A/N: Another all new chapter with all new content that was not in the old version of this story! I hope y'all enjoy!

Chapter Seven

Ace's head ached the next morning. He may have drank just a bit too much when he'd gotten home after spending time with Penny. His feelings confused him and his thoughts about her were jumbled.

She was meant for Gregory—their father had even warned Ace to stay away from her. Then again, she didn't look at Gregory the way she did him. She didn't seem to laugh and use that sharp mind and sense of humor with Gregory. Ace closed his eyes and pictured Penny's beautiful face in his mind as they'd toured the barn together. In the glow of the lantern light everything about her had seemed softer. And when she had smiled, Ace had been completely lost.

Sighing and rubbing his face roughly, Ace sat up in bed and threw his legs over the side. What the hell was he gonna do? Never, in his entire life. Had Ace given any thought to sharing anything serious with a woman. But Penny.... Penny had him mulling that idea over in his head.

Standing, Ace glanced at the clock. Damn. It was already noon. So much for proving Luke and Maggie wrong by showing up to breakfast on time. Grumbling, Ace pulled on a set of clothes that didn't smell too dirty and splashed some water on his face. He walked into the main room of the cabin he had built himself. He was proud of his home. It was simple, sure, but it was sturdy and he had taken time to craft everything just right. The kitchen had plenty of counter space and, even though Ace never cooked, he had all the necessary utensils and a cook stove.

The living area contained a small sofa, two cozy armchairs, some end tables, a large chest full of his belongings, a plain mantle above a large stone fireplace that provided enough heat during the slight chill of winter to heat the whole cabin.

What would Penny do with this cabin? Would she add feminine touches such as quilts on the sofa and doilies on the tables? She could hang her giant hat on a hook right beside his by the door. Her frilly dresses could hang in the wardrobe right beside his clothes. No doubt she'd add a few decorative pillows to his bed....

Ace shook his head roughly. What the hell was he thinking?? Moving the damn woman in? Marriage? Those thoughts weren't him! Ace grabbed his hat and plopped it on his head. Stepping onto the porch, Ace gazed out at the trees and the small stream that ran beside his cabin.

He'd saddle his horse, head to the ranch for the day and then head into town for the night, and do whatever necessary to get the ridiculous thoughts of Penny out of his mind.

***

"Well hell...." All those plans of forgetting Penny quickly vanished as soon as Ace rode up to the ranch house and saw her in the corral with Michael and Maggie. Gone were her frilly dresses and giant hat. She stood there, her hair pulled up on her head, her cheeks flushed, and dirt streaked across her white blouse. And on her lower body was not a skirt to hide herself, but a pair of Maggie's trousers.

Holy hell. Penny's body was just as delicate and slim as Ace had suspected it was. Her blouse accentuated her lithe body and those trousers? Those trousers showed him just how petite those legs of hers were and showed him the slight roundness of her backside and hips.

He couldn't help but notice that Gregory was nowhere around to admire the sight of the woman. What in the hell was wrong with his brain addled brother? The damn man should be out here soaking in every ounce of Penny. Just like last night when he should have been hearing her laugh, watching her emotions as they danced across her face, heard her sharp wit, and listened to them damn big words as they rolled so easily off her tongue.

Again Ace found himself shaking his head. What the hell was wrong with him?

"There you go, Penny," Michael's voice urged. "She's ready for you to hop up there now."

Ace watched as Penny approached the brown mare named Molly. She was a favorite out here on the ranch. Calm and gentle. Children from town often came out here and took riding lessons on her.

"She's a gentle one, Miss Penny," Michael assured her. "She won't throw you like that other mare threw me."

Holding his breath, Ace watched as Penny put one foot in the stirrup. With a small bounce, she hoisted herself atop the horse and Ace was sure he'd never seen a more arousing sight in all his life. Those tiny legs spread across that horse and those tiny breasts accented in that shirt as she sat high atop Molly in the midday son.

Ace didn't hear a word, his mind too focused on the sight that was Penny. Soon she was walking Molly around corral as if she'd been riding all her life. Ace knew that had more to do with Molly's training and temperament than it did Penny's talent, but he was still proud of the woman for doing something she had never done before.

Molly had been a good choice for her first time. It would mean she'd have a bit more confidence when Ace made the suggestion he was preparing to make. He wanted to get Penny on Quincy. He had a feeling she could tame the beast fairly well. Hell, look at the tamed thoughts Ace seemed to keep having about her.

