The car rolls steadily down the road at an unhurried pace.
Inside are Frederico “Fredo” Corleone and Monica.
Another car with 4 peoples follows behind them, making six people total in the convoy.
According to the map, after leaving the city and driving for over an hour, they finally leave the paved highway behind and continue down a dirt road for a while longer.
At last, they spot the ranch.
Several fairly large houses stand in the distance, with a wide orchard stretching out behind them.
Monica’s aunt’s ranch combines fruit farming with cattle ranching.
Between the orchard workers and the cattle hands, there are more than a dozen people working there.
It’s not a small operation by any means.
By the time Fredo and the others arrive, the ranch workers are already busy with their jobs.
As soon as the cars stop, someone walks over to question them.
“What are you folks here for?”
After stepping out of the car, Fredo says, “We’re the owners of the ranch.
We’re here to take over management.”
The man looks over Fredo’s group carefully.
Then, after spotting Monica, his eyes widen.
“Miss Monica?!”
The man immediately runs off.
While Fredo and Monica look around the ranch, the guy returns shortly afterward with a whole crowd behind him.
“Miss Monica’s back?!”
“Where is she?!”
“Miss Monica’s here?!”
Some of them are genuinely excited, while others react more calmly.
Fredo doesn’t pay much attention to it.
The ranch belongs to Monica.
If things don’t work out, they can always sell it later.
If Monica doesn’t want to sell, then they’ll keep it.
Either way, it’s no big deal.
A tall man wearing jeans, a jacket, and a cowboy hat walks up to them.
Definitely a cowboy.
The moment he sees Monica, his face lights up.
“Miss Monica!
It really is you!
You finally came back!”
Monica smiles and nods happily before pointing at Fredo.
“Yes, I’m back.
And this is my man, Fredo.”
The cowboy looks Fredo over before introducing himself.
“So you’re the boss.
Name’s Spurr.
I manage the cowboys here.”
Afterward, Spurr takes Fredo and Monica around the ranch while explaining everything.
Even though Monica grew up here for a while, she honestly never knew much about the actual operations.
According to Spurr, the ranch currently has thirteen people total.
Five are cowboys, while the others are mostly family members who help out in the orchard.
A couple of people leave after Monica’s aunt passes away, mainly those without family ties here.
The ones who stay are mostly older workers who practically grow up on this ranch.
To them, this place isn’t just work—it’s home.
Afraid Monica might sell the ranch, Spurr hesitates before finally speaking up.
“When the old lady was alive, the ranch did pretty well.
Miss Monica… could you maybe keep the ranch running?
At least for her sake?”
In America, when a ranch gets sold, it usually ends up in the hands of a livestock association or another ranch owner.
And those people always bring in their own workers.
If Monica sells this place, these dozen or so workers will almost certainly lose their jobs.
To outsiders, this is just a ranch.
To them, it’s the only home they’ve ever known.
Before Monica can answer, Fredo speaks first.
“No rush.
We’ll look things over first.”
So Spurr takes them horseback riding around the ranch.
Since Monica basically grows up with her aunt here, she knows how to ride.
And honestly, she’s emotionally attached to the place too.
There are traces of her aunt everywhere.
As for Fredo, even the original “rich fucked up son” version of him knows how to ride horses.
Now that his physical abilities are even stronger, it’s even easier for him.
By the time they finish touring the orchards and cattle fields and return to the main house, evening is already setting in.
Because Monica’s aunt always treats people well, the workers genuinely consider the ranch their home.
That’s why everything still runs smoothly even after her death.
That night, Fredo and Monica stay in the main house.
Representatives from the livestock association are scheduled to arrive the next day.
Fredo asks, “So, Monica… what are you thinking?”
She takes a sip of wine and looks at him.
“About what?”
Wrapping an arm around her waist, he says, “Your ranch.
Are you planning to stay here and manage it yourself?”
Monica rests her head against his shoulder.
“Nope.
Wherever you go, I go.”
Fredo laughs.
“So you’re just abandoning your ranch?
Selling it?”
She immediately shakes her head.
“Of course not.
Why would I sell it?
Honestly, Spurr and the others seem to manage things pretty well already.
Whether I’m here or not doesn’t seem to matter much.”
Then she smiles softly.
“We can just come by occasionally.
Treat it like a vacation spot.
We can even bring the family here to relax sometimes.
Doesn’t that sound nice, honey?”
What can a man even say to a woman like that except spoil her rotten?
Fredo chuckles.
“Alright, alright.
You win.
Monica immediately gets smug.
“Obviously.
I’m not bad myself, okay?
Your parents adore me.
And now I’m officially a ranch owner too.”
Honestly, Fredo doesn’t care whether the ranch makes money or not.
Keeping Monica’s ranch around might actually become useful later.
For example…
Money laundering?
Fredo suddenly pauses.
…Wait a damn second.
Selling cattle and fruit at “premium prices”—what’s wrong with that?
And if things really don’t work out, they can just sell directly to the Corleone family businesses.
Honestly… there’s no flaw in that logic.
Monica notices him zoning out and shakes his arm.
“What are you thinking about?”
Setting down his wine glass, Fredo grins.
“I’m thinking about how to keep a rich lady ranch owner tied to my side.
Can’t let a walking gold mine get away.”
Monica snorts proudly and sets down her own glass.
“Hmph.
Then you better treat me really well.
Otherwise—hey, what are you doing?!”
Outside, the wind rustles through the ranch while the lights glow warmly in the night.
Ignoring her protest, Fredo says with a grin:
“I’m about to leave my mark on you.
Sign my name nice and clear.”
“Right there.
Sign here.”
Monica signs her name on the document.
From this day forward, Monica Daddario officially becomes the owner of the ranch.
The livestock association representatives don’t stay long.
There are no disputes or legal complications, so the entire process goes smoothly.
Of course, if anyone actually tries to cause trouble, they probably would’ve gotten a firsthand lesson in how New York gangsters handle business.
Spurr and the others stand nearby the whole time.
Once Monica confirms the ranch will continue operating normally and won’t be sold, the workers visibly relax.
Their home is still here.
And honestly, the cowboys themselves also become convinced by Monica.
Well… more accurately, they become convinced by Fredo.
Earlier that morning, after finishing his run and rinsing off outside, Fredo runs into the cowboys.
Seeing his ridiculously solid physique, they jokingly ask if he wants to spar a little.
Then tragedy strikes.
Fredo casually folds all five of them in just a few moves.
Even now, their bodies still ache faintly.
People admire strength, especially cowboys.
Sure, they’re grown men with families now, but the cowboy spirit never really leaves them.
And strong men naturally earn respect.