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

Italics indicate notes written by characters.

Chapter 7

"A World Crumbles"

Though two years had past, the summers were still spent with the girls. Riding on the trails, which included some on Brokeback Mountain. They were old enough now to ride alone. Alma, Jr and Francine would saddle up early and return by sunset. On occasion their father and Jack would go along. Everyone seemed to enjoy the trips up on the top of the ever-famous 'Brokeback.'

Although riding took most of their time, the girls enjoyed all aspects of ranching. The cows, chickens, pigs and of course, the horses. They'd even go out and got fresh eggs for breakfast in the morning. Sometimes, they'd also milk some goats, liking the warm milk. Life was great at the ranch. More and more, Alma, Jr didn't want to leave here. For her, the ranch was an escape from the real world.

Over time, the ranch had begun to do extraordinarily well. The cattle; Jack had been breeding, was bringing in some good money. For some extra cash, they decided to sell some of the horse's offspring, that was born the previous year. Ennis and Jack were able to rustle up some private buyers. Since able to do so, they had to come up with a brand in order to advertise the ranch and identify their livestock. The brand was of their first names' initials. The top of the J was the top of the E and the letters were combined.

They knew now they'd have to round up the cattle in order to brand them before the next sale. The herd had grown by at least 30 or more, bringing the number to nearly 1,500. Ennis and Jack knew they wouldn't be able to do it alone, so they decided to hire more ranch hands. They figured the best way to get the help was put up some fliers in town. Jack chose to do this, but it would end up being something he'd regret. Ennis's love, too, would be tested.

Jack left early and Ennis woke to an empty bed. Ennis stretched his hand out to where Jack would have been, but it was cold. Downstairs, the girls waited patiently for their dad to wake. Alma, Jr had cooked breakfast for everyone, ate and was ready to go out with the hands. Ennis stumbled down the stairs, waved at the girls and proceeded to the coffee pot. He had to have his first cup before anything else. As he poured, Francine said, "Dad, Jack left you a note."

"Thanks girls for breakfast," stated Ennis. Alma, Jr was fighting with excitement as she stood next to the door.

"Dad, can I go with the guys on the round up, please, I've been waiting for you to get up, Please," exclaimed Alma, Jr.

"Are your chores done," asked Ennis?

"Yeah, please," Alma, Jr stated anxiously.

"Francine, you gunna go too," Ennis asked.

"Yeah, I wanna go," stated Francine.

"All right, girls go ahead, I'll meet up later," replied Ennis.

"See ya dad," stated the girls. They hugged, kissed and off they went, slamming the door behind them.

Ennis looked over the note Jack left on the table in the dining room. It read:

Ennis-

I'm headed into town. I want to get these fliers up about the round up. I sent the guys out early to catch up with the herd. I hope to be home soon so I can head out myself. Pack everything we'll need for a couple of nights stay. Be home as soon as I can.

LJTwist

Ennis loved how Jack signed his notes. Only he knew what it meant. Holding the note, Ennis looked out the wide dining room window and thought of this life. How its been just so right. As he stood quietly, the phone rang. Ennis thought, 'what perfect timing.' He put down his coffee mug, walked over and picked up the phone.

"Hello"

"Is this Ennis Del Mar," asked a voice on the line, still and cold?

"Why yes sir, it is, may I help you," asked Ennis leaning on the doorway leading to the kitchen.

"Do you know a Jack Twist?"

"Jack Twist, yes sir."

"Well you see, Ennis, we have someone here at Armito Hospital that we think is Jack Twist. His wallet had this number in it with your name," stated the voice. Ennis stood in shock as the note he had been holding, slowly fell like a dead leaf in Autumn. The rest of the world disappeared. Then, Ennis fell as the man described what he knew:

The man is about 6 foot tall, brown hair. Cowboy attire right up to the shit kickers. He had a bad contusion on his left shoulder and so many bruises. His face is so severely beaten that his eyes are swollen shut. The right arm is broken in two places and both legs are fractured. There is something else about him. I'm not sure I want to discuss Mr. Del Mar. It's something that could embarrass anyone. You see his . . . um . . . how shall I put this. His rectal area has been ripped open, wide open. You could hear Ennis gasp at the thought of what Jack went through.

"Mr. Del Mar is you there," asked the voice.

Ennis now realized that the man on the other end wasn't a doctor, but indeed was a police officer. His worst fears had come true. Jack was beaten because of his relationship with him. 'Who could do such a thing,' he thought? Then Ennis heard the voice again, "Mr. Del Mar."

"I'm here sir, who did you say you were again."

"My name is Robert Tanner . . . Officer Tanner."

"Officer Tanner, I'm going to leave here and met you at the hospital, please don't leave there, I'm on my way."

"I'll see you here than, Mr. Del Mar."

"Sure, good-bye."

The men hung up. Before Ennis left, he scribbled a note to the girls and posted it on the front of the cabin's door. He wrote:

Girls-

There's been an accident. Jack's in the hospital in Armito. I've gone to see him. I hope to back soon with news.

Ennis

He then jumped in his truck, started it and slammed it into gear. Dirt flew as Ennis pulled away from the cabin, dust followed as he bounced along the driveway.

