Reborn in 1878: America's Number One Bandit

Chapter 8 Vicious Dogs and Wolves

Lawson swallowed the last bite of apple, the sweet juice sliding down his throat into his stomach.

What are we having for dinner?

Lucy opened her blue eyes wide and looked at him in surprise.

"Mr. Lawson, you're already hungry? You ate a whole pot of beef stew with potatoes for lunch!"

Lawson touched his still flat stomach and smiled. "There's nothing I can do, Lucy. A man has to keep eating to grow. You see, I still have a lot of room to grow."

He stood up, stretched, and his joints cracked and popped.

This body, which was once as thin as a bean sprout, has become strong in just two days.

Although the muscle definition is not yet obvious, he is no longer so thin.

"Pfft."

Lucy was amused and covered her mouth to laugh, her eyes curving into beautiful crescent moons.

“Well, Mr. Lawson, who is still growing.”

She teased him, mimicking his tone, "Then let's go see what food Mom has left."

"Let's go." Lawson followed the girl toward the cabin.

New energy is growing within him every moment.

Lawson's need for food is not just about feeling full, but a deeper need.

He now finally understood why powerful creatures always consumed more energy.

Everything is moving in a positive direction.

It's getting late.

Johnny and his four companions entered the town.

They all changed into cleaner work pants and shirts.

We had only just reached the entrance to the town.

Before I could even see the sign for the "Wild Horse" tavern, I was blocked off.

Sheriff Barnes was accompanied by his five deputies, their guns gleaming.

"stop!"

Barnes looked the five men up and down.

"That damn Irishman again."

He already had one hand on the handle of the gun at his waist.

"Where are you from? What are you doing in Strawberry Town?"

Johnny lowered his head slightly, adopting a submissive posture.

“Sir Sheriff, we’re here looking for work. We heard the railway construction site is hiring.”

Looking for work?

Barnes sneered and gave his deputy a wink.

"Search!"

Two henchmen pushed Johnny and his four men against the wooden wall by the roadside and raised their hands high.

They were searched thoroughly, even their crotches and boots were searched.

"Boss, they didn't bring any guns," a deputy reported.

Barnes then removed his hand from the gun handle.

He then took the portraits and compared them one by one.

That's not the goal we're looking for.

He poked Johnny's chest hard with his finger: "Listen, you red-haired bastard."

I don't care what you're here for, but in my town, you better behave yourselves!
If a chicken goes missing in town, I'll snap your necks first!

Now, get out!

Johnny straightened his disheveled collar.

He nodded to his brothers behind him and continued walking towards the tavern.

Barnes and other police officers followed on horseback.

Just as Johnny and his group were about to step into the tavern, another group of people came noisily from the opposite side.

They were six burly men from Erscher, all dressed in railway work clothes.

The guy in the lead had a face full of freckles and a scruffy red beard on his chin.

That was exactly what Lawson was after.

Finn O'Connor and his five associates.

They were about to enter when Barnes stepped forward and stopped them.

Barnes clearly recognized them, and he looked at Finn with disgust: "You bunch of drunkards, here to ruin the town's whiskey again?"

Finn retorted defiantly, "We've worked hard all day, Sheriff. Having a drink to relax isn't illegal, is it?"

"Not illegal?"

Barnes stepped forward, almost face to face, staring at him: "But your ugly face disgusts me, and that's illegal!"

"you……"

"Snapped!"

Without warning, Barnes slapped Finn across the face.

"Remember who you are, you Ersher dog who can only move railway tracks."

Barnes lowered his voice: "If you dare talk to me like that again, I'll hang you on a flagpole and let you dry."

Finn covered his face, furious but unable to speak out.

His companions behind him also shrank back, not daring to utter a sound.

Barnes gave a satisfied hum and then led his men away. Johnny happened to walk up at that moment and patted Finn on the shoulder.

He said, feeling a sense of shared misfortune, "Hey, brother, don't take it to heart. That guy is a rabid dog; he'll bite anyone he sees."

Finn looked up and saw several unfamiliar compatriots.

"Let's go."

Johnny pointed to the tavern's door and laughed heartily, "Let's go in and have a drink, forget all this unpleasantness. Round one, it's on me. Consider it a toast to us, the Ersher brothers who have left our homeland."

