A Better Idea - Chapter 48.2
June 8, 1984
Genre: BBM
Pairing: Ennis + Jack 4 Ever
Disclaimer: O/S characters belong solely to the author, Annie Proulx, with some tweaking by Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana. No money is being made by this author, nor fame and fortune of any kind.
Disclaimer #2: This story is unbeta'd. I would appreciate it if you would send me an email to alert me to any typos, or errors. Thanks!
Rating: The basic premise of ABI is that two men love each other. If you don't like m/m slash, you won't like ABI either.
A/N #1 - Huge THANK YOU to all my readers who are still hanging on. Your patience is greatly appreciated.
A/N #2 – Dedicated to the Memory of Heath Ledger; He will never be forgotten by this writer.
Feedback: You bet. () I hope it brings you peace.
Chapter 48.2
Back at the Twist Ranch, following the visit to KE's family in Shoshoni, Ennis and Mom put their heads together to see if they could just as successfully find Maggie.
Ennis had few facts to go on, but he knew that Maggie had married her widowed employer in Casper, Wyoming. Seemed his name was Joe something. Joe Carpenter . . . Joe Carver . . Joe Cook .. . Joe Cooper. That sounded right, it was an occupation, and Joe Cooper sounded like something he'd heard before. With nothing more to go on than that, Ennis tried the operator again, but was dismayed to find that there were 18 Joseph Cooper's in the Casper directory.
Discouraged, Ennis didn't know what to try next. He wasn't even sure they had remained in Casper; they could be anywhere. "Didn't your brother say he'd been in touch with her recently or at least within the past year?"
asked Mom. "We could just ask KE how to get in touch with her; you been talking to him every couple of days anyway."
Ennis' looked reluctant, his eyes downcast. "I just don't know, Mom. Might not be the way to go about it. You didn't see his face when he told me what she said to him."
Claire's face brightened, and she said, "Well, maybe Barbie can help us, She might not feel as strong against Maggie as KE does. . . then again, she might.
All we can do is ask."
They called right away because it was Barbie's day off, and the sooner Ennis got this information and made contact with his sister, the better he'd feel.
Barbie was home, she had the contact information that they needed, but she didn't feel good about passing it on to them. Still, she valued family and she was proud of Ennis for reaching out this way, so she told them what they needed to know.
His call was answered by a child who said that her mother was not at home, but was expected home from grocery shopping within the hour. She said her daddy was home, but was sleeping. "May I take a message for mama?"
"What is your name? How old are you?"
"I'm Rebecca Cooper, and I'm 12."
"If your mother's name is Maggie, then I am your uncle. Uncle Ennis Del Mar. Please have my sister call me." He left his number and waited nervously for Maggie to call him back.
When Maggie returned Ennis' call, she was distracted and flustered. She agreed to see her youngest brother the next day. She didn't say it out loud but she had no notion why all of a sudden, he decided that he cared a fig about her.
Ennis and Mom arrived at the large old house in the early afternoon on an overcast day. The cherry cake was solidly packed; the box heavy in her arms as Claire led Ennis up the front walk. They saw a curtain move in one of the bay windows as they approached the first of three steps. The hand rail was solid under Ennis' hand as he guided Mom up to the porch with a hand under her elbow.
He raised his hand to knock on the door, but it was jerked open before he could make contact. "You're Mr. Del Mar?" asked a young man of about 15 years.
Ennis flinched from the abrupt tone of the fellow, and nodded his head. "Hmm."
"Mama said you're to come on in and set a spell. She'll be down directly."
They were led to a clean but spare parlor. He indicated they should sit, and then he left them. Mom held the cake on her lap as she gingerly perched on the edge of the scratchy old sofa. Ennis held his hat on his lap and tapped his feet as he sat in a side chair.
Five minutes passed, that felt like five hours, and Claire stood to set the cake on the coffee table. She walked around the room checking out the framed photos on the mantle and on a side table.
