The pup tent was cold. Ennis's pants, still unbuckled, lay loose around his knees. It was nearly freezing, despite the body heat emanating from Jack, laying peacefully to his right. Ennis, now wide awake, looked over to his side, and saw his sleeping lover dozing calmly. He wanted to hold him, hug him, confess to him, but Ennis simply couldn't; he revoked the side of him that embraced the sensitive. Jack began to rustle, softly groaning in his sleep from the natural movements of his cold body. His eyes blinked open, exposing the diamond blue reflection of his irises. Ennis could get lost in his eyes, they held soul, innocence, passion; everything he couldn't get from Alma, or any woman for that matter, regardless of how special she was. The sun beamed through the thin lining of the tent, "Good morning friend" smiled Jack, happy to be awake next to his partner, "mornin' cowboy" responded the quiet Ennis, desperately grateful to be that close to the dark haired man. Re-buckling his dirty jeans, Ennis stumbled out of the tent, searching to get any type of nutrients into his system. The recently killed elk was still good, and the makeshift chef took it upon himself to fry some up for he and his Jack. "Whatcha' cookn' over there Ennis? We still got sum' that elk left?" "You bet", Ennis said with a grin. Jack, bundled in a flannel and parka, walked up behind his desired partner and slowly wrapped his hands around the others stomach; humming soothingly as he knowingly filled Ennis with comfort. The two scarfed down their breakfast, soon followed by a horse ride back to the sheep pasture. As the pair trotted through the woods, Jack was overcome with need; "Ennis, soon as it's clear I want you to get off your horse and kiss me". Ennis merely nodded, he stifled his excitement behind a slight smirk. Sure enough as the trail opened up to a wide field Jack and Ennis got down off of their horses. Instantaneously Del Mar pushed his lover against a tree, passionately embracing him as their rough lips collided. Suddenly the kissing stopped and Jack was met with slight wet spots on his shoulder, Ennis was crying. "Ennis?" the young man's eyes were filled with tears. Holding him closer Jack attempted to ease his loved one "you're okay, you're okay Ennis". The slight crying was broken by a choke of a sob "I'm sorry Jack, I'm sorry. I'm so scared, you don't understand. You don't know what they do to people like us. It's not right. I'm sorry." Ennis got back on the horse and began to trot away. In silence, they herded the livestock together, neither addressing the situation that happened hours prior. The awkwardness festered between them as the sun set, the taste of canned beans on their tongue. Jack, eager to fall asleep to avoid all of this, crawled into the sleeping quarter, wishing Ennis a good night. As Jack disappeared, the other stayed by the fire. Ennis couldn't enjoy the warmth, as his thoughts grew anxious and self deprecating. How he wished he could run up to Jack, throw his hands around him, embrace every part of him. He wanted to promise a lifetime with Jack, but he couldn't; he was too realistic, old fashioned, scared. The light in the tent flicked off, yet Ennis stayed outside, in the cold, darkness. The fire was dimming with time, and Ennis's thoughts began to suffocate him. Finally the man had had enough "to hell with it" he muttered, as he made his way over to the tent his lover was occupying. "Jack?", he half whispered, hoping his partner would open his eyes and talk to him. The light eyed fellow shuffled in his sleeping bag, and lifted his gaze to meet Ennis' pleading face "Ennis? What's goin on?" Jack sleepily grumbled. Ennis' face said it all, he needed the comfort of his counterpart, he craved intimacy, deeper than physical. "I uh, I just came to uh. I came in here to apologize Jack. What I said outn' the field earlier, I didn't mean it." Ennis choked out, stifling his emotions. "C'mere" said Jack understanding, inching towards his lover. He turned the light on, and grabbed Ennis, pulling him in for a deep hug, "lay back, it's okay" Jack soothed. The two lay back in the tent, and for the first time they had felt truly together. This was more than a fuck, it was real life, they were real people, and Ennis, ashamed, knew he was falling in love with the cowboy. They lay in the light for a few minutes, feeling each other's skin. Ennis reached for the lantern and switched it off. The pair kissed once more, taking in the taste of cigarettes and beer. Jack passionately embraced his partner, holding him like it was the last time he ever would, and Ennis copied. They lay in the serene darkness, holding each other till the morning.
