Rawhide Chapter 4
Title: Rawhide
Author: PetiteMiel
Pairing: Jack/Ennis
Rating: NC-17(eventually)
Warning: Contains harsh language, violence, m/m sexual encounters.
Disclaimer: All characters from Brokeback Mountain belong to Ann Proulx. I am just borrowing them and make no money from their use. No copyright infringement is intended. All other characters are mine.
Summary: Au!Au. This story takes place in 1867. Ennis is an eighteen year old wrangler at the Triple T Ranch in Texas where Jack, a sixteen year old runaway is hired for the upcoming cattle drive to Montana.
AN:This is the first time I've written BBM fanfic. The story is un beta'd so all errors are mine.
Arlene, Texas
Spring, 1867
“Am I doin’ this right?” Jack asked looking up at Ennis who was in the stall opposite him.
They had finished with their work in the tack room and had moved on to grooming the horse’s hoofs; Ennis teaching Jack how to file them down and to shoe them proper. Jack had never been allowed to do that at home, his daddy always insisting he’d just make a mess of it but he was almost done with Acorn’s last hoof and he hadn’t done a half bad job, at least he didn’t think he had.
“Just get that edge a bit more.” Ennis said stepping over to the stall to have a look.
“Like this?” Jack asked giving the hoof another swipe with the heavy file.
“That’ll do her.” Ennis said smiling as he went back to working on Hank’s horse, a big bay named Biscuit.
“Hey Ennis, I never asked ya, are ya from Arlene?”
“Naw, I ain’t even from Texas.”
Jack looked up at this surprised by the information.
“Well where ya from then?”
“Lawrence, Kansas.” Ennis said quietly setting down the horses hoof and shutting the stall’s gate.
“Oh. Well is your family still there?”
Ennis stopped what he was doing, his eyes closing for a second, his gut clenching as he pushed down the feelings that threatened to rise.
“Naw.” He answered, his voice rough.
“Well where are they?” Jack asked as he let go of Acorn’s hoof and looked up.
Ennis sighed deep not sure what to say. He never talked about his family; mostly cause no one asked but also because he’d been on his own for a long time and he thought the reasons why should stay in the past where they belonged. It wasn’t something he liked to think on but when he turned to look at Jack the tender understanding in the young man’s eyes made it impossible not to speak.
“They was all killed when I was fourteen.” He replied, his voice sounding hollow.
“I’m sorry Ennis. I shouldn’ta…”
“Naw, it’s alright. It was a long time ago.” Ennis replied turning away.
Jack watched him walk over to Dakota’s stall, stroking the horse’s neck, whispering something Jack couldn’t quite make out. He hung his head; the horse rubbing his own against Ennis as if knowing he needed comforting then Ennis looked up and let out a shaky breath before his spoke.
“I remember it was the first day my daddy let me ride Dakota into town. My brother KE was older then me, and he was so mad cause he had to sit in the back of the wagon with our sister Sarah. He hated to ride in the wagon.” He said a sad smile crossing his lips.
He had Jack’s full attention now, the pain in his eyes haunting, and Jack knew that no matter how much time had passed Ennis’ wounds were far from healed.
“We’d gone into town for supplies like we always did and we were waitin’ for my folks outside the mercantile when we heard shootin’. I was standin’ by the wagon and my brother told me to git down so I climbed underneath it. After that…well…this group of men come ridin’ down the street shootin’ anyone who got in their way. I was yellin’ at KE and Sarah to get down where I was but they never got the chance. I’ll never forget the sound of Sarah screamin’ and that rifle goin’ off right over my head.”
He swallowed hard the lump in his throat making him grow silent. His eyes were unfocused as he stared off into the distance, his emotions threatening to overwhelm him but over the years he had learned to suppress them and he shook himself free of the images in his head. Taking a deep breath he began again.
“I seen Sarah fall on the ground not a foot from me, and then KE fell down beside her but by the time I got to um…they was already gone. When I looked over to the store I seen my folks was lying there in front of it and I seen my daddy tryin’ to move so I ran over to him but he was hurt real bad. He just lay there lookin’ up at me until his eyes couldn’t see no more.”
