A Better Idea
Chapter Thirty-Four
Author's Note 1: Annie Proulx created Ennis and Jack, and their families. She wrote that when Ennis went to see Jack's parents in 1983, "Jack's mother, stout and careful in her movements as though recovering from an operation, said, "Want some coffee, don't you? Piece a cherry cake?"
A/U: Jack never returned to TX after their argument, and by that miracle, did not die. His mother's fate however, has not changed from the Canon.
Author's Note 2: I've taken the Liberty of allowing Gran to have a Surgical Breakthrough that did not yet have widespread use in 1983. Let be, let be.
Dedication: This chapter is dedicated with my thanks to Todd.
August 12th and 13th, 1983
The smell of a hospital never set well with Ennis Del Mar. It never failed to waft him back to 1957 when he was suddenly an orphan. Thirteen years old, and he would never see his parents again. He could never be sure that what he had was truly his to keep; never after that, never to this day.
Fighting the fatigue that usually follows a huge jolt of adrenaline, Ennis was getting shaky now, his skin clammy and cold. They'd been told that Mom would be in surgery for an hour or more. Jack and the old man went down the corridor to make as many phone calls as they could.
Bobby and Jenny had been left behind at the ranch and told to go over to Iris and Walter's until they got Gran to the hospital, and found out what could be the matter. Ennis promised them they'd call the minute they knew anything.
It had been Bobby pounding on Ennis and Jack's door, calling for help. When Ennis opened the front door they saw the terrified teen and Jack's truck in front of their place. While Jack drove back to his mama's place, Bobby filled them in on the sight he found in the kitchen when he returned from the barn just a few minutes earlier.
"Gran was curled up on the floor, she looked grey and pasty." Bobby said.
In a weak voice she had told him to get Jack and Ennis, please. And hurry.
When they got into the house, Jenny was already there, holding a cool cloth on Gran's forehead. JC was bringing an afghan to put over her; all she was wearing was a nightdress. If she hadn't dressed, she'd been feeling bad for some time, Ennis realized. Perhaps for several hours.
While they were asking questions, a stab of pain assailed her again, causing her to double up in a fetal position. Ennis crouched down and felt for her pulse, counting the fast beats, knowing she was frightened, as were they all. He began his horse speak to her, reassuring her, quieting her, humming a little.
Turning to the others, he spoke quietly, "Jenny go get your Gran's robe and a quilt out of her room. Please.
"Bobby will you get Gran's slippers, son?"
"Dad, will you bring your truck up close to the back door?"
"Jack, darlin', help me lift Mom up will you? Need to get her into your dad's truck, it's got the most room. Jack! Look at me, I need you to drive your dad's truck, okay? You know the roads, you will take us to the hospital."
"Jack, hand your truck keys to Bobby, okay?"
Jack and JC got Claire wrapped up decent, and Ennis motioned to Jack to pick her up in his arms, he proceeded to carry her out to the truck, settling her in the back seat. JC climbed in with her and covered her with the quilt. He was holding her hand and watching her face for signs of relief. Seeing none, he just patted her arm.
"You kids go on over to Uncle Walter's, we'll call you there, soon as we know anything, I promise. We gotta go."
When he climbed into the passenger seat, Ennis looked at Jack and nodded. "Easy does it now, Jack. Let's go."
Jack began to regain his composure as soon as they pulled out of the long gravel drive in front of the Twist' home. He was taking action; she was going to be helped as soon as he got her to the hospital.
"Mama? How you doin' mama?" Jack called to her.
"It ain't lettin' up, Jack. Don't know what . ."
Ennis saw her blanch white in the face of such pain, and damned to hell the State of Wyoming, for its broad expanses of nothing but broad expanses.
"We'll be at the hospital soon, 'bout ten minutes. Jus' hang on now, Mom."
As he talked to Mom, he patted JC's shoulder, trying to reassure him by touch, cause he sure didn't know no fine words that would help at this time.
After about twelve miles, they were through with the gravel roads with those damned cattle guards every thousand yards or so. It just about did Jack in, knowing what those bumps were doing to his mama. Soon as they got out on 59, Jack sped up a bit. He looked at Ennis for agreement, and got the nod he was hoping for.
