A Better Idea
Chapter Twenty-Three
Everyone piled into Jack's truck with the intention of taking Junior and Jenny home on this Thursday night when so much had changed.
The kids were singing "Total Eclipse of The Heart" along with the radio and Jack really liked hearing the kids, (their kids) singing together. He was getting choked up and glanced at Ennis who was swallowing greatly to keep under control. The girls and Bobby had just begun to sing "Every Breath You Take" when Ennis reached over to curl his fingers into Jack's.
They didn't speak, but their hands said, Look at our kids together, love.
Driving into town, they passed Al's Barbershop and down the block Jack noticed The Dairy Barn on the next corner. Without stating his intentions, he swung into the lot and parked, saying "Hate to delay all you fine folks but my stomach is calling out for some dessert. Listen! Can you hear it? It sounds like it's saying Banana Split! You won't make me eat alone, now would you? Ya'll want the same thing?" Ennis and Junior just wanted a vanilla cone; Jenny joined Jack and had a banana split, while Bobby tucked into a hot fudge sundae deluxe.
Between bites, grinning wickedly, Bobby said to the girls, "If I'm to be a proper brother n' all, shouldn't I be pulling your hair? Or maybe telling everyone in the Dairy Barn that you both have "Cooties"? The girls giggled at that. Seems like most of their friends who had brothers, and most did, complained about them half the time, and secretly bragged on them the other half.
Ennis had been quiet during this conversation, thinking ahead to when they went home with their news, and excitement about a new brother. "Girls, you decide what you want to tell your mama about your new brother, Bobby. But take it easy on her, and don't hurt her feelings, ya hear?"
"Yes daddy, we know." They both said and nodded their heads sincerely.
"Always remember that none a this is her fault." Ennis continued, and then left it in their hands.
Ennis was saying good-bye to the girls at their door. They were repeating the plans they'd made for their next get together. "We're going to invite Kurt, right?" reminded Junior. "You bet." said Ennis, "you do the invitin' when you're ready, okay?"
"Daddy, Bobby has our address and phone number. Said he'd write us a letter." Jenny said.
"That'll be good, little girl. But remember what I said; don't let your mama pull a letter out of the box with that name on it, before you warn her that it's coming."
Something didn't feel right about this to Ennis. "You know what? This is my doin'. I'll talk to her myself. You girls go on in the house now, see you soon, my angels."
Just then Alma came around the side of the house with the garden hose, watering her flowers and humming. "D'I hear my name? Junior, is that you and Jenny? Whose big ol' fancy truck is that? Who brought you girls home?" She was working up a powerful curiosity, verging onto worry, and Ennis could hear it in her voice.
Ennis stepped out of the shadows of the porch where he'd been speaking to the girls, "It's me, Alma. Just bringing the girls home. Say, your flowers are looking right nice this year." he finished.
"Is that your truck, Ennis Del Mar?"
"No, Alma, it's Jack's. We've had a nice dinner together and Jack and Bobby brought us here, with a little stop off at the Dairy Barn. . . . Kin I help you wind up that hose, Alma, and put it away for you? I'd like another minute of your time anyway."
"Okay, sure." she said, a little uneasily.
Calling out to Junior and Jenny, Ennis said "Good night, girls. See you next time. Junior, you go ahead and invite Kurt, if you want. I'm gonna speak to your mama a minute."
They called their good nights to Ennis, and waved to Bobby and Jack in the truck, then went on in the house.
"Wait just a second, Alma. I need to tell Jack I'll be another few minutes."
"Mighty considerate of his feelings, aint'cha?"
"Yes, I am. Just a sec, Alma. Be right back."
When Jack realized what Ennis needed to do he offered to leave. "Bobby n' me'll run down to the Radio Shack over on Main and get some new batteries for the radio. You take your time with Alma, and walk on over there when you're ready." Ennis thought how much he loved this man, who was always willing to make things easier for him if he had it in his power to do so. He reached out and ran his hand down Jack's face and stopped at his lips, where Jack kissed those long Del Mar fingers.
"Thanks." Ennis said to Jack.
Ennis rejoined Alma and took the hose from her hands. "These things is always tricky, don't seem to want to wind back up proper."
"Ennis Del Mar, you didn't come here to talk to me about water hoses, what's on your mind?"
