I posted a longer version on the Jack/Ennis fan-fic thread..... 168 words, a little over...
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Holding a steaming cup of coffee, Jack looked out the kitchen window at the fresh blanket of snow covering the ranch in the early morning light, blotting out the rough edges of the land and buildings, but not blotting out the rough edges of his heart and life. Four months without Ennis, four months without any contact, four months enduring the stares and questions and foul mouth of his father. Ennis would be married by now, settling into a life with Alma. The thought sent arctic cold shivers running through his body despite the warmth cast by the radiator.
He heard a vehicle pull up outside. "Must be the truck from Murchison's with the wire, best get out and see to it, if ya got the time," said his dad abruptly. Jack acknowledged the command, got up, put on his hat, coat and gloves, and headed out into the cold past the calendar showing decorated palm trees at some beach in Mexico. No sense arguing, he'd lose anyway.