Pulling Leather Chapter 8
Title: Pulling Leather (Chapter 8)
Current Mood: cheerful
Current Music: Dreidel by Don McLean
Author: forever9218
Pairing: Ennis and Jack
Genre: AU/Canon
Word Count: 3429
Rating: Adult Concepts (Implied violence, sexual situations, language)
Disclaimer: Brokeback Mountain is the intellectual property of Ms. Annie Proulx. No money is being made from this work and no copyright infringement is intended. I’m just trying to paint new horizons for our beloved boys.
Dedication: To everyone here who still believes and is willing to be patient with the slowest writer that ever graced the planet.
No it is not snowing in hell, nor has the sun rose in the west this morning. There is, however, another chapter of Pulling Leather that has just been posted at my journal. Alas, I have taken pity on those who have been so patiently suffering through not one, but now two of my impossibly maniacal cliff hangers. So please no tar and feathers or riding me out of LJ on a rail. I know you may be thinking that in one of my weaker moments I might even promise never to do this again, but come on. I do have my artistic integrity to think about, and I like keeping my options open. So don’t push your luck. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Have a great Memorial Day, Everyone. Oh, look! Pigs can fly!
The first thought that crossed his mind was to dial zero and get the operator to route an emergency call through to the Childress Police Department. The second thought was what was he going to say? If officers were anything like they were in Riverton, they were not going to be overly concerned about a possible crime in progress. Not once the dispatcher asked him what he had seen and he had to confess to nothing. That he only thought someone was in danger because he heard the tone in Jack’s voice and the words that told him his bastard father-in-law might have duped him into a meeting meant to do him harm. That conversation would then open up a whole ‘nother can of worms he did not think good old boys would be too anxious to investigate.
Never mind the likely prospect of Sunday mornings not exactly being a fully staffed shift in most municipalities. Riverton only had a total of maybe nine or ten full time patrol officers within its jurisdiction and Childress was an even smaller community. Whoever was on duty would probably not be much interested in their morning coffee break being interrupted. Especially, if they thought that a wild goose chase was being set into motion by some out-of-state crank caller who might have had too much to drink on a Saturday night.
He quickly dialed the one number he thought would be the answer to his prayers. The white hot fear that no one was home already causing him to break out in a cold sweat by the third ring. If that happened, then he had no idea what he was going to do next.
“H’lo?”
The voice was young and somewhat timid. “Is this Bobby Twist?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Son, ya don’t know me, but I’m a good friend of your father’s. Ennis Del Mar. Me and your daddy go fishin’ every year.”
There was a slight hesitation until recognition set in. “His friend from Wyoming?”
He could tell by the rise in the boy’s voice that Bobby was surprised to hear from his father’s mysterious friend. “That’s right son. I’m needin’ your help real bad right now. Is your mama home?”
“She just left.”
Fuck.
He didn’t want to frighten Bobby, but he had to tell him enough so he would take what he had to say seriously. Before he could figure out the right words, Bobby volunteered, “Think somethin’s wrong, Mr. Del Mar. Someone just called here about five minutes ago. Mama sounded real upset. Said for the person to meet her there and then she just hung up. Told me to go to the neighbors until she got back.”
“She did? Did she say what was wrong or where she was goin’?”
“No sir.” Something caught in his chest when Ennis heard what sounded like a tiny choked back sobbed.
“Son, I don’t aim to frighten ya. But, I think your dad’s in danger. Can you do somethin’ for me?”
“Sure, I can help. Just tell me what to do.”
Ennis smiled. This was definitely Jack’s kid.
“Call the police. Tell them to get over to your Daddy’s workplace right away. That somebody’s trying to hurt him, and….”
“Alright, I’m hanging up now.”
“Wait, Bobby. You don’t know what to tell them.”
“Ya don’t hafta tell me anythin’ more, sir. One of my best friend’s fathers is the Police Chief. I got connections.”
Ennis could not help but be charmed by the swagger he heard in the ten year old’s self-assured voice. It looked like Bobby was a chip off the old block.
“Then get to it, son.” He heard the click of the phone line before he even had a chance to give Bobby a callback number.
_________________________
With both hands loosely gripping the steering wheel, Jim glanced down at his watch and noticed the time. Eleven o’clock in the morning was not too early to come calling on a Sunday morning for brunch, even when the person he was visiting was a crotchety old sidewinder like Ennis Del Mar.
