Darlin'

Rated T

Characters by Annie Proulx and the film of BBM.

Ennis's P.O.V

Alma was happy to see Ennis so happy, expecting his friend. She was aware her husband was quite the loner, preferring to do his work at the ranch and then to stay at home, never bringing anyone back. He never saw his relatives and had seen hers only a few times. He didn't like to have visitors. All the more surprising then to see how Ennis was looking forward to this Jack's arrival. This anticipation was catching and Alma was excited too, wondered if they could go to the 'Knife and Fork' to eat.

Ennis had taken the day off from the ranch telling the foreman he had an emergency at home. From early morning he kept looking out of the window and down the road. He had put on his best shirt and clean jeans. As the day dragged on Ennis couldn't settle, pacing and moving from chair to chair, then to the window. At 3p.m. he started on the beers, drank nearly all of them, and then finally slumped down into the armchair.

Maybe he won't come, thought Ennis. Then half drunk and half asleep dreaming of their time on Brokeback, he at last heard a vehicle pull up outside. He was up in a second to the window and, looking down saw Jack step out of his truck smiling to himself on seeing Ennis's truck with hay in the back. He was as lovely as Ennis remembered, better, better dressed, even more beautiful.

In a rush Ennis got to the top of the stairs and shouted to Jack, saw the expression of childlike love in the upturned face, then down, then Jack was in his arms

'son of a bitch….son of a bitch…….little darlin''.

They tried to get as close as possible to each other, straining and pressing, their arms wrapped around each other. Ennis still befuddled, deaf and blind to passers-by or Alma seeing them, dragged Jack towards the bottom of the stairs. His senses were trained towards Jack, only him; he drank him in with his eyes, exulted to the warm murmur of his voice, dear God the fresh, sweet smell of him, the feel of him in his arms, the taste of his sweet lips.

Four years without him, one year to realise what his feelings meant and that he'd made a mistake marrying Alma, that he needed Jack like breath or food and water: Jack was life itself to Ennis. Four years of loneliness and dreams and now he'd come back to him…..his darlin'.

Above them a screen door banged.