Chapter Forty-One

"Ah, there be my mama's place now," Irish announced jovially as he rode atop the cart. Audrey had been surprised when he'd insisted on coming with them, though Irish had insisted it was only because he wanted to see the angel that gave birth to him and not because he was loathe to be away from Ance who was finally treating him with something less than hostility every once in a while.

Audrey had noticed that Ance's normally quiet demeanor had been even more silent than usual today and he'd seemed surly and withdrawn. She glanced at him when she heard him grumble and he and his mare fell behind her on the mare he had purchased for her from Grandy.

Audrey frowned. "Is something wrong with your horse, Ance?"

"No, dammit, I just... aw hell.. Don't kill me, okay?"

"Kill you?" Audrey laughed lightly. She turned her gaze back toward Irish's mother's home. "Why would I......" her voice trailed as several things caught her attention at once.

This home or Madge's was here alone, by itself with no neighbors, no crops, no corrals... There was a hitching post with several horses hitched up front. The building was old but in good shape with two floors and balconies up top. The windows were covered by fine red satin with gold tassels and a wooden plaque on the balcony above the front door read, 'Madge's Irish Paradise'.

But it wasn't those things that truly alerted Audrey to the fact that something was amiss. No, the tell tale sign that she'd been misled was the big busted brunette in nothing but a corset and a bustle leaning over one of the second floor balconies, waving a handkerchief as a smile lit up her heavily painted face--while a man wearing only his trousers nibbled at her neck.

"Irish! Irish is back!" she exclaimed. "Oh am I happy to see you, darlin! It has been far too long!"

Audrey was seething... boiling really.. As she turned to Ance. "A brothel!?" she exclaimed. "You left my daughter in a brothel!?"

Ance's blue eyes widened. "You said Irish told you," he growled.

"Of course he didn't tell me that!" Audrey shouted, not caring if she sounded hysterical.

"I may have left out that wee little detail," Irish admitted sheepishly.

"Little detail!?" Audrey was certain that the men beside her had gone completely daft! The little twit on the balcony hollered out for Irish again and Audrey laid her hand on the gun in the waistband of her skirt. "Shut her up, Irish, or so help me God, I will."

"Audrey, calm down." Ance interjected before Audrey could succumb to her itchy trigger finger. "I had to think of a safe place for Penny to stay and I didn't have a lot of time to think about it. This is a safe place."

"Safe?" Audrey was certain that Ance had been in the sun too long and his brain had been thoroughly fried. "You would consider a filthy brothel where drunkard men go to lay with dirty and diseased women a safe place for a little girl?"

"Excuse me, lass?" Audrey whipped her gaze around to see a plump woman wrapped in crushed velvet cut low on her ample bosom. The woman had dark hair, sharp eyes and was tapping her foot with irritation as she glared at Audrey with that same emotion. "I'll forgive ya that off the cuff remark seein' as how ya have never been to my establishment before. But let me assure ya now that my home is anythin' but filthy, any man I suspect is lost in drink is not allowed past the front door and my beautiful girls are indeed quite clean and absolutely disease free, I promise ya that."

Audrey slid from her horse and approached the angry woman. "You'll have to excuse me if I lack respect for your chosen profession, ma'am," Audrey replied, meeting the woman's gaze head on as she came to a stop mere feet away.

Both women stood with their hands on their hips, staring one another down and Audrey could see the surprise on the plump woman's face. This must be Madge and she apparently wasn't used to anyone standing up to her. Audrey was not a man and therefore not the type to be intimidated by a strong woman--she was a strong woman herself.

"You're a feisty one, aren't ya?" Madge asked as a smile deepened the wrinkles in her cheeks. "It's no wonder our Ansel fell in love with ya. Though I won't take ya disrespectin' me or my gals while you're here. Would ya like to see your daughter, then?"

Audrey decided to let her own anger go in that moment. She only wanted her daughter and as long as Penelope was safe, sound and hadn't been exposed to too much of what went on between men and women behind closed door, Audrey would keep her mouth closed for now and simply be grateful.

But that didn't mean she wasn't going to thump Ance in the head just as soon as the two had a moment alone. She glanced back at him and it was clear from the look on his face as he dismounted his mare that he knew he was still in quite a bit of trouble.

