SPOILER
This was another perfectly pitched chapter.
It was mostly exposition, which in less skilled hands could have been very dull reading, but this was artfully handled.
I’m delighted that the local troublemakers have been dealt with and it was nice to meet Erland Reynolds, our undercover hero. I also liked how the ambush was relayed in both real time explanation and flashback – we got the best of both worlds that way.
The conversation with Junior was very moving. The discovery of the shirts has definitely given Ennis and Jack’s relationship deeper and more permanent foundations.
The conversation at the end was lovely. Ennis and Jack may have reached this new understanding of themselves but doesn’t stop them griping at each other when they’re tired or fed up. Then making up at the end. It had just the right tone.
I was wondering, we have seen Ennis ride to Jack’s rescue (figuratively speaking) a few times, e.g. following Bobby’s death (to a certain extent), after Jack was attacked, kissing Jack at the Christmas party to stand up for them and now hightailing it to Jack’s side when he needed him most. I’d love to see Jack’s reaction to Ennis needing him, as Ennis always seems to be the strong one in a crisis. Ennis acted against expectations when Jack was attacked – remaining calm and focussed. I wonder what Jack would do in similar circumstances – would he become a ball of white hot fury? Sorry – wandered slightly from discussing the actual story there, but I do love the way that these characters have been developed and I can’t help these little speculations.
Have I mentioned before how much I love this story?
Karen
