Chapter Two

Penny was sick and tired of being cramped inside the overheated stagecoach with three older women who had done nothing but gripe and complain for weeks. When she finally saw the town as they rolled into it, she couldn't help but sigh with relief... though that sigh quickly faded.

This wasn't the city she was used to. There were no cobblestone streets, no brick buildings. The stagecoach wheels were rumbling along on dirt and all the buildings were put together with rough lumber and hand painted signs. Penny hadn't wanted to come here. It hadn't been her choice. True, she had wanted to see her sister again, but she was hoping that Patricia would come to her. Sadly, Penny's father had insisted that she come out here for an extended trip and it was a man's world so she hadn't had much choice but to obey.

When she saw her sister on the boardwalk her mood brightened the tiniest bit. Penny was fond of her sister and had missed her since Patricia had moved out to Texas to marry her ranch owning husband. Luke was standing beside Patricia on the boardwalk. Penny had never met the man but he was certainly nice looking. Tall, and strongly built, with dark hair, dark eyes and a stern appearance. Most importantly, Patricia's letters had made it clear that she was very happy with Luke. It seemed she had truly found love with her husband.

That was good for Patricia, but Penny didn't want this life. She didn't want to live among the dust and the nothingness. She wanted a man with class, dignity, and money—not because she wanted excessive fineries or a was money-hungry, but because she had been raised with absolutely nothing and knew what it was like to have no shoes on her feet and no food in her gut. Penny simply could not see herself loving a simple cowpoke.

Stretching out her achy, cramped body, Penny stepped from the coach which had stopped at the station. She took a moment to adjust her dress and place her hat on her head.

"Penny, it's so good to see you!" Patricia exclaimed as she rushed forward and wrapped her in a tight hug. Penny wrapped one arm around her sister and used the other hand to hold her hat on her head.

Slowly Patricia pulled away. "Penny, this is Luke. Luke this is my younger sister Penny."

As Luke studied her a moment, Penny couldn't help but wonder what the man was thinking. She knew that she and her sister were as different as night and day in both appearance and personality. Patricia was average height for a lady if not just a tad bit taller. She had a fairly large chest, tiny waist, and curved hips. With midnight black hair that contrasted against her ivory skin and light blue eyes, Patricia was what most men dreamed of. She was also kind, caring, and generous--somehow retaining those qualities despite the life they'd both lived.

Penny, on the other hand, was short, barely five feet tall. Her body was thin, with no real curves to speak of anywhere. Her hair was a dark, dirty looking blond and her eyes a sort of green and gray mixture. She didn't have the body or appearance that any man seemed to prefer. Even her smile couldn't compare to Patricia's. Patricia had a perfect smile that lit up her face. Penny's smile caused crinkles to appear beside her nose and show off her teeth which were just a bit too big and crooked in the front.  As far as personality went, Penny was closed off, distant, and tended to put on airs and hide the real her from all who knew her. It was safer that way—it was harder for people to hurt you if you never let them close.

Luke held out a hand and offered a polite smile. "Nice to meet you, Miss Penny."

Penny glanced down at his offered hand which was covered in dirt. Clearly he'd been working. She laid her white gloved palm in his before releasing her hold and wiping her glove off on her green satin dress.

Luke cleared his throat as he glanced down at himself as if just noticing how dust and dirt covered he was. "I apologize, ma'am. I suppose I should have washed up a bit before coming to town. I've been working all morning."

Patricia laid a comforting hand on her husband's shoulder. "Nonsense, darling, you look just fine. I'm sure Penny is simply tired after such a long trip. Why don't you grab her travel case and we'll get back to the ranch."

Luke seemed happy to have something to do as he hefted up the case and led the sisters to a waiting wagon. Penny sighed as Luke helped her onto the seat. Yet more riding. Hopefully it wouldn't be too long of one.