"Well, I just wanted you to know . . . can we sit down over here? . . . wanted you to know that Jack is bringing Bobby to live with him. He and Lureen are gettin' a divorce."
"I should care about this business because . . . .?"
"Because Alma, me and Jack are together. Or, at least, we're trying to work it out to be. And our kids are now together. Like a family."
"Ha! You call that a family?"
"The point is, Alma, the kids call it a family. They've decided that Bobby is their brother, and he is just as determined to have sisters. They are happy to have each other. This is why I wanted to talk to you."
"You're not serious, Ennis!"
"Alma, there will be letters and phone calls, family dinners, picnics, the whole nine yards. I wanted you to know. Didn't want you to be hurt."
Alma began to cry softly, and Ennis took her in his arms and rocked her gently. "Shh, it don't mean nothin' bad, Alma. They just have more people to love now. Two families, stead o'one."
"I don't know why you had to go and love him, Ennis."
"I don't know either, Alma. Who ever knows why we love the one we do? But I do love him with all my heart, so there's no need of us wondering about it."
"It don't seem right, though!"
"Well, that's not for you or anyone else to say. It's nobody's business but our own. Me and Jack's. It seems to us like the only right thing there is."
Ennis continued. "The girls are not choosing me over you or my family over yours. They are just glad to have this settled in their minds. They always knew something was different. Now they know."
"You told them about you and that man? They're just little girls, Ennis!"
"Had to, Alma. Jack's uncle pointed out that we aren't fooling anyone; it's so obvious how we feel about each other. The girls would've known in a instant, seeing us together. I wanted to tell'em myself before that happened. So I told them today. Didn't know when Jack would get back from Denver." He said. "And Jack told Bobby, too." Ennis waited, but no response came.
"You alright?" he asked. Her tears had stopped and she was hiccupping a little, but otherwise seemed calm. She nodded.
"You goin' to be able to handle this? Hearing their names, seeing mail or having phone calls from them?" he asked the mother of his children.
"What choice do I have, Ennis Del Mar? If I could erase all a this from my girls' lives, I would! But I know I can't."
"You're right, Alma. We don't have the power to stop the world from turning and changing, or them from growing up. Won't be long we'll be losin' em to some man or another. They'll be startin' families of their own."
"Did you just come up here to cheer me up, Ennis? Cause it ain't workin'!"
"Didn't want you to get no surprises, Alma. That's all." Ennis murmured.
She began to squirm in his arms, so Ennis released her. Alma turned to look up at him, "Okay. Guess I appreciate that. Thank you, Ennis." she said. "Ain't it time you're gettin' back to your . . . . . . uh, what do you call him? Your boyfriend?"
Ennis laughed soft and low. "I ain't quite worked that one out yet either. We're too old for a boyfriend, but workin' on callin' him my partner, I guess." In his heart Ennis knew without a doubt who Jack is; Jack is my man. But he didn't say that to Alma.
"There is one thing I hope, though, Alma. And that is that you can start calling him by his name rather than that man. His name is Jack."
Alma looked up at Ennis, started tearing up again, and just shook her head silently. Then she took a deep shuddering breath, "Maybe someday I can."
It didn't take Ennis long to reach Jack's truck up at the shopping center, and finding it empty, he went looking. The Twist men had moved on from the battery section and were playing Pac-man together on a demonstrator model set up for that purpose.
"Can we get one, dad? Can we, please?"
"Maybe next time, Bob. We'll see." He said.
Ennis was hoping that he and Jack could keep Bobby so busy working with the horses, helping to build the porch, getting to know his grandparents, cousins and other sundry relatives, and all the usual ranch work up at Lightning Flat, that he'd soon forget this game.
"Time to hit the hay, gentlemen. I gotta work tomorrow."
Jack intended to bum around town tomorrow, pick up some supplies for the ranch, and pack a nice supper for his and Ennis' return trip to Lightning Flat. They had a long drive after Ennis got off work tomorrow.
The two heavily laden pick-ups were pulled into a scenic overlook just northeast of Ten Sleep. When they left Riverton, the men had planned where they would stop to stretch their legs, and have a bite of supper. By the time they got there, Bobby had been complaining for seventy-five miles that he was starving to death.
His daddy told him, "Bob, you'll live. I don't want to hear no more about it. Ennis has been working all day, and if he can wait, so can you. Did you forget that you had a cheeseburger and a chocolate shake around 2:30 or 3:00 this afternoon, right before Ennis was able to get off work? He must a busted it good this morning to get off so early, don'tcha think?"
