A/N: I hope you all enjoy this one! This chapter is entirely new and was not in the original story!  Let me know what you think!

Chapter Six

Penny awoke a bit earlier the next morning, remembering well Ace's judgment of her late rising the day before. Recalling the encounter she'd had with Ace caused a small smile to curve her lips. Penny quickly wiped the happy expression from her face. Why in the world would she smile at thoughts of Ace?

Sure, he had walked her through the gardens, treated her very kindly at first, had a smile that made her knees weak, moved well atop a horse, and kept up with her scathing remarks word for word during their argument. Who cared if he had dark brown eyes with specks of gold dotting them. Why did it matter that she had dreamed of his strong hands and his firm lips?

The embarrassment of falling in that mud still stung a bit but it had been her fault completely. Damn clumsy legs—Ace had turned them to trembling mush when he'd whispered in her ear—even if his words had been less than romantic. She did recall that Ace had attempted to help her up—between bouts of laughter, of course.

Penny took her brush to her hair and cursed herself a fool as she looked in the mirror. "Keep it together, Penny," she berated herself aloud. "The man is nothing for you to be thinking of that way."

Penny only had a week at most to spend here on the ranch. By then her belongings would arrive, she would hear back from Francine, and she would be on her way back to North Carolina. After that, she would never see Ace again unless she found the financial means to come visit her sister now and then. She didn't need to waste any time unraveling the mystery of that arrogant man and the confusing feelings he seemed to arouse in her.

No, Penny would spend the rest of her time here getting to know the rest of the family. She would spend time with her sister, learn about the ranch, perhaps even learn skills that may aid her as she attempted to build her own life back home. Penny would make the best of her time here.

After styling her hair up on her head, Penny slipped into her green dress and picked up her hat. It had taken a bit of work but she had finally cleaned the mud from it—though several of her silk flowers were now stained. With a sad little sigh, she took her hat and headed downstairs.

Making her way into the dining room, Penny found it empty. The sound of voices led her into the kitchen where Patricia, Carol, Maggie and Luke sat eating their breakfast.

"We didn't expect you to be awake so early," Patricia said, standing up. She motioned toward the table loaded down with eggs, sausage, cooked oats, biscuits, and gravy. "Come eat with us."

Penny awkwardly made her way to the smaller but still quite large kitchen table and sat down beside her sister. Maggie sat across from her and she was gulping down sausage and eggs as if she feared the food might run away.

Catching her gaze, Maggie grinned through a mouthful of food. "Gotta eat quick so I can go work in the barns."

"You aren't going anywhere," Carol countered. "Until you've helped me with the housework."

Maggie harrumphed and sunk into her chair. "Why can't Patricia help? She lives here too."

Luke frowned. "Learn some manners, Maggie. Patricia and I are going to talk with the sawmill in town about ordering one of those pre-made homes that we can put on the land here. Seems they order a kit with everything cut just the way you need it and all you have to do is put it together."

"Bout time you get out of your mama and daddy's house," Maggie teased. Luke rolled his eyes but said nothing else as he went back to his meal.

"I'd be happy if none of you ever left," Carol lamented. "I like having my family close. First Ace left me and now the two of you are going too."

Penny frowned. "Ace doesn't live here?" she asked before she could stop herself.

Penny would swear her sister was fighting back a smile as she shook her head. "Ace has his own cabin on the ranch. It's about a mile away. You can walk there in twenty or thirty minutes."

Penny feigned disinterest and went back to her food. She didn't care where Ace called home. If she had to make a guess, she would say he spent more time sleeping at the brothel.

"Did you sleep well, Penny?" Carol asked.

Penny took a sip of the tea that Carol had placed in front of her. "Yes."

"You can tell. She looks less like a moping hound today." Maggie winked. "I've always heard mud baths were good for folks, I just never did take one myself."

"Maggie!" Carol, Patricia and Luke scolded in unison.

Penny waved her hand. "She's fine. There is nothing wrong with a woman unafraid to speak her mind. Although, speaking her mind too much might end in her experiencing a mud bath herself."

Maggie stared hard at her a moment and Penny waited to see just what response the younger woman would. Finally her brown eyes lit with amusement and she burst out with laughter. "I think I like you!"

