Ace

  She nodded toward the covered plate she’d set on the workbench. “You’d better get to your breakfast before it gets cold.”

  He uncovered his plate to reveal poached eggs and crisp bacon. “You really are an angel, Allycat. This is my favorite.”

  “I remember.”

  As she started out she paused. “I already made your lunch. It’s in the refrigerator. And there’s a pot of stew you’ll have to heat up for supper, if I’m not back in time.”

  “Where’re you going?”

  “Ace offered to work on the truck engine.”

  “Now I know why I like that young man. Let’s see if he can’t keep it running for another couple of years.” He smiled. “Don’t hurry home.”

  “Why?” She paused. “Do you have a lady friend coming over?”

  “How I wish.” He shook his head. “It’s been too long. But I can still remember what it was like to be your age. Time just disappears when you’re with someone who’s good for you. And I think Ace is good for you, Allycat.”

  She waved and hurried to her truck. As she drove away, she struggled to put aside the guilt that was gnawing at her. She hadn’t exactly lied to her grandfather. But, knowing how he felt about the Wildes, she hadn’t been truthful either. Still, she consoled herself, there was no point in inviting trouble. Maybe he’d never have to find out just who Ace really was.

  Ally drove slowly up the long, winding road that led to the Wilde house. She’d never been here before. Had never even been close to the place that was the closest thing to a mansion in these parts.

  As the house came into view she let out a long, slow breath. It was even bigger than she’d imagined. Made of stone and gray-weathered wood, it soared to three stories. Despite the additions of wings added to either side, it remained a solid, sturdy structure that suited its surroundings.

  She followed the drive to the back of the house, where several other vehicles were parked. As she stepped from the truck she caught sight of an old woman waddling toward her from the barn. The woman was as wide as she was tall, wearing a soiled apron over a long cotton dress that fell to her ankles. Her face was as wrinkled as aged parchment, and her gray hair had been plaited into two fat braids that bounced on her ample bosom.

  “Good morning,” Ally called cheerfully. “You must be Agnes Tallfeather.”

  The woman barely paused. “You’d be…?”

  “Ally. Allison Brady. I’m here to see Ace.”

  “Huh. All the pretty ones are.” Agnes started past her.

  Ally decided to take that as a compliment. “Could you tell me where he is?”

  Agnes took the first step and paused to catch her breath. “I could.”

  Realizing that this was going to be a word game, Ally decided to play along. “Would you, then?”

  Agnes climbed the second step. “Barn.”

  “Thanks.” Ally started away. When she glanced back, the old woman had already let herself into the house, leaving the door to slam behind her.

  In the barn she followed the sound of voices.

  “…Think I’ll take some blood, and have Erin run a few tests.”

  Ally drew closer and caught sight of a tall, rugged rancher standing inside a stall, removing a syringe from his pocket. Just outside the stall were three other men, resting their arms on the wooden rail. The moment she spotted Ace, the others seemed to fade from view.

  At that same moment he turned and saw her. His smile did strange things to her heart.

  “Ally.” He was beside her in a couple of long-legged strides. “I was afraid you wouldn’t come.”

  “And miss the chance to have my truck engine tuned? Not to mention a free meal.” She managed a laugh, even though the touch of his hand on her arm had her nerves jumping. “A girl would have to be out of her mind.”

  She looked up to find the others staring.

  “Ally Brady, I’d like you to meet my brother Chance.”

  She found herself looking up into smiling dark eyes, so like Ace’s it was eerie.

  “The vampire over there drawing blood is my brother Hazard.”

  “Hi, Ally.” Hazard touched a hand to his wide-brimmed hat, then went back to his work.

  “And this is Cody Bridger.”

  Cody whipped his hat from his head in a courtly gesture. “Ma’am.”

  “Hello. What am I interrupting?”

  “Sick cow. That’s Hazard’s department. He’s the veterinarian. His wife, Erin, is a laboratory researcher and his fellow vampire,” Ace said with a laugh. “The two of them get their jollies looking at disgusting things under microscopes.”

  “Careful.” Hazard withdrew the syringe from the animal’s rump and pocketed the vial of blood. “We may put you under there next, bro.”

