HERE I AM

HERE I AM (Part 3 of 5 parts)

Jack and Ennis spent the first week going over the place and seeing
what needed to be done in the way of improvements, cursing the old
man along the way for letting the place get so run down. They
studied their budget, working out how much they could afford to spend
right away and how much to put away to make sure they had enough
running room for a few years.

"Never told me you had this money stashed." Ennis commented.

"Was savin it for a surprise. I really got into the selling
business. Found I had a real knack for it. All's it takes is a
little talkin and a little smilin and they start writing out those
big checks!"

"That better be all you was doin for this money. Just talkin and
smilin." Ennis gave him a warning grin.

"Well, I did have to learn how to use all that stuff, so's I could
sell it. Got me some big time commissions and end of the year
bonuses. Saved every penny. Didn't even have to contribute much of
anything to everyday expenses neither. When Lureen's grandma passed
10 years ago, she left her house and a huge trust fund to Lureen.
The place was all set up, left some fancy cars and everything mostly
to Lureen. First thing Lureen did was hand me a bunch of credit
cards and all those bills went to her attorney who was handling the
trust fund so I ain't had to pay for nothin in years. We sold the
house that I had bought and that went into my little fund here, plus
most everything else I made. Always figured I'd be back here one day
and knew the place would need it."

"Had me no idea I'd be a rich man's 'boy'!" Ennis reached for the
pencil Jack had been using and tossed it on the cupboard.
Jack laid aside the papers he'd been working on, grabbed Ennis and
they tumbled onto the bed. "That what you are, Cowboy? My 'boy'?"
He rolled Ennis over and laid on top of him, kissing down the side of
his neck.

"I'll be anythin you want me to be, Bud, as long as you keep that
up." Ennis leaned his head over to give Jack more access to his
neck.

Pounding on the door brought them back to reality.
"SHIT!" Jack climbed off the bed and went to the door; Ennis threw
his legs over the side of the bed and sat up.
Jack flung the door open to find his Pa standing there.

"Cows are on the road. Fence in the south pasture finally give way.
You two zip up and git on over there." the old man sneered.

They grabbed their hats and were out the door. They took Jack's pick
up on over and tried shooing the animals back where they belonged.
Ennis jumped out, swinging his hat at them, Jack blocked their way
with his truck, then got out and helped.

"Think this fence gotta be first priority." Ennis said trying to
twist the wire back into shape long enough for a temporary hold.

"Yeah, then we need to take a trip to Riverton; pick up your horses.
Can't be playin 'cowboys' without horses."

"Sounds good. I need to pick up my last pay check, and pay old man
Keller for the use of the stables."

They did a passable mending job on the fence and took off for
Riverton.
They talked about fence mending, increasing the heard, acquiring a
few new bulls, repairs around the place, building on a new porch for
his Momma to sit out on. That was something the old man was supposed
to do after the old one finally fell during a storm. Jack had torn
down the shattered remains on one of his trips and his dad had
promised to build a new one as Mrs. Twist did like to sit out after
her evening's chores were done.

They had lunch in Riverton which put Ennis into a nervous state.
"Don't worry about it, Ennis. We're just a coupla guys havin lunch.
Look around, there's two guys over there, and three over there. You
think they're all doin it?"

"Hell no!" Ennis answered keeping his voice and eyes down.

"Well, what makes you think they're lookin at us thinkin we're doing
it?" Jack reasoned.

"Don't know." He chanced a quick look around the cafe. "They ain't
even lookin at us." he had to admit.

"Exactly my point. As long as we behave ourselves and don't commence
to grab-assin in public; we're just like anybody else."

The waitress placed their lunch in front of them then. They both
politely thanked her.
"Makes sense, I guess." Ennis picked up his sandwich then put it
back down and placed his napkin in his lap like Jack did.

"I got a lot to learn, Bud, but I can do it. I promise you that."
Jack smiled at him and nodded. "I know you can." he assured him.

They arrived back in Lightning Flat after dark and got the horses
settled into the stables they had set right before they left.
"They'll be fine. Still a little fidigety from the trailer ride.
They don't like that trailer all that much." Ennis said patting the
side of one of the horses neck.