Suddenly she was there. No sound had preceded her arrival. But she was in the room before Ennis could stand to greet her. Maggie knelt in front of him and threw her arms around his shoulders. "Brother, brother", she murmured lovingly as she looked into his face, and ran her hands through his hair. Ennis was back in his childhood immediately, feeling the caring that came from this sister. He stood, pulling her up with him, and embraced her tightly.
"What's wrong Ennis? What made you seek me out?"
Ennis turned Maggie slightly and held out his arm. "Mom, I'd like you to know my sister, Maggie Del . . uh Cooper."
His sister hadn't realized that Ennis was not alone, and was briefly confused, seeing this older woman. Claire rushed forward, took her hand and said "I'm so happy to make your acquaintance, my dear. I am Claire Twist, Ennis' mother-in-law."
The younger woman welcomed them both, and asked them to sit. Maggie pulled up a side chair next to Ennis, and never taking her hands from him, kept looking at him as if she couldn't believe it was really him after all this time. He picked up her hand and kissed it . . . a bit self conscious, because they had not had this kind of relationship when they were children. But he'd had much love since then, and had learned to show more affection.
"You asked me why I was here, Mags. I had a special reason to look you up. My oldest daughter is getting married soon, and I suddenly wanted my own family there too, if I could find you."
"No, you don't mean it! My baby brother has a child old enough to marry?!"
"Yep, I sure do."
"Where will the wedding be held, Ennis?"
"At the Methodist Church in Riverton."
Maggie grew thoughtful, and dropped her eyes to her hands, now clenched in her lap. "Mercy me" she said, "where are my manners?"
Maggie offered coffee or tea, and Mom mentioned the cherry cake she'd brought special for this occasion. She sent them to freshen up after their long drive, and directed them to come to the kitchen when they were ready.
Claire dilly-dallied in the parlor looking at photographs again, because she did not want to be alone with Maggie until Ennis had broken the news to his sister. She remembered how she had blurted out the truth at KE's house, and knew that this time it should be handled differently. She would follow whatever lead Ennis provided. As soon as she heard his boot steps entering the kitchen, she joined them.
She sliced the cake, while Maggie poured iced tea into tall glasses. When they were all comfortably seated at the big round table, Maggie began. "I'm not sure I can make a trip like that, Ennis. You see, I ain't never done much traveling and now . . . well."
"If it's the money, my ex-wife or some of her people in town could likely put you up for a couple days. You and your husband, a course."
"It's not that simple, Ennis. Please, come with me for a moment. Claire, you are certainly welcome to come too."
The party of three ascended the stairs; Maggie was quiet on the way up.
The floorboards groaned and complained as they walked past an open door, and then another.
At the third door, Maggie rapped twice and opened the door a crack. She peered in, and then opened the door wide. An ashen faced man lay in the bed. Ennis wondered if he was dead, but then he saw his chest move.
"Joe, honey, we got company. My little brother Ennis has come to visit, and brought his mother-in-law with him. Joe?"
As Claire and Ennis looked on, the man moved not a hair, not an eyelash.
Maggie straightened Joe's blankets and touched his face, but again, there was no response. For all intents and purposes, Maggie's husband appeared to be asleep.
Back downstairs, Claire was pouring them all more iced tea when Ennis asked Maggie, "How long has he been this way? What happened to him?"
"It's been nearly three years now. It was an accident at work, he fell and hit his head."
"How are you getting by, without his salary, Mags?"
'Not very well, actually. The company paid the hospital bills but only after I signed a waiver stating that I would not sue them for unsafe conditions. Luckily Joe had purchased a Disability Policy through his benefits package, but it only provides for 60 of his salary."
"Joe cannot be left alone. We'd lose him if he didn't have round the clock care, and I'm the primary caregiver. So I cannot work outside the home which makes it tough financially. I do take in a bit of washing and ironing for a few of the neighbors, but that's it."
"Our fifteen year old son, Daniel, has taken a job after school to try to help make ends meet. That was him, earlier when you arrived. He let you in as he left for work. And Rebecca baby-sits some, for her own spending money and school clothes. I don't know what I would have done if it weren't for the children. They have such strength. But I'm sure you know that with your own children."
