America 1883: The Western Homeland

Chapter 160 Encountering Danger Midway, Tom's Bloody Intimidation

Almost at the same instant he heard the signal, Tom suddenly raised his left fist, and the entire column came to a sudden stop as a whole, with all the horses quickly pulled behind the nearest rocks or tree trunks for cover.

The cowboys moved swiftly, dismounting in an instant and placing the barrels of their Winchester rifles on the cover. The clicking sound was incessant, the deathly sound of bullets being chambered.

The tense atmosphere was instantly brought to its peak.

Everyone held their breath, staring intently at the eerily silent stone slope on the right.

A few seconds of deathly silence.

Then, "Bang!"

A crisp gunshot ripped through the air, and the bullet whistled as it struck the ground a few steps in front of the packhorse, kicking up a cloud of dust.

This is a full-blown warning, or rather, a provocation.

"On the rocky slope! At ten o'clock!" Zack growled, having already locked onto the first target through the white smoke from his gun.

"Fire!" Tom's command was cold and short, without the slightest hesitation.

"Bang! Bang! Bang—!"

In an instant, the distinctive and rapid firing sound of the Winchester lever rifle rang out!

The Dutton cowboys were all veterans. They didn't shoot blindly, but instead used cover to calmly and accurately unleash bullets on any shadowy spot on the rocky slope where someone might be hiding.

The spent cartridges bounced merrily out of the magazine and landed on the rocks with a clattering sound.

The ambushers clearly did not expect the team to react so quickly, to have such heavy firepower, and to be so well-trained.

Their sporadic counterattacks were quickly suppressed.

Thomas didn't fire. He stood protectively beside Tom and Gold, his sharp eyes scanning the wider area to guard against attacks from other directions.

The gunfight didn't last long.

After at least two or three people were shot and screamed in agony, the gunfire behind the rocky slope quickly subsided, followed by the chaotic sound of horses' hooves and curses. Seeing that they could not gain any advantage, the ambushers began to retreat.

"Cease fire!" Tom raised his hand.

The gunfire stopped abruptly, and the air was filled with the pungent smell of gunpowder, mixed with the stench of dust and blood, which filled everyone's nostrils.

"Zack! Take two men and go check it out! Be careful!" Tom commanded, his voice still steady.

Using the terrain as cover, Zach and the two cowboys quickly approached the rocky slope.

A moment later, he stood at the top of the slope and made a safe gesture downwards.

Tom left most of his men to remain on guard while he quickly led Thomas up the steps.

The area behind the rocky slope was a mess.

Empty bullet casings were scattered on the ground, along with several pools of fresh blood that dripped into the distance, indicating that someone had been seriously injured and dragged away.

Two unwanted, inferior horses were pacing anxiously not far away.

"A bunch of low-level thugs," Zack kicked a spent cartridge on the ground and spat. "Their marksmanship is awful. They probably smelled gold and wanted to try their luck. At least two of them are dead here."

Tom crouched down, dipped his finger in a drop of still-dry blood, and rubbed it. The blood hadn't congealed; the bandits couldn't have gone far. He sharply shone his light towards the denser woods, in the direction the bandits had fled.

"Clear the battlefield and bring all the horses over. Thomas, you stay behind with your men. Zack, grab your weapons and follow me!" Tom stood up and gave the order, his tone resolute.

Gunshots can be heard for miles, which will likely attract more uninvited guests.

This wilderness is never short of bloodthirsty predators; a swift victory is necessary.

"Tom, we'd better leave as soon as possible!" Thomas hurriedly advised, clearly disagreeing with this risky decision.

Tom shook his head. "Thomas, why didn't anyone dare touch the Pinkerton Detective Agency's gold shipment last time? We were attacked as soon as we set off? Does that make sense?"

The low question silenced Thomas.

Pinkerton's reputation shook the West, and no one dared to easily provoke them. As long as they were on American soil, even if they fled to the ends of the earth, they would be found and wanted posters would be plastered all over the place.

"Zack, let's go!" Tom said no more and urged Zack to spur his horse into the dense forest.

Looking out from a high vantage point, Tom quickly locked onto his target.

The bandits, perhaps thinking they were being pursued, moved at a leisurely pace.

An excellent opportunity.

Tom signaled for Zack to dismount, and the two stealthily approached, finally entering firing range!

boom!Boom!

Several gunshots shattered the silence.

When Tom and Zack rushed to the three thugs, two of them were already dead, and only one of them, whose hands were crippled, was groaning on the ground.

"Why don't you run away?" Tom demanded, quickly scanning his surroundings.

Fortunately, the gunshots did not attract anyone else.

"Hahaha, Tom, his leg is injured!" Zack added gloatingly from the side.

"Finish off, then search them!"

Zachary landed, finished off the two corpses, carefully searched them, and finally shook his head regretfully at Tom: "There's nothing here."

Tom ordered Zach to escort the wounded bandit back to the camp.

Thomas and the others remained unharmed in their original spot.

Everyone was surprised by Tom's swift return, but Thomas remained calm, knowing full well Tom's abilities.

Seeing that Tom had returned safely, Thomas suggested again, "We must set off immediately."

Tom shook his head again: "No, let's go back."

"What?" Thomas asked in astonishment.

Tom offered no explanation and simply turned his horse around.

The group returned to the main road leading to the gold mining town.

Tom ordered his men to erect a tall log by the roadside and to strip the wounded bandit naked and tie him securely to it.

In the biting cold wind, he drew his short knife and sliced ​​off the bandit's flesh piece by piece.

A piercing scream ripped through the wilderness, sending chills down one's spine.

Fresh blood gushed out, quickly freezing into dark red ice crystals in the freezing cold.

Before the screams had even faded, several figures gradually appeared in the distance.

Thomas and Zach exchanged a glance, and the cowboys immediately gripped their guns, warily scanning their surroundings.

"Please—please—kill me—" the bandit wailed intermittently, his voice becoming unusually mournful the moment Tom drew his dagger.

The terrifying roar shook everyone's nerves and echoed for a long time in the wilderness.

Tom spotted Nick from afar.

The young man stood there, clearly stunned by the way he had just dealt with the situation.

It wasn't because of the bloody methods, but because Tom dared to do it!

Who does he think he is?

With just a few guns and a few cowboys, how dare they openly provoke these desperate criminals?

Nick sneered inwardly, certain that Tom would pay the price for his madness today, and he was happy to witness the tragedy firsthand.

Only in this way will those gold bars not fall into Tom's hands again in the future!

But when Tom's gaze suddenly swept over, and their eyes met for a moment!

Nick froze, as if the blood in his body had been frozen.

He regretted it.

I regretted that I had just dared to think that way.

Tom didn't linger; he turned and left with his men.

Only the robber, bound to the log, remained, bleeding to death in the silent wilderness until his last drop.

Tom had expected the journey to be thrilling and filled with endless battles.

Surprisingly, the entire journey home was so peaceful it was almost suffocating.

Perhaps it was his bloody public trial that completely intimidated the lurking gang.

Or perhaps they are merely lying low, waiting for a more deadly opportunity to strike again!