Audrey returned her attention to Madge. "I am more than ready to see my daughter," she admitted, tears clogging her throat.

Madge nodded and stepped away from the door. A second woman, this one wearing heavy make-up and a scarlet dress that accentuated her assets stepped outside with Penelope walking alongside her.

When Penelope saw Audrey, her freckled face lit up. She cried out and ran as fast as her leg would allow toward Audrey and Audrey was quick to meet her half way. She fell to her knees upon the porch and pulled Penelope into her arms.

Tears fell from Audrey's eyes as she held her daughter close, breathed her in and felt the peace that comes from knowing your child is safe and in your arms.

***

Ance had never seen a damn thing in the world like Audrey. Most people shied away from Madge. Ance had never seen anyone approach the woman while she was angry and he'd certainly never seen anyone stand toe to toe and stare Madge down.

But then again, Audrey wasn't like anyone else he knew. Audrey was... well, she was Audrey. She had seen things and done things over the past few months that would have broken many people but somehow she just kept moving forward. There were nights that Ance knew bad dreams plagued her but, hell, most folks who had lived something other than a cushy life with silver spoons and servants, had their share of nightmares.

Ance hadn't missed the look that Audrey had sent his way. She might have decided to put her anger aside for the moment but that didn't mean he was safe from her wrath. For the first time, Ance didn't look forward to getting her alone again....

But the sight of her and Penelope holding one another so close on that porch made Ance decide that whatever wrath he faced was well worth it. Those two were everything to him.. They were his family.

He had made a good choice in leaving Penelope here. The girl was fresh faced, well rested and seemed genuinely happy and healthy. Ance was relieved to say the least. He had half expected to ride in and find her wearing a corset with her face painted up as she worked behind the desk. Audrey truly would have killed him then--and he'd have had to kill Madge.

"Ance!" Penelope's voice rang out in the afternoon air and Ance strode toward her quickly. He scooped the girl up in his arms, lifting her high in the air and twirled her around. She was laughing breathlessly when he finally stopped moving and propped her on his hip. "I missed you, Ance! Did you miss me?"

"I'll tell you what, Penny. Ain't nobody ever missed anybody quite as bad as me and your mama missed you."

Penelope raised her head and looked in his eyes and Ance knew a scolding was coming. "Then why the devil did it take you so long?"

Ance grumbled under his breath while Audrey hid her amusement behind her hand. "Because, you pain in the butt little girl," Ance growled as he kissed her temple. "I was busy shooting bad guys and rescuing your mother."

"I did a bit of rescuing myself," Audrey was quick to speak up.

"Well it still took too long. I thought you might have forgot all about me," Penelope informed him with a pout on her chubby face.

Ance shook his head and sat her down on her feet, holding her steady until her leg was good and secure beneath her. "You women are more damn trouble then your worth," he grumbled as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Never satisfied with nothing no matter how hard a man tries."

Ance knew that the smile tugging at his lips wouldn't match his words and it was clear from the grin that Audrey and Penelope shared that they noticed that. Madge stepped forward. "Well why don't we get in and eat some supper? We'll get Audrey and Penelope back in the livin' quarters before my evenin' rush arrives? Audrey's a pretty lass and I'd hate to see what Ansel would do to the first man that attempts to woo her."

Ance's temper was instantly riled by the thought but he shrugged. "I wouldn't have to do much. Audrey would send the man running with his tail between his legs."

"Aye, it's true," Irish lamented. "Not even my charms can woo her away from that burly beast of a man."

"Yes, well your charms are all that might save your life once I get my hands on you, Fergus," Madge snapped, pointing her thick finger at Irish's face. "You're goin' to be explainin' just why ya were locked up and you'll be lucky if I ever let ya leave here again."

Irish grinned. "With the company I'd have here, mama, I'd have to say it would be lucky if I got to stay awhile."

Ance was chuckling as Madge took Irish inside by the ear and Irish began crying out, whimpering and begging the woman for mercy. Ance took Penelope's hand in his and walked to Audrey. "We better get on inside, Audrey. We could use some supper and I'm eager to lay myself down in a real bed tonight."

"I'm sure you are," Audrey replied, her voice ice cold. "We're not done talking about things that need to be talked about, Ance."

Ance sighed and nodded. "Of course we aren't, woman. Of course we aren't."