At last Jack pulled into the Emergency Entrance in the rear of Mt. Carmel.
While Ennis ran to alert a doctor or nurse, Jack turned the truck for easier access by the medical staff.
Once inside, Ennis could do nothing productive, so he took the keys from Jack and went out to move the truck and park it in the lot. John had to fill out the paperwork to get Claire admitted, and Jack went with her to the little cubicle where she was being poked, prodded, and evaluated. They took blood and within ten short minutes were back, saying they were moving her to another area for a full diagnosis by the Staff Doctor on call.
Jack fell automatically into his competent business-man patter. He questioned nurses and doctors alike, and the consensus seemed to be Gall Bladder Attack. Once the Admitting paperwork was complete, John went to find Claire, and then Jack sought out the doctor in charge. One final test confirmed the diagnosis, and more paperwork was sent down. Claire and John agreed to sign the Surgical Agreement.
Jack handled getting her surgery expedited earlier than the staff had offered to schedule it. His mama was in pain, and they hadn't given her anything to make her comfortable; they'd waited to know exactly what was going on first. Jack negotiated with all the firmness and charm he possessed. Claire was put on the list for the next available operating room.
John stayed with his wife while they got her prepped for surgery. He couldn't believe his luck to be married to this woman, the love of his life.
Seeing her vulnerable was a first for him. She was a strong woman. But this; this felt like she needed him, been a long time since he believed that she needed him. He knew that was his own fault, wasn't no one else's. He'd abandoned her even if he was still living under the same roof, made her get stronger, needed him less and less over the years as she found she couldn't rely on him for support, moral or otherwise. Well, that was stopping here and now. John stiffened his spine without knowing he was doing it.
At 11:30 a.m. they took Claire to the operating room. Doctor Applewhite came out to talk to them, tell them what he was going to do, how long it should take. He left them with the promise that he'd personally come out and tell them how she was doing once it was over. Then he left them to go get scrubbed.
Jack put his arm around his dad's shoulder, urging him away from the O.R. doors. "Dad, let's go call the kids and let'em know about mama." Jack was familiar with this hospital. His dad had spent so many weeks here with his stroke; that Jack, not being one to sit quietly in a sick room, knew many of the doctors and nurses, as well as the entire Physical Plant.
They stopped at the Cashier's cage and got change for the pay phones to call the family. One phone call was all it ended up being. Walter got the first update, and then passed the phone to Bobby. Jack told him what was happening with Gran. He asked Bob to call his mama in Denver, let her know of his grandmother's operation and the change in plans. He would not be there as planned, maybe later.
"Bob, can I speak to Jenny now, son?"
"Sure dad, call me as soon as you know anything, okay?"
"Don't worry; you'll be the first to know Bob."
Jack reassured Jenny as best he could, told her of the surgery now taking place, and asked her to call her mother and let her know they wouldn't be getting to Riverton today. Would have to see how all this played out.
"Want me to have mama call and cancel daddy's doctor appointments tomorrow, Jack?"
"Oh, yeah. Thanks for thinking of that, Jen. And another thing? Ask her if she can contact Herman Stodemeir; he was expectin' to take Ennis to those appointments tomorrow."
"Okay, sure. Call me as soon as you know anything, anything at all, okay Jack?
Walter was standing next to Jenny's shoulder making telephone signs, so she told Jack to hang on a second. Taking the phone, Walter asked Jack to put his dad back on the line.
"Johnny, from what you say, my Sis is going to be fine. Is that right? Cause I can come up there, f'you need me to, or want me to. You know that!"
"No, Walter, nothing you can do here right now. 'Preciate it if you just keep those kids from worryin' theirselves sick. Take care a them, if you will."
"Okay, John. Iris has 'em in the kitchen making a Taco Salad for lunch, right now. You call me the minute you know something, y' hear me?"
"Will do, Walter. You know I will. Bye."
They went looking for Ennis. Not finding him in the Waiting Room, Jack decided to check outside. Sure enough, Ennis was leaning up against a short concrete wall lining the entrance walkway. It was painted purple Jack noted; just something for his mind to latch onto, something with no connection to the worries he had over the people he loves. "Hey, Cowboy."
Ennis looked up from under the brim of his hat, a worried look on his face.
