Chapter 155: Return to Valentine
The Gray family’s losses were enormous.
Hosea had only taken 1,000 dollars from Lady Catherine, yet the Grays themselves had lost tens of thousands.
Despite their wealth, their expenses were just as heavy—especially now, right before tobacco harvest season. Losing the fields meant losing nearly half a year’s income in an instant.
They had also lost a wagon carrying this month’s wages for their guards.
Out West, most people didn’t have bank accounts. Many were illiterate, and plenty had no formal identity records at all.
So whether it was a tycoon like Cornwall or anyone else, they had to withdraw money directly from banks. Those withdrawals were usually in small bills—five-dollar, ten-dollar notes—which meant someone had to physically transport them.
“We can’t just let this go. We have to teach those Northerners a lesson—and that damned Braithwaite family too.”
“I’d bet my life that the one pulling the strings is that old woman! That foolish old hag!”
“Fuck, has she gone mad? Does she actually want a war with us?”
Drunken Sheriff Leigh Gray kept cursing nonstop.
Jock Gray, Lain Gray, Scott Gray, and the others all joined in, venting their rage at the Braithwaites and at Arthur’s group.
The entire hall descended into noisy chaos.
The Grays weren’t incapable of absorbing the financial loss—they had deep foundations—but the fact that Northerners were the ones responsible made it impossible for anyone to swallow the insult.
Only Beau Gray stayed out of it. Tavish clearly didn’t want his son dragged into the family conflict.
“Enough, gentlemen. Quiet.”
At Tavish’s command, the hall fell silent.
He continued, “We do need to deal with those Northerners—but we also have to admit every one of them is a skilled hand. We can’t take them head-on; it would cost us too much.”
“Maybe they still think we don’t know who they really are. That works in our favor.”
“Those damned greedy bastards. Whatever the Braithwaite family can do, we can do as well—using the same method that mad old woman used.”
“Mr. Land has already wiped out the Lemoyne Raiders and taken over their moonshine business. Cotton isn’t worth much. So maybe we can have those Northerners steal the purebred stallions from that old woman’s estate.”
“They want money, right? Does the Gray family not have money?”
“But we still need to teach them a lesson. Our guards have taken heavy losses. Spread the word that we’re hiring new
family guards.”
“I’ve heard these Northerners have their eyes on that shipment of gold. Excellent. They’ll definitely walk straight into our trap.”
“And their camp—Clemens Point. I’ve already informed the O’Driscolls we work with. He told me they have a deep grudge against those Northerners. I trust they’ll give us a result we can be satisfied with.”
“Now, gentlemen, I need all of you to stay calm and keep this quiet. I’ll personally meet with those damned Northerners myself and send them against the Braithwaites.”
As clan head, Tavish held immense authority. And to everyone present, his plan truly did seem perfect.
Use a guard-recruitment ruse as bait.
Ambush the Northerners.
Have another gang hit their camp at the same time.
In their eyes, this was guaranteed to crush the Northerners—and before that, they could still use them to strike the Braithwaite family.
“A fine plan, Tavish. I can’t wait to see those Northerners get what’s coming to them.”
“No one crosses the Gray family and walks away unharmed—filthy, ungrateful wolves.”
“Why don’t we raise a drink now? Consider it an early celebration of our victory.”
Drunken Sheriff Leigh Gray pulled out his flask and raised it high.
The others were more than happy to agree. Even if they weren’t as alcohol-soaked as Leigh, each one was certainly a capable drinker.
...
Rhodes Town Train Station.
Davey was waiting there for Hosea.
Earlier, concerning that bearer bond from Cornwall, Hosea had used Davey’s connection with the Valentine Bank manager to get in touch with a banker named Nathan Kirk.
However, Nathan had been tied up with other matters, and only recently confirmed he could finally make the trip to Valentine.
Davey had Arthur relay the message to Hosea, and they arranged to return to Valentine together.
The ride from Rhodes Town to Valentine took three days on horseback, and Davey had no desire to endure that. Naturally, he chose the faster option.
By train, the journey took only one day.
He had already purchased two luxury-car tickets.
Before long, Hosea appeared in the distance, riding toward him.
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