Chapter Nineteen

Ace was pissed. No, that wasn't quite right. Ace was livid. Incensed. Plumb goddamn enraged. When he walked in that bank and saw the skinny little weasel, he was going to wring his neck like a turkey at Thanksgiving. Or maybe he'd chop his head clean off. Would Gavin run around for several minutes like a chicken? Or would he just fall straight down? Ace could call it an experiment.

"Ace?" Penny spoke up as the wagon entered town. "You cannot hurt or kill Gavin. That won't help this situation. I need that money to start my business. It's my dream..."

Ace grumbled under his breath even as he nodded. "You'll have your dream, Penny. I can promise you that." Penny was his fiancée. She was his future. It was his duty to make sure she was happy for the rest of his days. By god, she'd have her damn sewing shop. Gavin was not going to take that from her.

Ace pulled up in front of H&F Bank and Loan. He hopped off the wagon and walked to Penny's side, loving the feel of his hands on her tiny hips as he helped her down. He was aware of the eyes on them as Ace wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her into him.

Let them stare. Ace was proud as hell to be with Penny. She was one hell of a woman and he didn't give a damn what anyone else thought of him settling down.

"Ace, it would be better if you waited out here for me."

"Not happening."

Her shoulders squared and that nose went up. "I am a grown woman, Montgomery, and don't need a keeper. I will speak with Mr. Hendershot and get all this straightened out."

Damn her. "Penny, I'm coming with you. Gavin put a bruise on your skin, insulted you, and tried to feed you to coyotes. If you think for one minute, I'm letting you go get locked in an office with him, you're foolish."

Her green/grey eyes flashed. "You are not my boss simply because I agreed to be your wife."

Ace chuckled. "I know I'm not your damn boss. With your stubbornness that job would be exhausting and I wouldn't want to have it." Penny chose not to respond. Ace sighed. "But I am your protector, Princess. And I won't let you go see him alone, not when I have reason to believe the weasel will hurt you."

Resignation filled her eyes. Ace was satisfied with it. She was clearly done arguing over his company. "Can I at least make a request?"

"You can make it," Ace agreed. "Not promisin' I'll grant it though."

Her gaze went skyward. "Of course you're not. "

Ace stooped low and kissed her softly, unable to stop himself. Her face reddened as she glanced up and down the street to see who had seen. Ace raised a brow. "What's your request?"

"I would ask that you simply remain quiet and let me do the talking."

Ace couldn't stop himself from laughing. "Are you afraid I'll hurt his feelings?"

"I know you'll hurt his feelings and more! You've made that much clear."

"Okay, Princess Penny. I will just stand around looking pretty. But, if he makes one wrong move toward you, I'll wring his neck."

Penny tapped her chin before nodding. "I suppose that will have to do."

"Good." Ace gestured toward the door. "Now that that's settled, can we go on in?"

Ace accompanied Penny into the bank, it was a place ridiculous in its fanciness considering the rest of the town was so simple. He recognized the teller, Horace Holbrook, who was busy-body Molly Holbrook's husband. He wondered for a moment if Molly had seen him kiss Penny in town a moment ago and how long it would take the news to get back to his mother.

"Mr. Anderson!" Horace greeted brightly. "How can we help you today?"

Ace shook his head. "Not me. Her."

Penny was quick to take over. "I was here a few days ago, sir. My name is Penny Burkart and I wish to have a meeting with Gavin Hendershot."

Horace nodded. "Go have a seat over by the window and I'll tell him you're here... Did you have an appointment?"

"No, sir," Penny admitted. "But I daresay he'll be expecting my presence."

Ace was chuckling as they walked to the bench by the window. "You daresay?"

"Hush Ace. You're supposed to be sitting quietly and looking pretty. I daresay that alone will be hard enough for you to do."

Ace nudged her shoulder with his. "You know I'm pretty."

Penny simply rolled her eyes and fidgeting with the purse in her hand. Ace lifted the brim of her hat, catching her gaze. "Don't be nervous, Princess. Things'll all work out."

"I hope so..."

Ace could tell that Penny was not in the mood for conversation so he covered her hand with his to still her fidgeting and watched passerby's out the window.

It only took several moments for Horace to return. "I'm sorry, Miss Burkart, but Mr. Hendershot said he is not meeting with anyone today. He suggests you travel out of county for your banking needs."

"Why that no good sack of shit...." Ace growled, shoving himself to his feet. As he strode down a hall and toward the office he knew belonged to Gavin, Ace was barely aware of Penny and Horace scurrying after him.

"Ace, you promised!" Penny hissed.

"Mr. Anderson, you can't be back here without permission." Horace added.

Ace didn't stop. He hadn't promised Penny anything—he'd simply said he'd try to be good. Gavin had done ruined that. And as far as Horace went, Ace did have permission—he'd granted it to himself.

Stopping at the closed door, Ace knocked loudly, the sound echoing throughout the bank. "You better be letting us in, Gavin, ya little weasel. Miss Burkart has business to discuss and you're gonna get to discussin' it."