He looked at Dakota then ran a hand gently down the horses nose.
“You didn’t leave me though did ya boy?” He said laying a quick kiss on the horses nose.
“Dakota had got loose from where I’d tied him and I figured he’d run off from all the commotion but he just stood there like he was waitin’ on me or somethin’.
They set fire to the town after that and seein as I couldn’t do my family no good by gettin’ killed I climbed up on him and took off out of there. I made it back home and the next day some neighbor folks helped me bury my family in the little plot we had behind the house.
They said that the men who done it were a gang from Missouri who were workin’ for the confederates. My neighbors was all scared they’d come back to finish the rest of us off, but I wasn’t gonna wait around and see. I took some food, my daddy’s rifle and the few dollars my mama had hid in the coffee can and I never looked back.”
Jack looked over at him unable to speak. He couldn’t imagine what it must have been like for Ennis to lose everyone he loved in such a swift and brutal way. He wanted to say something to make it better, to take some of the pain away but he didn’t know how. He could feel the sting of tears in his eyes and he wiped a hand over his face getting himself under control, then he took a deep breath and got up from where he’d been sitting.
He walked toward Ennis, not thinking on the right or wrong of what he was about to do. He hesitated for only a second then he reached out and wrapped his arms around Ennis, his face resting against the other man’s back as he held him tight.
He could feel Ennis stiffen in his embrace but he didn’t pull away and a moment later Ennis seemed to sag back against him, letting Jack give him what comfort he could. He felt Ennis breath deep a shudder running through him as he exhaled as if the weight he had been carrying around all those years was finally lifted. They stood there for a moment or two, no words between them until the sound of hoof beats separated them and Jack turned quickly making his way toward the stable door then out into the yard.
Ennis watched him from the door through the blur of tears that were soon washing his cheeks. He had not expected comfort or kindness. He had said what he had because he had a need to say it but he had not thought Jack would care one way or the other about his sorrows. Knowing that he did somehow made it easier to bear and for the first time in four years he didn’t feel alone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jack walked toward the new corral his insides quivering like the legs on a newborn colt. He watched the new horses as they trotted around getting used to the confines of the newly built corral but his mind was still with Ennis. After ten minutes he glanced over his shoulder looking for some sign of him but he was still in the stable and Jack was starting to worry.
The other boys had all gone inside, hungry for their supper but Jack was quickly losing his appetite. He had hoped that what he’d done hadn’t cost him a friend but with every passing minute he was certain it had. The thought made him feel sick and he took a deep breath trying to calm his nerves.
He knew it had been a stupid thing to do. Men just didn’t go around hugging each other without expecting to get punched or worse and the idea that Ennis might not want anything to do with him now because of that made his stomach twist into knots. He should of known better he told himself as he kicked at the fence post.
Still Ennis hadn’t pulled away he thought a second later. He had let Jack hold him and that had to mean something. He just wished he’d show, although he wasn’t sure how he’d face him now if he did.
He sighed deep not sure what to do but knowing he wasn’t gonna figure it out standing out in the yard. He wiped a hand over his face and straightened his hat as he turned to go inside but stopped two steps later at the sight of Ennis walking toward him. His heart sped up a sudden fear of what Ennis might do now that he’d had time to think about it making him take a step back but Ennis just kept on walking.
He stopped at the corral and leaned his forearms against the top rail without saying a word. Jack turned back around watching him, then cautiously stepped over to join him at the railing. They stood there together neither speaking until Jack couldn’t stand the silence any longer.
“They sure are some fine horses.” He said unable to think of anything else to talk about that wouldn’t get him into trouble.
“Yep.”
“Gonna have a lot of work to do tomorrow I expect.” Jack tried again biting his bottom lip.
“Yep.”
“Need a good nights sleep tonight for sure.”
“Yep.”
Jack frowned, the conversation only making him even less sure of things between them then he’d been before.
“That all ya got to say?”
“Yep.” Ennis answered looking over at Jack at last a small smile on his lips.
