RAWLINS - His smile is broad and warm, his body language expansive.

Jasbir Singh brushes aside the curtain and points out toward Spruce Street in Rawlins.

"A friend of mine used to be in this town and said that this is a good spot to make a living," he said.

So began Singh's journey. Or at least the most recent leg of it. It actually began in the Punjab region of India, before bringing him to New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio and then Rawlins.

Singh bounced around quite a bit, he admitted. But he always wanted to become a businessman. Even when he was working as a welder in Pennsylvania.

"My whole social circle were businessmen," Singh said as he took off his red cap and ran his hand through his hair. "That was my goal. Finally, I settled into Ohio with one business. Then I bought two more businesses."

But three businesses in Covington, Ohio, wasn't enough, even if one was a 10,000-square-foot gas station and grocery store.

"Those are the towns that are not growing," Singh said. "This is a town that's growing. I sold my whole thing there. I'm here now."

Recently, the company in which Jasbir Singh is a partner acquired its fifth motel on Spruce Street in Rawlins. Singh has only lived in Rawlins for about six months.

He did not come here alone. His wife, Manjeet Kaur, accompanied him. As Singh talked, she brought a plate of steaming food to one of Singh's employees, Isaac Arriaga of Riverside, Calif. Arriaga came to Rawlins hoping to work at the Sinclair Oil Refinery, but when he couldn't find a job, Singh hired him. First, Arriaga had to prove himself.

"I pick them up if I trust them," Singh said. "They have to prove they can do something. There was a plumbing problem; he fixed it. He works hard. He's an honest guy."

Singh's son and daughter-in-law, who are running one of the Spruce Street motels, also came to Rawlins. Another daughter is living in Alabama, where Singh said her husband works as a veterinarian for the U.S. Army.

A nephew is getting a college degree in Connecticut, and two other nephews are in Australia. And then there is the remaining family in India.

"Now, everybody's everywhere," Singh said. But it was different when Singh left his homeland about 20 years ago. He was one of the first in his family to leave.

He has no plans to return, although he does visit India. "We are no more Indians," Singh said. "We are U.S. citizens. Everybody's settled."

As for Rawlins, Singh plans to stay here as long as the customers keep coming. "Our plans are to stick to this town five to 10 years, minimum," Singh said. "Unless the business gets slower."

Singh hopes to acquire two more motels in Rawlins. And he hopes to reopen some rooms that have been closed for years.

"We are willing to provide more housing in the town," Singh said.

He feels at home, despite the wind.

"I like countryside," Singh said. "Weather doesn't bother me. You want to work, you can work anywhere."