Rawhide Chapter 9
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.
ADDITIONAL AN: I know some of you really want J/E to resolve their issues quickly but I feel that any realistic resolution would take a bit of time and take them through different stages of acceptance. For that reason the next couple of chapters will still be somewhat angsty but rest assured they will get to an understanding about things and move beyond this. Thanks for your patience. :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Arlene, Texas
Spring, 1867
Evans Peak rose up out of the grasslands, a towering wall of rock cutting across the prairie to the foothills beyond. It stood like a sentinel keeping watch over the Northern Pass to Fort Griffin in Shackelford County and the market places in the Flat below.
Miller Creek ran along the base of the peak winding its way through the Pecan, Elm and Cottonwood trees that grew along its banks, providing fresh water to the bobcats and white tailed deer that roamed throughout the range.
Looking out over the flatlands just Southeast of the creek the men of the Triple T sat watching a group of horses graze upon the grass which stretched on for miles ahead of them. There were at least two-dozen head of sturdy stock, some clearly wild but the rest more likely to be strays from one of the many wagon trains that used the route to reach the Northern territories each year.
As they approached the herd Ennis signaled to the other men and they moved slowly forward, forming a tight noose around the horses while doing their best not to startle them. Bull positioned himself to the left, Jack and Walter riding in his wake while Ennis shadowed him on the right with Hank and K.C. getting between the herd and the creek. They cut off their escape as the rest of the men closed the gap behind them forcing the horses to move forward. Then quick as a rattlesnake they were off, the horses racing to the North, dust flying in all directions as they tried to get away.
They pounded the prairie sod to powder their hooves scaring the earth as they ran, the grasses creased with their passing and the men had to ride hard to keep up.
Seconds later the sound of gunfire made the horses turn West, the men on their left keeping to their flank so they couldn’t scatter, the men at the rear pushing them onward not giving them room to stray. Ennis and K.C. fired their colts a second time turning the herd once more wheeling them to the left, then one more time to drive them toward home.
The horses soon worked up a lather, sweating under the glaring sun, the prairie giving them little shelter from the heat. The day was proving to be unseasonably warm and as the men got the herd under control they slowed to a canter, not wanting to wear out their mounts.
As they topped the next rise Jack reined in his horse staring ahead, the cactus and the mesquite that dotted the prairie below going unnoticed, his mind on other things. He wiped the sweat from his brow then reached for the canteen hanging from his saddle horn. Taking a swig, the water dribbled down his chin and throat cooling his skin as well as his thirst but it dried in the heat a moment later as if it had never been.
When he’d replaced the cap he looked up finding Ennis’ eyes on him and he smiled softly but Ennis just turned away. Jack lowered his head feeling like he’d been punched in the gut, the smile falling from his face then he took a deep breath and spurred Acorn forward as he watched Ennis ride off.
Jack followed him with his eyes as he moved through the tall grass, his horse trampling the wild flowers along with the weeds. He didn’t know why he had thought things would be different. Ennis had done everything he could to avoid him all morning. He’d not spoken or even looked in his direction until the moment before. He had made his thoughts plain but Jack had never been the kind to give up hope and somewhere between sleep and waking he had remembered that.
It had hurt like hell when Ennis turned him away and it didn’t feel much better now but he had decided that he wasn’t gonna let that get in the way of having the one thing he had ever really wanted.
Ennis felt something for him that was clear. Jack had seen it in the way Ennis had looked at him the night before, in the desire staring back at him from the dark depths of his eyes and Jack wanted to feel the power of that desire and know its full measure.
He knew Ennis was afraid of this thing between them and he wasn’t without his own fears but he also knew they could find a way to get beyond them if they tried. He just had to show Ennis that they were better together then apart. He wasn’t giving up hope and he wasn’t giving up on Ennis whether the other man liked it or not.
Ennis rode out ahead of the herd needing to put some distance between him and Jack, his heart aching for the pain he had caused him. He wanted to go back and tell him he was sorry, wanted to tell him he didn’t mean any of the things he had said the night before but he told himself what he wanted didn’t much matter.
