I'm posting the sequel to my fic, "The Gift"
Jack placed his things on the bed nearest the window (all of the bedroom’s in Don Wroe’s cabin had two full sized beds) and removed the bracelet that he saved for a year to purchase. Jack fully planned to give Ennis his gift after dinner, but he was losing his nerve.
Jack walked into the kitchen just as Ennis finished grilling two monster sized burgers. Jack’s mouth watered at the sight of the meaty patties, and he removed cheese, grated lettuce and tomatoes from the well stocked fridge. The meal of burgers, fries, Caesar salad and a strawberry torte for dessert was ready to be served. Jack helped Ennis place the feast on the dining room table.
Ennis and Jack ate in companionable silence, and with gusto. When the meal was devoured, Jack and Ennis decided to move to the living room to smoke a few cigs, and enjoy a bottle of whiskey on shares. Ennis sat wide-legged on the couch, and invited Jack to sit next to him. Ennis draped an arm around Jack’s shoulders, and played with the soft curls at the nape of his neck.
“You okay, Rodeo?” Ennis began. “You look like you got somethin’ on yer mind.”
Jack thought he had better make a move or he would lose his resolve forever.
“En, I had this idea, a sort of wish I’ve been having’ for a long time. We have never shared a gift between the two of us, and I want to make up for that.”
Ennis listened intently, but remained silent, allowed Jack to continue. Jack removed a long, velvet box from under the couch where he had placed it earlier.
“Ennis, I had this made up special for you….I..I hope you like it, Bud.”
Ennis accepted the box with a trembling hand, and opened the lid. He almost dropped the box when he saw the heavy 14K cable link chain separated by a plague on which the name JACK was spelled out in diamonds.
“Look, En,” Jack said as he raised a tentative wrist. “I had one made up for me, too.”
Ennis looked at the identical bracelet sparking on Jack’s wrist and wondered how he missed it during supper. Jack’s bracelet spelled out ENNIS in twinkling pave diamonds. Ennis was speechless. He accepted the gift with a quiet grace, and fastened it on his still trembling wrist. Ennis was excited, amazed, and grateful, in spite of himself. He never wore jewelry; thought it was prissy and girly, but he had to appreciate the effort, the love Jack must have put into this. The bracelet was showy, surely cost a fortune, but Ennis thought he could pull it off.
“Look, Cowboy, you don’t have to wear it all the time, but just bring it with you when we meet up. I would appreciate it if you could do that for me. But if you ever find you need money, I won’t mind if you pawn it.”
Ennis chuckled and rubbed Jack’s cheek.
“I could never pawn or sell this, Jack!” Ennis Began. He reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a small, bundle. “Here, Bud, I know you had a birthday last month. We couldn’t be together then, so I save up a bit and got you this. I hope you like it.”
Jack ripped open the package and removed a cheap, gold plated lighter engraved with the initials, JMT.
“Ennis, it’s beautiful!” Jack croaked, as he tried to regain his composure. He was so moved by the gesture that he had to turn away. “You didn’t have to get me anything, Cowboy. You really should have saved the money for the girls.”
“Ah, its okay, Ennis began as he ruffled Jack’s hair. “I didn’t spend too much! You really like it?”
“I love it, En. I’ll treasure it always. Jack embraced his lover and stroked his back.
“Hey, you could have bought me a gorilla suit and not only would I have loved it, I would wear it! I’ll be the combine saleman showing tractors to fat old farmers dressed as a gorilla!”
Ennis nearly fell off the couch laughing. “Listen Bud, let’s go to bed. We can show our gratitude in a lot of interestin’ ways…
