PFC Chapter 113 The Unexpected Appearance of Wade and Thomas!
Chapter 113 The Unexpected Appearance of Wade and Thomas!
Chapter 113 The Unexpected Appearance of Wade and Thomas!
When Wade and Thomas suddenly appeared in front of everyone, the Dutton family was both surprised and delighted, especially Tom!
However, Tom's eyes scanned the entire street eagerly, but he still couldn't find that familiar white-haired figure.
The answer is already clear.
He strode forward and gave Wade a big hug.
"You're late?" Tom exclaimed excitedly. "I thought you weren't coming!"
Wade laughed heartily, patting him hard on the back: "I told you, my brothers are here, and so is an injured cowgirl! How's she?"
"Very good! She's excellent!" An unexpected voice rang out from behind Tom.
Elsa stood there with a bright smile on her face.
Wade looked over in surprise, his grin widening even further: "Wow! Seeing you all lively and energetic makes me feel so relieved!"
Tom's gaze then turned to Thomas.
His smile was still bright, filled with the sincerity of a reunion: "It's so nice to see you again!"
"Me too," Thomas replied, his tone still carrying a subtle hint of detachment.
Tom's eyes darted quickly around Thomas, as if searching for something, before he finally couldn't help but ask, "Where's the captain?"
This soft question, like a stone thrown into calm water, instantly silenced the scene.
Even Wade, who had just hugged Ennis, froze with a smile.
Thomas's eyes dimmed slightly, his voice gentle yet low: "He—asked me to give you a message. Little Tom, he said: I'm sorry, I have to break my promise. I have to—go and reunite with my family."
Thomas's words were like a cold winter wind, blowing through Tom's heart and casting a faint shadow of sadness over him.
But the smile on his face stubbornly remained, refusing to crumble.
"Oh—reunited with his family?" Tom tried to keep his voice light. "I thought he'd found a second spring in the life of some immigrant widow!"
"Pfft!" Someone couldn't hold it in any longer.
Then, as if a fuse had been lit, suppressed laughter suddenly erupted, growing louder and louder!
The slight sadness that had just begun to spread was instantly swept away by the loud, vibrant laughter.
The arrival of Wade and Thomas instantly ignited the night in Paradise Valley!
"You guys have no idea how ruthless Tom is with his people!" Jonah picked up his glass and took a big gulp, foaming at his beard. "Me, a cook with a tumor on my leg, and he made me work like a cowboy, patrolling the whole ranch! He doesn't treat me like a cripple, he treats me like an animal!"
Hahaha-!
Laughter echoed through the valley.
Wade was so happy that he slapped his thigh, making the cups on the table clink!
Ennis shook his head with a smile. It was true that Jonah was on patrol, but at that time, bandits were watching closely, and there really weren't enough people!
"Yes! You're right!" Tom raised his glass, his anger directed at Jonah. "I just can't stand you! I've been treating you like a good guy! Tell me, how are you any less than a good guy?"
"I'm a cripple!" Jonah slammed his glass down on the table, the wooden table making a loud bang that startled the horses in the distance, causing them to neigh.
"Hahaha--!"
Another deafening burst of laughter erupted!
"Hiccup—!" Jonah slumped into his chair, pointing at Wade with bleary, drunken eyes, "I—"
I don't like this godforsaken place! But little Tom does—this valley belongs to the Duttons! They're going to settle down here!
"The entire valley is Dutton—"
Before he could finish speaking, with a "smack," Jonah's drunken face slammed solidly onto the greasy table!
As Jonah passed out drunk, the banquet came to an end.
The group helped Jonah back to his tent and then went off to rest.
Tom had just returned to his tent when he unexpectedly saw Simone standing there.
"What's wrong?" Tom asked, puzzled.
He's not resting so late to come looking for him, there must be something wrong.
Simone opened her mouth, but hesitated, looking very troubled.
Tom instantly sobered up, his heart sinking: "You're leaving?"
Simone nodded, her gaze darting away, her voice barely audible: "I'm sorry, Tom—"
"No, no need to apologize." Tom's expression was calm, his tone natural. "I promised you you could leave anytime. When?"
Simone swallowed hard and managed to squeeze out a few words: "First thing tomorrow morning."
"Okay. Have you packed everything?" Tom looked at her, wondering where she was going.
"Yes, everything's been packed while you were gone."
"Um—" Tom paused, "Can you tell me where we're going?"
Simone remained silent.
Tom nodded knowingly: "Alright. Wherever you go, remember to take your destiny into your own hands."
For a moment, Tom didn't know what to say.
Although I knew someone would leave, I didn't expect Simone to be the first to go.
He had assumed it would be Cooper.
"Goodbye!" Simone turned to leave.
"Wait!" Tom called out to her, quickly pulled out his wallet, and stuffed all the money inside into her hand.
Simone pushed and tried desperately to return it.
"Take it! If—if possible, go to Oregon! Buy some land and settle down."
Tom's tone was resolute.
Holding the stack of money, Simone gave Tom a complicated smile: "It's a pity you're still a child—"
'
After saying that, she didn't linger and turned to disappear into the night.
Tom silently gazed in the direction she had disappeared, his mind replaying her last words: "It's a pity you're still a child." What did that mean?
The joy brought by Wade and Thomas has now been completely washed away by Simone's departure.
Silent all night.
Tom didn't get dressed and go out until the next day when a commotion broke out outside the tent.
Zack and Cooper stood there listlessly, staring blankly into the distance.
On the other side, Ennis, Elsa, and the newcomers Wade and Thomas were already busy, calling out to herd cattle and horses.
How could a mere few hundred cattle and dozens of horses fill the vast grassland?
"What are you two doing standing here?" Tom asked as he walked over.
Zach sighed heavily: "Simone is gone—"
"Yeah, I know." Tom glanced at the two of them, his tone slightly impatient. "I'm very busy right now. If you're leaving, say so now so I can find someone to replace you! If you don't want to leave, just say so!"
He didn't treat these two with any kindness.
Zach jumped in surprise and quickly declared, "I'm not leaving!"
"Why didn't you say so earlier if you weren't leaving!" Tom's face darkened further. "Go do what you were doing!"
Zach felt like he'd been granted a pardon and slipped away.
Tom turned to Cooper: "What about you? Want to leave too?"
"Um----"
"Okay, let's go."
"I don't want to leave anymore!" Cooper changed his mind.
Tom's face immediately turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
Seeing that things were going badly, Cooper turned and ran, shouting, "I'm going to find Zack!"
"You—" Tom was about to curse when he saw his father, James, riding a horse slowly toward him.
"Tom, do you know Simone is gone?" James asked.
Tom nodded vigorously: "I know!"
Where did she go?
"I don't know!" Tom shook his head decisively.
James didn't press further, changing the subject: "It's time to get ready to build the house!"
Tom's eyes lit up the moment he heard the words "build a house"!