THE SWEET LIFE

CHAPTER THREE

A few weeks later …

"Twist residence?" Jack answered the phone this time.

"Jack, I just fuckin can't stand this any more!"

"Ennis? What's wrong?" Jack got up and walked over to his study door and closed it. He flipped the phone cord over the stuff on his desk.

"You and me, that's what's wrong! You living all the way down there in Texas and me up here in Wyomin all alone. I hate this! I fuckin hate this!"

"So do I, Ennis. Any time you're ready to change things, I'm ready!"

"How about right now, Jack?"

"How about right now what?"

"How about right now we change things? I'm sick to death of bein alone and I think you are too. You still willin to try this thing? This livin together?"

"I must be dreamin. Ennis, you sober?" Jack was pacing around his study now; the phone cord raking things off his desk but he didn't care.

"Uh huh. I ain't had nothin to drink all week but one beer each night with supper. I been doin a lot of thinkin and I needed a clear mind. I wanna do this, Jack. I want you and me to try bein together."

"When? How soon? Can I come up there right now? Before you change your mind?"
The questions came pouring out of Jack.

"Uh huh. Sooner you get here the sooner we can start this thing. I gotta tell you though, I ain't all that keen on Lightnin Flat. That be OK with you if we got a place somewhere else?"

"Anywhere you wanna live will be fine with me, Ennis; anywhere!"

"OK then. Git yourself on up here then so we can start lookin. Gotta warn you though; once you come back up here; I ain't never gonna let you go again."

"Oh God, Ennis! You know how long I've waited to hear you say that? I've gotta go! I've gotta pack; I've gotta talk to Lureen, I've gotta get the truck serviced; I've gotta get to the bank, I've gotta pack."

"You already said that," Ennis interjected with a grin.

"Huh?"

"You said you gotta pack; you said it twice."

"Oh, well, hell, I got a lot I need to do. You won't go changin your mind on me now will you?" He had one moment of panic.

"Nope. Mind's made up. You just get your sweet self up here as soon as you can. I'll go over to the ranch and quit first thing in the morning and get my stuff together. When you think you'll be up here?"

"Tomorrow, late. I got a lot to do first. I'll get done what I can tonight but the bank don't open till nine so it'll be after that. I need to get the truck serviced so it might be late mornin before I can get out of here."

"You just be careful now and watch your drivin. This will be the last time you have to make that drive. It's a one-way trip this time."

"Ouch!"

"What happened?"

"Nothin. I'm just pinchin myself; hopin this ain't another dream. You mean to do this, Ennis? You and me livin together? Not hidin out in the woods somewhere?"

"Uh huh. It's time."

"I'll say! It's past time." Jack agreed.

"Well you get after it then. Get your stuff together and get up here soon as you can."

"OK. Sure wish I could leave right now."

"Probably best you not do any drivin right now, Jack. Morning is soon enough."

"You're right. Morning is fine. I'm gonna go talk to Lureen now. She's watching her TV shows but they'll be over with in a few minutes. I'll get packed tonight and head out soon as I can tomorrow."

"OK. Call me from the road. Tell me when you'll get here."

"I'll do it. Ennis?"

"Uh huh?"

"You won't be sorry. I'm gonna love you so much you won't have time to think of anything else."

"You just drive careful, Jack; and get on up here."

"I will. Talk to you tomorrow when I have some idea what time I'll get there."

"OK. I'll be waitin to hear from you."

"Night, Ennis. This is the last night you're gonna have to sleep alone. Think about that."

"I think about that and I won't get no sleep at all."

"Tomorrow then,"

"Yeah. See you tomorrow."


Jack hurried up the stairs to Lureen's room.

"Lureen, are your shows over? Can I talk to you a minute before you go to sleep?" Jack walked into his wife's bedroom after a little knock on the half-open door.

"Is this about Dexter? Did he go cryin to you cause I chewed him out? I told him no more of them funny cigarettes in the back room and I mean it. We could get in big trouble if the wrong person catches him."

