"Time heals everything."
The cold temperatures of winter accelerated the healing of Schupel's wounds, and by spring he was able to get out of bed and jump around freely again. During these months, the Van der Linde gang stayed at Emerald Manor, and John and Schupper became very good friends. In the summer, John and Shupel often meet up to hunt in the jungle, while also scouting the surroundings to ensure the safety of the manor.
"You can stay here all the time, I will treat you as relatives." Shupel promised John.
Autumn came quietly, the leaves turned yellow, and the rain began to decrease. John realized that they had been here for a spring and autumn, and the gang members had become accustomed to a peaceful life, but John had a heavy responsibility and could not slack off. He had been brewing in his heart these past few days. livelihood.
During a hunting trip, thunder was rolling in the sky, and heavy rain could pour down at any time. There was a rustling sound coming from the depths of the woods. A stray elk ran lightly through the bushes, seemingly looking for a shelter from the rain. Little did he know that two hunters had already targeted it.
"This rain is coming at the wrong time. We have to hurry up. This deer is enough for us to hold a family banquet." An old hunter with a white beard on his face quickly raised his gun behind the bushes.
"Schupel, I have to tell you, I'm ready to set off." said the hunter next to him.
The old hunter was stunned for a moment. It was obvious that he did not expect what his companion said, and he gradually lowered his gun.
"It seems that I still can't keep you, John, but it's up to you whether to leave or not."
Schupper raised the gun again and firmly pulled the trigger. After the smoke cleared, he stepped forward and dismembered the elk carcass with a knife.
"I will always be grateful to you for taking us in these days." John looked at Shupel with concern not far away.
"No..." Shupel stopped what he was doing, "With you here, Emerald Ranch has got rid of its original deserted state, and John, you taught me how to use a gun and made me understand the importance of self-defense. Thank you." It should be me."
"We are just sojourners and you need time to accept this."
After a thunderclap, raindrops fell on the brims of the two hunters' hats. Schupper removed the deer's limbs and shouted to John.
"Come here and help me!"
Schupper and John returned home with a full load at the last moment before the heavy rain hit, but what suddenly made the many happy smiling faces suddenly feel cold was that they were told that this dinner was actually a farewell party for John and others.
At noon the next day, after having a simple lunch, the Van der Linde gang stepped onto the carriage that Schupel borrowed from a friend. Mr. Wayne personally came from Lemoyne to see them off.
"This carriage will take you to Valentine, which is a human settlement. If Emerald Ranch is a paradise, Valentine is the starting point of civilization." Schupper kept urging. In John's opinion, this old man The guy is using endless words to cover up his reluctance.
"We have to get going. See you later, Mr. Schupper." John held the reins in his hand and prepared to start the carriage.
"Wait a minute! Mr. Coster, what are you going to do with Creed Bidget?" Mr. Wayne took a step forward and looked at Creed who was tied up in the carriage.
That's right, Creed Bidget - this traitorous guy has been locked up in a stable for this year, enjoying the same food and accommodation environment as a horse.
"We have our own way." The corners of John's mouth raised slightly.
Valentine was a small town that gave John mixed emotions. To be honest, John didn’t want to go back there. If he ran into Chief Malloy or his police officers, it would end badly—— Their relationship was already awkward, and the only trust they had was brokered by Mr. Fowler. In fact, the last thing John wants to face is Mr. Fowler. He doesn't know whether his identity has been exposed and whether Mr. Fowler has been reinstated. Liam Fowler is a fickle person. Although he promised John that he would never betray him, John knew one thing well. There are always many variables in life, and no smart person can predict them.
"You are worried about Mr. Fowler, or in other words, you are eager to know if he is in town." Miller, who was sitting next to him, seemed to see through John's thoughts.
"We've all changed over the years," John said.
"We've definitely changed a lot, but I think you should go find him, just like you found me at the Van der Linde gang's campfire."
"My brother will never betray me, this is my creed." John looked firmly at the dust raised by the horse's hooves.