"Talked to Jenny, Ennis. She'll call Alma, and let her know we ain't coming today."
"How'd she sound?"
"Well, worried, a course. Both of the kids are worried sick about mama, but Walter and Iris will be with them. And they each made me promise to call them the minute we know anything. Said, course we would."
It was then that Jack noticed Ennis was shaking. Reaching out as if to hold him, Jack got his hands slapped smartly away. "What the hell you think you're doing, Jack?" Ennis turned to see if anyone had noticed, if anyone was there to point the finger at them, scowl at them in disgust.
Pain flashed across Jack's face like Ennis had shot him. "Fuck Ennis! This is a hospital. People comfort each other all the time here." Jack didn't say it but he could sure use some comforting about now his ownself.
"Yeah? Well, I don't know . . . ."
"Shit, you're shaking like a leaf. I think you're still in shock, Cowboy. Let's go to the Cafeteria and get you some coffee, maybe a sweet roll or some orange juice. What'dya say, Ennis?"
John refused to go with them, wasn't going to budge till the doctor came out and told him Claire was okay; that his wife'd be fine.
In the lunch room, Ennis and Jack were sharing a small table, having coffee and orange juice when they heard someone call out, "Jack? That you Jack?"
Ennis watched Jack stand up and hug a blond woman, "Debra, hi!"
"Ennis, this is Debra Whalen, she was my dad's day nurse most a the time he was in here." Ennis stood too, out of courtesy.
"Debra, this here's my friend, Ennis Del Mar." They nodded and spoke.
"What's the deal, Jack? Can't you stay away from here? I hope your dad's not back again."
"Whyn't you join us, Deb? Kind of a long story, and I wanted to ask you a favor, anyway." She went and filled her coffee mug, got a muffin, then returned to their table.
Jack filled her in on his mama's condition, and emergency surgery. It happened so suddenly that we were all in shock a bit; that's why I got him over here getting some sugar into him, he was shakin' somethin' awful.
Debra nodded, told Jack that was the best thing he could do for him. "But you said you needed a favor, what you got in mind?"
"We was packed to go on a trip this morning, now all that's been cancelled. But our first stop was to be in Riverton to his doc's, to get that cast and them wires off. You know anybody who can do that for him right here?"
Debra looked at Ennis with a twinkle in her eye, "What happened to you? Jack hit ya?"
Ennis smirked, "Not lately. No, ma'm. Flipped ma truck."
"He was trying to avoid an out of control horse with his friend on its back, and this is the result. What do you think, Deb? Is this something that we can get done today?"
"Probably, but let me check this out. I'll find you in the Waiting Room, or I'll page you Jack. Okay? Gotta get back, my break's up anyway." She drained her coffee, stood up and gathered her trash. "bye, see ya later."
She leaned over, kissed Jack right square on the mouth, patted his shoulder and walked out of the lunch room.
"What in the name of holy fuck was that?!" hissed Ennis.
"What? We're friends. Christ sake, Ennis. You don't need to think everybody in the County is after me!"
"Kissin' friends, if you ask me, good god Jack."
Jack waggled his tongue at Ennis, and grinned. "Jealous, are ya? Think I like that, Cowboy."
Ennis turned and walked away from Jack, making Jack fear he'd gone too far once again. But all he was doing was walking up to order a muffin and coffee to go for Jack's dad. Food in hand, they headed back to the Waiting Room.
They'd no sooner gotten settled in the stiff, new, uncomfortable purple chairs of the Waiting Room, when Doctor Applewhite came out and approached them with a tired smile on his face. "Your wife came through with flying colors, Mr. Twist. Matter of fact, she's in the Recovery Room now, and will be waking up in the next thirty minutes or so. We tried something new on her, and she was a good candidate for it. She won't have near the recuperation time that she would normally have from this operation. Here's a brochure comparing this new method, called Laparoscopy, and the old more invasive method. "
John was only half listening. He said, "Fine, fine. When can I see my wife?" Doctor Applewhite said "The nurse will come and get you after she's settled in her room. Probably be an hour or so."
"Thank you, Doctor, thank you for everything." said John.
Jack took the brochure from his dad's hand, and spread it open across his knee. The pictures showed the old style surgery where a big "J" shape was cut into the patient's abdomen, starting up under the right ribcage, and through the muscle wall. They all peered at the photograph of an actual person and winced, thinking of the pain and rehabilitation for something as extensive as this.
