Ennis felt the whole world stop. He stared at Jack, had he really heard him proper?
"What?"
Jack felt himself deflate, it had been a stupid idea anyway, he should've never asked.
"Never mind, lets get some sleep, your girls will be here early tomorrow morning."
Ennis looked at him, had he really asked him to marry him? He nodded slowly to Jack,
"Yeah, they will be," he lay down, "Goodnight Rodeo,"
"'Night Ennis."
Ennis reached out and tried to pull Jack closer to him for a cuddle, but Jack tensed up, pulling away slightly. Ennis knew he better say something.
"Jack, c'mon, I need some time to think about it. It's a serious thing."
Jack felt himself relax a bit, that was better than a flat out no. Least he was thinking about it.
"Ennis?" Ennis grunted in reply, "Can I have a cuddle?"

The next morning.

The shrill sound of the alarm spilt through the air, waking both men suddenly. Ennis lay still for a minute, thinking of a reason why they had set the alarm. He looked at Jack, who was drifting back to sleep.
"Oh fuck!"
"Wha?"
"Get your arse outta bed, Alma will be here in an hour with the girls!"
"Shit!"
The sound of the door opening, then slamming shut stopped them in their tracks.
"Daddy! Dadda Ennis!"
They both breathed a sigh of relief, it was just Bobby.
The bedroom door flew open and Bobby raced in.
"I cooked cakes and slices and more cakes!"
Bobby had a huge grin on his face, it had obviously been a successful night.
Jack swung Bobby up into his arms.
"Really? And where's our share?"
Bobby giggle and patted his tummy. Jack laughed and place his son back on the ground.
Another knock at the door had Ennis and Jack looking across at each other in confusion. Now who was here?
Ennis quickly pulled on some clothes and headed for the front door. Pulling it open, he was surprised to see Kurt standing on the porch, in full uniform, looking decidedly uncomfortable.
"Yes Kurt?" Ennis managed to keep the slight tinge of annoyance out of his voice, he now had under an hour until Alma and his girls arrived and he wasn't in any mood for one of Kurt's, 'I just wanted to chat' talk.
"I, uhm. I was just wondering if I could court Junior to the dance tonight." It all came out in a such a rush, Ennis wasn't sure if he had heard him right or not.
"You would like to take my daughter to the dance tonight as your date?"
Kurt swallowed nervously.
"Yes sir,"
"Do you promise to have her home by midnight?"
"Yes sir."
"Then, yes, you may take Junior to the dance tonight."
Kurt beamed at Ennis.
"Thank you sir."

3 hours later

Jack slid into the truck and looked in the back seat where Junior, Jenny and Bobby were all squished in together.
"All comfy back there?" Junior glared at him, she was the queen of steely looks, must of gotten it from her Father. Next to him, Ennis chuckled,
"We better git goin' Jack, before they change their minds, and want to walk." Jack laughed and shook his head, starting up the truck and pulling out onto the ranches long driveway.
"I had an interesting visit this morning Junior, from a Master Kurt."
"Really Daddy?" Junior smiled happily, while blushing a little bit under the inquisitive stares of her sister.
"Yes, I did. Asked me if it was okay for him to escort you to the dance tonight." At this Junior was positively beaming.
"I told him yes, provided he has you home by midnight."
"Thank you Daddy!"

At the fair ground

Jack watched as the three children ran off together, each armed with $10 each to spend on whatever they wanted. He smiled happily, he was glad that Bobby, Junior and Jenny were all getting along so well. Then again, Ennis had told Jack a couple of nights ago that both girls had always wanted a little brother, and now they had one. He felt Ennis' hand on his arm,
"What you thinkin' of bud?"
"Jist how happy the kids look. Haven't seen Bobby smile like that in a long time." Ennis grinned, and leant in quickly to give Jack a quick peck on the cheek, before looking around quickly to make sure no one had seen.
Jack sighed, he wished Ennis would be a bit more open about their relationship, everyone in the town knew about them, so it wasn't like it was a great big secret. As if reading his mind, Ennis gave him a small smile.
"I'm sorry Jack, but there is a lot of out-of-town people here today. Don't wanna give them an eyeful do we?" Jack smiled ruefully. Ennis was right, they didn't wanna give to much of a display to any new faces, who knew what it could lead to.
A couple of hours later, Jack was wandering around the tractor display, Ennis had gone off with the kids, something about them having to have ice-cream. He caught the eye of another farmer, a middle aged man he didn't recognize and gave him a polite nod and a smile. The farmer smiled back and made his way across to him. He reached Jack and held out his hand. Jack shook it as the farmer introduced himself.
"Craig Ashton, Sunhill Ranch in the next county."
"Pleased to meet you Craig. Jack Twist, Brokeback Ranch."
Craig's face lost all friendliness as he heard Jack's name.
He stepped back and sized Jack up.
"You're one of those faggots who've done good aren't ya?"
He spat on the ground at Jack's feet.
"You deserve to die! You and you're fuckin' little partner. It's revolting way to live, you don't know the meaning of loving someone. Ever fucked a women eh? Betcha you haven't. Or have you and you were so fuckin' bad that no one wanted ya." He spat again, this time getting Jack on his boot. A small crowed had formed, and Jack could see in the corner of his eye a small group of men. His friends, who he knew would help him, did this crazed up farmer try anything more.
All of a sudden Jack felt Craig's fist get him on the side of his face. He stumbled backwards and landed on the ground, hard. He felt blood start to trickle out the side of his mouth and started to struggle to his feet to defend himself.
"Aww, look at this everyone. The little fuckin' pansy can't even defend himself." He aimed a kick at Jack's body. Jack curled up in preparation for it, but it never came. Craig found himself lifted clean off the ground and slammed into the nearest wall. He was face to face with a furious Ennis Del Mar.
"Little fuckin' pansy? I'll give you fuckin' little pansy!" With that Ennis slammed him backwards into the wall a second time. Craig gasped with pain. Maybe this hadn't been such a good idea. He hadn't thought that anyone would of stuck up for a faggot.
Ennis twisted Craig's face around so they were eye to eye.
"If you ever speak or touch me boyfriend like that agin, I"ll fuckin kill ya!" Craig's eyes went wide. Oh! Ennis dropped him to the ground and kicked him once, hard, before turning away and going to crouch down next to Jack.
"You okay Rodeo?" He gently wiped some blood of Jack's chin.
"Think so Cowboy. I can still move everything."
Ennis smiled down at him, a wetness in his eyes. He blinked quickly before looking away. Jack reached up and gently pulled Ennis' head back round so he could see him. Ennis smiled roughly and wiped some more blood of Jack.
"Fuckin' bastard has messed up your pretty face!"