Penny just gave her usual half smile and went back to her meal, deciding that this family—at least these members—were decent folk that she had judged too harshly and needed to give a chance too.

Maggie, who had continued eating her food with gusto, pushed her now empty plate away and stood up. She plopped her stetson hat over her wild curls and headed toward the door which led outside.

"Where do you think you're going?" Carol demanded.

Maggie grinned sheepishly. "To the barns."

"But I needed you help...."

Penny held up her hand and Carol stopped speaking and looked her way. "Penny, you don't have to hold up your hand to speak here. Just speak over everyone else the way the rest of the heathens in this family do."

Penny felt her face flush a bit. She'd been raised to keep her mouth closed at family gatherings. Her mother certainly didn't want to hear anything she had to say and her father would become downright volatile if he felt she spoke out of turn.

She lowered her hand. "I would be happy to help you with the cleaning today." Penny wanted to feel useful and show gratitude in someway for Carol showing her such kindness.

Carol seemed surprised. "You would? Penny, that isn't necessary. I would love to have the help but I don't want you to feel obligated."

Penny shook her head. "I want to help," she insisted.

Maggie smacked the door frame happily. "See, ya got you a helper, mama. And I'm gonna go help daddy and Gregory."

"What about Ace?" Penny asked, cursing herself for mentioning the man once again. "Isn't he working this morning?"

Luke chuckled while Maggie guffawed. "Ace? This early? Penny, Ace hasn't been awake at eight in the morning in his entire life."

"But just yesterday morning he told me that I had slept too late and that everyone here is up with the dawn."

It was Luke's turn to speak. "That jackass had just woken up and rode in himself. Ace is damn near useless until around noon most days."

Penny surprised even herself when she audibly growled her annoyance. Luke was correct, Ace was a jackass. Though, he was a jackass with a rather nice ass.... Penny mentally scolded herself. Not only was Ace a jackass; he was also a drunk, he had a horrible temper, made a habit of beating men senseless in town, had far too much fun at the brothel, was lazy......The list seemed to go on. No matter what he had seemed like when he'd been pretending to be someone else the morning before, the true Ace was a man too similar to her father. Any woman who chanced a future with him would find herself beaten, poor, lonely, and humiliated. Penny did not envy whomever that future woman would be.

Thankfully, Patricia began to speak, changing the subject. "Penny, thank you so much for helping Carol today. I promise I will be more help tomorrow."

"Go and pick out your home," Penny encouraged.

"I'll make sure to pick a nicer one than we were raised in."

Penny did not respond to Patricia's statement. It would cause her to be more vulnerable than she cared to be. Maggie made a quick escape, Patricia and Luke were the next to leave. Finishing her meal, Penny rose from the table. "Okay, Carol. Let me know what you need."

And that was how Penny spent most of her day. She had changed into a much simpler blue cotton dress—one that she had also made herself—and helped Carol with every bit of work the woman needed. It was a new experience for Penny who had been raised in a home with a dirt floor and drafty walls. She was not used to having wood to polish and rugs to beat out.

While she still found the home to be beautiful, it wasn't quite homey. Penny had always thought she wanted extravagance surrounding her after being raised with so little. However, she was quickly realizing that perhaps she'd been wrong about her own desires. While she certainly wanted something more than she'd been raised with, Carol and Ed's home was perhaps a bit too much more.

By the time their cleaning for the day was finished, Patricia had returned. She had been going on and on about the home they'd chosen and had even brought back a paper with drawings and floor plans of the home. Penny had to admit it was nice. She was glad for her sister. She knew that Patricia deserved happiness. Penny simply wished she could find something in her life that made her as happy as Patricia now was.

Denying Carol's offer to join her and Patricia in the kitchen, Penny went up to her room to clean herself up. She had never had much talent when it came to cooking and after her embarrassing dip in the mud just yesterday, she was in no hurry to embarrass herself again today.

After washing her hands and face in the wash basin, Penny slid back into her green dress and made her way downstairs for supper. Stepping into the dining room, Penny found that everyone was there—including Ace.

Feeling her anxiety raise, Penny made her way to the table and sat down on the opposite side of Ace and two chairs down. That didn't stop him from smiling as he looked her away. "Hello, Princess Penny. You certainly look a bit cleaner than the last time I saw you."

