Chapter 63: Turning in the Bounties
Actually, Arthur could be considered a wealthy man!
After that big heist in the snowy mountains, his bulging wallet was stuffed with bills.
Surprisingly, however, this deep-pocketed fellow had no interest in spending money on customizing his firearms.
Most of Arthur's money was spent on purchasing new weapons and equipment, as well as improving the quality of life for the Gang members.
For instance, recently while Johnny was away, Arthur had traded all the jewelry they'd acquired at Emerald Ranch for dollars.
Then he bought Dutch a larger and more luxurious tent;
he also purchased many hitching posts and chicken coops for the Gang, along with some egg-laying hens to supplement everyone's nutrition.
It all went back to that failed heist in Blackwater Town.
Due to that mishap, Arthur unfortunately lost his beloved horse and most of the fine weapons he owned.
The Gang also lost a lot of supplies.
But it didn't matter; Arthur wasn't the type to dwell on losses. He would slowly rebuild his wealth and buy those handy weapons again... Before long, the four of them had quickly finished their preparations to gather.
The experienced Pearson sat steadily in the driver's seat, while Arthur sat calmly in the passenger seat beside him.
Meanwhile, Charles and Johnny climbed into the back of the wagon, responsible for guarding several vicious outlaws.
And so, an escort team composed of notorious outlaws officially set off.
Imagine the scene:
A wagon pulled by two horses was slowly traveling down the road, loaded with heavily armed, grim-faced Gang members and several tightly bound outlaws.
This image was practically a living "masterpiece"!
At some point, Johnny pulled out a small notebook and a pen. With a light flick of his wrist, the nib glided across the paper like flowing water, and in the blink of an eye, he had vividly recorded this rare and spectacular scene.
"I don't think you should be loitering around here, friend!"
"Stay in line unless you have permission from the O'Driscoll Gang, understand?"
"This is just a warning. Next time, it'll be a bullet!"
Just a short distance ahead, two members of the O'Driscolls, wearing dark green scarves and dressed like bandits, could be seen.
They stood beneath a leafy tree, waving their arms aggressively at Pearson's group and shouting warnings for them not to come any closer.
Arthur was feeling quite irritable at the moment. Holding a brand-new pistol, he was frustrated that he couldn't find anyone to test the power of this new piece on!
Seeing these two reckless fools, the corners of his mouth curled up into a cold smile.
Before they knew it, two crisp gunshots rang out—"Bang! Bang!" Two bullets flew out like lightning, accurately striking the heads of the two Odriscoll members.
Instantly, the two collapsed like puppets with their strings cut, dying on the spot and being sent to meet their Maker.
Expressionless, Arthur blew the faint smoke from the barrel and skillfully drew bullets from his waist to reload the pistol.
The whole process was seamless, as if killing someone was just a routine occurrence for him, causing not even a ripple in his emotions.
Afterward, Arthur turned back nonchalantly and gave a calm order:
"Charles! Johnny! You two go over and search them to see if they have anything valuable.
Dispose of the bodies while you're at it, then hop on their horses and catch up with us!"
Hearing Arthur's command, Charles and Johnny didn't say much. They jumped off the wagon and walked over to the two corpses to begin a thorough search.
After rummaging around for a bit, Johnny couldn't help but frown and complain:
"What bad luck! After all that work, we only found two battered, battle-worn cowboy revolvers and a measly 50 cents. These two are even more destitute than Uncle back at camp!"
Charles, on the other hand, seemed more composed. After a moment's thought, he suggested:
"How about this: since we're not far from where the coyotes hang out, let's just dump the bodies over there to save some trouble."
Johnny thought it was a good idea, so together they struggled to lift the bodies onto the horses, then whipped the steeds and galloped toward the coyote territory.
Before long, after Charles and Johnny had dealt with the bodies and caught up with the main group, they finally arrived at their destination—Valentine Town.
As soon as they entered town, Arthur turned to Charles and Johnny and instructed them sternly:
"Charles, you and Johnny go to the Sheriff's office first to collect the bounties.
As for Pearson... hmph, I don't trust leaving him here alone, so I'd better keep an eye on him myself."
With that, Arthur jumped off the wagon and followed closely beside Pearson.
"If this guy takes the opportunity to buy those Canned Salted Offal Stews he likes while we're getting supplies, I'll blow his damn head off!"
Arthur glared fiercely at Pearson while assigning the tasks.
He couldn't help it; after all, that was the flavor of canned food Arthur hated most!
The Sheriff's Office
The Sheriff watched in stunned silence as Johnny came in alone to collect the bounties for five outlaws.
In all his years on the job, he had never seen anything like it, but upon further reflection, he realized the man must have his own team.
Otherwise, no one could capture so many criminals in such a short amount of time.
"Oh! I recognize you. You're the one who beat that fellow Tommy."
"The youth truly are to be feared! But you'd better not make a habit of fighting here. After all, it's not a good look if it ends up on my desk, is it?"
The Deputy Sheriff spoke to Johnny, but it was essentially a canned speech.
He knew very well that in a small town like this, conflicts and even brawls between people were inevitable.
After all, the population was relatively small, and everyone saw each other constantly, making it easy for daily frictions and contradictions to escalate.
However, he felt it was best to keep such matters from becoming public if possible; ideally, they should settle things among themselves privately.
In any case, he had no desire to get involved in such troublesome affairs.
And so, right after Johnny collected the $60 bounty for the five men, he turned and walked out the door, ready for the next step of his plan.
Just then, Charles happened to pull the wagon steadily to the side of the road.
He spotted Johnny walking toward him and signaled with his eyes, inviting him to the nearby Smithfield Saloon for a couple of drinks.
To be honest, Johnny hadn't touched a glass in days. Seeing Charles's warm invitation, he naturally wouldn't refuse.
Thus, he followed Charles without hesitation. Soon, the two of them entered the bustling saloon.
Charles generously played the host. After inviting Johnny to sit, he used the 50 cents they had just scavenged to order a bottle of smooth Gin for each of them.
Then, they found a quiet corner to sit down and began to enjoy their drinks at leisure.
After a few sips, Johnny suddenly remembered something. He set down his glass and said to Charles with a smile:
"Hey! Charles, I've brought you a special gift this time.
It's a little treasure I picked up specifically from the black market in Strawberry. I bet you'll love it!
Think of it as a return gift for that incredibly sharp Machete you gave me before."
As he spoke, Johnny reached into his coat and pulled out a bulging cloth bag, handing it to Charles.
Charles took the bag with delight, an irrepressible look of curiosity on his face.
He couldn't wait to see what kind of surprise was inside.
His hands trembling slightly, he quickly untied the string and carefully pulled out the contents.
In an instant, a uniquely shaped Stone Hatchet, radiating a mysterious aura, appeared before his eyes.
Looking closely, the Stone Hatchet was even meticulously carved with ancient and exquisite Indian totem patterns.
Those smooth, lifelike totems seemed to tell stories from long ago, making one couldn't help but be captivated.