Jack smiled back letting out a breath then looked away feeling shy. He was glad to see Ennis wasn’t holding that hug against him and that his fears had been unfounded. He didn’t know what else they might become to each other but he was sure right now they were friends and as such they would have to overlook the uncertainties, blunders and missteps that came with any growing friendship. He was glad to see that Ennis felt the same.
“Come on. We best git inside before they eat all the vittles.” Ennis said as he started toward the bunkhouse.
“Yep.” Jack replied running after him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Suppertime came early that night, the boys having finished their work a couple of hours before the sun went down. It was rare that they had time to relax before bed and so they took advantage of the opportunity when it appeared.
Pulling out a deck of cards Josh asked Ennis if he wanted to play a hand or two but he declined saying he had a couple of things to finish up in the stable. He got up and headed out the door glancing toward Jack before quickly looking away.
“Well Billy how about you?” Josh asked as he shuffled the deck.
“Sure I’ll play.”
“Jack, ya wantta play?” K.C. asked as he poured himself a cup of coffee from the pot on the stove.
“Naw. Thanks anyway. I got somethin’ I gotta do.” Jack replied getting up and moving toward his bunk.
“Don’t need no pups playing noway. Poker’s a man’s game.” Billy said loudly directing his comment at Jack.
Jack turned toward him seeing the other man glaring at him and he started to speak but then thought better of it. He didn’t want any trouble and he could tell Billy was spoiling for a fight. He guessed Billy was still mad about getting stuck with the fence work and that he had decided it was Jack’s fault but Jack figured that was his problem so he finished what he was doing and headed outside.
He walked into the stable a few minutes later to find Ennis talking to Dakota in his stall. He stood there watching them; suddenly feeling jealous of the attention the horse was getting then cleared his throat. Ennis turned to look at him and Jack walked up, hands shoved in his pockets.
“I was thinking I could maybe read ya some of that book I told ya about if ya wanted.”
“Right now?”
“Well, yeah.” Jack said sitting himself down on a bale of hay near the back wall as he pulled the book from where he’d tucked it into the waistband of his pants.
“Well, maybe we should do that in the bunkhouse.” Ennis replied not moving from where he stood.
Jack frowned wondering if this had anything to do with what had happened earlier. He had thought everything was OK between them but now he wasn’t so sure. He looked down for a second then spoke.
“Ennis, about what I done before, I…”
“Jack ya ain’t gotta say notin’.”
“I was just tryin’ to make ya feel better that’s all. I know I shouldn’t of…”
“Jack. It’s all right, really. I ain’t mad or notin’.”
“Ya really ain’t?”
Ennis grabbed a small oil lamp from off a shelf, lit it and hung it on the post over Jack’s head before sitting down beside him.
“I really ain’t. Now if Bull or Walter was to come in here and hug me I might have to shoot um or somethin’ but seein’ as it’s you…well…” He broke off there not finishing his thought studying his boots for a second.
“Well if it ain’t that then how come ya want to go back to the bunkhouse?”
“Well they got more then one lamp in there and I just figured you’d be able to see better is all.”
“Oh, well I can see just fine. Besides it’s too noisy in there.” He replied feeling relieved.
“Well, OK.” Ennis said shrugging slightly.
“You’re gonna like this book. It’s pretty good.” Jack said, paused for a moment then asked, “Hey Ennis?”
“Mmmm?”
“Can ya not read nothin’ at all?”
“I can read my name but that’s about it.”
“Well…I could maybe teach ya how to read if ya want.”
“Naw, Jack. I’m too old to learn how.”
“Naw, Ennis. I bet ya could. I knew an old man back home and he was sixty before he learned.”
Ennis’ eyes widened a bit at this as he reached in his pocket pulling out a small block of wood and his Barlow knife.
“Ya really think ya could teach me?”
“Sure enough.”
“Well…I guess that’d be all right.”
Jack smiled broadly then turned to the book he held in his hands and began to read. They sat there in the light of the oil lamp until well after dark, neither concerned about how tired they’d be come morning as they were too wrapped up in the story and in the pleasure of each other’s company.