Then they looked at the new method, shown again on an actual patient, and all it consisted of was three little holes poked into the same general vicinity. "It says here that they send a scope in to find the gall bladder, Guess that's why it's called Laparoscope." sighed Ennis. He was visibly calmer after getting the news about mama doing well, Jack could tell.
"What is a gall bladder, anyway?" asked John. They all three shrugged their shoulders; none of them knew what it was, nor what it was for. They sure hoped she didn't need it, though, cause now she didn't have one no more.
Debra walked in and said, "Jack, would you all come with me, please?"
As they walked into the treatment room, Jack told his dad what was going to be happening. He was curious to see it, but said as soon as they were done working on Ennis, he wanted to call Walter again, let the kids know the good news about Claire.
With only one chair in the room, Jack motioned for his dad to sit down, he kept his eye on Tom, the Physician's Assistant that Debra had found to cut Ennis' cast off. Tom had Ennis jump up on that exam table and sit down. He pulled around an armrest, placed his arm on it, making sure Ennis was comfortable with it at that height. Saying "Relax, don't move", he fired up a saw and cut that cast into two pieces by the time John got set down.
Ennis Del Mar beamed at Jack. He twisted and turned his white sickly looking arm, stared at it like it was a foreign object. He remembered his manners, and thanked Tom sincerely.
"Deb says you need another procedure as well. Are you ready?" When Ennis nodded, Tom had him climb down and sit on a stool next to the table. He unwrapped a sterile pack of tools and implements, and went to work on opening each little twist of wire, and gently sliding them out of Ennis' mouth.
Tom smiled into Ennis' eyes and said, "Most people cry when I do this, you sure are being brave. You musta heard that I give a lollipop to my especially well-behaved patients." Ennis just blushed, but Jack moved closer to his man and stood near enough to make sure Doctor Tom wasn't moving in on his territory.
When they were all done, Ennis shook Tom's hand, and thanked him for all he'd done for him. "Thanks for everything, Tom. Can't use no lollipop, but I do believe a steak is in my immediate future!" Tom beamed and held on just a second too long for Jack's liking, and so he approached again, "We need to be gettin' on, now Ennis. Our kids'll be worried if we don't call soon."
With his message subtly delivered, Jack turned toward the door. But Tom reached out, touching Ennis' sleeve, "Wait, Ennis. There's one thing you should remember."
Hat in hand, Ennis turned back to look at Tom.
"About that steak? You should hold off a day or so; work solid food back into your diet gradually. You'll know when you're ready." And reaching into his breast pocket, he said "Here's my card in case you ever need anything, anything at all." Jack reached out, took the card and without looking at it, shoved it into his own pocket, saying "Doubt he'll be needin' nuthin'. Thanks again, Doc."
Jack went to Debra's floor to thank her for arranging all this. "So should Ennis get his insurance card and go down to the payment office? You know, he never did get admitted."
"No, no, don't worry about it; we're glad to do it for you. Hardest thing was to get hold of his doctor's and verify that it was time to remove the cast and wires. You might not realize it, but lots of folks would lie to get that stuff removed."
"Yeah, and I'd probably be one of 'em. I have no patience with restraints; I couldn't believe how good Ennis was being about it. No solid food all this time, he was a saint!"
"Well, he certainly seems like a sweet man. And handsome, too."
Jack couldn't cover the blush that crept up his neck and overtook his ears.
"Yep, he is all that."
"Oh my heavens, just look at your sweet face! He's your partner, isn't he, Jack? Funny I never thought of you as . . ."
"Gay? Yep, since the day I was born. Didn't know how happy I was about it till I met Ennis in 1963, though."
"My goodness, you two been together for twenty years, Jack?"
"Yes and No, Deb. Not really. It's kind of a long story."
Ennis walked around the corner, "Jack, Mom's in her room now. We can go see her."
Writing on a small slip of paper, she said "Here Jack, here's my extension. Call me before you guys leave the hospital today, alright? C' mere, Ennis, let me see your arm." When she had checked it out thoroughly, rather than let his arm go, she pulled him into a hug and kissed him just as she had Jack earlier in the day. "I hope I'll be seeing you tonight, Ennis, Jack."
