Trina sat beside Ezra, but her mind was not on the plate in front of her. It wasn't even on the handsome man at her side. It was on her friend who sat at the bar, drowning.

"Trina? You didn't answer my question," Ezra said, disturbing her thoughts.

Trina looked at him, curiously. Ezra frowned.

"Beloved, are you all right?" he said, worried about her.

"I'm worried about Buck," Trina whispered.

"As am I. I'll speak to him later. Perhaps we can locate--" Ezra trailed off and looked over to Josiah and Karol, who were playing pool. Ridley walked in with Vin and waved to Trina and Ezra.

Ezra smiled as the two walked over to them. "How are you this fine evening?" he asked.

Ridley smiled. "Doing good."

"Are ye getting excited about the festival?" Trina asked.

"Yeah," Vin sad. "Rid here is a real pro. I think you're gonna like what she did with the horse show."

"You *are* entering, right Trina?" Ridley asked.

Trina looked to Ezra and bit her lip. She wanted to, but she was a little leary about riding without Ezra.

"We both will, Ridley." Ezra stated. "Why don't you two sit down and join us?"

The two sat down. Vin smiled lovingly at Ridley who blushed and smiled. Ezra looked to Trina. "What can I get you to drink, my dear?"

"Strawberry Daiquiri," she said.

"As my lady wishes," Ezra winked.

Vin looked to Ridley. "Amaretto Sour?" Pausing, he considered the matter further. "Or is it a Kaluha night?"

Ridley giggled; her eyes fixed on Vin. She stared at him as if he were the moon and stars above, her grin permanently etched on her face. "Kaluha please."

"One Kahula and cream coming up."

The two men stood and went to the bar.

"I'm glad to see you out and about, Trina," Ridley said. "How are you doing?"

Trina shrugged. "All right."

The two women talked for a while, and were distracted when Karol whooped loudly. They looked over and saw Karol bouncing. Josiah was laughing.

"I think she just won some bet with him," Ridley said with a grin.

Trina nodded and smiled. "Laura said she'd be by when she got done with interviews or something."

Ridley nodded.

