A/N: The above picture is the closest I could find to what I consider Ace to look like! 

Chapter Sixteen

It was nearly ten in the morning before Penny woke the next day. She had not meant to sleep so late—she supposed she had because she had spent much of the night pacing her room and feeling so confused about Ace.

Why would the man allow her to believe the things Gavin had said, refuse to tell her anything different, agree with her that she'd been stupid, and then given her a gift? The infuriating man boggled her mind.

After dressing herself, Penny picked up her new hat and ran her fingers over it. Was it ridiculously large and overly decorated? Yes. Did she think it was absolutely beautiful and would she wear it with pride? Yes and Yes. Why would Ace buy her such a gift? She knew he had hated her old hat and yet he had bought her this one long before her hat had been destroyed.

Hoping that Carol or Patricia had set back some breakfast for her, Penny headed downstairs, only to find the dining room table empty. She stepped into the kitchen and found no one there. On the table were a couple crackers and a note.

Frowning, Penny picked the note up and read it.

Penny,

You know I love you almost as if you were my own daughter and Ed loves you as well. However, I'm afraid you will not receive breakfast from me today. I am withholding my cooking from you, and for good reason.

I am tired of seeing you and Ace looking so confused and hurt as I saw you last night and him this morning upon realizing you weren't coming down to eat with the family. Something has to give, dear.

You and Ace need to learn to communicate and understand one another. You need to stop seeing him through glasses tainted with the past and the life you used to live. And he needs to do some work as well, which Ed and I have both spoken to him about.

You will find Ace in the barns today. He seemed eager to stay nearby, perhaps hoping to catch a glimpse of you.

Once you and Ace have settled your differences and decided what's best for you both—whatever that may be—I will cook you whatever you want, dear. Until then, you will be subject to your own cooking.

Carol

Penny folded the letter and shoved it into her skirt pocket. And here she had thought that it was Ed who liked to meddle. Apparently, Carol had decided to partake in her husband's favorite pastime. Penny took a seat at the table and began to munch on the crackers Carol had left her as she thought about herself, and Ace, and all their previous interactions.

As her mind looked back, an unpleasant realization dawned on her. Much of the fault for the issues they had encountered, laid with her. But why? Why did Penny seemed determined to push away the very man she wanted to pull close?

Deciding that she wasn't going to leave this table until she had worked through her behavior, Penny continued the introspection. Never in her childhood had Penny known love. Patricia and she had been fond of each other but they'd both been too busy surviving to spend much time building a relationship.

As Penny had gotten older and the abuse and neglect grew worse, she had been determined to make a new name and place for herself. Then came the false airs, the overdone confidence, the snobbish behavior that she had seen so many times from the crowd she was hoping to impress.

And still Penny had not found true acceptance. She'd been judged, insulted, laughed at, and snubbed. Penny had grown to believe that she didn't deserve love—if she deserved it, surely, she would have found it at some point during her life up until that point.

Penny dropped the cracker in her hand as she shook. Never had she taken the time to realize that truth about herself. She did not feel as if she deserved goodness and love. Carol, Ed, and Patricia had begun to break down the wall when it came to love of family, but that wall was still tall and strong where romance and Ace was concerned.

Penny did not feel she deserved Ace Anderson, or the feelings he stirred with her, the attention he showed her, the love she could so plainly see in his brown eyes.

What a fool she was.

Penny had been determined to push him away before he could do the same to her as so many other people in her life had. At every open opportunity, Penny had judged him, spouted at him old hurts and old hates that had nothing to do with Ace. She swallowed back her tears. Penny did not have to wonder how badly she'd been hurting the man. She knew. She knew exactly how it felt to be treated the way she had been treating Ace.

Her appetite suddenly gone, Penny left the remaining crackers on the table and pushed herself to her feet. The journey into her mind had left her feeling quite exhausted, but she had no time to rest. If Ace was in the barns, Penny needed to go find him and speak with him while she was still feeling open enough to share her truths. Ace deserved an explanation, and an apology.

Letting out a long, deep breath, Penny placed her hat back on her head, gathered up all her courage, and headed out the front door. There were multiple barns on this ranch... which one would Ace be in?

Gregory was walking near the porch, so Penny flagged him over. "Good morning, Miss Penny."

"Good morning, Gregory. I was hoping you might know where Ace is this morning."