"It'll take us about an hour to get to the house," Patricia said as she slid onto the seat as well. Penny winced. Of course it would. Not only was this town horribly small, but in order to enjoy it during her stay, she would have to travel a full hour in the Texas heat. "There is beautiful scenery all the way there so the ride doesn't seem too bad, I promise."

Penny offered her sister a small smile, careful not to show her teeth. She never let herself give a true smile. Not anymore.

The wagon was just lurching down the dusty and rather crowded main street when the swinging doors of the saloon swung open with a thud and a man was sent flying out. He was airborne a moment before landing on his backside and skidding across the dirt to come to a stop beside the wagon.

Luke drew the wagon to a stop just as another man leaped out of the saloon and landed on top of the fallen man, sending his fists hard into the first man's face. Leaping from the wagon with a curse, Luke grabbed the second man and pulled him to his feet, holding him in place by the shoulders.

"What do you think you're doing?" Luke demanded, clearly very angry. Did Luke know the dirty man who currently smelled like a whiskey vat and appeared to have been punched a time or two himself today.

"I'm kickin' Billy's ass," the man replied. "If you'd be so kind as to let me go, I'll get back to it."

Penny's gaze went to the man still laying on the ground and moaning as he nursed a bleeding nose. Were all the men here so uncivilized and barbaric?

Turning her attention back to Luke, Penny realized the man standing with him was looking up at her and Patricia in the wagon. "Well hello there, Patricia. How are you this afternoon?"

"I'm just fine. How are you?" Penny wondered how on earth her sister knew this drunkard.

"Drunk," the man replied with a grin that pulled at the cut on his lip and caused a bit of blood to trickle onto his stubble covered chin. His brown eyes fell on Penny and caused her to shift uncomfortably on the wagon seat. "Is this that sister of yours I've been hearing so much about?"

Patricia smiled. "Yes, this is Penny."

"I guess I should introduce you," Luke said, finally letting go of the other man, who was using the bottom of his untucked shirt to wipe at the blood on his mouth. "This is my brother....."

"This is Gregory?" Penny demanded, cutting Luke off. She knew good and well that her parents had sent her out here with the intention of having her marry Luke's brother Gregory. She had already determined she wasn't marrying the man, but that determination was going to be increased tenfold if the bloody, filthy, drunkard of a man in front of her was her intended.

Hell no, I ain't Gregory," the man replied, crossing his arms over his chest. "My name's Ace and I'm a heck of a lot more fun, princess." His eyes traveled over her and Penny knew he was judging her.

Stiffening her back, Penny raised her nose. "My name is Penny, not princess, and you'd do well to remember that, you ignorant drunkard."

A snort left Ace. "Well excuse me, Princess Penny." He turned back to his brother. "Luke, you better get the prissy Princess home to the ranch before the rain hits and ruins that god awful hat."

With those parting words, Ace turned and stormed back into the saloon, throwing the doors open with force and causing them to swing wildly behind him.

Luke went to the man, apparently named Billy, who was still on the ground and hoisted him up by the shirt. "Why don't you go sleep it off, Billy, and stay away from my idiot brother?"

Billy sniffled and swiped at his blood covered face with his hand. "I didn't start it, Luke!"

"I never said you did. I know how Ace is and the way his is isn't about to change. You should try avoiding him like the rest of us do."

Billy stumbled down the road toward the hotel which boasted of having a bathhouse according to their sign. Penny folded her hands in her lap as Luke hopped back onto the wagon seat. She drew a deep breath and offered Luke a sideways glance. "Well, your family certainly seems nice."

Silence reigned as Luke urged the horses forward. And that same silence continued to reign on the long ride to the ranch house. Penny felt awkward and did not have the slightest idea what she should say or do so she simply sat and watched the scenery as it passed by.

Patricia had been correct. It truly was beautiful to see. Rolling fields and gentle hills. Old oaks and maples. Beautiful wild flowers growing among the tall waving grass. Penny would never admit that she found it beautiful. Not when she'd been forced here against her will.

