A few weeks later.
Valentine seems to have returned to its original appearance. With the joint efforts of the whole town, the reconstruction of this town is progressing much faster than everyone imagined.
Now, only half of the barn at Valentine Ranch still stands there, like a lonely monument commemorating the defense battle that is destined to go down in history. However, I heard that no one is taking care of this house until now. The reason is that no one has been found who is willing to pay for it. The owner of this ranch died in the Battle of Valentine, and the ranch owner’s family had long since been sent on the last train to New Austin. Until now, not even one of his relatives has come to claim his body.
Therefore, the rancher's body has been cremated and handed over to the town church for preservation. According to Sheriff Malloy, if no immediate family member of the rancher comes to claim it in another month, he will A self-organized auction will be held at which the rancher's land and assets will be valued and auctioned off.
In addition, Valentine has basically returned to its former prosperity, the stables have opened normally, and the hotel has opened its doors to continue to welcome visitors from all directions. The residents of the town, although most of them are injured and have sad faces, are mutually supportive. They seem to be closer and more positive about the future.
The southernmost part of Chadwick Farm, the Ross family home.
Brandi is still lying on the bed, but his posture is much more casual. His naked upper body is still wrapped in bandages, but it can be seen that there are no traces of new blood leaking out of the bandages. According to Mattie, there will be no more blood leakage today. Stick to it for one day, and tomorrow you can just use gauze and tape to cover the wound.
At this time, he was writing words that others could not understand in his little notebook, swaying a little on his toes, very leisurely and comfortable.
At this time, the door and windows of the room were open, and the draft that was mixed with some livestock odor but still refreshing was blowing, very leisurely and comfortable.
With a "squeak", the back door of the cabin was pushed open, and Mattie walked into the house holding a large basin of washed clothes. She turned her head and glanced at the leisurely Brandi, and said, "Mr. Munny, what are you doing now?" busy?"
"Now? There's still a little bit now, but I won't be busy soon." After hearing this, Brandi quickly wrote two lines in the notebook, then put away the notebook and pen, and said, "Okay, I won't be busy now." , Little Mattie, what’s the matter with you?”
"I've told you many times not to call me that," Mattie said as she hung the laundry on a rope hanging in the front room. "If you really want to call me something more formal, like the other Just call me Miss Rose."
"Oh, come on, little Mattie, it's not a formal occasion now," Brandi smiled and said, "Let's get down to business. You asked me just now, do you need me to do anything?"
Mattie didn't continue to struggle with the issue of calling her. Maybe Brandy had never changed, maybe she was getting used to having someone other than her mother call her that.
While she continued to hang clothes, she said, "Originally I didn't want to trouble you, but I'm really busy now. If I go back after finishing my work, I won't be able to make lunch in time."
"You could have troubled me a long time ago," Brandi said, getting up from the bed. "I could have helped you with some housework a week ago."
"You can barely do it now, but you couldn't do it back then," Mattie said in a strong tone, as if a parent was lecturing a disobedient family member. "Don't argue with me. I said you couldn't do it then and you were." no."
"Okay, okay, okay," Brandi said helplessly, raising her hands to signal Mattie to calm down, "Now tell me, what do you need me to do?"
Mattie wiped her soapy hands on her apron, walked up to Brandy, took out a few silver-gray coins from the pocket of her apron and put them into Brandy's big hand, and said: "Help me go to the grocery store and buy some radishes, potatoes and celery, and two pounds of beef. Remember to watch the butcher and don't let him cut off some scraps for me."
Brandy held the money in her hand and said, "It will definitely fulfill its mission."
After Mattie handed the money to Brandi, she immediately turned around and continued to dry the clothes, saying, "Go back quickly, don't
Stay on the road, and especially don't go to the pub to drink, you hear me? "
"I heard it, I heard it, my dear Miss Rose." Brandy responded a little impatiently while getting dressed.
After a while, Brandi Munny, wearing a blue shirt, black trousers and boots, and a black gambler's hat, left Mattie's house and walked towards Valentine while adjusting the position of the hat on her head.
Along the way, Brandi saw a lot of carriages and horseback travelers coming and going, which made him very happy, because it showed that Valentine had indeed returned to basic production and life.
Sometimes, we will meet some familiar faces on the road. They are all survivors of the defense war. When they see Brandy, they will smile and nod in greeting, as if they are seeing a familiar friend or a close comrade-in-arms, and Brandy will smile and hold up his hat in return.
Perhaps only those who have experienced that battle can understand this tacit understanding, because only those who have fought side by side can truly understand this kind of friendship.
Mattie's house was indeed not far from the town, and soon Brandi walked to the door of the Sheriff's Office.
Sheriff Curtis Malloy was leaning against the doorpost as always. Seeing Brandy's familiar face that he hadn't seen for a long time, he stood up straight, walked forward with some surprise, and gave Brandy a He gave me a big hug and said, "Hey, Brandi, I thought it would be a while before I see you again. It seems like your injury is almost healed. You're jumping around now?"
"It's not really lively, I'm just helping the little parent at home buy some things," Brandy said with a smile, "But you, Mr. Sheriff, haven't even looked at me for so long. I thought you had forgotten that there is a person like me.”
"There are really a lot of things going on this month. I have to coordinate the town's damage, supervise the reconstruction work, and deal with the bailiffs, the governor, the army and even Pinkerton detectives. I'm so busy that I can't even find my way around my house. If you want to forget, you should be more understanding," Chief Malloy responded to Brandi with a smile while showing him the brand new badge on his chest, "Oh, by the way, since the day before yesterday, I have been The state’s bailiff, because there is no suitable candidate for the town’s sheriff yet, so until then, this town will still be under my jurisdiction.”
