MississaugaRed, you make more good points! And I too spend a lot of time thinking about "might have beens". In regard to Jack (and Ennis) working the ranch at Lightning Flat, I have to admit one thing I've always thought: Mr. Twist was a miserable, small man with a pretty nasty view of the world, but I always got the impression his real resentment toward Jack had nothing to do with sexual orientation, et al. I think he was pissed that Jack never came to work the ranch for him. I bet he wouldn't care if Jack brought in a tribe of cannibals 
as long as they did all the work and made it profitable! Though I'm sure he still would have been a son-of-a-B to Jack anyway. And as I reread my post here, I was a little appalled at how insistant it sounded. I hope it didn't come off as hostile or too adamant - it definitely was not intended that way.
FlwChild, you make us think and present valid arguments for your points, good things both, so never worry that you were coming across as being hostile and adamant is a good thing when you passionately believe in something, so no worries. Plus ... you just made me LOL big time with that line about the cannibals - what a visual!
Hysterical!
I can agree with your take on John Twist here too, for the most part. If he had an inkling of Jack's orientation, it wouldn't have been a welcome bit of news, but IMO not being able to get Jack to do what he wanted him to do that was really sticking in his craw. He did come across as one controlling SOB, didn't he? His poor wife certainly seemed cowed. I give huge kudos to Jack for staying out from under his daddy's thumb and still being able to maintain some kind of a relationship with his parents at the same time. Our Jack was talented at walking fine lines in all his relationships, it seems.
If we can allow for a second that the point Jerasjr is trying to make here is maybe less about Ennis being "bad" and more about the anti-bashing of Jack, then I have to admit I started feeling guilty for the times I may have come across as bashing Ennis. I get mad enough sometimes to smack him (apparently I'm not the only one), mostly each time he turns down every overture Jack makes for them to make a life together. Yes, I understand his reasons and feel for him, but it's exasperating nonetheless. So to play devil's advocate, I thought it only fair to ask by Jack himself didn't make the move closer to Ennis.
So, exploring that scenario by suggesting LF as a possibly ranching site for Jack & Ennis was mostly based on the fact that it was a family holding, no big financial outlay needed, looked pretty isolated so few prying eyes, and still in Wyoming so Ennis could visit his girls regularly. As everyone has pointed out, though, none of that would have meant a hill of beans if Jack and his father couldn't find a way to get along. Or unless Ennis could let go of his fear of exposure long enough to admit he had a once in a lifetime love with another man. Some excellent posts in response here covering all points, great reading.
Edgar, BBboy, LuvJackNasty, NoReins, you have all made excellent observations here which help balance those actions we might deem hurtful, self-destructive, heartbreaking, fearful, etc., with an understanding of the motivations behind them. Including BBboy's comment that men and women don't always react in the same way, especially regarding love and sex.
And as Edgar said earlier and as has been acknowledged many times in this forum, the boys did the best they could for who they were, where they were, when they were. And love that quote from "the Boxer'. Seeking comfort in an uncomfortable world, that could describe many of the choices Jack (and Ennis?) make during their lives. From wives, to jobs, to staying in a familiar setting rather than risking the unknown.
The suggestion, however, that maybe Jack's impulsive visit to Ennis after his divorce might have forestalled a future invitation from Ennis to come up and talk about their options, must admit I can't really see ...
Ennis might be conflicted and afraid, but he certainly had no problem laying out the boundaries on their relationship when they first reunited. And I don't think he would have played games with Jack, he loved him too much. Can't see him being scared off that easily either by Jack's unexpected appearance IF he was seriously considering getting together with him permanently. Ennis wasn't that delicate a flower (low startle point??) that this would make him back off if he'd already made up his mind about something, IMO. I doubt it had even occurred to Ennis that this was finally his chance to make a change. How can Jack be responsible here for what Ennis doesn't say or do?? :-\
See, Jerasjr .. worms everywhere!