Ennis wiped his mouth on his sleeve as they walked back up the corridor toward the elevators. Mom was in 238 West. "What was that all about Jack? Seeing us later? An' why she need to be kissin' on us, huh?"
"Did you talk to the kids, Ennis?
"You know I did, Jack. Why you changin' the subject?"
"Oh nothin' Ennis. Think she's wantin' us to come to her house for supper tonight, that's all. She told me she thinks you're a handsome man, Cowboy.
"Huh, knowin' you, you probably told her I'm taken."
"Sure did; thought I was gonna hafta tell that to Doctor Tom, too!"
"I'm sure he got the message in any case, Jack, way you was hovering around, and snatching that business card right outa his hand like that."
Jack just looked sideways at Ennis and gave that little grin that lit up his eyes to about 1000 watts of blazing blue, straight at his man. "Well, guess I was a bit obvious, huh Cowboy? But you are mine now, and I'm makin' sure everyone knows it!"
"Jesus Christ, Jack. Next you'll be puttin' it in the Sundance Sentinel ! It ain't like you got anything to worry about. There ain't no one in the world for me but you, bud." Ennis turned to Jack, thinking a kiss would make his point better than words could, but . . .
The elevator doors opened. They turned to the right, and hurried down the hallway towards Room 238 West. Dad was in there, his chair pulled up close to the bed. He was holding her hand while she slept intermittently.
"How's she doin?" asked Jack.
"She come 'round, spoke a few words just now. Wondered where you two was at. I told her about you getting your cast and wires off, and she was very happy for you."
"Always thinkin' a others; did she say how SHE felt?"
"Well, yeah. She was kinda groggy. Told me she didn't need an operation cause all her pain went away. She was surprised when I told her the operation was over."
Within the next couple of hours, Claire woke up several times, and each time she was more "herself". She talked happily to Jack and Ennis, all the while still holding John's hand.
Around 4:30 they could hear the supper carts coming along the corridor outside her room. Claire acknowledged being starved. Hadn't eaten since supper the night before, and all a that came up during the night anyway. When her men saw that her tray contained nothing but chicken broth, jello and cranberry juice, they flinched. But she was grateful for every bite and sip and enjoyed every morsel. It hit the spot.
When she had no more than finished her food, the door opened and the med cart was pushed in; they had to step out of the room while the nurse took her vitals, and some blood, and then they came back. They were all tired, so they knew she must be too. Ennis began, "Well, I guess we should. . ."
The phone on her bedside table rang; Jack was closest, so he answered it.
"Hello." Then "Sure Walter, she's right here. Let me hand her the phone."
Nothing reassures quite like hearing the voice of the one you are worried about. This turned out to be a marathon phone call as Walter, Iris, Bobby and Jenny all had to have a turn, talking to her and hearing for themselves that she sounded good and was okay now.
Jack and Ennis decided they were definitely heading out soon, going to spend this night in their own home, in their own bed. Jenny and Bobby were staying the night at Iris' insistence, so that was settled.
Walter said that he, Jenny, Bobby and several of the kids had taken care of the chores on Johnny and Sis' place today, so not to worry about a thing. In the back of Ennis' mind he'd been worried all day about the stock, and the horses, so when Walter reassured him that all was well, he felt ever so much better. 'This thing a havin' family, ta have yer back when ya need it; well there ain't nuthin' like it any better.' thought Ennis Del Mar.
John was staying the night, in one a those chairs that folds out to make a twin bed; there was no talking him out of it, and no one dared try.
While Jack called Debra to tell her they were going to go on home, with a Thanks Anyway and ask for a Rain Check, Ennis said his goodbyes and goodnights to Mom and Dad.
The drive back from the hospital seemed smoother and shorter than it had this morning when mama was in pain, thought Jack. Back in Lightning Flat they stopped at Walter's to see the kids and give them big hugs sent from Gran. Bobby squirmed, but Jack said "It's not my fault, Bobby, Gran said I had to give you this hug from her. Oh, and this." And he kissed him on the cheek, which Bobby promptly rubbed off with his sleeve. "Jeez, dad!"
