Land Farm.
Davey's family dining room.
Mac, Uncle, Abigail, John, Little Jackie, and Davey were having breakfast together.
Maids kept coming in and out of the kitchen, bringing out freshly made dishes.
Compared to the simple stew made by Van der Linde's Fat Man, Pearson, this spread was on a completely different level.
They had coffee, milk, tea, and juice.
Main dishes included fried eggs, bacon, toast, sausages, ham slices, and cheese slices.
Dessert was a fruit salad of bananas, strawberries, and apples.
There were also various condiments—butter, tomato sauce, and more.
Davey never denied himself anything. If you've got money, why not enjoy it? Was he supposed to wait until his greenbacks turned moldy before spending them?
The hearty breakfast made Little Jackie cheer with excitement, and even Abigail seemed to take on the air of a refined lady.
Only Mac and Uncle's ravenous gobbling ruined the mood.
John, who had been a little stiff at first, saw how Uncle and Mac were eating and finally relaxed, digging in without restraint.
Davey reached over, took Little Jackie's juice, and replaced it with a glass of milk.
"Little Jackie, you're still young. You should drink more milk—grow big and strong, like your father and Uncle Mac."
"Okay, Uncle Davey. I'll do what you say."
After switching Little Jackie's drink, Davey turned to John.
"John, we can't go around robbing and killing anymore. So your role needs to change too."
"Uncle has been helping train my men. I pay him entirely in booze now. Oh, Uncle, you drink way more than that salary is worth."
Uncle shot back without hesitation, "Davey, you little bastard. I'm drinking moonshine—costs $1.80 outside, but for you it's only a few cents to make. That's cheaper than when I was in the gang."
"Oh, you're not a robber anymore, fuck. You're a capitalist now."
Davey ignored the teasing and continued, "So, John, I'm offering you a job."
"It's simple. Just teach those dumb gunmen a bit every day, keep order when the bootleggers come by, and protect our business."
"I'll pay you 300 bucks a month and give you a legal identity—like a constable under Valentine precinct. Of course, Sheriff Malloy probably won't actually pay you."
Even though John had taken part in the Blackwater ferry robbery, he wasn't considered important. His bounty was only 1,000 dollars, and the Bounty Hunters listed him for just 30.
With credentials as an officer, John would be a lawful man in New Hanover—though he still wouldn't be able to buy property, since a wanted man wouldn't pass bank checks.
"Davey, my brother, why won't you get me a legal identity too? You won't even pay off my bounty from the Bounty Hunters."
"You know, last time I went to Emerald Ranch, bounty hunters spotted me. I had no choice but to take them out."
"Can't you make things a little easier for me, Davey?"
Mac, hearing the words "legal identity" while eating, immediately started complaining.
Davey cut him off bluntly. "Listen, Mac. Sure, we're making piles of cash every day, but that's no reason for you to waste money."
"Our business needs to project intimidation. And what's more intimidating than a vicious wanted criminal who robbed Blackwater? That alone saves us a ton of trouble."
"If the Bounty Hunters didn't require double payment to raise the bounty, I'd pay myself to bump yours up to 500 dollars."
"Think about it, Mac— a 500-dollar bounty. People would be terrified. That's real prestige."
"Maybe I should go to the Valentine Police Station and get Sheriff Malloy to pull out your wanted poster and hang it somewhere prominent—just like Dutch's poster at Strawberry Town in West Elizabeth."
"Wouldn't that be incredibly cool?"
Talked in circles by Davey, Mac thought hard with his poor little brain, then nodded seriously. "Alright, Davey. You're right. That is cool, isn't it?"
The moment he said it, Uncle nearly spit out the drink he'd just sipped, laughing uncontrollably.
Abigail sensed something was off, but she couldn't quite say what.
Even John agreed with Mac. It was… just too cool.
But seeing Uncle's reaction, Mac finally sensed something wasn't quite right—though no matter how long he thought, he couldn't figure out where the problem was.
"Alright, Mac, don't overthink it. Once my security company is established, I'll get you a new identity."
"You'll have to change your surname then—same as mine. Mac Land."
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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