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After twenty minutes of hard riding, Caleb slowed Morgan to a much normal pace. The boy hadn't spoken since they'd left, his breathing shallow against Caleb's back. Caleb glanced over his shoulder at the boy. "So, you got any place to go, kid? Where's your hometown at? Maybe I can drop you off there if it's nearby, or help pay for a stagecoach."
The boy's expression darkened, his voice barely above a whisper. "I... I don't have anywhere to go, mister." The boy's voice was barely above a whisper. "I lost my pa and ma to the fevers two weeks ago... that crazy monster kidnapped me when I went to buy coffins for them in Rhodes."
A shudder passed through him. "Dunno if my neighbors even buried 'em proper. Can't go back either, as folks think I run off or dead even as I haven't returned."
Caleb's grip on the reins tightened slightly. In the game, this kid had been nothing more than a side encounter, an NPC waiting to be saved, forgotten soon after when the players got the Lancaster Repeater.
But here, in this real world, he was a boy with a tragic past, a boy who had suffered alone. Something inside Caleb ached at the thought. He knew what it was like to be truly alone in this world, without family or anyone to call his own.
Arthur and the gang were different, they were like friends, not family to him, at least he still needed to interact with them more, as a game and the real world were very different. Even if he feels connected to Arthur and likes him as a character, it doesn't mean he thinks of him as family.
Softening his tone, Caleb asked, "Sorry to hear that. You don't have any family at all? Aunts? Uncles? Other relatives?"
Jasper shook his head. "No, it was just me, Pa, and Ma for as long as I remember."
Caleb exhaled, considering the boy's situation. "I see. You can't survive out here alone. What's your name and how old are you?"
"Jasper Granger," the boy answered. "I'm sixteen."
Caleb nodded. "You got any skills? Did your pa teach you anything useful for surviving? Hunting, fishing, ranching? Anything you can do to make some money?"
Jasper gave a small shrug. "I know how to fish. It's my hobby. My pa taught me how to shoot his old rifle and revolver, but I haven't really got the hang of it yet."
For a while, Caleb doesn't respond after Jasper answers, they ride in silence, guiding Morgan through the terrain while thinking things over. After coming to a decision, he finally spoke.
"Look, since you got nowhere to go, how about coming with me to Valentine's? Stay there for a while, at least until you get your bearings."
Jasper tensed at the suggestion, but before he could panic, Caleb quickly added, "You don't have to worry. I swear I won't do anything to you. You'll be safe. I can pay for a hotel room for you, and in return, maybe you can find some work in Valentine's to pay for your keep and get yourself set up."
Jasper didn't answer immediately, and Caleb didn't pressure him, giving the boy time to think. They rode on in silence, passing through Scarlet Meadows and entering the Heartlands. When they neared the familiar roads leading toward Valentine, Jasper finally spoke up. "Alright... I'll go with you. Just... just promise I'll be safe."
Caleb gave a reassuring nod. "You made the right decision, kid. Don't worry, I'll help you get on your feet. If I have the time, I can even teach you how to handle a rifle and a revolver properly."
Jasper didn't reply, but he held on a little firmer, his grip steady as they continued toward their destination.
By the time they arrived in Valentine, the afternoon sun bathed the town in a golden hue. Caleb guided Morgan toward the hotel, hitching her at the post before stepping inside with Jasper. He approached the front desk, placing 7 dollars on the counter. "Need a room for the boy here for a week. I'll cover the cost."
The hotel clerk gave them a curious look but nodded. "Of course, Mr. Thorne. His room is right beside your room on the second floor. Here's the key."
Taking the key, Caleb led Jasper to his room upstairs, pushing the door open after unlocking it. "It ain't much, but it's yours for now. Get some rest, and don't worry, we'll figure things out slowly."
Jasper hesitated at the doorway before stepping inside, looking around the simple space. Turning back to Caleb, he gave a small, grateful nod. "Thank you, mister."
Before leaving, he took out 25 dollars from his pocket and pressed it into Jasper's hand.
"General store's down the street. Get yourself some proper clothes after you rested. And also buy some supper for yourself."
Jasper stared at the money like it might bite him. "This... this is too much, mister. I ain't—"
"Call me Caleb. And it's an investment." He pointed to the boy's threadbare sailor suit. "Can't get work looking like a damn circus act."
That earned him a faint smile. "Yes, mister. I mean... Caleb."
After that, heading downstairs, Caleb retrieved his new weapons from Morgan, the Lancaster repeater and the stolen Springfield.
Caleb slung both the Lancaster Repeater and the Springfield rifle over his shoulder and reached into Morgan's saddlebag, retrieving the 3 golden nuggets from his previous excursion at Chez Porter. With them in hand, he made his way through the bustling afternoon streets of Valentine toward the bank.
Stepping inside, the familiar scent of paper, ink, and polished wood greeted him. The clerk, a wiry man with round spectacles named Mr. Foster, looked up and smiled. "Ah, Mr. Thorne. Here to make a deposit on your account?"
Caleb nodded, setting 100 dollars on the counter. "Yeah, I want to store somethings in my security deposit box, and I'd also like to put this 100 dollars into my savings account."
