Chapter 8

[talkstocoyotes]

Ennis took extra care driving, as always when he had the horse trailer behind him. He’d made equally careful preparations in the last few weeks, first getting time off from the foreman who didn’t take it well but grudgingly accepted his story about doing a favor for a friend; and then borrowing a tent and other camping equipment from Vickie. He

Comments

[under_wyo_skies]

Ooooo! I just came across this story today and have read all chapters. I love doing that, no nailbiting days waiting for updates...but now there is. Argh. I love this so much. I love the way you've introduced the other man. When Ennis met him so soon after Jack's death, and so early on in the story I was a bit doubtful. Wrongly so. It was a really good move to have David presented as queer right from the start. Because I think it's that which opens Ennis up to all of the other thoughts and feelings he has.

The part where David is messing with the saddle and Ennis is transfixed was superb. It was so real. Sometimes when Ennis has an attraction to someone else there is a note of unbelievability about it which has to be suspended. Not here. Not at all. And when he goes on in the next chapter, thinking that he was seconds away from rolling around in the dirt with this guy...

I'm kind of missing David a bit now, though. I like that they talk on the phone - getting to know each other. I want them to meet up again, although perhaps when they do there will have to be a bit of action between them, so good that you're not introducing that so quickly.

And I enjoyed his meeting with Jack's mum. Since she already knows then she's the obvious choice for him to actually come out and say it - though he did this in some part when he went there to see them, then took the shirts anyway. But to have him open his mouth and speak was something of a breakthrough for him.

Roll on Chapter 9

[talkstocoyotes]

Yeah, it was quite a breakthrough, and Jack's mom would be the logical person for him to come out to first.

I'm glad the reaction to David being in the story was so positive. This story is more based on "movie Ennis" than "book Ennis", and meant not getting Ennis spooked by too much at once. The interval where they're getting to know each other over the phone put him in a non-threatening place.

Ennis' return to Brokeback will take up three chapters, which will be posted tomorrow. Hope you continue to enjoy the story.

Behavioral expression of grief...

[under_wyo_skies]

Before reading Chapter 9 just posted, I decided to reread Chapter 8 to restore the emotional flow and sense of story line. Except for your beautiful and well-crafted story, I have never been able to read any stories set in the time after Jack's death or stories which involved Ennis having another romantic relationship. Most were just irredeemably sad. Now reading this again I found myself saddened by the overwhelming depth of Ennis' regret and self-blame. Then reading: "He began rocking back and forth in the ancient instinctive movement of deepest grief.", I realized I had been doing precisely the same thing. I am impressed and indebted to you for this insight into the behavioral expression of grief. I find you a very observant writer of intense emotion.

Another thought... it seems that bearing the loss of his own partner somehow makes David's character a realistic and acceptable choice for Ennis. Perhaps it's because a person who has suffered a deep loss well understands that people are not interchangeable and replaceable so David would not even try to 'replace' Jack in Ennis' heart, as though love were a zero-sum game, or feel jealous of him in Ennis' memories and so would allow Ennis to speak of Jack without feeling disloyal.

Thank you for such a satisfying story.
Animas