Pointing Blackey toward the corral, Ace was eager to get nearer to Penny, only to be stopped when Gregory came galloping toward him from the fields, out of breath and wide-eyed. "Ace, we need you out in the field. Pa found some dead cattle these morning that look like they've been shot."

"Shot?" Ace demanded, anger filling him.

Gregory nodded. "Yeah they're about two miles out. He thinks it might have been those rustlers."

Ace adjusted his gun in the holster. "Rustlers are supposed to steal cattle, not kill them. Let's see if we can't find these fellas and teach them a lesson."

"Hold on, I'm coming too!" Maggie exclaimed, launching herself over the corral fence.

"Daddy will tan your hide," Ace warned.

She scoffed as she grabbed a saddled horse from beside the barn. "Won't be the first time."

Ace met Penny's gaze. She looked afraid. He offered her a reassuring smile just before urging his horse forward with a yell to follow his brother and sister and catch some cattle killers.

***

Penny hated knowing that Ace was in danger. She hated knowing that nearly everyone in the family was in danger! Michael was a bit on edge as he finished up her riding lesson a short while later.

Penny went inside and found Carol sewing in the sitting room. Carol glanced up and tipped her head toward a large basket full of fabric. "Find some, dear, and keep your fingers busy. It will help."

Penny, who hadn't sewed in quite some time, decided that it sounded like a nice way to pass a few stressful hours. She sat herself down on the sofa on the other side of Carol's sewing box and went to work.

Patricia joined them a short time later and began to follow suit. Penny knew the only reason Patricia would be sewing was as a distraction—Patricia had always hated to sew and was terrible at it.

Hours ticked by slowly. Penny wondered if Ace would be okay. She didn't want to see him harmed—she didn't want to see anyone harmed. Why would anyone want to harm or steal a few cattle off of someone else? She simply could not understand.

The sound of hoof beats approaching had Carol and Patricia leaping to their feet and flying to the front door. Penny was a bit slower to follow. She knew they would be greeting their family members and didn't want to intrude. When she arrived at the doorway she saw that everyone had arrived back. Luke had Patricia held in a tight embrace while Carol was holding on to Ed and Maggie, scolding Maggie even as she kissed the girls head.

Penny's eyes sought out Ace. When she found him, she realized his eyes were locked on her as well. "Hello there, Princess."

Penny didn't even realize her feet were moving until she found herself standing directly in front of him. "Hello drunkard." Then she saw the blood covering his shirt. Her eyes widened and her hands instantly went to his torso. "Are you hurt?"

She heard a low growl rumble from his throat before he grabbed her hands and stilled her movements. Penny noticed that he didn't release his hold on her, instead his thumbs gently caressed her wrists making it very hard for her to draw a breath.

"I'm just fine, Penny. I promise."

"Yeah, your beau is okay," Maggie spoke up, finally untangling herself from her mother. "We skinned them cows but we couldn't use the meat, it had done spoiled. Couldn't find them damn rustlers neither. Why they'd waste perfectly good cattle, I don't know."

"Maggie, if I weren't so happy to see you alive and well, I'd whip you soundly for that language," Carol scolded.

Penny was chewing her lip as she gazed up at Ace. "She called you my beau."

Ace grinned. "My little sister's always been a bubble off of plumb."

Penny wasn't sure what his words made her feel. Yes, she was. Disappointment. She felt disappointment. But why? Did she want Ace to be her beau? Hadn't she decided she wasn't staying here? Hadn't she decided that Ace was no good for her?

Ace slowly released his hold on her wrists. "I gotta head home, get cleaned up, and get some quick food in my belly. I'm taking night watch in the field since I'm the only one who slept 'til noon."

Penny nodded, taking a step back. Carol came to stand beside her. "You better be careful, Ace. Those men might be dangerous."

Ace shook his head and laid a gentle kiss to his mama's cheek. "I'll be okay, mama. Those men are only dangerous to cattle."

Penny watched Ace hop back on Blackey and ride away. Once again her thoughts were jumbled and confused just as they nearly always were when Ace was on her mind.

"Tomorrow, I'll go to town and have a talk with Sheriff Potter. Let him know what's happening. The law is going to have to do something about these rustlers," Ed told his other children, his temper obviously still piqued.

Carol put her arm around Penny's shoulders and led her back toward the house. "Come along, Penny. Since we made Patricia sew today, which she is horribly terrible at, we're going to see just where we stand with your cooking skills."