"I... I'm b..busy today, Mr. Anderson. Penny will have to see someone else for her needs."

Ace sneered. "Oh, she has someone else to see to her needs just fine." He assured the man just as Penny and Horace caught up with him. "It's banking business she has to talk with you about and nothing else. This is a bank, ain't it? Y'all gotta earn money off interest from givin' loans? That's perfect cuz this here woman wants a loan. A loan that you promised her. I know that you, bein' a professional and all, wouldn't let personal feelings interfere."

"Ace!" Penny whispered. "You have to stop."

Ace shook his head and took her hand in his. "He's gonna open the door," he assured her. "Watch."

It was silent for a long moment but then the lock disengaged, and the door swung open. Gavin stood there on shaking legs, his face was bleached of color and his icy blue eyes were wide. "Come on in."

"Gavin, you're looking well," Ace greeted, earning himself an elbow to the rib from Penny. Abusive hellcat.

Gavin closed the door once they were in the office. He went to his desk, walking stiff-legged. Ace was certain the man didn't mean to spill a bit of the scotch he poured himself as he motioned for them to take a seat.

Penny took a seat but Ace chose to stand behind her with his arms crossed over his chest. Gavin cleared his throat. "How can I help you today, Miss Burkart?"

Ace snorted but didn't say anything. He had told Penny he'd let her do the talking. Now that he'd gotten her into the meeting with Gavin, Ace would do his best to remain as silent as possible.

He enjoyed watching the way Penny stared Gavin down. She sat in that chair with such confidence and her gaze never wavered. "I think you know exactly why I am here, Mr. Hendershot. I received your message today and have come in here to discuss it."

Gavin took a quick sip of his scotch, his eyes darting between Penny and Ace. "I didn't realize my message could possibly leave room for doubt about what it meant. After more careful consideration, H&F Bank and Loan has decided that the loan discussed with you was far too high risk for us to give."

Ace wanted to speak but he bit his tongue. He was letting Penny do the talking—for now. She squared up her shoulders. "It is my understanding that any debate over the loan had already been done. We shook hands and you gave me your word that the loan was happening. You even stated you'd be sending papers for me to sign. Most men and women I know find a handshake to be sacred. Are you saying the H&F does not hold those beliefs as well?"

Gavin's face paled even more—if that was possible. He took another sip of scotch. "I am not the only member of the board for this establishment. Decisions are not always mine alone to make."

"That is not the impression you gave me just days ago when you said I was now the proud owner of a five-hundred dollar loan and shook my hand, Mr. Hendershot."

Ace knew that Gavin did not know Penny well enough to hear the sadness in her voice, but Ace did, and it tore at his heart and riled his temper. Still he chose silence.

Gavin sat back in his chair and folded his hands on his desk. "I do not know what else to tell you, Ms. Burkart."

"The truth, Mr. Hendershot. I would like you to tell me the truth. Tell me that it is you that has decided to rescind my loan because of personal feelings you have toward me, and not because you feel my business would be too high risk."

This caused Gavin to become flustered. He stuttered. He stammered. Her gripped his cup of scotch and shot the rest down before slamming it back on the desk. "I will not have such an uneducated, unladylike, vulgar, and rude woman coming into my office with the town's brawling drunkard and accusing me of such things!"

Ace felt his anger pique. He gathered himself up, fully prepared to attack, but Penny stood and her hand was on his arm. "Mr. Hendershot, you're correct. I am uneducated. My family was dirt floor poor and I never received a proper education. But I have studied on my own and spent hours upon hours combing over libraries and learning what I could. You, however, have no doubt had one of the best educations money can buy and you have just made it clear that none of that money or education could teach your business sense, manners, or customer service."

Gavin jumped to his feet as well, his hands in tight fists at his side. "I will not be spoken to that way in my place of work!"

"Raising voices is hardly appropriate," Penny tsked as if she were a school teacher, scolded a group of rowdy students. "I came to discuss business and the topic of my loan. We have already established that personal reasons led to your rescinding the offer and I would like to have it reinstated since those grounds are unethical and bad business."

Gavin snorted, seeming less and less like a professional banker every moment. "I don't think so. Sometimes personal reasons are very good business. I have seen that you are not nearly mature enough, nor do you made wise enough decisions, to run this business you've been talking about."

Ace had enough. "I can promise you right now, banker man, that the Princess will run her business just fine and succeed like hell at it."

Penny smiled up at him. "Thank you, Ace."

He simply smiled back. "Of course. And I mean it."

She nodded. "I know you do."

Returning his attention to Gavin, Ace could see they'd struck a nerve by talking with each other. It was clear Penny was being punished because she had rejected Gavin and accepted him.

"I highly doubt he means it, Penny. I also highly doubt you'll run any business appropriately. You lack the breeding to be a businesswoman."