Bobby had just stared out the window and glumly responded, "I guess."
Walking around the little rest stop, stretching taut back and leg muscles, they ate roast beef sandwiches, apples and drank cold water from a thermos. They stared at the mountains that were the backdrop for most of their lives. It didn't seem as if Ennis or Jack even saw them anymore, but Bobby was very excited. "Look dad! See all that fallen rock? Sign says it's 3 billion years old." Just then three whitetail deer crossed the road 30 yards ahead of them oblivious to the dangers of passing cars. It was their territory, they seemed to say. Bobby was in awe again, this time his bright eyes were on the deer. There was so much to look at! "Christ, why didn't I ever bring him up here before?" thought Jack, "What was I thinking of, not to share this with my son?"
And then he remembered. Ennis. He hadn't wanted to give up one moment of his time with Ennis. Couldn't have stood it, thinking he was within 800 miles of Ennis Del Mar, and not spent every possible minute with him. There was never enough time, never enough.
"You going to gas up at Buffalo, or can you make it to Gillette?" asked Jack.
"I say let's stop at Buffalo, bud. Don't want to chance nothing on this stretch a road. Might top off the tank in Gillette, walk around a bit again."
"Okay by me." said Jack. "Bobby'll no doubt be starving again." They grinned at each other, remembering how it was to be a teenaged boy.
They each found a convenient tree or bush, relieved their bladders and got back in the trucks. Bobby hesitated at Jack's driver window, and said "Can I ride with Ennis awhile, dad?"
"Sure if he wants company, you can. Ask him first, though." said Jack.
Ennis was agreeable, and Bobby hopped in the old truck, such a far cry from his daddy's fancy rig. He was fidgeting and eyeing everything on the dash. Ennis let him be. Let him look around and get the feel of it. Finally, Bobby settled in and asked, "You want some coffee now, Ennis?"
"B'lieve I would, Bob. Think you can pour it into the cup for me?"
"Sure, Ennis. Daddy let me pour it in your thermos this afternoon. He brewed your coffee just like you like it. Real strong. Daddy said it would help to keep you awake driving. He said you work real hard, Ennis. Would need a good strong drink of coffee tonight on the road."
"Your daddy said that? Well, just a half cup right now, Bobby. Okay?"
"Oh shit!" said Bobby as the hot coffee dribbled down his hand. "Guess it's harder'n I thought, pouring coffee on a bumpy road, huh, Ennis?"?
"Guess so, son. Your hand all right? Oh, thank you."
"Yeah, I'm okay." Bobby said, embarrassed that Ennis had seen him spill the coffee.
"Did you play any sports in school, Bobby?"
"Yeah, baseball. I like third base or short stop. Got a letter in it the last two years. You, Ennis?"
"No, never got past my first year in high school. See, I had to quit and go to work. Woulda liked to play baseball though. Wanted to pitch. Ya know? I was fairly good at it in the Colt Leagues, that's fourteen and under."
"Why'dja hafta go to work so young, Ennis? That don't seem right."
"No, it weren't right, Bob. Just the way it was. My folks got killed in a car accident when I was thirteen. Me and my brother and sister didn't have no one to take care of us. We all had to find work."
"Aww, Ennis, I'm sorry. Your mama and daddy both at the same time?" sympathized Bobby.
"Yeah, that's the way it happened. Quite a shock to us kids, I can tell you. But, see Bob, we all survived, took care of ourselves and grew up okay. It all worked out."
Bobby was beside himself with grief, thinking of the boy Ennis, younger than he himself is now, losing both of his parents. He just wanted to hug him, but the man was driving, and it would be awkward to try to get his arms around him. He settled for patting him on the back, up around his right shoulder. Ennis turned warm brown eyes on Bobby, and reached over and took his hand for a moment. Just a short clasp, and then release. Before he realized what he was doing, Ennis curled his fingers and ran them down the side of Bobby's face, just like he did with his own kids. Ennis thought, He's just like his dad, such a caring boy. At that moment, Ennis' heart expanded to make room for one more person in his life.
Seemed to be doing that a lot lately. Claire Twist was there, for sure.
"Your dad packed enough food for an army, Bobby. How about rustling around in that box, see if you can find me an apple. You want one, too?"
