The dealer glanced up at Zach, picked up the watch, and hefted it.
Setting the heavy timepiece aside, he nodded and indicated a vacant chair. Without further ado, he handed Zach a stack of chips, dealt him in and the game continued.
At first, luck seemed not to favor Zach. His pile of chips diminished at an alarming rate. On what he decided would have to be his last hand, costing him at least his chain if not the watch, he won.
After that, fortune smiled. He soon had enough to retrieve his watch and his pile continued to grow. He made the one beer last for two hours, unwilling to fog his mind with alcohol when so much was at stake.
At the end of two hours, Zach had enough money to see Emily safely settled for at least a week and perhaps even to purchase a dress of a style deemed more a