Jenny, on the other hand, appreciated being in her dad's arms and relished the "hug sent from Gran" as a good sign of being remembered on this scary day. Jenny wondered how it was possible to already be closer to Gran Twist than to Grandma Beers, after knowing her all her life. It seemed a miracle.
Iris insisted they stay for supper, and not having any other plans about food at the moment, they gladly relented. When Ennis opened his mouth to take his first bite of solid food in many weeks, Jenny gasped. "Daddy you can eat now! Let me see." And they all admired Ennis' wire free mouth.
"Not only that, darlin', look at your daddy's arm." said Jack. And Ennis rolled up his sleeve for Show N Tell. Bobby groaned, "You're gonna hafta get that thing out in the sun, Ennis. Looks more like a dead Carp than a man's arm." Ennis punched Bobby lightly on the shoulder, and challenged him with a grin, "Don't think it don't work good as new, now boy; I might have to prove it to ya."
Walter grinned and advised Bobby not to let his mouth get him into some deep waters. They all appreciated Ennis' new health status, then got down to some serious eating. It had been a long, hard day for all of them.
Iris had cooked and baked most of the afternoon. She wanted to have at least one week's worth of meals to bring to Claire when she got out of the hospital. Cooking's the last thing she wanted her sister-in-law worrying about, or spending her precious energy on when she got home.
It sure felt good to walk into their own house; never been away from it so long since they finished fixing it up. They hung their hats and jackets on the hooks by the door, and walked straight into their bedroom and undressed. Neither one had stopped to shower this morning when Bobby had roused them with his frantic pounding. That was high on their agenda. They were so tired they ached, but in a good way, now that Gran was being looked after. They each showered and shaved, didn't need to talk about what that meant.
When they finally hit their bed, they just lay there for a spell on the sheets, covers pulled down, stretching and pulling the kinks out of tired muscles. Working a ranch all day doesn't knot up your muscles as bad as sitting around worrying in a stiff hospital chair.
"Want me to get some horse liniment and give you a good rub down, Cowboy?" Jack teased.
"Don't mind if you do, bud. I could sure use it."
Jack found some lotion in their bedside table drawer and told Ennis to roll over onto his stomach. He clambered over top him and straddled him, poured a good hand full of lotion across his shoulders and back, began to rub it across with his warm hands.
"Good god, what is that, Jack? Smells like roses or violets or sumthin'."
"Well, it says here Nature's Garden, guess mama put it in our bathroom for us. I know I sure didn't buy it. Want me to stop here and wipe it off?"
"Yeah, will you? See if we got sumthin' else? I don't really wanta spend the night smellin' like this, but my muscles need your hands on'em tonight for sure, Jack."
Nothing else came to Jack's hand though he checked every cabinet and drawer they had. He came back in the room shaking his head, and by that time, Ennis' had about enough of smelling like a flower. He jumped up from the bed and got into his jeans, shoved his feet into boots with no socks and headed out the door. "Got somethin', just remembered it, hold on." and he was gone.
Two minutes later he was back from the lean-to stable with a plastic jar in his hands. Jack took it, opened the lid and felt the contents, smelling to see if it was agreeable. "Hm, nice. This might just do." he said as he read the label. It wasn't horse liniment, but it was for horses. He read aloud, "Straight Arrow brand, The Hoofmaker. The Exclusive Intensive Protein Hoof Treatment."
Jack continued to read the label; last thing he wanted was to fool around and do anything that would hurt Ennis, even if they thought it was all in fun. The label read "Follow Directions Carefully - Apply with brush or by hand. Massage well with fingertips. Apply as needed or perhaps as recommended by your professional equine authority. Every application should be thorough, covering entire coronary band, walls, frog and sole. Formula is non-greasy, and not sticky. Depending upon your particular equine's lifestyle, the number of applications is best determined by the handler/owner."
The more he read, the more they giggled, until Jack got that certain leer on his face and commanded, "Get over here and lay down, Equine! No matter your lifestyle, I as your "handler" will determine how many applications you need!"
Ennis ran to the other side of the bed, and said "No, not till you get this awful flowery stuff off me, can't take it no more!"
So, they got to the bathroom sink and Jack lathered up a wash rag with good ol' Zest soap and scrubbed the offending lotion off of Ennis as best he could.