"No, Lureen, it ain't about Dexter. It's about us." He took a seat in the purple velvet chair next to her bed where she was propped up watching her TV.

"Us?" She clicked the remote and turned the TV off. "What about us?"

"I been doin a lot of thinkin lately and now that Bobby's off at college, I think I'm just gonna take off."

"You mean on your huntin trip? I thought that wasn't until next month?"

"No, honey. I'm talkin about movin back to Wyomin; permanently."

She stared at him for several seconds then took up her pack of cigarettes and lit one. "Why?" She asked, a little stunned. "Why now when things are goin along so great? You mad at me for somethin?"

"Lureen, I ain't mad at you but you gotta know things haven't been 'great' between us for as far back as I can remember."

She crossed her arms and drew deeply on her cigarette. "So why now then? There's
nothin wrong with our marriage. It ain't much different from anybody else's."

"Cause it's time. Bobby's all settled in at school and doin really well; the business is doin great; you got all the help you need to run the place; you don't need me."

"Please don't tell me you're goin up there to live with your folks. You know you and your daddy can't live under the same roof."

"No, I won't be stayin with the folks. I wanna get a place of my own. I want a ranch."

"Well for pete's sake, Jack. This is Texas! We got ranches here. Why don’t you just pick one out and I'll buy it for you. You can spend all the time you want on it and still come home after."

"Cause this ain't my home, Lureen. It's your home. Texas is your home; my home is Wyomin." Jack tried to make her understand without having to go into any details.

"That don't make no sense. Wyomin ain't been your home in more than twenty years. You got some gal up there? Someone you met on one of your fishin trips?"

Jack shook his head. This was going to be harder than he thought. "No, Lureen; I swear; I ain't seein no woman up in Wyomin. I've just … had my fill of Texas. I don't belong here, I never did. I wanna go home."

"So when you plan on doin this? You leavin this minute? Tonight?"

"Tomorrow. I gotta get my truck serviced first and get to the bank."

"And you ain't plannin on comin back?"

"Sure I will, later on, after I get settled. I'll want to visit with Bobby and see how you're getting on."

"Don't you worry none about me, I'll do fine. I always have." She blew an angry mouth full of smoke towards the ceiling.

"I know that, honey. You always could take care of yourself. You got a good head on your shoulders."

"I 'spose you're wantin a divorce?" She stubbed her cigarette out in her crystal ash tray on the night stand.

"Yeah, I would. You be all right with that?" He met her staring eyes then.

"Why wouldn't I be? A course I will. Anythin else?"

"No." Jack got up and walked to the door and turned back to her, "Thank you, Lureen. You always done right by me and I appreciate it."

"Damn you, Jack Twist!" she whispered to the closed door and bushed angrily at a tear.

Next morning …

Jack came down the stairs carrying his bags and set them in his study then went into the kitchen for coffee. Lureen was sitting at the table; coffee cup in one hand, cigarette in the other.

"Mornin, Lureen," he said as he poured himself a cup and sat down across from her.

"Morning, Jack. I wasn't sure you'd still be here this morning. I was afraid you might've taken off in the middle of the night."

"I wouldn't do that, Lureen. You know me better than that." Jack blew on his coffee and sipped at it.

"I do. I just wanted to make sure to catch you before you left."

"I wouldn't leave without sayin good bye."

"This time when you say good bye, it'll be for good."

"I'll be back and I'll see you from time to time. It ain't like I'm goin off to the other side of the world or somethin."

"That's exactly what Wyomin is to me, Jack, the complete other side of the world; the bottom side."

"I know it is to you, but to me, its home."

"I just hate to see you go, is all. It's so far away."

"Not that far. A 14 hour drive and a lot faster by plane. If anythin ever happens, you need me for Bobby or somethin, I'll come back. You know I will."