Maggie checked her watch, and then excused herself to go see to Joe. It was part of the problem that he couldn't call out to her if he needed help breathing or anything. . .so she had to check on him regularly.
When she returned, Maggie once again circled Ennis' shoulders and hugged him sweetly. "Now tell me about you, and your family. Ennis, I can't believe you're really here!"
"Maggie, I came in person to ask you to the wedding because I wanted you to know the situation before you made the trip to Riverton."
"The situation? Are you suggesting that the bride has a little bun in the oven a bit ahead of schedule? That's not unusual, Ennis."
"No, Maggie, nothing like that. It's just that my wife and I split up about nine years ago. She's remarried and has a couple of boys with her new husband. I lived alone and miserable for many years but now I'm with my best friend, the one I've loved since I was 19."
"That's wonder . . ." Maggie began but Ennis forestalled her.
"I'm with Jack Twist, Mom's son. We're married."
Maggie spluttered, "A man? Men can't marry each other. What are you saying, Ennis?"
"I'm saying Maggie, that Jack and I, together with her mother, will give away our oldest daughter on June 5th, at the Methodist Church. And I'm saying that you're invited, if you want to come and share this happy occasion with my family. It would mean a lot to me and Junior if you would come."
Just about swooning now, Maggie said "Junior?"
"The Bride, our oldest daughter, is named Alma Jr. after her mama."
At this point, Claire whipped out a packet of family pictures. She showed Maggie pictures of Junior and Kurt, Jenny, Jack and Bobby and a group picture from the Mother's Day party. She slowed as she came upon a picture of Ennis and Jack gazing into each other's eyes and smiling at each other. She'd snapped it as they put the final touches on the clean-up at that lovely party room at the Jack-Pine.
Staring disbelievingly at the photo, Maggie began "I don't think I can condone such . . . . What's this, Claire?"
"That's a picture of the pineapple cake we made in honor of your mother,
Elnora Rose McCain Del Mar for our Mother's Day party."
Maggie hugged Claire for the first time, and held on tight. "I can't believe you'd do such a wonderful thing."
"Maggie, Ennis misses your mother something awful and I imagine you do too. She did such a good job that her children grew up to be fine, upstanding citizens. You, Ennis and KE are living testaments to the kind of woman she was. We couldn't honor every other mother in our extended family, and leave Ellie out."
"You know KE?"
"Yes, I sure do. We visited KE and Barbie awhile back. Such a fine family. And those twins? Cute as bugs, they are. We did not meet Noah, but we saw a picture of him. He's on a walker, you know."
"Noah's on a walker? Why?"
"No. KE's on a walker. He'd been shot."
At Maggie's look of alarm, Claire hastened to tell her that KE was fine, and that he was getting along well. "It was a freak accident."
Maggie looked at Ennis. "Can I talk to you privately?"
Claire stood and explained that she would be in the parlor if they needed her.
Maggie and Ennis were seated at the table, she reached over and covered his hand and squeezed gently. "Honey, what were you thinking? You can't go against society's rules . . men cannot be together, everyone knows that."
"KE told me what you said to him about Noah, Maggie. I couldn't believe you could be so cold to your own family. But I guess I was wrong. You seem to care more about what other people th. . ."
Just then, a baby gurgled and cooed somewhere in the house. Maggie's face froze. She looked at Ennis' face to see if he had heard. He had, but he didn't really know what it meant, why it affected Maggie so drastically. The child, tired of entertaining herself, began to call, "Mama, mama." Maggie just sat there at the table as if paralyzed.
Claire walked into the kitchen carrying an 11 month old girl who was fascinated with her earrings. "Look who I found." She said.
Maggie awoke from her trance-like state. Rising and reaching for the child, she said, "Have a good nap, Rose? Come to mama, honey." She busied herself making a little lunch for the girl, of soft finger foods. While the child fed herself from the highchair tray, Maggie fingered her curls, but there was no controlling them. Her eyes did not meet Ennis' again.