Munching on the fruit, Bobby asked Ennis to tell him a little bit about Scarlet and Grey.
"Well, they'd like to share these apples, I can tell you that." laughed Ennis.
"They are both around three years old. Was sired by the same stallion, on the same ranch, so they grew up together. I bought them both, cause I didn't think they should be separated. It's awful to be separated from those you love best."
"They are brothers, Ennis?"
"Well, Grey is. Scarlet's a filly."
"I can't wait to meet them, Ennis, and let them get to know me."
"I know they'll like you just fine, Bobby. You got a nice gentle way about you. Won't be too much longer now, but by the time we get up there, you might be sleeping. So I wouldn't think you'd see them until tomorrow morning, Bob."
"Can I help feed them in the morning, Ennis?"
"Yes, Bobby, if you're sure you want to. "
"Oh, I do, Ennis!"
"Okay, I'll get you up early, if you ain't already up and at'em." he grinned.
Bobby leaned against the passenger window and watched the landscape along I90 slide by at breakneck speed. He said I got a gentle way about me, thought Bobby.
This was turning out to be an alright day.
Soon they were nearing Gillette. They turned to the north on 16/14 where they found a Farmers Cooperative Assn. gas station with a nice convenience store, and most importantly, clean restrooms. It was good to have running water. They scrubbed their faces and necks with cold water, finger combed their hair, and felt almost human. Even though they knew the going got a lot rougher from here on, they decided they could make it the rest of the way up to Lightning Flat tonight.
"You call your mama and tell her we're coming back tonight, bud?" Ennis tenderly asked Jack when no other customers were nearby.
"Yeah, I did. She sure was happy to hear that! Looking forward to seeing Bobby and you, she may even have a hug leftover for me." he teased. "I tell you what, Ennis Del Mar, I sure wish we were in the same truck tonight."
Ennis gave a loving look to his man. "We may not be driving up in the same vehicle, but we're ending up in the same bed tonight, Jack Twist. Oh you did tell her that she didn't need to switch any bedrooms, didn't you? Save her the trouble?"
"Yes, briefly, I told her that we told our kids that we are together, and that you clinched it with your good news, "Jack's here." Since Jack can't hide his pleasure remembering this announcement, he grins from ear to ear, and wants to kiss Ennis so bad, it's almost an ache. Ennis just blushes once more.
The messages they are sending with their eyes, could heat up the whole town of Gillette, Wyoming on a cold January night. Bobby has turned from the candy counter with his hands full, but stops when he catches sight of Ennis and daddy. He thinks they are almost glowing. Is this what love looks like? He wonders.
Jack and Ennis see Bobby approaching, and shake themselves loose from their rapture.
It's time to hit the road for one last stretch, much of it gravel, but still a fine road. Well maintained. Bobby hands out what he's picked up at the candy counter. "Here dad, a bag of Peanut M Ennis, one for you too." So they got in the trucks again, refreshed and ready to go home. Bobby jumped in with Jack for this last bit, and Ennis felt his absence keenly.
It's full dark now, so Jack leads the way, and Ennis follows behind. Jack put Bobby on sign patrol. "Your mission, should you choose to accept it, Mr. Twist, is to watch for highway 59 off to the north and east." Jack told Bobby "That's on your side of the truck, and going off to the right. Got it?" Bobby responded seriously "Got it, Mr. Twist, and I accept the challenge."
Actually, the turn-off was marked, but the sign was small. Jack knew where it was from years of practice. By the time Bobby spied it, they would have been past it, but Jack was prepared. He had his blinker on for Ennis' sake a good ways back from the turn.
One more time they had to look for the turn off to the north and east, and this time, there was just a tiny sign that said "Rocky Point". Now they could hear the gravel under the tires of the truck. In daylight Bobby would have been able to see that it was terra cotta colored crushed granite.
Bobby was reading whatever signs were out there on this desolate road now, and he read "Free Range Cattle; what does that mean dad?" Just then Jack started chuckling, and said "Look up the road Bobby."
It looked like a Moo-nlight meeting had been called. Eight cows were standing right in the middle of the road, and a couple of calves were frolicking (there was no other word for it) along the edge of the road; looked like they were playing Chicken with the trucks, or maybe they were playing Tag with the other calves.
"Free Range means no fences, Bob." explained Jack. What do you think of that?