"Yes, Jack, I do know that. You always been good to me. I ain't never had no complaints."

Jack reached over and took her hand. "Lureen, you're beautiful, you're smart, you're a wonderful person, you'll find someone else; someone who can love you the way you deserve to be loved. A few months from now, you won't hardly remember what I look like."

"Oh, Jack. You always were a sweet talker." She blushed and sipped her coffee.

"I'll send you my address as soon as I get a PO box. You can have your lawyer draw up the papers and send them to me."

"You have any idea what you'll be wantin so I can tell him?"

"I don't want nothin, Lureen. Just my stuff and my truck. You've been payin for everythin for years now so I've been savin most of my pay. I've got a pretty good bundle put away; enough to make a start."

"Jack, you're so sweet. Do you have any idea what I'm worth?" She smiled affectionately at him.

"Ain't none of my business, Lureen. I got my truck and my savins; that's all I need."

"Can I ask you a favor then?"

"Sure you can; you know that. You need me to do somethin for you before I leave?"

"Since you're gonna be leavin and all; would you care if I told folks this divorce thing was my idea?"

"Well, sure, Lureen. Tell them anythin you want. I know how important image is to you. Say whatever you want. Just don't make me out too bad 'cause I wouldn't want Bobby to hear I beat you or somethin."

She chuckled. "He'd never believe anything bad about you; he adores you."

"I'm gonna miss him but you tell him I'll keep in touch and I'll be back to visit when I can."

"I will. I was just thinkin I'd tell folks that we just drifted apart; that we wanted different things outa life, that sorta thing."

"That'd be the truth, Lureen."

"That part would, I guess. You sure you don't mind me sayin it was my idea?"

"Course not. They're your friends. Tell them anythin you want. Won't matter to me none."

"You're a sweet heart, Jack. You always were."

Jack finished his coffee and took his cup to the sink. "I'm headin out to get my truck serviced now. I'll pick my stuff up after. You still be here or are you goin in early?"

"I'll probably still be here. I got a few phone calls to make. You comin in later to clean out your desk?"

"Yeah, I'll stop by long enough to grab my stuff." He stopped at the kitchen door and turned back. "I think I'll hit the office first. That way I won't run into anyone. I'd rather not have to explain anythin."

"You don't owe nobody any explanations, Jack. I'll take care of that and everything else."

"Thanks, Lureen. I appreciate it." He headed on out the door.

When he got back a few hours later to pick up his bags she was gone. She left a fat envelope on top of his desk with his name on it. He figured it was some papers she'd need for the divorce and didn't even open it until hours later when he had stopped for gas in Colorado Springs and found the envelope stuffed with cash and a short note.
"Jack, Thought you might need some traveling money. It's important that you stay in the proper hotels and eat in nice restaurants while you're shopping for your ranch; people notice these things. You can't go into a new place looking like you're living out of your truck. Take care of yourself now. And send me that address as soon as you can. Lureen"

Jack grinned, pulled out a bill and went into the gas station store and bought himself a ham sandwich, a bag of chips and a Coke Cola for dinner and some snacks for later on. While he was munching his sandwich in his pickup he counted the money. $10,000. That's some traveling money! Probably was for Lureen; Jack thought.

He followed Ennis's directions and showed up at Ennis's trailer at shortly after 2 AM. The lights were on and the door was opened before he ever got out of his truck. He made it inside with three giant steps and the door was closed and locked behind him. Ten seconds flat and he was naked, on his back and wrapped up in Ennis Del Mar.

They slept until nearly noon and it was after one before they got up and got breakfast started. Ennis had bought bacon and eggs and they ate heartily while going over plans.
They never made it out of the trailer that first day but on the second they decided to head out. Ennis had gotten a hitch put on the front of his pickup and they hooked it up to Jack's. With their belongings thrown inside they took off north. They'd been reading the the ads from the news papers Ennis had bought and found several likely places up around Sheridan that they wanted to check out. Before long they were on their way.


