MARCH 5, 1860

Tyson leaned back on the saloon door and sighed. It had been a busy day and he had been glad to get rid of the last customers. He looked over to where Richard stood polishing glasses. "You look tired, how about you go upstairs and I�ll finish this?" Tyson offered.

Richard smiled as he headed towards the door, "Thanks boss, otherwise I�d be falling asleep right here in a couple of minutes."

"Well, I think we have enough broken glasses for tonight," Tyson replied with a grin.

When Tyson had finished the glasses, he was just about to start wiping the tables when Lara came flying downstairs, "Oh god, I forgot to tidy up," she muttered as she searched for a cloth.

"Looking for this?" Tyson waved the cloth at her.

"Um yeah, um, I was just about to do that," Lara made a grab for the rag.

"Oh really?" Tyson held it up out of her reach.

Lara grinned, "Yeah, but you can wipe those tables if you like. I wouldn�t want to come between you and your precious cloth."

"Oh well, we have become attached to each other," Tyson said as he tucked it into his shirt collar.

Lara laughed, "Oh that�s very fashionable," she made a quick grab for the cloth and ran to the other side of the table.

"Oh hey now, that�s not fair!" Tyson exclaimed as he tried to get the cloth back.

Lara waved the cloth in front of his face, "Wait a minute, this is a saloon you know, and what�s the other thing people do in saloons besides drinking?"

"Now that�s an idea. We�ll have a game of poker. The winner gets to have the night off, that�d be me. While the loser cleans up, that�d be you," Tyson said as he pointed in Lara�s direction.

"Oh you have a deal," Lara said as she took the offered hand.

Some time later after the cards had been played, then played again. Lara flung the cloth in Tyson�s direction. "Now, don�t clean too hard. Wouldn�t want you to break a nail," she laughed as she flounced around the saloon.

Tyson glared at her when she started skipping around the table, and started to shoo her away with his cloth, "Oh, I�ll get you back, Lara," he laughed as he watched her go up the stairs.

Tyson went back to the table and started picking up the cards, "You know," he muttered to himself, "It really takes some doing to lose twice on purpose," and he reached down into his sock to retrieve some misplaced cards.

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