"Cool Beans!" cried Bobby.
Jack was finding tears in his eyes again as he laughed, wait till Ennis hears that expression, he thought, Cowboy will have something to say about that.
Claire climbed to Jack's room, which would now be Bobby's and saw the headlights approaching across the countryside. She sighed a huge sigh of relief that they were safe and almost here. From this height there was nothing between the house and the road to impede her view. On the ground floor she would have had to see through a couple of outbuildings, several lilac bushes and some hollyhocks. She had learned this trick, of coming to Jack's room for a better view long ago when she waited up for her only son to return home safely.
She hurried downstairs to warm up the coffee and the light supper she had prepared for her boys. Her little family was growing, and Claire was happy.
Friday, June 3, 1983 turned out to be a red-letter day for Claire Twist.
There was no way Claire could have prepared herself for this. It hadn't occurred to her that her grandson Bobby would be the spittin' image o'Jack. Well, how could she not love a boy who looks like her beloved only child?
As predicted, Claire had hugs all around, and an especially tight one for Ennis Del Mar, the son of her heart. When she met Bobby, he was taller and older than she had expected. She had always thought of him as a child; this boy was quickly leaving childhood behind. She asked him to call her Gran.
When they'd brought their bags in and washed up, she herded them to the table for scrambled eggs, toast and sliced tomatoes. She had poured a big glass of milk for Bobby, and coffee for Ennis and Jack. With everyone seated, Claire reached out to take Jack's and Ennis' hands, and looked at them expectantly. Bobby grabbed on to both of their hands and with a huge smile, said "Ennis told us he learned this from you, Gran."
Claire gave a little smile, dropped her eyes, then her head and began to send up a prayer of thanks for the food they were about to receive, and all those around her table having arrived safely this night. She kept it short, but it was heartfelt. All said, "Amen."
They were not ravenously hungry, but this was the first hot meal of this busy day, so it nourished them, and made them feel whole again. When they were done, Ennis refused to allow Claire to wash the dishes, "You go visit with your new grandson, and I don't want to hear any argument on the subject." he said authoritatively, then he smiled at her, and she nodded in agreement. "Thank you my darlin' boy." she told him.
With his hands in the warm, sudsy water, and the murmuring voices of the Twist family behind him, Ennis decided he could go to sleep right there in the kitchen. Jack walked into the kitchen and put his arms around Ennis at the sink, squeezing loosely but possessively, and gave him a sweet kiss on his neck. Then he patted him on the butt and returned to his mother and son at the table. Ennis made quick work of their few dishes, and wiped off the table. "Okay if I take a shower right now?" he asked. "Anybody want in there, first?"
Given the all-clear, Ennis got his pajama pants and tooth brush out of his duffel, and took over the bathroom. Claire had already put towels in for all the boys to use, Ennis knew her habits by now. Within ten minutes he was brushing his teeth, and his eyes were closing, he was shutting down for the day. "See you all in the morning." he said drowsily, then stepped up on the first step.
"I'll be right behind you, darlin'." said Jack.
"Don't forget to wake me up to help feed Scarlet and Grey." said Bobby.
"Good night, Ennis. Sleep well, son." said Claire.
Claire said she was ready to call it a day, as well. She suggested with a yawn that Jack take Bobby up to his old room and get him settled in. They all said their good nights, brushed teeth, and ended one very long day.
Jack guessed that Bobby would soon be too tall for that little bed, but he could make do for a few days. They'd have to figure out what to do later. He told Bobby that he and Ennis would be right across the hall, and pointed out their door. "You may want a night light in case you have to get up and go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, son. Let me see what I can find." Sure enough, there was one in the outlet, and Jack turned it on for him. "Anything else you need before I hit the hay?" Jack yawned with all his might, and said "Well, good night then. Sleep tight." Then he walked over, wrapped an arm around his shoulder and kissed Bobby on the forehead.
As Jack walked towards the door to leave, Bobby asked, "Dad, don't you think I'm too old for good night kisses by now?"
"No, you ain't. And don't you plan on gettin' too old for'em either."
He quietly closed Bobby's door and tiptoed across the hall so as not to wake Ennis. As soon as he could shuck his clothes he was under the covers, spooned up behind Ennis with an arm draped over his hip. Jack let the contentment of being in contact with his man's skin float over him. That's the last thing he remembered till morning.