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happy_never_after) wrote2007-11-11 10:04 am
Love is Blind Chapter 29
Some days it still shocked Jack ta wake, open his eyes and not see. Memories blurred, darkness took shape in his thoughts. The musty quilt and hard bed brought back the shack, and for a moment he was back there, in its bleak, lonesome grip. Unsure Jack reached out, relief washed through him as his hand found reality in a touch. Jack pushed the past from his head, and his heart quieted as Ennis pulled him close, and Jack's fingers smoothed over the strong arms that folded under and around-- all them bad dreams dissipatin' into mornin' twilight memories. Ennis woke back into his life.
Were times when Jack looked forward ta dreamin'-- where light, color and movement took solid shapes. Where he could see. The night's memories were just out of reach. He recalled fragments. There were faces he saw and longed ta see like Ennis', Bobby's, his ma's. There were faces he'd never seen so he imagined them-- like Benito's and Linden's. It'd been days, maybe weeks since Jack'd had one of them dreams of the men without faces. Last night it was different. He saw each face clearly like a photograph. As Ennis rolled inta Jack and heat melded to heat, all was lost. Photo negatives melted. Were the men real like dream-Ennis or imagined like dream-Benito? Jack didn't know. As Ennis kissed his neck, all was forgotten. All was bliss.
Jack rolled ta face Ennis. Mouths met. Jack's fingers pulled on tangled curls at the back of Ennis' neck. Ennis rocked gentle against Jack and moaned just as gentle inta Jack's mouth. Both moved slow, easy. Quiet wasn't forced this mornin' like it was the night before. Instead, quiet came natural. Jack rolled Ennis on his back and eased on top. Was always nice havin' Ennis inside him but were times like this he loved fuckin' dry with hot, hard friction. Times he liked bein' inside Ennis too. This mornin' was one.
Ennis was of a like mind. Placed the tube in Jack's hand, then murmured, "Take me, Rodeo," into his ear. Jack slicked himself up and let his thumbs smear over Ennis' tight pucker. Jack heard the hitch in the back of Ennis' throat. That hitch sent his heart poundin' and body achin' all kinds of ways, mostly itchin' for the cowboy. All them years of not havin', all them years of yearnin' for what he had underneath him now set Jack's heart and body afire. His man moved a little, linin' up. Ennis was silently askin' for what Jack was wantin' ta give him. Jack gave it to him, inched two fingers easy-like, testin' the openin'. Pressed and Ennis' muscle gave. Heard air whoosh from Ennis' lungs. Felt the pull and tremble in his man's thighs. Jack hooked his fingers inside, findin' that key and turnin' it, teasin' it. Ennis quivered and shifted under him, edgin' for more contact. So Jack gave it to him; free hand grabbed him tight. Loved the texture, the one thick vein runnin' up his shaft, the way the smaller ones pulsed, makin' Ennis rock hard. Loved the way his cowboy's cock would twitch right when he stroked that sweet spot inside. Jack moved between his legs, lettin' his own cock brush against Ennis'. Was like takin' a taste of frostin' before eatin' the cake.
He pulled his fingers out and let go a Ennis. Like an invitation, Ennis opened his knees wider, and Jack lined up his cock. He pressed in. When Ennis' body yielded, Jack bit back a moan. No way he wanted Linden hearin'.
Ennis was so quiet-- he was the mouse. Jack knew Ennis though. The man had other ways of speakin'. Body told Jack all he needed ta know. Felt him tighten, twitch, relax. Felt them tremors movin' through him like water ripples turnin' ta rapids.
Jack stroked then stopped, stroked then stopped. Ennis thrust back between each of Jack's pauses. When Jack could stand no more, he pumped Ennis in earnest. Jack let himself drop, head ta toes, all his weight movin', curves alignin', hips grindin', meetin' his. He kissed Ennis' face and tasted salty tears on his cheeks. Both whispered words. Both gasped and gathered themselves.
Jack's right hand took back ahold of Ennis. Hips frantic. Jack knew the bed was makin' all kinds of noise, but no way ta stop-- not now. Ennis shot over his hand, and then Jack came. Lights rocketed behind Jack's eyes.
Then from below--
"You know I can hear you!"
Ennis groaned. Jack swore under his breath, 'course he heard, and most likely he heard last night too.
Jack kissed Ennis. Out of breath and covered with sweat, Jack didn't much care if the Pope himself heard em. But Ennis would care. Jack hoped ta hell this wouldn't make Ennis so self-conscious that they wouldn't fuck with Linden around.
Was some bangin' and swearin' downstairs-- sounded ta Jack like Linden stubbed his toe from the groans and curses. After Linden settled down, Jack overheard him mumblin', "There's no way I'm going to be able to go back to sleep after hearing that."
