The two continued chatting, occasionally stopping to observe the workers' progress.
Rip also put on thick work gloves and joined in tearing down the dilapidated fence they were trying to repair.
However, he often had to pause what he was doing to walk around, checking each team's work to ensure the project progressed smoothly.
The sun rose higher in the sky, its light shining through the thin clouds, making the day increasingly hot.
Dante squinted slightly and raised his hand to block the sun's dazzling rays. Sweat dripped from his sunburned forehead, slid down his cheeks, and finally fell to the ground.
A few hours of physical labor left his mouth dry. He licked his chapped lips, stood up, and went to the truck to drink some water.
Rip's voice called out not far away: "Dante, is there anything else we should pay special attention to? The cowboys are exhausted, and the day's almost over."
Dante stopped and turned to look at Rip, who waited for further instructions. He thought for a moment before pointing toward the mountains. "We should keep an eye on that area. Before the others arrived, I spotted some deer there, and you know what that means."
"Sounds good."
The ranch's entrance isn't far from the road, serving as the main channel connecting the ranch to the outside world.
Wild animals and outsiders looking to hunt deer often venture into the area. Reinforcing surveillance there can effectively prevent accidents.
Rip nodded, taking the information into account. He picked up the radio and gave brief instructions. Soon, two workers walked to the entrance with tools and a new camera.
It didn't take long for the camera to be firmly mounted on the post, seamlessly connecting to the previous camera's perspective, ensuring the entire entrance was under surveillance.
By midday, Rip signaled for everyone to take a break.
The workers scattered to the truck's shade. Some lit cigarettes, others drank water, and a few opened their lunchboxes, gathering in pairs to eat.
Dante returned to his truck and pulled a box of chilled water from the vehicle's cooler.
While distributing the water, Rip gathered with several workers to discuss today's progress and plans for tomorrow.
Dante handed out bottles of chilled water to those who didn't have any. Rip took one, unscrewed the cap, and gulped it down. "Holy hell, your cold water just saved my life in this damn heat."
"There's enough for everyone. Lunch is as scheduled." Dante knew some workers would handle food preparation.
He hadn't planned anything special for lunch and didn't intend to take the workers to his family's cabin, as he didn't want people he didn't trust learning more about the ranch.
Back in the truck, Dante pulled out a pre-packed sandwich from the cooler.
As he ate, he called Jamie, asking him to contact the fencing contractor they frequently used and arrange for them to come in the afternoon to repair the more damaged sections of the outer fence.
Once the workers finished lunch, Dante nodded and gave brief instructions about their next tasks.
All morning, they had only managed to clear the most damaged sections of the pasture's outer fence, covering a vast area.
New wooden stakes and cables, prepared in advance, were already loaded in the truck bed.
Clearly, Dante couldn't do it all alone. It wasn't realistic to expect him to hammer in those two-and-a-half-meter-long wooden stakes by himself.
The pasture had been working with the fencing contractor for a long time.
Their professional equipment could drill, dig, and compact, saving a lot of effort at a reasonable cost.
William had arranged all this, the same man building yogurt factories to launder money and conceal the activities of his cannabis farms.
The mechanical equipment roared behind him as mechanical arms gripped each wooden stake, holding it upright.
With a muffled sound, the hydraulic hammer drove the stakes deep into the ground in just a few blows. Dust rose, and the stakes rooted firmly into the pasture's soil.
Each vibration of the stake driving into the ground carried solid force, and the mechanical arm was as steady as a mountain, working efficiently without delay.
Dante followed, securing the cables and temporarily connecting the stakes.
The wires wrapped tightly around the stakes, and the fence gradually took shape.
When the last wooden stake was firmly planted and the fence fully constructed, the sun was beginning to set, casting golden light over the pasture and signaling the end of a full day's work.
Dante inspected the results, confirmed they were correct, and discussed plans for repairing fences in other parts of the ranch.
As the sunset faded, Rip's team finished installing the surveillance system.
The new equipment and display screen were temporarily set up in a hunting cabin hidden among the trees, serving as a secure observation post.
The screen rotated between images, capturing every corner of the ranch's key monitored areas.
Rip dusted off his hands, listened to the radio feedback, and looked up to confirm the camera angles. Everything worked perfectly, and he nodded in satisfaction.
"All done here, Dante."
"I had the workers double-check the equipment, and everything's normal. You won't have to worry about intruders in this part of the ranch anymore."
Leaning against Dante's truck, Rip took a sip of water, a wry smile on his face. "You're not planning on hiring a full-time helper for the cameras? I'm drowning in work here."
"I've got it covered. No need to worry."
After all, Dante couldn't trust just anyone. The secrets of his operations were critical, and outsiders would always pick up on clues if they got too close.
Rip had helped take down plenty of fences today, which wasn't even part of his job.
Dante patted him on the shoulder and said, "If there's nothing urgent, why don't we hit the bar for a few drinks later?"
"Not dressed like this."
"Then in a few days, I want you to visit my pub. You and the cowboys should come along."
Rip thought for a moment before nodding with a smile. "That sounds good. I'm beat today. I'll have to take you up on that cold beer."