Armed with a freshly baked Quiche Lorraine, with extra Gruyere cheese and smoked bacon, he figured this was the kind of peace offering Ennis could not refuse. To soften him up even further he brought along a batch of Butterscotch Brownies with candied macadamia nuts, just in case some added ammunition was needed. Knowing the man’s sweet tooth, he figured the walls of resistance would have to eventually tumble down with that kind of temptation in front of him.
In spite of what Ennis might have thought, Jim had not planned to get the boss’ new truck stuck in the mud when he was hauling in that hay for the horses last week. And the broken grader blade was probably due to simple wear and tear of equipment, rather than any kind of mishandling on his part. Looking back now, maybe he could have done a better job soaking the ground around the base of those posts he was asked to pull out, but the dirt seemed soft enough at the time and how was he to know that the wood was not pressure-treated. Unfortunately, he found out too late when the upright supports began to break off above ground like they did, doubling the work and the frustration of removing them later.
By the end of the week, Ennis seemed to have calmed down a bit or could be he had finally reached the point where he had become too tired to care. At least, he was no longer barking at every little thing. Tirelessly bitching about how Jim needed to learn to carry his own weight or else he was going to fire his scrawny ass. That, or personally drop kick his butt all the way back to California. Today, Jim was hoping they could turn the page and just spend a nice quiet, relaxing day with no talk about the ranch. If he played his cards right, maybe he could even get the surly cowboy to finally phone his fella. Not so much because Ennis needed to ease his mind, but so Jim did not have to resort to slipping a sedative into one of the baked goods as a means of last resort.
Since Jack had left for Texas, Ennis had been gradually spiraling downward, driving Jim all kinds of crazy. He tried to be sympathetic then began to offer suggestions of how he could improve the situation. Neither approach, in the end, led to anywhere beneficial. His task today would not be easy, but he continued to cling to a long held culinary belief that a good egg dish always made every morning brighter.
Peering out the driver’s side opened window, he slowly pulled up to the side of the house in case Loopey was running loose outside his backyard pen, and picked up his dishes. By the time he got to the front door, he was surprised that Ennis had not come out to greet him, picking up a negative vibe from the get-go. He briskly knocked a few times, but still no answer. Taking a mental note that Ennis’ truck was still here, Jim began to grow concerned.
“Ennis, I know you’re in there. Hiding behind that front door ain’t gonna make me go away. You know I’m a pest and will just keep….” Jim stepped back in a hurry, when the door jerked opened and he saw Ennis’ face drained of all color, ashen and grim. Brown eyes, unfocused and confused, looked as if they were staring at a half-remembered dream.
“What’s wrong Ennis? Is Jack alright?” He pushed his way inside and set the brownie plate and the quiche on the counter.
Ennis blinked hard before inhaling a shuddering breath. “Lureen just called.”
Jim could tell that Ennis seemed to be almost sleepwalking, like he could not quite figure out where he was so he guided him over to the kitchen table, pushing down on his shoulder to get him settled into the nearest chair.
“Sit.”
Everything stood still for a moment until he caught some movement over to the side and watched Loopy slink up to greet him, his eyes mirroring his owner’s downtrodden mood. There were a few whimpered sighs, which spontaneously prompted Jim to stroke the silky pelt of the pup’s sleek back and the firmly formed withers, the calming gesture quickly eliciting a grateful series of licks from the soft, ladle-like tongue. Satisfied that Jim was in control of events, Loopey plopped down on top of Ennis’ left boot and waited for a sign to see if he would be needed later.
Jim swallowed hard, afraid to ask what was going on, yet knowing there was no way around this. He squatted down in front of Ennis to get the man to acknowledge him. When no recognition was forthcoming he plowed forward anyway, making sure to be cautious.
“Ennis, look at me.”
After awhile, the other man finally lifted his head, eyes glazed over.
“What happened?” Jim whispered, feeling his throat constrict. He wanted to hold Ennis, but didn’t think his arms would be welcomed. “You said Lureen called.”
“They got Jack.”
Jim gasped, one hand automatically grabbing hold of Ennis to steady himself, a cold numbing wave directly chilling him to the bone.
“You mean….”
Ennis began to struggle to come out of his daze, heaving in deep breaths and swallowing hard like he was trying to revive from a near drowning experience. His mouth opened a few times like the words were not there. And then he spoke. The sounds gurgling up to the surface were shaky, at first, with aftershocks of anger breaking through. The voice an odd mixture of flat intonations, wrapped up in something disturbingly icy.
