Dark blue eyes swam with ushed tears as she waited those few pitiful moments for Lola's response.Swept up in a gale of unconstrained emotion, Eve's unexpectedly curt response was met with a near snarl as Abby sucked in a breath in anticipation of laying into the snide blonde. However, Lola's reassuring voice broke in before she could snap back an equally snide retort. In no mood to acquiesce to anything Eve suggested, Abby stood her ground and crossed her arms under her breasts, pointedly ignoring the bossy blonde. The agitated expression writ across her delicate features soon melted into relief as soon as the words "He's fine.." crossed Lola's lips. Releasing a heavy breath, the tense set of her shoulders instantly relaxed and she could feel herself starting to nod in agreement with Lola's suggestion that Jackson could take care of himself.<em>Yes, he's like a cat - nine lives and always landin' on his feet.</em>Finding a ghost of a smile, she finally lowered herself into the seat offered at Lola's side.<br/><br/>As Lola prattled on about putting on a brave face, Abby found a bit of that frustration starting to creep back into her system.<em>She wants us all just to pretend like nothing's happened? The whole town's gone to hell, and she's sittin' here thinkin' of how to get more money out of the customers.</em>Soured by that uncharitable thought, her jaw tightened when Lola leaned in to suggest a private meeting in her office. She could use the alone time to try to get some clue as to what King mentioned the night before about owning the saloon. Just as she nodded her acceptance of Lola's invitation, the subject of her private concerns sauntered into the room with two strangers at his side.<em>Just saunters in like he own the place...he wouldn't dare if it weren't true, would he?</em>Wary blue eyes track King's every movement, noting the familiar way he approached the table of women. When his eyes touched hers, she felt an unbidden twinge between her legs and a deep pink flushed her cheeks. Dropping her gaze immediately, she turned her eyes to the faces of the women surrounding her. Most wore looks of confusion that reflected some of the confusion she herself felt. Those familiar questions popped up again as King prodded Lola, why was he so keen on getting her acquiescence if he has every legal right to what he is doing? And why come in here like this, scaring the whole staff if he intends only to keep them going as they always have?<br/><br/>Worrying at her lower lip, she mused on those questions for a  few moments longer, ignoring most of what was going on around her. Only when King spoke Jackson's name did she shoot her eyes up to him, a frown creasing her brow at his casual insistence that Jackson was responsible for the sheriff's murder. Still, she had more sense than to pipe in at that moment, so she forced herself to try to relax again. It was proving an impossible task, however, as Lola was shooting her guilty looks and offering King an invitation to their table. Abby had no time to consider Lola's sudden guilty conscience, as she was soon thoroughly distracted by King's rough fingers dragging along the curve of her neck. Once more, she felt those sparks of excitement shooting inside of her, mingled with the sense of dread she had of the man. Their night together had been violently passionate, and while she recalled the pleasure, she still bore the marks from his rough treatment. Trapped by his lingering stare, she let loose her pent up breath as soon as he tore his eyes from hers and returned his attention to Lola.<br/><br/>As the discussion moved to talk of lawyers, Abby found her attention drifting again. What would happen if King actually did end up winning this tug of war with Lola? Would he take her place in the saloon? It seemed that if he wanted to do that, he wouldn't be making such a fuss about getting Lola on board. And if he didn't intend to do that, why this awkward public approach? Staring intently at the tabletop as she mulled the questions over, she didn't notice King drawing his gun until the gasps and cries from the other women drew her from her musings. Glancing up, Abby's own delayed gasp joined the murmuring of the gathered crowd. Wide eyes stared in disbelief at the man across from both her and Lola. Is this what she would be signing up for if King took over control? A gun pointed at her if she dared to voice protest to a command? Glancing from King to Lola, she felt the panic that sprang up in her slowly start to ebb as she noted Lola's calm demeanor. If Abby was in her place, she'd be wailing about now. But Lola's calm smile and reassuring voice seemed to defuse the situation.<br/><br/>Abby's panic slowly shifted to suspicion. Lola seemed far too comfortable approaching King with his pistol drawn. And offering Fanny up to escort the man upstairs alone?<em>Maybe she's hoping another girl will keep him satisfied.</em>The snide internal comment made her shift uncomfortably in her chair, remembering the task she had been given the night before. Incapable of sitting still any longer, she pushed away from the table. She didn't want to go upstairs just yet, she didn't want to be filing past Lola's office while Lola and King were discussing "concessions." Had she been one such concession? The thought sent chills racing through her and made her want to go soak in a hot tub. As she paced around the large dining table, she finally took notice of the two strangers among them. Glancing to the new sheriff, she couldn't keep the frown from her face. This was the man to benefit from Jackson being wrongly accused of the former sheriff's death. And he hadn't lifted a finger when King drew a gun on a room full of women. What kind of sheriff was that? Dismissing the man with an upturned nose, she looked down the path Lola and King (and Fanny) had taken moments before. The whole thing was not sitting right with her. Watching the kitchen door, she decided to wait for Eve to inevitably follow after Lola. She wanted to talk to some of the girls, but she didn't dare question Lola's motives when Eve would be snapping at her heels for daring to question their fearless leader.