If you want to read 20 Chapters ahead, be sure to check out my Patreon!!!
Go to https://www.patreon.com/Tang12
...
Caleb nodded and smiled. "Yeah. Figured I'd give you bit of heads up first. After all, you'll be workin' with 'em more than me. Best if you knew who was comin'."
Jasper nodded, his expression shifting from curious to determined. "I'll make sure they're on task. Won't let you down, Caleb."
"I know you won't," Caleb said with a nod. "We're buildin' something here. Might seem small now, but give it time..."
Jasper gave a wry grin. "If the way folks are talkin' about how curious they were of what were being constructed, we'll be servin' half the town tomorrow when we opened the food stall."
Caleb chuckled and pushed off the beam. "I better get a few more details sorted for tomorrow. You'll be alright holdin' the store down?"
"Always am. Thanks for tellin' me, Caleb. I'll be ready."
With that, Caleb tipped his hat again and exited the general store, stepping back into the light. The sky was shifting toward orange now, late afternoon creeping in.
The stall's first day of official operation was only hours away. There were last touches to see to, final pieces to slot into place.
He had one last stop before calling it a day, making sure that Mickey got himself cleaned properly and also have a proper place to stay, so that he were ready and proper for tomorrow.
He found Mickey exactly where he'd left him, though now the man was scrubbing his face and arms with a rag dipped in a water trough.
"Mickey," Caleb called.
Mickey turned, water dripping from his beard. "Oh hi there friend! I was just, well, I was cleaning myself to be presentable, so I figured I'd do it here since it's free."
Caleb nodded approvingly. "Good. But you'll need more than a rag and dirty water form trough. There's a bathhouse at the hotel. Costs 25 cents. Also here for some money to rent a room at the hotel and also buy some nice clothes for tomorrow. Here." He fished out 45 dollars and handed it over.
Mickey stared at the money like it was a holy relic. "You… you sure?"
"Yeah. And after that, go see the barber. Get that beard trimmed and your hair neat. First impressions matter."
Mickey swallowed hard, then pocketed the money with a shaky hand. "I won't let you down, friend."
"I know you won't."
By the time Caleb returned to the hotel, the sky was dark, the town quieting down. His body ached from the day's labor, but his mind was restless.
Tomorrow was the real test.
The stall was ready. The supplies of meat and thyme jut need to be buyer in the morning as agreed on. The workers were hired. All that was left was to see if Valentine would accept what he was offering, burgers and fries that become a staple fast food in his past life.
He sat on the edge of his bed, rolling his shoulders to ease the tension. The duel, the construction, the negotiations, it had all led to this. One way or another, tomorrow would mark the beginning of something new here in Valentine that he hoped become a sensation.
He lay down on his bed and let the weariness take him. Sleep claimed him fast and deep, swallowing up the fatigue in his limbs and the racing of his mind. That night, Caleb didn't dream. There were no memories of his past life, no visions of bullets flying or digital loading screens. Just darkness. Rest. Quiet.
When his eyes opened again, it was to the soft blue light of dawn filtering through the hotel curtains. He blinked slowly, groggy, mind reluctant to rise to the surface. The ache in his muscles remained, but there was a charge beneath it now, anticipation and purpose.
He sat up, rubbed at his eyes, and muttered, "Big day."
Even as sleep clung to him, he rolled out of bed and onto the floor. With discipline learned from both his past life and his new one, he dropped to the floor and began a slow rhythm of push ups, then shifted into sit ups. His joints groaned, but his blood began to move, and soon the veil of sleep lifted.
After finishing, he stood and stretched. He pulled out his pocket watch. 6:27 AM.
Perfect timing.
Caleb grabbed his coat, slung it over his shoulders, and made his way down the stairs of the hotel. The innkeeper gave him a sleepy nod as he passed through the lobby. He stepped out into the morning air, which still held a bit of night chill, and headed down the road toward the saloon.
The town was just beginning to wake. A few folks swept porches, a horse nickered somewhere near the stables, and chimney smoke began to curl into the sky.
