"Thank you, Sheriff, for coming forward to rescue us. Although I still have doubts about the last 20 yuan in compensation, we are not unreasonable people. I understand your difficulties. Maintaining law and order in a town is not an easy task. matters." After Bacchus and his group left, Wendy said to the sheriff.
The latter was amused by the girl's adult-like words, and smiled, "I'm glad you can understand and cooperate with my work, ma'am, your father is not so reasonable..."
However, he seemed to realize that he had slipped his tongue afterwards, and a look of annoyance appeared on the old cowboy's face.
"Wait, you know me and my father, how is this possible?" Wendy's eyes widened.
"Your father and I are friends. He loves you very much and has shown me photos of you several times." Up to now, the sheriff had no choice but to admit.
"But I never heard my father mention you."
"Well, maybe it's because each of us has a past that we don't want to talk about."
"What happened?" Wendy asked.
"What I'm afraid I don't want to mention is that these things are not to be known by others," the sheriff said.
"Please, my father is missing now, it may be related to what you said." Wendy said.
"Your father disappeared, when?" the sheriff was stunned.
"I don't know the exact time. Just fifteen days ago, he said he had a business to discuss, so he left home. My mother and I thought it was the same as usual this time. He would come back after a few days. So did he. He told us, but now that the deadline he promised has passed, he still hasn't come home."
"Is that why you ran out for this? Wait, does your mother know that you are in Glentown now?" the sheriff said while casting a glance at Zhang Heng.
"Mr. Zhang Heng was hired by me to help me find my father, and he was also responsible for protecting my safety along the way." Wendy introduced, "He is an excellent shooter."
"That's right, the outstanding gunmen I know all ended badly. On the contrary, those who didn't carry guns lived longer."
"I have a different opinion on this. If I had a gun, what happened just now would not have happened." Wendy said.
The old cowboy smiled and did not refute. There are some things that young people of this age cannot understand. He said sincerely, "You should go home. He will take care of your father's affairs. You just need to Just wait at home."
"But unfortunately, I'm not the kind of person who just sits at home, foolishly waits for something bad to happen, and then accepts it." Wendy said stubbornly, "If a storm comes, I will walk into the path of the storm." So whether you are willing to help me or not, I will continue to look for my father."
"But you're only twelve years old."
"Twelve is old enough, Sheriff."
The magistrate was dumb, and said after a while, "How about this, I still have some important things at hand, and I really can't get away. Give me a week, and I will find your father for you."
"Thank you for your kindness, but I've been delayed for a long time, and I'm afraid I won't be able to wait another week. I think it's better for me to handle this matter myself." Wendy politely but firmly refused.
"With all due respect, Wendy, you are too young to understand this world, especially those... dark corners, where you know people and know their faces but don't know their hearts. You can't just grab someone and go on the road with him." The sheriff said Straightforward once.
"Mr. Zhang Heng is a good man. I don't need to live to your age to see it. But you, Mr. Sheriff, you suddenly appeared and claimed to know my father, but my father never I mentioned you to me, how should I believe you and what you said." Wendy paused, "Maybe my father's disappearance has something to do with you."
"What a sharp mouth." The old cowboy was not angry when he was questioned, but laughed, "Matthew gave birth to a good daughter, well, it seems that I can't stop you, ma'am, but please at least tomorrow Let me give you a ride when you leave, you just offended Cruise, and he and his ex-Ranger friends still have a lot of influence in the vicinity."
"Thanks, Sheriff, I'll tell him what you did to save me tonight when I find my father."
...
After such a thing happened, Wendy couldn't continue to inquire about her father's whereabouts in the bar. After bidding farewell to the old cowboy sheriff, she ordered two apple pies and went back to the hotel with Zhang Heng.
"You should listen to him." Zhang Heng said, "Now it seems that there may be something hidden behind your father's disappearance. Since he kept it from you, he just doesn't want you to know."
"You won't get your pay then."
"I can also do other rewards to make money," Zhang Heng said calmly, "Also, remember what I said before?"
"You told that guy never to leave the county if you have the ability?"
"It's not that sentence. Earlier, I told you not to cause trouble. You promised me, so I asked you to go to the bar to do an investigation."
"I didn't cause trouble. As I said, he touched me first." Wendy emphasized.
"Then you turned around and pulled out your pocket knife, intending to stab him to death?"
"My father told you that when you are the shortest and weakest person in the room, you have to be the toughest, so that people don't dare to mess with you, because they know that there is a price to pay."
"Then you were pressed on the table and almost cut off your palm," Zhang Heng stopped and looked into Wendy's eyes, "Hey, kid, listen, I can't guarantee that it will be right every time." It appeared when you were most in danger, and you could have come back to me to deal with it."
Wendy was silent for a moment, and said, "People in the town don't like our family. Dad is often away, and mother can't read. I'm used to solving everything by myself."
"But you paid me to let me solve these things for you." Zhang Heng said, "You have to promise me that you will not be so reckless when you encounter such a thing again, or I will kill you send home."
"If there is an agreement between us, you promise to help me find my father." Wendy protested after hearing this.
"Yeah, when the agreement says everything is to be listened to me, so that means when I say stop, we stop, and when I don't think we can go any further, we go home. .”
"This is too cunning." Wendy said dissatisfiedly, "It's just cheating."
"It's okay for you to understand so well. Come on, tell me now, sir, I know I was wrong, and I will choose other ways to solve the problem in the future."
"..."
"You'd better speak quickly, or I'll leave you with the sheriff, who seems interested in sending you home."
"I know I was wrong, and I will choose other ways to solve the problem in the future." Wendy twisted her neck and whispered reluctantly.
"Very good, I'm glad we reached a consensus again. Take your share of apple pie and go back to the room to eat. We have to get up early tomorrow morning and set off on our way." Zhang Heng said, "Also, the 20 dollars is for me to help you If you pay in advance, it should be recorded on your account, and you will pay it to me when you settle the bill."