The Dance

Junior smiled up at Kurt and let herself be pulled a little bit closer to him. He really was quite handsome, and a police officer! Her friends at home had been impressed when she had told them. Kurt leant down a bit,
"Do you want a drink Junior?" She smiled up at him a nodded. He vanished for a few minutes before returning, finding her at the edge of the dance floor.
"Didn't think it would be a good idea to drink on the dance floor!" Kurt laughed and handed her, her drink. They stood in a comfortable silence together, watching everyone else dance and enjoy themselves.
A huge grin appeared on the face of Junior when the opening bars of one of the most recent chart hits blasted out.
"C'mon Kurt, we gotta dance to this one!"

"I been working so hard
Keep punching my card\Eight hours, for what?
Oh, tell me what I got\I get this feeling
That time's just holding me down\I'll hit the ceiling
Or else I'll tear up this town\Tonight I gotta cut…"

Junior smiled as Kurt spun her around, and pulled her close to him,

"Loose, Footloose\kick off your Sunday shoes
Please, Louise\Pull me offa my knees
Jack, get back\C'mon before we crack
Lose your blues\Everybody cut Footloose."

Junior gave an excited scream as Kurt picked her up and swung her around in a circle. Kurt laughed as he placed her back on the ground, before leaning down and kissing her softly. The rest of the song passed in a blur for both of them.

A couple of hours later found most of the young dancers retiring to the sidelines, worn out after so much dancing. Their parents now held command of the dance floor, and much to the embarrassment of some of the kids, were showing off dance moves that were cool back in 'their day'
The song faded out and the DJ tapped on the mic to make sure it was working properly,
"Okay ladies and gentlemen, here is one for all the couples out there."

"You can dance-every dance with the guy
Who gives you the eye, let him hold you tight.
You can smile-every smile for the man
Who held your hand neath the pale moon light.
But don't forget who's takin' you home\And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin' save the last dance for me."

Ennis took a deep breath and stood up before Jack,
"Dance with me Rodeo?"
Jack stared at Ennis. There were plenty of couples out on the floor, hundreds of people watching them dance.
"Please?"

"Oh I know that the music's fine\Like sparklin' wine, go and have your fun
Laugh and sing but while we're apart\Don't give your heart to anyone
And don't forget who's takin' you home\And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin' save the last dance for me."

Jack quickly decided and took Ennis' hand, leading them both out onto the dance floor. There were a few gasps of shock, or perhaps amazement, but neither Ennis nor Jack cared. They were together, and that's all that mattered. Ennis pulled him close, placing one hand on his waist and the other on his shoulder, before starting to move to the music.
"Didn't know you could dance Ennis,"
Ennis chuckled softly, "There's plenty of things you don't know about me rodeo."

Baby don't you know I love you so\Can't you feel it when we touch.
I will never, never let you go\ I love you oh so much

You can dance, go and carry on\til the night is gone
And it's time to go\If he asks if you're all alone
Can he walk you home, you must tell him no
'Cause don't forget who's takin' you home,
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin' save the last dance for me."

Ennis twirled Jack in his arms. He had wanted to do this for so long. Dance with the man he loved, let everyone that Jack was his, and his alone.
He leant down and kissed Jack softly on the lips and mouthed 'I love you' to him. Jacks beaming smile almost lit up the whole room.
"I love you too Ennis."

"Oh I know that the music's fine\Like sparklin' wine, go and have your fun
Laugh and sing but while we're apart\Don't give your heart to anyone
And don't forget who's takin' you home\And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin' save the last dance for me.

So don't forget who's taking you home\Or in who's arms you're gonna be
So darlin', save the last dance for me."

"Jack?"
"Hmm?"
"I love you Jack Twist."
Ennis had stopped dancing now, and was now down on one knee before him. Jack couldn't believe it.
"I was an idiot last night Jack, I knew what my answer was going to be. So now it's my turn."
There were plenty of gasps of amazement and happiness from around the room
"Will you marry me Jack?"
Jack gave him a massive grin.
"Yes!"
A cheer rang out around them. Ennis stood up and took Jack's left hand. He had produced a small velvet box, and upon opening it, Jack found a simple silver band, with small etchings around it. Ennis took it out and slid it onto Jack's finger.
"I love you Ennis," Jack felt a tear trickle down his face.
"And I love you to Jack."

"Oooh, Baby won't you save the last dance for me.
You make the promise that you save the last dance for me.
Save the last dance,
The very last dance,
For me."

Fin.