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🕑 Added 2025-04-07 23:06:11 +0000 UTCWind in the Smoke
Chapter 178 - Loyalty and Service
The new section, annexed to the Dutton Ranch and now under development, has great potential. Those familiar with the plans for this beautiful place can already see this clear trend.
In the winter, Dante only planted a bit of alfalfa inside a small greenhouse. Although it grew very well, it was understood to be just a test crop. It was grass that Dante cultivated with care, and it was unlikely to be promoted on a large scale at the ranch.
But now, things are different. The grass has sprouted, and the growth of the pasture across the land is generally better than at other ranches.
Susie understood all of this but felt a bit uncertain.
To have all these vast lands filled with crops, a lot of water would be needed. She wasn’t sure if that would somehow affect the water from the river that now ran through their entire property.
Without enough water, Dante's plans could only be sustained for a single season.
That’s also true. Alfalfa likes water, but it doesn’t tolerate waterlogging. This is also one of the key factors in ensuring high and stable yields.
Taking Susie to the plantations, Dante pointed at the already grown leaves and said, “Tell me, what do you think? Do you think these alfalfa sprouts are thick and hold enough moisture?”
Susie had known for a long time and smiled as she replied, “We already knew this in the winter. Good quality alfalfa can be grown in greenhouses during the winter, let alone now in spring.”
The quality is top-notch. It’s safe to say that in the right season, the alfalfa Dante grows is of superior quality. This is also the pride of ranchers and the key to developing a successful ranch.
Definitely, Dante won’t be the only one harvesting four hay crops this year. At this rate, it might not even be necessary to wait until the end of April to receive the first payment for the alfalfa he’ll be distributing.
Dante said proudly, “I’m going to start preparing to contact the harvest team so they can get ready. I’ll prioritize my father’s ranch, and the rest will go directly to the cattlemen’s association.”
Investment is still needed, mainly because Dante’s ranch has huge potential and requires more equipment to provide greater convenience.
Susie thought for a moment and said, “We should start with those who are in debt, can’t make ends meet, and need to recover from losses.”
As a top priority, Dante wanted to help the cattlemen’s association members who had doubts. Losses due to pests or diseases were also covered by SAMCRO. Everyone knew this was thanks to Dante, and it served him well to be remembered for it.
The goal of all this wasn’t to receive charity or even gratitude; what Dante wanted was loyalty. If he aimed to become the king of Montana, he needed to serve all its people.
He wasn’t asking for their loyalty—just that, when the time came, that gratitude would be paid with silence.
Dante in Montana doesn’t exist—no one knows him or has heard of him.
To Montana, Dante was just a quiet guy obsessed with agriculture. That’s all he needed from the people around him.
Dante thought it over carefully and said, “Since I have no plans to expand the ranch for now, I want the people who truly appreciate my help to remember it.”
Susie offered thoughtful advice: “I suggest they ask for it. Help has to be requested so that gratitude can exist.”
“They’ll call us mobsters…” Dante smiled at the idea that came to his mind.
In any era, people who received help from the mafia or a criminal organization ended up in debt and owed favors in the future. This could mean acting as informants, providing shelter to members of the organization, or carrying out illegal tasks when requested.
Although SAMCRO existed to serve the people, as they had done until now, that didn’t mean they were saints.
“I also have an idea for laundering money.” Susie pulled a blank sheet of paper from her purse and said, “Horse racing.”
Besides horse racing, many middle-class people in the United States also enjoy buying a horse and riding occasionally. In fact, apart from racing, there’s also equestrianism, and even some private schools offer riding lessons.
Riding horses is also a massive market, and the prices of those horses are much higher than those of draft horses used on ranches.
“Then I’ll need to buy new land for the facilities outside the ranch. I’m afraid if I expand the ranch any further, it’ll draw more attention than I want.”
There’s really no need to build a horse farm on the ranch. Dante’s land is gold, so it’s not ideal to build a horse farm with such a large area here.
The ranch is not yet fully developed, but that doesn’t stop Dante and Susie from having more expectations. Some ideas may be unrealistic, while others seem feasible to some extent.
Dante still has many beautiful hopes for the future, and he feels he has every reason to look forward to a better life.
Kayce returned on horseback and saw Dante and Susie talking. “We’re done for today. We should head back.”
Dante was a little curious and unsure: “The area outside this part of the ranch, near the mountains— is it a hunting zone?”
Kayce shook his head and said, “That’s not a hunting area, but if you go ten miles east, it is. If you want to hunt again, we can go duck hunting. I know where to find ducks.”
These so-called ducks are actually waterfowl and are among the most popular game in the United States. When deer hunting is mostly off-limits, hunters opt to hunt waterfowl, which tests their aim and reflexes even more.
Dante felt somewhat tempted by the suggestion. His greatest source of fun was hunting—after all, his last prey had been a wild wolf.
“What do you think, Susie?” Dante asked, clearly interested in what she wanted.
Susie, after taking a hunting training course, knew that hunting requires more than just courage and luck—it also takes experience and skill.
“Sounds good. I’ve never done it before.”
Dante was intrigued and told Kayce, “Duck hunting is fun, but I want to head into the mountains and hunt some big game, like deer.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do,” Kayce said with a smile. It would be a great experience for his son.
Comments
Jesus Cardenas
They don't do it yet
Nato J
What happened with the Rabbit problem? Did they smoke them out of their holes.