Caleb pushed through the batwing doors of the saloon. The scent of whiskey, oil lamps, and yesterday's stew clung to the air. Mr. Douglas was already behind the bar, wiping down glasses.
"Morning, Caleb," he greeted.
"Morning," Caleb replied, already reaching into his coat. He slapped down 6 dollars and 50 cents. "Beef stew. Two bowls. And a whiskey."
Mr. Douglas raised an eyebrow. "Two bowls? You plannin' to eat for you and someone else?"
"Nope. Just real hungry today. Don't know why, but I woke up starvin'."
Mr. Douglas let out a hearty chuckle and pocketed the money. "Alright then. Two bowls it is. Give me a few minutes."
Caleb leaned forward on the bar, his stomach already rumbling. As he waited, he scanned the saloon. Empty for now, but that'd change in a few hours once the town really came to life.
Soon, Mr. Douglas returned with two steaming bowls of stew and a glass of whiskey.
"Here you go. Enjoy."
"Appreciate it," Caleb said, grabbing a spoon.
He dug in, eating faster than usual. The broth was hearty, the beef chunks tender. Every bite warmed him from the inside out. As he finished the first bowl and moved straight into the second, he spoke casually to Mr. Douglas.
"Don't forget to advertise my food stall today, Mr. Douglas. If things go well, we both profit. Your whiskey might become a signature drink paired with our food."
Mr. Douglas laughed. "You're a brazen one, Caleb. Askin' me to advertise a place that technically competes with my own kitchen."
Caleb grinned between bites. "Doesn't compete if it brings more customers to town, and they end up drinkin' your whiskey with their food, Mr. Douglas. Think of it like... co branding."
"You silver tongues bastard," Mr. Douglas said with a laugh. "Alright. I'll talk it up. But only 'cause I want to see how much of a fool you make of yourself if it flops."
Caleb raised his whiskey glass in a mock toast. "That's fair."
After finishing his meal, he downed the whiskey and set the glass back down. He thanked Mr. Douglas again, then stepped out into the brightening town.
The streets were livelier now. Wagons rolled. Boots clacked. Voices filled the air.
Caleb walked with purpose to the food stall.
When he arrived, he was greeted by a welcome sight. Jasper, Mickey, and Simon were all there, standing near the closed up stall. Mickey looked like a new man, clean, neatly dressed in a borrowed shirt and trousers, hair trimmed and beard shaped. Simon stood tall, hands behind his back, face bright.
"Mornin'," Caleb greeted them.
"Mornin'!" they chorused.
He eyed Mickey with satisfaction. "Lookin' good, Mickey. Barber did a fine job. Good choice of clothing as well."
"Thank you, frie- I mean mister. I feel like a whole new person."
Caleb nodded, then turned to the others. "You boys ready for the big day?"
"Ready as I'll ever be," Jasper said.
"Ready," Simon added.
"Alright then. Jasper, here's 20 dollars. Go see Old Bob when he opens. Buy enough meat for fifty servings. Don't worry about prime cuts, take the bad ones. We're grindin' it up anyway."
Jasper took the money with a nod. "On it."
Caleb then turned to Mickey and Simon. "You two, head to Mr. Worth's. We got supplies waitin' there. Two cauldrons, two cook pots, sacks of potatoes, bread rolls, bowls, plates. Bring 'em all here and store 'em in the kitchen."
"Yes sir!" they said.
With that, Caleb stepped up to the wooden wall of the stall, pulled out a brass key, and unlocked the door.
The hinges creaked open, revealing the interior, clean counters and empty cabinet made of wood ready to be stocked. Sunlight streamed in through roof, illuminating the humble kitchen he'd built with his own hands alongside George, Elias, and Seth.
As the others moved to their tasks, Caleb stepped inside. He opened the wooden counter that will become the cashier, and he ran his hand along the counter and took a deep breath. It smelled of wood, oil, and potential.
After unlocking the kitchen and inhaling the smell of his dream slowly coming to life, Caleb wasted no time. The morning was fresh, the skies clear, and the town of Valentine was on the cusp of waking fully. It was the perfect moment to finalize preparations.
