The sound of a familiar voice cut through the hum of activity in the saloon, catching Lola's attention.  Glancing towards the source, her eyes fell on a very recognisable back.  Smiling quietly to herself, she tried to return her focus to the customer who was currently doing his best to win her affections.  It would do no good for him to think that she wasn't completely absorbed in his conversation. Still, it was hard to resist the urge to excuse herself and make a bee line for Jackson. But Lola was confident that he would be in town for a few days.  He didn't usually just stay one night, and they would have a chance to catch up later.  And besides...he was very popular with her girls, and would be well looked after.  He didn't need her hovering, effectively cramping his style.<br/><br/>Out of the corner of her eye, Lola saw Layla slide into Jackson's booth, two glasses in hand, and at almost the same time, Abby was also headed in that direction.  Lola frowned a little.  The girls knew her policy on all customers being treated equal, and to have two of her best girls focussing on the same man at the same time was poor form, to say the least. Relieved when Joseph twirled the tiny woman away onto the dance floor, Lola smiled up at the patron in front of her.<br/><br/>"Harry, I'm sorry, but duty calls.  Would you excuse me?"  She flashed the man, a local shop owner, her best smile.  Being a business owner himself, he understood the trials and tribulations of keeping customers happy.  Giving his hand a friendly squeeze as he lifted hers to his lips, she gave him a good natured wink as she turned away.  "You enjoy the rest of your evening, Harry.  And don't forget to grace the dance floor with at least one my girls.  You know how much they love dancing with you!"<br/><br/>Leaving a chuckling Harry looking very pleased with himself, Lola made her way toward Abby, who had collected Jackson's food order and was once again headed for his booth.  She was well aware of the friction between Abby and Layla, and having them fighting over the attentions of a customer, no matter how charming, was a situation she most definitely wanted to avoid.<br/><br/>Before she could get to her, however, the unwelcome sight of Desmond King leaning on her bar demanded her attention.  There was something about the seemingly respectable businessman that made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end.  In short, he gave her the heebie jeebies.  In Lola's assessment, he was like a mountain lion.  Always stalking.  Always on the hunt.  And when he turned his face towards her, his hungry gaze made her blood run cold.<br/><br/>Ignoring the instinct to get as far away from him as possible, Lola hitched her smile that little bit wider, held her head high, and approached the forboding man with a confidence that she didn't feel.  Noticing that he was still wearing his pistols, she made a mental note to speak to Joe, the barman, reminding him of their policy.  There was only one exception to that rule, and it certainly wasn't Desmond King!<br/><br/>"Mr King," she said warmly, holding out her hand for his taking, treating him to a small curtsy as he did so.  "How nice to see you in my humble establishment.  I trust you're being well attended to?"  Noticing he hadn't yet ordered a drink, she continued.  "I pride myself on having the best whiskey in Silver City, you know."  Very few of her patrons could resist her charms, and most would jump at the opportunity to buy her a drink.  Looking up at him coyly through partially lowered lashes, she dropped her voice a little, giving him the impression that she didn't want to embarrass him.  "I must ask, though, that you turn your guns over to Joe behind the bar.<em>Lola's</em>policy is no weapons in the saloon.  I'm sure you understand."