I love this story. I just recently saw Brokeback Mountain and it immediatly was added to my list of favorite movies. I was looking for fanfics and ran across this one. I don't usually read fanfics with several chapters but I started reading this one before I knew it was. But I love it! I can't stop reading it! 3 good work. Oh, and the sex scene was fantastic. ]

I can well believe that you write for more than just the joy of writing. I loved this story. I loved not only the storyline-wonderful!-but also the ease with which I could read it. Though I love fanfiction, I hate those times when I find myself distracted by poor grammar or drifting storylines. Anyway, this was a pleasure to read.

I loved the story, the opportunities you took to share tolerance, the fact that Ennis was able to grow despite his fear, the willingness of Junior to see her father's happiness, the character of Lizzie (and all the others). I also appreciated the fact that you didn't put them totally in a fairytale land, but added the reality of the intolerant and family issues. And I enjoyed the hints back to the original storyline and how you made it work out right.

Now I am moving on to the sequel. I am really looking forward to it. Though I usually do not read incomplete stories, I really want to see what comes next, so here goes!

Thanks for writing, for sharing with those of us who love to read!

Hmm. I've watched this movie, and I have yet to read a story that surpasses yours in getting down the characters and the relationship that they have. The take that not everyone here hates homosexuals was original and, more importantly, truthful, and there were small moments in this story that made the entire thing simply gorgeous.

I watched Brokeback Mountain for the first time on Sunday, and this is the first fic for it I've read...just to say it has been an absolute pleasure reading this - perfect. I really can't put into words how much I have enjoyed this, everything about it, all epic 130,0 words of it. Thank you so much for sharing, because I love that you gave Ennis and Jack the future they deserved to have, despite their troubles. Really beautiful, truly! Thank you!

Reading this was an aboslute joy and privilege. I couldn't finish the entire thing the other night and had to go to school the next day, and Human Interest was sitting in the back of my mind and I couldn't wait to go back home and finish it. Well now I have, and I'm SO happy. Ennis and Jack are so deep and well written/characterized. You have an amazing writing style.

You get five million stars out of five. Great job, can't wait to read the sequel!

Michi P.

I planned to review once I reached the end of this story, but now I simply can't wait anymore. It's been some time since I last wrote a serious comment, so I'll try to structure it a bit.

First, the moment that made me the happiest action-wise: When Jack, Ennis and Liz came home to find their friends and even people they barely know there to paint their barn for them, getting rid of that insulting graffiti. It was a wonderful show of respect, solidarity, and acceptance. Made me feel really happy and just... relieved that something good like this can happen.

Second, the most heart-warming/thrilling/delightful moment in Ennis and Jack's relationship: Right here in chapter 18, when Ennis comes into the hospital room and says "Mornin', darlin'" in his deep drawl, so close and personal and just... right. Followed by that kiss right in front of the nurse, who isn't disgusted but instead seems to think it's cute. And Jack gaping about it all. This scene just makes me feel all - buoyant, I guess. It gives me an incredible sense of hope that somehow, everything can be just fine. Lizzie mentioned it somewhere: Their relationship, their closeness, their utter *rightness* makes me feel better about the world, about love, about everything.

Then, the saddest moment: Also in chapter 18 when Jack's lying in his hospital bed and has just woken up, and he's alone with Ennis and says "I've had a real bad coupla weeks, Ennis" while starting to cry. This is incredibly heart-wrenching. Ennis already feels incredibly guilty, and this just adds to it - not that he doesn't deserve it. And Jack seems so lost... The "Please don' leave me again" just twists the knife in the wound and really pounds home the fact how hurt, confused and twisted up Jack is about everyting. Reading this made me cry.

The thing that made me the angriest: I'm can't really decide - the way L.D. used his grandson's death to hurt Jack was the most despicable thing anyone could have done, but I was also seriously angry at Ennis for walking out on Jack at the cabin and just leaving him behind there, all alone with his guilt and twisted up feelings. I'm amazed that Jack handled that as well as he did, because to me it felt like total abandonment when Jack needed Ennis the most. Of course it's understandable that Ennis is angry and hurt, but, well, running away hasn't solved any problems yet.

Funnily enough, what amazes me the most about this story is your ability to consistently write all the character's accents without slipping up. I'm not a native speaker, so English accents of all kinds are incredibly difficult to me, and it impresses me to no end how you can write the way they all speak so well that I can literally hear their voices in my head while I read. I especially like the way you write Ennis, because there's always a slight distinction between how he talks and how Jack talks, and yeah... I've always liked Ledger's voice, but imagining hearing the things you make your Ennis say makes me downright shiver. Furthermore, it fits his character and background and makes it unnecessary to ever come out and say 'he's not very eloquent, he's got no higher education, but he knows what he wants to say and he's intelligent'. I love it when body language or the way someone talks gives the reader enough of an impression that it paints its own picture.