"That's funny." Jack said, patting the other horse. "I love the
riding we do in your trailer."

Ennis grinned.
"I been thinkin along those lines myself." he walked over behind
Jack; put his arms around him. "So you feel like bein the rider or
the ridee?" He slipped a hand down to Jack's crotch and squeezed the
denim bulge.

"Don't much care so long as I'm along for the ride." He pressed his hips
forward into the warm hand.

Ennis left arm went around Jack's waist, right hand undid belt
buckle, snap and slid the zipper down. His hand slid inside caressing
balls, stroking cock.
Jack leaned back, both arms reaching behind him, pulling Ennis
tighter up against him.

"You want it here?" Ennis breathed against the back of his
neck. "Ain't got no lube out here."

"Didn't need any up on Brokeback." Jack encouraged.

"Guess I could be persuaded." Ennis allowed and slid Jack's jeans
down around his knees and undid his own.
Jack leaned forward, against the stall, braced himself with both
hands and stuck his rear out.

"That's about the finest persuasion I ever did see." Ennis wet himself
with saliva and entered Jack slowly, so's not to hurt him.
"Sure hope your Pa don't take to sleep-walkin."

"Serve the old son-of-a-bitch right!" Jack said then let out a long
soft moan as Ennis slid deep into him.
Ennis had meant to take it slow and easy but it was all too much for
him. The dim light from the single light bulb off in the front of the
barn, the smells of the horses and hay, the moonlight streaking in
through a window that hadn't been washed in 30 years, and Jack's bare
bottom. He caressed its smoothness, held onto those fine hips and
plunged faster. Jack's moaning didn't hurt none either. Such noises
that man could make!

Jack was beginning to tighten up, gasping he reached for Ennis hand,
like he did that first night they were together back on the mountain,
pulled it around front and Ennis gripped tight just in time for
Jack's explosive release. His squeals set the horses to snorting
round in their stalls and that was all it took for Ennis to empty
himself into Jack. They staggered, pulling, and holding on each
other over to a hay pile and collapsed in each others arms. They
stayed that way for a while wrapped around each other till the
night's chill set in and finally righted themselves and went to their
trailer.

Next morning at breakfast the old man let them know he wasn't too
happy with their repair job on the fence.
"That repair job you and your 'boyfriend' did ain't worth shit.
Those cows will be back on the road 'fore sundown." He slurped his
coffee, then dug into his breakfast.

"I was a temporary fix, Pa. We're goin into town today for
supplies. That whole south section needs replacin, not repairin.
It's so old it wouldn't hold in a herd of butterflies." Jack sipped
his coffee.

"Ain't nothin wrong with the fence. My daddy put up that fence.
Just needs seein to by someone knows how." The old man snorted.
Jack took a deep breath, looked over at Ennis and started a new
subject. "New tractor should be here today or tomorrow. It's got a
post-hole attachment. We already ordered all the stuff for the fence
and we're pickin it up this mornin. Once the tractor gets here,
we'll start on the post holes." Wasn't asking. Just telling.

"Waste of good money." The old man threw his napkin on the table and
left the room.

It was always a relief to them when he left the room. The three of
them could then enjoy the remainder of their meal.
"Momma, we got plans for your kitchen too. Gonna get you some new
appliances, do some paintin, fix it up real nice."

"Ooohh." She put her hands to her mouth, tears sprung into her
eyes. "Now you don't need to be spendin your money on my kitchen."

"If you're gonna be cookin for us, we are! Ain't that right, Ennis?"

"It's Jack's money he's been savin for years. Guess he can spend it
how he wants." he smiled at Mrs. Twist.

"Oh..Oh my goodness." She didn't know what to say.

"We was walkin 'round Home Depot the other day and saw all these fine
cabinets and such. Why don't we measure this kitchen here and see
what we can do about remodelin the whole thing?" He loved seeing the
expression on his Momma's face. This was something he had dreamed of
doing for years. "You could go along with us, pick out what you
like?" he offered.

