THE SWEET LIFE

Epilogue one …

Bobby's car pulled up into the circular driveway of the massive two-story stone house and stopped at the front door. "Here we are," he announced.

"Ready?" Jack asked.

Ennis sat staring at the house and landscaping with little lights twinkling from the shrubbery. "This is your house, Jack?" he gasped.

"Nope. Never was. It was L.D.'s then it was Lureen's. It wasn't never mine."

"You lived here?" Ennis sat rooted to the back seat of the Lexus.

"Yeah, I lived here but that was about it."

"You coming?" Bobby called out to them from the front door.

"Be right there." Jack called to his son. "C'mon. Let's get this over with so we can get back to the motel."

Ennis got out and stood staring at the place. "You left this to come and live in a tent with me?"

"I'd a lived in the truck with you, if you'd a wanted." Jack whispered to him as he shouldered him along towards the front door.

"Come on in," Bobby said, "Mom's anxious to meet you," he smiled at Ennis.

Ennis tried to swallow but for some reason his mouth had gone dry and he couldn't. He gazed around the foyer and his eyes followed the curved staircase up to the second floor landing and from there to the ceiling and the crystal chandelier and gasped.

"Ready?" Jack nudged him.

"Huh? Oh; I guess." Ennis followed Jack through the opened double doors into the living room. It was exactly as he expected it to be; like a picture out of a magazine; fancy furniture, fancy paintings on the walls, lots of doo dads everywhere. What caught him off guard was Lureen. She came to him with her hand out stretched. "Hi; you must be Ennis. I'm Lureen."

Ennis gave her hand a light squeeze and said, "Please to meet you, Ma'am". He was stunned by her beauty. Jack had never said a word about how beautiful she was!

"Lureen; how you doin?" Jack asked; then they all sat down.

"I'm doing a whole lot better now that I'm met Mr. Del Mar. Jack, you should have told me."

"Well, I … a…" Jack stuttered.

"Oh, it's all right, Jack. There's no need to be nervous. I'm kinda glad in a way."

"Huh?" Jack's head came up and he locked eyes with her.

"You know; I didn't really believe you when you said there wasn't some woman up there in Wyomin."

"I wouldn't lie to you, Lureen."

"I know that. You never was the lyin kind. And after Bobby filled me in on everythin … well, I was just happy to know that it wasn't somethin I did, or didn't do."

"You were a good wife to me, Lureen, I told you that, far better than I deserved."

"And you were a good husband, Jack; better'n a lot of my friends."

"We were always better friends than anything else." Jack smiled at her.

"You got that right. Can you believe Bobby's gettin married tomorrow?"

"I know; it was a shock all right. What do you know about this Marie?"

"She's a wonderful girl, Jack. Comes from a good family there in Dallas. Both her folks are doctors and her uncle has a law firm there. A fine place just waitin for Bobby and Marie when they graduate."

"They've known each other for some time?"

"Uh huh. Coupla years now. She's a sweet thing and smart as a whip. You'll like her."

"You sure you want me at this weddin?" Jack asked.

"Absolutely."

"Uh … I could wait at the motel .. I mean, I don't wanna be causin the family no embarrassment." Ennis offered.

"NO!"

"NO!" Two answers came simultaneously. "I should say NOT!" Lureen insisted. "You're a part of this family now and you belong right there with the rest of us."

"I know you don't like this sort of thing, Ennis; neither do I but it's a one-time thing; something I gotta do for Bobby and I'd really like it if you'd go with me." Jack said.

"I'll go if you're sure you both want me to."

"We do!" Jack and Lureen answered together.

"Now that that's settled; Jack, I don't see a reason in the world why the two of you have to stay in some motel when I got this great big house just sittin here. You know we got plenty of room."

"No thank you, Lureen. I appreciate the offer, it's very nice of you but we already have a room over at the Ramada Inn."

"The Ramada? Oh Jack! You should at least be stayin over at the Radison. That's where the bride's family is stayin."

