Special Note: This is not a new story. I happen to be reading it and found a major problem with it and need to correct it by reposting it. Hope this doesn't confuse anyone. NC

A/N: Hello again my wonderful readers. This is another story about Lark. It will be longer than the first and you get to learn a little more about her. Again, it is written in first person, and I hope I have caught all my mistakes where I reverted to third person. Lark is developing into a quite a character and I hope you are liking her. I do like to know your thoughts and ideas, if you have a moment please review. NC

Chapter 1

The night was dark and cloudy, but the neon sign for the bar was like a beacon shining brightly to alert any travelers that might like an ice cold beer to stop and come in. At least that's what it advertised, and I decided to take advantage of a pit stop. This wasn't your typical place that sold fruit coolers, fancy wines, or those weird named mixed drinks, nor did the patrons who darkened the door wear three piece suits or a shirt and tie. This was the type of place that bikers, truckers, even hunters would stop at. The outside was weathered wood with a covered porch that ran the length of the front. A few tables were spaced randomly around on the porch for those who wanted to enjoy some fresh air or wanted some quiet from the noise inside. I rarely drank but when I do it was usually a mixed drink and only one. I never understood why anyone would want to get falling down drunk and puke their guts up or so drunk they'd pass out. I would never want to lose control like that, nor would I want to be at the mercy of those around me. I pulled into the parking lot and found a place to park my truck. I got out and checked my weapons before locking the truck and heading for the entrance.

The door opened on well oiled hinges as I pushed it far enough to step inside, pausing at the entrance to survey the room and get the layout. There were tables sitting around the room and a wooden bar that ran most of the length of one wall with bar stools positioned down it. An old juke box sat on one side that was belting out music and there had been a small space left open to dance for those who favored that sort of thing. Three pool tables stood at the far end of the room, along with a dart board and I noticed a couple of tables were playing poker and it looked like Texas Hold'em. That was different for a place like this, I thought. Usually all you found was regular poker. The room was crowded with customers sitting at the tables, the bar stools and playing pool. I spotted a lone stool tucked slightly back on the right side of the bar. I made my way through the bodies until I got to the bar stool and sat down. If there had been others open, I would have still zeroed in on this one stool because it put my back to the wall, and I could keep everyone in sight.

"What'll ya have?" the bartender asked placing a napkin in front of me.

"Ginger ale." I replied to get an interesting look from the bartender, but no comment.

"Coming right up."

I watched him closely as he filled a glass with ice and filled it with amber liquid. He brought it over to me and sat it down and left to serve another customer. I never accepted drinks from anyone, especially opened ones and I never left my drink unattended. No one was going to roofie me if I could help it. I picked up my drink and studied the patrons spread out around the room. If I wasn't mistaken, a number were hunters, and I was rarely wrong. The noise level was just above normal as people socialized and mingled. I kept an occasional eye on the pool tables and saw that the guys playing were almost done with the game and it looked like they had made bets. I got up and made my way over to that side of the room and stood to the side watching the players and getting a feel for them. This was going to be easy pickings for me because these guys, who thought they were good, were amateurs. I had learned all the tricks over the years and used them when I needed some spending money or wanted to take some know it alls down a notch or two. It was really fairly simple if you knew how to read the table and how to set up the cue ball where you wanted it for the next shot.

"Can I play the winner?" I asked seeing the game was almost over.

The two guys looked over at me and smiled widely. They thought they had found a sucker but were going to be in for a big surprise. I usually only played a couple of games for seed money to get into a poker game if one was going on.

"Sure, but its twenty dollars a game." one said.

"How 'bout we make it fifty?" I asked innocently arching an eyebrow, waiting for their response. I pulled two twenties and ten from my jean pocket and waved it in the air before placing it on the rim of the table. I knew he wouldn't turn down a challenge, especially coming from a woman. That was my wild card; they all thought I was a helpless female who could be easily beaten. They were gravely mistaken, that was for sure.

"You're on." the other guy said as he banked a shot sinking the last ball for the game. "Guess you're playing me." he said happily. "I gotta warn you, I'm pretty good if you wanna back out."

"I'll take my chances, maybe I'll get lucky." I shrugged stepping to the table. I removed my jacket and hung it by the cues being sure my shirt was covering the gun tucked into the small of my back. I looked at the cues and pulled two down to roll them across the pool table before choosing one that seemed the best balanced.

"Would you like to break?" the guy asked. "Ladies first." he said racking the balls and setting them. He stepped back waiting for me to break.

I nodded and took the cue ball positioning it for the shot. I eyed the balls, judged the distance, determined how hard I needed to hit the cue ball and in one quick stroke smacked the ball down the table to collide with the triangle of balls sending them rolling all over the table. I waited and watched a number of balls falling into the pockets and until the others stopped rolling.

"Guess I'm stripes." I said chalking the cue as I walked around the table once.

I studied the table carefully before walking to where the cue ball rested. I pointed my stick to a pocket and then sited the ball putting a little English on the hit that sent the ball into the designated pocket and the cue ball rolling slowly back to me, setting it up for another shot. The guys behind me were mumbling to themselves as they watched me expertly run the table.

"Thank you, gentleman. Enjoyed the game." I said picking up the hundred dollars I won and stuffed it in my jean's pocket.

"Hey wait! You gotta give me a chance to win my money back." the guy complained.

"Another fifty?" I asked.

"Make it an even hundred." he said sternly.

"Are you sure? Hate to see you lose your money." I asked giving him fair warning.

"Rack 'em." the guy said.

I pulled the balls from each pocket and set them up before carefully removing the triangle and stepping back to let the guy shoot first. I watched him position the cue ball and swing the stick back a couple of times before hitting the ball with a smart crack. He stood back up and watched as three balls went in.

"Solids." he grunted as the cue ball slowly rolled down the table.

He frowned and waited for the cue ball to stop rolling before trying to find his next shot. I smirked when I saw his hands tremble slightly as he got ready for the shot. He hit the cue ball softly, so the ball rolled toward a pocket and dropped in. The guy seemed to gain his confidence as he strutted to the other side of the table to hit again. This time the ball hit the pocket edge but didn't go in and he cussed under his breath.

"Guess it's my turn." I said my eyes darting around the table already planning how to win. I nodded to a pocket and started my run, taking my time with each hit until the winning ball dropped easily into the pocket. "Better luck next time." I said picking up the money and stepping away from the table pleased with my winnings. I snagged my jacket and headed back to my still empty bar stool and ordered another ginger ale. Now for the big payoff, I thought as I eyed the two tables that were playing poker. I studied each one to see who had bigger payoffs and the least experienced players. I was ok money wise, but it was fun to take these wanna be's money. If they wanted to play me, I wasn't gonna stop them and I sure wasn't going to turn their money down. I waited patiently for someone to leave at the table I wanted to play. I watched the guy dealing closely to be sure there was no cheating going on. It looked like the guy wasn't a stranger to dealing as I watched him shuffle and deal to the four sitting around the table. I watched the players play out their hands and noticed after a number of hands that the players were losing intentionally to the larger, rather bullish looking man who seemed to dominate the table. That told me they were afraid of him and didn't want to get on his bad side.