Gift of Exile, Summary of Chapters
Because my progress with chapters has been so slow, several readers had commented that it had been awhile since they'd read the earlier part of the story, and one reader suggested that I put together a summary of the plot so far.
This is a canon sequel to BBM, somewhat more based on the film than on the short story. It opens in June of 1984.
Chapters 1-5: Though still dealing with grief and guilt over Jack and uneasy at having to face Alma, Ennis keeps his promise to attend Alma Junior's wedding. During the ceremony, he's startled to discover that although Jack is present at the wedding although no one but Ennis is aware of it. He and Jack exchange vows silently. At the reception, Ennis manages to say a few cordial words to Alma and then meets an elderly wedding guest from Georgia, Alexandria Harding, called "Gramma Alex" by her grandchildren. Alexandria, Curt's great-aunt, introduces her daughter Carol, granddaughter Charlene and her grandson David Kendrick. David is originally from Georgia but is now living in Duluth, Minnesota. Ennis overhears Charlene make a remark suggesting that David is gay and is also mourning the loss of a partner.
Ennis and David talk and go out for a beer after the reception. David strikes up a conversation with Vickie, the owner and bartender of the Black and Blue Eagle Bar and Ennis is talked into taking David horseback riding. David tells Ennis about how his friend and lover Nathan Howell, lost his parents, Tom and Sheila Howell, in a plane crash at age 13. Nathan's and David's families had been close friends for as long as he could remember. By the end of the second afternoon, Ennis and David discover a strong attraction to each other.
Chapters 6-8: After the wedding, David begins to call Ennis regularly, and Ennis starts seeing and talking to Jack in dreams. In the meantime, Ennis is tormented by fantasies of what his and Jack's everyday life would have been like if they'd had that "sweet life" in Lightning Flat. He finally tries to ignore or suppress these daydreams, until Jack urges him not to. He tells Ennis that in imagining a good life with another man, he's in the process of "changing horses."
Mrs. Twist writes to Ennis, telling him that Jack's father has died and she's planning to sell the ranch and move out of state to live near family. She asks him to carry out Jack's wishes and take his ashes up to Brokeback. During Ennis' visit to Lightning Flat, Mrs. Twist tells him some background about Jack's father, and gives Ennis a few of Jack's possessions. For the first time, and with great difficulty, Ennis admits to being "queer", and he and Mrs. Twist talk about Jack.
Chapters 9-11: Ennis makes the trip back up Brokeback, setting up camp on his and Jack's first campsite. He scatters Jack's ashes near the campsite, sits by the campfire for awhile and then goes to sleep, expecting to head back down in the morning. However, he and Jack have an unexpected reunion and spend a long wedding night; and Jack tells Ennis why he has stayed nearby. He encourages Ennis to rebuild his life. During the night, Ennis has a vision which he doesn't remember afterward, but he makes promises to Jack that he does remember as he drives back toward Riverton, a little later than he expected to.
Chapters 12-15: Ennis spends more time with Alma Junior and Jenny, but over the next six months both move out of town. He helps Jenny move, with some unexpected help from David, but for various reasons rules out relocating near either of his daughters. The Coffee Pot ranch is sold and Ennis loses his job, leading David to offer him a part-time job and a place to stay in Duluth. A few days later, Ennis almost gets into a fight in the bar when he learns that Javier, a former co-worker has AIDS and one of the other ranch hands makes a cruel joke. That night, with some encouragement from Jack, Ennis calls David and accepts his invitation.
Chapter 16: Jack reflects on his choice to wait for Ennis.
Chapters 17-23: Ennis is more run-down than he thinks and is bedridden his first few days in Duluth. Jack visits and tells him that he will stay close by and be there when Ennis needs him, but that the time has come for Ennis to make his own way. When Ennis recovers he explores his new surroundings, gets to know Maggie, their downstairs neighbor, and discovers that David has his own version of the two shirts. He gradually gets more used to his new home and job, he and David spend more time together and he begins to tell David about Jack. David revives an interest in nature and the outdoors, and they begin to explore the nearby beach and nature trails.
Chapters 24-25: Because of a heavy workload at the store, Ennis and David spend several long workdays catching up. As they learn more about each other, Ennis discovers that David has seen the two shirts and guessed at their importance, and in turn David tells Ennis more about Nathan, including the background of one of the two paintings Ennis has noticed in a dark corner of the house. After the work is caught up they celebrate the first hot day of the summer by going swimming. They kiss for the first time but are interrupted by the arrival of other swimmers, and Ennis senses that David is a little hesitant. At the end of the chapter, they head to Grandma's Saloon, a neighborhood bar and restaurant where Maggie works.
INDEX OF CHAPTERS
Chapter 1: http://talkstocoyotes.livejournal.com/392.html
Chapter 2: http://talkstocoyotes.livejournal.com/523.html
Chapter 3: http://talkstocoyotes.livejournal.com/1066.html
Chapter 4: http://talkstocoyotes.livejournal.com/1485.html
Chapter 5: http://talkstocoyotes.livejournal.com/1704.html
Chapter 6: http://talkstocoyotes.livejournal.com/2038.html
Chapter 7: http://talkstocoyotes.livejournal.com/2358.html
Chapter 8: http://talkstocoyotes.livejournal.com/2635.html
Chapter 9: http://talkstocoyotes.livejournal.com/2947.html
Chapter 10: http://talkstocoyotes.livejournal.com/3130.html
Chapter 11: http://talkstocoyotes.livejournal.com/3356.html
Chapter 12: http://talkstocoyotes.livejournal.com/3655.html
Chapter 13: http://talkstocoyotes.livejournal.com/3934.html
Chapter 14: http://talkstocoyotes.livejournal.com/4154.html
Chapter 15: http://talkstocoyotes.livejournal.com/4591.html
Chapter 16: http://talkstocoyotes.livejournal.com/4685.html
Chapter 17: http://talkstocoyotes.livejournal.com/5094.html
Chapter 18: http://talkstocoyotes.livejournal.com/5140.html
Chapter 19: http://talkstocoyotes.livejournal.com/5546.html
Chapter 20: http://talkstocoyotes.livejournal.com/6249.html
Chapter 21: http://talkstocoyotes.livejournal.com/6434.html
Chapter 22: http://talkstocoyotes.livejournal.com/6843.html
Chapter 23: http://talkstocoyotes.livejournal.com/7306.html
Chapter 24: http://talkstocoyotes.livejournal.com/7646.html
Chapter 25: http://talkstocoyotes.livejournal.com/7723.html