“Lureen said he’s pretty bruised up, might have a rib or two broken. Maybe sumthin’ wrong with one of his ankles too.”
A moment of guilt slammed right through him. Even though Jim was sick to his stomach about what had been done, he could not deny the elation that washed over him as he realized that the worst had been averted. Jack would be as good as new in no time at all. Just a little healing and tender loving care to torque things back to the way they had been.
“That’s…that’s good, Ennis. Jack’s gonna be alright.”
The next thing Jim knew he was sprawled out on the floor, Ennis having shoved himself up from the chair with almost inhuman force. Rage had instantly replaced the detached stillness that had earlier almost rendered the man incapable of movement. Having been brusquely dislocated from his temporary resting place too, Loopey shook his head from side to side; he slowly sat down on his hind quarters, ears now pulled back as he squinted to determine whether he should back off or stay put.
“Well, excuse me for bein’ so rude! Maybe I should write some fancy thank ya notes to the fuckin’ pricks who done this. Let them know how grateful I am for their generosity of sparing Jack’s life.” Ennis was practically screaming at him now.
Jim looked at him blankly, unconsciously dusting off his rear end as he lifted himself up off the floor. “That’s not what I meant and you damn well know it! I’m just glad Jack is going to be okay. I think whoever did this should fry in hell or rot in prison forever. I’m on your side Ennis. Don’t go yellin’ at me like I’m the enemy.”
Ennis just glared back at him, kicking up dust, huffing and puffing like a bull about to charge. Wanting to bust somebody’s head wide open or gore them to a bloody pulp; make sure that he was able to get somebody to pay for this horrific act. Jim wanted to retreat, but refused to concede an inch, eyeballing him right back to let him know he was not going to be intimidated. He knew that Ennis didn’t mean what he had said. That he was just scared of having almost lost the man he loved forever.
“I’m goin’ to get them sons-of-bitches,” he muttered.
Stepping up closer, he lightly placed his hand on Ennis’ arm, hoping the contact would get the older man to gain some much needed self control. “Know what you mean. But, let the law take care of whoever did this. Jack needs ya now. You can’t let him down. Don’t do something that will land you in jail, or worse.”
A bitter laugh, “Yeah, I’ve been a big help to Jack. Almost got ‘im killed. Should never have let ‘im go down there alone.”
“Stop that! You aren’t to blame for what happened. Jack would tan your hide if he heard what you just said. But, he ain’t here so I’m just about ready to do it myself if I hear you even suggest you’re at fault for any of this.”
Ennis looked again like he wanted to punch him hard, his fists balling up preparing to do some major damage. But, Jim refused to budge, choosing instead to let Ennis know he was strong enough to handle this. He waited for what seemed like an eternity until he saw something shift inside the man, the despairing mood change coming even quicker than he anticipated. He watched closely as Ennis’ body slumped back into his chair, both thumbs pressed into his eye sockets, suddenly weary and beaten down. “Shit, Jim. How are me and Jack ever gonna have a life together? Don’t much matter where we go. There’s gonna be people out there that will want us dead. They’ll never let us be.”
“That ain’t true. Things are changing, Ennis. Maybe not everywhere, but there are places out there that are a lot more welcoming than redneck Texas country, or the fire and brimstone crowd here in Wyoming. Don’t jump to conclusions yet. We don’t know what actually happened down there in Texas and even after we do, how’s that going to change what you two feel for one another. You told me yourself you can’t live without him no more.”
Jim nodded, convinced more than ever that what he was about to say he believed with all his heart. “It ain’t a pretty world sometimes, but maybe if men like us refuse to be bullied, we can gain some understanding and acceptance from those decent folks who just want to live and let live. So whether you like it or not, I think you two are stuck with one another…along with Loopey, of course.”
Jim bent over and gently picked up the four-legged critter as expertly as if he was his mama. “Hey, there, gorgeous. Everything’s going to be alright.” Without missing a beat, he began to tenderly scratch behind both ears, the pup opening wide with a jaw popping yawn before nodding off in no time at all. Ennis watched with genuine approval as he saw the young man take charge, completely at ease with the wolf pup, obviously born to nurture and to work magic in the kitchen. Ranch work undeniably an ill-suited fit.