Penny felt her cheeks flame. Damn that man. He looked nearly flawless if you ignored the dirt on his shirt. It appeared he'd worked all day but had taken the time to wash his face and hands. His hat was hanging on the back of his chair and his thick dark hair was a mess upon his head, falling over his brow. Those mischievous brown eyes were sparkling as he kept them on her.

"Yes, well, it is nice for you to join us for supper. You were missed at breakfast."

His smile broadened, deepening his dimples. "Are you saying you missed me?"

Penny waved her hand dismissively. "I'm afraid not. I only noticed you were missing this morning because the kitchen was distinctly lacking the smell of whiskey."

Ace's smile never faltered and the rest of the table remained shockingly quiet. "If you want to eat breakfast with me, Princess Penny, just let me know."

Penny rolled her eyes skyward. "Montgomery, I'm afraid that would mean you'd have to be up before noon, which, I've heard, is quite the rarity for you. Which contradicts what you said to me just yesterday morning."

  Penny felt the tiniest thrill of victory when Ace's smile turned sheepish. He glared at his sister. "Damn you, Maggie."

"It wasn't me! It was Luke!"

"Ace watch your language while at the table," Carol scolded even as she sighed.

Ace didn't seem to hear his mother as he turned his irritated gaze to his oldest brother. "Damn you, Luke."

Luke shook his head. "Maggie brought it up when Penny asked where you were. I just elaborated a bit."

Ace's grin returned as he looked once more at Penny and winked. "So you did miss me."

Before Penny could muster any sort of response, Ed cleared his throat. "Gregory, you should take Penny out and show her the thoroughbreds after supper. I'm sure she'd enjoy seeing them."

Gregory frowned. "But you said...." Penny saw him wince as if in pain as Ed's eyes narrowed. She suspected his father may have kicked him under the table. Why?

"You don't have any more work to do tonight. Show our guest the horses," Ed insisted.

Ace grunted, his smile now gone. "I'm sure Princess Penny doesn't care about seeing horses."

Penny nodded politely. "I would actually rather enjoy seeing some of the horses you have here."

"That's settled then," Ed beamed. "After you both have finished eating, Gregory will take you to the barn."

Ace suddenly rose from the table leaving his plate half-eaten. "I'm gonna head home."

"But you aren't finished with your meal," Carol remarked.

Ace pulled his hat off the chair and plopped it on his head, "I'm plumb full, mama." He kissed the woman's cheek gently. "I gotta go."

Without another glance at Penny, Ace was gone, leaving her to wonder what the cause of his sudden exit was. Did he dislike her so strongly that he chose starvation over eating at a table with her? And why did he care if Gregory showed her the horses?

Deciding not to dwell on Ace and let him ruin her perfectly good day, Penny instead focused her attention on the delicious meal that Patricia and Carol had prepared. Conversations carried on around her and Penny simply listened, though she did speak every now and then when a question would be directed toward her.

After she finished her meal, Gregory stood up. "Come on, ma'am. I'll go show you the horses."

Penny nodded, grabbed her own hat off the back of her chair and followed Gregory out the door. Once outside, Penny placed her hat on her head. "Uh.. nice hat," Gregory mumbled.

Penny, used to people criticizing her attire, simply nodded. "I love it."

With a polite smile, Gregory held out his arm. Penny looped hers through and they began walking toward one of the barns. She couldn't help but see the irony in her lack of any real reaction to Gregory's closeness as they made their way through the darkening evening. It was nothing like what she had felt walking with Montgomery through the gardens the day before. She had felt warmer—lighter somehow. It had been the first time in her life that a man's touch had made Penny feel truly feminine.

Shaking her head, Penny knew she had to get her mind off of Ace! She didn't realize she'd growled out loud until Gregory spoke. "Are you okay, Miss Penny?"

"Of course. Have you ever had a truly annoying tune stuck in your head and it simply won't give you any peace?"

Gregory shook his head. "Can't say I have, ma'am."

With a wave of her hand, Penny sighed. "It doesn't matter. I refuse to let this particular tune take up residence in my mind any longer."

"Are you a highly educated woman, Miss Penny?" Gregory asked.