"Was afraid he'd heard," Ennis whispered. Shit, Jack thought, now Ennis is gonna get all tied up in knots around him again.
"Might as well come down," Linden called up. "Already took Nina outside. I'm going to take a shower then make breakfast."
Jack called back, "Thanks."
"Well, damn," Ennis drawled to Jack. "Better get up then."
Jack gave Ennis a sloppy kiss then swatted his ass. Didn't get the reaction from Ennis like he was expectin', was hopin' fer some wrestlin' time, but Linden's voice interrupted em. "When you take your shower after me, I'd appreciate it if you took it separately. I don't want to be imagining what you're doing in there together. Jesus."
Then Jack overheard Linden bitchin' under his breath, talkin' ta Nina about "horny cowboys."
Heard Ennis movin' kinda slow gettin' dressed, and Jack grinned, takin' some pride knowin' he was the cause. Heard water runnin', so he reckoned Linden missed Ennis moseyin' down that ladder like an old man.
----------------------
"So when we meetin' up with them feds?" Jack asked, scoopin' scrambled eggs into his mouth with his toast.
"Later today was the plan," Linden said. "I'll have to call Collinson this morning and not from the phone here. No way I'm taking a chance of a trace."
Ennis watched as Linden slipped Nina a piece of crust. She licked her lips, then pawed at Linden's leg for another handout.
Ennis had ta smirk. The PI looked more like a kid this mornin' than before. Had on torn and worn blue jeans and wet ringlets dripped on his faded blue t-shirt. Instead of the contacts, he sported some old wire-rimmed glasses that inched down his nose. Bandages on his arm were all which way; it was obvious he'd changed them himself.
"How's your arm?" Ennis asked.
"I took a Vicodin 20 minutes ago. It's starting to kick in now."
"You shouldn't be drivin'," Ennis said, startin' ta feel more fatherly toward him. "We can take ya."
"It's only my arm. I've driven in worse shape than this." Ennis looked Linden straight in the eye. Didn't want ta start another argument, but the PI was being stubborn again. Got Ennis ta thinkin' maybe that was why he was always at him. Maybe it was more of an age thing.
"Still think ya shouldn't drive takin' that shit," Ennis grumbled.
"I've taken worse, and besides it's not far. I won't be gone long." Linden stood up with his plate and carried it to the sink. He rinsed off his plate and fork, then wiped his hands on the back of his jeans. "Trust me on this, Ennis. I'll be ok. No one will notice me. I'm forgettable."
Ennis weren't sure what Linden meant by the forgettable crack. More and more he come ta know him, more and more Ennis realized the PI was anything but forgettable. Ennis sized Linden up. Still looked like some kid, but his mind was anything but juvenile. But ta look at him, most people would assume he was still in high school.
"Ennis, he'll be fine. Sides, all of us ridin' around are gonna stick out like a sore thumb. It's better that we stay put, be safer that way fer all of us."
Ennis nodded, then grunted in agreement so's Jack'd know. He got up with his own plate and picked up Jack's.
Linden stretched and yawned, watchin' Nina as she began her morning ritual: rollin' around and around, back and forth, squirmin' and wormin' onto her back, soft furry tummy up with feet dartin' and dancin' in the air. Ennis grinned. The girl was workin' hard ta get that itch taken care of by rubbin' the floor. Looked damn cute, too. He wondered sometimes if she did it 'cause she did look so damn cute-- doin' it got her all kinds of attention like Linden's cheerful laugh and reward as he reached down and scratched her belly.
"More coffee?" Ennis asked. Jack nodded, leanin' back in the kitchen chair. Ennis grabbed the coffee pot and filled Jack's then his cup. Didn't sit back down though. Lit up a smoke instead.
"I'll take one of them, too." Ennis hesitated, then passed it ta Jack but didn't light another up fer himself. Should never have lit it up. Done well cuttin' down. Noticed Jack not smokin' much these days. Fer Jack's sake, reckoned he could do the same. Was hard though-- wanted one somethin' fierce. Shoulda kept em in his pocket. Watched Linden take out one of them nasty clove things. Least Linden stepped outside last night when he smoked em. Never smelled nothin' like em and wondered why anyone'd smoke such nasty things.
"What got ya smokin' them cigarettes?" Jack asked.
"My roommate in college. He was Indian."
"Know'd a lot of Indians," Jack said, "but never known one ta smoke one a them."
"No, not those kind of Indians. I mean Indian as in from India."
"Like the country. I get it."
"The cigarettes are actually Indonesian. It's not native to India although they are popular there. But it's not a cultural thing for him. My roommate just smoked them because he thought they were cool."
"Smell funny," Ennis groused as he scratched the side of his mouth. "Look funny, too,"
"What they look like?" Jack asked, pokin' Ennis.
"Thin, dark brown paper," Ennis described. "Not like them funny cigarettes."
