“It’s a right pleasure ta know ya, Eli,” Tom drawled, you n response to the newcomer’s introduction. “Tom Cavendish.”<br/><br/>Cassie pushed out a chair with her boot. “Cassie,” she introduced herself. “Make yourself comfortable, Eli.”<br/><br/>“This hand’s five card stud, but we can play whatever the dealer wants. At least, I like a little variety,” Xia declared.<br/><br/>Cassie smiled a little as she caught her wink. This<i>was</i>looking promising, although her options would still have been pretty good if she wasn’t interested. This Tom wasn’t bad looking, after all, and Eli has a fresh-faced attractiveness she found appealing.  “I like a little variety myself,” she replied, fanning her cards and examining them. “And I can get awfully tired of my hand.”  She looked at Tom over the cards. “You?”<br/><br/>“Hm?” Tom replied, feeling like he was missing something. “Uh, yeah?  I mean, no rule says we gotta play five card stud every hand, right?”<br/><br/>Xia took a sip of her drink. “Should we call, so Eli here can join in?”<br/><br/>He peered at his cards, considering Xia’s question. “An’ Ah reckon’ callin’ an’ dealin’ him in’s a good idea.”  He tossed his cards on the table.  “Ah ain’t got nothin’ worth hangin’ onto.”<br/><br/>Cassie threw her cards down as well. “Me neither,” she agreed, examining the newcomer. “But don’t you worry, Eli, there’s nothing wrong with your face.” She leaned forward, resting her chin in her hand. “Nothing at all.”