Gregory chuckled as he pulled out his bandana and wiped his face clean. "I figured that's what you would want. He's in that barn," Gregory pointed to one of the barns. "You should go on in there. He's alone."

Penny flushed and fussed with her hat. "I'm not certain it's proper for my once fiance' to be encouraging me to go spend time alone with another man."

"I don't think we ever would have worked out, Miss Penny," Gregory lamented shoving his bandana back in his pocket. "My attractions lie with folks just a bit rougher."

Penny was still attempting to understand what Gregory meant when the man cleared his throat and quickly walked away. That was certainly...odd. With a shake of her head, Penny headed toward the barn Gregory had indicated. She had issues of her own to go work through—she didn't have time to unravel the riddle that Gregory had just spoken.

As Penny entered the barn, her eyes took a moment to adjust to the change in light before her jaw dropped. Ace was in this barn alright. He was alone, and he was also shirtless. Penny couldn't seem to swallow. Her lungs had also ceased working properly. It seemed that the barn had just heated nearly twenty degrees as well.

Penny had known that Ace had a tall, strong build. That had been obvious when the man was fully clothed. She had felt those strong arms holding her close and she had been pressed against that taunt stomach and broad chest.

However, none of that could have prepared her for what her eyes were now seeing. Ace wore only his trousers and boots. His back was to her as he used a rake to clean stalls. His tan skin glistened with sweat as his muscles twisted gracefully with each movement.

While Penny would have loved nothing more than to simply stand and stare for hours, she knew she should probably alert the man to her presence. How were words formed? She couldn't seem to remember. She heard that familiar chuckle rumble from Ace's chest. "You gonna stand and stare all day, Princess, or are ya gonna say hello?"

Penny found her tongue, just barely. "Hello."

Ace turned around and Penny barely registered the smile deepening the dimples on his cheeks before her gaze fell to the masterpiece below his neck. Ace didn't have bulky muscles, no, each and every one was lean and well defined. He had rippling abs and strong shoulders. His waist tapered, and the gun belt slung low on his hips only served to draw her attention to them.

"Enjoying your view?"

The teasing cockiness in his voice finally broke through Penny's daze and she tore her eyes from his impressive form to look at his face—which, of course, was equally as impressive. "Of course not. You smell like horse dung."

Ace's laughter filled the barn. "And you smell like roses." He tossed the rake aside and leaned against the stall. "I see you got your hat."

Penny laid her hand on the brim and smiled. "I did. Thank you, Ace. You didn't have to get me a gift. I know how much you hated my other hat."

Ace cocked his head. "Who said I hated it?"

"I believe your words were 'god awful'," Penny reminded him.

Ace merely shrugged. "l reckon I was drunk when I said that. Them hats ain't god awful... Just a bit over the top." He winked. "But you pull 'em off, Princess."

Penny didn't know what to say. She could feel heat in her face. Curse Ace and his ability to render her speechless with his flirtation. Penny was not good at flirting—she'd never experienced doing it or having it done to her.

"You still did not have to get this for me," she insisted, deciding to turn the subject away from her ability to pull off her hats.

Ace shrugged. "I wanted to." His eyes were warm as they studied her. "Did you just come to thank me or..."

Penny shook her head. "No, I was hoping that we could talk."

Ace nodded. He led her over to a pair of wooden chairs and they sat down. "I think us talking would be a good idea."

"I need to apologize to you, Ace. First for last night. I never should have struck you and I never should have left you out there without a horse."

"And with Gavin," Ace grumbled.

Penny winced. "Yes, and with Gavin."

"You should have let me break his jaw, Penny. He deserved it after misleading you, spouting all that garbage about you, trying to toss you off that rock, and grabbing your arm...." Ace paused. "Speaking of... Let me see that arm"

Penny froze. She didn't want to let him see her arm. There was no way Ace would be able to handle what he saw there. "Dammit, Princess, let me see your arm."

Letting out a long sigh, Penny flipped her arm over and she could feel the rage rolling off him as he took in the dark, ugly bruise marring the pale skin of her forearm.

"That's it." Ace got to his feet, yanked off his hat and slammed it into a post. "I'm gonna kill him. That worthless god damn weasel is gonna die."

Penny wasn't certain what had her hopping out of chair and rushing to him. She put her palms on Ace's chest to slow the pacing he'd begun. Instantly the man stopped. His brown eyes locked on her, the gold flecks within them seeming to flash.

