THE TWIST RANCH (part 1 of 2 parts)

THE TWIST RANCH (Part 2 of 2 parts)

Morning visits with both doctor and psychologist brought good news
that was sorely welcome. Jack did, by some lucky stroke of fate, not
have any STD's from his unfortunate experiences in Mexico and his
mind seemed to be clearing by the hour. He remembered more details
from the day he went missing and from some of the things that
happened to him during the last year. Some things he would rather
not remember.

He remembered going to see an attorney in Childress about a divorce.
The attorney called him the next day and asked to meet him that night at
his home. He thought it seemed a little strange to him but he drove out
towards the address he was given. It was a dark and lonely road
about 10 miles out of town. He turned off onto the side road he was
supposed to and a truck pulled crossways in front of him. He hit
the brake and started to back up and another truck had pulled in
crossways behind him. There were four men, two from each truck.
Yelling; pulling at him. They got him out of his truck and he felt a
sting in the side of his neck. Next thing he remembered was waking
up on a stretcher being carried off an airplane, put into a truck and
taken to where they found him. He tried to speak to these people but
they spoke in Spanish and he didn't understand what they were saying
and they evidently didn't understand him. He was given another shot
in the truck and woke up when they tossed him into one of the cages
with three other men.

His head was still in a spin and groggy when the three started
pulling his clothes off of him. He tried to stop them but had no
strength or coordination to put up much of a fight. He teared up
telling Willis and Ennis that part. He knew Ennis would not hold it
against him, but still he felt disgusted having to admit that three
filthy strangers had been where, in his heart, only Ennis had a right
to be.

Ennis said nothing, just gripped Jack's arm tightly and seethed
inside. Willis shook his head in disgust and sympathy.
"Don't know of anything that can make this right for you, Jack. But
I'm sure going to try."
The plane ride back to Wyoming was filled either with silence or
polite conversation; not wanting to discuss anything important that
someone might over hear.
"I never thought I'd see you on an airplane." Jack said smiling at
Ennis next to him.
"Well take a good look 'cause you probably never will again. Ain't
my most favorite way to travel." he leaned his shoulder over against
Jack's.
"You did it though. You got on one of these things and came and
found me."
"Got on three or four of these things. Been flyin all over the place
to find you. Fly anywhere in the world to find you Jack."
The last part said so only Jack could hear.
Jack leaned his head against Ennis's shoulder for a minute then
turned to look out the window.
"Be good to see Momma again. Sure did miss her."
"She's real excited to see you too. Bet she's busy bakin your
favorite cake right about now."
"Wish we was already there." he sighed.
"Close your eyes and try to sleep. I'll wake you when we get near."
Ennis said to him.

They both slept for the next several hours while Detective Willis
formulated a plan of action. First thing he'd have to do when they
landed was get in touch with Ranger Walker. They had a big job ahead
of them but one they were going to enjoy doing.
There had to be proof out there somewhere of J.D.'s doings and they
were going to find it.

Detective Willis got off the plane in Cheyenne, promising to keep
them posted on the investigation. A few awkward moments passed while
Ennis tried to sort out his thoughts. He finally came out
with "Don't know as I'll ever be able to thank you for what you done
for me. Ain't got those kinda words in me." He took Willis's hand
in both of his, trying to will the man to know his feelings. "You're
quite welcome. It's me should be thanking you for bringing me such
an interesting case. Haven't had one that riled me this much in a
long time. It's going to be a pleasure working in it and bringing
this bastard Newsome down."

Ennis and Jack flew on to Gilette, got their truck, then drove the rest
of the way to Lightning Flat. Mrs. Twist was waiting out front; her apron
pulled up to her face; head going back and forth from side to side. She
was rigid with anticipation. Her son was coming home! Ennis had him,
said he'd be good as new. She could hardly stand the wait. She saw the
truck pull into the driveway: her heart pounding. There he was standing
by the truck, tall and handsome as ever. Grinning that school-boy grin
of his.

He bounded up to her, grabbed her in his arms and held her tight.
Her sobbing was muffled against his chest and Ennis stood by
watching, blinking the tears back and thought he had never seen such
a beautiful sight in his life! This wonderful woman he had come to
know and love; and his beautiful Jack in an embrace that brought
tears, laughter, release of tension; and most of all, hope. Hope for
the three of them to have a life together. Something Ennis never
thought was possible. Something he thought they could only dream
about.

She got her senses about her and saw Ennis standing off watching
them. She reached out to him, not letting go of her son for a
moment. Ennis walked over and was pulled into the embrace, "Thank
you's" raining down on him from both Jack and his Momma.
They finally broke their grip on one another and went on into the
house. Jack stopped two steps in, and just looked all around.
"Can't believe I'm home. I used to sit there and try to imagine
being here. Sometimes I could smell your coffee and cake. I could
see this table plain as day; this room too." Tears threatened to
choke off his voice and he went silent.

