America 1883: The Western Homeland

Chapter 1 Western Town

In 1883, a train from Texas to Fort Worth roared along.

The velvet cushions in the first-class carriage were so soft you could sink into them.

Tom lay sprawled inside, eyes closed, but ears perked up, trying to catch any sounds from the row in front.

The girl near the car window gazed excitedly at the scenery rushing past.

The man opposite her, however, had his eyes glued to her face.

"You can look for as long as you want, and you can stay longer if you get tired of it," the man said, his eyes full of tenderness. "But I must say, your father has been a bit careless. If I had a daughter as beautiful as you, I would never let her out of my sight."

The girl's cheeks flushed slightly, and she lowered her head.

"Hey! Sir, you're old enough to be someone's father, right? Is it appropriate to flirt with a young girl like this?"

A sudden, interrupting voice abruptly severed the delicate atmosphere between the two.

"Who are you?" Passengers who can sit in the first-class carriage all value their appearance.

Being reprimanded like that, the man's face instantly turned red with anger.

What's more, the other side is just a fifteen or sixteen-year-old kid.

Tom yawned, slowly got up, and strolled over to the girl.

"Elsa, we should go back."

Elsa, who had just been all shy and bashful, turned icy cold the moment she heard the word "go back." "Tom, you go back first!" she said in a chilling voice.

"Wh...what?" Tom seemed not to hear clearly, dramatically picking at his ear. "Has your brain been sunburned? Can't you see? This old lecher wants to hit on you! And what's next after he's done? He'll sleep with you!"

Elsa's face flushed bright red instantly, whether from embarrassment and anger or from the burning heat of the gazes from those around her.

The middle-aged man, who valued his appearance, trembled with rage and roared, "You little bastard! Shut up!"

"Oh? I misspoke?" Tom retorted defiantly, raising his hands, clenching his fists, arching his back, and provocatively swaying his body back and forth rapidly, mimicking some vulgar gesture. "Isn't that how it is? Huh?"

"Pfft!"

"Haha!" The carriage was initially dead silent, then burst into uproarious laughter!

The dignity of this respectable man was shattered by that piercing laughter! He sprang to his feet, his eyes bloodshot!

A powerful punch, accompanied by the whoosh of wind, slammed down on Tom!

"Ah!" everyone exclaimed.

If that skinny fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy had been hit like that, he would have fainted on the spot!

Just when everyone thought Tom had no way to avoid it, he twisted his body like an eel, and his fist grazed past Tom's cheek with a gust of wind, almost making his hair stand on end!

"Wow! That's fast!"

"That reaction... is amazing!"

"This kid has boxing potential!"

The surrounding chatter did not distract Tom at all.

In the instant he dodged the fatal blow, he launched a counterattack!

boom!

The fist slammed solidly into the man's face! The respectable man's head jerked violently, and he saw stars.

Tom was slightly taken aback: This guy's pretty tough? He didn't even take him down with his full-force punch? Tsk, still too weak!

"Tom! What are you doing!" Elsa screamed and rushed forward to help the swaying man.

Tom reacted quickly, grabbing her and giving her a frantic wink: "Don't make things worse! Get out of the way!"

Unfortunately, sixteen years of sibling life failed to cultivate any tacit understanding between them.

Elsa didn't understand what he meant at all.

That brief delay gave the respectable man a chance to catch his breath!

He let out a low growl and, like a mad bull, charged at Tom!

Tom's vision suddenly darkened as a huge shadow loomed over him!

Oh no! He's not afraid of agility, but when it comes to brute force... In a flash, Tom used his waist and abdomen to deliver a powerful kick to his opponent's chest!

Boom!

The impact was so strong that Tom was jolted back two steps, but he managed to block the opponent's attack.

"Brilliant!" The onlookers were once again amazed by this precise on-the-spot reaction.

This praise, however, was like oil poured into a fire, completely igniting the rage of the respectable man!

A fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and he suddenly reached out and drew his gun!

"gun!"

Tom's pupils constricted instantly! His leg muscles tensed like steel strings, and he pushed off with all his might! Everyone only saw a blur before a blur of motion shot out!

Within seven paces, is it the gun that's faster? Or...?

"Bang!"

A flash of gunfire erupted! The bullet tore through the air, striking Tom like a venomous snake!

Blood was about to spill from the spot!

Tom, who was running wildly, suddenly bent over at the waist, almost touching the ground, and the bullet whizzed past, tearing through his clothes.

"Hiss..." The respectable man gasped, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets! He actually dodged the bullet?

"what!"

In the instant he was distracted, Tom, like a ghost, had already closed in on him!

A flash of cold light!

"Ugh!" the man screamed in agony as the pistol slipped from his hand and fell to the ground. He clutched his bleeding arm in terror, his face ashen.

"Don't panic, everyone! He's a wanted criminal!" Tom shouted sharply, quickly pulling out the crumpled wanted poster from his pocket and holding it up for all to see.

The cacophony and gunshots finally attracted the attention of the flight attendants and armed security personnel.

Tom bent down to pick up the pistol from the ground, neatly tucked it into his waistband, and handed the wanted poster to the lead bearded flight attendant.

"You're... a bounty hunter?" The bearded man looked Tom up and down, his eyes full of suspicion. Could this baby-faced guy really be a hunter who lives on the edge of a knife?

"My identity is irrelevant," Tom said, pointing to the groaning man on the ground. "What matters is that he's a genuine wanted criminal!"

Under the direction of the bearded man, the prisoner was bound hand and foot, and the wound on his arm was hastily bandaged and treated.

Tom wasn't idle; he took the opportunity to grope the prisoner all over.

What a haul! His wallet was bulging with nearly a hundred dollars, he had fifty dollars hidden on his person, twenty dollars even in the sole of his shoe, and a heavy, obviously valuable gold-cased pocket watch. Tom didn't flinch as he stuffed it all into his pocket.

The bearded man next to him didn't even lift his eyelids, pretending not to see it.

"I'm not a wanted criminal! This little bastard is a robber!" The prisoner, enduring excruciating pain, mumbled his protests even with his mouth stuffed full.

The bearded man, annoyed by his noise, promptly took off his smelly socks and shoved them into his mouth!

The world became quiet instantly.

"Excuse me, gentlemen," Tom leaned closer to the bearded man and discreetly slipped a ten-dollar bill into his hand, "find a place to lock him up for now? Next stop, Fort Worth, I'll take him there."

The bearded man twirled the banknotes, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. "Easy, there's a special little dark room. Follow me." With a wave of his hand, two burly men behind him immediately lifted the limp prisoner.

Tom nodded, then turned to look at Elsa, whose expression was unusual.

"Are you alright?" Elsa asked anxiously, regaining her senses.

Tom quickly shook his head, about to tell Elsa, "Go back to your carriage and wait for me..."

Before he could finish speaking, he caught a glimpse of a figure out of the corner of his eye!

A... incredibly familiar figure!