Chapter Twenty-Eight

"Mind getting down from that horse, Montgomery?"

"Not at all," Ace swung himself from the saddle, making a big show of rubbing at his backside. "I've been sitting on that thing so long my ass is numb."

As Franklyn chuckled, Penny merely sat there in confusion. What was Ace doing? Why was he all dressed up, calling himself Montgomery, and riding into an outlaw camp alone? She knew he must have a plan, she only wished she knew what that plan was so she could help him.

She wasn't sure what Ace would do against eleven men. Six were here in camp, four were standing guard, and one had ridden ahead to scout. The best she could do was keep up her tough act with Franklyn and pretend she had no idea who Montgomery Phillips was.

Franklyn clicked his tongue and two men appeared at Ace's side's, grabbing his arms and holding him in place. "I hope you don't mind, Montgomery, but we aren't real trusting of folks who just ride in." Franklyn approached Ace and began searching him.

"Don't blame you at all," Ace assured him, glancing around the camp. Penny didn't miss the way his eyes hesitated on her a moment—she hoped no one else noticed. "Can't be too careful nowadays. You know I once played an entire poker game with a damn Pinkerton? I'd have never guessed he was anything more than a ranchhand! He was looking for some card cheats that had been terrorizing some local gambling rings."

"Anything to do with you?" Franklyn questioned, pulling out a bit of coin and a deck of cards from Ace's pocket.

"No sir. I don't cheat."

Franklyn chuckled. "Or at least you don't get caught."

Laughter left Ace's lips. "The best never do. Be careful with those cards there. Those are my lucky cards."

Franklyn motioned for his men to release Ace as he opened the card box and poured them into his hand. Ruffling through them, Franklyn frowned. "They look like a regular old deck to me."

Ace grinned and fixed the clothing that Franklyn's search had mussed up. "To everyone else they are. To me, they're lucky."

Franklyn tossed them back at Ace, who shoved them back in his pocket. "This is a real nice set up y'all got here. And a real nice fire. It's been a few days since I've slept somewhere so nice. I ain't real good at sleeping under the stars myself. Never could start a fire well...."

"Gamblers should stay at the gambling halls and saloons," Franklyn informed him with a raise of his brow. "Leave the rough living to those of us a bit tougher."

Ace tipped his head. "You will get no argument from me, sir! Would it be okay if I sat around your fire with you, maybe got a bit of that stew you've got there." He laid his hand over his middle. "It's been a few days since I've filled up this hole in my middle as well."

Franklyn seemed to weigh Ace's request a moment before nodding and motioning toward the fire. "Sure, Mr. Phillips. Come get some rest and a bite to eat. Might be nice to talk to someone other than my trail weary compadres."

"My mama always said I was good at conversation," Ace assured him, settling himself down on a stump not too far from Penny.

"Woman?" Franklyn called. "Get our guest some stew."

"He's your guest," Penny reminded him. "You serve him."

Franklyn chuckled. "You are full of spirit. Might just have to keep you for myself and tell Grant thanks for the gift of feminine company."

Penny shot him a pursed lip smile. "You can't keep a woman who doesn't want to be kept."

"You'd be surprised what I can do," Franklyn assured her, pouring some stew in a bowl for Ace, handing it to him and then settling down beside Penny. "You'll have to excuse her behavior, Mr. Phillips, she isn't exactly here of her own free will."

"I gathered as much," Ace replied, taking a sip of stew and smacking his lips. "Damn, that's good."

"You don't know this woman, do you?" Franklyn asked abruptly.

Ace shook his head, not even glancing up. "Never seen her before in my life. 'Course I'm just passing through here and I'm more of a working woman type myself. I ain't got much time for the other type."

Penny wanted to glare but fought hard to focus on the fire and her stew. "I take it by your array of cattle, horses, and belongings here that you're a collector of sorts?" Ace inquired.

Franklyn shook his head. "Not really."

Ace waved his hand. "You don't have to worry none about me. I don't go interfering in the business of others. I got enough of my own to mind."

"I like you, Mr. Phillips. You seem like the type that would fit in around here."

A broad grin split Ace's face as he swiped his arm across his mouth. "I like you too...."

"Franklyn." The two men reached across the fire and shook hands. "

"Nice to meet you, Franklyn."

"In answer to your earlier statement, I'm less of a collector and more of a seller."

"You make a lot of money off cattle and horses?"

"Decent. I've got a buyer down in Mexico that takes most of my wares of me."

Ace sighed. "Good ol' Mexico. They've got something for everybody."

"I could probably get you a pretty penny for that horse there." Franklyn gestured toward Blackey.

"I've been riding with ol' Black Jack about eight years. I might as well be married to the beast."

"Cuz no one else would have you," Penny mumbled, having grown annoyed with Ace seeming to get along far too well with Franklyn. She didn't care if it was part of his plan—it still annoyed her.

"Watch your mouth," Franklyn warned, making it clear that Penny was beginning to test his patience. It would probably be best to bite her tongue.... Though it would be difficult.

Franklyn turned his attention back to Mr. Phillips. "I know what you mean. I feel the same way about Artemis."

"Men and their horses," Penny sighed, forgetting she was supposed to be quiet.

"Don't be jealous," Franklyn scolded. He nudged her with his elbow and leaned in close. "I can ride you too."

Penny very nearly vomited. "I'd rather ride Artemis."

"Aint' she something?" Franklyn addressed Ace. "Not much at all in the looks department and full of fire. I found that fire nice in the beginning but now... now it's beginning to grate my nerves."

"Mouthy women always grate the nerves. You planning on selling her in Mexico too?"

