I think Jack very clearly would have left Lureen if he had a guarantee that Ennis would be there to pick up the pieces, and we have evidence in two scenes: at the campfire, post-reunion, when Jack states with aplomb that they could start up the "sweet life" with money that L.D. would likely give Jack for divorcing his daughter, and post-divorce, when Jack redlines it to Riverton with only Ennis's terse postcard to fuel his happiness that their moment has arrived.
I agree with moremojo all the way.... There is also the fact that when Jack read about Ennis and Alma's divorce in the newspaper, he hauled ass to Ennis thinking this "was it".... He and Ennis could be together at last. How sad that he misunderstood that situation.
And HerrKaiser's point about the
TWO WORDS, "I swear" is good too, but
there are two other words that could be remembered when considering why Ennis never remarried. When Alma speaks of her concerned that Ennis hasn't remarried, Ennis' answer is very clear, "
ONCE BURNED..."
I see Ennis as a very sensitive man, quiet, but very deep and the pain of his childhood, the loss of his folks, the very hard life he had was a whole lot for anyone to handle.
I think Ennis never remarried because although he didn't express it verbally he clearly loved Jack and
couldn't take on any more emotional involvement. He did afterall, have the open offer from the waitress that he dated for a while.... (I can't recall her name). She wanted to marry him.
No, Ennis just felt he couldn't take anymore pain caused by getting involved with another lover in his life. As far as solid and deeply emotional relationships, Jack, in the end, was all he really had and all he could handle, which make the loss of Jack even sadder for him.
Rayn