CHAPTER THREE

A few weeks later …

"Twist residence?" Jack answered the phone this time.

"Jack, I just fuckin can't stand this any more!"

"Ennis? What's wrong?" Jack got up and walked over to his study door and closed it. He flipped the phone cord over the stuff on his desk.

"You and me, that's what's wrong! You living all the way down there in Texas and me up here in Wyomin all alone. I hate this! I fuckin hate this!"

"So do I, Ennis. Any time you're ready to change things, I'm ready!"

"How about right now, Jack?"

"How about right now what?"

"How about right now we change things? I'm sick to death of bein alone and I think you are too. You still willin to try this thing? This livin together?"

"I must be dreamin. Ennis, you sober?" Jack was pacing around his study now; the phone cord raking things off his desk but he didn't care.

"Uh huh. I ain't had nothin to drink all week but one beer each night with supper. I been doin a lot of thinkin and I needed a clear mind. I wanna do this, Jack. I want you and me to try bein together."

"When? How soon? Can I come up there right now? Before you change your mind?"
The questions came pouring out of Jack.

"Uh huh. Sooner you get here the sooner we can start this thing. I gotta tell you though, I ain't all that keen on Lightnin Flat. That be OK with you if we got a place somewhere else?"

"Anywhere you wanna live will be fine with me, Ennis; anywhere!"

"OK then. Git yourself on up here then so we can start lookin. Gotta warn you though; once you come back up here; I ain't never gonna let you go again."

"Oh God, Ennis! You know how long I've waited to hear you say that? I've gotta go! I've gotta pack; I've gotta talk to Lureen, I've gotta get the truck serviced; I've gotta get to the bank, I've gotta pack."

"You already said that," Ennis interjected with a grin.

"Huh?"

"You said you gotta pack; you said it twice."

"Oh, well, hell, I got a lot I need to do. You won't go changin your mind on me now will you?" He had one moment of panic.

"Nope. Mind's made up. You just get your sweet self up here as soon as you can. I'll go over to the ranch and quit first thing in the morning and get my stuff together. When you think you'll be up here?"

"Tomorrow, late. I got a lot to do first. I'll get done what I can tonight but the bank don't open till nine so it'll be after that. I need to get the truck serviced so it might be late mornin before I can get out of here."

"You just be careful now and watch your drivin. This will be the last time you have to make that drive. It's a one-way trip this time."

"Ouch!"

"What happened?"

"Nothin. I'm just pinchin myself; hopin this ain't another dream. You mean to do this, Ennis? You and me livin together? Not hidin out in the woods somewhere?"

"Uh huh. It's time."

"I'll say! It's past time." Jack agreed.

"Well you get after it then. Get your stuff together and get up here soon as you can."

"OK. Sure wish I could leave right now."

"Probably best you not do any drivin right now, Jack. Morning is soon enough."

"You're right. Morning is fine. I'm gonna go talk to Lureen now. She's watching her TV shows but they'll be over with in a few minutes. I'll get packed tonight and head out soon as I can tomorrow."

"OK. Call me from the road. Tell me when you'll get here."

"I'll do it. Ennis?"

"Uh huh?"

"You won't be sorry. I'm gonna love you so much you won't have time to think of anything else."

"You just drive careful, Jack; and get on up here."

"I will. Talk to you tomorrow when I have some idea what time I'll get there."

"OK. I'll be waitin to hear from you."

"Night, Ennis. This is the last night you're gonna have to sleep alone. Think about that."

"I think about that and I won't get no sleep at all."

"Tomorrow then,"

"Yeah. See you tomorrow."


Jack hurried up the stairs to Lureen's room.

"Lureen, are your shows over? Can I talk to you a minute before you go to sleep?" Jack walked into his wife's bedroom after a little knock on the half-open door.

"Is this about Dexter? Did he go cryin to you cause I chewed him out? I told him no more of them funny cigarettes in the back room and I mean it. We could get in big trouble if the wrong person catches him."

