ATPnovel Chapter 138 Construction of Dalton Manor in Paradise Valley is More Than Halfway Complete
Chapter 138 Construction of Dalton Manor in Paradise Valley is More Than Halfway Complete
Chapter 138 Construction of Dalton Manor in Paradise Valley is More Than Halfway Complete
She paused, a faint light flashing in her cloudy eyes, "That's when they really have some life."
Tom's heart tightened. He bent down and carefully gazed at the faint undulation within the thick cloth, his voice low but filled with unwavering determination: "It will survive."
Just then, the faint sounds of arguing came from the direction of the warehouse, breaking the heavy concentration inside the room.
Tom frowned and straightened up: "I'll go take a look."
The sound originated from the warehouse entrance.
Ennis stood like an iron tower in front of the door, his arms slightly outstretched, in a posture of strict defense.
Standing opposite him was Elsa, who was pregnant. Her face showed obvious displeasure, and she seemed to be trying to force her way in.
"What are you two doing standing here?" Tom approached, his gaze sweeping between the two men with a hint of scrutiny.
Upon seeing Tom, Ennis's tense expression immediately relaxed, and he offered a smile in an attempt to defuse the awkwardness: "Ah, Tom, it's alright, it's alright! We'll be going now!"
As he spoke, he reached out to grab Elsa's arm.
However, Elsa seemed rooted to the spot, remaining completely still, and even slightly turned her body to avoid Ennis's hand.
When she looked at Tom, the frost on her face melted instantly, replaced by her usual gentleness: "Tom—"
Tom's gaze fell on Elsa's belly, his brow furrowed deeper, and his tone turned somber: "Elsa, you know you're pregnant, don't you?"
His worries were palpable.
Elsa, however, seemed somewhat dismissive, even a little aggrieved: "I know! I've been very careful; I haven't even gone horseback riding or herding cattle!"
She downplayed the issue by emphasizing her "well-behaved" nature.
Tom's eyes sharpened.
The crux of the matter is not whether she rides a horse or not.
He stared intently into Elsa's eyes, then glanced at Ennis, who was clearly feeling guilty and blocking the warehouse door. His voice carried an unyielding pressure: "What were you arguing about just now? Why did you have to block the warehouse door? Was it for fun?"
Elsa, neck stiff, stubbornly met Tom's gaze: "I just want to go into the warehouse, why is Ennis stopping me!"
Ennis's face changed instantly, and he quickly retorted, "Tom! She wanted to get the whiskey! It was one thing before, but now she's pregnant; drinking will cause serious trouble!"
Even Ennis knew that this stuff was best avoided.
"I'll only drink a little bit! I know what I'm doing!" Elsa's insistence carried a stubborn edge.
"Enough!" Tom snapped, too tired to watch the farce any longer. "No alcohol for the rest of the time! Once the baby's born, nobody will care about you!"
He just wanted Elsa to understand the consequences.
To everyone's surprise, Elsa exploded like a powder keg, screaming, "Tom! I'm your sister! You have to interfere with something as trivial as me having a drink! And this is a family, and we have a father!"
She invoked her father's name as a last resort.
"Elsa!"
"Elsa!"
Ennis and Margaret exclaimed simultaneously, their voices filled with panic.
Ennis hurriedly explained to Tom, "Tom, you know, women can be a bit temperamental when they're pregnant. She doesn't really want to."
Tom raised a hand to stop Ennis, his gaze frighteningly calm as he looked directly at Elsa: "No. She's right. Elsa, do you really think I'm being nosy?"
That calm tone made Margaret, who had just arrived at the door, feel a sudden sinking feeling in her heart.
Oh no! Tom's acting strange!
"Elsa! Go back inside!" Margaret snapped, trying to extinguish the spark.
This only enraged Elsa, who exploded, pointing at Tom and yelling, "Yes! You're a busybody! Ever since we came to the West, you've had to meddle in everything! The ranch has to do everything your way! Remember, you're Tom Dutton! You're not James Dutton!"
That last name was like a boulder thrown into stagnant water.
Instantly, the entire camp fell into a deathly silence.
Ennis and Margaret stood there, stunned, staring incredulously at Elsa's reckless outburst.
Tom quietly looked at the eighteen-year-old girl in front of him, and a faint, cold smile slowly appeared on his lips.
"Fine." His voice wasn't loud, but it was as cold as ice. "As you wish. From now on, I will never interfere in your affairs again."
Before he finished speaking, he turned and left without the slightest hesitation.
"Tom!!!"
Margaret chased after him, her voice trembling with tears, only to be met with his resolute back.
Would Tom get angry over a few harsh words from Elsa?
No. He just suddenly felt bored.
It's not worth wasting your energy on these trivial matters.
Tom's frustration subsided slightly when the silhouette of Dutton Manor gradually rose into view.
The framework of the manor has been erected, and the project is more than halfway complete.
The newly built wooden buildings are showing clear outlines: tool sheds and woodsheds are already completed.
He could almost see the future standing on the wide porch of the main house.
Before me was a solidly rammed front yard, with gravel paths extending in all directions like veins.
The entire courtyard was firmly enclosed by sturdy stone walls.
To the left front, the smoking room and the storage room with its deep cellars stand silently.
The ice cellar stood silently in the northeast corner.
The woodshed was located on the northwest side.
To the south of the main house is a sturdy granary.
A little further ahead, the well gleamed with a cool, clear light.
Beyond the well, the view to the south opens up to reveal the beating heart of the pasture.
The work area consists of a tall stable on the left, connected to a hay shed for storing hay; and livestock pens and barns on the right, filled with the smell of earth and animals.
The tool shed is right next to the livestock pen for easy access.
The cowboys' barn was located southeast of the livestock barn, not far away.
The blacksmith's shop is located on a more distant edge.
Meanwhile, the composting area, located in the furthest corner downwind, diligently digests the pasture's metabolic waste.
A shimmering stream flowed gently past the livestock pens and stables, nourishing the land.
Further out, pigsties, chicken coops, and other livestock farms form the outermost footnotes to this vibrant scene.
To Tom's real surprise, the Yellowstone River sluice gate project was finally getting serious!
Just then, dust billowed from the mouth of the valley to the north, and a group of people appeared indistinctly.
"It's Zack!" Tom's eyes narrowed, and he immediately went to meet him.
The carriage stopped in front of Tom, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Zachary jumped out of the car, grinned, and pointed behind him: "Tom, I've got him! Everyone says he can take care of people!"
Five women got off the train one after another.
They were all around thirty or forty years old.
Appearance? In the scorching sun and sandstorms of Montana, beauty is a luxury.
Body shape? Being strong and capable of working is the key.
They wore faded coarse cloth skirts, their faces etched with the marks of life, their eyes carrying a hint of hesitation, yet also a touch of resilience.
"What have you been doing before?" Tom's gaze swept over them, his voice low but scrutinizing.
Zack quickly stepped in to explain:
Pointing to a woman standing a little further away, she was holding a listless but clearly recently given birth female dog tightly in her arms.
"Her name was Leila. She used to work as a farmhand, and she had this dog with her—the puppies all died shortly after they were born."
"A mother dog whose puppies died shortly after giving birth?"
Tom's heart skipped a beat, and his gaze suddenly locked onto Zack's face!