"Oh no, I couldn't. You decide. Are you sure you want to do that?
That sounds awful expensive." She wandered back to the stove and
brought the coffee pot back re-filling all three cups.

"I set aside $10,000 just for improvements on the house. Figured we
could do most of the work ourselves, save some money and get more
done. Roof still looks good from that job we got done a few years
back. Figured with a little paint on the outside and some fixin here
and there it'd look pretty fine. Figured a couple thousand of that
for supplies for a new porch, Ennis and I'll build and I want to get
you a new heatin system put in. Those old radiators shoulda been
trashed years ago. We may have to just go electrical baseboard
heating for this winter in the main rooms and worry about a whole new
system later. The kitchen is the most important right now. We got
months before we have to worry about heatin this place. You sure you
don't want to go in and pick out cabinets with us?" He asked him
Momma.

"Oh my goodness, no. I don't care what they look like. Just so's
the doors open and close and I sure could use a bigger pantry." She
was getting into it a little bit now.

"We'll certainly see to that, Momma. And new appliances too, and I
wanna get you a new deep-freeze so's you can stock up for
winter 'case we get snowed in up here."

"New appliances, new cupboards, oh my." She went to the sink and
stood with her back to them. Ennis stood and took his empty cup to
the sink. Standing beside her he said. "That was a mighty fine
breakfast Ma'am. Coffee's best I ever had."

Jack came over to them, put his arm around his Momma's shoulder and
gave her a squeeze. "Always was the best cook in the county." he
kissed her cheek. "You be thinkin 'bout what colors you want in here
so's we can get the paintin done first. Ennis and me are going to
fetch the fencing supplies."

They walked out into the morning air. Breathed in deep and lit up
cigarettes.
"I really like your Momma. She reminds me of my own Momma sometimes,
least what I can remember of her."

Jack slung his arm around his shoulder as they walked to the truck.
"Better not be doin that shit in town." The old man called out from
the side of the house, standing there with his hands on his hips.
Ennis remembered that stance that Jack used so often and it sickened
him a little knowing that nasty old man was using it too.

Jack shot the old man a dirty look and they climbed into the truck
and were off. Had to rent a trailer in town to carry all the fencing
equipment got it all loaded up and was about to leave when one of the
employees walked up to them and asked, "One of you Jack Twist?"

"That'd be me." Jack said wiping his hands on his jeans.

"Phone call just came in from a Mrs. Twist. Said to tell you she got
a call your new tractor was in over cross the street. Thought your
should know before you drove all the way back home."
\
"Thanks." Jack said.
They walked across the street to the farm machinery place and went
in. Ten minutes later they were on the road, heading back to the
ranch; their tractor on a truck following along behind them. After
the unloading the truck driver took off and they were standing there
admiring their new John Deere when the old man walked up, looked the
green monster over, spit and walked away, not saying a word.

"Think I like it better when he keeps his mouth shut." Ennis grinned
at Jack.

Jack stood staring after his daddy as he disappeared into the
barn. "Don't know what I ever did to make him hate me so." He shook
his head.

Ennis caressed the back of Jack's neck. "Don't matter none. He
don't realize it yet, but this place ain't his no more. It's yours
now."

Jack looked up at him. "Guess you're right about that. He can curse
and spit all he wants. We're gonna do whatever we want with the
place." His arm went up around Ennis's back. "We should get
started. Just wait till I show you what this baby can do!"

"Seems like you got lots of work planned for us to do." Ennis
climbed up on the tractor beside him.

"Sure enough. You didn't think bein a rich man's boy was gonna be
all fun and games, did you?"

"Nope. But all the work we gonna be doin, don't see much time for
the fun part."

Jack chuckled down deep and reached for a quick kiss. "I promise I
won't tire you out too much for the fun. Sides, this is fun, ain't
it?" He tried to start the tractor up then remembered he hadn't put
any gas in it. Hopped down, grabbed the can from in front of the
barn and dumped enough in the tank for a try out. He was back up on
it in a minute and they drove the tractor around a bit.
"Purrs like a kitten." He proclaimed.

"A big kitten." Ennis agreed.