"No, Lureen, it ain't about Dexter. It's about us." He took a seat in the purple velvet chair next to her bed where she was propped up watching her TV.

"Us?" She clicked the remote and turned the TV off. "What about us?"

"I been doin a lot of thinkin lately and now that Bobby's off at college, I think I'm just gonna take off."

"You mean on your huntin trip? I thought that wasn't until next month?"

"No, honey. I'm talkin about movin back to Wyomin; permanently."

She stared at him for several seconds then took up her pack of cigarettes and lit one. "Why?" She asked, a little stunned. "Why now when things are goin along so great? You mad at me for somethin?"

"Lureen, I ain't mad at you but you gotta know things haven't been 'great' between us for as far back as I can remember."

She crossed her arms and drew deeply on her cigarette. "So why now then? There's
nothin wrong with our marriage. It ain't much different from anybody else's."

"Cause it's time. Bobby's all settled in at school and doin really well; the business is doin great; you got all the help you need to run the place; you don't need me."

"Please don't tell me you're goin up there to live with your folks. You know you and your daddy can't live under the same roof."

"No, I won't be stayin with the folks. I wanna get a place of my own. I want a ranch."

"Well for pete's sake, Jack. This is Texas! We got ranches here. Why don’t you just pick one out and I'll buy it for you. You can spend all the time you want on it and still come home after."

"Cause this ain't my home, Lureen. It's your home. Texas is your home; my home is Wyomin." Jack tried to make her understand without having to go into any details.

"That don't make no sense. Wyomin ain't been your home in more than twenty years. You got some gal up there? Someone you met on one of your fishin trips?"

Jack shook his head. This was going to be harder than he thought. "No, Lureen; I swear; I ain't seein no woman up in Wyomin. I've just … had my fill of Texas. I don't belong here, I never did. I wanna go home."

"So when you plan on doin this? You leavin this minute? Tonight?"

"Tomorrow. I gotta get my truck serviced first and get to the bank."

"And you ain't plannin on comin back?"

"Sure I will, later on, after I get settled. I'll want to visit with Bobby and see how you're getting on."

"Don't you worry none about me, I'll do fine. I always have." She blew an angry mouth full of smoke towards the ceiling.

"I know that, honey. You always could take care of yourself. You got a good head on your shoulders."

"I 'spose you're wantin a divorce?" She stubbed her cigarette out in her crystal ash tray on the night stand.

"Yeah, I would. You be all right with that?" He met her staring eyes then.

"Why wouldn't I be? A course I will. Anythin else?"

"No." Jack got up and walked to the door and turned back to her, "Thank you, Lureen. You always done right by me and I appreciate it."

"Damn you, Jack Twist!" she whispered to the closed door and bushed angrily at a tear.

Next morning …

Jack came down the stairs carrying his bags and set them in his study then went into the kitchen for coffee. Lureen was sitting at the table; coffee cup in one hand, cigarette in the other.

"Mornin, Lureen," he said as he poured himself a cup and sat down across from her.

"Morning, Jack. I wasn't sure you'd still be here this morning. I was afraid you might've taken off in the middle of the night."

"I wouldn't do that, Lureen. You know me better than that." Jack blew on his coffee and sipped at it.

"I do. I just wanted to make sure to catch you before you left."

"I wouldn't leave without sayin good bye."

"This time when you say good bye, it'll be for good."

"I'll be back and I'll see you from time to time. It ain't like I'm goin off to the other side of the world or somethin."

"That's exactly what Wyomin is to me, Jack, the complete other side of the world; the bottom side."

"I know it is to you, but to me, its home."

"I just hate to see you go, is all. It's so far away."

"Not that far. A 14 hour drive and a lot faster by plane. If anythin ever happens, you need me for Bobby or somethin, I'll come back. You know I will."

"Yes, Jack, I do know that. You always been good to me. I ain't never had no complaints."

