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Caleb dismounted Morgan, thinking this was a chance to make a small profit while also dealing a blow to the O'Driscolls operation and influence here in Valentine. He approached the scene, his hand resting on the hilt of his knife. One of the O'Driscolls had the man pinned against the tree, his left hand gripping the man's shirt while his right hand delivered a punch to the gut.
"You pay up, or we keep this up," the O'Driscoll growled. "It'll cost a sweet penny to get out of this, friend."
The other O'Driscoll stood nearby, watching the scene with a smirk. Caleb stepped forward, his voice firm. "Hey! What's happening here? Leave that man alone!"
The O'Driscoll holding the man ignored Caleb, continuing to threaten his victim. "You borrow from the O'Driscoll Boys, you pay the O'Driscoll Boys back."
The second O'Driscoll turned to Caleb, his expression menacing. "Whatchu staring at? Move along before I make you! You hear me!"
The man being threatened pleaded, "I made it right with you, I swear… Just give me time please..."
Caleb didn't respond to the O'Driscoll's warning. Instead, he acted quickly, delivering a sharp kick to the man's crotch. The O'Driscoll doubled over in pain, and Caleb followed up with a powerful punch to the gut and a left jab to the face, knocking him to the ground.
The second O'Driscoll released the man he was holding causing him to fall down and lunged at Caleb, throwing a wild punch. Caleb dodged the blow and countered with a right hook to the jaw, followed by a left jab. He then kneed the man in the stomach and finished him off with an uppercut, sending him sprawling to the ground.
The man who had been threatened sighed in relief and stood up, his voice trembling. "You might've saved my life, stranger. You're a gentleman."
Caleb shook his head modestly. "No problem, friend. They won't bother you anymore."
The man chuckled weakly. "If only there were more men like you and less of these damn O'Driscolls." He nodded gratefully and walked away, leaving Caleb alone with the two unconscious O'Driscolls.
Caleb knelt beside the men, his knife glinting in the dim light. He made quick work of them, slicing their throats to ensure they wouldn't cause any more trouble.
He then searched their bodies, finding $10 in each of their pockets, two silver buckles, and two silver pocket watches. He stashed the loot in his satchel and left the area quickly, making sure no one had seen him.
As Caleb mounted Morgan and rode away, he felt a mix of satisfaction and unease. He had dealt with the O'Driscolls efficiently, but he knew this wouldn't be the last time he crossed paths with them, especially if he was successful joining the Van der Linde gang.
With more money in his pocket, Caleb headed toward Old Bob's butcher stall. The smell of fresh meat filled the air as he approached, and Old Bob greeted him with a nod. "Afternoon, Mr. Caleb Thorne. What can I get for you today?"
Caleb returned the greeting with a smile. "Afternoon, Mr. Bob. I'll take a Prime Beef Joint and a Tender Pork Loin, please."
Old Bob nodded, wrapping the cuts of meat he have cut with a brown cloth. "That'll be $8 total."
Caleb handed over the money and took the meat, thanking Old Bob before making his way to the cluster of camps beside the Valentine Stable. He hitched Morgan to a post and set up at one of the campfires, where he began cooking the meat slowly over the flames. The aroma of sizzling beef and pork soon filled the air, making Caleb's stomach growl in anticipation.
While the meat cooked, Caleb opened a can of vegetables and a can of meat, heating them over the fire as well. He didn't have any spices, but the simple meal would be enough to replenish his energy after the day's events and filled his hunger as well.
Once everything was ready, he sat down by the fire and began eating, savoring each bite. The Prime Beef Joint was tender and flavorful, while the Tender Pork Loin was juicy and satisfying. The canned vegetables and meat added variety to the meal, and Caleb ate until he was stuffed.
He felt exhausted after the day's activities, the saloon brawl, taking down the O'Driscolls, and all the walking and riding around Valentine had drained his stamina.
As he finished his meal, he reached for the bottle of aged pirate rum he had found in the train wreck. The bottle was dusty and unlabeled, but Caleb remembered from his memory skill that this particular rum were drinked for its potency and its ability to gain stamina experience gains in the game.
Caleb uncorked the bottle and took a slow sip. The rum was strong, with a rich, smoky flavor that burned slightly as it went down. He drank it slowly, savoring the taste and feeling the warmth spread through his body. As he emptied the bottle, he began to feel a slight buzz, but he remained sober and conscious.
Just then, the system window popped up in front of him, displaying a notification:
"Consuming more aged pirate rum increases stamina experience gains. Continued consumption may lead to improvements in stamina stats."
Caleb smiled, feeling a sense of satisfaction. This was a useful discovery. If he could find more of this rum during his journey, he could potentially boost his stamina stats simply by drinking it. It was a small but significant advantage, and Caleb was eager to make the most of it.
After finishing the rum, Caleb took out the bruise ointment and pain relief tonic he had purchased from Doc Calloway. He applied the ointment to his bruises, feeling the cooling sensation soothe his sore muscles. Then he drank the tonic, which had a bitter but medicinal taste. Almost immediately, he felt the pain in his ribs and jaw begin to subside.
With his body feeling more relaxed, Caleb cleaned up the campsite, disposing of the empty cans and wrapping paper. He then returned to the hotel, where he made his way up to his room on the second floor. After changing into clean clothes, he collapsed onto the bed, feeling the weight of the day finally catch up to him.
Two days passed, and Caleb spent his time training his physical body. He jogged around town, did push ups, sit ups, and some basic calisthenics. His actions attracted the attention of the townsfolk, who watched him with curiosity and admiration.