"That's one very good reason for us NOT to be stayin there, Lureen."

"Oh. I hadn't thought of that. Well, they're real nice people, the Johnson's. I'm sure there wouldn't be no trouble. And if you expect there will be; you should stay here where you'll be safe."

"I didn't say nothin about expectin any trouble. We'd just rather have our privacy is all."

"Oh. OK. I can understand that. Well, I want the two of you to be comfortable; that's what's important. Then maybe you'll come down and visit Bobby more. He missed you somethin awful this last year, Jack. I didn't know what to tell him. I think each time he asked, I told him somethin different."

"I don't matter none now, Lureen. I'll keep in touch with him; I promise. We got a coupla extra bedrooms so maybe we can get the two of them up to Wyoming for a visit later on; when they get a break from school."

"That would be real nice. I'm sure he'd love it. He says your place is beautiful. I don't know what it is about you men and your ranches, when the city has so much more to offer."

"For women; maybe. But I'd prefer bein out on a ranch anytime." Jack answered her with a little smile.

"Well, I guess you would when you got somethin like Mr. Ennis Del Mar out there waitin on you." She smiled at the two of them affectionately. "Can't say as I blame you there."

Even Ennis choked up a little at that.

"You all right, Mr. Del Mar?" Lureen asked.

"Uh huh." Ennis cleared his throat. "Please … just call me Ennis. Mr. Del Mar puts me to mind of my pa and he ain't been around in near thirty years."

"Why thank you, Ennis. I'd like that." Lureen smiled at him and with a sigh thought to herself, "Damn, I could really go for him!"

Epilogue two …

"Hey, K.E. How you doin?" Ennis walked into the living room with his brother.

"Good. I guess. Good as I can be under the circumstances. Glad you finally got up here. Can I get you a beer?"

"No thanks. It's kinda early for that for me."

K.E. had a bottle by the neck and sat down in the recliner across from Ennis who sat on the couch.

"The boys doin OK?"

"Uh huh. Aaron's doin great in school and the older boys both doin good at their jobs."

"You still workin for Sears?" Ennis asked.

"Yeah. Been there so long now they made me manager of shippin and receivin. I like the work and it pays good enough to keep this place up. That's all I need. Aaron's talkin college so we've been puttin money aside for that. We're doin pretty good."

"Sounds like it." Ennis nodded his head and eyed his brother sitting there across from him. He looked tired; but not all that different from any other working man on a Saturday morning. He cleared his throat and got on with the business he was there for.

"K. E., I wanted to talk to you about somethin; somethin important."

"I figured you had somethin on your mind when you called and said you was comin. What's up? You gettin married again?" He grinned.

Ennis returned the grin. "Oh hell no; I been down that road already. But that is kinda what I wanted to talk with you about. I got somebody I want you to meet." He rubbed his hands nervously on his denim covered knees.

"Well, hell! That's great! Did you bring her? You didn't leave her sittin out in your truck, did you?" He craned his neck to look out the window but couldn't see anything.

"No, I came here alone from the motel." Ennis answered and decided he needed a cigarette to get through this and lit one up.

"Well no wonder you got here so early. You stayed at a motel last night? What you wastin good money on a motel when you could stay here? You worried I wouldn't approve of the two of you stayin together and not bein married? I don't care about that stuff, Ennis. Why'nt you go get her. The two of you can stay in Aaron's room. He's off with his brothers for the weekend and he got tired of that old water bed and he's got a real bed in there for him now. Looks plenty comfortable."

Ennis swallowed hard and started. "K.E., it ain't a woman I got over at the motel waitin on me; it's my buddy, Jack Twist."

"Oh, well, bring him over here then. He the one you go huntin with? I think I heard you mention him."

"K. E., him and me, we're … together. We been livin together little over a year now."

"Oh, OH!" Realization dawned on K.E. "Hell, Ennis; why didn't you say so. I had no idea … I mean, well, shit. He make you happy?"

