Ace stormed over to the back door and turned the lock. Then, with everyone watching, he dropped the key in his pocket and leaned against the door. “Okay, Red. Here’s the deal. I have no intention of settling for an occasional visit. A few laughs. A few tumbles. You’re not leaving the Double W until you agree to marry me. It’s marriage or nothing.”
Like spectators at a tennis match, everyone at the table turned from Ace to Ally.
She stood across the room, her hands on her hips, staring at him as if she couldn’t believe what she’d just heard.
“That’s my only choice? Marriage or nothing?”
Ace took a deep breath, knowing he’d just backed himself into a corner. If she left him now, his future would be ashes. And his heart would be shattered beyond repair. “That’s right.”
She walked slowly toward him, her eyes on his. When she was close enough to touch him, she reached out a hand to his chest. “Your pulse is a little over-active.”
“So’s my imagination. What’s your answer?”
She smiled, and he thought it was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. Batting her lashes, she looked up at him and said, “I’m just not strong enough to fight you, Ace. You know I couldn’t bear to never see you again. So, since you leave me no other choice, I guess I’ll marry you.”
He gathered her close and pressed his lips to her temple. “I’m sorry about the strong-arm tactics, Red. But I was desperate. My life wouldn’t be worth living without you. And I promise you, you’ll never be sorry. I’ll spend the rest of my life making you glad you married me.”
She sighed and closed her arms around his waist, pressing her lips to his throat. Feeling extremely smug, he glanced over her head, and caught sight of the others. They were all smiling. And his two brothers were exchanging money.
Then he saw Cody grinning at him like a fool and the realization of what had just happened hit him with all the force of a thunderbolt. The man who had once boasted that no female would ever get him to propose had just made a promise of marriage.
He caught Ally by the shoulders and held her a little away. “Have I just been…hustled again?”
Her eyes widened. “You think the great pool hustler Ace Wilde has just been conned by little old me a second time?”
For the space of a full minute he merely stared at her. Then he threw back his head and roared, and the others joined in, until they were weak with laughter.
Harlan shook his head. “You have to admit, son. My Allycat may just be the best con artist in the world.”
“It takes one to know one.” Ace pressed his forehead to hers. “Do you realize, Red, if we ever have kids, they’ll probably be the most successful little hustlers in the world?”
“I wouldn’t be at all surprised.” She brushed her lips over his and felt the quick rush of heat. Then she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Oh, Ace. I was so afraid you’d let me go without a fight.”
“Not on your life, Red. You’re too dangerous to have anywhere but right here beside me.” He started to kiss her, and noticed out of the corner of his eye that Agnes was wiping away a tear and the others were watching with avid interest.
He lifted her in his arms and strode across the room. “Now if the rest of you don’t mind, Ally and I have a few things to say to each other in private.”
As the door closed behind them, Chance turned to Hazard. “Ten dollars says they don’t come out for at least an hour.”
Hazard shook his head. “I’m putting my money on noon.”
They turned to Cody, who shook his head. “I’m out of this one. I think I’ll drive Harlan over to his property. Maybe the two lovebirds will get there in time for dinner. If not, I’ll bring him back here.”
The two old men headed toward the door. Despite the fact that one had the lanky stride of a seasoned cowboy, and the other glided in a scooter, they wore identical smiles.
Harlan could be heard boasting, “That girl may be the best ever. Did I mention that I taught her everything she knows?”
Alone in their room, Ace drew Ally into the circle of his arms and kissed her until they were both breathless. Then, as he reached for the buttons of her blouse, he kept his eyes steady on hers.
The voices and laughter in the other room had faded away. Now they were all alone. There was no need to speak. The love they felt was there in their eyes. In the gentleness of their touch. In the catch of their breath as they came together, as lovers have, from the beginning of time.
Epilogue
“Well, well, little bro. Don’t you look pretty.” Chance strolled into the library carrying a handful of crystal tumblers.
“I look like a damned penguin. But I promised Ally, so I’ll see this thing through.”
“You got that right.” Hazard stood behind him, straightening his tie. “A deal is a deal.”
Cody ambled in and paused in the doorway.
“What’re you looking at?” Ace snarled.
“The three of you. This may be the last time I’ll ever see you looking like headwaiters. Figured I’d better look while I can.”
Ace grinned at his brothers. “He’s right. We do look like waiters. Want to pass around trays of champagne to the crowd out there?”
Hazard glanced out the window. “You weren’t exaggerating when you promised to invite all of Prosper ous and the state of Wyoming. I think they all showed up.”
Chance nodded. “Even the governor. But he’s up for reelection. Probably figures he’ll meet more people here than he will anyplace else.”
“I’m glad you talked Ally into having a barbecue supper after the wedding.” Chance took an aged bottle of whiskey from a cabinet and began filling four tumblers. “Maggie’s in her glory out there. She’s had the beef slow-roasting in the pits all night. And she’s been up since dawn, instructing all those girls from town how to serve those fancy foods she’s been dreaming up.”