They stayed there in companionable silence, each lost in separate thoughts, the midday sun pouring in through the kitchen window as the day began to heat up. When Jim finally looked up again, he was surprised to see the corner of Ennis’ mouth twitching upward with the forging of a smile.
“What?” Jim’s eyebrows darkened, letting his weight shift from one foot then to the other, waiting for what the gruff cowboy would say next.
“Could be we got us a foursome in the making.”
Jim stopped his ministrations. Not quite sure if he heard correctly. He had been fretting over what he was going to do when Ennis and Jack moved on to start their life together. Knew he would miss their friendship and just being around supportive people who accepted him completely for who he was. He really had no one left in his life and these two had almost become like big brothers to him. On good days, he thought they were practically like three peas in a pod, at least in the things that really mattered. Other times he thought he was nothing more than a third wheel, unnecessary and someone who seemed to just get in their way.
“Are you saying that maybe you might invite me along, include me in your plans.”
Ennis stared for a long minute, expressionless making sure to not to give too much away. “Somebody’s got to cook.”
____________________
After warming up the main dish and setting the table, Jim forced Ennis to remain seated and eat some of the quiche he had made to get something into his stomach. Although the other man resisted at first, he began to nibble on a thick slice once Jim had reminded him that he had to keep up his strength for Jack.
In between bites, and too-many-to-count awkward silences, Jim was able to find out a bit more about what had happened. Apparently, Jack’s father-in-law had hired some men to take Jack out, but Lureen had been tipped off by a doctor friend of hers and headed over to the office before too much bodily damage could be inflicted. Five minutes later the police had arrived and the accomplices were arrested and hauled in for questioning.
“So do you want to borrow my truck and bring Jack home from the hospital?”
Ennis grinded his teeth before muttering, “He ain’t there.”
“What? I don’t understand. Thought you said Jack had some injuries that needed tending to?”
Glancing up briefly, Ennis lowered his head again, his shoulders slumping over. The only sound was the scraping noise of his fork moving food across his plate. “He does.”
“Well, fuck Ennis. This is like pulling teeth.”
Ennis’ throat was working, but nothing was coming out.
“I’m sorry. Didn’t mean to….”
“Lureen told me that she don’t trust anyone down there. This doc that she knows patched Jack up best he could. They’re not gonna stop again until they get into Colorado. Think she said it’ll take about six hours to drive to Pueblo. She wants to stopover in a bigger city where no one will be suspicious about strangers.”
Jim opened his mouth, but nothing came out, too stunned by the presence of mind and gutsy fearlessness of this woman he had never met. “Wow, this Lureen character sounds like a real firecracker. You sure she doesn’t have a utility belt and live in a Batcave?”
Ennis nodded in agreement, completely ignoring the pop culture reference. “Yeah, Jack always did say that he admired her spunk more than anythin’ else.”
Another long silence before Jim asked. “She knows about you two then?”
Ennis bit down on his lip and counted to ten, trying to tap down any hint of sarcasm. He was tired of all the questions, but knew Jim was just nervous and tended to blather like another fella he knew. “Pretty sure she does now.”
Jim chuckled, his cheeks turning red with embarrassment. “Guess that was kind of a “Duh,” question, wasn’t it?”
“Would say so.”
Jim pushed his chair back, all four legs scraping across the wood floor, and stood up. “You almost finished the entire slice of quiche, Ennis. I feel better now that you got some food in ya.” Jim picked up the dishes and turned on the faucet, adjusting the handles to get the perfect balance of cold and hot water. Just as he started to squirt some dishwasher soap into the sink he caught a glimpse of an unfamiliar car cautiously approaching the house through the window.
“Hey, looks like you got some more visitors. You’re awfully popular today.”
Ennis looked over his shoulder and scowled. “Oh, shit! I completely forgot about Alma.”
“Alma? Weeell, I think I’ll make myself scarce.” He winked, “Got a bridge to build somewhere.”
“Coward.”
Jim laughed. “I’ll call you later for an update. You ain’t going to work tomorrow are you?”
Ennis had no problem answering that question. He figured Lureen would be arriving around 12:00 noon. After that there was not anyone who would be able to keep him from Jack’s side. Not with his man hurt and maybe still in danger. If the boss did not understand that he had to attend to family matters, then that was the way it had to be. He and Jack were going to be starting a new life together soon. A few more months was not going to make much difference either way.
