Chapter 6

The next evening . . .

Caitlin couldn’t believe she was back at the watering hole, Hokies. But the poker tournament her neighbors had told her about two days prior had intrigued her. This trip was for the purpose of finding herself and trying new things. So, why not try to play poker with people who weren’t her father or Hector?

Carlton Van Dyke had taught Caitlin how to play poker when she was sixteen. A few months later, her mother had found out about it. Victoria Van Dyke had chastised her husband for teaching such a game to a growing young lady, but it was too late by then. Caitlin knew how to play, and according to her father, she was pretty good. But she desperately wanted to see how she measured up to others. So, she entered the poker tournament at Hokies.

The tournament started at seven in the backroom of the bar. It was a pretty large space. Round tables that seated five were spread out around the room. There was an attendant at the door who took everyone’s entry fee, a hundr