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Dutch chuckled and stood up, his presence commanding as he looked directly at Caleb. "Well, son, I have a feeling that your meeting with Arthur, Uncle, and the girls in Valentine was fate bringing us together. A young man with principles like yours couldn't survive alone out there. Sure, you've got the skills, but you also need people you can trust to watch your back. So, how would you like to join our big family here?"
As Dutch spoke, a glint of self satisfaction and shrewdness flashed in his eyes. Caleb noticed it of course, but he kept his expression neutral, and said nothing. Arthur and Hosea, on the other hand, seemed surprised by Dutch's offer, though they quickly masked it with a neutral expression.
Arthur especially already knew that Dutch would do tho, as he have said so when they talked about saving Sean in Valentine. But he didn't expect that unlike the usual where he brought this up to him and Hosea first, Dutch offered Caleb to join the gang without consulting to them first.
Caleb, meanwhile, took a moment to process the offer. He had known this moment might come, but hearing it directly from Dutch still felt significant. He glanced at Arthur and Hosea, then back at Dutch.
Mr. Van der Linde," Caleb began, his tone respectful, "I'm honored by your offer. You've all been kind to me, and I've come to respect this gang and what you stand for. If you'll have me, I'd be proud to join your family."
Dutch's smile widened, and he clapped Caleb on the shoulder. "That's what I like to hear, son. Welcome to the Van der Linde gang."
Hosea and Arthur exchanged a glance, their expressions a mix of approval, curiosity, and wary. But Arthur still stepped forward, extending his hand to Caleb. "Welcome, Caleb. You've already proven yourself. I'm glad to have you with us."
Caleb shook Arthur's hand firmly, a sense of success and satisfaction settling over him. "Thank you, Arthur. I won't let you down."
Hosea chimed in, his voice warm but measured. "Welcome, son. If you need any advice or someone to talk to, you can come to me."
Caleb turned to Hosea, his expression grateful. "Thank you, Mr. Matthews. I'll do so."
Dutch, still smiling, waved a hand dismissively. "Son, no need to call me Mr. Van der Linde or Hosea Mr. Matthews anymore. You can just call us Dutch and Hosea. Except for business, just act casual like everyone else does."
Caleb nodded, understanding the informal nature of the gang. "Understood, Dutch."
Dutch stood up from his seat and walked to the front of his tent, his presence commanding as always. Hosea, Arthur, and Caleb followed suit, standing beside him. Dutch raised his voice, calling out to the camp.
"Come, everyone! Gather around! I'd like to introduce you to the newest member of our family. All of you more or less have been familiar with him and have interacted with him. Please welcome Mr. Caleb Thorne!"
The gang members, already awake and going about their daily routines, gathered around. Some clapped enthusiastically, while others offered polite nods. The reactions were mixed, some were skeptical, others were genuinely happy with the new addition.
But one thing was clear, everyone respected and accepted Dutch's decision, even if they had their own reservations. Only Hosea and Arthur, who were closest to Dutch and brave enough to question his decisions, exchanged a wary glance.
Sean, still a bit groggy from the previous night's drinking, shouted, "A great addition to the group, sir!" His voice was slurred but enthusiastic, drawing a few chuckles from the others.
The girls—Karen, Tilly, and Mary-Beth—were especially pleased. They were always happy to have someone new in the camp, and Caleb's good looks were an added bonus. Mary-Beth, in particular, gave Caleb a warm smile, her cheeks tinged with pink as she remembered their dance the night before.
Caleb stepped forward, standing beside Dutch, and addressed the group. "Thank you, everyone, for the warm welcome. I'm honored to be part of this family."
The gang dispersed after the brief introduction, returning to their tasks. Dutch turned to Arthur and said, "Arthur, why don't you make some space at your tent so Caleb can place his bedroll there? I think the two of you could become the perfect partners."
Arthur nodded, his expression neutral but agreeable. "No problem, Dutch. I can make some room."
Caleb, however, spoke up. "There's no need for that. The place where I've been keeping my bedroll is already perfect."
Dutch patted Caleb on the shoulder, his tone firm but kind. "Why, son, we can't have that. You don't have a roof over your head to shelter you from the rain. And except for Arthur's place, the others are already cramped up."
Caleb nodded, realizing Dutch had a point. In truth, he was satisfied with the idea of staying with Arthur. Not only was Arthur's tent located beside the wagon that served as the gang's arsenal of ammunition, but it also gave Caleb the opportunity to get closer to Arthur and begin influencing him bit by bit to trust him, and increase the possibility of him listen to his ideas and suggestions.
"Alright, Dutch," Caleb said. "I'll move my things to Arthur's tent."
Dutch smiled, clearly pleased with Caleb's compliance. "Good. Arthur, why don't you help Caleb move his things and show him where your tent is? He can help you arrange the space."
Arthur nodded and gestured for Caleb to follow him. "Come on, Caleb. Let's pack your things, and I'll show you where my tent is."
As the two men walked toward Caleb's bedroll, Dutch and Hosea watched them go. Once they were out of earshot, Hosea turned to Dutch, his expression serious. "Dutch, is this really the right time and the right thing to do? Bringing in a new member while we're in such a tight situation? The kid might not even fully understand how dangerous our current circumstances are."