_____________________
Tbc
Current Mood: cheerful
Current Music: Dreidel by Don McLean
Author: forever9218
Pairing: Ennis and Jack
Genre: AU/Canon
Word Count: 3429
Rating: Adult Concepts (Implied violence, sexual situations, language)
Disclaimer: Brokeback Mountain is the intellectual property of Ms. Annie Proulx. No money is being made from this work and no copyright infringement is intended. I’m just trying to paint new horizons for our beloved boys.
Dedication: To everyone here who still believes and is willing to be patient with the slowest writer that ever graced the planet.
No it is not snowing in hell, nor has the sun rose in the west this morning. There is, however, another chapter of Pulling Leather that has just been posted at my journal. Alas, I have taken pity on those who have been so patiently suffering through not one, but now two of my impossibly maniacal cliff hangers. So please no tar and feathers or riding me out of LJ on a rail. I know you may be thinking that in one of my weaker moments I might even promise never to do this again, but come on. I do have my artistic integrity to think about, and I like keeping my options open. So don’t push your luck. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Have a great Memorial Day, Everyone. Oh, look! Pigs can fly!
The first thought that crossed his mind was to dial zero and get the operator to route an emergency call through to the Childress Police Department. The second thought was what was he going to say? If officers were anything like they were in Riverton, they were not going to be overly concerned about a possible crime in progress. Not once the dispatcher asked him what he had seen and he had to confess to nothing. That he only thought someone was in danger because he heard the tone in Jack’s voice and the words that told him his bastard father-in-law might have duped him into a meeting meant to do him harm. That conversation would then open up a whole ‘nother can of worms he did not think good old boys would be too anxious to investigate.
Never mind the likely prospect of Sunday mornings not exactly being a fully staffed shift in most municipalities. Riverton only had a total of maybe nine or ten full time patrol officers within its jurisdiction and Childress was an even smaller community. Whoever was on duty would probably not be much interested in their morning coffee break being interrupted. Especially, if they thought that a wild goose chase was being set into motion by some out-of-state crank caller who might have had too much to drink on a Saturday night.
He quickly dialed the one number he thought would be the answer to his prayers. The white hot fear that no one was home already causing him to break out in a cold sweat by the third ring. If that happened, then he had no idea what he was going to do next.
“H’lo?”
The voice was young and somewhat timid. “Is this Bobby Twist?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Son, ya don’t know me, but I’m a good friend of your father’s. Ennis Del Mar. Me and your daddy go fishin’ every year.”
There was a slight hesitation until recognition set in. “His friend from Wyoming?”
He could tell by the rise in the boy’s voice that Bobby was surprised to hear from his father’s mysterious friend. “That’s right son. I’m needin’ your help real bad right now. Is your mama home?”
“She just left.”
Fuck.
He didn’t want to frighten Bobby, but he had to tell him enough so he would take what he had to say seriously. Before he could figure out the right words, Bobby volunteered, “Think somethin’s wrong, Mr. Del Mar. Someone just called here about five minutes ago. Mama sounded real upset. Said for the person to meet her there and then she just hung up. Told me to go to the neighbors until she got back.”
“She did? Did she say what was wrong or where she was goin’?”
“No sir.” Something caught in his chest when Ennis heard what sounded like a tiny choked back sobbed.
“Son, I don’t aim to frighten ya. But, I think your dad’s in danger. Can you do somethin’ for me?”
“Sure, I can help. Just tell me what to do.”
Ennis smiled. This was definitely Jack’s kid.
“Call the police. Tell them to get over to your Daddy’s workplace right away. That somebody’s trying to hurt him, and….”
“Alright, I’m hanging up now.”
“Wait, Bobby. You don’t know what to tell them.”
“Ya don’t hafta tell me anythin’ more, sir. One of my best friend’s fathers is the Police Chief. I got connections.”
Ennis could not help but be charmed by the swagger he heard in the ten year old’s self-assured voice. It looked like Bobby was a chip off the old block.
“Then get to it, son.” He heard the click of the phone line before he even had a chance to give Bobby a callback number.
_________________________
With both hands loosely gripping the steering wheel, Jim glanced down at his watch and noticed the time. Eleven o’clock in the morning was not too early to come calling on a Sunday morning for brunch, even when the person he was visiting was a crotchety old sidewinder like Ennis Del Mar.
