A/N:  For those who have read the original version, you will recognize one of the favorite moments between Penny and Ace in this chapter! But, in addition, I hope you find this version more fleshed out and all around better. I hope you find the characters seeming more real and I hope, that even in her temper, Penny is a bit more likable!

For those who haven't read the original version, please enjoy and let me know what you think!! Feedback is my crack and y'all are my dealers!

Chapter Four

It was nearing ten in the morning before Penny made her way down the stairs the next day. She walked into the dining room, expecting to find someone but instead found a covered plate on the table with a note saying it was for her. Wondering where everyone else was, Penny sat down and ate her meal in silence.

When finished, she carried her dishes to the kitchen, which was also quite large with endless counter space, cabinets, a vast array of pots and pans hanging from hooks on the ceiling. But there wasn't a single person.

Deciding that she was going to have to lead her own self on a tour of her temporary home, Penny did just that. She found a large study, a cozy family den, and even a room that could best be described as a small library. When her self-guided tour was complete, Penny stepped out onto the porch and took in the surroundings.

The sun was bright and the ranch was bustling with ranch hands going about their daily duties. Despite her best efforts, Penny did not see a single familiar face. She was beginning to feel overwhelmed in her loneliness when a deep chuckle sounded from behind her.

Whirling around, Penny turned to see who would dare laugh at her. She was shocked into silence by the man she saw standing beside the porch banister. He had strong, sharp features, happy brown eyes, and was wearing a smile that revealed deep dimples in his cheeks. His face was tan and clean shaven, marred only by several small scars scattered about.

He took a step toward her and Penny was forced to nearly crane her neck to look up at him. He was clearly well over six feet tall and his body was lean and muscular beneath his crisp white shirt, brown leather vest, and gray trousers.

Penny felt a very womanly stirring within her but she forced herself to ignore it. This man was far out of her league even if he was simply a ranch hand. He wouldn't waste his time on a woman with her appearance.

Finding her voice, Penny spoke. "Good morning."

His brow rose, emphasizing a scar that ran through is left eyebrow. "Morning? Everybody else here has been awake at least four hours."

Penny frowned. His voice seemed familiar but for the life of her Penny could not figure out why. She tipped her head and forced herself to remain polite. "I'm afraid I'm not accustomed to rising so early. Back east the city would just now be coming to life."

The man merely nodded as his gaze looked her up and down causing her to stiffen. She hated when men did that. She knew they were only insulting her with their thoughts. "Don't you think you're a bit overdressed for the ranch?" he questioned.

Penny glanced down at her yellow satin dress she had made in the same style as the green dress she'd worn the day before only this one was trimmed in white lace. "No. I love my dresses."

"And the hat?" he asked.

Penny felt herself bristle just a bit as she adjusted her large brimmed, black hat adorned with several silk flowers and some lace. "What's wrong with my hat?"

He offered a placating smile. "Nothing at all. To each their own." Looping his thumbs through his belt loops and rocking back on his heels, he glanced out at the ranch. "So what do you think of the place?"

Penny forgot about being guarded a moment and let out a sigh. "It's quite beautiful. How long have you worked here?"

***

Ace frowned as he stared down at the tiny, wisp of a woman in a pretty but ridiculously fancy dress while on a ranch. Did she honestly not remember meeting him just yesterday? She certainly didn't seem to know who he was. Deciding to have a little fun, Ace smiled. "A long time."

She offered a small, tight smile in return and Ace wondered if her face was simply stuck in that position or if she truly was that sour. He had to admit his assessment of her yesterday in his drunken haze wasn't quite the same as his new assessment while sober. She wasn't quite the ugly little twit he'd first seem her as. Hell, he kinda liked those freckles splashed over her face and the color of her eyes was nice.

However, the dress and the hat were ridiculous. The dress was something a wealthy society woman might wear in the city. It was lacy and silky and completely impractical for life out here. He doubted it was easy to launder and life on a ranch could get awful messy. His mama and Patricia wore skirts, blouses, and dresses made from cotton or wool. Never satin and lace. And the hat? That hat was damn near bigger than she was! Although, she wore it with confidence and somehow made the thing look damn near decent.

He held out his hand. "You must be Patricia's sister that we've been expecting."

Shaking his hand lightly, she nodded. "Yes, my name is Penny."

Ace held on to her hand just a bit longer than was proper before releasing it. "Nice to meet you, Penny. My name's Montgomery." He hoped like hell she wouldn't recognize his first name. After the way she'd looked down her tiny nose at him yesterday, he was eager to ruffle her feathers a bit. "Would you like me to show you around the ranch?" he offered.

