<div class="floatright">(http://www.pictures13.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Marisa-Miller-Photos.jpg)</div>Cookie shuffled off to fill a coffee pot leaving Evelyn to finish dishing out the men’s breakfast. The good natured cook worried over the blonde’s vindictive intentions and moved to a small cupboard to secretly slip the second bottle of Red Squill, that lay hidden within, into her apron pocket.  The movement had not been lost on Eve and soon the suspicious young woman turned her full attention onto the unsuspecting cook.<br/><br/><strong>“Cookie!”</strong>Eve hissed in a loud whisper.<br/><br/>Evelyn’s sharp command had Cookie jumping, pressing a trembling fist against her chest as her heart beat wildly against her ribcage.  “Lordy Miss Evie! What are you tryin’ to do? Kill me dead?”<br/><br/>Evie narrowed her eyes and moved with haste across the kitchen, her dress rustling with the quick succession of her steps.<strong>”What do you have in your hand Cookie?”</strong>Evie asked bluntly, accusing the older woman of hiding something.<br/><br/>“Nothing Miss Evie…I swear to the lord above! I ain’t got nothing in my hands” As if to prove her point Cookie slipped her hand from her pocket and raised both to show she had nothing to hide. It might have worked had her eyes not given her away, straying to the tiny bottle nestled against her soft tummy, hidden within the pocket of her apron.<br/><br/>Evelyn followed Cookies eyes, trailing over the robust woman’s form to settle upon the small bump that hinted of deceit.<strong>”What’s in your pocket Cookie?”</strong>Evie asked in a tone as smooth as silk wrapped in a warning that spoke of her temper that burned just under the surface. She moved towards the older woman with purpose, challenging the older woman with her eyes.<br/><br/>“Now Miss Evie, you said it - you says it ain’t no good idea posionin’ that snake”  Cookie pleaded stepping back until she was forced against the wooden work table.<br/><br/>Standing directly in front of the stout cook Eve placed her hands upon her round hips and looked sternly into Cookie’s eyes, intentionally intimidating her friend. Without a single word spoken she held her hand out, palm facing up, and wiggled her fingers.  They stood quietly eyeing each other, waiting for the other to back down, both stubborn as mules. The moment Evelyn spotted the twitch in Cookies eye she knew she had won.<strong>”Don’t ever lie to me again Cookie”</strong>Eve warned before slipping her fingers into the apron pocket to retrieve the small bottle.<strong>”Now get the tray. We won’t talk of this ever again”</strong><br/><br/>Returning to the abandoned breakfast plates Evelyn absentmindedly toyed with the bottle of Red Squill and smiled, imagining King writhing in pain. Carefully she opened the lid calculating how much to use so not to cause more than a bad stomach ache, a really bad stomach ache. Enough for King and his men to wish they had died without actually allowing them the sweet relief of their final slumber. Her smile grew malicious at the thought of King sweating and cursing all that was holey. The only thing that would make it better would be for him to know it was her that had brought him to his knees.<br/><br/>“Please Miss Evie, don’t go through with it child. He’ll know it was us and then…lordy have mercy on our souls!” Cookie implored the younger woman, hoping to appeal to her loyalty for Lola and the family that made up the saloons employees.  They stood in deathly silence, neither aware of Lola’s approach until the gentle creak sounded, signaling a third member had joined their party of two.<br/><br/><em>"Evie, change of plans.  King wants to see me 'alone'...like I'm going to let <strong>that</strong> happen.  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!"</em><br/><br/>Lola’s timely interruption had Evie jumping out of her skin and the bottle slipping from her grasp. It fell to the floor, spilling its contents rendering the poison useless. It wasn’t clear if one or more of the prepared plates had been splattered in the process, or even if enough had been administered to do much damage at all. Eve was left with only her hope and a sinking feeling that all might be lost.<br/><br/>“There ain't no bigger sign Miss Evie. God's will ain't to be ignored” Cookie whispered as she bent to clean the spill before the blonde could suggest picking up what may be left to use in her nefarious plan.<br/><br/><strong>”Take care of the breakfast plates”</strong>Evie grumbled as she moved back to the giant wood stove to prepare the tea.<strong>”Let’s hope we still have some of those biscuits you made. With any luck King might choke on one.”</strong><br/><br/>“Miss Evie!” Cookie exclaimed trying hard not to giggle and failing.<br/><br/>Tossing her friend a playful wink, Evelyn quickly gathered a plate and filled it with various baked goods, including the dry biscuits that looked much more appealing than they actually were.  If she couldn’t poison him at least she could make sure he had some digestive discomfort.<br/><br/>It only took a few moments before the swinging door opened to reveal Cookie holding a tray with two plates piled high with delicious scrambled eggs, bacon, beans and homemade bread.<strong>”Gentleman, come and get it!”</strong>Evelyn announced cheerfully. Though her message was for both men, Evelyn’s eyes settled upon the Sheriff’s with a sultry smile painting upon her lips.<strong>”Don’t be shy boys, come and get it while it’s hot.”</strong><br/><br/>Cookie giggled as she fussed with the plates while Evelyn moved, purposely swinging her hips as she walked proudly towards Lola’s office. She didn’t look to see if the Sheriff was watching, but she hoped her message had been clear.<br/><br/>Balancing the tray on one hand, Evelyn knocked on the closed door before entering. Gracefully she swept through the doorway, leaving the door open in her wake. Eve’s eyes pierced Fanny’s dismissing her clearly without a single word spoken. To Eve’s amusement the girl tried to hold her own, challenging Eve’s authority. It was true that Lola had not requested the girl to vacate the office however that was before Eve had arrived.  Cocking a shapely eyebrow Evelyn turned the full force of her glare onto the girl causing the less experienced of the two to shrink back.<br/><br/>Evelyn shared a look with Lola as Fanny quickly made a hasty exit, offering a polite farewell to Mr. King before taking her leave. The calculating blonde busied herself preparing Lola’s tea exactly as Lola liked it and handed the cup to her boss and best friend, offering her a reassuring smile left hidden from King’s view. It was the strength that Lola showed in her eyes that gave Eve the courage to face the devil himself. Normally Eve did her best to avoid King. However his attack on the saloon was striking at her very heart. Like any cornered animal, Evelyn was not going down without a fight.<br/><br/>Slowly Evie turned on her heels, boldly facing King.  She allowed her gaze to travel over him while leaning her body against the desk, perching on the edge showing a flash of skin as she playfully swung one leg.<strong>”Mr. King, tell me…”</strong>Evie asked, pausing for effect<strong>”how do you like it?”</strong>Her softly spoken question held a duel meaning. Each word was impregnated with a sultry tone as she fluttered her long, dark lashes and waited for his reply.<br/>