TBC
Author: PetiteMiel
Pairing: Jack/Ennis
Rating: NC-17(eventually)
Warning: Contains harsh language, violence, m/m sexual encounters.
Disclaimer: All characters from Brokeback Mountain belong to Ann Proulx. I am just borrowing them and make no money from their use. No copyright infringement is intended. All other characters are mine.
Summary: Au!Au. This story takes place in 1867. Ennis is an eighteen year old wrangler at the Triple T Ranch in Texas where Jack, a sixteen year old runaway is hired for the upcoming cattle drive to Montana.
AN:This is the first time I've written BBM fanfic. The story is un beta'd so all errors are mine.
Arlene, Texas
Spring, 1867
“Am I doin’ this right?” Jack asked looking up at Ennis who was in the stall opposite him.
They had finished with their work in the tack room and had moved on to grooming the horse’s hoofs; Ennis teaching Jack how to file them down and to shoe them proper. Jack had never been allowed to do that at home, his daddy always insisting he’d just make a mess of it but he was almost done with Acorn’s last hoof and he hadn’t done a half bad job, at least he didn’t think he had.
“Just get that edge a bit more.” Ennis said stepping over to the stall to have a look.
“Like this?” Jack asked giving the hoof another swipe with the heavy file.
“That’ll do her.” Ennis said smiling as he went back to working on Hank’s horse, a big bay named Biscuit.
“Hey Ennis, I never asked ya, are ya from Arlene?”
“Naw, I ain’t even from Texas.”
Jack looked up at this surprised by the information.
“Well where ya from then?”
“Lawrence, Kansas.” Ennis said quietly setting down the horses hoof and shutting the stall’s gate.
“Oh. Well is your family still there?”
Ennis stopped what he was doing, his eyes closing for a second, his gut clenching as he pushed down the feelings that threatened to rise.
“Naw.” He answered, his voice rough.
“Well where are they?” Jack asked as he let go of Acorn’s hoof and looked up.
Ennis sighed deep not sure what to say. He never talked about his family; mostly cause no one asked but also because he’d been on his own for a long time and he thought the reasons why should stay in the past where they belonged. It wasn’t something he liked to think on but when he turned to look at Jack the tender understanding in the young man’s eyes made it impossible not to speak.
“They was all killed when I was fourteen.” He replied, his voice sounding hollow.
“I’m sorry Ennis. I shouldn’ta…”
“Naw, it’s alright. It was a long time ago.” Ennis replied turning away.
Jack watched him walk over to Dakota’s stall, stroking the horse’s neck, whispering something Jack couldn’t quite make out. He hung his head; the horse rubbing his own against Ennis as if knowing he needed comforting then Ennis looked up and let out a shaky breath before his spoke.
“I remember it was the first day my daddy let me ride Dakota into town. My brother KE was older then me, and he was so mad cause he had to sit in the back of the wagon with our sister Sarah. He hated to ride in the wagon.” He said a sad smile crossing his lips.
He had Jack’s full attention now, the pain in his eyes haunting, and Jack knew that no matter how much time had passed Ennis’ wounds were far from healed.
“We’d gone into town for supplies like we always did and we were waitin’ for my folks outside the mercantile when we heard shootin’. I was standin’ by the wagon and my brother told me to git down so I climbed underneath it. After that…well…this group of men come ridin’ down the street shootin’ anyone who got in their way. I was yellin’ at KE and Sarah to get down where I was but they never got the chance. I’ll never forget the sound of Sarah screamin’ and that rifle goin’ off right over my head.”
He swallowed hard the lump in his throat making him grow silent. His eyes were unfocused as he stared off into the distance, his emotions threatening to overwhelm him but over the years he had learned to suppress them and he shook himself free of the images in his head. Taking a deep breath he began again.
“I seen Sarah fall on the ground not a foot from me, and then KE fell down beside her but by the time I got to um…they was already gone. When I looked over to the store I seen my folks was lying there in front of it and I seen my daddy tryin’ to move so I ran over to him but he was hurt real bad. He just lay there lookin’ up at me until his eyes couldn’t see no more.”
