"Dante, are you going to spend all day surrounded by that dust?"
Dante checked the time on his phone and realized only a few hours had passed. "Do you need something that requires my help?"
"I'm just worried that you're wasting your time." Lee smiled and quickly changed the subject: "The technicians you hired to upgrade the security of the cabins are looking for you."
"Are they done already?" Dante had agreed with his father to design a large estate with four enormous cabins, all internally connected to function as one.
Dante would take one, his father another, and the plan was for his siblings to have the remaining two. Beth, on the other hand, had repeatedly expressed her desire to live outside the ranch.
Unlike her brothers, she would never live on the ranch—not after believing, from her perspective, that she was responsible for their mother's death.
Being on the ranch made Beth sick; it deeply unsettled her.
As her caring brother, Dante hoped she would decide to be with Rip and start a family away from these lands, just like Kayce was doing.
"The security for the first cabin is set, but my father is a bit skeptical about integrating these systems into the house." Lee thought Dante was going overboard with security, though not to the extent of voicing his opinion.
"Alright, want to come with me?" Dante set aside what he was doing and stepped out of the small cabin being used as a storage space.
Lee raised his eyebrows and nodded, eager to see all the high-tech features his new cabin would have.
In the second-floor lobby of the cabin Dante had ordered to be built, several technicians were busy fine-tuning the newly installed monitoring equipment.
The screens emitted a cold blue light, casting a faint shadow on the wall, and occasionally, the device made a soft electronic hum.
Dante glanced at the equipment and sighed internally. "Looks like I won't be able to return to my dear lady."
"I can take care of supervising all of this," Lee said, flashing a confident smile at his brother, who was focused on the security cameras.
"Just listen," Dante said, giving the technician the go-ahead to explain.
"Alright, Dante, I'll walk you through all the security measures for the cabin so you understand how the system works and what to do in case of an emergency," the technician said in a clear tone.
"First, the structure is reinforced with a lockdown system. When the security alert is triggered, all doors and windows are sealed with high-resistance steel plates. This prevents any forced entry and gives you enough time to react."
Lee looked at the windows and the structure on the upper part. "Incredible…"
"The defense system covers the entire cabin. We have motion sensors around the perimeter and night-vision cameras. Any intrusion is immediately detected, and the system goes into automatic lockdown mode."
"If the situation escalates, there is an internal evacuation protocol. You must head to the panic room, which is hidden behind a panel in the main living area. The entrance unlocks only with an access code or a registered fingerprint. Once inside, you'll be completely secure. The room has an oxygen supply, emergency communication, and a monitoring panel to view the external cameras."
"We've also installed a backup generator to keep the system running in case of a power outage. And if the attack is extreme, the panic room has a hidden escape tunnel leading to a safe point outside the perimeter."
"Lastly, if you need immediate assistance, the system has a silent alert feature that notifies a response team without the intruder noticing."
"Any questions, Dante?"
Dante smiled at Lee's expression—he was eager to see a demonstration. "Will my cabin have these systems too?"
"Of course."
"Well, brother, stay here and ask any questions you have. I need to make a few calls." Dante turned and walked toward the storage cabin, planning to take the opportunity to clean it.
He bent down, picked up the broom from the floor, and started sweeping carefully. The broom made a soft rustling sound as it moved across the floor. The steady rhythm became a sort of spiritual healing, gradually calming the lingering unease caused by the test.
His thoughts slowly emptied as the broom moved back and forth, and the tension in his heart gradually faded.
Once he finished cleaning, Dante sat at the storage cabin's doorway and checked his phone.
Years of living on the ranch had made him less interested in social media, and the fast-paced nature of short videos wasn't to his liking.
He was simply browsing the local ranchers' Facebook group to see if he could learn something new.
The group was quiet. Occasionally, someone would post, but it was just small talk. Practical experiences were rarely shared.
Dante smirked and murmured, "These guys probably prefer going to the bar to clink glasses and chat rather than using these lesser-known things."
Just as he was about to put his phone away, a ding sounded, and a new message popped up in his messaging app.
He slightly raised his eyebrows and glanced at the screen. The sender was Travis Wheatley, a well-known cowboy, professional rider, and horse trainer from Texas, as well as a national-level rodeo competitor representing Bosque Ranch.
"Dante, we have a great batch of horses that are perfect for competition, just like you requested. Do you want to buy them? I can travel to Montana to show them to you, but from my perspective, they're top picks that will lead you to many victories."
Dante stared at the screen, feeling a slight sting between the lines.
"How much?"
"I told you that buying shares in horses is the cheaper option, but since you want full ownership, they'll cost you fifteen million dollars. The current owners don't want to sell, but for that price, you can have them all."
Fifteen million dollars. Dante had been searching for this batch of horses to create a purebred line that would represent the Dutton Ranch from now on.
When the market is good, it's a smart investment.
But his excitement was fleeting, and he quickly regained his composure.
"I'll make the payment now, with a bonus for you. I want you to be the one to represent me, and believe me, I'll pay you double what Bosque Ranch does." Dante needed time to build top-tier facilities to keep the horses healthy and well-cared for.
He also needed specialists, dedicated veterinarians, and staff available 24/7 to ensure the horses received the best care possible.