"That would be nice," Penny replied even as her green/gray eyes filled with doubt. Ace could also see sadness in them. Like a deep down loneliness. He felt it tug just a little at his heartstrings. "As long as you are certain taking time away from your work won't cause you to be reprimanded," she added.

There the woman went with those big words. It seemed everything about Penny was big except her body. Big hat, big dress, big words, big attitude, teeny tiny body with a head that barely reached his chest and a thin, slender build. Ace smiled as he held out his arm. "I think everybody will get on just fine without me."

Penny hesitated a moment before looping her arm through his. Her touch caused him to shiver—no shiver wasn't the right word. Tremble. Her touch caused him to tremble. Why in the hell was he trembling? She was haughty, cold and clearly thought she was smarter than him with all those big words. But, then again, she also seemed uncertain, sad and alone. Damn. She was a puzzle. One that Gregory was going to have his hands full with if his brother decided to court her.

Ace led her through his mother's vast flower gardens behind the house and she paused at nearly every plant to smell its sweetness. Instead of growing impatient, Ace found himself watching her tiny body as it moved and watching the different expressions as they danced across her freckled face. Somehow, out here among the softness of nature, Penny seemed much less guarded. She seemed warmer as that coldness in her eyes vanished.

Once she had seen all of the flowers, Ace led her through the vegetable garden as well before heading toward the corrals. He felt her grip on his arm tighten and he glanced down at her to see that her green/gray eyes were wide. Following her gaze, he saw the mare stomping and snorting angrily in the center of the nearest corral. The mare was angry as she jumped and leaped and attempted to toss the saddle off her back.

"What is wrong with her?" Penny gasped. "Is she hurt?"

"Naw, she's just a bit grumpy is all. I found her out in the hills the other day and the other hands are tryin' to break her."

Penny's lips pulled down. "Break her?"

Ace grinned. "Yeah, you know, get her used to having a saddle and rider on her back."

Penny seemed surprised. "Oh. I didn't realize that was something they needed to be taught."

Ace couldn't stop the laugh that rumbled from his chest. "Did you think they were born with a saddle strapped to them?"

Ace knew instantly that he had riled her temper. That tiny nose went in the air once more and a flush covered her cheeks. "Forgive me, Mr. Montgomery, for being uneducated in the ways of this uncivilized land...."

Ace held up his hand to silence her rant. Damn her and those big proper words. He hated that her eyes, which had been warming up a bit, were now back to being cold as she glared up at him. "I didn't mean to insult you, Penny," he stated honestly. "Forgive me."

He was biting the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing as she heaved out a great sigh and crossed her slender arms over her tiny chest. "I apologize for losing my temper. I'm afraid my life has been less than ideal as of late and is causing me to lash out at those who don't deserve it. Will you forgive me, Mr. Montgomery?"

Ace smiled. Those ridiculously fancy clothes, those big words, and that haughty tone added to that tiny frame, big eyes and plentiful freckles was damn near the most amusing and endearing thing that Ace had ever seen. "No apology necessary," he assured her.

A smile, but only a half one, appeared on her face. Ace wondered why she was so guarded. His thoughts were interrupted when Penny pointed to the corral. "What is that man doing?"

Ace followed her gaze and saw a hand named Michael carefully approaching the mare. "I think he's gonna try to ride her."

Penny audibly gasped when Michael managed to jump on the horse and the mare went crazy beneath him. He held on for all he was worth while she kicked, bucked, and ran wildly. Ace glanced down at Penny and felt his heart do something odd in his chest at the sight of her. Her freckled cheeks were flushed, her green/gray eyes were wide, her lips were parted, and she was watching every move that horse made. The sun was shining off that golden hair of hers and Ace wondered what it would look like if he pulled all those ridiculous pins from it and let it fall down her back...

Shaking his head, Ace cleared those ridiculous thoughts. This was Gregory's woman. And even if she wasn't, she had come here looking for marriage which was definitely something Ace wasn't interested in. He was just out here to teach her a lesson after the way she had treated him in town the day before.

"Oh my...!" Penny exclaimed. Ace forced his eyes from her just in time to see Michael fly through the air and land roughly on his backside in the dust. Leaping to his feet, Michael ran for the fence and jumped over it as the mare's angry hooves pounded in the dirt.

Ace was laughing loudly as he propped his hip against the fence. "What's the matter, Michael? Are ya gettin' too slow?"

Michael strode over and stuck a finger in Ace's chest as Penny quickly moved away. "You brought that damn beast here and you get to break her in! She's impossible! Hot tempered, stubborn, and violent! She thinks she's too damn good for the rest of us cowpokes so why don't you give it a try? I don't see you hoppin' into that corral and into that saddle. As a matter of fact, I don't ever see you do anything but lose yourself in whiskey bottles and cheat at poker."