Suddenly, Penny knew what it felt like to be prey stared down by a hungry predator. Ace's expression made it clear he wanted nothing more than to devour her. His hands went to her hips, gripping them and pulling her body closer. One hand left her hip to place his thumb under her chin and tip her head, the other tightened its grip.

"I want you something fierce, Princess."

Ace's voice was deeper somehow. Huskier. His eyes were dark with passion. When his tongue darted out across his bottom lip, Penny moaned and felt her knees weaken. She shivered under his gaze, wanting nothing more than to give in to the sensations he was stirring within her.

But, that wasn't what she had come into this barn for, and if she put off the conversation she wanted to have with him, she may not find the courage to be so open again.

Somehow, Penny found the strength to push against his chest and move herself out of his grasp. Ace growled, clearly not pleased. "Get back over here," he grumbled.

Penny swallowed hard, fussing with her skirt while shaking her head. "We need to talk, Ace. I need to talk."

While, Ace still didn't seem real pleased with her change of subject, he let out a sigh and motioned toward the chairs. "Let's talk then. Then I need to make a trip to town to kill a man who's asked for it."

"Ace, you can't kill Gavin."

He rolled his eyes. "And why not?"

"Because you'd end up hanged and what would I do then?"

His gaze softened. "Are ya sayin' you'd miss me?"

Penny sighed. "You know I would."

Ace smiled. He reached out and took her hand in his, entwining their fingers just as he'd done that day in town. "Well okay then." Penny flushed and bit her lip. Ace squeezed her hand gently. "What do you want to talk about, Princess?"

She nodded, happy to have something to focus on other than Ace's touch. "I want to apologize for how I've treated you since coming to the ranch."

Ace shook his head. "You don't gotta apologize to me..."

Penny held up her hand. "Yes, I do. I've treated you terribly and looked at you through eyes tainted with my own issues. You have to understand, Ace. I've never known love, any kind of love, until coming to this ranch. I have always been told how ugly and worthless I am. How I would never be enough, and no one would ever truly care...."

Ace's grip became almost painful before he caught himself and loosened it. "For a woman who doesn't want her man to commit murder, you sure do like to rile him up when ya talk like that."

Penny froze. She blinked several times. She felt as if her brain had nearly ceased functioning completely. The only words she could mutter were, "You're my man?"

Ace's smile was broad on his face and those dimples were deep. "Of course I am." He leaned in close and pressed his brow to hers. "And you're my woman."

It was Penny's turn to smile. A broad smile, one that showed her teeth and put those crinkles around her nose. Ace had told her that he saw her as beautiful.. she was trying her very best to believe him. "I am."

"Damn Princess... I've been waitin' a while to hear you say that."

"I've only been on the ranch two weeks," Penny reminded him.

Ace shrugged, he pulled away and settled back in his chair, keeping her hand in his. "Two weeks too long to wait."

"I want to talk to you about something else...."

Ace sighed. "What's that? I can think of a lot more fun things to do while we've got the barn to ourselves."

Penny rolled her eyes. "I'll have you know, you truly do smell like dung."

Ace laughed. "Well that is what I've been shoveling all morning."

Penny picked a bit of lint from her skirt. "I wanted to let you know that it's not fair to you the way you've changed everything about yourself just to please me...."

His brow furrowing, Ace frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I know you like to gamble, Ace," Penny acknowledged. "And drink. And spend time at the saloon beating the life out of poor Billy Hinkley."

"Don't call him that," Ace grumbled. "The man's an idiot."

Penny simply sighed and remained silent. Ace lifted her hand to his mouth and pressed a tender kiss to her knuckles. "I changed, yeah, but I made the choice to do it, Penny. You didn't force me and neither did anybody else. I don't do anything unless I want to."

"Ace, why? I am not worth changing your whole world around for...."

Ace's eyes flashed. He stood up, yanked her to her feet, and before Penny had time to realize what was happening, Ace had her pinned against the barn wall. His arms were on either side of head with his hands splayed on the rough lumber. His body seemed to surround her, and Penny could feel the heat. She felt so small, so weak, so protected, all surrounded by him this way.

"I need to apologize too," he growled, those gold-flecked eyes staring at her with so much hunger it stole her breath, made her knees weak, and caused a powerful stirring low in her belly.

