bright a blue, they held that same look that Jack's usually did, a joy of life that always made Ennis happy to be alive so he could see it.

"Ennis, Ma'am," he said, and cleared his throat, "names Ennis… Del Mar."

She chuckled, although it came out sounding a bit like a wheeze, and Ennis watched as Jack's face quickly showed his concern and his ma patted his hand absently to reassure him that she was fine.

"Well, Ennis. I have heard a lot 'bout ya over the years." At this Ennis glanced quickly at Jack who shrugged and grinned sheepishly.

"Jack had told me so much 'bout ya, I feel like I know ya. So good ta finally meet ya, nice ta put a name with a face. You'll have ta tell me all 'bout ya."

Gulping audibly, Ennis nodded and said in a reed thin voice, "Sure nough, Ma'am."

"Later, Ma." Jack said, and smiled at her, "You and Ennis can talk all ya want later. Right now ya need ta get some rest."

Sara Twist smiled and nodded, then she reached out her hands and patted both Ennis and Jack's cheeks.

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Ennis and Jack stood out by the barn leaning against the upper rail of the pasture fence. Ennis had been quiet ever since they left the house, and Jack could no longer stand not knowing what was bothering him.

Checking to make sure they were safely hidden from view of that house, he stepped over and wrapped his arms around Ennis' waist, pressing his chest against his back.

"Hey there, Cowboy… penny fer yer thoughts?"

Ennis snorted and said, "Not sure they're worth that much."

Jack chuckled, and said, "Well… probably can't afford 'em then… wanna tell me anyway?"

Ennis shrugged, "don' know really… jus' that… yer family…"

"What about 'em?" Jack asked, tensing a bit. He had only been kidding when he asked Uncle Harold and Aunt Gretchen had done to Ennis, he couldn't picture them doing or saying anything impolite or nasty to a friend of his, but now he wondered if maybe he was wrong.

"I dunno… their jus' so… nice!" Ennis said, cringing when he realized how silly that sounded.

Jack's laughter confirmed that and Ennis scowled slightly though he didn't feel really put out by being laughed at.

"What'cha expect, Cowboy… think they was gonna stake ya out in the yard and throw pitchforks at ya?"

"Very funny, Asshole!" Ennis said, and shook himself free from Jack's arms, though not with any real anger. Turning around so he was facing Jack, he continued, his head down, eyes burning holes in his boots.

"They know, don't they… 'bout us?" He asked, his voice so low that Jack had to strain to make out all the words.

He felt a thrill course through him at the 'us'. Even after all this time of being together, he still got a thrill from Ennis saying anything out loud confirming that they were indeed 'together'.

"I s'pect they do, Babe," Jack said gently, and brushed his knuckles lightly across Ennis' lowered face, "Sorta think my Ma has known since '63… since the day she came in and found me cryin' cause I lost that damn harmonica… course it weren' really the harmonica… and I think she figur'd that out pretty quick."

Ennis looked up at him then, a gleam of something in his eyes that Jack couldn't quite decipher.

Shrugging, he said, "Uncle Harold and Aunt Gretchen… well… I 'magine my Ma probably tole 'em… either that or they figur'd it out when I wrote ta tell 'em bout the ranch."

"Surprises me," Ennis said, that look lingering, "yer family acceptin' it so easy… acceptin' me so quick… K.E, he… well he ain' never gonna accept me and who I am… won' never accept ya that way, don' 'magine my sister would neither."

"Don' surprise me! My family may not be perfect, but they care 'bout me 'nough to accept who I am. As fer yer brother… its his damn loss if he don' wanna accept ya… losin' out on havin' a damn good man fer his brother!"

Ennis smiled at him and reached out, pulling him into his arms and holding him tight. "Ya… well… far as I'm concerned, his loss in not accepting you is even worse… missin' out on knowin' a pretty wonderful fella!"

Jack grinned, and then said suddenly, that devilish twinkle in his eye, "Tell ya what, Ennis Del Mar… if ya don' kiss me right now, I'm gonna go in there and tell Uncle Harold that ya ain' treating me right and he'll put a hurt on ya but good!"

Ennis laughed out loud before swooping down and pressing his lips against Jack's in a deep kiss that neither pulled away from for a good long time.

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Jack and Ennis were walking back toward the house, talking and joking, when they heard loud voices coming from inside the house.

"Where'tha hell is he?" A voice roared, and Harold's equally loud voice yelled back, "Shut the hell up and get over here, John!"

Ennis looked at Jack and saw that he was cringing, most of the color gone from his face.

Fuck! Damn near fergot bout the old bastard!