"Sit down, Jackie. I'll get you some coffee." She caressed his
shoulder. Ennis sat with him, unable to speak at the moment.
Mrs. Twist brought three cups and filled them with the steaming
liquid. They sipped in silence for a spell then Jack spoke.
"You OK about Pa?" he asked him Momma, reaching across the table and
taking her hand.

"Yes son. I am." she heaved a great sigh. "He was a very unhappy
man. Had his own demons eatin away at him. Like a wounded animal.
He took himself out of his misery. Can't say as I blame him for
that."
"Ennis said he's been running the place. He any good at it?" He
smiled at his momma.
"Oh, Jackie! He's the best thing, sides you a course, that ever
happened to this ranch. We done better last fall sellin stock then
we have in years. Your Pa's heart just wasn't in it. Don't think it
ever was, really." She smiled at her son and at Ennis.

"You can tell the difference when a man loves his work; cares about
it. Ennis here, he's a born rancher; at it every minute. Wait till
you see 'round the place. He's got it all fixed up, fences mended,
fields planted, cows lookin bigger and fatter than ever before. Had
more calves this year too. Now with you back home, no tellin what
the three of us can do with the place." She was so excited, it
pleased him to see her happiness overflowing like it was.

They settled into a routine of sorts. Breakfast around the Twist
table, Ennis working the place and Jack mostly walking around the
place, looking it over, making a few suggestions now and then. Lunch
and dinner the same; after dinner some quiet time for the three of
them; and Jack retiring to his room upstairs while Ennis went back to
his trailer alone each night.

Not that Ennis was complaining. He would never do that. He was
incredibly happy to have Jack alive and home again; but something was
missing. Some little part of Jack wasn't there. He would be happy
and bright one moment and the next, brooding and staring off into the
distance.
Ennis found him like that a few weeks after he had returned home,
late one Sunday afternoon. Just standing there, leaning against the
barn door; staring down into the dirt. Mrs. Twist was concerned as
well. "Go on, Ennis. Talk to him. Try to get him to talk a
little." She prodded. He left her to her Sunday reading and walked
over to Jack.

"Whatcha got on your mind, Bud?"
"Nothin." Jack didn't look up.
"Wanna take a walk?"
They walked in silence for a while; Ennis heading them over towards
his trailer.
"Wanna see my trailer? Got it all fixed up nice."
They went inside, Jack looked around, found a chair by the table and
sat down.
Ennis sat on the foot of the bed opposite him and asked, "Can you
tell me what's botherin you? I'd like to help you, if I can."
"It's just different, is all. I always came here ready to do battle
with the old man, ya know; always tried to impress him. Make
him.....I don't know.....make him like me I guess." He rubbed the
aluminum strip around the small table edge. "Guess it's too late
worryin 'bout that now. Always did hope that one day....." He shook
his head and stopped.

"Didn't know your Pa at all but I'd guess somethin happened early on
in his life to make him that way. Somethin soured him so bad he
could never make it back to normal. Wasn't nothin nobody could do to
make him into a happy person."
"You're probably right 'bout that." He looked up at Ennis. "I was
really mad at you." he added. "I used to sit and wait and say to
myself that tomorrow you would come and find me. And tomorrow would
come and you wouldn't; got so I hated you."

"I done lots of things over the years we known each other for you to
hate me, and I'll take the blame for it; but not for this one. We
all thought you was dead. Can't tell you what that did to me. Can't
begin to describe the pain, or count the times I got drunk trying to
block out the memory of our last meeting. The fight we had." He
shook his head, chewed on a thumbnail.

"I been a fool about things between us. Should have run off with you
first time you asked. It was what I wanted. More than anythin. The
years slipped by and all the sudden like, you were gone. Not just
gone from me but gone from this world. Near killed myself with drink
and regrets."
He stood up, went to the cabinet and got down a bottle of whiskey,
poured two drinks and went back. He handed one to Jack but he just
sat it on the little table. Ennis sipped his.

"It was a bad time, Jack, badder than you could know. There was the
phone calls from your Texas family, newspaper clipping, ashes in a
container with your name on it. There was no reason to even think
you might be still alive. You gotta know in your heart, Bud, I'd a
come for you if I'd a known. No iron bars or mud walls woulda kept
me away." He downed another mouthful of whiskey.

"Can't believe it all happened; minds still fuzzy in places. You
say you talked with Lureen? You think she was in on this too?" He
took a sip of his drink.
"Can't say. Don't know the woman. She seemed real sad 'bout things
when we talked. Don't know if that was made up or not."

"Don't know what I'm s'posed to do about it."

"You don't need to do nothin right now. Let Willis and Walker take
care of it. Might be a trial or somethin later on down the road but
you'll be all fine by then and I'll go down there to Texas with you.
You won't be goin through this alone." Ennis assured him.

Jack looked wistfully out the window. Still out of it some.
"Somethin else on your mind?" Ennis asked.