They washed up for lunch and went in. Mr. Twist was already in his
seat drinking coffee. They were greeted with a smile from Momma
Twist and sat down. She placed huge plates of food in front of each
of them and sat down herself.

"That's a God-damned waste of money if you ask me." the old man said
chewing on a mouthfull of food.

"No one's askin you, Pa." Jack said and started eating after his
Momma did.

Ennis watched it all, dark eyes flitting between the three other
faces at the table.

"It's his money." Mrs. Twist said in a small voice.

"Spendin it like a damn fool, he is! Be broke inside coupla months,
you wait and see."

She smiled at Jack and Ennis, that small little, 'I'm sorry' smile of
hers.

"Be better off spendin it on seed for plantin and it's nearly time
for your fall vegetable garden. There's lots more important
things to be spendin money on than that damn fool thing out there."
He gestured his fork towards the door.

"Already got the seed for the winter grass. It's out in the back of
the pickup. Got some seedlings on order for Momma's garden. Gonna
pick 'em up next weekend after we get the ground worked for her."

"You bought seedlings? I figured you'd come back with pansies or
somethin just as silly." He threw his napkin down and left the room.
Mrs. Twist put her napkin to her face to stem the tears, shoved her
chair back and ran up the stairs.

Jack looked at him with a sad, sad face. "You go on up to her, Jack."
Ennis wiped his mouth. Jack took off after his Momma.
Ennis decided it was time he had a little talk with Mr. Twist.

He found him in the front room smoking a cigarette and staring out
the window.
"Can I speak with you a minute?" he thought it'd be right to start
out nice-like; knowing this conversation wasn't going to end up that
way.

"I got nothin to say to you." the old man said.

"I was just wonderin. Why you hate Jack so much?" He stood leanin
against the fireplace mantel, near to where the old man had sat down.

"Well, I'll tell you. You look at him and all you see is someone to
suck your dick. I look at him and see all my hopes and dreams for a
fine family gone down the shit-hole. 'fore he was borned we was
gonna have us at least six or seven kids. The old lady will tell you
that. Then he came along, messed her up so's she can't have no
more. Ruined everything, he did.”
“Then just when he was big enough to be a help around this place, he
runs off! Little son-of-a-bitch." He spit into his cup.

"Can't see as any of that is his fault." Ennis said, chewing on a
nail.

"Hell, even when he was here he wasn't good for nothin. Weak as
piss, and sooner sit in the kitchen with his Ma than bein out in the
field workin like a man. He ain't never been no good."

Ennis took two steps, stopped in front of the old man, reached down
grabbed him by his overalls and hauled him upright.
"Listen to me, you pice of shit. You're an OLD man, so I won't tear
head off this time, but I tell you this; and you'd better hear what
I'm sayin. You EVER treat Jack like that in front of me, or his
Momma again, I'll rip your fuckin guts out." He slammed him back
into his chair and went back into the kitchen just as Jack and his
Momma were coming back down the stairs.

Mrs. Twist smiled at him, her eyes red. She stood there with Jack's
arm around her.
"Don't you go worry 'bout nothin now, sweet thing, Jack and me can
take anythin that old fool can dish out." Ennis kissed her on the
cheek, turned to Jack.

"Better get started; lots of work to get done." He smiled at him.
Smiling wasn't his usual thing to do but after seeing Mrs. Twist and
Jack smiling all the time, he realized just how powerful a smile
could be. He decided he'd better try doing it more. Seemed like
both Jack and his Momma liked it when he did it.

He had a lot to smile about that summer. In no time, they had the
kitchen redone, new cabinets, shiny new appliances, and a nice
butter-yellow color on the walls. Mrs. Twist ever sewed up some new
curtains, and for some reason was constantly smiling. Just the way
Jack always remembered her. And Mr. Twist? For some reason he toned
down quite a bit. Most meals were now without insults. They ate
mostly in silence till he left the table but that was fine with the
other three.

There were good times ahead for the Twist Ranch. It had passed into
the hands of the next generation and was once again cared for and
made into a real home.

The end of part 3 of 5.