Ennis sighed and said in a low voice, "If I'm not mistaken, that would be yer daddy."

Jack walked swiftly toward the house, shoulders squared and back ramrod straight.

"Yup! That'd be him."

Ennis walked through the door behind Jack, and drew himself up at the scene before them. A man that could only be John Twist was staggering and stumbling around in the kitchen, bumping in to everything in his path and yelling at the top of this lungs.

When Jack and Ennis entered, he swung around, and glared at them menacingly.

"So...," he slurred, and brought the bottle in his hand up to his mouth. The bottle was empty, and he grunted in frustration and threw it across the room, bringing forth a yell from Gretchen, who was standing off to the side, her hands clutched in front of her chest.

"The pansy ass queer returns… and lookie here… he brung another one with 'em!"

Ennis felt Jack stiffen beside him.

Oh Please… not now… not just when Ennis was startin' ta feel comfortable here… now the old bastard has ta come in and fuck it all up with his drunken shit!

Wanting to reassure Jack, he reached a hand out grasping his wrist. He felt Jack relax a little but kept his hand there.

"Well… ain' that jus' so sweet… look at 'em… holdin' hands like a couple'a girls."

"Christ John… jus' shut up now and let me take ya upstairs so's ya can sleep it off!" Harold hissed, glancing at Ennis and seeing how red his face was.

Harold grabbed John's arm and tried ta propel him toward the stairs, but he yanked his arm free and staggered toward Jack muttering curses, punctuating every few words with a sharp and clear "queer". When he finally got close to Jack, he leaned his face forward, and said in a nasty voice, "Bad 'nough ya had ta show yer filthy face 'round here, didya have ta bring'a whole herd a queers 'long with ya? Ain' bad 'nough ya made yer mama so 'shamed that she done collapsed and can't walk no more… here ta do more damage are ya? Come ta finish 'er off?"

"A'right… that's jus' 'bout 'nough I think!" Jack turned quickly, shock written across his face when he heard Ennis' voice. Every head in the room turned to look as he stepped forward and put himself between Jack and his daddy.

"Ya can say anythin' ya want 'bout me, and insult us all day if ya want, but ya ain' gonna stand there and blame Jack fer his ma being sick! It ain' his fault, an I won' stand fer ya blamin' him and makin out like it is!"

"You goddamn queer! What makes ya think ya can come inta my house and tell me what I'm gonna say!" John Twist drew back his fist and swung it wildly at Ennis. Halfway through the swing he staggered sideways, and instead of connecting with Ennis' face, his fist connected with Jack's jaw.

Jack yelped and stumbled backwards, Gretchen screamed, Ennis shouted, "HEY!!" and quickly stepped in front of Jack again drawing back his own fist and blocking him from any further blows, and Harold yelled, "GODDAMMIT, JOHN!!" and leaped forward to restrain John from swinging again.

The swing seemed to have taken the last bit of strength out of John, and he barely resisted when Harold led him away to the stairs. As he climbed them, supported by Harold who looked mad enough to chew nails and spit out thumbtacks, Ennis could hear him muttering about "damn queers".

Leading Jack to a chair, Ennis accepted a washcloth full of ice from Gretchen who had run quickly to fetch it once the excitement died down.

Sitting beside him, Ennis gently pressed the icepack to Jack's jaw, his other hand coming up and gently rubbing Jack's back in soothing circles. Without even thinking about Gretchen who stood watching the whole exchange, he leaned forward a bit and said, "Ya ok, darlin'?"

"Ya… I'm ok… damn, fer a no good drunk, the man still packs a wallop!"

Ennis smiled, and brought his hand up to lightly ruffle Jack's hair, being careful not to hurt his jaw by jostling it to much.

"Well… looks like ya met the whole clan… the whole fuckin' Family Twist! Still think ya wanna be part'a it?" Jack asked, his voice amused, with a barely detectable trace of worry.

"Darlin'," Ennis replied, his voice serious as could be, although the twinkle in his eyes quickly gave him away, "I don' think I have a choice… slow as ya are bout duckin' a punch… gotta stick around ta hold the icepack fer ya!"

Jack chuckled, and winced, "Asshole!"

Neither noticed as Gretchen ducked quietly out of the kitchen, stopping Harold on his way back in, and telling him that she wanted a walk in the pasture before dinner. Glancing into the kitchen and seeing Jack and Ennis sitting there, Ennis still holding the ice to Jack's jaw with one hand, and cupping Jack's cheek with his other, Harold grinned and replied, "Ya know my dear, that sounds like a damn good idea!"

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