Ace's good humor was gone in an instant. His gaze narrowed. "I don't ever cheat at poker and the last man that accused me of doing so ended up shittin' out his own teeth."

Ace was pretty damn sure he heard Penny stifle a laugh. But just what part of the conversation the woman was laughing at, he couldn't tell. "Certainly you aren't that barbaric, are you?" her voice reached his ears.

Ace grumbled under his breath. Barbaric? She considered a man defending his own honor barbaric? He forced himself to offer her a polite smile. "Of course not," he ground out.

Michael shoved his shoulder. "Well go on then, hot shot! Get in there with your girl!"

Determined to prove Michael wrong, Ace nodded and handed Penny his hat—he didn't want to lose it while riding and have that mare stomp it into the ground.

Before he could jump over the fence, Penny's hand was on his arm. He looked at her questioningly, wondering if she was going to tell him how uncivilized he was. Instead her eyes held concern. "Please, be careful."

He tried not to be touched by her words. Damn, the woman was confusing. Giving her a reassuring smile, Ace tipped his head. "I always am, Miss Penny."

Ace walked slowly toward the brown mare. She was still in a temper but she was no longer running around the corral. Instead she stood and stared at him, throwing her ears back and stomping to let him know she didn't appreciate him nearing her. Ace whispered and cooed as he simply stood there about ten feet from her and watched her from the corner of his eye.

After several moments, she calmed even more. Her ears rose a bit and the stomping ceased. Ace took several steps closer and her ears once again went back so, again,  he stopped and simply waited once more.

Focusing on nothing but that mare, Ace eventually found himself standing within arms length of her. It wasn't until she seemed perfectly calm, that Ace reached out and ran his fingertips along her neck.

She threw her head and stomped once but Ace simply kept whispering sweetly and touching her gently. Once she finally calmed a bit again, Ace decided it was time to bite the bullet and he grabbed the reins and threw himself up into the saddle.

The mare exploded beneath him just as Ace had expected it to. He was no stranger to riding a bucking horse. He moved his body in time with the horse's. He held on tight but loose at the same time, giving his body the freedom to twist and sway with the mare. Ace wasn't sure how long it was taking to wear the horse down. He knew that his thighs were burning but he wasn't going to give up. Not with Penny watching him. He'd prove to her that the Ace she had looked down on the day before was more than just a uncivilized, barbaric drunkard.

After an eternity, the mare began to tire. Her movements slowed a bit until finally she simply stood still. Ace felt the thrill of victory course through him. He urged her into a walk and led her in triumphant circles around the corral.

"You damn showoff!" Michael hollered with a smile. "Hell, Ace, if you'd ever quit spending all your time at that saloon you might come in real handy around here."

Ace stiffened a bit. Cat was out of the bag now thanks to Michael's damn mouth. He saw the disbelief on Penny's face, which moments ago had been filled with awe as she'd watched him. Slowly, Penny turned her eyes to Michael. "Did you just call him Ace? He told me his name was Montgomery."

Michael chuckled as he turned his attention to her. "His mama and daddy named him Montgomery, but I reckon he named himself Ace. Biggest damn show off this side of the Mississippi."

Penny's jaw nearly cracked as Ace saw it tighten. "That cannot be Ace. I met Ace yesterday and he was a dirty, hairy, drunkard who smelled like a whiskey vat and had the intelligence of a cow patty."

Michael's laughter was loud and hearty. "Damn, she described you perfectly, Ace!" The man was still laughing even as he walked away.

Ace slipped off the mare's back and headed toward the fence, wondering if that seething look on Penny's face meant he was going to die soon. "I told you I'd be fine, Miss Penny," he stated, hopping over the wooden planks to stand beside her.

That cute little nose rose as she glared at him. "Such a shame. It would have been quite entertaining to see that mare throw you off and onto your worthless backside."

Ace frowned. This wasn't as funny as he'd been expecting it to be. He had thought putting her in her place would give him some sort of satisfaction but instead he wished he could go back to her thinking he was just a man named Montgomery... She turned on her heel and stormed away toward the house.

Ace was pissed at the urge he had to stop her and apologize. He didn't chase after women—especially not women who were so damn rude and hostile toward him. Hell, the woman didn't even know him and she clearly hated him. Ace knew plenty of women in town who liked him just fine. He was about to head to the barn when he realized that that angry ball of fire still had his hat in her hand.

Growling under his breath, Ace jogged to catch up. "Can I have my hat back, Princess Penny?"

He watched her gaze drop to that sweat-stained brown leather hat in her hand. Then her eyes went to the mud puddle not far from her feet.