The world was a cruel place and he just didn’t see any way for them to be together in it. What you couldn’t fix you had to stand and that’s all there was to it. He just wished it didn’t have to hurt so damn much.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The edge of the Taylor ranch came into view and Ennis raced across the distance and into the compound at a full gallop the rest of the men not far behind.
He reined in Dakota as he came along side the corral then leaned over unlatching the gate, swinging it wide. The others drove the herd into the enclosure, the horses stamping and snorting as they circled the fence line then the men swung the gate closed and slipped from their saddles.
The sound of thundering hooves had brought Red from the bunkhouse and he walked over to join them, the men brushing the dust from their clothes as they lead their horses to the watering troughs letting them drink their fill.
“Have any trouble?” Red said as he walked up beside Ennis where he stood holding Dakota’s reins.
“Naw.”
“What do ya think?”
“There’s a few rowdy ones in the bunch but I’m bettin’ most are saddle broke already.”
“Well ya can sort them out tomorrow and once the saddle broke are branded I’ll have some of the men drive them out with the cattle so ya can concentrate on the rest. Just make sure these git a good feed tonight.”
“Sure enough.”
Red stepped away without another word and Ennis turned to do the same but stopped staring at Jack who was standing behind him. Ennis held his gaze for only a moment then ducked his head stepping around him, leading his horse away. Jack watched him go not saying a word then followed after him a minute later.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sound of voices drifted out of the bunkhouse on the evening breeze making Ennis lonesome for company he couldn’t have. He took a drag off his cigarette as he stood leaning against the corral then exhaled dropping it into the dirt, grinding it out beneath his boot. He looked out over the distance watching as the clouds rolled in from the West and the sun slowly sank into the mountain’s embrace. A second later he stiffened as Jack stepped up beside him and he turned to leave but Jack’s voice stopped him before he got more then a step away.
“I know ya don’t want talk to me but I…I just wanted to know what I done wrong.”
Ennis stood where he was staring up at the darkening sky praying for strength then he turned to face Jack the pain he saw in his eyes almost knocking him over.
“Ya didn’t do nothing wrong Jack. It’s just...this thing it...it just can’t happen between us that’s all.”
“But I seen the way ya looked at me. I know ya got feelings same as mine and I just don’t see why we can’t...”
“Cause there’s people who’d hate us for it Jack.” He interrupted him. “And I...I don’t think I could stand it if...if somebody hurt ya because of me.”
“I can take care of myself Ennis. Ain’t nobody gonna hurt me sides… couldn’t nothin’ hurt worse then this.”
“I’m sorry Jack. I ain’t tryin’ to hurt ya.” He replied looking down.
Jack took a step closer his hand reaching out to touch Ennis’ cheek and the other man looked up leaning into the touch as he closed his eyes. A second later though he pulled back shaking his head before turning away.
“I’m sorry.”
“Ennis, if ya don’t wantta be my friend…well...I just want ya to know I’m always gonna be yours. Always.”
Ennis bowed his head again, his eyes closed as he took a shuddering breath then he forced himself to walk away yet again.
Jack watched him go not knowing if his words would make any difference but praying that they would. He knew Ennis cared for him; it was the one thing in the world he was sure of he just wasn’t sure how to make Ennis see that it was all right to feel that way.
Turning away at last he headed back across the yard toward the bunkhouse then stopped a few feet short as he spied Barnes looking at him from the porch. He didn’t know how long he’d been there or what he might have heard or seen but he was staring at Jack the way a cougar stares at its prey and Jack ducked his head feeling uneasy.
He stepped up on the porch but Barnes didn’t say a word and Jack sighed as he crossed the threshold telling himself he had no reason to worry but he wasn’t entirely sure he believed it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As Ennis entered the stable he grabbed the lantern from the shelf beside the door and made his way up the ladder that lead to the hayloft above the horse’s stalls. He lit the lantern setting it on a bale of hay then sat down pulling off his boots before removing his shirt and laying it beside the lantern. He lay on his back, stretching out on the blanket he’d slept on the night before no more able to face Jack now then he’d been then. The idea of sleeping so close to him without being able to touch him was one torture he would not force upon himself.