Trina smiled, then saw Buck buy another beer. She frowned.

~~~~

Laura rubbed at her eyes wearily as she walked into the Grille after the rehearsal. She smiled at the different patrons and waved to Trina as she came in. She paused a moment, frowning at the sight of Buck up at the bar drowning his sorrows. She knew that Drew was coming back, and she hated seeing her friend so down trodden and heartbroken. She ducked her head to hide the tears that suddenly sprang to her eyes over distant memories of how devastated she felt when she had found her then-fiance with Nathan's ex-girlfriend. It was even more devastating for Buck. He had lost his child and his wife over a scam, a lie. And she knew that Drew loves Buck as much as he loves her, but a harlot hell-bent on getting her way came in the way of that. At least with Laura, the love was only one-sided so the blow wasn't as bad. She shook her head and walked over to Nathan.

Nathan kissed her forehead gently as he took her in his arms. "Hey baby," he said softly. "How was rehearsal and interviews?"

"Good," Laura said. "Some of the girls are doing well, others are learning slowly, but it's going to be a good pageant."

Nathan grinned. "Good," he said. "Let's sit near Ezra, Trina, Ridley and Vin and get something to eat."

"All right," Laura said. The couple headed over and grabbed a table by the four other people and started up a conversation with them while they waited to eat.

Dwayne looked to Chris after Buck asked for another beer. The man was already highly intoxicated and he had wanted to stop serving him earlier. JD had informed him that he was driving him home.

Chris shook his head and looked to Buck. The man he knew six weeks ago was gone and in his place was a man whose heart had been ripped apart. He didn´t even look like himself. He was pale and had lost a considerable amount of weight.

Trina looked to Ezra and moved to the opposite side of Buck taking the seat JD had vacated to go play a game of pool with Karol, Ridley, and Vin.

“Buck did you eat any of the stew I sent over earlier?” Trina looked to him her hand still on his arm. She was worried about him. He was looking pale, and hardly eating anything.

Buck looked to her, “No Red I´m so sorry. I forgot about it. I know I promised.” His words were slurred and he put his hand on the side of her head. “How ya doin? You okay?”

Ezra waved to Dwayne, “I think we should get him something to eat.”

Trina smiled to Buck. “I´m fine. But Ezra´s right you need to eat.”

Dwayne nodded and hollered back to the cook ordering Buck a roast beef sandwich.

Chris groaned as he looked over to the door. Lacey had just entered the Grille.

Laura and Nathan looked. “What is that bitch doing here?” Laura shook her head.

Josiah saw too and moved over closer to Buck standing next to Chris.

Karol frowned as Lacey came in.

Nathan held onto Laura, “now Eeyore let´s keep our cool. Or try too.”

Lacey grinned as she saw her prey seated at the bar. Her baby tee read ‘Buck lover´ and it was obvious she was wearing no bra.

Ezra shook his head, “that woman should be in jail.”

Trina glared at the woman. She wanted to rip that shirt off of the slut's body. It wasn't like every man in town had not seen what she had to offer anyway, whether they wanted to or not. She hissed softly to Ezra, "How dare she!"

“Huh?” Buck looked to Lacey as she made her way over to him wrapping her arms around his mid section.

“How ya doin Buck?” Lacey purred softly in his ear.

Buck pushed her away and tried to stand but slipped. Josiah and Chris helped him to regain his footing.

“Stay away from me bitch!” Buck screamed at her.

Lacey blanched. “Buck why are you mad at me? I´m not the one who deserted you or neglected to attend her own baby´s funeral.”

Karol threw down her pool stick and walked over to join the forming crowd. “Shut the fuck up Lacey!”

Buck struggled against Josiah and Chris´s hold.

Chris held onto his friend tightly, “easy Buck.” He wished he could let go so Buck could hit her. But if he did Buck would get into way too much trouble and the man had already suffered enough.

JD walked back over and was stunned. The woman had some nerve. How could she show her face in here after all she had done?

“This is your fault! All of it!” Buck screamed out again. “Because of you I lost everything!”

Chris glared to Lacey, “leave NOW.”

Lacey laughed. “I´m breaking no laws here. And for your information Buck you´re better off without that no good deserter of a wife. Drew´s a loser and gives a damn about no one other than herself. If she had truly loved you or given a damn about her child she would have stayed so do NOT blame this on me!”

Buck tried swinging and threw a few punches in the air. Josiah, Chris, and Ezra restrained him. “I hate you bitch! Drew is a decent, beautiful human being! You´re nothing, you hear me NOTHING!”

“Drew´s the bitch. Your so-called wife left you! I´m the one who loves you! I always get my man Buck and you´ll be begging for it again soon. That little bitch couldn´t satisfy you and you know it!” Lacey stood her ground not seeing the advancement of the women, focused on Buck.

Karol moved forward. “I´ve wanted to do this for so long.” She tapped Lacey on the shoulder.

Lacey turned and glared, “yeah what?”

Karol pulled her arm back punching Lacey right in those nose.

“Angel?!” Josiah looked to her as he struggled with Buck.

“Nice shot Karol!” Ridley smiled.

“Kick her ass Karol!” Buck screamed out.

JD sighed, “well it´s about time.” He nodded his head and watched.

Lacey stood back up and jumped at Karol knocking them both down.

“That was for Drew.” Karol growled pushing Lacey off of her.

Lacey fell back, “Karol you bitch!”

Trina lifted up Chris´s glass of beer and took the opportunity pouring it all over Lacey as she stood back up.

Lacey lunged for Trina. “You stay out of this you Scottish slut!”

Trina visibly winced and took a step back. Lacey scared her. The woman was out of control.

Before Lacey could take a swing at Trina, Laura moved in front of her with Ridley standing by her side the two women glaring.

Buck calmed down and everyone was quiet as they watched. Josiah and Chris kept a hold of him just in case.

Dwayne for the first time did nothing to stop the barroom brawl. The way he saw it Lacey had it coming. He just hoped no furniture was broken.

.