In this time period, structured exercise was virtually unheard of. Most people got their physical activity through manual labor, farming, ranching, and other demanding jobs. Seeing someone like Caleb, who deliberately exercised for the sake of fitness, was both strange and intriguing.
The townsfolk, especially the men, began to see the benefits of Caleb's routine. Some even started mimicking his exercises, though they lacked the discipline and consistency Caleb had.
The women and working girls, on the other hand, threw flirty glances his way, impressed by his dedication and physical appearance. But Caleb ignored their advances. He had no interest in contracting diseases or getting entangled in romantic distractions. His focus was on joining the Van der Linde gang, staying alive, and ensuring his safety.
Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Caleb, Arthur had been busy over the past two days. He had been traveling back and forth between the gang's camp at Horseshoe Overlook and Valentine, discreetly investigating Caleb.
Arthur asked around town, gathering information about the young man who had so quickly earned Dutch's interest. To his surprise, everyone he spoke to had nothing but positive things to say about Caleb.
The ranchers at the southern part of Valentine praised Caleb for foiling an attempted livestock theft and bringing the mastermind to justice.
The thief had been hanged a few days ago, and the ranchers were grateful for Caleb's bravery. Others mentioned seeing him working at the stables with Mr. Levi and helping out at Old Bob's Butcher Stall. The general consensus was that Caleb was a good, kind, helpful, and brave young man.
Arthur, who already had a bit of respect, a bit of admiration, and good impression of Caleb, began to see him in a new light. The fact that Caleb had faced dangerous situation and come out unscathed impressed Arthur.
He also noticed Caleb's physical training routine over the past two days. Arthur, with his years of experience as an outlaw and his own physical labor, recognized the benefits of Caleb's exercises. It was clear that Caleb was preparing himself for something, and Arthur couldn't help but respect his dedication.
On the third day, Arthur made his way to the hotel to speak with Caleb. As he approached, he saw Caleb walking out from the hall to the left. Caleb, noticing Arthur, was surprised but quickly smiled and greeted him. "Hello, Arthur. It's good to see you. What brings you to Valentine today?"
Arthur returned the smile, his tone friendly but measured. "Hello, Caleb. I came to town today to meet you. I wanted to talk about the… endeavor that Dutch offered you three days ago."
Caleb's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't expected the mission to rescue Sean to come up so soon. In the game, this mission didn't interrupt Arthur's personal time with other gang members, like his missions with Hosea. Caleb quickly composed himself and nodded. "Of course. Let's step outside so we can talk privately."
Caleb led Arthur to the terrace of the hotel, where they could speak without being overheard by the hotel clerk or other guests.
The two men stood by the railing, overlooking the bustling streets of Valentine. Caleb turned to Arthur, his expression serious. "So, what kind of endeavor does Mr. van der Linde need my help with?"
Arthur leaned against the railing, his arms crossed. "We've got a situation. One of our boys, Sean, has been captured by bounty hunters. They're holding him in Blackwater where, well let's just say me and the gang was wanted by the law, and some agency known as Pinkertons agency was hunting us down, and so we need to get him out. Dutch thinks you could be useful on this mission."
Caleb nodded, his mind racing. He had expected this, but hearing it from Arthur made it feel more real. "I understand. I have never been it Blackwater before but if it was like how you derived it Arthur, then it was a dangerous place, especially if the Pinkertons crawling all over it. But if you think I can help, I'm in."
Arthur studied Caleb for a moment, his expression unreadable. "You've got guts, kid. I'll give you that. But this isn't going to be easy. If we step foot in Blackwater, we're risking our lives. You sure you're ready for that?"
Caleb met Arthur's gaze, his determination clear. "I'm ready. I've faced danger before, and I know what's at stake. If I can help bring Mr. Sean back, I'll do whatever it takes to help ."
Arthur nodded, seemingly satisfied with Caleb's response. "Alright. We'll leave at first light tomorrow to join Javier, Charles, and Trelawney. Meet me at the camp at Horseshoe Overlook this evening. Bring whatever supplies you think you'll need, ammo, medicine, anything. And be ready for a fight."
Caleb nodded again. "I'll be there."
As Arthur turned to leave, Caleb called out to him. "Arthur, wait."
Arthur paused, looking back at Caleb. "Yeah?"
Caleb hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Thanks for trusting me with this. I won't let you and Mr. Van der Linde down."
Arthur gave a small, almost imperceptible smile and a little nod. "You'd better not."
With that, Arthur walked away, leaving Caleb alone on the terrace. Caleb took a deep breath, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. The mission to rescue Sean was a turning point, and he knew it would test his skills and resolve. But he was ready. He had trained hard, gathered supplies, and gain some experience. Now it was time to gain the trust of the gang, by proving himself.
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Name:Caleb Thorne
Age: 23
Body Attributes:
- Strength: 6/10
- Agility: 6/10
- Perception: 8/10
- Stamina: 6/10
- Charm: 5/10
- Luck: 5/10
Skills:
- Handgun (Lvl 1)
- Rifle (Lvl 1)
- Firearms Knowledge (Lvl 2)
- Past Life Memory (Lvl MAX)
- Knife (Lvl 1)
- Blunt Weapon (Lvl 1)
- Sneaking (Lvl 1)
- Horse Mastery (Lvl 1)
- Poker (Lvl 1)
- Hand to Hand Combat (Lvl 1)
- Eagle Eye (Lvl 1)
- Dead Eye (Lvl 1)
Money: 171 dollars and 94 cents
Bank: 40 dollars, 2 gold bars, and a large bag of jewelry