  Laughing, Ace turned to Cody. “I told Ally to drive her truck over here today. I was hoping, if you don’t have too many chores, you’d take at look at the engine.”

  “I’d be happy to.”

  “Great. How about now?”

  “Fine. I’ll just fetch my tools.” The old man started out of the barn.

  Ace caught Ally’s hand and the two of them followed.

  When they were out of earshot, Hazard turned to Chance. “Where do you suppose he found her?”

  Chance grinned. “You know our little brother. Always the lady-killer. But this one’s a knockout. I’ll lay odds he didn’t find her at a dive like Clancy’s.”

  Hazard shook his head. “I’m with you, bro. This one looks like she just dropped down from heaven. Our little brother’s taste has certainly improved with age.”

  Cody turned to Ace. The two of them had been working under the hood of Ally’s truck for more than an hour, while she stood to one side watching. “There’s a small wrench in the toolbox in the barn. Got a broken handle covered with tape. Think you can find it?”

  “Sure.” Ace squeezed Ally’s hand, then sauntered off.

  “Guess I’ll try this again.” Cody wiped his hands on a rag, then climbed to the cab of the dusty old truck and turned the key in the ignition. The engine caught and purred.

  “Ace told me you’re a miracle worker, Cody.” Ally stepped up beside him as he bounded out and ducked his head under the hood one last time.

  He turned his head sideways to glance at her. “This old truck’s in pretty good shape for its age. Must be what…seventy-eight or seventy-nine model?”

  “Gramps bought it in seventy-eight. I was five years old, and he said I was the first and only one allowed to ride. Even when I was covered in mud, he’d let me climb up on his lap and pretend to drive it.”

  “Sounds like you two had a pretty special relationship.”

  She nodded. “We did. Still do. You ought to meet my grandfather. He’s just the best.”

  Cody took his time fiddling with a hose, before straightening. “Met him a time or two.”

  “My grandfather? You know him?”

  He grinned. “Don’t know him, exactly. Just enough to be thrown off his property.”

  “Why?”

  “’Cause I worked for the Wildes.” He looked up, his eyes pinning her. “Surprised he’d let you drive over here.”

  He saw the flush on her cheeks. “Sorry, ma’am. I see he doesn’t know.”

  She shook her head. “Why does he…hate the Wildes, Cody?”

  “Don’t know. I’m not sure he does either. Wes Wilde was young and brash.” Cody grinned. “Ace reminds me a lot of his father.” He took his time cleaning the grease from his hands. “Wes wanted to buy Harlan’s land. Nothing personal. Just figured he’d own everything between here and the Montana border. Made him a fair enough offer. Harlan refused. Things were said. Feathers ruffled. And two hardheaded men decided never to speak to each other again. It happens that way. And sometimes, unless somebody comes along to question why, it just goes on forever.”

  “I…” She stared down at the ground. “I don’t want to hurt him.”

  The old man shrugged. “Truth hurts
sometimes. But not telling it can hurt more.” He watched her eyes. “You could always just stop seeing Ace. That’d solve everybody’s problem.”

  When she didn’t say anything he sighed and muttered, “I think the world of that boy. Wouldn’t want to see him conned twice.”

  “What I did at Clancy’s…” She bit her lip. “I’m not proud of it. But I had my reasons.”

  “Like I said. You could always save everybody’s hide if you’d just stop seeing him.”

  “I wish I could.” She shook her head. “I think it’s too late for that. For both of us.”

  He watched her a moment longer, and she thought she saw a flicker of humor behind those eyes. Humor or satisfaction. Then he closed the hood and turned off the engine before touching a hand to the brim of his hat. “Better see to my other chores now, ma’am.”

  Ace walked up looking proud of himself. “I had to go through every tool in that box, but I found that wrench you wanted, Cody.”

  The old man took it from him and grinned. “Found out I didn’t need it after all.” He walked away, leaving Ace to stare after him with a look of puzzlement.

  Behind him, Ally watched in stunned silence. It would seem that that old cowboy was quite a con artist himself. He’d just forced her to admit something she hadn’t even wanted to admit to herself yet. That she was, against all rhyme or reason, falling helplessly in love with Ace Wilde.