"Yeah...nothin important," he sipped his whiskey.

"What is it? Maybe I can help?" Ennis had him talking now and
wasn't going to let him stop.
"It's just...somethin silly. I had somethin.....somethin I was
savin. It was in my old room and now it's gone is all. I told you
it was silly."

"Somethin maybe tucked in the back of the closet?"

Jack came full alert then and stared at him. The look on his face
gave Ennis the answer. He got up and took Jack's arm, led him over
to the closet and opened the door.

Jack's face clouded up; he reached out and touched the plaid shirt
now on top of his own; saw the postcard and the photo. He choked out
a sob and the tears started down his cheeks.
"Thought they was gone. Thought they got thrown away," he said in a
hoarse voice.

"I found them the day I came up to see your folks, and pay my
respects. Knew what they were. Couldn't believe you kept them all
these years." They stood there, inches apart, two hearts beating as
one. "I asked your momma if I could have them and she said yes. I
had them ever since." He couldn't speak any more. Tears were
blurring his eyes.

"Never shoulda let you walk away from me that day. Shoulda told you
right then how I felt." Jack sniffled.
Ennis reached out to him and took him gently in his arms. "I been a
fool most my life, Jack. We both know that. It ain't gonna be that
way no more. I know what's important. Ain't nothin more important
than bein with the one you love. Won't never tell you 'no'
again 'bout nothin. Just give me a chance to make it all up to you.
You won't be sorry. I promise you." He lifted Jack's chin and
kissed him gently on the lips.

"You're all I ever wanted, Ennis. All. We got lots of bad stuff
between us though. Stuff you don't know that might make you hate
me." Uncertain blue eyes filled with tears gazed into brown.

"No way. Nothin you did will ever make me hate you.”

"I been with others, Ennis. Not just women."

"Don't matter none now. That was before. This is after. We can be
together now. I can give you all you want; whatever you want. Won't
be needin to look for it anywhere else."

"There's other stuff too; stuff that happened down in Mexico. I can
remember most of it now. It's bad, Cowboy. Real bad." He pulled
away from the embrace and walked back to the table. He sat down and
finished off his drink in one swallow.

Ennis came and sat back down in front of him. Reached out and put a
hand on Jack's knee.
"Tell it all. Best to get it all out at once. Then we can deal with
it." Ennis assured him.

"They left me alone for the first several weeks. Then people started
showin up; walkin 'round the cage lookin at me. Talkin in Spanish.
Didn't know what they was sayin but I could tell they was up to no
good the way they was lookin at me."
"Can I have some more of this?" he raised his glass to Ennis.

"Sure." he got up and brought the bottle back to the table; poured
Jack's glass half full and refilled his own.

"Three of them came into my cage. Two held me down and the third one
gave me a shot of somethin. Next thing I knew, I woke up in bed.
Two naked women were with me and people with cameras standing around
were taking pictures." He stopped and took another drink.

"They drug me back outside and into my cage again afterwards." They
came for me often. Coupla times a week. Some times it was with
women, some times it was men. The cameras were always there takin
their pictures."
He looked up to face Ennis's eyes; afraid of what he might see. At
that exact moment the glass Ennis had been holding, shattered and
spewed broken glass and whiskey in his lap.

Jack jumped up and grabbed Ennis's hand, streaked with blood and
pieces of glass sticking out.
"Jesus, Ennis!" He pulled him over to the sink and carefully pulled
out the glass slivers and held the hand under running water.
"I shouldna said nothin. This is all my fault." He held the towel
against the wounds trying to stem the flow of blood.

"I asked. You told. No blame there." Ennis was trying to compose
himself. Couldn't let go now. Not with Jack still so fragile like
he might break in two at any minute. He made a mental note to call
Willis first chance he got with the new information.

Ennis dug out some band-aids from a drawer and waited patiently as
Jack bandaged his hand. It took three band-aids but he finally got
the wounds all covered. He went back and cleaned the mess up then.
"Don't look too deep. Be sore as hell for a few days, is all." Jack
said to him as he emptied the pieces of glass into the trash.

He stood to face him then wiping his hands on a towel a sad kicked-
dog expression in his eyes. "Told you it was bad."

"Jack..." Ennis reached his bandaged hand out and caressed the side
of Jack's face, thumb rubbing back and forth where a moustache used
to be. "At least they got rid of that hair you had growing on your
lip." He tried to smile but the tears belied any sense of humor in
the situation.

Jack cupped Ennis' s hand with his own and pressed a kiss into the
bandaged palm; a sense of calm coming over him. The worst was out
now. All they had left to do was to deal with it.
"You didn't like my moustache? I thought it made me look
Dignified," asoft chuckle.

