<div class="floatleft">(http://www.readthesmiths.com/articles/Images/Entertainment/Idol/Katharine.jpg)</div><br/><strong>Character:</strong><br/>Lola<br/><strong>Location:</strong><br/>At the bar<br/><strong>Time of day:</strong><br/>Evening<br/><strong>Tagging:</strong><br/>Jasmine, Tom<br/><br/><hr/><br/>Lola made a bee-line for Tom's table.  It was all she could do not to run, and she had to force herself to smile at her customers as she hurried past them, while trying not to look hurried!  It was quite a feat of acting, but this wasn't the first time Lola had to put on a brave face to those around her, and it surely wouldn't be the last. Her mind was reeling after her discussion with the tall, dark, stranger, and not only because of the offer-come-threat he had made her.  Sure, he had wrapped it up nicely and put a bow on it, but Lola hadn't come down in the last shower.  She knew that people like King stopped at nothing to get what they wanted.  But dammit, he wasn't getting Lola's!  At least not while Lola lived and breathed.<br/><br/>Noticing Jasmine at Tom's table, Lola hesitated ever so slightly.  She knew the cowboy had a soft spot for the girl, and she didn't want to intrude.  However, Tom had invited her to sit by pushing out a chair, and Lord knew Lola needed to talk to someone she could trust.  She loved all her girls like they were her own, but she didn't want to burden them with this just yet.  The time would come, she knew, and they would need to be informed.  But not before she had a clear idea of how she was going to handle the crisis.<em>Crisis?</em>Lola thought to herself.<em>Aren't you being a bit dramatic?</em><br/><br/>Perhaps.  But right now, it felt like a crisis.<br/><br/>Lola gracefully sank into the stool across from Tom.  She smiled up at Jasmine, trying not to let on that there was anything wrong.<br/><br/>"Jasmine, love...would you mind fetching me a cup of tea please?  And a drink on the house for Tom, if he'd like another."  She smiled up at the gorgeous blonde in what she hoped was her usual way.  "Actually, make that a pot," Lola corrected as Jasmine sashayed away.  This was definitely more of a pot of tea kind of night!<br/><br/>Once Jasmine was out of earshot, Lola turned her attention fully to Tom.<br/><br/>"Tom," she began, the gravity of the situation clearly visible on her still youthful face.  "I think I have a problem, and I have a feeling it's more than I can handle on my own." She paused, casting her eyes towards the card table where Bella was very obviously flirting with Desmond.  "Do you see that man over there?  The dangerous looking one?  Well, he's just baled me up at the bar and demanded I sell him the saloon!"  Lola was trying to keep her voice low, but was not exactly succeeding.  She took a slightly shuddering breath.  "He's offered me a lot of money for it. Probably more than it's realistically worth, if I'm honest, but<em>Lola's</em>is more than just a tavern.  It's my life!"<br/><br/>Tears welled in her dark eyes as she paused in an attempt to compose herself. She refused to give into the urge to bury her head in her hands.  Appearances had to be kept up, after all, and she certainly didn't want the nefarious Desmond King knowing he had rattled her so badly.<br/><br/>"Oh, Tom...what am I going to do?  I can't single handedly fight someone like him!  I'm a woman on my own, with girls who depend on me!"<br/><br/>Lola looked at Tom, her eyes pleading with him, hoping he could help in some way.<br/><br/>"Do you know anyone who would be willing to help us?  I can pay them in silver.  I just can't lose Lola's!"<br/><br/>To Lola's chagrin, a single tear rolled slowly down her left cheek.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>