He looked at Dakota then ran a hand gently down the horses nose.
“You didn’t leave me though did ya boy?” He said laying a quick kiss on the horses nose.
“Dakota had got loose from where I’d tied him and I figured he’d run off from all the commotion but he just stood there like he was waitin’ on me or somethin’.
They set fire to the town after that and seein as I couldn’t do my family no good by gettin’ killed I climbed up on him and took off out of there. I made it back home and the next day some neighbor folks helped me bury my family in the little plot we had behind the house.
They said that the men who done it were a gang from Missouri who were workin’ for the confederates. My neighbors was all scared they’d come back to finish the rest of us off, but I wasn’t gonna wait around and see. I took some food, my daddy’s rifle and the few dollars my mama had hid in the coffee can and I never looked back.”
Jack looked over at him unable to speak. He couldn’t imagine what it must have been like for Ennis to lose everyone he loved in such a swift and brutal way. He wanted to say something to make it better, to take some of the pain away but he didn’t know how. He could feel the sting of tears in his eyes and he wiped a hand over his face getting himself under control, then he took a deep breath and got up from where he’d been sitting.
He walked toward Ennis, not thinking on the right or wrong of what he was about to do. He hesitated for only a second then he reached out and wrapped his arms around Ennis, his face resting against the other man’s back as he held him tight.
He could feel Ennis stiffen in his embrace but he didn’t pull away and a moment later Ennis seemed to sag back against him, letting Jack give him what comfort he could. He felt Ennis breath deep a shudder running through him as he exhaled as if the weight he had been carrying around all those years was finally lifted. They stood there for a moment or two, no words between them until the sound of hoof beats separated them and Jack turned quickly making his way toward the stable door then out into the yard.
Ennis watched him from the door through the blur of tears that were soon washing his cheeks. He had not expected comfort or kindness. He had said what he had because he had a need to say it but he had not thought Jack would care one way or the other about his sorrows. Knowing that he did somehow made it easier to bear and for the first time in four years he didn’t feel alone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jack walked toward the new corral his insides quivering like the legs on a newborn colt. He watched the new horses as they trotted around getting used to the confines of the newly built corral but his mind was still with Ennis. After ten minutes he glanced over his shoulder looking for some sign of him but he was still in the stable and Jack was starting to worry.
The other boys had all gone inside, hungry for their supper but Jack was quickly losing his appetite. He had hoped that what he’d done hadn’t cost him a friend but with every passing minute he was certain it had. The thought made him feel sick and he took a deep breath trying to calm his nerves.
He knew it had been a stupid thing to do. Men just didn’t go around hugging each other without expecting to get punched or worse and the idea that Ennis might not want anything to do with him now because of that made his stomach twist into knots. He should of known better he told himself as he kicked at the fence post.
Still Ennis hadn’t pulled away he thought a second later. He had let Jack hold him and that had to mean something. He just wished he’d show, although he wasn’t sure how he’d face him now if he did.
He sighed deep not sure what to do but knowing he wasn’t gonna figure it out standing out in the yard. He wiped a hand over his face and straightened his hat as he turned to go inside but stopped two steps later at the sight of Ennis walking toward him. His heart sped up a sudden fear of what Ennis might do now that he’d had time to think about it making him take a step back but Ennis just kept on walking.
He stopped at the corral and leaned his forearms against the top rail without saying a word. Jack turned back around watching him, then cautiously stepped over to join him at the railing. They stood there together neither speaking until Jack couldn’t stand the silence any longer.
“They sure are some fine horses.” He said unable to think of anything else to talk about that wouldn’t get him into trouble.
“Yep.”
“Gonna have a lot of work to do tomorrow I expect.” Jack tried again biting his bottom lip.
“Yep.”
“Need a good nights sleep tonight for sure.”
“Yep.”
Jack frowned, the conversation only making him even less sure of things between them then he’d been before.
“That all ya got to say?”
“Yep.” Ennis answered looking over at Jack at last a small smile on his lips.