"Dignified? That what you call it?" then after a minute added. "If
you liked it so much you can always grow it back." He pulled him
close into a hug.
"There anythin else I need knowin?" he didn't want to hear any more;
didn't think he could stand it but had to give Jack this chance to
get it all out.
"That's it. I was scared tellin you. I kept thinkin on what you
said 'bout findin out things you didn't want to know. Thought you'd
quit me for sure." He was breathless scared.

"It'd be easier to quit breathin. We been through a lot, the two of
us. I'd like to think we could put it all behind us; start new.
Think we could do that?"
"I'd like that. We have to go all the way back up to Brokeback, or
can we try right here?" This smile was a little more genuine.
"We can try anywhere on the face of the earth that you want, Bud.
Now I got this flyin down, we can go anywhere you want."

'I'm where I always wanted to be; in your trailer, in your arms. Dreamed
of being here with you. 'course most of those dreams you didn't have so
many clothes on," he said with a crooked smile.
"We can take care of that. I ain't never been nobody's dream
before." He pulled his shirt out of his pants, unsnapped it, pulled
it off and tossed it on the chair.
"You been mine, Ennis. From way before that first night in the
tent." Jack said and sat down on the side of the bed to remove his
boots.

"You knew I was wantin to do that? What we did?" Ennis asked,
removing his boots as well.
"It was all building up inside me. Just felt like it was in you
too. And I guess it was." Next came Jack's shirt, onto the chair
atop Ennis's.

"Didn't know what was happening to me. Felt like I was goin crazy or
somethin. Felt like I was gonna explode if I didn't touch you."
Ennis's jeans came next. They landed on the floor.
"C'meer" he reached for Jack as his jeans hit the floor.

Their lovemaking that night was slow and sweet; each trying through
kisses and touches to show the other how much they cared, how much
this special time meant to them. The tenderness and sweetness that
flowed between them eclipsed only by the firey passion it ignited.

Afterwards they stayed that way, sticky mess and all. There was no
way either could let the other go; even long enough to clean up.
They slept that way, wrapped tightly around each other and awoke the
next morning as if in a new world.

They laughed and joked their way into the shower; soaping each other
up; scrubbing, kissing, rubbing, holding onto each other and groaning
their pleasure and release. They dressed quickly and headed for the
house; knowing Mrs. Twist would be cooking a big breakfast for them,
as usual.

"Good morning, boys." She greeted them with a smile. She knew.
Knew her son had not slept in his bed last night and from the look on
their faces there was no doubt where he did spend the night. Nothing
was said about it, of course, and nothing would be. It was just a
fact. And all three knew it. Jack would no longer be sleeping in
the house.

They had just finished breakfast when the phone rang. Mrs. Twist
answered and handed the phone to Ennis. "For you, Ennis. Said his
name was Willis."
"Thanks." He took the phone; Jack stood by and waited. So did Mrs.
Twist.
"Yeah, Willis. what'cha got?"
Pause
"You kiddin me?"
Pause
"Son of a bitch!"
Pause
"It's all over then?"
Pause
"Yeah. I'll tell him." He put the phone down with a bang, cursed
again. "Fuckin son of a bitch!"

"What'd he say?" Jack asked grabbing his arm.
Mrs. Twist just stood there gripping the back of a chair.
"It's all over. Just like that!"
"What??" Jack demanded an explanation.
"Sorry." Ennis rubbed his forehead to ease the tension. "The old
bastard's dead. Had a heart attack right there in his office when
they came to arrest him. The other four he had working for him, give
themselves up and admitted what they done. Ain't gonna be no trail
or nothin. They found that other old guy he disappeared a few years
ago. He was in the same place as you. We saw him. Older, 60
somethin. He's back home now and that place you was at is shut down."

"Oh my goodness." Mrs. Twist began to cry.
They both went to her then; each with an arm around her, petting her
hair, wiping her tears. "It's alright. It's alright" they both
cooed to her.
Ennis reached a hand out to pull Jack's head next to his; forehead's
touching. "It's all over, Bud. No trial, no reason to go back to
Texas ever again."
"What about Bobby?" Mrs. Twist asked.

"He's alright, I'm sure. Just before all this, Lureed was making
arrangements for him to go off to boardin school. I'm sure he's
already there. I'll see to him after a while, make sure he's OK and
make sure he knows who his daddy is. Let him know I'm still alive."

"What 'bout Lureen?" Ennis asked. "You think she was in on this?"

"I doubt it. She was a good hard working person and she never did me
no wrong. She cared for me more than she should have. Maybe after a
while we can go see her. I'll be wanting to get that divorce and
all."
"So it's really all over." Mrs. Twist, sighed with relief.
"Yeah, Momma. The bad part is. Now it's time to start over. A new
life for all of us. The Twist ranch is gonna know nothing but
happiness from now on."
Ennis grabbed them both in a bear hug and all three blinked back
happy tears for a change.