As Ennis drove along the shimmering creek, he felt like he did when he came home to Jack so long ago. His anxiety was stirring up inside. He kept picturing Jack's face and he began to cry. Ennis realized what he knew all along, that he loved Jack with all the fiber of his being. 'What would he do if Jack didn't pull out of this? Could he carry on without him?' For a second Ennis didn't think he was going to be able to drive any further. He began to shake uncontrollably and hyperventilate. All at once it seemed like the world as he knew it was starting to crumble.

The girls have spent three days now up on the top. They've made their own camp every night and were making good progress. The day before they met up with the ranch hands and by tomorrow they'll catch up with the cattle on the other side of Brokeback's ridge. Weather had been tough on their first day of riding. When the girls met up with the men, they verified that all one-thousand five hundred head were there. Alma, Jr now sixteen, had been taking charge around the ranch, being that's what she wanted to do. Francine is now the age Alma, Jr was when they first stepped foot on Canyon River Ranch. That was the name Jack gave the place he couldn't 'quit.'

As the following day unfolded, Alma, Jr was starting to think more and more about her father and Jack. She rode a lot in silence remembering what she saw two years ago. What she had noticed now were small things. Sometimes the way they looked at each other, talked to each other and the fact that they slept together. She had thought about just asking about it, but wondered if Francine could handle it. Better yet, if she was even clueless about it. She kept thinking though, 'one day I'll ask.'

She was snapped back to reality as Francine yelled to her, "Alma, we're gunna stop here and let the cattle rest."

"Ok, great, nice job everyone," she exclaimed Alma, Jr. Even though she was clueless about how everyone did. She just wanted to keep up her, I know what's happening, appearance. Alma, Jr walked her grey, gelding, Arty over to the tie line. She dismounted, untacked him, tied him, gave him a pat and when she turned around, met Francine face to face.

"Jesus, Francine, you almost knocked me over," exclaimed Alma, Jr grasping her chest like she lost her breath and sighed.

"What were you thinking about all day," asked Francine? "I tried talking to you for a while and you never answered me."

"I'm sorry Francine, I was just thinking about something, that's all." Alma, Jr leaned on the tree with the tie line and looked at the ground and sighed again.

"Francine, you ever wonder about Jack and Dad. How they act around each other and such. To me, they just are a little too close," asked Alma, Jr.

"Do you mean wether they are doin' it or not?"

"Christ sake, Francine keep your voice down. Yeah, if that's how you want to put it." Alma, Jr thought, 'Gee and I thought she didn't know.'

"I never really wanted to say anything, but I saw them that very first time we came up here. I witnessed them kissing out in the woods. I used the excuse I had to go to the bathroom."

"You're kidding right!"

"No, I really saw them sticking their tongues in each other mouths and everything," Alma, Jr said with a shutter.

"Yes way!" Both girls said, "Ewww," at the same time.

"This can't be true," stated Francine with a questionable look on her face.

"Believe it."

"I had an idea, but never witnessed anything like that," explained Francine.

"Too bad, Jack is kinda good looking," Alma, Jr stated as they sat down beside the fire.

The girls seemed to fade out of conversation about their dad and Jack when the ranch hands started to sit down around them. Their conversation seemed more interesting, catching the girls' attention. It sounded like Ennis hadn't caught up with them yet and it's been almost five days. Alma, Jr found herself wondering, 'What was taking her dad so long!'

The last person to make his way over to the campfire was the head wrangler, Dustin McClaine. He was an old friend of Jack's from Lightning Flats. Even though they grew up together, Dustin didn't know about Jack's lifestyle. He stood there in front of everyone; with his hands in his pockets, for a moment then cleared his troat.

"Hem, hem . . . everyone, I have an announcement to make," stated Dustin as he shuffled dirt with his boots. "I know you all have heard the rumors by now flowing about. They are true, Jack's been in an accident. The scout yesterday told me that the ranch has been dark at night, so obviously Ennis is not there."

You could hear all the whispers from everyone as Dustin stopped for a brief moment to collect his thoughts.

"Please, everyone try to calm down and listen to me, PLEASE!" pleaded Dustin.

"Rocco Harrison, I want you to take two other men with you and head down to the ranch at first light."

"Yes sir, right away."

"Prepare the north and south pastures for the cattle. If possible, ride over to Hollow Point Ranch and see if they can't hold some of our cattle until we can figure out when we'll have our next sale. In addition, girls, I want you to go with them. The ride is only going to get rougher from here on out," explains Dustin.

"Dustin, I really wanted to stay with the herd and help with the round up," stated Alma, Jr.

"I really need you to head to the ranch and get the animals fed and get ready to go to Armito to see Jack and your father," exclaimed Dustin.

"O.K. we'll head back," stated Alma Jr.

"Thanks girls, I've got enough to worry about just with the cattle and all the hands," exclaimed Dusting.

"Hands, we're gonna have a lot of things to do. The cattle are only going to be able to rest about twenty minutes and then move out again. We have to try to get back as soon as possible," insisted Dustin. "We will be covering some hard ground and rough terrain. We need to be extra careful and vigilant."

"Right oh," stated Rocco.

The men all listened intently as they sat quietly around the campfire. All eyes were on Dustin as he talked about tomorrow's events.

"That's it, men. I can't think of anything else. Let's just bow our heads in prayer and pray for our safe return and that Jack will be O.K. and so return to Canyon River Ranch, his home."