Finn and his companions' eyes lit up at the mention of free drinks.

"Hey, you're a good guy!"

Finn's gloom vanished instantly, and he warmly put his arm around Johnny's shoulder: "Come on, let's go for a drink! My name is Finn, and these are my brothers: Declan, Seamus, Connor, Patrick, and Liam."

"My name is Johnny."

The group entered the smoke-filled tavern and quickly sat down at a wooden table in a corner.

Eleven large glasses of frothy dark beer were served.

"To Ireland!" Finn raised his glass.

"Homage to Ireland!"

With Johnny as a generous sucker, and given that they were also Irish, Finn and his gang quickly lowered their guard.

After a few drinks, he started talking non-stop.

"Let me tell you, last time in Sacramento, I met a girl whose ass was rounder than any Quarter Horse I've ever seen!"

Declan, reeking of alcohol, gestured with an exaggerated arc: "I only used half a silver dollar, and she howled in the stable all night!"

"That's nothing!"

Seamus slammed his hand on the table and boasted in a thick tongue, "Last month, you guys saw that Mexican woman at the construction site, right? She was gorgeous. I cornered her in the tent, hehe..."

The men let out a knowing chuckle.

They boasted about their affairs with different women and talked about where to find the strongest liquor and which casinos were the best for winning money.

Johnny and his brothers would occasionally chime in with a few words.

In the midst of their drinking and revelry, Finn suddenly remembered something and boasted smugly, "Johnny, I have something even more exciting to tell you."

Just a few days ago, a few of us brothers killed a Chinaman with our own hands.

"Oh? What's going on?"

"Ha, just a clueless yellow-skinned monkey!"

Finn took a big gulp of wine and said excitedly, "That kid's name is Agou. He talked back to us and even tried to fight."

The six of us dragged him to the grove behind the house and gave him a good workout.

That guy's bones are really brittle; he died in no time.

“That’s right! I even broke three of his ribs!” Connor added from the side.

Johnny's smile remained unchanged.

He raised his glass: "Well done! Those yellow-skinned monkeys with their braids should have been taught a lesson long ago! Cheers to your bravery!"

"cheers!"

After another round of drinks, Johnny asked, seemingly casually, "Do you all have family here?"

Finn waved his hand and hiccuped. "Family? My family's starving in Ersher! We brothers are family to each other!"

"Yes, we have no ties!"

Having obtained the information he wanted, Johnny knew the time was ripe.

He sighed, a worried look on his face: "Ah, I really envy you guys. My brothers and I just arrived here, we don't know anyone, and today we got targeted by that damned sheriff. I'm really worried that we'll be bullied on the construction site."

"Finn, can we work for you guys? To avoid being bullied by those old guys, can we tell everyone we're your cousins?"

This suggestion surprised Finn.

His alcohol-numbed mind then came to its senses.

Having five more strong and capable cousins ​​meant that he had more influence on the construction site.

From now on, regardless of whether it's with other Erschers...

It's better to clash with those damned Chinese laborers; that way, we'll have more confidence.

Moreover, these "cousins" seem generous, so I might be able to get free drinks from them often in the future.

Finn slapped his thigh and burst into laughter: "Of course! What's the problem! From today onwards, you're our cousins!"

"Don't worry! With us protecting you, no one will dare lay a finger on you at the construction site in Strawberry Town!"

“Thank you so much, Cousin Finn!” Johnny immediately changed his form of address.

"Haha, good! Good cousin!"

The night is dark.

Finn and his six drunken buddies, arm in arm with their five newly adopted cousins, were together.

He staggered back to the railway construction site camp.

In the camp, campfires flickered intermittently.

Finn led Johnny and his five companions to their Ershe people's settlement.

Pointing to an empty, dilapidated tent.

He announced loudly, "Listen up, guys! These are my five cousins ​​who just came from my hometown!"

From now on, we're all on the same side, so please take care of me!

The workers around them glanced at Johnny and his group a few times, but didn't suspect anything.

In this day and age, it's perfectly normal for people to bring their families and friends along when they go out to find work.

And so, five of the fiercest wolves silently infiltrated the Irish Hounds.

(End of this chapter)