The sudden appearance of King's weapon drew gasps of shock and surprise from the girls around the table, but not from Lola.  In truth, she was surprised the snake hadn't drawn it earlier. It had been apparent from the moment he walked through the door that he was hell bent on getting his way, and if he had to get it at the point of a gun, then he'd go right on and do it.<br/><br/>Lola watched him as he rose from the table, the pistol still leveled at her heart. For the first time since he had shown her the deeds for the land the saloon stood on, she felt a sense of calm.  Sure, things looked dire at the moment, but at least he was now showing his true colours, rather than masquerading as an upstanding citizen.<br/><br/>She smiled serenely at him, surreptitiously transferring her small pistol from the top of her right boot to the pocket hidden in her skirts.  To date, she'd never had cause to draw her weapon in Silver City, but old habits die hard, and Lola didn't feel properly dressed without the reassuring pressure of the gun against her lower leg.  Placing her hands palms down on the table so the bandit across from her could see she was unarmed, she stood regally, and walked gracefully around the table towards him.<br/><br/>"Mr King," she purred when she reached him, pressing herself into his side and running her hand down his arm to his pistol, applying enough downward pressure that he would be in no doubt that she expected him to lower it.  "Is that really necessary?  Are you so threatened by a group of women that you need to hide behind the barrel of a gun?"  The insult was obvious, but so sweetly delivered that were he to react to it, he would just be proving Lola's point for her.  "Or are you just worried that your natural charm alone isn't enough to entice me?"  She grinned and winked at her girls, showing them that she wasn't in the least worried about dealing with King.  That wasn't true, of course, but having all the girls in a flap was the last thing she needed at this hour of the morning.<br/><br/>"Please," she continued, her tone dripping with honey. "Join me in my office.  Fanny will show you the way. I'll organise us some tea."<br/><br/>At the mention of her name, the slim blonde joined Lola at King's side, slipping her arm through his and giving him her most radiant smile.  No matter what anyone said about Lola's girls, they were well trained, and at all times, excellent hostesses. Leaving her guest with Fanny, Lola headed for the kitchen.<br/><br/>"Evie," she hissed as soon as she was out of King's earshot.  She found her friend organising the breakfast tray with Cook.  "Change of plans.  King wants to seem me 'alone'...like I'm going to let<strong>that</strong>happen," she reassured Evelyn before the younger woman could begin protesting. "Cookie, please take the breakfast tray out to the new Sheriff and his associate, Eve, bring a tray of tea to my office. And be quick about it!"  The urgency in Lola's voice was unmistakable, as was the tension.  She turned on her heel and left the two woman staring after her, not even giving them a chance to respond.<br/><br/>Despite her misgivings about spending even a second alone in the company of King, Lola hitched her smile back into place and entered her office.  Fanny was leaning back against her desk, her golden laugh tinkling through the office.  Lola could hear that the humour wasn't genuine, but she doubted that King would have any idea.  She wondered what the bastard had said that was even remotely funny.  Probably nothing.  Fanny was no doubt trying to disarm him with her feminine wiles, which Lola had to admit, worked on most men.<br/><br/>Closing the door softly behind her, Lola took her seat behind her desk, her hands resting in her lap, out of sight of King and close to her pistol, should she need to draw it. She smiled her thanks at Fanny as the woman glanced over her shoulder for instruction, but didn't dismiss her.  If the pretty blonde could keep King distracted until Evelyn arrived, more the better.