Franklyn sighed, poking at the fire. "She's supposed to be sold there. I took a loan of a man who couldn't pay me back and this is the best he could come up with. There were some nice things in her cabin so she isn't a complete loss. She seems to have a knack for sewing but she isn't beautiful and, according to that man, she isn't a virgin, so she won't fetch me much."

"Then let me go home. I'd hate to make your life complicated."

Franklyn laid a calloused hand on her cheek. Penny pulled away and glared. "Keep your hands off me."

Anger narrowed Franklyn's eyes. He tensed and for a moment Penny thought she was going to be hit. Ace spoke. "She sure ain't scared enough for a woman in her situation. Spirit is one thing, stupidity is another. Maybe she suffers from idiocy?"

Franklyn grumbled and turned away from her. "You may have a point."

The men continued their talking, bonding and laughing for a while. Penny kept her mouth shut, stared into the fire and had plenty of time to think. Think and wonder what Ace's plan was, or if the man even had a plan. Surely he had one... surely he wasn't simply making things up as he went.

As the night wore on, Ace's lucky deck of cards made an appearance. Penny grew bored, and then she grew tired. Stifling yawns, Penny watched as Ace lost a few hands, then won a few hands.

"Let's make this more interesting," Ace finally spoke up. "Gambling just ain't as much fun when you don't have anything to lose."

Franklyn laughed. "I saw what you have in your pockets, Mr. Phillips. A few cents won't make a good bet."

Ace rubbed at his jaw before flashing a wink. "I have a better idea. You see, I find myself unable to take my eyes off that girl beside you for long."

Franklyn glanced at Penny who had perked up upon her stump. "Why?" he snorted. "She isn't attractive."

"Beauty means different things to different people," Ace countered. I like her sharp tongue and quick wit. I'd like the chance to make her my riding companion. Saloons and gambling halls could be more fun with a little woman on my arm."

Franklyn seemed completely bewildered. "But you yourself said she may suffer from idiocy with her lack of fear."

"Fear can be beaten into any animal, no matter how stupid," Ace assured him, his eyes narrowing. "I could have fun with that one."

Franklyn rubbed at his jaw. "I don't know... I was thinking of keeping her around.. 'course I myself don't much like hitting women...."

"And some women just have to be hit," Ace reminded him. "You live a dangerous life, Franklyn, and you need a riding companion who will mind your every word. If she's always questioning you, doubting you, you'll lose respect with your men. And if you take her to your Mexican friend to sell, he won't give you the price for her that he'd give you for Black Jack over there."

Franklyn's eyes widened. "Black Jack? Your horse? You want to bet your horse? I thought you said you were married to him."

"I didn't say it was a happy union," Ace countered. "And I don't plan on losing."

Penny sat with bated breath as the two men continued to wheel and deal back and forth over her future. Ace was truly playing his role well. A crooked gambler, looking for a working woman to have on his arm—one he was willing to beat into submission and one small enough to be easy to control.

"Would you two either do this or not?" Penny demanded. "I'm tired and I'd like to know just how horrible my night of sleep will be with whichever horrible beast I end up spending it with."

Franklyn's eyes narrowed. "I believe you have a deal, Mr. Phillips. One hand. Five card stud, aces wild. I win, I get that horse of yours. You win, you get this bitch of mine and I learn my lesson about doing deals with Gavin Hendershot. Sound good?"

"Sounds great," Ace agreed.

Penny watched as Ace shuffled those cards with the flair of the best of gamblers. What was the man thinking? Her life was hanging in the balance of a single hand of cards. SO was his! What was he going to do if he lost? He couldn't hope to draw that gun and take on so many at once...

When the cards were dealt, Penny could see Franklyn's hand. He had three threes. Damn.... Penny was bound for Mexico.

She glanced at Ace and saw that he was grinning. "On the count of three we'll lay down."

They counted in unison. "One, Two, Three...."

Penny nearly cried out with shock, relief, and happiness all rolled into one. Laying there on the rock was Ace's hand of cards and it showed four sevens, two of those sevens were aces.

"I love it when Aces are wild," Ace winked.

"Well hell....."

"Looks like you belong to me now," Ace grinned over at Penny. "We're gonna have fun tonight."

Penny was not an actress but she did her best. "No, we won't. My family is coming for me, you bastard. Franklyn didn't tell you that, did he?"

Ace turned an accusatory gaze to Franklyn. "Are people coming for her?"

Franklyn laughed. "She seems to think so. Hell, by the time they realized she was gone I'm sure we were miles away and I know how to hide my tracks. A few idiot cowhands aren't a threat. Are they a threat to you?"

Ace seemed to think hard a moment before shrugging. "Even less chance they'll track the two of us alone." He motioned for Penny. "Come on now, woman. We'll get moving and let these fine folks get some rest."

"You're welcome to stay here for the night," Franklyn offered.

Ace winked. "The things I have planned are things I'd rather have a bit of privacy for."

Penny stood from her stump and stretched out her legs. "It's been a pleasure. Franklyn," she muttered, making her way to Ace. It took everything in her to prevent herself from leaping into his arms.

"Thank you for your hospitality." Ace put his deck of cards in his pocket. He turned his attention to Penny. "Do I need to tie you up, woman?"

"No. I won't run. What good would it do me?"

"Not a bit," Ace assured her. He grabbed her by the arm and led her toward Blackey.

Just when Penny thought maybe they were going to get away—that this was all going to be over—Franklyn chuckled behind them and a revolver cocked.

"You must think I'm real stupid, Mr. Phillips."