Ace shook his head. "You better not."

He reached out to grab his hat but not in time. She tossed it into that smelly mud and then met his gaze full force. Ace couldn't remember a time he'd been more angry. "You spoiled brat! Pick it up!"

Ace didn't notice that they were being watched from several directions. Penny stubbornly stood her ground. "I will not pick it up, you ignorant drunkard. How dare you lead me to believe I had not met you before today."

Ace's eyes were drawn downward as her tiny hands went to her hips. He shook his head to focus his mind on the argument at hand. "I'm about sick and tired of hearin' you call me a dumb drunk! I sure as hell ain't dumb and I ain't a drunk either, you hoity toity princess!"

Those green/gray eyes narrowed. "I believe you are in denial, Mr. Montgomery, because when I saw you yesterday, you were indeed drunk and busy acting like a barbarian while knocking some poor man's teeth out."

Ace snorted. "He wasn't just some poor man. And he ain't got nothin' to do with the fact that you just threw my damn hat in the mud. Now, pick it up and give it back to me."

She stomped her small foot defiantly. "I will not."

Ace growled and pointed down at his hat. "Pick. It. Up."

He saw her courage falter a moment and he almost gave in but before he could, Penny squared his shoulders. "Pick it up yourself, stupid man."

Ace felt his hand twitch as he fought the urge to throw her over his knee and spank her soundly. Honestly, she was the most infuriating woman he had ever met in his entire life. And honestly the damn cutest with all that fire in one tiny body and her hands on her hips as she glared up at him from under the giant brim of that damned hat.

Knowing he'd been defeated, Ace stooped down, picked up his hat and wiped it off on his pants. He shook his head. "You think you're something, don't you Princess?"

"No, I don't think that, Montgomery. Unfortunately, it is you that seems to be under the impression that you are something special."

Ace leaned in close to her, putting his lips near her ear so she would feel his breath on her. "I'm the best you'll never have."

Ace knew damn well that she swooned a bit and her biting response was surely more breathless than she had meant it to be. "I would not have you even if you and I were the last two people on this earth. You disgust me."

Ace was more angry with himself at that moment than he was with her. He never should have let himself get this close to her. He could smell the flowery scent of her hair and see all those tiny freckles on her cheek. What the hell was it about this snobby little woman that had him so tied in knots?

"Well at least we agree on something," he replied, his voice husky. Quickly Ace stood straight and took a big step back.

"Have a good day, Montgomery. Perhaps you'll manage to finish it sober." Penny turned on her heel before letting out a yell as her feet became tangled and she fell face first into that mud puddle Ace had just pulled his hat out of.

Ace simply stared in shock a moment before he burst out laughing. He laughed so hard that his ribs began to ache and he was forced to wipe tears from his eyes. Penny glared up at him, mud dripping down from her over sized hat. Ace felt a moment of satisfaction. A hat for a hat.

Between laughter, he offered her his hand to help her up only to have her slap it away which only caused his laughter to increase. Shaking his head, Ace walked away, knowing that the snobby princess had gotten what she deserved for abusing his damn hat.

***

"Never thought I'd see the day that something like that would happen," Ed stated thoughtfully as he stood in the open barn door and rubbed at his chin.

Gregory and Maggie turned their attention away from Penny who was being led into the house by Carol and Patricia. "What daddy?" Maggie questioned.

Instead of answering her, Ed turned his attention to Gregory. "Son, do you have any interest in that girl?"

Kicking at some straw with the toe of his boot, Gregory shook his head. "Naw, not really. She ain't my type."

Maggie snorted. "And why is that? Does she have too much spunk for ya? Is a woman just supposed to swoon and fall at a man's feet and never have a single opinion or thought of her own?"

Ed chuckled at his fiery daughter standing there with her hands on her hips and glaring at her brother. Gregory chuckled. "Something like that." Gregory quickly stepped to the side to avoid the swing Maggie took at his arm. "What's on your mind, pa?"

Ed tapped his temple. "I think I may have just realized something."

"What?" the siblings questioned in unison.

"Penny isn't your soul mate, Gregory."

Gregory snorted, "Of course not. I don't believe in that nonsense." Maggie nodded in agreement.

Ed sighed. "Soulmates are real whether you believe or not," he assured his children. "And I just found Ace's."

Silence reigned for several moments after his statement, followed quickly by laughter. "Are you serious, daddy?" Maggie exclaimed.

"Yeah, no offense, pa, but I believe you're going senile. It's pretty damn obvious they can't stand each other."

"Didn't you see the way they were at each other's throats? Obviously they hate each other."

Ed chuckled quietly, knowing his children were wrong. "That wasn't hatred, kids," he assured them. "That was chemistry."