Love Motivates

Disclaimer: I don't own Brokeback Mountain. No profit is being made from this. All characters belong to Anne Proulx.

Chapter 5

The Teachings

It's been a few days now and the girls are doing well. The lessons have been very beneficial. While doing this, everyone had also been getting along quite well. Alma, Jr. and Francine have opened up to Jack a lot more since their first day.

The girls have been learning proper seating and balance. They've accomplished the walk, trot, and stop. Turning is one thing that Alma, Jr had understood well. Francine on the other hand, not so well. It took a few more tries before she picked it up.

Alma, Jr seemed to take to riding just like her father, naturally. She enjoyed the days they got to ride. Her outwardly appearance seemed to slightly mature. For some reason being astride gave her that air about her.

Some of the days have been great and some not so great. Francine seemed to invite bad days. While learning to lope, she lost her balance.

Ennis yelled out, "Try to hold on, darlin!" Jack rode over to her to make sure she wasn't hurt. Before he was there though, Ennis shouted, "Jack is she alright?"

"Yeah, she's ok, she just landed a little rough."

He then helped Francine from the ground and remount her horse. At the end of today's lesson, the girls rode extremely well. It was time to see if they could handle some trails around the ranch. Jack and Ennis wanted the girls to experience Brokeback like they did. Tomorrow they would take them out to some of the campsites they once worked.

It was an early start the morning when they all saddled up the horses. Food, water and bedrolls are packed onto two mules. The group made sure they had everything, then they were ready to go. At a nice walk, Jack, Ennis, Alma, Jr and Francine slowly faded behind the barn. While they were gone, the ranch hands agreed to run the place.

As they rode along the trails, the girls were in awe of their surroundings. During their first day out, they covered a lot of ground. Topping one of Brokeback's ridges, the white from a deer's tail was bouncing away. That was the biggest animal the girls have seen so far. Smaller animals have been the norm.

You could see in the distance, maybe not even 500 yards, a small opening were one of the campsites lay. This is where they were going to spend the first night. All four dismounted and proceeded to tie up their horses.

"Let's get camp set," Ennis said, looking at the girls.

"How do you put up this tent, daddy," asked Francine, trying to figure it out.

"Jack can you help her . . . Jack," questioned Ennis.

"Jack is not here," replied Alma, Jr, pointing toward the woods behind her.

"Alright, give me a second, I have to finish the fire," Ennis explained.

It was obvious Jack had something important he had to do. 'What,' Ennis thought. By the time Jack did get back, camp was set. The girls were roasting marshmallows and Ennis was sitting with them.

"Sorry I ran off, Ennis, I had to take care of a manly thing," whispered Jack as he sat down beside him.

"Hey no problem 'cause I'm gunna go now," exclaimed Ennis, "I'll be back."

"Alright," replied Jack.

A few minutes past and Ennis returned. When he got back, he explained to Alma, Jr where the 'girls' room was. She took Francine's hand and proceeded to go behind the large white birch tree. For second the two men were alone, but knowingly stayed apart. The girls returned and where put down for the night.

Ennis and Jack slept side by side. They laid there for a while before falling asleep, trying hard not to embrace one another. The desire to be together forced Ennis outside. Jack got up and went to him.

"I'll sleep out here," stated Ennis.

"Ennis, it's gunna get too cold out here, you need to be in the tent," replied Jack, sitting with Ennis on the log by the fire.

"Jack, I can't lay next to you in there with my girls beside us, it's not proper."

"Ennis, I know how we need to be around your girls, but if you get cold get of your ass in that there tent."

That night, Jack was right, it got down right blistery. Though his teeth were chattering, Ennis still forced himself to stay alone. He couldn't take the chance of being 'turned on' by sleeping next to Jack. For the sake of his girls he stayed cold.

With the sun, Ennis woke. He started breakfast and his coffee. Jack woke with the girls staring at him. They couldn't figure out how to exit the tent with him in front of the doorway. Now they were all up and ready to continue their journeys. Breakfast is done, camp packed and on they go.

The next few hours, the group explores the many trails and woodlands. The girls hear and see an abundance of birds, squirrels and even an elk. They point at so many things along their route. Standing atop of a ridge, they all look at the beautiful views that surround them.

"I can't believe how beautiful it is up here," stated Alma, Jr.

"Yeah, it's great, dad," Francine added.

"I wish we could have seen this sooner," Alma, Jr said.

"That wasn't my fault, honey," replied Ennis. "I hope you understand that."

"We wanted to see you, but momma said she didn't know where you were," Francine explained.

"You know where I'm at now," Ennis said. "No excuses now."

As they stood awhile, the sun began to sink. Jack interrupted the moment by stating that they needed to find another camp before they lose any more light.

While making their way down the ridge, Alma, Jr began to think quietly. Time on the ranch is getting shorter now. She notices this more than Francine. She had really enjoyed this time with her dad. She misses the laughter, the games and it hurts. She wants to stay, but knows her mother would disapprove. Her thoughts were seized away by her father calling to her.

"Alma . . . Hello Alma, we are stopping here," yelled her father.

"I'm sorry, I was daydreaming again," she explained.

They made camp. Tonight there wasn't any chaos. It was an early night, they soon had to start heading back. Ennis decided this night he would sleep in the tent with Jack. For once, he was able to control his desire for the man he loved.

The following two days were spent making their way back. They traveled another set of trails, down easier terrain. During this time, Alma, Jr had witnessed something she isn't sure her eyes actually saw.

While setting up camp last evening, she went walking around, leaving Francine alone. She used the excuse she had to go to the bathroom. Exploring the woods around camp, she came upon her father and Jack, leaning against a tree, kissing. She stepped softly and ducked behind another tree so they wouldn't see her. For a while, she wasn't sure she even saw them. Then she looked again, with one eye piercing around. Her curiosity had her trance fixed on what was happening before her. She knew what they were doing, but why. She saw them move and she ducked again. When she looked back, they were gone. Her insides were knotted, a feeling she wondered again why it was there.

Before long, the ranch was in sight. 'Thank God' thought Alma, Jr silently. They got to the barn and unloaded the horses. Feed was already waiting. It was still early and the girls ran to play.

"I sure hope they had fun up there," stated Jack.

"Yeah me too," replied Ennis as he walked Cigar Butt into his stall. "I hope neither one of the girls wandered away from the camp the other night."

"Ennis, you worry too much, I don't think they saw and even then I don't think they'd understand," Jack said.

"Well, I gotta get them in and ready, I think Alma wants them back tonight," Ennis explained.

"What no dinner withthe girls," Jack asked.

"You know Alma."

"Yeah, I do."

Shortly, Ennis went and got the girls. Inside they gathered their things. Meanwhile, Ennis made the dreaded call to his ex. The telephone rang a while, then she picked up.

"Hello, Alma, we're back and they are ready," said Ennis. "When will you be here?"

"I'm on my way," replied Alma. Before he knew it, she had hung up.