Yellowstone: Wind in the Smoke

All these recent changes were taking place on the surrounding ranches, but the most activity was at the largest ranch in Montana.

The only issue Dante had noticed was the lack of cowboys on duty, which put the livestock's safety at risk.

Although the temporary fencing could effectively prevent animals from coming and going easily, Dante, like any other cowboy, knew it wasn't entirely reliable.

Various situations could arise on the ranch, such as predators finding the young cattle and attempting to feast on them.

However, this wasn't what worried Dante the most. While fences could keep wild animals at bay for a while, they couldn't stop people.

This meant there was always a risk if someone tried to do something malicious, no matter how secure the ranch was.

In recent months, several thefts had occurred on nearby ranches, which had forced John to remain extra vigilant.

After lunch, Dante sat on the sofa in the hunting cabin, munching on the leftover sandwiches and wondering whether he should spend some money on a more sophisticated surveillance system for this usually deserted area.

If the system could be expanded easily, he wouldn't have to worry about it anymore.

But Julia had said that to improve the surveillance system, everything needed to be properly wired to have real-time footage.

Having installed similar cameras in another location, Dante understood how complicated it was. That's why he had limited surveillance to areas where his family resided.

For now, installing a temporary monitoring system was the safest option, but it wasn't essential.

With the recent events on the Indian reservation, many nearby ranches had begun installing monitoring systems, greatly improving security and management efficiency.

In the town, there were several businesses specializing in this type of service.

Having made a decision, Dante picked up his cell phone and dialed Julia's number, someone he hadn't contacted in a while.

Julia, who had been working on strengthening communication between the organization and different businesses, focusing on farm surveillance, was definitely the right person to handle this issue.

Her familiar and energetic voice came from the other end of the line:

"Hey, boss! Long time no see, how are you?"

"I'm good. As you know, I came back a few days ago. Are you busy over there?"

"Not at all, boss. I think I've earned this break after all the heavy work I did when you decided to go against the High Order. But don't worry, I'm always ready to work. What do you need?"

"Good to hear. Efficient work as always. As you know, the security systems are only in the areas where my family stays, but I want to cover the entire ranch, inside and out. Can you come over and handle this personally?" Dante said bluntly.

"Of course, no problem! We have several surveillance systems now, and there should be one that fits your needs. Send someone to get me, or I'll drive over, and we can discuss the details." Julia, who usually handled more sophisticated tasks, was glad to take on something more straightforward.

"Send someone." After hanging up, Dante texted his current location to one of his drivers so they could bring Julia to the ranch.

Julia would take a few hours to arrive, so Dante grabbed his fly-fishing rod and other fishing gear and walked to the large river running through the ranch, ready to fish for a while.

For the past two days, all he wanted was to fish in peace, away from his worries.

That's why he hadn't joined Ghost or gotten involved in his issues with Felipe Lobos—he knew perfectly well that man would be killed eventually.

But it wouldn't be by him; he didn't need to do it since his plan wasn't fully ready yet. He still needed to expand across the country to curb cocaine trafficking.

Dante had considered many things and knew that once cocaine consumption decreased, it would attract a lot of attention, to the point of being investigated by law enforcement.

"Just fishing for fun…" That's what everyone said when they went fishing, knowing it wasn't a profitable business in these areas.

First, there was the matter of fishing licenses. Each state issued licenses independently, and the prices varied.

In Montana, fishing licenses were relatively cheap. The annual fee for local residents was just a few dollars, but in pricier states, it could cost hundreds.

Second, each state had strict fishing regulations.

For example, there were restrictions on when certain fish species could be caught and minimum size requirements for each fish before it could be kept. Violating these rules, even unintentionally, could lead to trouble.

If you weren't careful, you'd end up paying a fine or, in severe cases, facing arrest and hefty legal fees.

Although the chances of encountering fishing authorities were slim, Dante, at heart, was someone who respected the rules.

While such issues concerned those fishing in public areas, Dante trusted this place since few dared to trespass on Dutton land.

However, the river was public, and anyone could pass through with their boats without issue.

Additionally, using fishing tools like nets was prohibited near these areas, so one had to rely on fishing rods and take their time.

Selling fish wasn't easy either.

It required numerous permits—fishing licenses, commercial licenses, health inspections and certifications, food business licenses, and more.

These regulations weren't just for show; failing to comply with any of them could result in fines.

Dante, who knew little about the complications of fishing, found it ironic.

For him, fishing was more of a hobby, a way to escape the ranch's tasks and his burdens.

Making money from it wasn't so simple.

Besides the earlier limitations, the market wasn't always stable.

Although several restaurants in town bought fresh trout, they also had fixed suppliers, so the competition was fierce.

"Who wants trout for dinner?" Dante shouted as he prepared his gear.

Lee looked at him but didn't say a word. He hoped his brother would do more than just avoid helping with work, as he often bragged about during family meals.

Of course, Dante wouldn't overexert himself helping; he only did enough to lighten the load for his brother.

Who knows? Dante felt he owed him somehow—a feeling he couldn't quite explain.

"It's been a while since he's gone fishing. I guess we'll have trout for lunch," Lloyd remarked, watching Dante from afar as he prepared to fish in the river.

Rip glanced at Dante and smiled slightly. "Let's hope he has the same luck as last time; it'd be unfortunate if he caught nothing."

"I've never been fishing," Jimmy said as he approached with a saddle.

"You've never done anything before coming to the ranch, so it's no surprise."

"Ha, ha, ha, leave poor Jimmy alone; he's had enough." Lee allowed Jimmy some slack since he hadn't lived honestly until now. His grandfather had gone to great lengths to get John to accept him.

Jimmy just scratched his neck but didn't say a word—there wasn't much he could do, after all.