She found herself thinking of Ace. Would everyone in Luke's family be so....undesirable? Penny certainly hoped not. Luke himself seemed a decent man even if he was a rancher. Maybe Luke represented the rest of his family and Ace was simply the bad apple... one could only hope.

When the fences began to come into view, Patricia told her they were getting close. Barns, stables and corrals were next and then Penny's eyes widened when she saw the grand farmhouse. Porches and balconies wrapped around both stories while a black front door and black shutters contrasted with the bright white home and pillars. It looked like a house out of a storybook. It was certainly much different from the home she had shared with her family in North Carolina.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Patricia whispered.

"I suppose," Penny replied. While she found the house to be quite lovely, she wasn't going to let Luke hear her say so. It was because of his family and hers conspiring and interfering in her life, that she was here against her wishes. She wouldn't let any of them have the satisfaction of hearing her praise their home.

"Patricia can show you to your room, Miss Penny," Luke stated as he helped both women from the wagon.

Penny glanced around. "Where is Gregory? I assumed he would be here to greet me seeing as how our parents have been so eager to have us married."

Luke paused a moment before looking at her. "I'm afraid he had some work to do in the fields today but he'll be back by supper."

Penny sighed. "Wonderful."

Lucas cleared his throat and motioned toward a Mexican man who quickly walked over. "Jose, can you carry Miss Penny's trunk up to her room? I'll see to the horses."

Jose simply nodded. He hoisted Penny's trunk from the back of the wagon, staggering under the weight.

As Penny followed Jose and Patricia into the house, she couldn't help but admire the décor. It was simple and quite tasteful even if it did have a more rustic atmosphere. Penny wouldn't voice the thought aloud, but, she actually liked the house. She looked forward to seeing more of it. Perhaps her stay here wouldn't be as torturous as she had first imagined.

They walked up a wide staircase with lightly stained wood and white banisters and turned right down a long hall. They stopped at the second door and Patricia opened it, allowing a sweating and panting Jose to enter first and relieve himself of his rather heavy load.

He excused himself quickly and Penny took in the sight of her room for the foreseeable future. Her parent's entire home could have fit into this one room. The large fourposter bed, massive wardrobe, small chest by the bed and the vanity were all made of darkly stained mahogany. Elegant floral wallpaper covered the upper two-thirds of the wall, while the bottom third was covered in dark mahogany wainscoting. Penny could tell that the red rug beneath her feet was plush and the blankets on the bed looked as soft as a cloud.

"I hope you like the room," Patricia said, breaking the silence.

Penny laid her handbag down on the vanity and sighed. "It's decent."

Patricia seemed to want to say something but something clearly made her decide not to. Typical Patricia. Terrified of ruffling feathers and not scolding Penny when Penny knew she was being difficult. Instead, Patricia walked to the door and stopped to look back at her. "I really do hope you'll enjoy your stay here."

Penny shook her head. "I won't."

Without another word, Patricia left the room, closing the door behind her. Penny went to the bed, tossed her hat aside and fell onto the mattress. She'd been right—clouds. Her body, still so sore from being in that stagecoach, seemed to melt against the mattress. She'd never had a bed this big or this soft in all her life.

Tears filled her eyes as she stared up at the ceiling. Life was unfair and her life had showed her far more heartache than it had joy. Now, here she was, in yet another situation she hadn't asked for, expected to marry a man she did not even know simply so her parents could be rid of her.

Penny pulled one of the decorative throw pillows close and laid her head upon it. It didn't take long before her tired body and mind fell fast asleep. 

A/N: Hey y'all! LEave me some feedback! For those who read the original version of this story, let me know if i've done a better job at fleshing out Penny and making her seem a bit more human (even if she is a very lost and confused human).  For those who haven't read the older version, let me know what you think of Ace and Penny's first meeting?

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