“Uh oh, I sense trouble,” Ennis observed as he studied Jack’s face. He had yet to see his lover so stricken. Jack’s eyes were darting, washed-out blue slits, and his mouth was drawn up in a crease lined pout. Jack averted his eyes from his man. He was ashamed at himself for allowing his stress to show. He wanted his time away with Ennis to be worry free: a love fest. But Jack was fretting about a few things back home, and he couldn’t hide it.
“What is it, Darlin?” Ennis asked, concerned. “Ah it’s just Bobby, Friend,” Jack lamented. “Bobby?” Ennis repeated, disbelieving. “What about Bobby?” Jack told Ennis the whole story about Bobby being a bit slow in school and how Lureen didn’t seem to care that much. He also went into detail about his meeting with Bobby’s teacher and her dislike for him, since he complained so much. “You have every right to complain, Rodeo,” Ennis spoke, reassuringly. “I would do the same if it was one of my girls.”
“What are you gonna do, Jack?” Ennis looked at his friend, serious. “What do you think about going home and talking to Bobby’s teacher about getting a tutor?” Jack looked at the cold, hard ground. He didn’t trust Lureen to speak to the teacher, but he didn’t want to cut his time short with Ennis. “Why don’t we do this,” Jack began. “We can eat, sleep, screw and hunt like the world is coming to an end, but I leave in a few days to see about my son.” Jack couldn’t look Ennis in the eyes, but somehow he knew that his lover would understand. “I’m okay with that,” Ennis stated matter-of-factly. Ennis pulled Jack into his arms and favored him with a slow, steady kiss. Well, if we’re going to cut this party short, we better get on with it!” Jack shook his head in the affirmative and followed Ennis into the cabin.