America 1883: The Western Homeland

Chapter 81 Tom trains wolves in the wilderness, family returns from shopping

However, something astonishing happened.

Tom flicked his wrist and swung his arm violently!

The wolf cub that was about to bite his wrist was flung high into the air like a tattered sack, and then with a muffled thud, it crashed solidly to the ground!

A piercing scream instantly tore through the air. Immediately afterward, the howls of the other wolf cubs rose and fell in waves.

Before anyone could react, the wolf cub that had fallen to the ground struggled to get up. The other three, meanwhile, crouched down and cautiously approached it.

Tom felt a chill run down his spine: Wolves are pack animals!

These four pups are from the same litter!

Don't miss out!

Tom moved with lightning speed, giving the wolf cubs no chance to catch their breath, and in a few swift movements, he firmly secured the tough leather rope around their necks.

"I'm going out with them to 'get to know each other better'!" Tom grinned, pulling on the rope and dragging the four struggling wolf cubs toward the pasture without any room for argument.

As soon as they stepped into the meadow, a creature covered in mud roared and charged at Tom!

Tom swayed slightly, and the mud-monkey-like creature barely brushed past him.

Ennis and the cook Jonah, who were watching from a distance, both smiled knowingly.

"Tsk, the things Tom raises are really different from ours," Jonah couldn't help but remark.

That's true, and Ennis wholeheartedly agrees.

To completely tame these wild and unruly creatures, Tom took the most direct approach: isolation!

He separated the four wolves and trained them individually!

Disobeying? Then beat them!

Tom finally understood: since offering treats and sweet words was useless.

These beasts can't even tell who's the "boss," so the only way to teach them is with our fists!

The whip cracks and growls mingled until dusk painted the sky red, and James drove his carriage home laden with spoils. Only then did Tom finally stop "teaching" the wolf cubs.

"Wilderness! Giant Claw! Winter! Hurricane!" Tom called out their names one by one, his sharp eyes sweeping over each wolf's eyes.

Wilderness (Male): A natural lone wolf, it takes the most beatings but shows no remorse, and its eyes even harbor a cold hatred.

Giant Claw (female): Obeys the group, but has been beaten many times because of her stubbornness.

Winter (female): A pragmatic person who, after several lessons, has begun to understand how to obey orders.

Hurricane (male): The most clever and quick-witted, he learned to read Tom's mind after only two beatings.

Upon hearing the call, Hurricane was the first to look at Tom, his eyes filled with tentative obedience.

Winter followed closely behind, and the giant claw hesitated for a moment before turning its head.

Only the wilderness turned its head away, filled with resentment.

Tom didn't care at all.

He has plenty of time to tame wolves! He can take his time and patiently work it out!

He separated the four wolf cubs and tied them to the four corners of the livestock shed.

"Listen," Tom said, stroking the fur on the back of each of their necks, his voice deep yet carrying an undeniable air of authority, "Your job is to guard these animals! If anything breaks into their burrows..." His fingers tightened suddenly, "you won't be left alive either!"

In the dim light, only the eyes of the hurricane and the wilderness seemed to flash with an unusual light, like a spark of wisdom that vanished in an instant.

"Is town fun?" Tom quickly went to greet his mother, Margaret.

A strong smell of alcohol hit him, and Tom subconsciously, almost imperceptibly, took a half-step back.

Margaret, her face flushed and her smile tinged with drunkenness, reached out to pinch Tom's cheek: "My good son Tom! I never imagined you'd be doing business with people in town!"

Tom subtly sidestepped the alcohol-smelling fingers and quickly said, "You seem so happy; you must be tired after walking around for so long! Hot water is ready, go and rest!"

As he spoke, his gaze swept quickly over Ennis and the cook Jonah beside him.

Jonah immediately understood. "Madam, the hot water has been delivered to your room. Dinner can be prepared at any time."

"A room?" Tom was taken aback and looked at Jonah in confusion.

Jonah explained very quickly, "I've cleared out my room! I'm going to the cowboy shed!"

"I'll go too!" Ennis quickly chimed in.

"And us too!" Zach and Cooper chimed in, requesting to join as well.

Tom's heart sank as he instantly sensed something was wrong; everyone was eager to get away from the main house!

But this is clearly not a good time to ask further questions.

"We'll talk about this later!" Tom made a quick decision, reaching out to support his mother, whose steps were a little unsteady, and half-helped, half-carried her back to her room, or more precisely, to the same room as Elsa.

As soon as the door was pushed open, an even stronger smell of whiskey assaulted Tom's nostrils like a wall.

Elsa, on the other hand, lay motionless on the bed, as if she had fallen into a deep sleep.

Tom had no time to pay attention to Elsa at that moment.

He just wanted to get his drunken mother settled as soon as possible.

Tom quickly helped Margaret to Elsa's bedside, pulled the blanket over her, and practically fled the room.

The door closed gently behind me.

In the corridor, Tom leaned against the door and let out a long, silent sigh.

However, behind that door that separated the inside from the outside...

Elsa, who had been "sound asleep," suddenly opened her eyes, her eyes quickly reddening and silently welling up with tears.

She bit her lip, choking back a sob almost silently, "I...I have no choice..."

"You have it! Elsa!" Margaret, who should have been drunk, suddenly reached out and pulled the trembling Elsa into a tight embrace.

His voice, tinged with alcohol, was unusually clear and firm: "Don't give up on yourself!"

Outside, everyone was busy unloading the truck.

This is a big purchase, and everyone gets a share.

"The clothes and shoes are all for winter!" Zack explained to Tom from the side.

"I can see it now, leather jacket, leather pants, leather boots!" Tom glanced at it.

Mother Margaret couldn't possibly buy just for her own family; she must have bought winter clothes for everyone. Tom thought to himself: How much will it cost for so many people to have winter clothes!

Suddenly, he noticed something was wrong: "Why is my mother drunk?"

Before he left, he had clearly told Zach to take good care of them.

"It was Dan!" Zack said viciously. "He bumped into me and asked about them. I had no choice but to tell him the truth, and then he invited them into the bar!"

"That's not the point!" Tom frowned. He knew his mother; how could Margaret drink with a strange man and get drunk?

"There's a beautiful woman in that bar too!" Zack added.

"Who?" Tom pressed.

"Dan's woman!"

"Huh?" Tom looked at Zack with disbelief.

Zach nodded vigorously, his face full of determination.

Tom's voice was filled with confusion and absurdity: "That guy with the mustache... can he have beautiful women?"

Zack gritted his teeth and chimed in, "Exactly! Why does that guy with the mustache have such beautiful women?"

Then, Tom suddenly remembered the crucial question: "Wait, why did you leave that house?"

When this was mentioned, Zach immediately shook his head, his face full of resistance.

Seeing that Zack was determined not to talk about it, Tom didn't press him further.

The night was as dark as ink.

In complete silence!

"Awooo—!!"

A shrill, piercing wolf howl, seemingly capable of tearing through the night, suddenly erupted without warning!