Staring at the ceiling above him he watched the shadows cast by the lantern dancing against its surface, dark shades like fears come to haunt his dreams. He closed his eyes running a hand over his face not wanting to think about it knowing it did no good. You couldn’t change the way things were or maybe you could but he didn’t know if he was strong enough to try. Could he be that brave, that fearless in the face or ridicule and hate? Jack could, he thought smiling to himself. Maybe he could be fearless enough for the both of them...maybe...
He broke off the thought as he reached up, his fingers brushing against his cheek the feel of Jack’s hand still warm against his skin making him shiver. He longed for something more then this, this empty ache inside him and he knew Jack could rid him of it if only he’d let him. Then unable to stop himself he reached down running a hand over the bulge in his trousers, the simple thought of Jack making him hard.
Pulling his hand away he told himself it was wrong but the images of Jack flashing through his mind made it impossible to fight the urge and a couple minutes later he had his pants unfastened and down around his hips.
He looked down at himself, his cock rigid against his stomach, the tip already wet with his need and he took hold of himself letting his fingers play over the sensitive flesh as a moan echoed in the stillness around him.
His head fell back onto the blanket as he closed his eyes once more conjuring each memory of Jack as if it were new. The feel of him in his arms as he woke, the warmth of him, the smell of him filled Ennis with a quiet desperation that had him stroking himself from base to tip, his hand moistened by the slick that dribbled down over his fingers as it moved.
He groaned softly as his hips rose and fell, his breath ragged and his heart pounding. He clutched at the blanket, his neck arched and his lips parted, the image of Jack’s eyes staring back at him making him quake. He ran his hand up his length, pulling the foreskin over the reddened tip, making himself gasp and quiver with the feel of it. Then he reached down spreading his legs, rolling his balls against his palm, squeezing gently before reaching up to stroke himself again.
The sound of his harsh breathing filled his ears as he thrust his hips upward, his cock slipping within his encircling fist again and again and he hissed as the thumb of his other hand ran over the engorged tip with each downward stroke. He bit his lip trying not to holler, the taste of blood copper in his mouth as the image of Jack’s naked body sent him over the edge. He came hard against his belly, the evidence of his pleasure hot against his skin then he lay there his hips twitching slightly as he continued to stroke himself long after he was spent, wishing it had been Jack’s hand that had brought him to that joy.
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.
ADDITIONAL AN: I know some of you really want J/E to resolve their issues quickly but I feel that any realistic resolution would take a bit of time and take them through different stages of acceptance. For that reason the next couple of chapters will still be somewhat angsty but rest assured they will get to an understanding about things and move beyond this. Thanks for your patience. :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Arlene, Texas
Spring, 1867
Evans Peak rose up out of the grasslands, a towering wall of rock cutting across the prairie to the foothills beyond. It stood like a sentinel keeping watch over the Northern Pass to Fort Griffin in Shackelford County and the market places in the Flat below.
Miller Creek ran along the base of the peak winding its way through the Pecan, Elm and Cottonwood trees that grew along its banks, providing fresh water to the bobcats and white tailed deer that roamed throughout the range.
Looking out over the flatlands just Southeast of the creek the men of the Triple T sat watching a group of horses graze upon the grass which stretched on for miles ahead of them. There were at least two-dozen head of sturdy stock, some clearly wild but the rest more likely to be strays from one of the many wagon trains that used the route to reach the Northern territories each year.
As they approached the herd Ennis signaled to the other men and they moved slowly forward, forming a tight noose around the horses while doing their best not to startle them. Bull positioned himself to the left, Jack and Walter riding in his wake while Ennis shadowed him on the right with Hank and K.C. getting between the herd and the creek. They cut off their escape as the rest of the men closed the gap behind them forcing the horses to move forward. Then quick as a rattlesnake they were off, the horses racing to the North, dust flying in all directions as they tried to get away.
They pounded the prairie sod to powder their hooves scaring the earth as they ran, the grasses creased with their passing and the men had to ride hard to keep up.
Seconds later the sound of gunfire made the horses turn West, the men on their left keeping to their flank so they couldn’t scatter, the men at the rear pushing them onward not giving them room to stray. Ennis and K.C. fired their colts a second time turning the herd once more wheeling them to the left, then one more time to drive them toward home.
The horses soon worked up a lather, sweating under the glaring sun, the prairie giving them little shelter from the heat. The day was proving to be unseasonably warm and as the men got the herd under control they slowed to a canter, not wanting to wear out their mounts.