"Why?" she managed to whisper.

"For letting you get away with thinking, for even two minutes, that you ain't worth everything in this world, Penny Burkart. I don't care what you've been told or what you've been led to believe by your past. You are a beautiful, smart, fierce, wild, warm, driven, and passionate woman. You are temptation all wrapped up in one tiny little package and the only damn thing I want in this world anymore, is to have you by my side.... And in my bed."

Penny gasped. She gulped for hair and began to shake. Ace frowned as he stepped back, giving her space. He rubbed at his neck and suddenly appeared completely out of his element, uncomfortable, and unsure. "Did I go too far? Dammit." He turned quickly, walked away a few steps, and then turned back to face her. "I ain't never felt the way about any woman the way I feel about you. I'm sorry if I said too much...."

Suddenly, Penny found her sense. As he spoke, she closed the distance between them at a run and launched herself into his arms. Ace was caught off guard, but only for a moment. He put his hands on her backside, lifted her off the ground, and instinct had Penny's legs wrapping around his hips.

Penny was overcome with her want for Ace and it consumed her. Her lips found Ace's and tasted him. Ace's response was instant and wild. He growled low in his throat, moved one hand to the back of her head, and devoured her like a starving man.

Penny clung to him. Her fingers digging into the bare skin of Ace's back as he deepened the kiss and their tongues warred. Penny felt herself trembling deep inside. She knew that Ace was touching more than just her body, he was touching something deep inside of her, something terrified of being awakened for fear it would then be broken. He touched her very soul.

Ace seemed to notice that something was wrong. He pulled his lips from hers and looked in her eyes. "What is it, Princess?"

She swallowed hard, trying to slow her breathing and regain her focus. Ace had her body feeling as if it were on fire and concentration was difficult. "I'm afraid."

Ace still held her against him with her legs wrapped around his hips. He turned around and braced her against the wall, leaving one hand free and one behind her head, fingers buried in her hair. "Afraid of what?"

"Of...." She struggled to form the necessary words. "Of being hurt. Of losing you."

His gaze was soft. Ace moved her head to his bare chest and she laid her ear against it, feeling the warmth of his skin and taking in the stead beat of his heart. Penny closed her eyes and felt Ace carrying her. He sat down in one of the chairs and kept her in his lap.

Penny know the position was inappropriate here in the barn where anyone could walk in and catch them. However, she couldn't find it within herself to move away. "Penny, look at me."

Penny swallowed hard, gathered all her courage, and forced herself to meet Ace's gaze. He seemed genuine, open, and completely sincere as he began to speak. "I know I have a bad reputation, Penny. I've been known to be impulsive, lazy at times, and enjoy myself far too much. I've been with a lot of payed women, I've drunk a lot of whiskey, and I've lost and won a lot of money at poker tables. If I'd have known you were comin', I probably wouldn't have done all that in such earnest. I'm known to have a temper and be quick to throw punches, but these hands won't ever touch you with anger in them.

"You say you're afraid of being hurt? I won't ever hurt you, Princess. I ain't like all them folks that have been in your life in the past. I'm a real man and a real man doesn't harm a woman, doesn't cause her tears, and doesn't leave her starving and lonely while he's rolling in women and liquor. And you say you're afraid of losing me?" Ace pressed his brow to hers and let out a contented sigh. "Princess, I ain't ever goin' anywhere."

Tears filled Penny's eyes despite her best attempts to quell them. Oh, how she wanted to believe he was telling her the truth. She wanted to believe that everything he had said in this barn today were his honest feelings. And, pulling away a bit to look into his eyes, Penny did. She believed him. She still wasn't certain what she'd done to deserve a man so handsome and good, but she was done pushing him away.

Ace smiled, obviously reading her eyes. His lips met hers again, but this kiss was gentler, calmer somehow. It was a long, slow, lazy kiss. Penny's heart melted in her chest. That heat began to build once again. She felt herself filling with a passionate desire. Penny was fully aware of what happened between a woman and a man, though she had never experienced it for herself. She wanted to experience it with Ace. Something told her he'd be a very willing teacher.

Her carnal thoughts, and their tender embrace were interrupted when Luke came galloping straight into the barn. "Ace!"