"Uh huh,"

"Well no wonder you was never happy with Alma, I mean she always seemed nice enough to me 'cept she always some bitchy." He watched Ennis squirming on the couch.

"You was worried tellin me about him? Shit, Ennis; you know how I feel about that. I ain't Pa! You got nothin to worry about far as I'm concerned. Hope you know that."

"Sure am glad to hear that." Ennis allowed and relaxed a bit.

"Well tell me about him; what's he like?" K.E. smiled at his brother nervously fingering his cigarette

"Jack?" Ennis leaned back on the couch for the first time and crossed his legs. "He's … he's a real nice guy. I think you'll like him."

"I already like him if he makes you happy. What's he like? What kind of work does he do? Is he a ranch hand like you? Do you work at the same place?"

A slow sweet smile spread across Ennis's face. "We got our own place, K.E. It's the most beautiful spot you ever did see. We got two hundred acres over by Sheridan. Just got us a house built on it. You gotta come see it."

"I'd love to! Sheridan's not all that far off. How'd you manage to get a place? You rob a bank or somethin?" K.E. grinned.

"Nope. Didn't need to. Jack was dirt poor all his life, like me when we first met. I married Alma, he married rich. He's got a boy down in Texas goin to school there in Dallas. Some big money there in that family. Jack told her last year he wanted a divorce and all he wanted was his truck and his savins and took off. All she wanted was his permission to tell people the divorce was her idea. He agreed and next thing we knew he was divorced and she gave him a huge settlement. More than enough to buy the place straight out and build a house and still have a bunch left over. More money than I could make in a lifetime. He said she's got so much money the settlement wouldn't even put a dent in it. I met her. She seems real nice."

"You met her? Now that's a story I'd like to hear! But tell me more about him first. He from ranch people? You know him from down in Riverton?"

"His folks got a place over in Lightnin Flat. He don't get on much with his Pa but his Ma sounds real nice. I'm gonna go meet 'em pretty soon."

"Lightnin Flat? That's north east a here, ain't it?"

"Uh huh. Jack and me, we been knowin each other since '63; long time."

"I remember you mentionin goin huntin with him. I didn't know it was more than that."

"Didn't want no body to know. The girls are grown and gone now. If they find out; well, it will be up to them to accept it or not."

"It won't make no difference to them, Ennis. It's a whole new world out there today than it was when we was kids."

"Yeah, but bad things still happen."

"Sure they do. They always have and they always will; ain't nothin gonna stop that. But things do change and what was once somethin hardly ever heard of, now a days, you see it a lot. People … most people don't think nothin of it. Most people mind their own business."

"Jack says the same thing."

"He's right, Ennis. Your business is your business; ain't nobody else's."

"I hope you're right 'cause me and Jack waited long enough to be together. Ain't nothin gonna tear us apart now we been together."

K.E. just smiled. He was happy for his younger brother.


Epilogue three …

"Just relax, Ennis. It ain't gonna be that bad. We just visit a bit, eat dinner then we can leave." Jack pulled his truck up into the driveway and cut the engine.

"Maybe this ain't such a good idea, Jack. I mean, I'd love to meet your Momma but the thought of meetin your Pa scares me."

"It ain't like he's gonna go after us or nothin. He's all talk; just ignore him."

They climbed down out of the truck and headed for the door.

"That's easy enough for you to say. I'm still scared."

"Well don't be. I'm right here and if he gets too mouthy, we'll just leave. It ain't like we're gonna have to fight him or nothin."

"I know, I know."


Just then the door opened and Jack's momma came out and into her son's arms.
"Oh Jackie; it's so good to see you! I missed you so much!" She crooned to him.

"Hi, Momma! Good to see you too. This here is Ennis, Ennis Del Mar."

She reached out her hand to Ennis and he took it after wiping his on his jeans first.

"Pleased to meet you, Ma'am," he said and gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

"Oh, Ennis! I'm just so happy to meet you! Jackie has talked about you for years and years. I'm so glad that things have worked out for the two of you."

"Close the door, woman, it's gettin cold in here!" A voice bellowed from inside.