"Is this your child, Maggie? But how could she be, she's colored." said Ennis.
"Please don't use that term, Ennis!" Maggie snapped at her brother.
"Surely you have not been buried so deep in the mountains these past twenty one years that you don't realize that is a hurtful term."
"Uh, well. What should I call her then?"
"My daughter, Rose, is bi-racial."
"Hmmm, but Maggie, your husband looked real white to me."
"Ennis don't be so dense! Joe has not awakened in nearly three years; he has been incapable of fathering any child."
Ennis Del Mar just stared at the diamond shaped patterns on the vinyl flooring of Maggie's kitchen and said "Oh."
His silence invited someone to fill the void. Mom was minding her P's and Q's and said nothing. This was not her family, and she had no say in what happened. Maggie said, "Well, I have to change her, and nurse her. I'll be back in a minute."
When Maggie took Rose from the room, there was still this large silence. Mom looked at Ennis and they both just raised their eyebrows and shrugged their shoulders. They were not going ahead with this . . . they'd let Maggie herself fill in the blanks.
Soon his sister returned with a fresh and clean baby. She threw a shawl over one shoulder and unbuttoned the top buttons of her blouse, positioning the baby under the shawl. Every once in a while little slurping noises emitted from under the shawl, and it was a comforting sound to all.
"Alma breast fed both of our girls." Ennis offered. When no comment was returned, he looked in Maggie's face and said, "You named her Rose."
"Her name is actually Elnora Rose, like our mother. Mommy always wanted to be called Rose, did you know that Ennis?"
"Um, yeah, I did." And he smiled at Maggie, and reached over to hold the baby's curled fist. She promptly wrapped her little fingers around her uncle's finger. That made him smile again with memories of his own babies doing the same.
Maggie pulled the baby out from under the shawl and put her on her shoulder. Ennis said, "Uh, you want me to burp her for ya?"
"I would, Ennis, that would be really nice, except she's a spitter. She spits up at the most unexpected times, especially when you're wearing a clean shirt."
"I'll chance it. I've smelled like sour milk before, you know. C'mere Rose, come to Uncle Ennis." Mom stood up and spread a clean dish towel over Ennis' shoulder before he put the baby up there.
While Ennis was rubbing circles on Rose' back, Maggie began to talk. "After Joe's accident, all the neighbors were so kind and helpful. They brought the expected casseroles, and cakes, and asked if there was anything they could do for me. I had only to call and ask they said. . .but little by little after such a long time of no improvement, they began to drift back to their own lives and their own concerns. All but one."
Rose gave Ennis his reward, a loud, lusty burp emitted from the tiny creature. They all three laughed; Maggie said she usually burped twice before continuing to nurse. Ennis resumed patting circles on her back again.
"As I was saying, only one neighbor remained faithful to my plight, and that was Rudolph Henderson. Dolph came by at least three times a week. He went straight to the barn and got the cranky old tractor going, and he mowed. He cleared brush, fixed the handrail on the porch, and replaced dead plants with lively new ones. He fixed my truck when it broke down, and little by little he began to fix me."
Rose burped again, and this time she did spit up a bit. Maggie got a blue wash cloth, wet it and wrung it out and went to wipe Ennis' shirt clean, but the tea towel had caught most of the milk, so it was okay.
As she put Rose to her other breast, Maggie began again, staring off into some pleasant distance where a new relationship was blooming and sending out tender shoots. Unconsciously she rocked Rose, while feeding her and telling her story.
"After Dolph had maintained this property for me, for nearly a year, I began to walk down to wherever he was working, and bring him a cool drink, or a sandwich, or a piece of cake. I'd sit and talk awhile; I was starved for adult, human conversation. He was the only person in my life who didn't need me to take care of him, you see. And it felt wonderful to be taken care of."
"Maggie, let me get you a glass of tea, or would you prefer water?" offered Claire.
