Chapter 86: Ruthless Plundering
At the sight, Robel immediately nodded like a chick pecking at grain.
He had no choice—his English was barely passable, nowhere near good enough to grasp what the other man was actually saying.
In fact, from the moment Johnny stepped through the door, Robel had seen everything crystal-clear; he knew exactly what the unwelcome visitor had come for.
What troubled Johnny right now was that, although he had come to discuss something important, he didn't understand a single word of German—an obstacle that left him deeply frustrated.
Faced with this impasse, Johnny's head throbbed; he had no idea how to proceed.
He stood there thinking for a moment, then finally reached a decision—
he would take Robel straight to Strauss and settle the matter face-to-face.
Revealing the Gang's location was a risk, but if Robel proved uncooperative, there was no need to let him leave Horseshoe Overlook alive.
Mind made up, Johnny ignored Robel, still slumped on the floor, and began rummaging through every box and cupboard in the room.
A thorough search left Johnny well-rewarded:
sixteen dollars in cash, a delicate pair of gold earrings, a gold wedding band, and an antique pocket-watch that looked as if it had seen decades.
Each time Johnny opened a new container, Robel rattled off a frantic stream of words.
Thanks to the language barrier, Johnny couldn't understand a syllable, so he offered no reply.
Just as Robel, hoping Johnny was finally done, was about to ask for the eighty-dollar IOU,
Johnny simply shook his head: he still wasn't satisfied.
He strode to the doorway, crouched, and opened the lockbox hidden beside the door.
In moments he produced a finely wrapped bottle of premium brandy and a vial of healing tonic.
Without pause, Johnny headed for the Stable. His gaze swept the interior and locked on a bottle of horse reviver in the corner.
He plucked it up as though it had always belonged to him.
Next, he walked over to the Hungarian half-bred tethered nearby.
The animal was tall and powerful, muscles flowing beneath a uniquely dappled coat that caught the eye.
Johnny unfastened the reins with practiced ease, ran a hand along the horse's back as if exchanging a few quiet words, then swung smoothly into the saddle.
Finally, he reached into a saddlebag and drew out a small gold nugget.
With that, the haul should come to about eighty dollars.
The owner watched Johnny strip his most cherished possessions away, each loss cutting like a blade, as though drops of blood were falling from his heart.
Yet under Johnny's silent threat he dared neither step forward nor speak; he could only bite his lip and watch the man lead the horse away.
Moments later, Johnny rode back to Robel and dismounted.
He paused, motioned with his eyes, telling Robel to mount up and follow.
Robel stared blankly at first, but after a long moment of study he understood.
To his relief, Johnny showed no sign of claiming his own horse, and the knot in his stomach finally loosened.
Soon the two of them, each on his own horse, reached Horseshoe Overlook.
The trip was short—the two spots were separated by only a narrow creek.
"Who's there?"
"It's me, Johnny!"
On watch today was Sean, who had been itching to corner Johnny and talk him into letting him join the next job.
Since officially rejoining the Gang he'd done nothing but scout or pick off a few ODriscoll grunts—dead boring.
And for days now, everyone close to Johnny except Charles had ridden out on business.
Sean was certain something big was brewing.
When he spotted Johnny leading a stranger toward camp, the words on his tongue were swallowed back.
Could this newcomer be the key to whatever was coming?
Sean decided to keep quiet for now and simply watched the pair walk past.
It was seven in the morning; most of the Gang still slept, with only a few early risers beginning to stir.
Just then Dutch caught sight of Johnny escorting the stranger into camp. Curiosity flared, and he strode over to find out what was happening.
Johnny seated the stranger, Robel, at the dining table, then signaled Pearson to pour the man a steaming cup of coffee.
He stepped quickly to Dutch and spoke in a low voice:
"Dutch, I've got a brilliant new plan. This is Mr. Robel; his ranch sits near that place called Rainbow Skies.
I intend to buy half of it from him.
We'll run the ranch as a front while we conduct our own business on the side.
It keeps us inconspicuous and gives the Gang a steady income—two birds with one stone."