sovbooks Chapter 129 Cowboy in Paradise Valley
Chapter 129 Cowboy in Paradise Valley
Chapter 129 Cowboy in Paradise Valley
"They're all orphans. You know, life in an orphanage isn't easy," Tom said in a low voice. "Since we've run into them, and the ranch is indeed short-handed—"
"Are we short of these little kids?" James asked skeptically.
"Yes." Tom withdrew his gaze, his tone resolute. "They are the future of the ranch. A strong youth means a strong ranch!"
James didn't take his son's boastful words too seriously.
As for Tom's true thoughts? Sympathy probably only played a small part.
The real reason is probably only known to Tom himself.
The twenty-one children were washed clean, but Tom, just in case, still kept them temporarily isolated, both for the children's safety and for the safety of the entire Dutton family.
"Are you injured?" Tom asked his mother, Margaret, his gaze serious.
Margaret immediately understood what her son meant: "No, it's clean, it's not smallpox."
Only after receiving confirmation did Tom lead the group of little ones into a temporarily vacated storage room.
"Stay here for now, we'll move in once the new house is finished." His tone left no room for argument.
The oldest of the children was ten years old, the girl who was found last, with her six-year-old sister right next to her.
The youngest boy is only four years old.
The other children were bewildered, but the ten-year-old girl and the seven-year-old boy whom Tom had personally rescued had clear understanding in their eyes.
"We're not sick!" the boy said stubbornly, tilting his head back.
Tom nodded: "I know. But we'll have to stay here until the house is built."
The boy's gaze, like a red-hot ember, was fixed on Tom's face: "Will you sell us?"
That look instantly pierced Tom's memory.
He crouched down, looking the boy in the eye: "If I really sold you, would you hate me?"
The boy answered without hesitation: "Yes!"
"and then?"
"When I grow up," the boy's voice was resolute, "I will find you and return your life!"
The childish harsh words carried the resolute determination of a desperate fugitive.
Tom paused for a moment, then chuckled softly, patted the boy on the shoulder, and turned to leave.
It's so similar, so incredibly similar.
Just like myself back then.
He found the contractor and said, "Build the school shown on the blueprints!"
"Now?" The foreman was somewhat surprised.
"Yes! There need to be dormitories and a playground where students can run around freely! Let's build one for thirty students first." Tom spoke very quickly.
The contractor nodded in agreement: "Okay, all the schools that other schools have, we have all the same ones here."
"Get started as soon as possible." Tom was about to leave when he remembered something. "By the way, does the town hospital have any good doctors who know how to take care of children?"
The foreman shook his head: "The skills are all about the same. What good doctor would want to stay in this desolate place?"
Expected.
Tom didn't ask any more questions; finding a doctor would have to be figured out another way. "Let's build the manor according to the blueprints."
When the contractor saw that he had made the decision, his face immediately lit up with a smile.
Tom turned and walked toward the bustling construction site.
Jonah was sitting not far away, squinting, clutching a bottle of liquor tightly in his arms as if it were his lifeblood.
"Jonah!" Tom called out, "Don't forget the chickens and goats!"
Jonah glanced at him lazily: "You need to hire someone! I'm too busy!"
Tom didn't respond, his gaze sweeping over the workers: "How's the progress?"
"Not so good!" Jonah snorted.
"Oh?"
"He's meticulous, but also slow!" Jonah took a swig of his drink, pointed to the sky, and said, "Look at the sky, it's already August!"
If we delay for another two months, the mountains will be blocked by heavy snow! The houses aren't even finished, where will we live?
Tom felt a chill run down his spine.
Time is of the essence!
Firewood for winter, fodder for livestock...
The harvest must begin in September; with the current manpower, it's simply wishful thinking.
He found his father, James, who was busy chopping wood.
"I need to go to Postman."
James stopped hitting the axe, wiped his sweat, and asked, "Where are you going?"
Tom took the axe and swung it down, splitting the thick wooden block in two!
"Hiring! Cowboys who can do the work! At least thirty, but we only need twenty to stay."
"Who should I take?"
"Zack, Cooper, Thomas."
James hesitated for a moment, then said, "Thomas stays. Take Zach and Cooper with him."
Tom was surprised: "Leave him alone?"
James glanced at the workers' shacks in the distance and lowered his voice: "Too many people, too many eyes and ears."
Tom instantly understood: "Someone's causing trouble?"
“Not right now.” James’s eyes were sharp. “But no matter how tightly you seal those truckloads of stuff, people will still guess what’s inside.”
Tom frowned.
"Zack and Cooper stay behind, I'll go by myself," Tom decided.
James shook his head decisively: "Bozeman isn't far, but traveling alone is impossible!"
The father and son looked at each other for a moment.
"Take Zach with you, Cooper stays behind to guard the house!" James made the final decision.
Tom could only nod.
He had only taken two steps when Wade stopped him again.
"Tom, it's time to hire people!" Wade said urgently.
Tom raised an eyebrow: "You're short-handed?"
"The ranch is short-staffed!" Wade pointed to the vast land. "We need people for fencing! We need people for daily patrols! And we need even more people for all sorts of odd jobs!"
Every word makes sense.
Tom sighed. "Okay, I'm on my way to Bozeman to recruit cowboys. Want to come along?"
Wade nodded immediately, then hesitated slightly: "There's one more thing, you should remind those workers to keep their eyes peeled!"
Tom's eyes turned cold: "Explain yourself!"
"A few of them are really bold," Wade whispered, "their eyes are practically glued to Mary!"
"Who?"
Wade shook his head: "Don't ask. I saw it, and I warned them."
He shrugged helplessly. "It's no use."
Tom stared at Wade for a few seconds, then ultimately chose to believe it was a well-intentioned reminder.
He mounted his horse and rode straight to the foreman, pulling on the reins.
"I heard that one of your men can't control his eyes?" Tom asked condescendingly, his voice as cold as ice.
The foreman's back instantly broke out in a cold sweat: "Tom! That—that bastard, I've already taken him! I promise!"
"Are you sure?" Tom looked down at him, his gaze imposing.
"Absolutely true!"
Tom's lips curled into a cold smile: "Very well. Since you know I sold the gold mine, you must have heard what happened the day I sold it."
The foreman nervously swallowed.
Tom concluded, "The project is progressing too slowly; we need to speed it up!"
The contractor nodded quickly!
Finally, with Zach, Wade, and his mother's instructions, Tom retrieved the land deed!
And so, the group headed straight for Bozeman!
After several months of change, Postman slowly changed.
It's no longer so desolate; it's gradually becoming lively again!
However, compared to before, it's still much worse. For example, three-tenths of the shops on the street are not open!
"They're all gone!" Dan, the owner of Deep Valley Bar, poured Tom a drink with great enthusiasm. "Why haven't they come back to check on us for so long?"
Tom scoffed. "You're an official now, who knows if you still recognize me?"
"I know him! I know him!"
Dan quickly filled everyone else's glasses with wine!
"How's business?" Tom looked around; there didn't seem to be many people.
Dan shook his head. "Everyone's gone! Last winter's awful weather drove everyone away!"
Just as Tom was about to tease him.
boom!
A gunshot rang out from the street!
Dan's expression changed drastically!