The recruitment drive had concluded with resounding success, yet this was merely the prelude. Twenty new souls were woefully insufficient for the vast needs of Dutch's burgeoning factory and the colossal arms development industry he envisioned.
Thus, Mr. Trelawny's Veteran Club would continue to operate, a wellspring of potential recruits, with new branches sprouting forth the moment surplus funds allowed. When one plunged into the arms business, a security force numbering in the hundreds was merely a baseline.
The more than twenty freshly recruited men, accompanied by Sean, who had been hastily summoned, swiftly brought their families to Hope's Dream Ranch. Few, however, possessed families; most of these struggling veterans had fallen into destitution precisely because they lacked familial support. Only five, in total, arrived with kin.
Two boasted wives and children, while the remaining three, their wives either vanished or deceased, brought only their apprehensive children to this new, bewildering home.
Upon Dutch's return to the ranch with Arthur and Hosea, the faces of every gang member radiated joy, a palpable sense of peace. The two wives, their eyes shining with bright, impossible hopes for their future, strolled outside their new wooden cabins, chatting and laughing freely with Abigail and Mary-Beth, who had gone to check on their comfort.
As Dutch rode his horse towards the ranch, JD, who had stood vigil at the gate, his face a mask of excited anticipation, immediately stepped forward. He took Dutch's reins, his voice thick with continuous gratitude and profound respect. "Oh, Mr. Van der Linde, I sincerely thank you for the work you've provided me…"
"Alright, JD," Dutch interrupted gently, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "Your abilities perfectly match your income. Work hard, and your salary will climb even higher in the future." He painted a swift, achievable vision of prosperity, then strode into the main wooden cabin, where the gang now resided.
"Van der Linde, I received your letter today; it seems Ms. Dorothea sent it." Miss Jenny, clutching the letter tightly, eagerly ran to Dutch, her eyes wide. This charming girl had guarded that letter all day, determined to be the one to present it, afraid anyone might snatch away her precious chance to interact with Dutch.
"Oh, Jenny, thank you, child." Dutch feigned surprise, then reached out, gently ruffling Jenny's hair..
"Please, Van der Linde, don't treat me like a child!" Jenny grumbled, knocking his hand away, a playful frown on her face as she put her hands on her hips.
"Alright, Miss Jenny." Dutch smiled, nodding, then picked up the letter. "Let me see what good news Ms. Dorothea has brought me." He then addressed the others. "Oh, by the way, Mr. Strauss, please record the names of the two worker families who followed us. Grant them fifteen dollars a month each, and assign them responsibility for cooking for the workers. As for our meals, Mr. Pearson will still be in charge, but I must say, Mr. Pearson, you need to seriously improve your cooking skills."
"Okay, Van der Linde." Strauss, the old scholar with spectacles perched on his nose, emerged with his small notebook. The gang's current assets—all expenditures and income—were now Strauss's sole responsibility; his meticulous performance in the game had already proven his impeccable qualification.
Only Pearson, the Van der Linde Gang's former tiger, seemed to have no place for his talents in this new world. At this moment, hearing Dutch mention him, a flicker of resentment, raw and vulnerable, crossed Pearson's face. The gang's transformation was merely a change of lifestyle for others, but for him, Pearson, it threatened to strip him even of his purpose.
Dutch walked into the main room, greeted by Mary-Beth and others who sat on the sofa, smoking leisurely. "Dutch." "Dutch is back." "Hello, ladies." Dutch waved a hand, then settled into the spot Mary-Beth had vacated, tearing open the envelope.
He unfolded the letter, reading aloud:
"Dear Mr. Arthur Callahan:
As per your precise instructions, I have meticulously arranged for all necessary raw material manufacturers for clothing production, and secured all the required clothing production machinery. I have also utilized the deposit you so generously provided to purchase one hundred sewing machines and a substantial quantity of raw materials. All these items have now been successfully transported to Saint Denis.
If your time permits, I implore you to come as soon as possible to oversee the subsequent matters. Additionally, I have already initiated the recruitment drive in Saint Denis, spreading the news far and wide. I believe you may need to prepare a few more carriages for this visit, as our ladies have received the news and are eagerly awaiting your arrival every single day.
Dorothea."
"Hoho, good news indeed," Dutch murmured, a triumphant smile spreading across his face.
Hosea, who had just taken a sip of coffee nearby, looked up at the sound of Dutch's words. "Oh, have we finally purchased the machinery we need?"
"We have, and not only the machinery but also various raw materials. I imagine it's fabrics and such. Ms. Dorothea has made excellent progress; all these items are now awaiting transport at Saint Denis. Since that's the case, Arthur, John, Hosea, Charles, gentlemen, let's go. We're heading out now. We'll sleep on the train tonight." Dutch rose from the sofa, then glanced at the ladies standing nearby, listening intently. "Also, Bill, Mac, guard our ranch well."
"Oh, this recruitment is solely for female workers. Some matters might not be too… convenient for us men. So, Mary-Beth, Jenny, Karen, you three will come along."
"Oh yeah! We get to go out!" Karen shrieked with delight, leaping up, bumping Dutch with her ample chest as she hugged him, cheering wildly. Jenny wanted to mimic her enthusiasm, but Miss O'Shea, her eyes narrowed, reached out and stopped her. Jenny, seeing the intensity in Miss O'Shea's gaze, reluctantly gave up her idea.
"That's wonderful! It's a pity Tilly went to the other ranch; otherwise, she could have come along too!" Mary-Beth was equally ecstatic. They had all heard tales of Saint Denis, the largest city in the West, and every one of them yearned to witness its splendor. Unfortunately, David, Sean, and Tilly were currently occupied with building at Vulture Ranch.
Kieran, the young man, having just been granted his freedom, was currently feeding horses.
"Alright, gentlemen and ladies," Dutch announced, a reassuring smile on his face to those who couldn't come. "We won't bring too many people this time. If you wish to visit Saint Denis, you can wait a while. We, the Van der Linde Gang, will have a proper gang outing then, and we'll truly experience Saint Denis for a few days. Alright, Arthur, and everyone else, we should go!" Dutch appeased the disappointed few, then pulled Miss O'Shea into his arms, kissing her deeply, a calculated comfort to soothe her perpetually jealous heart. He waved to Arthur and the others, picked up his hat from the table, and strode out.
Miss O'Shea, in the game, was often portrayed as a woman consumed by love, but little else. Here, her emotions were a subtle force Dutch expertly navigated.