(no subject)
Title: I Can’t Lose You Again.
Chapter 14
Here it is a new chapter, thanks for your patience. Sorry for the long delay, but as many of you know, my father was in hospital for two months.
This is the sequel to “Mexico”, ten days after its end.
Disclaimer: the talented Mrs Proulx owns the original story and characters.
Special thanks again to my dear beta Sam and to Onefreetoroam for the title idea.
Thanks to all of you readers and to those who added their opinion.
Nearly a month after the weekend on the mountains, Jack was with Claire at Peter’s ranch to visit Margie, who was at home after a week in the county hospital for a broken arm.
Since John woke up very early that morning and wasn’t around at breakfast time, Jack had to be the driver for his mother.
Ennis remained silent until they left; he knew Jack was due to call Lureen that day to discuss Bobby’s next visit, and he preferred to avoid any comment.
During his morning chores he saw John on the tractor to plough a new patch of land behind the orchard, that had remained untouched for the last few years, because there was nobody to believe in the future of the farm.
Old Man Twist was always and only working, Ennis thought; he wondered why with so much work the ranch was still in such bad shape; it could easily become one of the best of the county. In his opinion it could easily become one of the best in the county, especially since the reservoir was a sure source of water.
When he heard a strange cry and the engine abruptly stopped, Ennis instinctively turned to look. John was bent over in the small seat, unmoving.
Ennis ran to him and saw he was unconscious, but his heart was still beating. When he lifted the unconscious body to took John home he noticed how thin he was.
Ennis walked fast and cursed the absence of Claire: she would surely something good know what to do. John regained consciousness shortly after they reached the front porch, and Ennis stopped.
“Let me go.”
“You fainted.”
“Let me go.” John said with more conviction.
Ennis increased his grip and put John on the couch inside.
“What happened?”
“You were driving the tractor.
John was massaging his chest. “I don’t remember…”
“I’m going to call the doctor and Miz Claire.”
“No, stay here.”
“I’ll only be gone for a minute.”
“Please….”
John as even more stubborn than won Ennis.
“Mr. Twist, you need to call a doctor.”
“I know what’s happening. Nobody else needs to know.”
“But doctors know best.”
“They’re only good for killing people.”
John tried to sit up but had to give up the attempt, feeling his head spin. Ennis helped him to lie down again and insisted.
“I’m going inside to call somebody.”
“No, Ennis.”
“I will if you don’t tell me what’s happening here.”
“Ok …. there’s something wrong with my heart, they say…my brain doesn’t get enough blood sometimes and my head spins.”
“Since when?”
“A year ago, the first time I fainted on the grass out in the middle of the field with the cows. My dog saw me and licked my face, woke me up. Then it happened again while I was working with a seasonal help. So I went to the doctor, he ordered exams and in the end he used those complicated words.”
“And Mrs. Twist?”
“She doesn’t know anything.”
“ That’s impossible.”
“She mustn’t find out, Ennis. Swear it!”
“Ok, ok, if that’s the way you want it.”
Before dinner, Ennis - keeping his voice low - asked Jack if they could have a private conversation outside later.
Jack was curious, but accepted and as soon as he could, he wished his parents good evening.
They sat on a bench under the apple trees with a whole pack of cigarettes; Ennis needed their help to discuss the matter with his lover, although he was sure John had only asked him to keep the problem secret from Claire.
He took a long breath while Jack was observing every little thing.
Jack was trying to imagine the nature of the discussion….he’s leaving, there’s a problem with the children, Dad insulted Ennis …. he was getting anxious as usual so he spoke first.
“So what happened?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Well, if you could begin …”
“I’m trying!”
“I know, Ennis, but please don’t keep me on the edge.”
“It’s about…your father.”
They fought! Jack thought.
“A discussion?”
“No, we talked a little this morning.”
“About what?”
“His situation. He was having a bad time at work and he fainted.”
“What do you mean?”
“It happened, I helped him and after resting for half an hour he was feeling better.”
“Did you call the doctor?”
“No.”
“Why? Ennis, he could be ill.”
“He wouldn’t let me call anybody. He’s well aware of his bad health, he consulted two doctors during last year, without your mother knowing. And he wants it to stay that way.” Ennis took a breath after the effort of his long speech.
“You should have called somebody if he was suffering…” Jack started walking back and forth between the trees, smoking cigarettes one after the other. “He’s always the same, never changes, never will. The most stubborn man I’ve ever known.”
Jack was angry with his father, as usual, but also worried about him. Ennis hoped that maybe the relationship between them was still alive, somewhere deep down inside.
Ennis bowed his head in his usual posture and let Jack speak, it was best for him to shout, cry or curse, whatever he wanted to do. He had problems of his own with stubbornness, too, and didn’t want to risk attracting Jack’s rage toward himself.
In the end, he had been the one who had made Jack wait for more than 10 years and drive for thousands of miles.
