Love is Blind Chapter 33

[elwinglyre]

The truck ride into town didn't take as long as Ennis woulda liked. He wished it'd a gone on forever, so's they wouldn't have to do this. All Ennis could think of was losin' Jack. He couldn't stand losin' him again. 

Despite the actin' they'd been doin' Ennis was watchin' Jack, savorin' what time they had together. He had them sunglasses on so's Ennis couldn't see his eyes. Ennis wanted ta see his eyes-- wanted ta see his eyes so bad. Hated havin' ta act like this-- pretendin' they was angry and actin' hateful to each other. What if somethin' went wrong, and this was the last time he'd ever see Jack again?  

Ennis didn't want ta think on that. No, not at all. His heart pounded in his chest as he drove.

The three of them done good at the cabin-- made it look real. They'd hustled out to the truck, yelled obscenities at each other, and thrown their bags willy-nilly in the back of the truck with Nina nippin' and nervous at their heels. 

Was Jack that said they should keep up their fightin' in case them men was watchin' em close-like. Poor girl didn't know what ta think of it all with her master 'n Ennis yellin' at each other. Hurt her feelings. She moped in the cab, layin' heavy against Jack's legs on the floor, pawin' at Jack ta stop every time he started yellin'. She didn't understand Jack was actin'-- that he wasn't angry at Ennis.

And them men had followed em-- just like the feds said they would; Ennis saw em in his rear view mirror, a gold sedan, followin' along. He pretended not ta notice they was there. Got damned nervous thinkin' on all the bad that might happen. Chain-smoked the whole time. Throat was raw from it.

They followed the feds' plan. Ennis pulled into the Burger King and snuffed out his cigarette. Checked ta see the men but couldn't. He knew them men was there behind em anyway. Most likely parkin' someplace close and watchin'. 

"Ain't no dogs allowed," Jack said as they started to get out of the truck.

"They'll let a seeing eye dog in," Linden offered.

"No. Best ta leave her be. Don't want her gettin' in the middle," Jack said. "She might mess this up. Just leave her in the cab until we come back out. I'll get her out of the cab as soon as we come out." 

Ennis nodded to Linden to let it be.

"Still don't believe they got Burger King in Mexico," Jack said.

He stepped outta the truck and stumbled forward, brushin' off Ennis' arm when he tried ta help. Jack slammed the door like he hated the world. 

"Don't touch me. I'll follow right behind."

Jack followed behind them. Was amazin' ta Ennis how he done that, like he had some kind of inner eye that was watchin' em. Still, Ennis held the door open. Didn't want Jack's inner eye to get black from runnin' into the door.

They got up to the counter and ordered-- Ennis shuffled his feet, looking up at the menu. Ennis was thankful fer one thing-- at least the menu was in both Spanish and English, so's he could order without lookin' stupid.

"Give me three Whoppers," Ennis said. 

Jack poked him in the back ta get his attention. Ennis turned his head and shrugged Jack off. Jack nudged him. Ennis frowned. "What you want, Jack?" he spit out. "Tryin' ta order."

"I want ta know why you doin' this?"

"Doin' what?" Ennis said, half turnin' ta Jack and half facin' the counter.

Jack clenched his teeth, pokin' his finger inta Ennis' back.  

"I want ta know why ya done it. So what was it? That I'm blind?" Jack asked-- loud enough so's those near em could hear, but quiet enough so's ta not disturb those sittin' down. "Is that it? That I'm not a whole man anymore? Or is it that he sucks cock better than me?" 

"Do-- do you want fries with your Whoppers, s-señor?" 

Ennis turned back to the teenage girl at the cash register, her mouth hangin' open in shock from Jack's words. Guess she heard. She was a cute little gal too. Looked all of sixteen, with her big brown eyes wide and worried. He reached into his back pocket for his billfold. Needed ta get this over in a hurry.

"Can ya not talk so loud, Jack?" Ennis said out the side of his mouth. He turned back to the young lady. "Thanks, fries too..." 

"And coke," Linden added.

"And three large cokes," Ennis said, wonderin' if they was safe ta drink, bein' fountain drinks 'n all. Didn't need to get the shits at a time like this.

"Why you takin' orders from him," Jack said, voice raised higher. "How long has this been goin' on?" 

Ennis pretended ta ignored Jack. Tried to, leastwise. Actin' was hard work. Was mighty hard doin' this in public. Wasn't expectin' Jack to spew out their sex life in front of all these people. Ennis half expected some of them Hispanic menfolk sittin' next ta the window ta haul out shotguns, yell "Es un buen día para cazar maricones!" then start ta blastin'. 

"Do ya love him?" Jack asked, voice breakin'. 

Damn, Rodeo missed his callin'. Shoulda been in the movies. "Jack, ya gotta talk about this here?" Ennis asked.

"No, guess not," Jack said, louder. "Never is a good time ta tell yer lover that you've been fuckin' around on him."