Ace nearly launched across the desk right then but Penny stepped in front of him, facing Gavin. "Please? Gavin, you know what this business means to me."

"Your dream." He smiled, the expression smug. "Yes, I remember."

Ace saw Penny's shoulder sag. It was as if the wind had just gone completely out of her sails. "Please?" she whispered, her voice just as defeated as the rest of her. "I am sorry for any hurt I caused you. I am sorry if you felt I misled you. I am sorry for words I said in anger. Please, don't take this away from me."

The money is mine to give or not give," Gavin stated, clearly happy with his position of power. "And I'm not giving it."

"Please..."

"Stop begging that bastard," Ace snapped, having heard more than enough.

She turned to him with a glare. "Ace, I need the loan to have my business."

Ace shook his head and took her hands in his. "No, you don't. I'm not a poor man, Penny. A fifth of that ranch belongs to me. I can show you the deed if you want."

"I don't want to owe my dream to anyone else," Penny admitted.

Ace smiled down at her. The woman truly was amazing. And amazingly stubborn. "You won't owe me nothin', Princess. I'm pretty damn good at building things, as you've seen, and you'll be right there with me working side by side to get it built. And then I'll be side by side with you getting' it runnin'. Let me help you with your dream. I haven't done much good in my life, hell, I've wasted most of it. Let me do this for the woman who is gonna be my wife."

Penny simply stared up at him with a mixture of awe and tears in her green/grey eyes. He smoothed a loose hair from her face before wiping at her tears with his thumbs. "Can we build your dream together, Penny?"

She leaned into his touch. "Ace Anderson, you are so different than I thought you were."

He grinned. "Considering I know what you thought of me before, I'd say that's a good thing."

Penny nodded. "I would love to build my dream with you."

Leaning down, Ace kissed her softly. A throat clearing reminded him that they weren't alone in the room. Hell, he'd forgotten all about the little weasel.

"Did you say wife?" Gavin demanded, his tone clipped.

Penny seemed almost sheepish as she turned around. "Yes, Ace has asked me to marry him and I agreed."

Gavin walked around the desk, leaning against the front and crossing his arms over his chest. "You know I thought about seeking restitution for the ring you stole from me. It was quite an expensive ring. You should be taught responsibility for your actions. Perhaps it could even teach you a lesson about being a lying, thieving, whore of a woman."

Proving that his woman knew him well, Penny stepped out of the way, knowing what was coming. Ace took two long strides toward a wide-eyed Gavin, balled up his fist, swung and caught the loud-mouthed donkey's ass square in the jaw. Gavin crumbled like an empty flour sack upon the floor.

Penny remained silent as Ace grabbed the decanter of scotch, took a small swig and then poured the rest over Gavin's face, bringing the man sputtering back to life. Ace tossed the decanter aside before grabbing Gavin by the collar and hauling the man to his feet, then off his feet and holding him dangling in the air so they could be eye to eye.

"You worthless sack of dog shit, I'll teach you about actions and consequences. The action is you open your mouth about and spout lies about my woman and the consequence is I bust your damn teeth."

Gavin offered a bloody sneer. "I'll see the law knows about this."

Ace shrugged. "Go ahead. Won't be the first night I've spent there and probably won't be the last. I got a bad temper, you see, and everyone know it. Won't hurt my reputation, so I ain't got nothing to lose by knocking your head off. You, on the other hand, are a respected banker..." Ace gagged. "You've got a good reputation in this town and you need to keep it. What would daddy say if everyone found out what a worthless son he has? About your gambling, your debts, and your fondness for being rough with whores?"

Gavin's eyes widened. "How...? How did you know?"

Ace chuckled. His arm was getting tired, so he switched arms, keeping Gavin off his feet. He wanted the man to feel powerless as long as possible. "I know a lot, banker man. But I ain't through yet. What if everyone found out that you tried to marry a woman to help pay off those debts? What if they knew you tried to throw that woman off a rock to hungry coyotes? What if they knew the horrible things you said about that woman? What if they were to see the bruise you put on her arm in your temper? What would happen then?"

Gavin didn't seem to be in any hurry to answer. Ace tossed him back onto the floor and the man stayed there, curled up in the fetal position. "You'll leave Penny alone from now on. And if I hear you've said a single bad word about her to anyone, I'll hit you harder."

Ace turned his back on Gavin to see Penny standing looking quite shocked. He wondered if she was going to get angry at him again over the banker. He hoped not. "Ace, you shouldn't have done that."

"Are you saying it wasn't at least a little satisfying to watch him crumple to the floor that way?"

The tiny smile that she tried hard to hide told Ace everything he needed to know. He grinned as he slid his arm around her waist and led her from the office. "Let's go check on Jeremiah and then get back home. We have a sewing shop to start designin'." 

A/N: I hope y'all are enjoying the story! A huge thank-you to everyone who has been commenting and leaving me feedback! As you know, I love feedback. It's my crack! Keep it coming! 

Love y'all

Nicole