He began passing out the tumblers. “I’d like to make the first toast.” He lifted his glass. “Here’s to Dad.”
They drank in silence.
“And here’s to you, baby brother.” Chance grinned. “You gave me a lot of bad moments when you were growing up, but you’ve turned out just fine. I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks, bro. I’m proud of all three of us.”
They tossed back a second drink.
Hazard held up his glass. “Here’s to your bride. I think you’ve met your match with Ally. She’s going to make you one damned fine wife.”
Ace grinned as they drank again.
Cody lifted his glass and cleared his throat. “Ace. All I can say is, your daddy saved the best for last.”
Ace looked at the old cowboy, then drained his glass, wondering if the path of fire down his throat was from the whiskey or the lump he’d been forced to swallow.
He was relieved when a knock on the door broke the silence. Cody opened it to admit Maggie and Erin. Both women were beaming with excitement.
Ace turned to Chance. “When are you and Maggie moving?”
“Couple of weeks.” Chance draped an arm around his wife’s shoulders. “The house is almost ready.”
“And it’s a good thing,” Maggie said with a smile. “We’re soon going to be needing more room.”
Before Ace could ask why, he saw Chance touch a hand to his wife’s middle. He gaped. “A…baby?”
“That’s right.” Maggie was glowing.
“When?”
“By spring.”
Ace kissed her cheek and pumped his brother’s hand.
When everyone had offered their congratulations, Hazard looked at Ace. “I wish you and Ally would consider staying on at the Double W.”
“Can’t do it.” Ace shook his head. “Ally needs to be close to her grandfather. They’ve been apart too long. Besides, it’s much closer to the mine. It’ll make my commute a lot easier.”
Hazard gave a wry smile. “This old house is sure going to seem empty when you’re all gone. Erin and I will
be rattling around in here feeling lost.”
Erin gave him a shy smile. “Then I think it’s time we thought about filling this place with babies.”
“You mean it?” Hazard was grinning from ear to ear.
“Why not?” She shrugged. “Why should Chance and Maggie have all the fun? Besides, wouldn’t Agnes and Cody enjoy another generation of Wildes?”
“Oh, Erin.” He kissed her, then looked at the others. “See why I love her?”
“Yeah.” Ace set his tumbler aside and started toward the door.
“Were are you going?” Hazard called.
“All this talk about babies has me getting ideas. I want to see my bride-to-be. Right now.”
Ace made his way along the hallway to the guest suite. The door was open. Inside, Harlan was seated in his scooter, facing Ally, whose back was to the door.
From his vantage point, Ace could see yards of white silk and lace, and masses of red hair that begged for his touch. For a moment he held back, enjoying the view. Then he could wait no longer. He stepped inside and crossed to her side.
“Ace.” Her smile was radiant. “It’s traditional for the groom to wait until the ceremony to see the bride.”
“Red, there’s nothing traditional about us.” He brushed a kiss over her cheek. “Why start now?”
She laughed and turned to Harlan. “Are you sure you want me to go through with this, Gramps?”
“Absolutely.” The old man looked as happy as his granddaughter. “I knew the first time I met him, he was the one for you.”
“Yeah. Right. Until you found out my name,” Ace said with a laugh.
“Well, that was a shock. But I’m getting over it.”
“You’d better. We’re going to be living awfully close to one another.”
“I’ve been thinking about that.” Harlan cleared his throat. “I’m pleased and proud that you two want to live on my little ranch, but after being here, with all this room, I’m worried that you’ll start to feel confined.”
“Harlan, if I had to live in one room, I’d be fine, as long as your granddaughter was in there with me.”
The old man laughed. “Seeing the way you two look at each other, I’m inclined to believe you. But I want you to know that I intend to build my own workroom, with its own apartment. For whatever years I have left, I want to live my own life, doing exactly as I please.”
“That’s all anybody wants.” Ace reached into his pocket and handed Harlan a vial. “I brought you a gift.”
Harlan studied it with a puzzled frown. “Looks like dirt.”
“It is. From your ranch. I had some soil borings done.”
Harlan and Ally were both staring at him.
“You’re a rich man, Harlan. Your ranch is sitting over one of the richest deposits of uranium in the state. Maybe in the country.”
Harlan’s mouth opened, then closed. He couldn’t seem to find his voice.
“From what I can see, Harlan, your fifty acres of hardscrabble land are as valuable as our one hundred fifty thousand acres here at the Double W. So you can build any kind of fancy workroom you please. You can hire assistants, if you want.”
“Why would I need assistants?”
Ace grinned. “Oh. Did I forget to mention? I bought you a computer, so you can start a website on the Internet. Within a few weeks you’ll probably be getting orders for your saddles from people all over the world. You may have fallen off the face of the earth for a while, but you’re back now. And ready to chase that old dream.”
