Introducing the "Jack with Ennis" Fan Fic Game - the BetterMost Edition

[Luvlylittlewing]

Before he met Jack Twist, he'd always trod the straight and narrow, eyes down, doing his job, no questions, knowing his lot in life, not a rabble rouser unless someone started in on him.  When he met Jack Twist, he'd looked up into deep blue eyes, and saw another life before him, one that scared him. But the thought of life without Jack scared him more.  Their argument last month cut him to the core.   So, it was time to say and do some things that needed saying and doing before one of them kicked the bucket and it would be too late.  He picked up the phone and dialed Childress for the second time in his life. 

[118 Words; Drabblefest prompts: straight and narrow, rabble rouser, kick the bucket]

Brilliant!  I hope you continue this, cwby30, as I'm dying to know what Ennis said to make things right!  Thanks for posting this here for us!

[Luvlylittlewing]

“Won’t you stay with me a bit longer, just one more day?”  Jack pleaded with Ennis.  He was not satisfied with 8 days of non-stop fun and serious loving.  Don Wroe’s cabin was not available for the stay, but that didn’t stop Jack.  He wanted to be able to sleep in a nice warm bed with his lover and pamper him.  Jack wasn’t in the mood to rough it, and he called ahead and rented a cabin for the 2 of them.  It was all good, but Ennis couldn’t stay the full 10 days!  Steve needed him back at the ranch, no questions asked.  “You know I can’t!”  It was Ennis.  He caressed Jack’s smooth jaw and nuzzled close.

Jack was silent as Ennis rubbed his chest.  Ennis knew when his lover was irritated, but there was not much to be done.  He had to make a living, and Jack was aware of that.  “Jack, I gotta work,”  Ennis whispered and placed a tender kiss on Jack's right jaw.  Jack nodded, grudgingly, but was silent.  Ennis ticked Jack’s chin, but still nothing.  “Oh God, this man can be so damned difficult!” Ennis thought.  “Why can’t he just understand?”  Ennis pulled Jack closer and was alarmed as his once responsive body went limp.  Jack was cool and distant.  “Jack, please!  I told you I could only be here for 9 days.  I gotta leave to go back to Riverton tomorrow!”  Jack nodded and almost smiled.  Hey, it wasn’t much, but it was something!

Ennis was never the jealous type, but he didn’t think about Jack being in the cabin alone, and perhaps lonely for another day.   Certainly Jack could stand being in the cabin alone for another 24 hours?  Ennis placed a hand on Jack’s firm thigh and squeezed.  He didn’t know what was happening, and why he should feel that Jack would do something unseemly like invite someone else up to stay with him.  It was unlike Ennis to risk his job, but he couldn’t halt the thoughts of Jack being with another man.  “I suppose I could get word to Steve..tell him I’m sick or something!”  Ennis said it.  He couldn’t stop the words from spilling forth.  Jack shot him a look.  “Really?”  His eyes danced.  “Really,” was Ennis’ answer.  “Now let’s get some sleep.  We can decide what to do tomorrow after we’ve rested.  Jack nodded, a happy man.  He pulled Ennis close and fell into a satisfied slumber.

[Toycoon]

Great little story, Littlewing. You are indeed the mistress of the fanfic!

[Luvlylittlewing]

Great little story, Littlewing. You are indeed the mistress of the fanfic!

Awww, thanks, Babe!    Hey, I'm dying to read a little tale from you! 

[Toycoon]

I'm trying to get the next chapter of "Right" posted but my significant other is hogging up all my computer time with his dang eBay sellin'!

[Luvlylittlewing]

I'm trying to get the next chapter of "Right" posted but my significant other is hogging up all my computer time with his dang eBay sellin'!

I know the feeling!  I have to share my computer, as well!  E-Bay selling?  Is he good at it?

[Luvlylittlewing]

Ennis was worried about Jack.  He was pale and sort of withdrawn.  Oh, Jack seemed more than glad to be with him, but there was definitely something wrong.  Ennis watched as Jack walked around the tent, inspecting it.  Just six months ago Jack’s stomach was almost spilling over his jeans.  But now he had lost so much weight that his clothes seemed to swallow him whole.  And that was another thing - Jack generally took a lot of pride in his appearance.  He liked his fancy hats and fine parkas.  But this time he wasn’t even trying.  His jeans looked more worn that the pair he wore up on Brokeback, and Ennis was certain he spied a hole in Jack’s blue shirt.  Yes, something was up.  Ennis knew he had to find out what haunted his friend.  He could at least let him talk about it.  He owed him that much, at least.

“C’mon over here by me, Rodeo!” Ennis reached out both arms to Jack.  Jack looked at his lover, head cocked, a bemused smile on his handsome face.  He walked into Ennis’ arms without comment.  Ennis sat down on a rugged log and spread Jack across his lap like a child.  It felt good to hold him, have a tender moment with him.  The trip was young, and there would be time for romance, but Ennis had some digging to do.  He needed to find a way to discover what was troubling his lover.  Ennis hugged Jack tight.  “Whoa, Cowboy, what is this,” Jack chuckled as he struggled to twist free from Ennis’ embrace.  Ennis smiled and gave him some wiggle room.  “Sorry, Bud, but I got carried away.”  Jack ginned mightily at this.  He pointed to the newly erected tent.  “Ya wanna?”  Ennis ran a finger across Jack’s solid chin.  “Later.”  Jack frowned slightly, but was silent.  He relaxed in Ennis’ arms, and allowed himself to be held.  “Jack,” Ennis began, “How are things at work?”  Jack shrugged.  “Okay, I guess.”  Ennis flinched.  He was accustomed to Jack running off at the mouth about his job.  But this time Jack was eerily quiet on the subject.  So that was it?  Perhaps!  Ennis had a few more questions to ask.  “And Lureen?  Is she okay?”  Jack tensed at the mention of his wife’s name.  “Why are you always asking about her?”  Jack's tone disturbed Ennis.  He wasn’t prepared for such a reaction.  So, Lureen is the problem.  “I just wanted to be polite, ask about the family, is all,” Ennis offered.  If you want to talk about it, I’ll be happy to listen!"  Jack softened.  “I’m sorry, Friend,” Jack whispered and kissed Ennis full on the mouth.  “I’m just not up to talking about her.  Bobby neither.  Now can we go to bed?” 

