Chapter 14

The next morning, as the sun began to peek over the horizon, Smoke and Sue set off for village, the gold in their satchel jingling with every step. The dust of the trail was already warming under the new day’s light, hinting at the long hours of work that lay ahead.

Lucille had woken early to prepare a hearty breakfast, her face a mask of determination as she watched them leave. “Bring back the best stock you can find,” she called after them, her voice carrying on the crisp morning air.

In Freedom Worth, the townsfolk were already stirring, the smell of breakfast fires mingling with the scent of fresh earth and horse manure. The village was coming to life, but the trio had more pressing matters to attend to. They had heard whispers of Mellow Flats, a neighboring village known for its lush pastures and bountiful cow ranches. It was there they hoped to find the cattle that would secure their farm’s future.

Mr. Wallace ‘Leather’ Norton’s ranch was a sprawling expanse of land that stretched out to the horizon, the fences a stark reminder of the order that tamed the wild west. The house was a sturdy two-story structure, with a porch that looked like it had seen a thousand sunsets. As they approached, a burly man with a leathery face and piercing eyes stepped out to greet them, his handshake as firm as the oak that held up his porch.

“Looking to invest in some cattle, are ya?” he asked, eyeing the satchel at Smoke’s side. “I’ve got the finest stock around, but it don’t come cheap.”

Smoke nodded, his grip firm. “We’re willing to pay fair price for good stock,” he said, his voice carrying the weight of his experience. Sue stood beside him, her eyes assessing the man’s honesty and the quality of the cattle in the distance.

Leather Norton studied them for a moment before nodding. “Alright then,” he said gruffly, gesturing towards the vast expanse of his ranch. “Let’s take a look.”

They followed him through the dust, the clack of their boots on the dry earth punctuating the quiet morning. As they approached the herd, Sue couldn’t help but gasp. There were easily a hundred cows, their eyes half-closed in the early light, their breaths pluming out in the cold. The sheer number of them was staggering, a sea of brown and white that stretched out before them, a testament to the wealth and power of the man who owned them.

“How do you manage so many?” Smoke asked, his voice filled with genuine curiosity. “It’s a sight to behold, Mr. Norton.”

Leather chuckled, his eyes twinkling with a knowing look. “Ah, young’un, it ain’t all about the gold in your pocket. It’s about what you got here.” He tapped his chest, where a silver locket gleamed in the light. “Take my wife, Roxie ‘Milf’ Woodard. She’s the real treasure of this ranch.”

Smoke’s curiosity was piqued. “How’s that?”

Leather Norton spat a wad of tobacco on the ground. “Some folks,” he began, his voice dropping to a gruff whisper, “they let their dicks do the thinking for ‘em. They see a pretty face or a fine piece of land and before they know it, they’re signing away their lives. They don’t think about tomorrow, just the sweetness of today.” His eyes narrowed, and he leaned in closer, “And that’s why i’m lucky, because I’ve got a perfect woman, and I’ve got a good head on my shoulders.”