<div class="floatleft">(http://www.amybrown.net/women/cowgirl.jpg)</div><div align="center"><strong>-Grant, his lackey (Jackson) and Annabel, NCP,  The Saloon – Avalon, Making Friends and Influencing People!</strong></div><br/><br/><div class="floatright">(http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z466/Corvus269/The%20Gamble/Buzzards-Gulch---Grant--Jackson.jpg)</div><strong>“I appreciate the help mister, but you best stay out of it”</strong>Annabel replied to Griff, pleading with him to mind his own business even though he had been trying to come to her aid. The last thing she wanted was more attention brought to her plight. When Hotaru spoke bravely, demanding her release Annabel groaned aloud. Nothing was going right for her today. Hanging her head as another man joined in on her rescue Annabel closed her eyes and prayed things would not escalate. It would seem her prayers would not be answered as Kaela joined the campaign. Her insults wouldn’t help to keep things calm. If anything they would escalate the tension in the room to their breaking point. Annabel couldn’t help but snap at the girl whom she thought should have known better.<strong>”If you want to help so badly Kaela, why don’t you shut up!”</strong>sighing and now thoroughly annoyed, Annabel tugged her arm still held tightly in Jackson’s grip.<strong>”And you!”</strong>Annie turned towards Hotaru, the very girl she had been trying to help<strong>”none of this would be happening if you didn’t poke your nose where it didn’t belong!”</strong>It was harsh but it was the only thing Annabel could think of to get the kind doctor to turn tail and leave this planet. If she thought she was not helping, maybe she would leave.<br/><br/>Grant, who had been silent during Annie’s temper tantrum, smirked, showing signs of amusement as he watched his captive jump down the throats of her would-be rescuers. He knew better than to fall for her song and dance and as for Kaela, she would have to come up with something a hell of a lot worse that resorting to childish name calling to get under his skin. The girl was pathetic.  Each and every one of them caused his eyes to roll as they tried to avert his attention away from teaching young Annabel a lesson, not to mention trying to save the little oriental do-gooder.  It wasn’t going to work. Grant hadn’t become feared by many by allowing such things as morals and tricky little laws preventing him from exploiting those weaker than him to stand in his way.<br/><br/>With a single, direct nod of his head, Grant signalled Jackson to tighten his hold on the mouthy, young farmer. To which his actions resulted in a whimper of pain to tumble from Annie’s lips. Jackson sported a sadistic grin and he turned his watchful gaze towards the pretty red head that was making her way towards the saloon doors. He liked what he saw, making a mental note to meet up with her again. Jackson’s eyes turned towards Hotaru as she bravely stood forward, his smile as sinister as his eyes were cold.<strong>”Feeling brave Doc? Why don’t you come get your little friend?”</strong>he taunted the young physician.<br/><br/><strong>”Leave the Doc  alone!” I’ll do what you want!</strong>Annabel growled, feeling responsible for the young doctor. The guilt she felt weighed heavily upon her shoulders, creating a strong reaction and a need to protect Hotaru as she had done her sister.<br/><br/><strong>”Now, now Annie, there’s no need to be jealous darlin’ there’s plenty of me to go around”</strong>Jackson murmured in her ear before tugging her hard against him and gripping her slim arm tight enough to cause her to cry and beg him to stop.<br/><br/>Turning towards the dark skinned stranger Grant let his eyes flick towards the man’s hand hidden beneath his sleeve.<strong>"The only lesson that's gettin' learned here today, my friend, is the one I where I teach you not to go pokin' your nose where it ain't belongin'.  Something the Doc here is gonna find out real soon.”</strong>With one signal to the soldiers, Grant silently ordered them to vacant the bar. After all if they didn’t see firsthand the laws being broken then there wasn’t anything for them to report.  Using the distraction of the soldiers exit as a cover, Grant moved quickly to snatch the young Doctor into his steely grip.<strong>”Say good bye to your pals Doc, you and I got some business to discuss!”</strong><br/>