He turned to Mickey and Simon and gestured to the far side of the stall. "Alright, let's get those tables and chairs out. They're stacked in the back. We'll be arranging them just outside to the left, where there's good light but also a bit of shade from the building."
Mickey nodded, already moving toward the storage space with a slight limp in his step, but determined. He grabbed a chair under his remaining arm and began carrying it outside with slow but steady effort. Simon followed, balancing a folded table with care.
Caleb joined them, pulling out the furniture one by one. There were five round tables, each with four chairs, just as planned. They arranged them in neat rows on the dirt ground beside the stall. Once done, Caleb turned to the two men as they wiped the dust off the wood with old rags.
"Now listen here, boys. We're not just settin' up a place for folks to eat, this is community. If there's two folks at a table, and there's room for more, don't wait for permission to seat others. We use every chair. Got it? Don't matter if they know each other or not. Long as everyone's polite, they can share a table."
Mickey nodded, his fingers still gripping the edge of a chair. "Makes sense. Can't waste space."
Simon added, "And folks might strike up conversations. Could make the stall feel warmer."
Caleb gave a nod of approval. "Exactly. Good instincts."
Just then, Jasper returned, carrying a heavy cloth sack over his shoulder. It was dark with moisture and fresh butcher scent. "Old Bob gave me a good deal," he said, dropping the sack gently onto the prep table in the kitchen area. "Enough meat for fifty servings, just like you said."
"Good work," Caleb replied. He gave the sack a pat, then turned to Mickey and Simon. "Alright. You two, head to the general store. We got gear waiting there, pots, pans, plates, all of it. You don't need to carry it all in one go. Take your time, don't strain yourselves."
"Yes, sir," Simon said, and Mickey offered a salute with two fingers before they trotted off.
Turning to Jasper, Caleb said, "Stay here. I'm gonna get the thyme from Doc Calloway. I'll be back soon."
The trip to the doctor's office wasn't long. The building stood on the main road, its front window still bearing the 'CLOSED' tag. But Caleb knew the Doc always started early. Sure enough, when he opened the door, Doc Calloway was seated at his desk, sipping from a steaming cup of coffee.
"Mornin', Caleb. Right on time," the doctor greeted without looking up.
"You got the thyme ready?"
The doctor reached over and grabbed a wrapped bundle from the counter. "All fresh. 5 dollars, like we agreed."
Caleb pulled a bill from his coat and handed it over. "Appreciate it, Doc."
With the thyme secured, he made his way back to the food stall, taking the same route but now greeted by more townsfolk along the way.
The town buzzed lightly now, still early, but no longer still. He arrived to find Jasper setting out water buckets along the side of the kitchen and wiping down the counter. Caleb entered the kitchen, placed the thyme in a small cabinet shelf beside the salt he'd stored earlier, then turned around.
...
Name: Caleb Thorne
Age: 23
Body Attributes:
- Strength: 7/10
- Agility: 6/10
- Perception: 8/10
- Stamina: 7/10
- Charm: 5/10
- Luck: 6/10
Skills:
- Handgun (Lvl 2)
- Rifle (Lvl 2)
- Firearms Knowledge (Lvl 2)
- Past Life Memory (Lvl MAX)
- Knife (Lvl 1)
- Blunt Weapon (Lvl 1)
- Sneaking (Lvl 2)
- Horse Mastery (Lvl 3)
- Poker (Lvl 4)
- Hand to Hand Combat (Lvl 1)
- Eagle Eye (Lvl 1)
- Dead Eye (Lvl 2)
- Bow (Lvl 2)
- Pain Nullifier (Lvl 1)
- Physical Regeneration (Lvl 0)
- Crafting (Lv 2)
- Persuasion (Lvl 2)
- Mental Fortitude (Lvl MAX)
- Cooking (Lvl 2)
- Teaching (Lvl 1)
- Germanic Language Proficiency (Lvl MAX)
- Inventory System (Permanent - 5x5x5)
Money: 507 dollars and 0 cents
Inventory: 2,295 dollars, 2 gold nuggets, 5 gold bars, 4 silver rings, 1 Double Action, 1 Schofield, a large bag of jewelry, and 3 gold nuggets
Bank: -