"Ya mean pot?" Jack asked.
Linden laughed. "I got some of that too."
"What? No shit," Jack exhaled. "Haven't smoked that since Lureen brought some home from a Bingo night."
"Never heard of a Bingo night like that before," Linden said. "Maybe I should go..."
"Well, was after Bingo that she got it from LaShawn. They just chain-smoke cigarettes there."
"Ain't smoked it much," Ennis said.
"Once with me though," Jack laughed.
"Want ta smoke one now?" Linden said, jumpin' around like a boy in a candy shop.
"Sure," Jack said.
"I thought you had ta call Collinson about the feds--" Ennis said.
"I'm not going just yet," Linden said, goin' for his jacket and reachin' into his front pocket. He sat back down at the table with them and rolled one up, lickin' the ends when he was done. Ennis didn't mind sharin' one with Jack, but he wasn't sure about this-- with Linden's germs 'n all.
Linden fired it up and another kind of sweet hit Ennis' nose. Linden passed it to Jack first. After Jack took a drag, he held it out for Ennis. First he stared at it.
"Come on, Ennis."
"Fuck," Ennis said, "can't believe we're doin' this." And he took it, put it to his lips and inhaled.
"Hold it in," Linden said.
"I fuckin' know that," Ennis said, then started coughin'.
"When ya choke it means it's good shit," Linden said.
"Must be really good," Jack said.
"There ain't nothin' else in this? I ain't gonna see pink elephants, am I?" Ennis asked.
"No, this pot is clean, Mexican sensemillia," Linden said. "That happens when it's laced with acid."
"What?"
"LSD. It's supposed to make some people hallucinate. Never did it to me though. I didn't like it much. This is a lot better. Hey, Ennis, don't hog the joint!"
Ennis didn't notice nothin' at first. Then his head felt funny, like some thin film encased his brain and dulled what was comin' in. Started noticin' things he hadn't. Maybe it was the light of day, or maybe the funny shit he smoked, but Ennis noticed the house was in sore need of cleanin'. Cobwebs clung on the kitchen curtains, and dust was thick on the sills. Windows were in sore need of washin'-- all coated with a yellow film. Whoever stayed here must of smoked. Wondered if they smoked this funny shit.
Eyed Jack. Loved it when he hadn't shaved and was all rough-lookin'. Lips on that cigarette looked mighty fine too. Made him hard thinkin' on what them lips could do. And last night. Damn. Ennis wiggled around in his chair. Ass still ached. Stockin' feet kicked the floor. Smooth hardwood floors, but floor needed sweepin'. All sorts of dust bunnies runnin' around down there.
"Nothing like a morning buzz," Linden yawned, then took one last hit then stared a moment at the fiery tip in front of his eyes. Glasses made them look wider and bluer, like a little boy inspectin' a bug. "Makes me tired though. I tell you, I really didn't mind that much hearing you two have sex. There's worse things." Linden stubbed out the end with his thumb and forefinger then pushed it into his front pocket. "You two are pretty nice guys. I don't meet a whole lot of guys like us around here. Out East it was easier to find somebody. Here I'm always worried that someone's going to try to kick my ass after. Once this guy had a knife."
Ennis reckoned "somebody" was Linden's code fer "queer."
Linden lifted up his shirt. "Caught me right here before I realized he even had it."
"Damn," Ennis said. Scar was about two inches long, red and angry lookin'.
"I broke his nose."
All them old terrors welled up in Ennis lookin' at that scar.
"You two are lucky to have each other," Linden sighed. "I've been searching for Mr. Right but don't know that I'll ever find him."
"That might be yer problem," Jack said. Linden looked over at Jack quizzically. "Yer searchin' for him. Maybe ya just need ta stop searchin'. Sometimes love finds you when ya least expect it. You're young yet. You got lots of time."
Ennis had ta smile at that. Sure was true. Thought of times past. All them days on Brokeback. Jack Twist peelin' potatoes. Playin' harmonica. Swimmin' naked. Never expected ta find love herdin' sheep on an old mountain, but he found it. Remembered the moment he knew he loved Jack Twist. Puked his guts out. Sometimes when love finds you, ya ain't ready for it. But thinkin' back, maybe it's better that way.
Jack laughed. Ennis realized he missed somethin'. He was thinkin' so hard on the past that them two's conversation had gone clean by him.
"I just like pissing Ennis off and making him all embarrassed," Linden said. Ennis frowned. What the fuck had he missed him sayin'? "Sorry," Linden continued. "You know I do."
Linden looked Ennis square in the eyes and laughed so hard he started to hiccup. Then Jack joined him.
"What?" Ennis asked.
"I think Ennis didn't hear what we just said," Linden gasped.
"Where were you, cowboy?" Jack asked.