"Oh my yes! Come on inside where it's warm. You're right on time and dinner will be ready before you know it!"

"Somethin sure does smell good," Jack said as they walked into the kitchen.

The old man was standing in the middle of the kitchen floor and eyed them both as they came in.

"Evenin, Pa," Jack said. "This here is Ennis Del Mar."

Ennis reached out a hand but the old man ignored it. "So how long you stayin this time? Long enough to get any work out of you?" He said to his son.

"We just come for dinner, Pa. We ain't stayin." Jack said and placed his hat on the table by the door. Ennis did the same with his.

"Don't get all that much work out of you when you do stay. So this is the boy friend you been whinin about all these years; I guess that makes you the woman in this relationship. Can't say I'm surprised." He turned his back on them and went back into the front room.

Mrs. Twist stood rooted to the floor, her hand at her throat, her eyes tearing up. Jack came to her and put his arm around her. "Now don't you worry none, Momma. I told Ennis all about Pa. We can take it. Can't we, Ennis?"

"Sure enough. Ma'am his mouth won't bother us none. Don't you fret about it."

"I just don't know why he has to talk like that and be so hateful." She wrung her hands.

"Momma, we brought some pictures of our place to show you. Wanna see 'em?"

"You brought photographs? I love photographs!" She brightened up. The three of them sat around the kitchen table and Jack spread out the photos showing the ranch, their house and livestock.

Mrs. Twist was still ooohing and aaahing over them when the old man came back into the room a few minutes later. "Dinner 'bout ready? I'm hungry."

Mrs. Twist glanced over at her timer and said it would be in another five minutes.

"What'cha got there; pictures?" The old man walked over to the table and picked one up of their new stallion. "Who does this belong to? If you're lookin after him, you'd better be careful. This horse'll stomp soon as look at you." He tossed the photo back onto the table and picked up one showing the front of their house. Who's place is this? This where you're workin?"

"It's our place, Pa. Over by Sheridan."

"Humph. Maybe your place for now. We'll see what happens when it comes time to pay taxes." He tossed the photo back on the table with the rest and walked back out of the room.

"These are just lovely. Thank you so much for bringin them for me to see. You best be puttin them in a good safe place so they don't get dirty." Mrs. Twist stood up and started gathering the photos up.

"I brought them for you, Momma. I wanted you to see what our place was like. You think maybe you could come over some time for a visit? It ain't all that far; just a coupla hour's drive."

"Oh I don't know, Son. I would love to but you know how he is. I will talk to him about it though. I best be gettin on with my table settin. Dinner's about ready if the two of you want to wash up."

"Thanks, Momma." Jack said as they exited the room and headed for the stairs. "C'mon, Ennis. I wanna show you my old room. Momma's kept it just like it was when I was a boy. It's really cool." Jack led the way and they went on up.
"Here it is! What do you think?" Jack walked around in his little bedroom, smiling at Ennis.

"Nice. You carve this little horse?" He picked the horse and rider up off the dresser.

"Yeah. I saw the one you were carvin up on Brokeback and tried my hand but it ain't near as good as your work.

"You put a rider on yours. I like it." He set it back down.

"Ennis, I got somethin of yours. Somethin I been keepin. I knew it would be safe here 'cause Pa never sets foot in this room. Can't hardly remember him ever comin in here."

"You got somethin of mine? Whut?" Ennis was baffled.

"Somethin I took a long time ago. I was afraid I'd never see you again and I just had to have somethin of yours; somethin special."

"I ain't never had nothin special, Jack. Can't imagine what it might be. You gonna show me?"

"Uh huh." Jack made his way into the back of his closet and pulled out the shirts; old and stiff and stained and handed them to Ennis.

"This is … Jack … You had them all these years? Together like this?"

"Uh huh. I guess it's kinda sappy, isn't it."

"No! It ain't sappy at all. I like it. I like it … a lot." Ennis ran his fingers over the denim shirt and swallowed the lump in his throat. "It's like you're carin for me or somethin," Ennis mumbled, embarrassed that he couldn't find better words.