Penny frowned at the rather odd question. "Not particularly," she stated, though, even that, was probably an understatement. Her mother and father had never seen to it that their daughters attend school. As soon as Penny had been old enough to start, she'd begun walking herself to the library in the city. Slowly, she had learned to read and soon found herself getting lost in other worlds, other lives, that were so much nicer than the one she lived. "Why do you ask?"

"I didn't mean any offense. It's just you use real big words sometimes and you speak real proper. I thought maybe you were an educated woman."

Was she supposed to be dull and ignorant simply because she was female? Penny bit back a sharp retort. As they stepped into the barn, Gregory grabbed a lit oil lamp from a hook and took her around the stalls.

Penny was amazed at the beauty of these beasts. They were strong and powerful but yet still appeared so graceful. She had seen horses before, of course, but had never paid much attention to them—she'd always been too busy attempting to fit in with girls very far above her own lot in life.

"These horses are magnificent," Penny whispered.

Gregory kept looking toward the barn door. Despite her urge to take the time to truly see every horse in detail and learn all about them from her guide, she could see his impatience. This was clearly not a task he was interested in. Again, Penny thought of Montgomery, Ace, and the way he had walked her through the gardens yesterday, showing no impatience as she had smelled and admired each and every plant.

"I suppose we can return to the house now," Penny said, stepping away from the stall she'd been looking in. "I'm rather tired from working in the house all day."

Clearly relieved, Gregory guided her out of the barn, only to run into Ace who was leading a saddled large black stallion. "Have fun on your tour, brother?" 

Gregory pointed to the house. "I was just taking Miss Penny back to the house."

Ace frowned. "Wasn't much of a tour then. Why don't you go on in, Gregory, and I'll give Penny a proper look at the horses."

Penny stood frozen. She was completely speechless. Why did her body tremble so as Ace's dark eyes gazed at her. He was trouble--nothing but trouble. So, why didn't she simply speak up, refuse his offer of a tour, and return to the house.

Gregory seemed to study her a moment, then his gaze went to Ace, then back to her and she swore she saw some recognition in them. "Well then, I'll get back to the house. I need to talk to dad. I have to tell him he just might have been right about something."

Penny found herself alone in the night with Ace and a glowing oil lamp. She could hear voices coming from the bunkhouse where the hands slept but they seemed so far away as if they were in another world entirely.

Ace walked his horse to a hitching post and draped the reins loosely over it. "Your horse is quite lovely," Penny admitted, unsure of what else to say.

Ace patted the beast's shimmering black neck. "Yeah, I've had him about five years. He's been a good one."

Keeping the conversation revolved around horses seemed a good idea to Penny. "What's his name?"

"I've always called him Blackey."

Penny couldn't manage to stifle her light laugh. "How original."

Ace grinned. "We can't all be geniuses, Princess Penny. I do the best I can." He stepped toward her and held out his arm. "Do you want to really get a tour of our horses?"

Penny swallowed hard. Why was he being so kind to her? She was certain he disliked her.. and she disliked him, didn't she? Deciding she only had a few days left on the ranch, Penny knew she had to take the opportunity to tour the barn properly—even if it was with Ace as a guide.

Sliding her arm through his, Penny felt that warmth flood through her. She trembled and hoped he wouldn't feel it. "I see you got the hat clean," he stated as they walked toward the open barn door.

Penny raised a brow. "As did you."

Ace's gaze remained locked on hers. Penny felt her heart flutter as her body heated. Why did he look at her that way? There was heat in his brown eyes and it confused and aroused her. No man had ever looked at her that way.

With a clearing of his throat, Ace finally looked away and held the lantern high as they stepped inside. Penny forced her mind away from her jumbled thoughts and focused on the horses as Ace led her from stall to stall, taking the time to tell her each horse's name and their temperament. He showed her how each enjoyed being scratched and Penny found herself falling in love with the beasts.

When they stepped to the final stall, Penny saw a gray horse standing with his backside to them. His ears flattened a bit when he noticed their nearness. "Is it okay?" Penny asked, worried that perhaps the horse was sick. All the horses had greeted them at their stall gates, eager for attention.

Ace nodded. "He's just fine. His name is Quincy. My pa named him after a man he knew."