Armed with a freshly baked Quiche Lorraine, with extra Gruyere cheese and smoked bacon, he figured this was the kind of peace offering Ennis could not refuse. To soften him up even further he brought along a batch of Butterscotch Brownies with candied macadamia nuts, just in case some added ammunition was needed. Knowing the man’s sweet tooth, he figured the walls of resistance would have to eventually tumble down with that kind of temptation in front of him.
In spite of what Ennis might have thought, Jim had not planned to get the boss’ new truck stuck in the mud when he was hauling in that hay for the horses last week. And the broken grader blade was probably due to simple wear and tear of equipment, rather than any kind of mishandling on his part. Looking back now, maybe he could have done a better job soaking the ground around the base of those posts he was asked to pull out, but the dirt seemed soft enough at the time and how was he to know that the wood was not pressure-treated. Unfortunately, he found out too late when the upright supports began to break off above ground like they did, doubling the work and the frustration of removing them later.
By the end of the week, Ennis seemed to have calmed down a bit or could be he had finally reached the point where he had become too tired to care. At least, he was no longer barking at every little thing. Tirelessly bitching about how Jim needed to learn to carry his own weight or else he was going to fire his scrawny ass. That, or personally drop kick his butt all the way back to California. Today, Jim was hoping they could turn the page and just spend a nice quiet, relaxing day with no talk about the ranch. If he played his cards right, maybe he could even get the surly cowboy to finally phone his fella. Not so much because Ennis needed to ease his mind, but so Jim did not have to resort to slipping a sedative into one of the baked goods as a means of last resort.
Since Jack had left for Texas, Ennis had been gradually spiraling downward, driving Jim all kinds of crazy. He tried to be sympathetic then began to offer suggestions of how he could improve the situation. Neither approach, in the end, led to anywhere beneficial. His task today would not be easy, but he continued to cling to a long held culinary belief that a good egg dish always made every morning brighter.
Peering out the driver’s side opened window, he slowly pulled up to the side of the house in case Loopey was running loose outside his backyard pen, and picked up his dishes. By the time he got to the front door, he was surprised that Ennis had not come out to greet him, picking up a negative vibe from the get-go. He briskly knocked a few times, but still no answer. Taking a mental note that Ennis’ truck was still here, Jim began to grow concerned.
“Ennis, I know you’re in there. Hiding behind that front door ain’t gonna make me go away. You know I’m a pest and will just keep….” Jim stepped back in a hurry, when the door jerked opened and he saw Ennis’ face drained of all color, ashen and grim. Brown eyes, unfocused and confused, looked as if they were staring at a half-remembered dream.
“What’s wrong Ennis? Is Jack alright?” He pushed his way inside and set the brownie plate and the quiche on the counter.
Ennis blinked hard before inhaling a shuddering breath. “Lureen just called.”
Jim could tell that Ennis seemed to be almost sleepwalking, like he could not quite figure out where he was so he guided him over to the kitchen table, pushing down on his shoulder to get him settled into the nearest chair.
“Sit.”
Everything stood still for a moment until he caught some movement over to the side and watched Loopy slink up to greet him, his eyes mirroring his owner’s downtrodden mood. There were a few whimpered sighs, which spontaneously prompted Jim to stroke the silky pelt of the pup’s sleek back and the firmly formed withers, the calming gesture quickly eliciting a grateful series of licks from the soft, ladle-like tongue. Satisfied that Jim was in control of events, Loopey plopped down on top of Ennis’ left boot and waited for a sign to see if he would be needed later.
Jim swallowed hard, afraid to ask what was going on, yet knowing there was no way around this. He squatted down in front of Ennis to get the man to acknowledge him. When no recognition was forthcoming he plowed forward anyway, making sure to be cautious.
“Ennis, look at me.”
After awhile, the other man finally lifted his head, eyes glazed over.
“What happened?” Jim whispered, feeling his throat constrict. He wanted to hold Ennis, but didn’t think his arms would be welcomed. “You said Lureen called.”
“They got Jack.”
Jim gasped, one hand automatically grabbing hold of Ennis to steady himself, a cold numbing wave directly chilling him to the bone.
“You mean….”
Ennis began to struggle to come out of his daze, heaving in deep breaths and swallowing hard like he was trying to revive from a near drowning experience. His mouth opened a few times like the words were not there. And then he spoke. The sounds gurgling up to the surface were shaky, at first, with aftershocks of anger breaking through. The voice an odd mixture of flat intonations, wrapped up in something disturbingly icy.
