Chapter 130: The Gray Family
If you can’t destroy your enemy, then become friends with them.
This had always been the tradition of the Braithwaite family—and a saying favored by many wealthy figures across the United States.
It was this line of thinking that made Catherine consider a marriage alliance with Davey. Of course, she had no idea that her beloved daughter had already fallen for a man from the enemy Gray family.
...
In Rhodes Town, the drunken Mac finally woke up. After taking a bath, he found Davey eating in the dining hall.
“Davey, now that we’re in Rhodes, you should really come up with a plan. Staying here is way too boring.”
“If possible, I’d love to go to Saint Denis. You know how much I miss that place.”
A nostalgic look appeared on Mac’s face.
Saint Denis—largest city in the West—was home to hundreds of thousands of people, filled with travelers from all over the world.
And indulgence and luxury were unmistakably part of its charm.
The Van der Linde Gang had gone there once. Their stay had been brief, but the city still left a deep impression on many members.
“Oh, Mac. Don’t tell me you plan on losing a fortune again like you did four years ago?”
“And then letting me beat you up again? Is that it?”
Davey said with a sarcastic edge.
Mac loved the excitement of gambling. In Saint Denis that night, he lost over a thousand dollars in just a few hours. When Davey found out, he beat his younger brother senseless.
Of course, that was the old Davey.
“What an awful memory, Davey. I swear, I won’t gamble this time.”
“You know me—I’ve never forgotten the Saint Denis Hotel. The ladies there are nothing like the ones in a little town like Valentine.”
“And it’s all your fault, Davey. Ever since you introduced me to Miss Stella, my standards have been sky-high.”
“Besides, we’re rich now, right? You should let me enjoy myself once in a while. Please, Davey.”
Mac plopped down beside him, grinning shamelessly.
Hearing him mention Stella, Davey sighed helplessly. “Alright, Mac. Your head’s always full of women—I can’t do anything about you.”
“Go on. Head to the lively streets of Saint Denis and look for your sweetheart. But remember, you only have three days. You must come back.”
“And don’t cause any trouble. Keep a low profile.”
Mac still didn’t move. Instead, he leaned closer with a thick-skinned smile. “Davey… maybe you should give me some dollars. You know how it is—in a big place like Saint Denis, a few hundred bucks won’t last, and they definitely won’t bring me any fun.”
Davey didn’t bother arguing. He pulled out his checkbook and wrote him a cashier’s check for 3,000 dollars.
By 1871, the national banking system had already been established. After Davey founded the Land Security company, he gained access to a bank checkbook.
At present in the United States, only companies could issue checks for large cash withdrawals and transfers.
“Oh my god, dear Davey, I absolutely love you!”
Mac cried out in delight when he saw the amount. He never expected Davey to give him 3,000 dollars—he had assumed he’d get maybe 1,000 at most.
“Alright, Mac, get out of here and go enjoy your Saint Denis adventure. I’ll have Kendall keep an eye on you. If you dare step foot inside a casino, I promise I’ll beat the hell out of you again.”
Kendall was one of the three men Davey had brought with him.
“Enough, Davey. You’re such a nag—you’re just like our dead old man.”
“Kendall, you lucky bastard—come on! Let’s go enjoy beautiful Saint Denis!”
Under the envious gaze of the other two men, Kendall followed Mac out.
...
After finishing his meal, Davey took the remaining two men and headed toward the Gray family estate.
If he wanted to bring down the Braithwaite family, he would need the Grays’ help. And the Grays had the upper hand—they controlled law enforcement in Rhodes.
Since Rhodes was the closest town to Saint Denis, its sheriff wasn’t elected but appointed by the federal government.
After the Civil War, the Gray family quickly aligned themselves with the federal government, while the Braithwaite family pledged allegiance to an Italian mob boss in Saint Denis: Angelo Bronte.
...
Gray Manor.
Davey had no intention of seeking out the drunken sheriff—an alcoholic mess of a man. His real target was the true head of the Gray family: Tavish Gray.
Tavish was the father of Sheriff Leigh Gray and the Braithwaite family’s primary rival. If they relied on a sheriff who was drunk around the clock, the Gray family would’ve been swallowed by the Braithwaites long ago.
Davey suspected that the person sent to Emerald Ranch to deliver the message had been dispatched by Tavish.
And he also suspected that the Gray family had deep ties with the O’Driscoll Gang—possibly even serving as one of their financial backers.
Author's Note
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