Instead of drying his back with a towel, Jack locked his arms around Ennis' waist and kissed his back and shoulders, rubbed them good with his freshly shaved cheeks and chin until he was almost dry. He went on nuzzling for quite some time, until finally Ennis said, "Christ, ain't I dry yet, Jack?"
"Oh sure, was that all you was wantin', Ennis? You was dry ten minutes ago."
And then he laughed again, smacked Ennis smartly on the butt, and said,
"Come on Equine, your handler needs some time with you."
Ennis snuggled comfortably on the bed, stomach down, head on his folded arms and waited for Jack to begin applying the hoof cream. When nothing happened he turned over to find his man just taking in the sight of him laying there in all his glory, just the way he was born. This kind of thing always flustered Ennis. He didn't know why Jack wanted to look on him this way, it's not like he was good lookin' or beautiful the way Jack is.
Jack's face had that soft adoring look on it that we've come to know when he's looking on the beautiful man he loves. He was lookin' at those shoulders, that strong back, the perfect ass, those long legs that came down to feet that attracted him just because they were a part of Ennis. Every part of him was what Jack had waited for all these years. Having him here, every night and every day at last, was heaven on earth for Jack Twist.
Finally, he broke free of his reverie; Jack rubbed his hands together to warm them, and dipped into the cream. He began applying it to Ennis' shoulders. "Got you some knots here, Cowboy. You been all worked up today haven't you?"
"Yeah, guess I have." Ennis mumbled sleepily. "This morning really scared me, bud. Don't know what I'd do if anythin' happened to Mom."
"We ain't gonna let nothin' happen to her, Ennis. You know we won't. The two a us will see to her, no matter what. Don't you worry none on that score."
Jack's hands worked on the taut back and then slid further down and began kneading Ennis' ass. His mind wandered to other than therapeutic aims. Before long, he was sliding his creamy hands up and down the cleft between the two halves of the perfect whole. Ennis was moaning and began to writhe and push up into Jack's hands.
"Wait, boy, we still got your legs and feet to do. Quit it!" said Jack, and he leaned over and kissed Ennis' back and butt . . .but his hands steadfastly continued downward to make true his statement. Ennis' thighs are beautifully shaped, and muscular. Jack spent a lot of time on each one, being careful not to smooth his hands too far up the inside of them. . .to the Land of No Return. Jack squeezed and pushed hard on Ennis' feet, loving each one, kissing each toe, and then heading back up the calves to knead and pull, smoothing those muscles.
Ennis was relaxed as a piece of cooked spaghetti, but he'd been deprived way too long and he set about getting Jack to lay back and accept some attention; take his turn at a little body rub. He put some cream on his own hands, but not on Jack. He began briskly rubbing Jack's arms, stretching his biceps, running his hands down the forearms and hands. He massaged each hand and the fingers, pulling on them, and rubbing each one. Back up the arms, then down Jack's chest and ribs. The farther south he got, the slower he seemed to go.
Ennis lay beside Jack and began kissing and sucking his neck and down his chest. He circled his navel with his tongue and dipped in briefly, making sweet contact and making Jack suck in his breath. He cupped Jack's ass with both hands, and licked and sucked on his stomach below the navel, just following the trail of dark hair. By this time, Ennis was moving lower, his legs kneeing Jack's to open them, allowing himself to kneel inside.
Jack was anticipating Ennis' direction and he was beginning to writhe, wanting contact with that hot, wet mouth. "Oh, baby . . ." said Jack.
Ennis took a tentative lick of Jack's cock and said, "Mmmmm, been missing the taste a you, Jack Twist, need ta make up for lost time." And then he spoke no more. Filling his mouth with Jack's velvety heat, Ennis thought he'd missed this more than anything. Sucking on Jack, licking up that throbbing vein, cupping his sweet sac in his hands, then taking them in his mouth, one by one, sucking gently. Ennis thought for sure he could do this all day and all night, but their bodies had other ideas.