As they topped the next rise Jack reined in his horse staring ahead, the cactus and the mesquite that dotted the prairie below going unnoticed, his mind on other things. He wiped the sweat from his brow then reached for the canteen hanging from his saddle horn. Taking a swig, the water dribbled down his chin and throat cooling his skin as well as his thirst but it dried in the heat a moment later as if it had never been.
When he’d replaced the cap he looked up finding Ennis’ eyes on him and he smiled softly but Ennis just turned away. Jack lowered his head feeling like he’d been punched in the gut, the smile falling from his face then he took a deep breath and spurred Acorn forward as he watched Ennis ride off.
Jack followed him with his eyes as he moved through the tall grass, his horse trampling the wild flowers along with the weeds. He didn’t know why he had thought things would be different. Ennis had done everything he could to avoid him all morning. He’d not spoken or even looked in his direction until the moment before. He had made his thoughts plain but Jack had never been the kind to give up hope and somewhere between sleep and waking he had remembered that.
It had hurt like hell when Ennis turned him away and it didn’t feel much better now but he had decided that he wasn’t gonna let that get in the way of having the one thing he had ever really wanted.
Ennis felt something for him that was clear. Jack had seen it in the way Ennis had looked at him the night before, in the desire staring back at him from the dark depths of his eyes and Jack wanted to feel the power of that desire and know its full measure.
He knew Ennis was afraid of this thing between them and he wasn’t without his own fears but he also knew they could find a way to get beyond them if they tried. He just had to show Ennis that they were better together then apart. He wasn’t giving up hope and he wasn’t giving up on Ennis whether the other man liked it or not.
Ennis rode out ahead of the herd needing to put some distance between him and Jack, his heart aching for the pain he had caused him. He wanted to go back and tell him he was sorry, wanted to tell him he didn’t mean any of the things he had said the night before but he told himself what he wanted didn’t much matter.
The world was a cruel place and he just didn’t see any way for them to be together in it. What you couldn’t fix you had to stand and that’s all there was to it. He just wished it didn’t have to hurt so damn much.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The edge of the Taylor ranch came into view and Ennis raced across the distance and into the compound at a full gallop the rest of the men not far behind.
He reined in Dakota as he came along side the corral then leaned over unlatching the gate, swinging it wide. The others drove the herd into the enclosure, the horses stamping and snorting as they circled the fence line then the men swung the gate closed and slipped from their saddles.
The sound of thundering hooves had brought Red from the bunkhouse and he walked over to join them, the men brushing the dust from their clothes as they lead their horses to the watering troughs letting them drink their fill.
“Have any trouble?” Red said as he walked up beside Ennis where he stood holding Dakota’s reins.
“Naw.”
“What do ya think?”
“There’s a few rowdy ones in the bunch but I’m bettin’ most are saddle broke already.”
“Well ya can sort them out tomorrow and once the saddle broke are branded I’ll have some of the men drive them out with the cattle so ya can concentrate on the rest. Just make sure these git a good feed tonight.”
“Sure enough.”
Red stepped away without another word and Ennis turned to do the same but stopped staring at Jack who was standing behind him. Ennis held his gaze for only a moment then ducked his head stepping around him, leading his horse away. Jack watched him go not saying a word then followed after him a minute later.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sound of voices drifted out of the bunkhouse on the evening breeze making Ennis lonesome for company he couldn’t have. He took a drag off his cigarette as he stood leaning against the corral then exhaled dropping it into the dirt, grinding it out beneath his boot. He looked out over the distance watching as the clouds rolled in from the West and the sun slowly sank into the mountain’s embrace. A second later he stiffened as Jack stepped up beside him and he turned to leave but Jack’s voice stopped him before he got more then a step away.
“I know ya don’t want talk to me but I…I just wanted to know what I done wrong.”
Ennis stood where he was staring up at the darkening sky praying for strength then he turned to face Jack the pain he saw in his eyes almost knocking him over.
“Ya didn’t do nothing wrong Jack. It’s just...this thing it...it just can’t happen between us that’s all.”
“But I seen the way ya looked at me. I know ya got feelings same as mine and I just don’t see why we can’t...”