“Oh, Gramps. Isn’t this wonderful?” Ally fell into her grandfather’s arms, and the two of them hugged each other fiercely.
When she stepped back, Harlan offered his handshake to Ace. “I don’t know what to say. Or how to thank you.”
“Then don’t.” Ace gave him that famous Wilde grin. “I really did it so I’d be marrying an heiress.”
At a knock on the door, they looked up to see Erin, beckoning. “Reverend Young is here. And the service is about to begin.”
Harlan blew his granddaughter a kiss, then touched the button of his scooter and rolled from the room.
As Ally turned to follow him, Ace drew her back. “Wait a minute.”
“Getting cold feet, cowboy?”
He laughed. “Not a chance. I had to fight too hard to get you to marry me.”
“You forget. I was the one who hustled you.”
“Were you?”
She turned and caught sight of that quick, dangerous grin. Her eyes narrowed. “Are you telling me you were pulling a con of your own?”
He drew her close and kissed the tip of her nose. “You’ll never know, will you?”
“Oh, Ace.” She managed a shaky laugh. “I never had a chance, did I?”
“No more than I did.” He covered her mouth with his and allowed himself several long moments of pleasure.
They could hear the music starting in the other room, and the sound of voices growing hushed and expectant.
“I guess this is it, Red.” He caught her hand. “I just thought I’d better warn you. Reverend Young is long-winded. And after his sermon, I’ve asked Agnes to say a few words.”
“Agnes?”
He nodded. “She’s losing her last boy, you know. She deserves to be part of this.” He studied her eyes. “Do you mind?”
“Mind? Oh, Ace.” She stood on tiptoe to brush her lips over his. “I think it’s sweet. I guess I should have expected something like this from you.”
“What does that mean?”
“You always do the unexpected.”
He gave her a heart-stopping grin. “That’s to keep you on your toes, Red.”
With their fingers linked they made their way to the great room, crowded with guests. In front of a window banked with masses of flowers, Maggie and Chance stood to one side, with Erin and Hazard on the other. Between them stood the reverend, looking befuddled, and behind him Agnes Tallfeather, wearing a traditional Native American dress.
Ace and Ally had agreed that their wedding would be highly personalized. And so they walked in together, hands joined. The crowd held its breath at the handsome man and his stunning bride.
As they passed Harlan, they saw Thelma Banks seated beside him. The two were holding hands and looking relaxed and happy. Buster and Billy, wearing festive white collars entwined with flowers, sat on either side of them. When the two dogs caught sight of the bride and groom they started a chorus of happy barking that had everyone laughing.
Across the aisle, Cody sat beaming like a proud father.
As expected, Reverend Young gave one of his rambling sermons on the love of a man and woman. Through it all, Ace and Ally merely looked into each other’s eyes and smiled. But when it came time to speak their vows, and exchange rings, their looks grew more serious. They forgot about everything except the moment.
And then, as they were pronounced husband and wife, Agnes walked forward.
In a soft voice that had everyone straining to hear she said, “Many years ago these words were spoken when I wed my husband, Louis. I share them with you, Ace, and you, Allison, because you are like my own.” She placed her hands on their heads and said, “Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter to the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other. Now there is no loneliness, for each of you will be companion to the other.” Her lips quivered as her hands lingered a moment on the head of this untamed, impulsive young man and his equally daring bride. “You are two persons, but now there is but one life between you. May your days be good and long upon this earth.”
When she was finished, Ace rewarded her with a fierce bear hug.
“Oh, Agnes. Thank you.” As Ally brushed a kiss over the old woman’s cheek, she thought of all the years she had ever despaired of coming back to Wyoming. Of ever being reunited with her beloved grandfather. And now she would have it all. The chance to be with Gramps in his old age. The love of the man who owned her heart completely.
This family, which made her feel so welcome, so complete. And best of all, this man. In Ace’s arms, she truly had come home.
“Come here, Red.” Ace drew her close, and in front of the assembled, kissed her soundly. Then, to much applause, he kissed her again until they were both laughing and breathless.
As the crowd surged forward to offer their congratulations, Ace extended his hand to his brothers. At the press of their hands over his, he felt a rush of gratitude to their father.
To others, Wes Wilde may have been a wild and reckless gambler who had risked all for a piece of wilderness which his sons had built into an empire. But his greatest legacy was right here in this room. Three sons who had stayed together despite enormous obstacles. Brothers who had chosen a path of honor, loyalty and love. And now this legacy of love would be passed on to a new generation. This, he suddenly realized, was the greatest gift of all.
ISBN: 978-1-4592-1729-4
THE WILDES OF WYOMING—ACE
Copyright © 2000 by Ruth Ryan Langan
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§The Wildes of Wyoming
Ace Page 20