  “Hey, Maggie.” Ace led Ally into the kitchen, where his sister-in-law was lifting a tray of steaming biscuits from the oven. “I’d like you to meet Ally Brady.”

  “Hi, Ally. Nice to meet you.” Maggie set the tray on a trivet, then removed her oven mitt to shake hands.

  Ace broke off a piece of biscuit and popped it into his mouth. “I was hoping to invite Ally to stay for supper.”

  “Sure. That’d be fine.” Maggie picked up a wooden spoon and rapped his knuckles when he went after seconds. “I’m fixing a tenderloin, with a special marinade. And an asparagus salad with artichokes and capers.”

  Ace kissed her cheek. “I love it when you talk like that.”

  She grinned. “Get out of here. I know you’re just softening me up so you can have another biscuit.”

  “Did it work?”

  She laughed out loud. “Go ahead. Take one. And then get.”

  Ace snatched up the biscuit and caught Ally’s hand. “Come on. I’ll give you the grand tour.”

  In the great room she craned her neck to stare at the massive fireplace that dominated the middle of the room. Around all four sides were sofas drawn up for warmth and conversation.

  “It’s so big. I think you could put fifty people in here, and not even be crowded.”

  “Over a hundred,” Ace said matter-of-factly. “Both my brothers got married here, and the whole town of Prosperous couldn’t fill it.” He caught her hand. “Come on. I’ll show you Erin’s lab.”

  They walked down a hallway and Ace paused to knock on a door.

  A moment later it was opened by a slender young woman who peered from behind round glasses.

  “Hey, Erin. I’d like you to meet Ally Brady.”

  Erin blinked at the beautiful redhead, then offered her hand. “Hi, Ally. Would you like to come inside?”

  “Only for a minute,” Ally said hesitantly. “I know you must be busy. Ace said you do research.”

  “For the university. Right now I’m just running a few tests on some blood samples my husband gave me.”

  She stepped aside and allowed Ally and Ace to precede her into the room. Hazard was seated on a stool, peering through a microscope. He looked up and smiled.

  Ally stared around in openmouthed surprise at the well-equipped laboratory. “This looks like something you’d find in a government research facility.”

  “That’s what I thought the first time I saw it.” Erin laughed. “The Wildes just like to do everything on a grand scale.”

  “That’s why I married you.” Hazard walked up and dropped an arm around his wife’s shoulders, pressing a kiss to her temple. “You were the grandest female I’d ever met.”

  “Oh, you.” Erin blushed, and Ally couldn’t help laughing.

  “Don’t mind them. They’re newlyweds. Practically still on their honeymoon. And pretty sickening to have to be around.” Ace caught her hand. “Come on. I’ve saved the best for last.”

  “What’s that?” she asked.

  He arched a villainous brow. “My room.”

  “Will I see you later?” Erin called to her retreating back.

  “Don’t worry,” Ace answered for her. “I’m forcing her to stay for some of Maggie’s horrible cooking.”

  “Oh, this is just amazing.” Ally took a final bite of tenderloin that melted in her mouth. She had expected to be overwhelmed by Ace’s family. Instead she found them to be as easy and relaxed with her as though they’d known her all their lives. She’d toured the house, the barns and the land. Everywhere she went, the people were open and friendly. She’d expected the Wilde operations to be big and impersonal. Instead, they’d proven to be just one big family. “I don’t believe I’ve ever tasted a meal this fine.”

  “Thank you.” Maggie couldn’t hide her pleasure at discovering a new admirer. “I’m afraid this whole motley crew is beginning to take me for granted.”

  “Never.” Chance caught his wife’s hand and brought it to his lips. “In fact, I’ve been thinking that it’s almost time for another trip to New York, just so you can eat in more fancy restaurants and collect even more fancy recipes. And I can have you all to myself.”

  “Oh, Chance.” She turned to him with shining eyes. “Could we?”

  “Absolutely. How about next week?”

  She glanced at the others. “See why I love him so?”