"Water would be great, thanks Claire. One evening in the late fall I insisted he come in for supper. It was the least I could do, but truthfully, I'd have said anything to get him to stay longer, to be with me. The children saw all this happening, but in their innocence, they just saw neighborliness. I was much beyond that, and as I discovered, so was he."
"I was worn out taking care of Joe, and seeing to the house, cooking, laundry and caring for the children, but there was a bright spot now in every day. I had something, no someone, to look forward to. He has a wry sense of humor, and is most generous in bringing me the news of the community, and of the world. He became my eyes and ears to the outside since I could never leave the house."
"Maggie, you don't owe us an explanation for what you've done, nor why you've done it. You're an adult, and can choose your own path." said her brother.
"No, I know. It's just that I've never had a chance to talk about him before, to anyone and I need this . . .if you don't mind listening."
Ennis gave a sidelong glance to Mom, she nodded, and he turned to Maggie and said . . . "welp, go on."
"No one would condone our being together. He's a black man, and I'm a married white woman. But it's the first right thing that's ever come to me in my whole entire life. I love him something fierce."
"The first right thing? What about Joe, your husband?" asked Ennis.
"Joe Cooper is a decent man, or he was before he was injured. He was good to me, and we made a life together. It was convenient, it made sense. I thought I loved him, but once I discovered real love, I realized that what I felt for Joe was gratitude. You know how desperate we were, Ennis. Hungry and desperate. Joe saved me."
Ennis hung his head and looked off into the shadowy distance of twenty-one years. "I've never heard a better explanation for why I married Alma, Mags. It was never her fault that I loved someone else before I even married her; someone I didn't think I could or should be with."
There was complete silence in the room except for occasional sucking sounds from Rose.
Ennis went on, "That is why I was so happy, or relieved, or proud, or something when I heard KE tell about Noah having the courage to be with his friend. Times have changed, but that's not the whole reason Noah and I had such different lives."
"KE told me about what dad took you two to see."
"When did he tell you? When we were kids?"
"No, the last time I saw him. I was horrified at the kind of man our father must have been. I knew he was cold and sometimes mean, but I never dreamed he'd go that far. Hate is an ugly thing, Ennis."
"I think it's time we talked about something more pleasant than our dad. So tell us more about your man. What's going to happen with you two?"
"Well, I want to go public with our relationship: live together, go to town and shop together, worship together, but Dolph is fearful for my sake. He knows how hate works, has seen it first hand as you have."
Maggie took Rose up and wiped a bit of milk from her mouth, then handed her to her brother. "Here Uncle Ennis. I need to start supper."
While Ennis patted the babies back, and Maggie bustled around pulling food from the larder and refrigerator she continued to talk. Mom, never could sit and be a useless person, so she rose and took the vegetables and the peeler from Maggie's hands and began helping with the task.
"What do your children think of all this? About you and Dolph, I mean?"
"Well, our youngest two, Joe's and mine, are very supportive of me. They like that I have someone to talk to and who appreciates my efforts and can see when I am fatigued. That was a lot of pressure on them to be little adults. Now they don't have to be grown up all the time."
"But I am afraid the older ones, who I raised with Joe after Kathryn died, do not feel the same way."
"Kids can be tough, and they can break your heart. Thankfully, Junior, Jenny and Bobby are very comfortable with Jack and I, and support us in every way. Course' they are getting older now and have matured some."
"Bobby is Jack's son by a previous marriage?"
Ennis had never heard it phrased that way, and he blushed. "Yeah, he is. But he's mine now too, just as the girls are Jack's."
Mom smiled a big smile and continued peeling vegetables. Then she decided to take part in this particular conversation. "And now John and I are blessed with three grandchildren who really light up our life! A few years ago, we had only one down in Texas that we'd never met."
Maggie stopped kneading the bread and turned a smile on Claire. "What do they call you, Claire?"
Ennis realized with a wry laugh at himself, that it did not bother him to have Maggie calling Mom 'Claire' but remembered how uncomfortable he was when she asked KE to call her by her given name. 'Is it because she's a woman? Or because she's older?' he wondered.