Jack smiled back letting out a breath then looked away feeling shy. He was glad to see Ennis wasn’t holding that hug against him and that his fears had been unfounded. He didn’t know what else they might become to each other but he was sure right now they were friends and as such they would have to overlook the uncertainties, blunders and missteps that came with any growing friendship. He was glad to see that Ennis felt the same.
“Come on. We best git inside before they eat all the vittles.” Ennis said as he started toward the bunkhouse.
“Yep.” Jack replied running after him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Suppertime came early that night, the boys having finished their work a couple of hours before the sun went down. It was rare that they had time to relax before bed and so they took advantage of the opportunity when it appeared.
Pulling out a deck of cards Josh asked Ennis if he wanted to play a hand or two but he declined saying he had a couple of things to finish up in the stable. He got up and headed out the door glancing toward Jack before quickly looking away.
“Well Billy how about you?” Josh asked as he shuffled the deck.
“Sure I’ll play.”
“Jack, ya wantta play?” K.C. asked as he poured himself a cup of coffee from the pot on the stove.
“Naw. Thanks anyway. I got somethin’ I gotta do.” Jack replied getting up and moving toward his bunk.
“Don’t need no pups playing noway. Poker’s a man’s game.” Billy said loudly directing his comment at Jack.
Jack turned toward him seeing the other man glaring at him and he started to speak but then thought better of it. He didn’t want any trouble and he could tell Billy was spoiling for a fight. He guessed Billy was still mad about getting stuck with the fence work and that he had decided it was Jack’s fault but Jack figured that was his problem so he finished what he was doing and headed outside.
He walked into the stable a few minutes later to find Ennis talking to Dakota in his stall. He stood there watching them; suddenly feeling jealous of the attention the horse was getting then cleared his throat. Ennis turned to look at him and Jack walked up, hands shoved in his pockets.
“I was thinking I could maybe read ya some of that book I told ya about if ya wanted.”
“Right now?”
“Well, yeah.” Jack said sitting himself down on a bale of hay near the back wall as he pulled the book from where he’d tucked it into the waistband of his pants.
“Well, maybe we should do that in the bunkhouse.” Ennis replied not moving from where he stood.
Jack frowned wondering if this had anything to do with what had happened earlier. He had thought everything was OK between them but now he wasn’t so sure. He looked down for a second then spoke.
“Ennis, about what I done before, I…”
“Jack ya ain’t gotta say notin’.”
“I was just tryin’ to make ya feel better that’s all. I know I shouldn’t of…”
“Jack. It’s all right, really. I ain’t mad or notin’.”
“Ya really ain’t?”
Ennis grabbed a small oil lamp from off a shelf, lit it and hung it on the post over Jack’s head before sitting down beside him.
“I really ain’t. Now if Bull or Walter was to come in here and hug me I might have to shoot um or somethin’ but seein’ as it’s you…well…” He broke off there not finishing his thought studying his boots for a second.
“Well if it ain’t that then how come ya want to go back to the bunkhouse?”
“Well they got more then one lamp in there and I just figured you’d be able to see better is all.”
“Oh, well I can see just fine. Besides it’s too noisy in there.” He replied feeling relieved.
“Well, OK.” Ennis said shrugging slightly.
“You’re gonna like this book. It’s pretty good.” Jack said, paused for a moment then asked, “Hey Ennis?”
“Mmmm?”
“Can ya not read nothin’ at all?”
“I can read my name but that’s about it.”
“Well…I could maybe teach ya how to read if ya want.”
“Naw, Jack. I’m too old to learn how.”
“Naw, Ennis. I bet ya could. I knew an old man back home and he was sixty before he learned.”
Ennis’ eyes widened a bit at this as he reached in his pocket pulling out a small block of wood and his Barlow knife.
“Ya really think ya could teach me?”
“Sure enough.”
“Well…I guess that’d be all right.”
Jack smiled broadly then turned to the book he held in his hands and began to read. They sat there in the light of the oil lamp until well after dark, neither concerned about how tired they’d be come morning as they were too wrapped up in the story and in the pleasure of each other’s company.
TBC