Thoughts In The Night

Part 1 in a short series I guess...Hope you like it! ^^

Oh and I don't own any of these characters - they're the creation of the wonderful Annie Proulx! :)

And I know the character's personalities here are nothing like the ones in the film/book but I had fun writing them this way! ^^

It was almost the middle of summer but on that night up in the mountains, the snow fell like winter had come early. A white thick blanket of it had already covered the vast meadows where just earlier that morning sheep had been grazing and all about the camp, a bitter chill had penetrated the air. So much so that even the trees seemed to be shivering, believable illusions in the dancing wind.

Wrapped tightly up together amongst the bedcovers in the tent were the two young cowboys, Jack and Ennis. They had been in each other's arms for at least three quarters of an hour now to try and keep warm from the constant snow and ever since then, Ennis had become increasingly curious about Jack. He'd never been this close to another man before but to be quite truthful, he quite liked it. The girl he had been with once had been pretty thin and delicate when they had held one another yet Jack was different. He felt strong and masculine and Ennis really enjoyed being with someone like that.

Gently, Jack stretched and arched his back, moaning a little. Ennis hung on, keeping his arms around his waist. '' Mmm...'' he muttered huskily after a while. '' Jack...''

'' Ennis...'' Jack closed his eyes and rested his hand on his companion's hip. '' ...you still cold?''

'' Hmm...a lil'...oh, when's it gonna stop snowin'?''

'' I dunno...Aguirre said it's a pretty bad storm.''

'' Great.'' Ennis groaned and shuffled a bit. '' Oh Jack...'' he hummed. '' Oh, hold me closer...''

Jack smiled and did as he was told so everything from their knees to their chests was touching. Ennis sighed, his hot breath tickling Jack's neck. He swore he felt him shiver a little.

'' Ennis,'' he moaned softly. '' Ah'm so cold...''

This seemed to be the excuse for his shudder. Ennis smiled.

'' Ah know,'' he muttered, sensing his icy skin underneath his clothes. '' Ah can feel it...''

Jack opened his eyes as Ennis's hand ran up his back and rested his head on his shoulder. Ennis couldn't help stroking his chocolate brown hair. Since they met, he'd always wondered what it felt like. As his fingers twisted around the curls, Jack uttered a small, low noise and relaxed against Ennis's shaking body. Ennis realised again how much he liked this close company. Or rather how curious he was about it...

Finally, Ennis's hand dropped from Jack's hair and came to rest on his shoulder. At his touch, Jack shuffled a little, getting slightly closer to his companion, if that was possible. Ennis smiled weakly and closed his eyes as Jack's scent came over him. He smelled like the mountain they had got so used to now, a mix of the old horses they rode upon and the pure nature that surrounded them. Ennis would often grow tired of the cold outdoors when it sapped his strength and made him wish for warm, burning fires but now he smelt it on Jack, it was very different.

Gently, he smiled again and let his head drift back onto the bedroll, going through his suddenly more alert senses. He'd smelt Jack and he was a subtle, delicate reminder of the environment they worked in. He'd heard Jack and he had the softest, richest Southern accent, tinged with hints of the West. He'd felt Jack, not just by accident now when their hands might brush while they were together in the day, and he was well-built and strong but not enough to be intimidating. And he'd seen Jack, an admittedly good-looking young guy with beautiful blue eyes and lips that turned up at the corners in an almost seductive way.

There was only one sense left. But before Ennis could curiously comprehend it, Jack moved again and shivered all over. Ennis hastily rubbed his arms to help him get warm but this didn't have any effect so he proceeded to roll over on top of him. Jack looked up at him, an element of surprise in his glittering eyes, yet still pulled Ennis further down. Ennis had never been in a situation like this before so for the first few moments, it felt very uncomfortable. Jack squirmed underneath him, trying to get in a better position, and finally, he ended up with one arm around Ennis's back and the opposite leg crossed over the other. Happy with this, Ennis groaned a little and eagerly straddled his companion before sinking down onto him so much it seemed like their bodies were one.

They remained like this for a good while, closer than they had ever been before and gradually, both of them began to fall asleep. Ennis was the first to go, his head dropping over Jack's shoulder tiredly. Jack smiled dozily at the comfort and then relaxed back onto the bedroll, closing his eyes. Before long, he drifted off too and for a long time, there was silence in the tent, apart from their soft, shallow breathing.