THE END (Part 2 of 2 parts)









Title: THE TWIST RANCH (Part 2 of 2 parts)
Author: dmcintoshtx@yahoo.com
Fandom: Brokeback Mountain
Pairing: Jack and Ennis
Rating: R
Warnings: None
Disclaimers: These characters belong to Annie Proulx.

THE TWIST RANCH (Part 2 of 2)


Morning visits with both doctor and psychologist brought good news
that was sorely welcome. Jack did, by some lucky stroke of fate, not
have any STD's from his unfortunate experiences in Mexico and his
mind seemed to be clearing by the hour. He remembered more details
from the day he went missing and from some of the things that
happened to him during the last year. Some things he would rather
not remember.

He remembered going to see an attorney in Childress about a divorce.
The attorney called him back the next day and asked him to meet him that
night at his home. He thought it seemed a little strange but he drove out
towards the address he was given. It was a dark and lonely road
about 10 miles out of town. He turned off onto the side road he was
supposed to and a truck pulled crossways in front of him. He hit
the brake and started to back up and another truck had pulled in
crossways behind him. There were four men, two from each truck.
Yelling; pulling at him. They got him out of his truck and he felt a
sting in the side of his neck. Next thing he remembered was waking
up on a stretcher being carried off an airplane, put into a truck and
taken to where they found him. He tried to speak to these people but
they spoke in Spanish and he didn't understand what they were saying
and they evidently didn't understand him. He was given another shot
in the truck and woke up when they tossed him into one of the cages
with three other men.

His head was still in a spin and groggy when the three started
pulling his clothes off of him. He tried to stop them but had no
strength or coordination to put up much of a fight. He teared up
telling Willis and Ennis that part. He knew Ennis would not hold it
against him, but still he felt disgusted having to admit that three
filthy strangers had been where, in his heart, only Ennis had a right
to be.

Ennis said nothing, just gripped Jack's arm tightly and seethed
inside. Willis shook his head in disgust and sympathy.
"Don't know of anything that can make this right for you, Jack. But
I'm sure going to try."
The plane ride back to Wyoming was filled either with silence or
polite conversation; not wanting to discuss anything important that
someone might over hear.
"I never thought I'd see you on an airplane." Jack said smiling at
Ennis next to him.
"Well take a good look 'cause you probably never will again. Ain't
my most favorite way to travel." he leaned his shoulder over against
Jack's.
"You did it though. You got on one of these things and came and
found me."
"Got on three or four of these things. Been flyin all over the place
to find you. I’d fly anywhere in the world to find you Jack."
The last part said so only Jack could hear.
Jack leaned his head against Ennis's shoulder for a minute then
turned to look out the window.
"Be good to see Momma again. Sure did miss her."
"She's real excited to see you too. Bet she's busy bakin your
favorite cake right about now."
"Wish we was already there." he sighed.
"Close your eyes and try to sleep. I'll wake you when we get near,"
Ennis said to him.

They both slept for the next several hours while Detective Willis
formulated a plan of action. First thing he'd have to do when they
landed was get in touch with Ranger Walker. They had a big job ahead
of them but one they were going to enjoy doing.
There had to be proof out there somewhere of J.D.'s doings and they
were going to find it.

Detective Willis got off the plane in Cheyenne, promising to keep
them posted on the investigation. A few awkward moments passed while
Ennis tried to sort out his thoughts. He finally came out
With, "Don't know as I'll ever be able to thank you for what you done
for me. Ain't got those kinda words in me." He took Willis's hand
in both of his, trying to will the man to know his feelings. "You're
quite welcome. It's me should be thanking you for bringing me such
an interesting case. Haven't had one that riled me this much in a
long time. It's going to be a pleasure working on it and bringing
this bastard Newsome down."

Ennis and Jack flew on to Gilette, got their truck, then drove the rest
of the way to Lightning Flat. Mrs. Twist was waiting out front; her apron
pulled up to her face; head going back and forth from side to side. She
was rigid with anticipation. Her son was coming home! Ennis had him,
said he'd be good as new. She could hardly stand the wait. She saw the
truck pull into the driveway: her heart pounding. There he was standing
by the truck, tall and handsome as ever. Grinning that school-boy grin
of his.

He bounded up to her, grabbed her in his arms and held her tight.
Her sobbing was muffled against his chest and Ennis stood by
watching, blinking the tears back and thought he had never seen such
a beautiful sight in his life! This wonderful woman he had come to
know and love; and his beautiful Jack in an embrace that brought
tears, laughter, release of tension; and most of all, hope. Hope for
the three of them to have a life together. Something Ennis never
thought was possible. Something he thought they could only dream
about.

She got her senses about her and saw Ennis standing off watching
them. She reached out to him, not letting go of her son for a
moment. Ennis walked over and was pulled into the embrace, "Thank
yous" raining down on him from both Jack and his Momma.
They finally broke their grip on one another and went on into the
house. Jack stopped two steps in, and just looked all around.
"Can't believe I'm home. I used to sit there and try to imagine
being here. Sometimes I could smell your coffee and cake. I could
see this table plain as day; this room too." Tears threatened to
choke off his voice and he went silent.