“Lureen said he’s pretty bruised up, might have a rib or two broken. Maybe sumthin’ wrong with one of his ankles too.”
A moment of guilt slammed right through him. Even though Jim was sick to his stomach about what had been done, he could not deny the elation that washed over him as he realized that the worst had been averted. Jack would be as good as new in no time at all. Just a little healing and tender loving care to torque things back to the way they had been.
“That’s…that’s good, Ennis. Jack’s gonna be alright.”
The next thing Jim knew he was sprawled out on the floor, Ennis having shoved himself up from the chair with almost inhuman force. Rage had instantly replaced the detached stillness that had earlier almost rendered the man incapable of movement. Having been brusquely dislocated from his temporary resting place too, Loopey shook his head from side to side; he slowly sat down on his hind quarters, ears now pulled back as he squinted to determine whether he should back off or stay put.
“Well, excuse me for bein’ so rude! Maybe I should write some fancy thank ya notes to the fuckin’ pricks who done this. Let them know how grateful I am for their generosity of sparing Jack’s life.” Ennis was practically screaming at him now.
Jim looked at him blankly, unconsciously dusting off his rear end as he lifted himself up off the floor. “That’s not what I meant and you damn well know it! I’m just glad Jack is going to be okay. I think whoever did this should fry in hell or rot in prison forever. I’m on your side Ennis. Don’t go yellin’ at me like I’m the enemy.”
Ennis just glared back at him, kicking up dust, huffing and puffing like a bull about to charge. Wanting to bust somebody’s head wide open or gore them to a bloody pulp; make sure that he was able to get somebody to pay for this horrific act. Jim wanted to retreat, but refused to concede an inch, eyeballing him right back to let him know he was not going to be intimidated. He knew that Ennis didn’t mean what he had said. That he was just scared of having almost lost the man he loved forever.
“I’m goin’ to get them sons-of-bitches,” he muttered.
Stepping up closer, he lightly placed his hand on Ennis’ arm, hoping the contact would get the older man to gain some much needed self control. “Know what you mean. But, let the law take care of whoever did this. Jack needs ya now. You can’t let him down. Don’t do something that will land you in jail, or worse.”
A bitter laugh, “Yeah, I’ve been a big help to Jack. Almost got ‘im killed. Should never have let ‘im go down there alone.”
“Stop that! You aren’t to blame for what happened. Jack would tan your hide if he heard what you just said. But, he ain’t here so I’m just about ready to do it myself if I hear you even suggest you’re at fault for any of this.”
Ennis looked again like he wanted to punch him hard, his fists balling up preparing to do some major damage. But, Jim refused to budge, choosing instead to let Ennis know he was strong enough to handle this. He waited for what seemed like an eternity until he saw something shift inside the man, the despairing mood change coming even quicker than he anticipated. He watched closely as Ennis’ body slumped back into his chair, both thumbs pressed into his eye sockets, suddenly weary and beaten down. “Shit, Jim. How are me and Jack ever gonna have a life together? Don’t much matter where we go. There’s gonna be people out there that will want us dead. They’ll never let us be.”
“That ain’t true. Things are changing, Ennis. Maybe not everywhere, but there are places out there that are a lot more welcoming than redneck Texas country, or the fire and brimstone crowd here in Wyoming. Don’t jump to conclusions yet. We don’t know what actually happened down there in Texas and even after we do, how’s that going to change what you two feel for one another. You told me yourself you can’t live without him no more.”
Jim nodded, convinced more than ever that what he was about to say he believed with all his heart. “It ain’t a pretty world sometimes, but maybe if men like us refuse to be bullied, we can gain some understanding and acceptance from those decent folks who just want to live and let live. So whether you like it or not, I think you two are stuck with one another…along with Loopey, of course.”
Jim bent over and gently picked up the four-legged critter as expertly as if he was his mama. “Hey, there, gorgeous. Everything’s going to be alright.” Without missing a beat, he began to tenderly scratch behind both ears, the pup opening wide with a jaw popping yawn before nodding off in no time at all. Ennis watched with genuine approval as he saw the young man take charge, completely at ease with the wolf pup, obviously born to nurture and to work magic in the kitchen. Ranch work undeniably an ill-suited fit.