"That's what I always wanted, Ennis. To care for you, look after you; to see that you wasn't drinkin too much or gettin into trouble."

"Can we take these with us when we leave? I'd like to have them back at our place."

"Sure we can. They're ours." Jack smiled at him and placed a warm hand on his shoulder as he blinked back tears. He could see the shirts hanging together meant as much to Ennis as they did to him.

Just then Mrs. Twist called up the stairs that dinner was ready and they hurried down. Jack rolled the shirts into a ball and carried them down. He nodded to him Momma and she smiled and gave him a paper sack to put them. He put them on the table by the door that held their hats.

Dinner was a baked chicken and vegetable dish served with a fresh garden salad and apple pie for dessert. The old man was silent while he stuffed his face and the others were glad of it. Once he was finished he sat staring at Ennis. "You ain't what I expected." He said to Ennis.

Ennis wiped his mouth on his napkin and asked, "What were you expecting?"

"I don't know. Some swishy thing like Jack here; maybe wearin nail polish or somethin."

Ennis thought a minute then laughed out loud. "You have a great sense of humor there, Mr. Twist. I'm sure that was meant as a joke, wasn't it? 'Cause I'd sure hate to have to call you out side the first time we meet."

"Harump!" the old man sputtered. "This is my place, you know! I don't have to take this shit!"

"It is for a fact," Ennis replied and picked his fork back up and continued eating. "I'd sure hate to interrupt this fine meal with a fight but I ain't against it, if you're a mind to."

"I didn't say nothin 'bout fightin," the old man blurted out.

"Any time you're a mind to, you just let me know. Jack can't touch you, you're his Pa but you ain't no kin to me. Anytime you wanna tussle; I'm all for it."

"I knew you for a trouble maker minute I laid eyes on you." The old man said.

"I ain't in the habit of makin it, but I sure can end it." Ennis countered and wiped his mouth again and stared the old man in the eye.

The old man decided it was time for him to leave the room. He tossed his napkin in his empty plate and stormed out.

"Momma, how about some of that pie?" Jack asked with a grin.

Mrs. Twist was startled back into action and jumped up. "Certainly, Jackie. How about you, Ennis? You ready for pie?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

They conversed sweetly with Mrs. Twist over coffee then left with her following them outside to their truck and promising to write. Hugs all around and Mrs. Twist telling Ennis, "Thank you, Ennis! Thank you for lovin my son and makin him so happy. I pray every day for your happiness."

"Nah, it's me oughta thank you for bringin Jack into this world and teachin him what's right."
She gave them both big hugs and watched them drive away. She liked this Ennis Del Mar; her heart was happy.


Epilogue four …

"Shit, Jack. I wasn't this nervous meetin your folks. Don't know why I'm so nervous about you meetin my girls."

"Don't worry 'bout it. They start talkin you down; I'll invite 'em outside to fight. How'll that be?" Jack teased and was rewarded with a punch.

A few minutes later the rental car pulled up to their door and Junior and Jenny got out.
Ennis took a deep breath and opened the door. The girls were in his arms and hugging and kissing on him. Jack stood leaning against the wall, arms and ankles both crossed and watching the reunion with a smile. He said a small prayer that their good-bye would be as loving.

"Daddy, it's so good to see you!"
"Daddy, you look so good!"
"Daddy, I missed you so much!"
"Daddy, you live here? Really?"
"Daddy, you put on some weight!"

"I think I'll just go check on that new colt." Jack said.

"Girls, say hello to Jack Twist. You remember him?" Ennis turned around, a daughter in each arm.

"Hello, Mr. Twist. Nice to see you again," Junior said.

"Hi, Mr. Twist," Jenny said shyly.

"We got a new colt last week. You girls come out and take a look after you and your daddy get caught up." Jack smiled at them.

"C'mon, let's sit." Ennis said and ushered the girls to the couch. Neither one would let go so he ended up sitting in the middle with each girl holding one of his hands.