  Erin couldn’t help laughing. “I love Hazard every bit as much as you love Chance. But the thought of flying up to New York every couple of weeks just doesn’t appeal to me in the least.”

  “That’s because Hazard has you brainwashed into believing that this whole place will fall apart if he leaves it for even one day.”

  Ace lifted his glass of wine in a salute. “A smart man, my brother.”

  Maggie retrieved a tray of fruit tarts, topped with dollops of whipped cream. As they were being passed around the table, she filled their cups with fresh-ground coffee that smelled and tasted like heaven.

  “I understand Ace drove you all over the place today, showing you the herds, the range shacks, the wranglers.” Erin dipped a fork into her dessert. “What do you think of the Double W, Ally?”

  “Amazing. It’s so big. I had no idea of the size before today. How did you ever acquire so much land?”

  “You don’t know the story?” Ace turned to her in surprise.

  She shook her head.

  He looked across the table. “We’ve told Ally so many stories today, her head is probably spinning. Why don’t you tell her this one, Cody?”

  The old cowboy smiled, relishing the idea of repeating the story that had gradually become a legend. “It was back in the early sixties. Nineteen sixty-two. Wes Wilde and his buddy, Mason Gabriel, were a couple of young hustlers working in Vegas. They pooled their money and took on an oil baron, a tobacco heir and a shipping tycoon in a seventy-two-hour poker marathon in Monte Carlo, and wound up with the deed to one hundred fifty thousand acres of prime Wyoming land.” He sipped his coffee, clearly enjoying the telling of the tale. “Wes and Mason had never been to Wyoming, so they had no idea just what they’d won. But the minute Wes saw this place, he fell in love. He knew this was where he wanted to be for the rest of his life. Mason, on the other hand, was a city boy, who wanted to sell the land and get back to the business of gambling. Wes tried to talk him into staying, and working the land with him. But Mason refused, so Wes was forced to mortgage everything to buy him out. I heard that within an hour of receiving his money, Mason was on the first plane back to Vegas, where he lived like a big spender.” He shook his head. “Poor Wes beg
ged, borrowed and worked himself to death. When he started he didn’t know the first thing about ranching. But he learned. And in the end, he was able to pay off the mortgage and have this grand legacy to leave to his sons.”

  Ally was clearly moved by the story. She touched a hand to Ace’s sleeve. “I hope your dad lived long enough to see your success.”

  He shook his head. “He died too soon. But I like to think he’s watching us.”

  “You bet he is, son.” Cody drained his cup and shoved away from the table. “Thanks, Maggie. That was a fine dinner, as always. But I got an important card game waiting for me in the bunkhouse.” He turned to Ally with a smile. “Good night, ma’am. I hope I’ll see you again.”

  “Good night, Cody. And thanks again. For fixing my truck. And…everything.”

  “Yes’m.” He crossed the room and plucked his hat from a peg, then stepped out into the night.

  “So.” Chance leaned back. “Ally, where did you and Ace meet?”

  It was the question she’d been dreading all day. She looked at Ace, and realized he wasn’t going to help her out. “We met at Clancy’s.”

  Hazard nearly choked on his coffee. He exchanged a glance with his older brother. “At Clancy’s?”

  “Yeah. I…sort of beat him at a game of eight ball.”

  “You beat Ace?” Chance looked astounded. Then, as the truth dawned, he threw back his head and roared. “You’re the one? The one who hustled him out of a thousand dollars?”

  Ally’s cheeks were as red as her hair.

  “Oh, man, this is just too good.” Chance and Hazard howled with laughter. “You should have seen his face the next morning. He was so hot, I’m surprised there weren’t rockets going off all over Wyoming.”

  “Knock it off, Chance.” Ace’s eyes darkened with anger.

  “Do you realize you were the first one who’s ever beat him at his own game?”

  “I said cut it out.” Ace leaned over the table and punched his brother’s arm.

  “No way. I bet you never told her just how insulted you were. Not because you lost. But because you fell for her con.”

  “I said that’s enough.” Ace rounded the table and hauled Chance to his feet by the front of his shirt. But before Ace could land his punch, Chance ducked and Ace’s fist smashed into Hazard’s shoulder.