"Then you have reason to believe Mr. Fowler, Brother John." Miller patted John on the shoulder, "Go find him. You should think over and over in your heart what to do next."
John and Miller found a hotel in Valentine and temporarily placed the other members there. John's room was on the second floor and he could see the police station at the end of the street through the window.
"To find Mr. Fowler, we must first find Malloy, the Sheriff of Valentine." John thought.
John wore the clothes of a bounty hunter, and more importantly, he put on a mask, so he walked leisurely into Valentine's police station.
"Looking for work?" A policeman wearing a wide-brimmed hat was writing something on the case. If John's memory was correct, this man was Chief Malloy.
"Yeah, let me see if there are any assholes out there who can't tell right from wrong."
"Hey, man, I've never seen a criminal hunter dressed like this before. Where are you from?" Malloy stopped writing.
"I'm the local gunslinger."
"Well, that's good. Crime has become more and more rampant in recent years. Bounty hunters from several states have come to Valentine to look for business, taking up the positions of hunters in this state. Even if things are done more efficiently, to be honest I hate these out-of-towners. They have yellow teeth and a rough face. This year, the old guys in town say that I, Sheriff Malloy, am trying to steal everything." Malloy smiled and opened the notebook he just memorized. He handed a page to John, "But, friend, you definitely don't want to listen to these complaints. Come here and sign your name. There are a lot of cases waiting for you in the drawer. Leave your name here and you can Starting to deal with it.”
John picked up the pen, but he didn't know what name to write. He retrieved a pseudonym from his mind and wanted to write it, but his hand was petrified and could not move. It turned out that Malloy held his arm tightly.
"Can this trick escape my eyes? John Coster."
John was startled, this happened suddenly.
"Relax, relax, at least I'm not here to catch you, you can believe this."
"Long time no see, Mr. Sheriff." John said sheepishly.
"Haha, you young man must not have made a special trip to see this old man like me, right? My guess is right, you are here to see Brother Fowler. If this is the case, you can relax. Although Brother Fowler has not been here for a year, Chang Jin, he hasn’t pushed me out of the position of Sheriff, but he cherishes his son’s life and doesn’t even say a word about you.”
"That's it...it's good that he's fine." John said hesitantly.
"No, you want to know where he is more. I can see it in your eyes. This is the keenness of an old police chief." Malloy took out a document from the drawer, "Unfortunately, you Mr. Fowler got involved in a dispute with Detective Pinkerton and became a case of mine. He can't be seen in public now. I'm sorry, John, but you have the right to investigate this matter."
John took the document from Malloy and wrote his name in the signature book.
"I took this case."
"Well done! I knew you wouldn't abandon your brothers. I've been keeping this file. You are the most suitable candidate." Sheriff Malloy jumped up excitedly.
"Oh, by the way. I can't let your work go in vain. I brought you a gift, Mr. Sheriff." John pointed to the door with a mysterious look on his face.
"You've piqued my curiosity, boy."
Malloy smiled as he walked out the door and saw a man tied to a telephone pole outside the police station, with a birch sign hanging around his neck that read.
"Credd Bidget, this guy is a member of the Skinned Brothers."
…
Back downstairs of the hotel, John saw a black Arabian horse showing affection to the boy he was riding on. He looked carefully and found the white cross on the horse's head. Only then did he realize that it was his black pearl. , he hugged his beloved horse excitedly, and Black Pearl rubbed his head against the owner, showing no intention of becoming estranged after a year and a half of separation.
At this time, Miller walked out of the hotel and looked at the old friends who had reunited after a long separation with a smile on his face.
"I saw it at the horse market. It was naked at that time, without a saddle or a bit. It didn't look like a rare and good horse at all, so no one came to see it. I saw your reaction. I just knew I was right to buy it without hesitation.”
"You have helped me a lot, Miller. Didn't you ask me about my next arrangements? I have thought about it. The first step is, let's start with Valentine."