"OK, Daddy; we're here. Now tell us what it is that's so important you couldn't say it in front of our husbands." Junior got right down to it.

"Yes, Daddy! What's goin on? I didn't know Mr. Twist was gonna be here. Does he have anything to do with your big secret?" Jenny asked.

"It ain't that big a secret; least 'round here it ain't. Just somethin I haven't told you and I think you're both old enough now to know. It's private so I wanted to talk to the two of you first and let you decide if you want to tell your husbands or not. That's up to you."

"Daddy, you gotta tell us right now; you got us scared half to death. Are you sick or somethin?" Jenny insisted.

"He don't look sick to me." Junior said.

"I ain't sick. Never felt better in my life." Ennis insisted.

"Then what is it?" Jenny begged; pulling on her daddy's arm.

Ennis untangled himself from the girls and stood up. He got his cigarettes from the table across the room and lit one, then took the chair opposite the couch.

"Like I said, it's a private thing; somethin I wasn't sure if I should discuss with you or not."

The girls sat silently, waiting for their daddy to continue.

"It's Jack. Jack and me. We're … livin together." He looked up at them to see if they had taken his meaning.

"This is his house? I thought you said it was yours?" Jenny didn't understand but he could see in Junior's wide eyes that she did.

"It's our place, Jenny; Jack's and mine."

Junior got up and went over to her daddy's chair and sitting on the arm of it, put her arms around him and hugged him. "And you were worried we wouldn't approve?" She asked him.

He bit his lower lip and said nothing. Jenny just stared, then with a nervous little giggle said, "Daddy, the way you said it makes it sound like the two of you … You're not sayin … You're really livin together? I mean … TOGETHER?"

"Uh huh." Ennis chewed a thumb nail to the quick.

"Jenny, remember we talked about this possibility years ago?" Junior said.

"Yeah, but that was … I mean we were just kiddin … Daddy, are you really … you know … gay?"

"I am what I am, Jenny. You think you can still love me? 'Cause I'd sure hate to loose you."

"Oh, Daddy! Don't be silly." Junior hugged him again and sent her sister a look.

"Well, Daddy … I mean … you don't look it. I mean … you and Momma were married for ten years! How can you be gay?" Jenny was struggling to understand.

"Jenny," Junior spoke sternly to her sister, "Have you never heard of the term bi-sexual?"

"Well yeah, but I never thought … I mean; well Daddy doesn't look it!"

"Jenny, how can you be so dense!" Junior scolded her.

"Is that what you are sayin, Daddy? You're bi-sexual?" Jenny asked.

"Jenny girl, I don't put no labels on nobody and I'd rather people don't put none on me. I'm with Jack and I'm happier than I ever known a body could be. Period. Call me whatever you want to; won't make no difference to me."

"Well, I for one, intend to call you Daddy, like I always have. I don't see that anything between us has changed." Junior kissed her daddy's temple.

Ennis gave her a little hug and looked to Jenny. "What about you girl? Huh? Is this too much for you to accept?"

"NO! Certainly not!" Jenny got up and came over to him. He stood up and she came into his arms. "You're my daddy and I love you! I always have and I always will. I'm just trying to understand. When did all this happen?"

Ennis took a deep breath and stubbed out his cigarette. He breathed a little easier now that the worst of it was over.

"It started way before either of you was even born." Ennis said and sat back down again with Jenny sitting on the foot stool in front of him. "Jack and I, we was both 19 when we first met. We spent a summer together herdin sheep up in the mountains. When we came down off that mountain, I married your Momma and Jack got married a year later."

"Did you know then, Daddy? Way back when you were 19?" Jenny asked.

"No, I didn't. I mean, I knew Jack was special but I thought I was supposed to get married. That's what men did. But it wasn't never right between me and your momma; I thought it would be, but it wasn't. We never was really happy together."

"We knew that, didn't we, Jenny. We used to talk about how sad you both were all the time. We always wondered why." Junior said.