Dutch placed a hand on Hosea's shoulder, his tone calm but resolute. "Yes, old friend. Believe me, this is the right thing to do. Didn't you see how everyone's spirits were lifted with Caleb's addition to the gang? And I have a plan in mind, one that will get us out of this mess. Have faith in me."
Hosea sighed, his expression still uncertain, but he nodded. "Alright, Dutch. I trust you. But let's not forget to keep an eye on the boy. He's skilled, but he's still young and inexperienced in our ways."
Dutch chuckled, his confidence unwavering. "Don't worry, Hosea. Caleb's got potential, that's why I put him under Arthur's aye. I can see it. He'll prove himself in time."
Meanwhile, Arthur and Caleb reached the spot where Caleb's bedroll was placed. As Caleb began gathering his belongings, Arthur spoke up. "You know, Dutch doesn't usually bring new people into the gang so quickly. He must see something special in you."
Caleb shrugged, his tone modest. "I'm just trying to do my part, Arthur. I've got a lot to learn, but I'm willing to put in the work."
Arthur nodded, his expression thoughtful. "That's a good attitude to have. Just remember, this life isn't easy. It's dangerous, and it's not for everyone. But if you stick with us, you'll find that this gang is more than just a group of outlaws. We're a family."
Caleb met Arthur's gaze, his expression sincere. "I understand, Arthur. And I'm grateful to be part of it."
The two men finished packing Caleb's belongings and made their way to Arthur's tent. As they arranged the space to accommodate Caleb's bedroll, Arthur gave him a brief tour of the place. "This is where we keep most of our ammunition and supplies," Arthur explained, gesturing to the wagon. "If you ever need anything, just let me know."
Caleb nodded, taking in the layout of the camp from Arthur's tent. "Thanks, Arthur. I appreciate it."
As they finished setting up, Arthur clapped Caleb on the shoulder. "Welcome to the gang, Caleb. Don't forget to contribute whatever you can, both money or labor is appreciated."
Caleb smiled, feeling a sense of belonging that he hadn't felt in a long time. "Thanks, Arthur. Don't worry, I will try my best to contribute in any way I can."
After that Arthur left to attend to his own tasks, Caleb found himself with some free time. Eager to contribute to the gang and make a good impression, he decided to take on some physical labor around the camp.
He recalled from the game that there were several activities he could do to help out, such as cutting logs, distributing hay bales, and fetching clean water. These tasks not only contributed to the camp's upkeep but also helped build trust and relation with the other members as well.
Caleb removed his coat and rolled up his sleeves, ready to get to work. He first approached Susan Grimshaw, who was overseeing the girls as they washed clothes and knitted. The girls, Karen, Tilly, and Mary-Beth, were chatting and laughing as they worked, their spirits high after the previous night's celebration.
"Miss Grimshaw, ladies," Caleb greeted them with a warm smile. "Good morning."
Susan turned to him, her stern demeanor softening slightly as she recognized him. "Good morning, Mr. Thorne. Is there something you need?"
The girls also greeted him cheerfully, with Mary-Beth giving him a particularly warm smile. Caleb felt a slight flutter in his chest but quickly refocused. "Well, I'm new to the camp, Miss Grimshaw, and I've got nothing to do at the moment. I'd like to ask if there's anything I can do to help contribute around here?"
Susan's expression softened further, clearly pleased with his initiative. "Why, that's good to hear, Mr. Thorne. There's plenty you can do to help. You can cut some logs for the campfire, distribute the hay bales for the horses, and fetch clean water for the barrels and wash basin. Of course, there are other tasks as well, but you can leave those to the girls for now."
Caleb nodded, appreciating the guidance. "Thank you, Miss Grimshaw. I'll get started right away."
As he walked away, Caleb's mind wandered to other ways he could contribute. Hunting game for provisions was another option, but he'd need to learn how to use a bow as it was an essential skill to have as well.
He thought of asking Charles for lessons, as Charles was the most skilled in using a bow in the gang and could teach him the finer points of archery, which could boost the level of skill he could get from it. Improving his bow skills would not only help the camp but also improve the variaties of abilities he have.
Caleb got to work immediately, starting with cutting logs. He grabbed an axe from the tool rack near Pearson's wagon and headed to the pile of uncut logs. With steady, practiced swings, he began splitting the logs into manageable pieces for the campfire. The rhythmic sound of the axe striking wood echoed through the camp, drawing the attention of a few gang members who nodded appreciatively at his efforts.
Next, Caleb moved on to distributing the hay bales. He carried them one by one to various spots around the camp, ensuring the horses had plenty of feed. The animals whinnied softly as he approached, their ears twitching in recognition. Caleb took a moment to pat Morgan on the neck, whispering a few words of encouragement to her before moving on to the next task.
After the hay bales were in place, Caleb fetched clean water from the nearby river, filling the barrels behind Pearson's wagon and the wash basin. The work was physically demanding, but Caleb found it satisfying.
It gave him a sense of purpose and allowed him to contribute to the gang in a meaningful way. As he worked, Caleb noticed that his efforts didn't go unnoticed. Several gang members, including Pearson and Hosea, commented on his hard work, praising his willingness to pitch in. Even Miss Grimshaw gave him an approving nod as she passed by, her usual stern expression softened by a hint of a smile.
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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: 155 dollars and 41 cents
Bank: 40 dollars, 2 gold bars, and a large bag of jewelry