Jack's improvisin' wasn't sittin' well with Ennis at all. People were lookin' at em funny. Ennis hoped most of em didn't speak English. 

"I ain't gonna share ya," Jack spat out at Ennis, while Willie Nelson wailed "He was a Friend of Mine" over the sound system. "Never. I rather be dead."

Ennis knew he was the paranoid sort. Still, he was certain people were gettin' riled. Where was they? Was them guys in here, inside watchin' and listenin'? Ennis took a careful scan around the room. 

That man in the back with his head down looked mighty familiar.

"Calm down, Jack," Ennis pleaded, quiet-like. He noticed a young fella comin' up behind em wearin' one of them orange and blue uniforms with a stupid pointy hat and pin ta his shirt with the title "assistant manager" printed above his name.

"Who says I ever wanted to share him?" Linden spat back, gettin' in Jack's space. 

This was goin' from bad ta worse. 

"Señor? Señor!" The assistant manager stepped between Jack and Linden. Kid was zit-faced and nervous as all get-out. "If you do not stop, I shall be forced to have you leave."

"Not until I get my burgers--" Ennis growled. The young man stepped back, fear in his face.

"Fine," Jack said, "get your damn burgers. I'll be outside."

"No you ain't," Ennis said, grabbin' the back of Jack's shirt. "Yer stayin' right here."

"Stop bossin' me around," Jack hissed, yankin' away from Ennis' grasp. "Always bossin' me-- I'm damn tired of it."

Ennis took the bag of burgers and fries, then handed Linden the drinks. 

"How 'bout he stays here!" Jack yelled, motionin' ta Linden.

"He ain't stayin' here," Ennis said. "He's comin' with us."

"I ain't gettin' in that truck with him," Jack hissed. "Make a choice-- it's him or me."

Way Jack was puffin' up, reminded Ennis of a turkey. Looked damned ridiculous.

"He already made a choice," Linden mumbled. "You're just too thick of a dumbass to realize it." 

"You little piss ant," Jack said, thumpin' into Linden's chest. Was almost comical, Linden was so much shorter than Jack that his second bump knocked Linden's arms, upsettin' one of the drinks. 

"Fuck!" Linden yelled. Coke flew all over, in his face, down the front of his shirt and on to the floor. "You asshole! That's cold!" 

Ennis reckoned he didn't have ta worry no more if the drink was gonna make him sick.

All sorts of little heads turned their way as Linden spewed out more profanity. Ennis was gettin' damned concerned. In any language, the children understood that Linden weren't recitin' no nursery rhymes. And it weren't right-- he shouldn't be cussin' like this in front of younguns.

"Señor? Señor!" the assistant manager said with more authority. "You must leave." Ennis looked over Jack's shoulder and realized why the kid had suddenly grown balls-- a couple of burly employees, arms crossed and lookin' ready fer a fight, were standin' behind him. Last thing Ennis wanted was a brawl, although it might look more convincin' if one happened.

"Sir, ya'll need ta leave," the assistant manager demanded. "You can't use that kind of language here. There's young children."

Right then, Jack rammed his shoulder into Linden, sendin' him into the counter hard. The rest of the cokes went flyin'. The cashier's eyes got huge. Ennis dragged Jack backward by his collar toward the door. People parted for em like they was the Red Sea. Ennis turned ta see Linden gatherin' his composure and limpin' out to the truck, doin' his best ta wade through the people oglin' the three queers fightin'. Ennis still had hold a Jack, but now Jack was leadin' him instead. 

Jack flicked off Ennis' arm, stomped three steps up to the truck and fumbled for the door handle. He caught hold, then thrust the cab door open. Nina jumped out into him feet first, tongue lickin' him. Ennis stood in back of him. 

"Jack? Come on."

In one quick move, Jack spun 'round and took a swing at Ennis. He almost landed the punch, but Ennis ducked and caught it on the ear.

"I hate you!" Jack spat out. "Get out of my life. I don't need either of you. Fuck off."

"Jack, come on, stop it," Ennis pleaded.

"Wasn't like we planned this to happen," Linden said.

"You planned it, alright," Jack said, turnin' ta Linden. "You wanted him from the moment you saw him-- you fuckin' little weasel."

"Shut up!" Linden yelled out. 

This time Jack's punch landed-- hittin' Linden square on the chin. Linden flew back, slammin' into the truck, hittin' his head on the edge of the open door. He was bleedin' like hell. Course Jack didn't know it, couldn't see it. Nina was whinin', pullin' at Jack's pant leg. Ennis bent down to Linden, tryin' ta stop the bleedin' with the bag of burgers, and Jack headed off, Nina behind.

Never knowed when they'd showed up, but Ennis felt something not right-- he looked up, and there they was. They had Jack, arm twisted behind his back. Nina barkin' and growlin'. Jack beggin', "Don't hurt her. I'll come quiet if'n ya don't hurt her."

