Play to win.

Lisa kept the pair of queens and discarded the rest. She reasoned that if Billy attempted to win then the odds were 3 to 1 against him losing the hand.

"3." she said simply to the dealer.

Her replacement cards were a pair of kings and a third queen. Billy also discarded 3 cards. Once he saw that everyone had had the chance to swap cards John Delvers called out. "Ok show 'em."

At her table Lisa won with her full house, but was horrorfied to see that Billy had lost with 10 high. However Billy was grinning at his loss. A sickening realization occurred to Lisa, that Billy had never any intention to win.

The bald spectacled Lyncher went around identifying the winners and losers at each table. When he identified Billy as a loser Beth wailed and ran up to him. The bald spectacled Lyncher struck out at Beth knocking her to the floor.

Lisa stood her hand going to her colt. There was a flurry of activity and Lisa found 4 winchesters and Delvers twin colts pointing at her.

"It'd be a shame to kill you after you won." Delvers told her.

Lisa took her hand away from her colt and went to help Beth. The bald spectacled Lyncher backed up clearly scared of Lisa.

"Please." Beth begged of Lisa. "You can't let him do this. He'll be killed."

"I won't let any harm come to him." Lisa promised Beth.

Lisa helped Beth up and held the crying girl to her. She then called out to John Delvers.

"Hey Delvers," Lisa said. "I want to replace the kid."

Billy looked at Lisa with hatred. Delvers looked at her with intrigue.

"And why should I do that?" he asked.

"I'll let your errand boy keep my $200." Lisa answered.

"What are these kids to you?" Delvers asked.

Lisa looked first at Billy, hatred for Lisa evident in his face. Then to Beth, still crying into her shoulder. Finally back to Delvers.

"They're family." Lisa told Delvers.

Beth hugged Lisa tighter, Billy's look of hatred was replaced by one of surprise. Even Delvers reacted to Lisa's answer.