"Sit down, Jackie. I'll get you some coffee." She caressed his
shoulder. Ennis sat with him, unable to speak at the moment.
Mrs. Twist brought three cups and filled them with the steaming
liquid. They sipped in silence for a spell then Jack spoke.
"You OK about Pa?" he asked him Momma, reaching across the table and
taking her hand.

"Yes son. I am," she heaved a great sigh. "He was a very unhappy
Man; had his own demons eatin away at him. Like a wounded animal.
He took himself out of his misery. Can't say as I blame him for
that."
"Ennis said he's been running the place. He any good at it?" He
smiled at his momma.
"Oh, Jackie! He's the best thing, sides you a course, that ever
happened to this ranch. We done better last fall sellin stock then
we have in years. Your Pa's heart just wasn't in it. Don't think it
ever was, really." She smiled at her son and at Ennis.

"You can tell the difference when a man loves his work; cares about
it. Ennis here, he's a born rancher; at it every minute. Wait till
you see 'round the place. He's got it all fixed up, fences mended,
fields planted, cows lookin bigger and fatter than ever before. Had
more calves this year too. Now with you back home, no tellin what
the three of us can do with the place." She was so excited, it
pleased him to see her happiness overflowing like it was.

They settled into a routine of sorts. Breakfast around the Twist
table, Ennis working the place and Jack mostly walking around the
place, looking it over, making a few suggestions now and then. Lunch
and dinner the same; after dinner some quiet time for the three of
them; and Jack retiring to his room upstairs while Ennis went back to
his trailer alone each night.

Not that Ennis was complaining. He would never do that. He was
incredibly happy to have Jack alive and home again; but something was
missing. Some little part of Jack wasn't there. He would be happy
and bright one moment and the next, brooding and staring off into the
distance.
Ennis found him like that a few weeks after he had returned home,
late one Sunday afternoon. Just standing there, leaning against the
barn door; staring down into the dirt. Mrs. Twist was concerned as
well. "Go on, Ennis. Talk to him. Try to get him to talk a
little." She prodded. He left her to her Sunday reading and walked
over to Jack.

"Whatcha got on your mind, Bud?"
"Nothin." Jack didn't look up.
"Wanna take a walk?"
They walked in silence for a while; Ennis heading them over towards
his trailer.
"Wanna see my trailer? Got it all fixed up nice."
They went inside, Jack looked around, found a chair by the table and
sat down.
Ennis sat on the foot of the bed opposite him and asked, "Can you
tell me what's botherin you? I'd like to help you, if I can."
"It's just different, is all. I always came here ready to do battle
with the old man, ya know; always tried to impress him. Make
him.....I don't know.....make him like me I guess." He rubbed the
aluminum strip around the small table edge. "Guess it's too late
worryin 'bout that now. Always did hope that one day....." He shook
his head and stopped.

"Didn't know your Pa at all but I'd guess somethin happened early on
in his life to make him that way. Somethin soured him so bad he
could never make it back to normal. Wasn't nothin nobody could do to
make him into a happy person."
"You're probably right 'bout that." He looked up at Ennis. "I was
really mad at you," he added. "I used to sit and wait and say to
myself that tomorrow you would come and find me. And tomorrow would
come and you wouldn't; got so I hated you."

"I done lots of things over the years we known each other for you to
hate me, and I'll take the blame for them; but not for this one. We
all thought you was dead. Can't tell you what that did to me. Can't
begin to describe the pain, or count the times I got drunk trying to
block out the memory of our last meeting. The fight we had." He
shook his head, chewed on a thumbnail.

"I been a fool about things between us. Should have run off with you
first time you asked. It was what I wanted; more than anythin. The
years slipped by and all the sudden like, you were gone. Not just
gone from me but gone from this world. Near killed myself with drink
and regrets."
He stood up, went to the cabinet and got down a bottle of whiskey,
poured two drinks and went back. He handed one to Jack but he just
sat it on the little table. Ennis sipped his.

"It was a bad time, Jack, badder than you could know. There was the
phone calls from your Texas family, newspaper clipping, ashes in a
container with your name on it. There was no reason to even think
you might be still alive. You gotta know in your heart, Bud, I'd a
come for you if I'd a known. No iron bars or mud walls woulda kept
me away." He downed another mouthful of whiskey.

"Can't believe it all happened; minds still fuzzy in places. You
say you talked with Lureen? You think she was in on this too?" He
took a sip of his drink.
"Can't say. Don't know the woman. She seemed real sad 'bout things
when we talked. Don't know if that was made up or not."

"Don't know what I'm s'posed to do about it."

"You don't need to do nothin right now. Let Willis and Walker take
care of it. Might be a trial or somethin later on down the road but
you'll be all fine by then and I'll go down there to Texas with you.
You won't be goin through this alone." Ennis assured him.