Ennis yelled, "No!" They was in the car like that-- and then they was gone. Ennis scrambled. Never felt so helpless in his life with Jack gone and Linden bleedin' on the ground.

He hustled Linden into the passenger side of the truck. Got himself behind the wheel and floored it. Tires squealed, smell of rubber lingered in his nose. 

------------------------

The world went black, and then someone slapped his face. 

"Ennis?"

Linden blinked. His mind clipped, became a slow-motion movie where Ennis grabbed his arm and threw him into the cab of the truck as he watched a gold 1970 Delta 88 speed away with Jack and Nina inside. 

He shook his head, willing his brain to come back to normal speed. 

"Jack didn't have to hit me that hard," Linden groaned. "Must have been all that adrenaline."  His eyes adjusted, taking in their surroundings. The Delta 88 was four cars ahead and pulling away fast. The sedan swerved abruptly around the next intersection. "Turn right!"

Linden hung on as Ennis gunned the truck, bumping over the curb and around the corner. Linden bounced in the cab.

"Where are them damn feds?" Ennis asked, scanning in front and in back. Linden heard the panic in his voice, the fear. "I don't see anyone else followin'." 

"That's the idea," Linden said, trying his best to reassure him. "You're not supposed to know they're following."

Linden took three deep breaths. He had to get his bearings. Jack needed him now. Ennis needed him now. He rubbed his jaw. Damn, Jack was strong-- that was one good sucker punch. Linden scanned the street ahead. The car was still there in sight. This wasn't going at all like Linden expected. Ennis was driving the truck when he should be. And was that Jorge inside that Burger King? What was going on with that? Was he imagining things? 

Ennis was a good driver, but he was no match for the men they were chasing. Their truck didn't have the muscle that car did, and all Ennis' skill and will didn't make up for it.

They'd lost them not more than ten blocks from the Burger King. A cab pulled out in front of them. Ennis slammed on the brakes. He stopped the truck at the light. At first Ennis just stared straight ahead-- face void of all emotion, then he broke to pieces, fists pounded the steering wheel, tears filled his eyes. Linden sat helpless as Ennis yelled out, "No, no, no." 

Christ, Linden thought, dragging his fingers through his hair, this isn't happening.

Horns honked behind them. People cursed. The light had turned. Linden sat up. Another voice was mixed in with all that confusion. A voice he knew. At first he thought he was hearing things. Linden blinked, turned his head slowly to the words, "Ennis, pull over." There in the truck next to them was Jorge. Jorge. His mind hadn't been playing tricks on him. He was there in the truck right next to them.

Jorge motioned for them to pull over. 

Linden's stare got Ennis' attention. He saw Jorge, too.

"Ennis, find a place to park this thing," Linden said. 

Ennis swerved into a parking lot next to an old fruit stand. Jorge pulled behind them and got out.

"Leave your truck here," he said. "You will come with me now."

"I ain't goin' nowhere," Ennis said. "Not without Jack."

"You will do him no good here," he said. "Come with me-- I will help you."

Ennis looked at Jorge, hope bursting from those sad eyes of his. Ennis opened the door and got out. They both followed Jorge to his truck and climbed in.

"They lost me easy," Ennis said bitterly, "They was right there. Right there. Then they weren't. I lost em. I lost em. And I didn't see no one else followin' em."

"Do not be hard on yourself, Señor DelMar. He is this way--" Jorge nodded to the road ahead. "You see, it is not necessary to follow if you know where they will go."

TBC

Comments

Love Is Blind Chapter 33

[bmshirts.livejournal.com]

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Poor Jack, in the hands of desperate men, not knowing whether the Feds, or Ennis and Linden are following. No matter if Jack is the bravest man in the world, it has to be terrifying right now for him, blind, powerless, going to who knows what, or where. He must have visions of this being his death ahead.
And now Jorge shows up, saying he'll help Ennis and Linden. What's up with this? I have a feeling Jorge is not what he pretends to be. He is working against the terorists who want to overthrow the Mexican government. Is he an agent of that government working under cover? I pray he is as good as he says and can lead Ennis and Linden to Jack before something bad happens to Jack.
I don't trust the Feds to be of any help. They will, with no hesitation, sacrifice Jack's life to achieve their aims. After all, to their minds, what is one blind queer more or less?
I think it will be up to Ennis and Linden and, yes, Jorge to help Jack now.
Please update soon. I'm dying here!!! Thanks. Carole

Re: Love Is Blind Chapter 33

[el-wing.livejournal.com]

I admit, Carole, that I get just as caught up in the story as the readers-- if not more so. I think Jack is exceedingly brave in this story. He's taking a huge chance and knows the risks could be deadly.

Jorge is a puzzle in all this. I don't know if it will be the next chapter or the one after where you find out how Jorge fits into all this. I plan the next chapter to be almost-- if not all-- Jack's POV. He's not only got plenty to contemplate, but he's in the clutches of the men who most likely beat him.

I'll be updating this chapter faster than this last one.

Thanks for reading and commenting.

el