Jack reached over and took her hand. "Lureen, you're beautiful, you're smart, you're a wonderful person, you'll find someone else; someone who can love you the way you deserve to be loved. A few months from now, you won't hardly remember what I look like."

"Oh, Jack. You always were a sweet talker." She blushed and sipped her coffee.

"I'll send you my address as soon as I get a PO box. You can have your lawyer draw up the papers and send them to me."

"You have any idea what you'll be wantin so I can tell him?"

"I don't want nothin, Lureen. Just my stuff and my truck. You've been payin for everythin for years now so I've been savin most of my pay. I've got a pretty good bundle put away; enough to make a start."

"Jack, you're so sweet. Do you have any idea what I'm worth?" She smiled affectionately at him.

"Ain't none of my business, Lureen. I got my truck and my savins; that's all I need."

"Can I ask you a favor then?"

"Sure you can; you know that. You need me to do somethin for you before I leave?"

"Since you're gonna be leavin and all; would you care if I told folks this divorce thing was my idea?"

"Well, sure, Lureen. Tell them anythin you want. I know how important image is to you. Say whatever you want. Just don't make me out too bad 'cause I wouldn't want Bobby to hear I beat you or somethin."

She chuckled. "He'd never believe anything bad about you; he adores you."

"I'm gonna miss him but you tell him I'll keep in touch and I'll be back to visit when I can."

"I will. I was just thinkin I'd tell folks that we just drifted apart; that we wanted different things outa life, that sorta thing."

"That'd be the truth, Lureen."

"That part would, I guess. You sure you don't mind me sayin it was my idea?"

"Course not. They're your friends. Tell them anythin you want. Won't matter to me none."

"You're a sweet heart, Jack. You always were."

Jack finished his coffee and took his cup to the sink. "I'm headin out to get my truck serviced now. I'll pick my stuff up after. You still be here or are you goin in early?"

"I'll probably still be here. I got a few phone calls to make. You comin in later to clean out your desk?"

"Yeah, I'll stop by long enough to grab my stuff." He stopped at the kitchen door and turned back. "I think I'll hit the office first. That way I won't run into anyone. I'd rather not have to explain anythin."

"You don't owe nobody any explanations, Jack. I'll take care of that and everything else."

"Thanks, Lureen. I appreciate it." He headed on out the door.

When he got back a few hours later to pick up his bags she was gone. She left a fat envelope on top of his desk with his name on it. He figured it was some papers she'd need for the divorce and didn't even open it until hours later when he had stopped for gas in Colorado Springs and found the envelope stuffed with cash and a short note.
"Jack, Thought you might need some traveling money. It's important that you stay in the proper hotels and eat in nice restaurants while you're shopping for your ranch; people notice these things. You can't go into a new place looking like you're living out of your truck. Take care of yourself now. And send me that address as soon as you can. Lureen"

Jack grinned, pulled out a bill and went into the gas station store and bought himself a ham sandwich, a bag of chips and a Coke Cola for dinner and some snacks for later on. While he was munching his sandwich in his pickup he counted the money. $10,000. That's some traveling money! Probably was for Lureen; Jack thought.

He followed Ennis's directions and showed up at Ennis's trailer at shortly after 2 AM. The lights were on and the door was opened before he ever got out of his truck. He made it inside with three giant steps and the door was closed and locked behind him. Ten seconds flat and he was naked, on his back and wrapped up in Ennis Del Mar.

They slept until nearly noon and it was after one before they got up and got breakfast started. Ennis had bought bacon and eggs and they ate heartily while going over plans.
They never made it out of the trailer that first day but on the second they decided to head out. Ennis had gotten a hitch put on the front of his pickup and they hooked it up to Jack's. With their belongings thrown inside they took off north. They'd been reading the the ads from the news papers Ennis had bought and found several likely places up around Sheridan that they wanted to check out. Before long they were on their way.