“Cause there’s people who’d hate us for it Jack.” He interrupted him. “And I...I don’t think I could stand it if...if somebody hurt ya because of me.”
“I can take care of myself Ennis. Ain’t nobody gonna hurt me sides… couldn’t nothin’ hurt worse then this.”
“I’m sorry Jack. I ain’t tryin’ to hurt ya.” He replied looking down.
Jack took a step closer his hand reaching out to touch Ennis’ cheek and the other man looked up leaning into the touch as he closed his eyes. A second later though he pulled back shaking his head before turning away.
“I’m sorry.”
“Ennis, if ya don’t wantta be my friend…well...I just want ya to know I’m always gonna be yours. Always.”
Ennis bowed his head again, his eyes closed as he took a shuddering breath then he forced himself to walk away yet again.
Jack watched him go not knowing if his words would make any difference but praying that they would. He knew Ennis cared for him; it was the one thing in the world he was sure of he just wasn’t sure how to make Ennis see that it was all right to feel that way.
Turning away at last he headed back across the yard toward the bunkhouse then stopped a few feet short as he spied Barnes looking at him from the porch. He didn’t know how long he’d been there or what he might have heard or seen but he was staring at Jack the way a cougar stares at its prey and Jack ducked his head feeling uneasy.
He stepped up on the porch but Barnes didn’t say a word and Jack sighed as he crossed the threshold telling himself he had no reason to worry but he wasn’t entirely sure he believed it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As Ennis entered the stable he grabbed the lantern from the shelf beside the door and made his way up the ladder that lead to the hayloft above the horse’s stalls. He lit the lantern setting it on a bale of hay then sat down pulling off his boots before removing his shirt and laying it beside the lantern. He lay on his back, stretching out on the blanket he’d slept on the night before no more able to face Jack now then he’d been then. The idea of sleeping so close to him without being able to touch him was one torture he would not force upon himself.
Staring at the ceiling above him he watched the shadows cast by the lantern dancing against its surface, dark shades like fears come to haunt his dreams. He closed his eyes running a hand over his face not wanting to think about it knowing it did no good. You couldn’t change the way things were or maybe you could but he didn’t know if he was strong enough to try. Could he be that brave, that fearless in the face or ridicule and hate? Jack could, he thought smiling to himself. Maybe he could be fearless enough for the both of them...maybe...
He broke off the thought as he reached up, his fingers brushing against his cheek the feel of Jack’s hand still warm against his skin making him shiver. He longed for something more then this, this empty ache inside him and he knew Jack could rid him of it if only he’d let him. Then unable to stop himself he reached down running a hand over the bulge in his trousers, the simple thought of Jack making him hard.
Pulling his hand away he told himself it was wrong but the images of Jack flashing through his mind made it impossible to fight the urge and a couple minutes later he had his pants unfastened and down around his hips.
He looked down at himself, his cock rigid against his stomach, the tip already wet with his need and he took hold of himself letting his fingers play over the sensitive flesh as a moan echoed in the stillness around him.
His head fell back onto the blanket as he closed his eyes once more conjuring each memory of Jack as if it were new. The feel of him in his arms as he woke, the warmth of him, the smell of him filled Ennis with a quiet desperation that had him stroking himself from base to tip, his hand moistened by the slick that dribbled down over his fingers as it moved.
He groaned softly as his hips rose and fell, his breath ragged and his heart pounding. He clutched at the blanket, his neck arched and his lips parted, the image of Jack’s eyes staring back at him making him quake. He ran his hand up his length, pulling the foreskin over the reddened tip, making himself gasp and quiver with the feel of it. Then he reached down spreading his legs, rolling his balls against his palm, squeezing gently before reaching up to stroke himself again.
The sound of his harsh breathing filled his ears as he thrust his hips upward, his cock slipping within his encircling fist again and again and he hissed as the thumb of his other hand ran over the engorged tip with each downward stroke. He bit his lip trying not to holler, the taste of blood copper in his mouth as the image of Jack’s naked body sent him over the edge. He came hard against his belly, the evidence of his pleasure hot against his skin then he lay there his hips twitching slightly as he continued to stroke himself long after he was spent, wishing it had been Jack’s hand that had brought him to that joy.
TBC