Jack looked wistfully out the window. Still out of it some.
"Somethin else on your mind?" Ennis asked.

"Yeah...nothin important," he sipped his whiskey.

"What is it? Maybe I can help?" Ennis had him talking now and
wasn't going to let him stop.
"It's just...somethin silly. I had somethin.....somethin I was
savin. It was in my old room and now it's gone is all. I told you
it was silly."

"Somethin maybe tucked in the back of the closet?"

Jack came full alert then and stared at him. The look on his face
gave Ennis the answer. He got up and took Jack's arm, led him over
to the closet and opened the door.

Jack's face clouded up; he reached out and touched the plaid shirt
now on top of his own; saw the postcard and the photo. He choked out
a sob and the tears started down his cheeks.
"Thought they was gone. Thought they got thrown away," he said in a
hoarse voice.

"I found them the day I came up to see your folks, and pay my
respects. Knew what they were. Couldn't believe you kept them all
these years." They stood there, inches apart, two hearts beating as
one. "I asked your momma if I could have them and she said yes. I
had them ever since." He couldn't speak any more. Tears were
blurring his eyes.

"Never shoulda let you walk away from me that day. Shoulda told you
right then how I felt." Jack sniffled.
Ennis reached out to him and took him gently in his arms. "I been a
fool most my life, Jack. We both know that. It ain't gonna be that
way no more. I know what's important. Ain't nothin more important
than bein with the one you love. Won't never tell you 'no'
again 'bout nothin. Just give me a chance to make it all up to you.
You won't be sorry. I promise you." He lifted Jack's chin and
kissed him gently on the lips.

"You're all I ever wanted, Ennis. All. We got lots of bad stuff
between us though. Stuff you don't know that might make you hate
me." Uncertain blue eyes filled with tears gazed into brown.

"No way! Nothin you did will ever make me hate you."

"I been with others, Ennis. Not just women."

"Don't matter none now. That was before. This is after. We can be
together now. I can give you all you want; whatever you want. Won't
be needin to look for it anywhere else."

"There's other stuff too; stuff that happened down in Mexico. I can
remember most of it now. It's bad, Cowboy; real bad." He pulled
away from the embrace and walked back to the table. He sat down and
finished off his drink in one swallow.

Ennis came and sat back down in front of him. Reached out and put a
hand on Jack's knee.
"Tell it all; best to get it all out at once. Then we can deal with
It," Ennis assured him.

"They left me alone for the first several weeks. Then people started
showin up; walkin 'round the cage lookin at me. Talkin in Spanish.
Didn't know what they was sayin but I could tell they was up to no
good the way they was lookin at me."
"Can I have some more of this?" he raised his glass to Ennis.

"Sure." he got up and brought the bottle back to the table; poured
Jack's glass half full and refilled his own.

"Three of them came into my cage. Two held me down and the third one
gave me a shot of somethin. Next thing I knew, I woke up in bed.
Two naked women were with me and people with cameras standing around
were taking pictures." He stopped and took another drink.

"They drug me back outside and into my cage again afterwards." They
came for me often. Coupla times a week. Some times it was with
women, some times it was men. The cameras were always there takin
their pictures."
He looked up to face Ennis's eyes; afraid of what he might see. At
that exact moment the glass Ennis had been holding, shattered and
spewed broken glass and whiskey in his lap.

Jack jumped up and grabbed Ennis's hand, streaked with blood and
pieces of glass sticking out.
"Jesus, Ennis!" He pulled him over to the sink and carefully pulled
out the glass slivers and held the hand under running water.
"I shouldna said nothin. This is all my fault." He held the towel
against the wounds trying to stem the flow of blood.

"I asked. You told. No blame there." Ennis was trying to compose
Himself; couldn't let go now. Not with Jack still so fragile like
he might break in two at any minute. He made a mental note to call
Willis first chance he got with the new information.

Ennis dug out some band-aids from a drawer and waited patiently as
Jack bandaged his hand. It took three band-aids but he finally got
the wounds all covered. He went back and cleaned the mess up then.
"Don't look too deep. Be sore as hell for a few days, is all." Jack
said to him as he emptied the pieces of glass into the trash.

He stood to face him then wiping his hands on a towel, a sad kicked-
dog expression in his eyes. "Told you it was bad."

"Jack..." Ennis reached his bandaged hand out and caressed the side
of Jack's face, thumb rubbing back and forth where a moustache used
to be. "At least they got rid of that hair you had growing on your
lip." He tried to smile but the tears belied any sense of humor in
the situation.

Jack cupped Ennis's hand with his own and pressed a kiss into the
bandaged palm; a sense of calm coming over him. The worst was out
now. All they had left to do was to deal with it.
"You didn't like my moustache? I thought it made me look
dignified," a soft chuckle.

