<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/>Desmond, Babydoll, Pippi, Tom<br/><br/><hr/><br/>Pleased to see that Pippi had gone to Rebecca's rescue, Lola flashed both the girls a reassuring smile as they approached the bar. However, her attention was very firmly on the mountain of a man currently towering over her.  She listened as he spoke, giving voice to fears she herself had on the rare occasion she came down with melancholy.  Lola had lived in a number of similar towns around the west before coming to Silver City, and she knew that fortune was a fickle friend, even for a town as seemingly prosperous as this one.  She couldn't help the involuntary shudder that passed through her at Desmond's description of one possible future for her girls.  She had promised each and every one of them that she would protect them, and she felt the responsibility of that promise very keenly.<br/><br/>Lola couldn't fail to notice the hungry look in King's eyes when he noticed Rebecca - Babydoll.  She was a complete innocent, with no life experience to speak of, and likely no defences against someone as predatory in nature as Desmond King.  Lola moved ever so slightly, shielding the girl from Desmond as he leaned in towards her, his fingers playing with her hair.  She stood stoically, refusing to show even the slightest weakness to the man who, despite his fine clothes and apparent manners, struck her as one of the most dangerous creatures she had ever met. Clearly intelligent, undoubtedly ambitious, he was not to be trusted, and Lola knew she couldn't let her guard down with him for even one minute.<br/><br/>"Well now, Mr King," Lola began, adopting her best southern accent and batting her eyelashes up at him.  "You've certainly made some good points - points that I had already considered myself, believe it or not.  And I'm certainly willing to enter into a dialogue with you about the future of our little town.  But I must make one thing very clear."  She paused here, letting the moment fill with anticipation.  "Any agreement we may - or may not - come to, will not include any sort of joint ownership of<em>Lola's</em>.  I built this saloon out of nothing, and I'm very proud of what I've accomplished here."  Her chest puffed out with self-satisfaction as she glanced around the bustling tavern.<br/><br/>"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have other customers I must attend to.  I'm sure you understand."  She smiled her best smile, and offered King a curtsy before turning on her heel towards Tom's table.  She felt the need for the company of someone she knew on a deeper level than most of her customers. Someone she could perhaps confide in. Someone who would calm her, because right now, she felt like every step could be the one that resulted in her falling in a heap on the floor.  The conversation with Desmond King had been unsettling to say the least, and for the first time in a long time, Lola feared for her future, and the future of her girls.<br/>