"Yes, and I do remember you tellin me after they got divorced that you thought he might not be the marryin kind."

"I think I knew back then." Junior said.

"You weren't much more than a baby yourself; you couldn't have known; I didn't even know." Ennis insisted.

"I knew that the only time I ever say you really happy and excited was when you were headin off on one of your fishin trips. At first I thought you were just happy to be away from Momma but later on, after the divorce and all, it was the same thing. That waitress didn't make you happy. The only time I saw you happy was when you were talkin about goin fishin. After I got older, I started puttin two and two together."

"How come you are so smart when you got a Pa who's so dumb?" Ennis squeezed his daughter's arm.

"You're not dumb, Daddy!" Jenny butted in. "Just because you couldn't love Momma don't make you dumb. You used to help me with my homework; remember?"

"Yeah, I remember. I did OK with the addin and subtractin but when you got into high school and it was all that numbers and letters mixed together; I couldn't help you no more."

"Oh, that Algebra was horrible! I hated it. I got through it though. You taught me to listen carefully to the teacher and to ask questions and I did."

"That's the best way to learn things, darlin." Ennis caressed his youngest daughter's cheek.

"I know. Can we ask you questions now? About Jack Twist, I mean." Jenny asked.

"Sure you can, girl, and I'll answer what I can."

"What exactly do you mean, that the two of you are living together? You mean you're just sharin this house for now or more than that?"

"Jenny!" Junior was exasperated with her younger sister. "For pete's sake! Get a grip!"

"Well, I wanna know!"

"Jenny, we are livin together, just like a married couple. This ain't no fling we're havin here. Me and Jack been lovin each other since '63 and there ain't nothin ever gonna change that."

"Oh." She thought about it a minute then wrapped her arms around his neck and said, "I’m glad, Daddy. All we ever wanted for you was to see you happy and smilin."

"I am happy, baby girl. Never knew what it was like before to be happy but I do now."

"So, Daddy, tell us about him. What's he like?" Junior asked.

"You met him before." Ennis reminded her.

"Yes, I remember that. I remember what he looks like but I'd like to know what he's like."

"Well Jack is … I don't know … special." Ennis grinned and looked off.

"Go on." Jenny urged.

"He's kinda goofy, kinda sweet. He's a hard worker and stubborn as a mule."

"He sounds great!" Junior smiled.

"He sure does. Is he gonna come back in here or can we go out there and see that colt he was talkin about?" Jenny asked.

"Sure, we can. I gotta ask you first though; you both OK with all a this? Me and Jack, I mean?"

"Absolutely, Daddy!" Junior assured him with a hug. "I can't believe you were so worried about this!"

"Oh, Daddy; we just want to see you happy and if bein with Jack makes you happy, then that's where you should be!" Jenny agreed.

"Thank you, girls." He hugged them both. "Now let's go see the colt. He's a pretty thing. We named him Blaze 'cause he's got this white mark on his head that's shaped just like a fire. C'mon." Ennis walked his girls out back to the barn.

"Daddy, this place is just beautiful!"

"Thank you, Junior. We done a lot of work on it this last year or so."

"It's so quiet out here."

"That's the way we like it. Bet it don't never get this quiet in Chicago."

"You got that right, Daddy."

They walked into the barn and saw Jack standing with the colt and brushing it while it's momma stood close by watching.

"Oh, Daddy, he's beautiful!" Jenny exclaimed.

"He is for sure." Ennis agreed but he was looking at Jack and not the colt. They shared a smile; Jack eyeing the girls then back to Ennis who was just standing there smiling.

"Hi girls!" Jack grinned at them. "His name is Blaze. He's got his momma's gray coloring but his daddy's feistiness."

"Feisty is good!" Junior announced. "That's what Kurt always says about me; he says I'm feisty." She smiled.

"You are for a fact, girl." Ennis agreed, nudging her shoulder.

Jack and Ennis smiled at each other. Their hearts were happy.

THE ABSOLUTE END!