"Dignified? That what you call it?" Then after a minute added, "If
you liked it so much you can always grow it back." He pulled him
close into a hug.
"There anythin else I need knowin?" He didn't want to hear any more;
didn't think he could stand anything more but had to give Jack this chance to
get it all out.
"That's it. I was scared tellin you. I kept thinkin on what you
said 'bout findin out things you didn't want to know. Thought you'd
quit me for sure." He was breathless scared.

"It'd be easier to quit breathin. We been through a lot, the two of
us. I'd like to think we could put it all behind us; start new.
Think we could do that?"
"I'd like that. We have to go all the way back up to Brokeback, or
can we try right here?" This smile was a little more genuine.
"We can try anywhere on the face of the earth that you want, Bud.
Now I got this flyin down, we can go anywhere you want."

'I'm where I always wanted to be; in your trailer, in your arms. Dreamed
of being here with you. 'course most of those dreams you didn't have so
many clothes on," he said with a crooked smile.
"We can take care of that. I ain't never been nobody's dream
before." He pulled his shirt out of his pants, unsnapped it, pulled
it off and tossed it on the chair.
"You been mine, Ennis. From way before that first night in the
tent." Jack said and sat down on the side of the bed to remove his
boots
.
"You knew I was wantin to do that? What we did?" Ennis asked,
removing his boots as well.
"It was all building up inside me. Just felt like it was in you
too. And I guess it was." Next came Jack's shirt, onto the chair
atop Ennis's.

"Didn't know what was happening to me. Felt like I was goin crazy or
somethin. Felt like I was gonna explode if I didn't touch you."
Ennis's jeans came next. They landed on the floor.
"C'meer" he reached for Jack as his jeans hit the floor.

Their lovemaking that night was slow and sweet; each trying through
kisses and touches to show the other how much they cared, how much
this special time meant to them. The tenderness and sweetness that
flowed between them eclipsed only by the fiery passion it ignited.

Afterwards they stayed that way, sticky mess and all. There was no
way either could let the other go; even long enough to clean up.
They slept that way, wrapped tightly around each other and awoke the
next morning as if in a new world.
They laughed and joked their way into the shower; soaping each other
up; scrubbing, kissing, rubbing, holding onto each other and groaning
their pleasure and release. They dressed quickly and headed for the
house; knowing Mrs. Twist would be cooking a big breakfast for them,
as usual.

"Good morning, boys." She greeted them with a smile. She knew.
Knew her son had not slept in his bed last night and from the look on
their faces there was no doubt where he did spend the night. Nothing
was said about it, of course, and nothing would be. It was just a
fact. And all three knew it. Jack would no longer be sleeping in
the house.

They had just finished breakfast when the phone rang. Mrs. Twist
answered and handed the phone to Ennis. "For you, Ennis. Said his
name was Willis."
"Thanks." He took the phone; Jack stood by and waited. So did Mrs.
Twist.
"Yeah, Willis. what'cha got?"
Pause
"You kiddin me?"
Pause
"Son of a bitch!"
Pause
"It's all over then?"
Pause
"Yeah. I'll tell him." He put the phone down with a bang, cursed
again. "Fuckin son of a bitch!"

"What'd he say?" Jack asked grabbing his arm.
Mrs. Twist just stood there gripping the back of a chair.
"It's all over. Just like that!"
"What??" Jack demanded an explanation.
"Sorry." Ennis rubbed his forehead to ease the tension. "The old
bastard's dead. Had a heart attack right there in his office when
they came to arrest him. The other four he had working for him, give
themselves up and admitted what they done. Ain't gonna be no trail
or nothin. They found that other old guy he disappeared a few years
ago. He was in the same place as you. We saw him. Older, 60
somethin. He's back home now and that place you was at is shut down."

"Oh my goodness," Mrs. Twist began to cry.
They both went to her then; each with an arm around her, petting her
hair, wiping her tears. "It's alright. It's alright" they both
cooed to her.
Ennis reached a hand out to pull Jack's head next to his; forehead's
touching. "It's all over, Bud. No trial, no reason to go back to
Texas ever again."
"What about Bobby?" Mrs. Twist asked.

"He's alright, I'm sure. Just before all this, Lureen was making
arrangements for him to go off to boardin school. I'm sure he's
already there. I'll see to him after a while, make sure he's OK and
make sure he knows who his daddy is. Let him know I'm still alive."

"What 'bout Lureen?" Ennis asked. "You think she was in on this?"
"I doubt it. She was a good hard working person and she never did me
no wrong. She cared for me more than she should have. Maybe after a
while we can go see her. I'll be wanting to get that divorce and
all."
"So it's really all over," Mrs. Twist, sighed with relief.
"Yeah, Momma, the bad part is. Now it's time to start over. A new
life for all of us. The Twist ranch is gonna know nothing but
happiness from now on."
Ennis grabbed them both in a bear hug and all three blinked back
happy tears for a change.


THE END (End of part 2 of 2 parts)