Mr. Foster gave a curt nod, carefully takes the 100 dollars bill and check if it was real even though there's nothing that could help him see if it was a counterfeit, counted it, before then recording the transaction in his ledger by sbribbling down the new balance.
"All set. I will store the money on your saving account and you can follow me to store your items at your security deposit box. Also Mr. Thorne, If you ever need to exchange some of the item you store for cash, let me know."
"I'll keep that in mind," Caleb replied, then follows Mr. Foster and one of the guards also follow him like before, where Caleb them use the key of his security deposit box, opens it and saw the 2 gold bars and the large jewelry bag.
He put the 3 golden nuggets inside and then lock his security deposit box, and with that his business done, so Caleb tipped his hat and exited the bank, stepping back into the warm afternoon sun.
His next stop was the gunsmith.
The shop was quiet when he entered, the usual display of revolvers, rifles, and assorted ammunition arranged neatly on the walls. Mr. Dalton, the gruff but skilled gunsmith, looked up from behind the counter and immediately took note of the weapons slung over Caleb's shoulder.
"Well now," Mr. Dalton said, rubbing his chin. "Didn't take you for the type to go collectin' more iron, Thorne. Picked up some new pieces?"
Caleb smirked and placed the Lancaster Repeater and Springfield Rifle on the counter. He know both weapon was in a pristine condition, and doesn't need any maintenance with the firearms knowledge skill he have, but it doesn't hurt to check with an expert like Mr. Dalton who's skill was much higher than him.
"You could say that. Got these in pristine condition, but I figured I'd let an expert such as yourself to. take a look, Mr. Dalton."
Mr. Dalton picked up the Springfield first, running his experienced hands along the barrel and checking the sights. Then he did the same with the Lancaster Repeater, nodding approvingly.
"No cracks, no misalignment, and the rifling's still sharp. Whoever had these before took damn good care of 'em. You won't be needin' any repairs for a while."
Caleb nodded, pleased. "Good to know. That reminds me, my pump action shotgun. You said it'd be ready by the afternoon and it was afternoon now."
Mr. Dalton set the Springfield down and disappeared into the back. A moment later, he returned with a sleek, well maintained pump action shotgun, placing it on the counter with a sense of pride.
"Did a full breakdown, cleaned the chamber, replaced a worn spring, and polished the barrel. This beauty should fire like she's fresh outta the factory."
Caleb picked up the shotgun, testing the weight and the pump action. It was smooth, flawless, even. He gave an approving nod. "You did good work, Mr. Dalton. Thanks."
Dalton chuckled. "That's why folks come to me. Anything else?"
"Nah, I'm set for now. See you around."
With that, Caleb slung the shotgun over his back, collected his weapons, and exited the shop, feeling the reassuring weight of his new firepower. The next stop was the sheriff's office.
Stepping inside, he was greeted by the sight of Sheriff Malloy leaning back in his chair, feet up on his desk. The older lawman lifted his hat slightly and gave Caleb a once over. "Hello Thorne. Lookin' to finally take the bounty for Drew Dalla?"
Caleb nodded. "That's right, Sheriff. Figured I'm ready now after some preparation."
Sheriff Malloy nodded his head and gestured toward the board. "The poster just right there when you take the bounty for Allbright."
Caleb stepped up and took the bounty poster of Drew Dallas in the board, then he tipped his hat and exited the sheriff's office, heading back toward the hotel for some much needed rest before the job tomorrow.
Because tomorrow was the day that the several stage coaches from Strawberry head into Annesburg and pass Cattail Pond, so he need to ride in the early morning, and prepare himself there with founding a nice spot for him to take out Drew's men one by one, and capture Drew Dallas alive if possible.
But as he approached the entrance, the door swung open, revealing Jasper stepping out.
The boy looked up in surprise. "Oh, hey, Caleb."
"Goin' somewhere?" Caleb asked.
Jasper nodded. "Figured I'd head to the general store, like you said. Get some proper clothes and maybe see if anyone's hiring."
Caleb crossed his arms. "If you don't mind hard labor, check in with Mr. Levi at the stables or Old Bob at the butcher's stall. Tell 'em I sent you, they might have work for you."
Jasper's face brightened slightly. "Really? Thanks, Caleb. I'll check 'em out."
Caleb nodded, watching as the boy strode off with a little more confidence. It was a small step, but at least Jasper was trying to rebuild his life.
With that settled, Caleb made his way up to his room, locking the door behind him. He set his weapons down carefully, removed his hat and boots, and lay back on the bed. Tomorrow would be a long day, and he needed every bit of rest he could get.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, he closed his eyes, already planning how he'd deal with Drew Dallas and his gang.
The next day, Caleb woke up in the early morning feeling refreshed. The soft golden light of dawn filtered through the window, casting long shadows across the wooden floor of his hotel room. He sat up, stretching his arms with a low groan before swinging his legs over the edge of the bed.
His usual Vaquero outfit was out of commission, left with the hotel's working girls to be washed and dried, so he slipped into a mismatched set of clothes, a light cotton shirt, a dark vest, worn out worker pants, and his sturdy boots. Not the flashiest look, but it'd do just fine for a bounty hunt.
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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)
- Bow (Lvl 2)
Money: 596 dollars and 39 cents
Bank: 40 dollars, 2 gold bars, a large bag of jewelry, and 3 gold nuggets