I wrote my final paper (which is a seriously huge and important assignment necessary so that one may be admitted to the finals) about homosexuality in the USA in the last fifty years, with the short story and the movie Brokeback Mountain as my main focus. As such, half my paper was about Jack and Ennis and I read a lot about what the situation was like back then. I find your story to be a rather accurate portrayal of what it could be like in a state like Vermont, although at times it is almost a bit too positive. (Then again, I *like* seeing tolerance and acceptance, so I'm sure not about to complain.) For a while, I thought that maybe Bobby was the victim of a hate crime, but the facts didn't add up, though it wouldn't have surprised me too much if it had been. The fact that Bobby killed himself over a girl struck me as incredibly stupid, but then again - it happens. People really are that stupid sometimes.

Phew. I could keep talking, but it's getting rather late and you must be getting tired of me prattling on and on. I like this story very much and I'm going to continue reading it tomorrow. I'll probably review again once I've finished it. Great work!

Shiruy

Wow, what is there to say about this fic! O.o! There's just so -much- to praise that it's insane picking a favorite thing to start hailing, but I'll just dive in now... Favorite thing -ever-: the exchange of flirtations between Jack and Ennis. o- It seemed so natural and sweet, and I certainly didn't mind the Ennis-on-Jack sex scenes (I smell an understatement! XD)! This whole masterpiece of a fic was loaded with all the drama, romance, and hurt/comfort that anyone could go around asking for, and I owe a definate thanks to you for showing a great 'what could have been' take on a fabulous movie! :D I'm definately headed over to the sequal now, and plan to re-read this all the time, every time! -

Hehe, I know the sequal's already up, but I'll put in a suggestion/guess as to what they recieved as a gift... Whipped cream isn't very subtle (wink wink!), so I'll guess a new tent: to relieve the thrill of Brokeback Mountain. :P

Caught a spelling mistake on chapter 17: "But 95 was a long was from 100"—should be "ways".

I am so amazed, the community are absolute sweethearts! Thank you for making this fic such an inspiring and fun fic to read :)

I've spent the past few hours reading this story, and I have to say I'm incredibly impressed. This is exactly the kind of thing I wanted to read after seeing the movie. Most BBM authors just focus on Jack and Ennis and their inner turmoil and whatnot; while that's nice sometimes, I love that you've created a whole cast of characters to populate the town. Also, I see from the dates that it wasn't so when you wrote this, but if there *were* a Jack and Ennis living up in Vermont today, they actually could get married! I choose to think that's what happened.

Alright, off to read the sequel!

Small typo in chapter 8:

"…that seemed to far-fetched even for a wish."

Should be "too".

Thanks for sharing this story. I have loved reading it over the past week, so much! I've laughed out loud, cried like a baby and am now just sitting here *basking* in good feelings. I adored Brokeback Mountain but I have to say I want to think of Jack and Ennis living THIS life. So, apologies to whoever needs them, but I'm gonna.

*Sque*

Oh but I have a SEQUEL to read!

MJ :)

"[I]f it was me, I'd go right to the waitresses. Those women know fuckin' everthing."

It's impossible to point out any one element that makes this story so impossibly readable, so unputdownable that I don't even want to think about picking up the book I'm supposed to be reading. Everything about it is so poised: the metaphors so evocative, the characterisations so rich, the descriptions so vivid… but just this moment, the perfection of this little line of dialogue jumped out at me. It combines tone, character, charm and relevance so superbly. I hope you were at least grinning when you wrote this, because I laughed and snorted with the ugly spontaneity of a reader taken by surprise—such is the peril you place your readers in!

"The prospect of really getting inside their lives, both practical and emotional, was putting thoughts into her head. Some of those thoughts came under headings such as ‘book deal’ and ‘Pulitzer.’"

I am adoring this story. It's witty and insightful; the characters are fleshing out beautifully; and it really is of novel quality so far. That is to say, considering what I've read so far, and given an assurance that it would continue to be of such a high caliber, I'd consider paying to buy it in paperback.

More reviews should follow.

I wanted to save my comments til I finished the story. I love this story. There are just a couple authors who have taken me on a roller coaster of emotions, and you are one of them. I like the idea of Jack and Ennis moving to Vermont, and into more acceptance than unacceptance. That's what was needed to bring Ennis out of his shell. I sure nuff didn't see Bobby's suicide coming. It was like a gut punch when I read it. That whole episode had me in tears. And just when I thought I was through with them, out came his jersey in the frame and Bobby's boyhood cowboy shirt. That bowled me over and reduced me to a blubbering mess. You've kept the importance of shirts in the story, and I thank you.

I look forward to reading your future stories.