Jack's hands were in Ennis' hair, making the curls stand up wildly. Nothing ever looked sexier in Jack's mind, except when that man looked up at him with his cock down his throat. When he again had Jack fully in his mouth, hitting the back of his throat, he began to hum. The vibration sent Jack right to the edge, and he yelled, "Oh fuck Ennis! Too good, can't hold . ." but he was over the edge just by thinking about how good it felt, and Ennis thrilled at making his man feel so good; his own cock dripping and leaking on the bedsheets. Swallowing all the hot cream spurting down the back of his throat, Ennis had never felt so loved. ' If this is what loving a man means, let me love this man until my dying day.' Jack crooned, "Ennis, c'mere baby." He pulled on Ennis to urge him up to his face.
Ennis was celebrating, and Jack was going to get the full treatment tonight. Moving back up to Jack's mouth, he kissed him deeply and shared the taste of Jack. Ennis knew that tasting himself in Ennis' mouth turned Jack on all over again.
Kissing Jack gave Ennis such joy that he was somehow lost in him, sliding their tongues together, sucking on that tongue was sweet. Ennis began to probe and push, fucking Jack's mouth with his tongue. They were holding each other tightly, and straining to become one person, one body melting into the other; never to be separated again.
When Ennis pulled away, he put two fingers into Jack's mouth, he instinctively sucked them vigorously, wetting them for their known future purpose. While holding Jack, Ennis dropped his hand down, caressing his side, and cupping his ass. He began sliding his fingers down his lovely cleft, little by little, probing the fingers inside Jack's warm channel. He doubled up those fingers and stretched his man for a bit. Ennis again got down between Jack's legs, lifted one up over his shoulder and looked at his blessed destination. Jack wasn't ready yet, he could tell. Ennis lay down and pulled Jack toward him, spreading his cheeks and licking around and around, then he probed his tongue in once, then deeply tongue fucked Jack's ass.
Jack was almost lost again, moaning and calling out nonsense words as well as his lover's name. "Come on, Ennis, please. Can't wait." Instinctively, in a purely animal reaction, Jack tried to back into Ennis' face, That was the sign Ennis was waiting for. He sat up on his knees and smoothed his dick with the hoof cream, then pulled Jack's legs till his knees were both up over his own shoulders. Grabbing Jack's hips, he pulled him closer, until the tip of his dick was at the entrance he desired. "Come on, Ennis! Fuck me, Fuck me now!" At those words, Ennis could wait no longer.
"Need you so fuckin' bad, baby." And he pushed into Jack with all the heat and speed he had built up. All the waiting was over, he languidly slid in and out of his man and took his time in loving attention, bending over him to kiss his mouth, kiss-bruised and swollen already. But when he felt Jack's muscular walls clenching on his dick, Ennis pushed hard. He sunk his full length into Jack as hard as he could, and he knew they were both yelling obscenities to the heavens.
Those last few strokes were wild and hard, both making the thrusts that slapped skin against skin until their bodies were bursting with the need to come; the red, blue and gold fireworks flared behind their eyelids, they spewed forcefully and simultaneously, calling each other's names, Ennis filling Jack with every drop he had to give. They crumpled together, one hot, sweaty heap of man flesh.
"Sunofabitch!" Jack whispered. "Did we die?"
"If we did, it sure as hell was worth it." he smiled.
They recovered their breath, and kissed each other's faces, ears and necks. Anything they could reach, or have the energy to find was fair game to nibble on. "You wanna get a shower, hmmm?" "Nuh uh, too tired." "K, we'll get one in the morning." "K."
"Goodnight darlin'."
"Night."
At 7:00 the next morning, they were awakened once again by someone knocking on their front door. Groggily reaching for jeans, they both went barefoot and bed headed to the door to see what was the matter this time.
Opening the door, when would they learn to put in a peep hole? they encountered Lureen and her mother, Irene Newsome, standing there in all their finery. Bobby was looking sheepish, he knew he shouldn't have brought them unannounced, but his mother had insisted it would be fine to do so.
"Morning, Jack, you're looking well." smirked Lureen. "Ennis, I presume."
Knowing they looked like they were rode hard and put away wet; they knew they also reeked of last night's sex. Never at a loss for words, even Jack Twist was moved to stammer.
"Come in." offered Ennis. "Can I make ya some coffee?"
Finally Lureen took pity on them and said, "I'll make the coffee, you got anything for breakfast? You go on and get your showers and wake up a bit, we got plenty of time."
And with that, they stumbled back into their bedroom to get ready for this day, whatever it might hold.
tbc