As for the cowgirl’s comment, all Rhiannon allowed herself was a slight puckering at one corner of her mouth. She accepted the man’s payment and stuffed the tip in the community jar, which she raised in response to his toast with a, “Cheers.”

While she worked on the dwindling beer, Rhiannon scanned her surroundings. Two other staff members navigated the alley behind the bar to keep the patrons happy. Out on the dance floor, two bouncers kept an eager eye out for a drunken scuffle, something to break up the monotony, a story to later tell. If she strained her ears, Rhiannon could hear slot machine bells ringing on the first floor. Business was booming.

Just then, the DJ mixed the opening chords of ‘Beat It’ into his medley.

“Sounds like they’re playing your song,” she told the guy. Rhiannon handed the woman her second drink.