Claire responded to Maggie's question with a bright, happy smile. "I love that you asked me that, because I gave it some thought when Bobby was born, and I couldn't come up with anything in particular. But before he came up to Wyoming, I decided I wanted him to call me Gran. Now it's my name.
Bobby, Junior, and Jenny all call me Gran, and I do believe Kurt will do so as well. My blessings are multiplying."
"As for John, he has been called quite a few names."
Ennis laughed at this, but kept quiet. This was Mom's story, after all.
"Sometimes he's called grandpa, and other times 'old man', but the name that lights up the smile in his eyes is the name Jenny calls him, 'Poppa'. She has a special place in his heart, I believe. But she spent a lot of time with us when Ennis was laid up, and so was John."
Maggie turned around and looked searchingly at Claire and at Ennis, but they both said the story was much too long for this visit. Ennis tilted his head towards the baby on his shoulder and said "I believe our Rose is asleep."
Mom stood and came over to Ennis, "Come honey, I'll show you where I found her and you can put her down."
Maggie put the loaves of bread into the oven, and set the timer. She was filling the soup pot when Claire and Ennis returned. She put it on a medium flame, and turned to Claire. "How's the chopping going, need some help?"
Claire showed her progress, and Maggie took the carrots and dropped them into the water. She pulled a beef bone out of the freezer and put it in the pot as well. Maggie asked Ennis if he would go down to the cellar and bring up a couple jars of tomatoes, one of corn and one of green beans. While he was gone, Maggie pulled a large yellow onion out of the bin, and began to peel and chop it. That went into the soup pot as well. Claire finished with the potatoes, leaving them in fairly large chunks, and those went into the pot too. A few dried bay leaves followed the vegetables, and then the jars were opened that Maggie had canned last fall from Dolph's garden, and those vegetables went into the pot along with generous amounts of salt, pepper and garlic. The lid was set on the pot, askew to allow for steam to escape, and
they all replenished their iced tea glasses.
"Dolph will be home within the hour, Ennis. I'd like you and Claire to meet him. It would mean a lot to me."
"Maggie, I would like to meet your Dolph. But in the same way, I want you to meet Jack, and my kids, and . . . you know. Be a part of the family at the wedding. But we have some hard feelings in our family, and I think you will need to deal with those first."
"Hard feelings, Ennis?"
"Yes. 'Course we do. You know what you said to KE about Noah. How would you feel if he came to your house and said Rose needed to be cured of being racially mixed?"
"Well, that's ridiculous, Ennis. Rose had no choice in the matter, she was born that way."
"Exactly."
"Are you saying that Noah was born queer?"
"Please don't use that term!" snapped Ennis at his sister. "I know it's in common usage, but it's still hurtful."
"Okay, I respect your wishes on that, just as you respected mine."
"Fine." Huffed Ennis.
"Fine." Stated Maggie.
"I think what Ennis is trying to explain Maggie, is that Noah, like my Jack was born with the tendency to be attracted to men, more than women. He was born homosexual. They did not choose this, it just is. Like Rose' color."
"I always heard it was a choice."
"Well, it's not."
"Okay. But what about you, Ennis? Were you born homosexual too?"
"I say no! But Jack says I was."
"But . . .?"
"See, I was never attracted to a man before Jack, nor since Jack for that matter. Never. So all these years, I've been telling Jack that I ain't queer. Sorry, that just slipped out. But now that we are together, trying to make that sweet life he was always talking about, I feel I'm finally in the right place. . . making a home and a life with a man. . with Jack. So, I have to say I am homosexual, and I musta been born this way, for I surely to God wouldn't have chosen to love someone that everyone says I shouldn't."
Maggie stated in a very quiet voice. "I know what you mean."
She continued, "But I do love him so what am I to do?"
The brotherly advice flowed out without hesitation. "Follow your heart, is what I've learned. You need to follow your heart before it's too late."
Dolph came in and brought Rebecca with him. Daniel would eat when he got off work at seven o'clock tonight. By that time, Mom and Ennis would be on the road, it was a two to three hour drive back to Lightning Flat.
