They knew each other for such a long time. Jack knew about Ennis's fears and he knew they were not baseless.
They did not 'know' each other for a long time. Out of the couple of months they were herdin', it was a matter of weeks that they were partnered up on Brokeback. After that, it was perhaps two weeks a year. Outta 19 years that is 38 weeks. Them being men, of that 38 weeks, I doubt any of it was discussing fears, feelings, etc. Time together. Riding, making camp, and making love the way two men like them do.
Ennis, based on his experience with his dad seeing Rich and what them guys did to him, provided an explanation why he and Jack couldn't be together, but that was about it. Don't reckon' Jack could relate to much of that, having not seen it.
He also knew it was dangerous to pursue romance in Childress. Why did he do it?
IMO, Randall was lookin' to get off and not romantically. Jack, at 19, fell in love with Ennis then they took the plunge--something which is rare (even today) among homo men. He wanted desperatley to get that which he pretty much resigned himself (on that bench outside the dance) he wasn't gonna ever have with Ennis.
A young guy can find sex and get off with another guy in Childress, or Riverton, for that matter. The danger for Jack wasn't the pursuit of romance. It was thinking the easy (yet very complex) connection he had with Ennis was to be had
anywhere other than on Brokeback Mountain.
Gut-punched love doesn't strike a whole lot of us. When it does, odds are it's hetro yungins'. Easy for them to marry up and proceed with life--kids and stuff. When this occurs between two men, the layers are/were insurmountable in J & E's time, and even today. It's not so much the crowbar that's worrysome. Statistics prove this. It's what is in our heads. Fearing getting beat up or killed, like what Ennis truly believed, is what mattered and it doesn't matter what really happened to Jack hence the vaugness at the hands of Proulx and Ang.
I don't think Jack would have it any easier today (we know what he likes, fell in love with) seeking that romance which he experienced on that mountain, in Childress, San Fransisco or New York City, for that matter. Guys like him and Ennis, who don't want nothing to do with what is considered 'gay' today, find it easier to just get married, have kids, and perhaps prowl airport restrooms or worse to fullfill the physical aspect of that which they can't have. The longing and desire is there for that 'true' love, and while the bashings and killings are relegated to history or hype, little has changed for these type of guys.
Certainly can't wonder why Jack couldn't be happy with what he had much less then we can wonder why our neighor can't be happy with what he has.....................
Brad