They stayed there in companionable silence, each lost in separate thoughts, the midday sun pouring in through the kitchen window as the day began to heat up. When Jim finally looked up again, he was surprised to see the corner of Ennis’ mouth twitching upward with the forging of a smile.
“What?” Jim’s eyebrows darkened, letting his weight shift from one foot then to the other, waiting for what the gruff cowboy would say next.
“Could be we got us a foursome in the making.”
Jim stopped his ministrations. Not quite sure if he heard correctly. He had been fretting over what he was going to do when Ennis and Jack moved on to start their life together. Knew he would miss their friendship and just being around supportive people who accepted him completely for who he was. He really had no one left in his life and these two had almost become like big brothers to him. On good days, he thought they were practically like three peas in a pod, at least in the things that really mattered. Other times he thought he was nothing more than a third wheel, unnecessary and someone who seemed to just get in their way.
“Are you saying that maybe you might invite me along, include me in your plans.”
Ennis stared for a long minute, expressionless making sure to not to give too much away. “Somebody’s got to cook.”
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After warming up the main dish and setting the table, Jim forced Ennis to remain seated and eat some of the quiche he had made to get something into his stomach. Although the other man resisted at first, he began to nibble on a thick slice once Jim had reminded him that he had to keep up his strength for Jack.
In between bites, and too-many-to-count awkward silences, Jim was able to find out a bit more about what had happened. Apparently, Jack’s father-in-law had hired some men to take Jack out, but Lureen had been tipped off by a doctor friend of hers and headed over to the office before too much bodily damage could be inflicted. Five minutes later the police had arrived and the accomplices were arrested and hauled in for questioning.
“So do you want to borrow my truck and bring Jack home from the hospital?”
Ennis grinded his teeth before muttering, “He ain’t there.”
“What? I don’t understand. Thought you said Jack had some injuries that needed tending to?”
Glancing up briefly, Ennis lowered his head again, his shoulders slumping over. The only sound was the scraping noise of his fork moving food across his plate. “He does.”
“Well, fuck Ennis. This is like pulling teeth.”
Ennis’ throat was working, but nothing was coming out.
“I’m sorry. Didn’t mean to….”
“Lureen told me that she don’t trust anyone down there. This doc that she knows patched Jack up best he could. They’re not gonna stop again until they get into Colorado. Think she said it’ll take about six hours to drive to Pueblo. She wants to stopover in a bigger city where no one will be suspicious about strangers.”
Jim opened his mouth, but nothing came out, too stunned by the presence of mind and gutsy fearlessness of this woman he had never met. “Wow, this Lureen character sounds like a real firecracker. You sure she doesn’t have a utility belt and live in a Batcave?”
Ennis nodded in agreement, completely ignoring the pop culture reference. “Yeah, Jack always did say that he admired her spunk more than anythin’ else.”
Another long silence before Jim asked. “She knows about you two then?”
Ennis bit down on his lip and counted to ten, trying to tap down any hint of sarcasm. He was tired of all the questions, but knew Jim was just nervous and tended to blather like another fella he knew. “Pretty sure she does now.”
Jim chuckled, his cheeks turning red with embarrassment. “Guess that was kind of a “Duh,” question, wasn’t it?”
“Would say so.”
Jim pushed his chair back, all four legs scraping across the wood floor, and stood up. “You almost finished the entire slice of quiche, Ennis. I feel better now that you got some food in ya.” Jim picked up the dishes and turned on the faucet, adjusting the handles to get the perfect balance of cold and hot water. Just as he started to squirt some dishwasher soap into the sink he caught a glimpse of an unfamiliar car cautiously approaching the house through the window.
“Hey, looks like you got some more visitors. You’re awfully popular today.”
Ennis looked over his shoulder and scowled. “Oh, shit! I completely forgot about Alma.”
“Alma? Weeell, I think I’ll make myself scarce.” He winked, “Got a bridge to build somewhere.”
“Coward.”
Jim laughed. “I’ll call you later for an update. You ain’t going to work tomorrow are you?”
Ennis had no problem answering that question. He figured Lureen would be arriving around 12:00 noon. After that there was not anyone who would be able to keep him from Jack’s side. Not with his man hurt and maybe still in danger. If the boss did not understand that he had to attend to family matters, then that was the way it had to be. He and Jack were going to be starting a new life together soon. A few more months was not going to make much difference either way.
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Tbc