"He named his horse after a friend?"

A chuckle rumbled from Ace's chest. "Nope. Apparently human Quincy was nothing but an asshole and horse Quincy is just about the same." Penny could not contain her laughter. She didn't even realize she was laughing and smiling so openly until it was too late and she knew that Ace had seen her crooked teeth.

She quickly closed her mouth to judge his reaction only to find him smiling warmly back at her. "For an uppity princess, you have a good sense of humor hidden in there."

Penny shifted and turned her gaze back to Quincy. "Why does your father keep Quincy if he's so ornery?"

"Pa keeps him for breeding and that's about it. He doesn't like people and very few can ride him." Ace clicked his tongue. "But I've been on his back a time or two."

Her gaze went skyward. "Are you preparing to be a braggart once again?"

"Braggart?" Ace's brow quirked up. "Damn you and those big words."

"I'm sorry. Should I choose simpler vocabulary and stifle my own intelligence while conversing with you?"

"Of course not, Princess Penny. Just don't accuse me of being the only one that's a braggart." Penny realized she had just been put in her place. While her temper was riled a bit she bit her tongue when he smiled. "And no, I wasn't bragging. I just know a trick."

Penny wondered if she should demand he stop calling her that nickname he seemed to have given her. She chose not to. She didn't truly mind. "And what's your trick?" Penny questioned, running her fingertips over the iron bars on the stall gate.

Ace reached in his pocket and pulled out a handful of oats. Instantly Quincy's ears perked up and he turned toward Ace, coming to the front of the stall and sticking his head over the gate. Ace held his hand out flat and Quincy was quick to gobble the oats from his palm.

Penny was amazed at the change in the horse's demeanor. "Do you always carry oats in your pocket?" she teased.

Ace's smile was broad and it caused her legs to weaken a bit. "More often than not." Reaching in his pocket, Ace pulled out yet another handful of oats. "You want to try?"

Penny frowned. "I don't know.... What if he bites me?"

"Then I'll bite him back."

Again, Penny found herself laughing. More confused than ever about the emotions that Ace seemed to be bringing out of her, Penny nodded. She didn't want to be seen as a coward. "Okay. I'll try."

Ace's fingertips brushed against hers as he deposited some of the oats in her hand. Gently, Ace took her wrist, filling Penny's stomach with a flipping and flopping that was entirely foreign to her. "Lay your palm flat," he urged, his voice sounding deeper somehow. "Ease your hand forward real gentle."

Penny allowed him to guide her arm toward Quincy. The horse's ears lowered a bit and he snorted. Penny whimpered and tried to pull her arm back. Ace tightened his grip just slightly, lowered his mouth toward her ear and whispered, "Easy there, Princess. Just stay calm and let him know you mean no harm."

Calm? How in the world was she supposed to be anything resembling calm with Ace's warm breath washing across her skin and his body so near to hers that she could feel the heat of him against her.

Breathing deep through her nose, Penny somehow managed to relax. Ace let out several soft clicks with his tongue and Quincy moved closer and much to Penny's surprise he lowered his mouth to her hand and scooped up the oats.

As Quincy moved away, munching happily on his oats, Penny found herself laughing yet again. "That was amazing!"

"I take it you never took to feedin' horses in the city?"

Penny shook her head, rubbing her hands together to clean the leftover oats from them. "The opportunity never presented itself. I've never ridden one either. Are you going to pester me about that as well?"

Ace sighed as he led her once again to the barn door and they stepped outside. He handed her the lantern and smiled. "I hope ya had a good tour, Princess Penny."

Penny felt suddenly shy. "I did... Thank you, Ace."

He tipped his head. "See you tomorrow."

Penny turned and walked the path toward the house. Her mind was racing. Had she been wrong about Ace? Had the first impression she'd received of him been incorrect? Why did he look at her the way he did? Why did he stand so close and speak so softly when he leaned into her?

Penny could feel his eyes on her as she stepped up onto the porch, however, when she turned to look back at him, Ace had his back to her and was hopping on his horse. She kept her gaze on him as he made his way down a path that led the opposite way of town. It appeared Ace was skipping the saloon tonight.

With a smile on her face, Penny made her way inside and up to bed.