February 14, 2007
Lazy L Farm
Quanah, TX
“Mornin’, cowboy.”
Ennis turned from the window at the sound of Jack’s voice. “Mornin’ ta you, too. Happy Valentine’s Day.”
“Valentine’s? Oh shit, I forgot.”
“So ya didn’t get me a card?”
“I didn’t get ya anythin’. I’m sorry. I s’pose ya got me somethin’…” Jack’s voice trailed off.
“In a manner a speakin’,” replied Ennis. He crooked his finger at Jack. “C’mere.”
He pointed out the window to the bird feeder, hanging from the branches of the large oak tree in their front yard. A bright red cardinal was hopping on the ground, pecking at the seed scattered there.
“A cardinal!” said Jack. “How the hell did a cardinal ever end up in Quanah, Texas?”
“I dunno. He showed up last week and I bought some sunflower seeds to try to get em to stick around. Look,” he added. “There’s his mate.” He pointed to a dun colored bird with an orange beak, sitting on the branch. “The male let her eat first, kept an eye on her, now she’s takin’ her turn doin’ the watchin’.”
They watched the birds silently for a minute, then Jack smiled. “Ya know that fanfic story I was readin’,” he said.
“Which one, the long one?” Jack nodded yes. “Ya still readin’ that?”
“In fits and starts. I mostly skim for the sex.”
Ennis laughed. “Yeah, you would. So what about it?”
“Well, in that story, she had ya watchin’ birds, too.”
“Huh. Well, she got that right.”
“She got lots a stuff right about you, Ennis.”
Ennis looked carefully at Jack for a minute. “Tell ya what…”
“What?”
“I’d rather be watchin’ birds with you here in Quanah, than with some other guy in Laramie.”
Jack laughed. “You can say that again. Happy Valentine’s, babe. Thanks for the bird.”
(302 words)