The meal was eaten in the dining room, first time they'd used it since Joe's accident. Claire dusted the table, and set it for five places. She filled the water glasses. Rebecca filled the tea glasses, and Ennis and Dolph carried in the heavy bowls and platters.
As unexpected as this gathering was for every one of them, it was comfortable, even joyful. Rose joined them, sat in her high chair and
mashed food into her hair, and everywhere she could reach. They all laughed a lot, and enjoyed each other's company. They had cherry cake for dessert, and Maggie and Rebecca begged for the recipe.
After supper Ennis called Jack 'collect' and told him that he missed him so much he could hardly stand it. He told him they'd be in late, but they would come home tonight. "I'll tell you all about it when I see you. I love you, Jack."
It was full dark by the time they hit Gillette, so they knew they had to be especially watchful for antelope and free range cattle on the road tonight.
They filled the gas tank, made a restroom stop and drank a cool drink before getting back on the road.
A couple miles outside of Rocky Point, Mom asked Ennis, "Do you think they'll come to the wedding?"
"I don't know. It's Maggie's decision; Dolph would come. But Mags has some damage control to do with her brother and sister-in-law. I'm going to pencil them in for a room in the block of rooms I've got reserved at the Jack Pine.
Just in case."
Dad and Jack were sitting on the front porch when they heard the tires of Jack's truck crunching the gravel in the lane. They were both excited. They had missed that special person who makes their heart beat a little faster and they were ready to be back in their arms.
"Purty pathetic, ain't it?" said John.
"What is?"
"Us, sittin out here, waitin like a couple a love sick suitors."
"Well, if the shoe fits . . . " and then they laughed.
Ennis climbed out of Jack's truck and went around to help Mom down. They were both stiff from riding, and very tired after such a long, emotional day.
As they approached the porch, Mom asked, "Son, you ain't got no more siblings, do you?"
Ennis just grinned.
John had made some sassafras tea, and some lemonade. Everyone got a cold drink and sat on the porch to wind down. Mom said, "Ennis Del Mar, you know I was just teasing you. After what we've been through finding KE and now Maggie, I'd go with you to find six more brothers and sisters if you had'em."
Standing and taking Jack's hand, he said, "I know you would, Mom; me too. Jack 'n me is gonna head on home now, I kinda missed this fella today. Goodnight, sleep tight."
Once home, Ennis told Jack that he had to shower the road dust off himself, then he'd be right back. Ennis quickly showered and washed his hair, then brushed his teeth. He walked naked into the bedroom to see Jack stripping. "I'll take my turn, and be back in eleven and a half seconds. Don't start without me, Cowboy."
Ennis leaned over and picked up Jack's dirty clothes and his own and put them in the hamper. He leaned over again to pick up his boots and set them in the closet as a full set of 32 teeth clamped down on his ass. Uh?
Jack was back. He saw something he liked, and the rest is, as they say, history. There was a bit of wrestling on their bed that night. Then some tender loving as each man told how they really didn't like spending a day without the other, and showing it.
"I learned a lot today, Jack."
"Ya did?"
"Yeah, tell you about it tomorrow. But the main thing is that I love you and I found out that I like telling people that I care about, that I love you."
Jack was lying on his back, head propped up on one pillow, and Ennis' chest had him pinned down. He lowered his head onto Jack's shoulder and snuggled up into his neck where the most tender spot is, kissing and nuzzling. Jack ran his fingers through Ennis' hair, and pulled his face up for a kiss.
"Ain't you sleepy yet, Ennis? Cause I sure am."
"Yeah, I am too. Goodnight, Jack. C'mere." And they kissed goodnight again and snuggled into comfortable sleeping positions. Two minutes later, Ennis said "Jack, are you asleep?"
"Huh? Yeah, I am."
"But Jack, you know what we need?"
"Hell yes, I know what we need. We need some sleep."
silence
"Okay Ennis, I'm listening. What do we need?"
"We need to have a baby. Goodnight, Jack."
#
End of chapter 48.2