TBC
Chapter 14
Here it is a new chapter, thanks for your patience. Sorry for the long delay, but as many of you know, my father was in hospital for two months.
This is the sequel to “Mexico”, ten days after its end.
Disclaimer: the talented Mrs Proulx owns the original story and characters.
Special thanks again to my dear beta Sam and to Onefreetoroam for the title idea.
Thanks to all of you readers and to those who added their opinion.
Nearly a month after the weekend on the mountains, Jack was with Claire at Peter’s ranch to visit Margie, who was at home after a week in the county hospital for a broken arm.
Since John woke up very early that morning and wasn’t around at breakfast time, Jack had to be the driver for his mother.
Ennis remained silent until they left; he knew Jack was due to call Lureen that day to discuss Bobby’s next visit, and he preferred to avoid any comment.
During his morning chores he saw John on the tractor to plough a new patch of land behind the orchard, that had remained untouched for the last few years, because there was nobody to believe in the future of the farm.
Old Man Twist was always and only working, Ennis thought; he wondered why with so much work the ranch was still in such bad shape; it could easily become one of the best of the county. In his opinion it could easily become one of the best in the county, especially since the reservoir was a sure source of water.
When he heard a strange cry and the engine abruptly stopped, Ennis instinctively turned to look. John was bent over in the small seat, unmoving.
Ennis ran to him and saw he was unconscious, but his heart was still beating. When he lifted the unconscious body to took John home he noticed how thin he was.
Ennis walked fast and cursed the absence of Claire: she would surely something good know what to do. John regained consciousness shortly after they reached the front porch, and Ennis stopped.
“Let me go.”
“You fainted.”
“Let me go.” John said with more conviction.
Ennis increased his grip and put John on the couch inside.
“What happened?”
“You were driving the tractor.
John was massaging his chest. “I don’t remember…”
“I’m going to call the doctor and Miz Claire.”
“No, stay here.”
“I’ll only be gone for a minute.”
“Please….”
John as even more stubborn than won Ennis.
“Mr. Twist, you need to call a doctor.”
“I know what’s happening. Nobody else needs to know.”
“But doctors know best.”
“They’re only good for killing people.”
John tried to sit up but had to give up the attempt, feeling his head spin. Ennis helped him to lie down again and insisted.
“I’m going inside to call somebody.”
“No, Ennis.”
“I will if you don’t tell me what’s happening here.”
“Ok …. there’s something wrong with my heart, they say…my brain doesn’t get enough blood sometimes and my head spins.”
“Since when?”
“A year ago, the first time I fainted on the grass out in the middle of the field with the cows. My dog saw me and licked my face, woke me up. Then it happened again while I was working with a seasonal help. So I went to the doctor, he ordered exams and in the end he used those complicated words.”
“And Mrs. Twist?”
“She doesn’t know anything.”
“ That’s impossible.”
“She mustn’t find out, Ennis. Swear it!”
“Ok, ok, if that’s the way you want it.”
Before dinner, Ennis - keeping his voice low - asked Jack if they could have a private conversation outside later.
Jack was curious, but accepted and as soon as he could, he wished his parents good evening.
They sat on a bench under the apple trees with a whole pack of cigarettes; Ennis needed their help to discuss the matter with his lover, although he was sure John had only asked him to keep the problem secret from Claire.
He took a long breath while Jack was observing every little thing.
Jack was trying to imagine the nature of the discussion….he’s leaving, there’s a problem with the children, Dad insulted Ennis …. he was getting anxious as usual so he spoke first.
“So what happened?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Well, if you could begin …”
“I’m trying!”
“I know, Ennis, but please don’t keep me on the edge.”
“It’s about…your father.”
They fought! Jack thought.
“A discussion?”
“No, we talked a little this morning.”
“About what?”
“His situation. He was having a bad time at work and he fainted.”
“What do you mean?”
“It happened, I helped him and after resting for half an hour he was feeling better.”
“Did you call the doctor?”
“No.”
“Why? Ennis, he could be ill.”
“He wouldn’t let me call anybody. He’s well aware of his bad health, he consulted two doctors during last year, without your mother knowing. And he wants it to stay that way.” Ennis took a breath after the effort of his long speech.
“You should have called somebody if he was suffering…” Jack started walking back and forth between the trees, smoking cigarettes one after the other. “He’s always the same, never changes, never will. The most stubborn man I’ve ever known.”
Jack was angry with his father, as usual, but also worried about him. Ennis hoped that maybe the relationship between them was still alive, somewhere deep down inside.
Ennis bowed his head in his usual posture and let Jack speak, it was best for him to shout, cry or curse, whatever he wanted to do. He had problems of his own with stubbornness, too, and didn’t want to risk attracting Jack’s rage toward himself.
In the end, he had been the one who had made Jack wait for more than 10 years and drive for thousands of miles.
TBC