"Oh, that's really congratulations, Mr. Marshal Malloy." Brandi said with an exaggerated French bow.
The newly appointed bailiff smiled very helpfully and said, "Okay, okay, don't forget the task Miss Ross gave you. She is a difficult little girl to deal with."
"Then I won't disturb you, Mr. Bailiff."
After exchanging greetings with Curtis Malloy, who was in high spirits on a happy occasion, Brandi continued to walk towards the grocery store, but within a few steps, the smell of wine, the sound of piano and the noise wafting from the Smithfield Tavern overwhelmed him. The heart that had just been freed held tight.
It only took about a minute for Brandy to forget about Mattie's instructions. "Just go have a drink. It shouldn't be a problem." He thought like this and pushed away with traces of bullets still left. tavern door.
As soon as she opened the door, Brandy heard Javier's familiar voice before she took a closer look at the bar.
"One more drink." He smiled boldly, showing his heroic nature.
Only then did Brandi see clearly that over the bar, Javier and Charles were surrounded by two beautiful beauties, flirting with each other and drinking freely.
At this time, Javier noticed Brandi who was walking towards them, and immediately greeted him enthusiastically: "Hey, Brandi, I didn't expect you to have recovered so well. Eh? Why are you dressed like Arthur? Same?"
"It's not completely healed yet," Brandi responded with a smile. "Rather than discussing my clothes, I think you are more interested in the two beauties next to you? Look at you, your mouth is grinning almost to your ears. The roots are gone.”
"Oh, of course, ago (friend), of course," Javier said, putting his arm around Brandi's shoulders and introducing the two beautiful ladies around him to him, "Come on, Brandi, Come meet our new friends.”
"Nice to meet you, two beautiful ladies." Brandi said lightly.
He gently held the brim of his hat and said.
"Oh, hello, handsome sir," one of the two beauties, a woman with chestnut hair and a figure that is ready to show off, said, "Look, are you as strong as a teak mountain?"
"Oh, come on, Anastasia," another dark-haired beauty said in slightly provocative words, "Everyone can see that this guy is a coward."
"Aha, you're right, yes, he's a coward," Javier cackled with a smile, "Isn't that right, Brandy?"
"Whatever you say, Javier," Brandi has no time to argue with two strangers now. He just wants to have a drink, meet old friends and have a little chat. What's more, these two It turned out that the new women who had recently arrived were rude to him, so he planned to deal with them in the most direct way, "Let's make it clear, how much are you two worth?"
This sentence touches the bottom line of women. Regardless of whether they are selling themselves, speaking like this is extremely impolite.
"Is this the way you should talk to a lady?" the lady with an exaggerated figure asked sullenly.
"Oh, I really didn't know I was talking to a woman right now." Brandi tit-for-tat very rudely.
Brandi's tough attitude really angered the two women. They said "I'm sorry," and left. Even though Javier and Charles tried to use words or even body to retain them, they couldn't stop them from leaving. pace.
"Oh, my friend, I remember you are not very good at talking to girls?" Javier said to Brandi with a little disappointment and annoyance.
"Yes, a serious playboy, full of charm," Brandi smiled slightly, grabbed the wine glass on the table and drank it in one gulp, "Are you two just the two of you?"
"Oh, Bill is here too, but he's not here now, but I don't want to think about it now..." Javier said half drunkenly. Suddenly, the door of the pub was knocked open, and Bill stumbled in. Javier immediately said, "Look, he's coming."
When Bill broke into the tavern, he happened to collide with a drinker who was trying to leave the tavern. The two immediately started arguing. After a few words, they started pushing and pulling each other.
"Does he want to kiss that guy twice or punch him a few times?" Brandy couldn't understand the current situation.
At this time, Bill grabbed the opponent's head with both hands and slammed him on the nearby gambling table where Texas Hold'em was being played. The drinkers around him immediately stood up, and the tavern fell into chaos in an instant.
"Oh, I think we should already know the answer." Javier said, casually picking up the wine bottle on the table, aiming at the drinker closest to him who had his back turned, and smashed it with lightning speed. The drinker who wanted to join Bill's group fell to the ground, and then he struggled with another drinker on the side.
Charles has been silent, but that doesn't mean he will be indifferent to this kind of thing. When the chaos started, he directly picked up a chair, knocked the nearest brawler to the ground, and then rushed directly to another participant in the brawl. of drinkers.
"Good guys, what a bunch of troublemakers." Brandi thought, and just when he didn't know what to do, a half-drunk drinker locked his eyes on him and said, "You, just you, come here! After saying that, he punched Brandi with a punch.
Brandy did not hesitate and was merciless in his attacks. His injuries were not fully healed yet, so in the face of this situation, he had to use the most effective means to deal with his opponent. ..
He raised his hand to block the opponent's fist. Before the opponent could withdraw his fist, he flipped his wrist and directly tucked the opponent's arm under his armpit. The opponent's body immediately lost balance and was at his mercy.
Brandi didn't hold back, clenched his fist with his other free hand, and began to hit the man's face one by one. Until the other party made a sound of begging for mercy, he threw the man whose nose had been broken by him. on the ground.
Bill's situation at this time was not optimistic, because he was the one who provoked the trouble, so now he was facing the siege of several people. While he tried to resist, he shouted: "Let's just shoot these bastards!"
"Oh, please, you
Still think you haven’t caused enough trouble? "Charles punched his opponent hard in the face, knocking him back two steps. Charles grabbed the man by the collar, punched the man in the head one by one, and said, "We can handle it. These idiots!"