Ace pulled away from Penny and looked up at his brother. Penny was fully aware that she was still seated in Ace's lap. She was also aware that Luke seemed on edge and frightened—also angry.

"We weren't doin' anything wrong, Luke. Are you honestly rushin' in here to defend the woman's honor?"

Luke shook his head and pulled a rifle off his back, Penny realized it was an extra one because Luke still had one across his other shoulder. "Jeremiah was shot while out in the fields. Maggie and Pa are rushing him to town. Gregory, Michael, Jose' and I are going to ride out and try to find the bastards that shot him. You coming?"

Quickly Ace stood, sitting Penny on her feet. As she watched him hastily don his shirt and hat, Penny wanted to scream. She didn't want Ace riding off with guns and being shot at—what if he was actually shot? What if he died?

Ace quickly saddled Blackey, adjusted his gun belt and slung the rifle over his shoulder. "I gotta go, Penny," he said as if reading her mind. Luke turned his horse and left the barn. "Jeremiah is like family. We can't have those rustlers thinking they can just ride in here and do what they want."

Penny's chest was tight. She clenched her fists and nodded. "I understand," she muttered.

Ace sighed. He gave her a quick, hard kiss before hopping on Blackey. "I'll be back, Princess. I promise."

All Penny could manage was a nod. If she spoke, she would break. Ace seemed sad but determined. Penny understood his reasoning but that didn't mean she had to like it.

With one last long look at her, Ace turned Blackey around and left. As Penny watched him join his brothers and the other hands and ride away from the ranch house, she bit her lip. "Please, don't die," she whispered.

"Dammit, that hurts!"

Penny's attention was drawn to a wagon where Ed was just finishing up hooking horses. Jeremiah was being helped into the back of the wagon by Maggie, Carol, and Patricia. Forcing her feet to move, Penny headed toward the wagon to see if she could be of assistance.

She froze halfway there. Blood. There was so much blood. Penny didn't know where Jeremiah had been shot but there couldn't be much blood left in the man if the amount out of him were any indication.

Maggie climbed into the wagon, put her hands under Jeremiah shoulders and pulled him back onto a bed of pillows and blankets that had been made for him. "Dammit, Maggie, I said it hurts!"

"Well ya want to do it your damn self, you damn grump?" Maggie snapped back.

"Language," Carol scolded, though it was half-hearted.

Penny closed her eyes tight. What if Ace came like Jeremiah...or worse. Then she thought of her sister—Luke was out there too. All three of Carol's sons. If they could be strong in this moment, Penny had to be as well.

She finished her way to the wagon. Jeremiah and Maggie were still fussing as she settled herself beside him and held an old blanket tight against his side. Jeremiah looked terrible. The color had leached from his skin, his eyes were surrounded by dark circles, and he was shaking from what she assumed was pain.

He had clearly been shot in the side, but Penny was no doctor. She had no way of knowing if the wound would be fatal.

"Come on, pa! We need to get a move on!" Maggie urged, looking much more frazzled than usual.

On command, Ed jumped in the wagon and without even a backward glance, he started the horses for town.

Penny, Carol, and Patricia simply stood there. None of them said a word as they stared at the wagon disappearing in the distance, kicking up dust as it went.

Finally, Penny broke the silence. "Is he going to be okay?"

Carol sighed, meeting her gaze with sadness in her brown eyes. "I don't know. I hope so. Jeremiah has been with us for nearly ten years. He was little more than a boy when he came."

"Those men had better be careful," Patricia stated, wrapping her arms around herself.

Penny, completely unfamiliar with comforting someone, put an awkward arm around her sister, surprised when Patricia leaned into her and laid her head on her shoulder.

"I'm sure they will all be fine," Carol quickly assured them. "They can all handle themselves quite well. Though I wish they would have listened to me and stayed home. These rustlers are for the lawmen to catch, not my sons and those I consider family."

Patricia snorted. "The lawmen don't seem to be in a hurry to make anything better."

With a sigh, Carol nodded. "That's exactly what Luke said."

Penny's jaw trembled as she spoke. "Carol, Ace and I communicated. We had an honest conversation with each other. We figured out what is best for both of us and I believe it's safe to say we're looking toward the future." If he lived long enough for them to have one.

Carol came between the sisters and put her an arm around each as she began leading them toward the house. "I guess that means I owe you a meal then. Let's go start on one. I'd say the boys will be starving when they get back."