After they made love, Ennis decided to let Jack rest.  The questions could wait for later.  At least Jack knew that Ennis was available if he needed to vent.  It was the case, always.  Ennis didn’t say much, but he was a good listener.  And Jack took every opportunity to unload whenever he was afraid or sad and needed a shoulder to cry on.  Ennis hummed Jack a lullaby, the very same one he used to sing to him up on Brokeback.  Jack was asleep in no time.  Ennis kissed Jack’s brow and rose to go make dinner.  He would pamper him tonight.  Ennis liked the role of ministering angel.

[Luvlylittlewing]

They made love with anger, with violence.  Neither one knew why lovemaking had to be such a war.  Perhaps it was all the time apart: a combustion of the passion and lust that festered over the months, and released in a display of lunging, pushing, pulling, sometimes even punching.  But, invariably, the fire cooled and tenderness unfolded that threatened to consume as completely as the urgency of the hurt, the longing and the bitter loneliness.

[Luvlylittlewing]

“We have one more raffle ticket to pull!”  Ennis and Jack sat side by side on the tour bus, playfully checking the number on the blue ticket that was handed to them when they boarded the bus.  Jack smiled as he memorized the 3 digit number on his ticket and had a look around.  He was tired of always meeting in the cold with Ennis and shelled out big bucks for a 10 day trip to Mexico City.  Ennis had to be persuaded, but he eventually warmed to the idea, and within a few days they were sitting on a bus, finishing up a 2 hour tour of Mexico City.  Ennis never took his hazel eyes off of his raffle ticket stub.  He was practically grinning as he waited for the winning number to be announced. 

The gorgeous Mexican girls were barely out of their teens, but they turned out to be excellent tour guides.  Jack couldn’t miss they way they checked Ennis out, and he couldn’t very well blame them!  Ennis looked mighty fine bare headed, his sandy hair agitated by the tour bus’ fan.   And he sported Bermuda shorts and a flowered shirt!  Jack couldn’t keep his eyes off him.  He was proud to be seen with such a fine looking man.  Jack watched as one of the tour guides looked Ennis’ way and whispered to her friend who was holding the hat containing the ticket stubs.  Jack chuckled as the young lady searched around in the hat and found the stub she wanted.  It was so blatant that Jack wondered why the other 15 or so passengers didn’t notice.  “137!” The young lady announced, excitedly.  Ennis looked down at his ticket stub and yelped in spite of himself.  Jack punched him on the shoulder as Ennis held the ticket proudly in the air.  “And the winner is the fair haired gentleman seated in the back,” the young guide’s accomplice spoke as she walked toward Ennis and Jack with a wrapped gift in her hand.  Jack smiled as Ennis rose to receive his prize.  “You know they fixed it so you would win, Cowboy,” Jack whispered as Ennis took his seat.  “What do you mean,”  Ennis asked, sincere, as he settled in next to Jack and began to open the well wrapped package.

“Jack, Jack, wake up!”  Lureen shook Jack out of his dream just as Ennis was about to rip the ribbon from his prize.  It took him more than a moment to focus and realize that he was dreaming.  “Wake up and go back to sleep, Jack,” Lureen mumbled as she turned over, taking most of the covers with her.  Jack was livid, but what could he do?  He was too upset to fall back asleep, but he was also curious to know what Ennis had won.  “Well, he already won me, even if he won’t have me,” Jack lamented as he lay his head down.  Mexico?  Someday, perhaps!

[Luvlylittlewing]

Jack left Ennis to walk toward the stream and wash the supper dishes.  He was glad for the few moments to himself, as dinner with Ennis proved to be very draining. Ennis Del Mar was, by nature, a quiet, retiring sort, but this evening he was unusually chatty and not in a good way.  In fact, Ennis was positively obnoxious.  He was unhappy with the job and made sure Jack knew about it.

Jack knew very well that herding sheep up on Brokeback was hard work, but if someone like Ennis couldn’t cut it, well, who could?  Jack listened, quietly, as Ennis spewed forth one complaint after the other about Aguirre, the bad food, the dumb sheep, the cold, the overall discomfort of sleeping on a threadbare bedroll.  Jack was saddened that Ennis was so unhappy.  He was also afraid.

The last of the dishes rinsed in the frigid waters of the stream, Jack headed back to a brooding Ennis Del Mar.  Ennis was sitting on a log, very still, staring into space.  Jack walked over to his lover and snaked a hand over his shoulder.  “Someone is unhappy, I know, Cowboy.  But why don’t you give it a chance,” Jack said, pleading now.  He didn’t mind trying to reason with his friend.  He was terrified that Ennis would leave.  He didn’t want to lose his companion, his love.  “I can make it bearable,” Jack continued.  “Don’t worry about Aguirre.  I know this is your first real job, and take it from me—you’ll come across a lot of miserable bosses.”  Jack looked at Ennis for a reaction.  He was smiling and nodding a bit.  Jack was very happy.  Perhaps Ennis would stay after all.  There was more love than money to be made.