"What's so funny?" Ennis asked.
"We was talkin' about our sex life."
"You sure do talk a lot."
"People say that about me, too," Linden said between gulps and giggles.
"I think we need ta stretch our legs," Jack suggested. "Wanna go for a walk outside, cowboy?"
"Sure thing," Ennis said.
"Have a good walk," Linden giggled, "if that's what they're calling it now."
Ennis gave Linden a smirk. As he got his hat, he noticed Linden watchin' his ass again. Ennis waved his finger at him back, makin' Linden's cheeks get all red.
"Sorry," Linden hiccupped.
The walk was nice. Ennis never remembered the sky bein' so blue or the air smellin' so crisp. And Jack's hand in his never felt so right or so warm as it did walkin' down them trails.
Had him so much fun just havin' Jack Twist beside him, forgot ta ask what was so damned funny.
-------------------
Ennis kept his head low. Meetin' up with the feds wasn't what Ennis thought it'd be like. There they was. No dark suit and ties. He glanced up. All three clean-shaven, with short hair, but none of em looked like the squared away conservative men he'd imagined. Wore plain clothes. Jeans, pullover shirts. No fancy black car. Drove a white Buick. When Ennis raised his head ta meet their eyes, he was forced ta squint-- afternoon sun blinded him as it bounced off Lake Casa Blanca's waves.
When Linden told them where the meetin' was, Ennis felt relief. Sounded like an out-of-the-way place. Huge state-owned lake, way off the main highway on an old dirt service road.
Karen Redfield was there standin' next to them and her state of mind was apparent ta Ennis. Her features were tight, mouth a line, her eyes dark. Didn't look good whatever it was they were conversin' about. Didn't seem ta bother Nina none. She wagged her tail and sat at Jack's feet.
Ennis shook each of their hands-- firm handshakes-- he'd expected that. Watched as they shook Jack's hand and finally Linden's. Names were John Thomas, Peter Chan, and Sam Elysburg. Each one had faces that said nothing-- bodies straight and just as stagnant as their features. Ennis began thinkin' maybe the first image he had of em in his head was right-- exceptin' what he thought they was made of on the outside was on the inside instead. Didn't like them much right off. 'Course Ennis reckoned they wasn't in this fer makin' buddies, but they was downright cold lookin'. Then Ennis saw somethin' spark in Elysburg's eyes as the man studied Jack-- all full-out, no holdin' back. Seemed ta Ennis the man was takin' advantage that Jack couldn't see him. Didn't like that man judgin' Jack. Not one lick.
"What's up, Karen?" Linden's question got Elysburg's attention. Linden stood, smirk on his face, hands thrust in pockets, looking all of seventeen. Elysburg hadn't paid much mind ta Linden, but now he gave Linden the public enemy number one look.
"You're the PI." No question, just fact with a shovel full of contempt behind it like PI was a dirty word.
"I am." He ignored the insult and kept lookin' at Karen. "What's up?"
"You tell them," she said pointedly to Chan. He sighed and turned to Linden.
"We've had members of the Childress Police Department under investigation for over four years," Chan continued.
"Four years!" said Jack.
"They knew," Karen said. "They knew about Jack from the very beginning-- where he was, what happened to him, and who did it. And they did nothing."
"What the hell," Ennis said.
"Had to be that way. We had no choice. You were a casualty," Chan said matter-of-fact-like. "When we first started this investigation, we believed that the corruption was just Donaldson and maybe a few men on the take. You know, smuggling a few illegals over the border, moving narcotics for some extra pocket money. We put an agent inside. What he found was more than a corrupt chief of police. Goes deeper. We know who they are, what they're up to, but we can't get to them."
"You're makin' it sound like this is some Mafia connection," Linden said.
Chan waved his arm. "No, that's not it. Not Mafia. But just as powerful."
"Christ," Jack swore. "My family's in this-- my friends. It's not just me. Are you sayin' ya can't protect us?"
"I'm not saying we can't," Chan said. "But there is so much you don't understand. More than your life is in the balance here."
"Don't keep us in the dark," Linden said. "All I ever get from feds are either convoluted stories or vague threats. I'm sick of this. Are you going to tell us or not? Who are we up against? We need to know."
"More of what are you up against," Chan explained. "These men are highly organized and part of a conspiracy to to oust President Madrid and overthrow the Mexican government. Donaldson and his group are just American sympathizers, the arms on the body of this organization. The head and torso is in Mexico."
"You've got to be kidding," Linden laughed.
"I don't believe it-- A plot to overthrow the Mexican government," Jack said.
"I don't believe he used anatomy as an analogy," Linden turned to Elysburg. "I hope he's kidding. He's kidding, right?"
"We never kid," Elysburg said. "Now, Mr. Twist, you must tell us what you know. Everything."
TBC
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