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"Alright," Caleb said, clapping his hands. "Let's get set up. Let's double the orders this time, one hundred sixty burgers and two hundred fifty fries. I want to see if we can sell such a large serving. Jasper, here 100 dollars, buy it according to our servings. Troy, you go with Jasper and help him bring the stuff here."
After saying that, Caleb took out 100 dollars from his satchel and gave it to Jasper for the supplies. Troy stood beside Jasper, his solid frame already proving useful for this endeavor as it could be seen as he could lift heavy stuff without complaint.
"We'll be back quick," Jasper said, tucking the money into his vest pocket.
Caleb nodded. "Make sure Old Bob gives us the usual bad cuts, it's perfect meat. And tell Mr. Worth we'll need extra bread rolls, double yesterday's order. I hope he got it."
Hearing that Jasper nodded his head and, together with Troy, left the stall to buy the supplies for today's business. Caleb on the other hand turned to Mickey and Simon. "Let's get the place ready."
And so, Caleb, Mickey, and Simon, who had joined them again, began arranging the five tables and twenty chairs with much greater speed than yesterday, thanks to the added hands. The three of them worked with a rhythm that had already begun to form over the last two days.
Mickey, despite his missing arm, had developed an efficient system for carrying chairs one handed, while Simon wiped down each surface with brisk efficiency. Caleb inspected the wooden bowls and plates, tossing any with stubborn grease stains into a wash bucket.
Simon seemed more relaxed today, whistling as he wiped the tables. Caleb took note, his instincts told him Simon was gradually getting more comfortable, and that was good. A relaxed team worked better than one on edge.
It wasn't long before Jasper and Troy returned, hauling in several sacks of supplies, burlap sacks filled with potatoes, wrapped packages of cheap cuts of meat in cloth, small bags of salt, piles of bread rolls put inside a sack, and a few bunches of thyme wrapped in cloth for seasoning.
Mickey and Simon quickly moved to help them carry everything in while Caleb supervised, ensuring nothing was forgotten or wasted.
Once all the ingredients were stacked neatly in the back, they began prepping. "Alright," Caleb said, rolling up his sleeves. "Let's prep."
He and Jasper handled the meat patties, starting by grinding the meat, then mixing the seasoning into the meat with salt and thyme, and shaping them with care. The scent of raw meat and herbs filled the space.
Simon and Troy were assigned to fries duty. They cleaned, peeled, sliced the potatoes into thin strips, soaked them briefly in saltwater, and began to deep fry them in batches.
The kitchen area turned into a flurry of activity, with the sizzle of hot oil and the rhythmic sound of knives on cutting boards keeping time.
Mickey, as before, took on the task of cutting the bread rolls. Today, however, he had to prepare 160 rolls, twice what he did yesterday, and sweat rolled down his brow as he worked. But he didn't complain.
The rhythm was smooth, each man falling into his role naturally. Troy, despite being new, adapted quickly, his sharp eyes missing nothing as he followed Simon's lead.
By late morning, everything was ready. The burger stall opened for the third day.
And the customers were nuts.
Word had clearly spread far and wide. The line stretched longer than Caleb had ever seen.
People had come not just from Valentine, but from surrounding areas, small settlements to the north and south, oil rig workers from the east, even a couple from Emerald Ranch recognized Caleb and greeted him. The scent of sizzling meat and fried potatoes wafted through the air like a siren's song.
Today, Caleb decided to change things up. He switched roles with Jasper. Now, Caleb stood at the counter, taking orders and collecting payment, while Jasper worked the grill and assembled the burgers.
Troy partnered with Mickey out front, delivering food to the customers and scanning the crowd for trouble. Simon was now stationed full time inside the kitchen, working the fryer with focus, only stepping out to help serve when things got overwhelming for Troy and Mickey.
Caleb manned the counter with smooth efficiency, taking orders and payments with a practiced smile.
"Two deluxe burgers, extra thyme!"
"Three orders of fries, extra crispy!"
The calls came fast, but Caleb kept pace, his voice calm as he relayed orders to Jasper. Behind him, the sizzle of meat and the bubbling of frying potatoes filled the air.
And just like that, for the first hour, things ran like a well oiled machine. Orders came in fast, and the team met them head on. But chaos was always one moment away.
Caleb had just handed over a paper tray with a double burger and fries to a smiling customer when he heard shouting from the left side of the line. He looked up sharply, instincts kicking in. The tension in the crowd was palpable.
"What the hell do you think you're doing, cutting the line like that?!"
"You wanna say that again, punk?! I just got off a twelve hour shift at the oil field!"
A rancher with dust caked boots had apparently shoved his way in ahead of a group that had been waiting a good while. Voices were raised, arms gesturing aggressively, and one man already had his fists clenched.
Before Caleb could even move, Troy was already on the scene. He stepped between the angry men like a shield, voice calm but commanding.
"Gentlemen, let's not make fools of ourselves. You're here for food, not a fight."
Caleb followed seconds later, approaching with his hands out.
"Look, fellas, I understand everyone's hungry. But we're working as fast as we can. If there's trouble, we can't serve anyone. Let's keep it fair and clean. I'll make sure you all get your food."
The tension hung thick for a heartbeat, then the rancher backed down, muttering apologies, and shuffling to the end of the line. The group of people followed suit muttering their apologies and staying silent after that.
Troy nodded to Caleb and returned to his post.
Caleb exhaled slowly, then jogged back to the counter. Business resumed.
By afternoon, everything had been sold out. Again.
Caleb leaned against the counter, exhausted but satisfied. The last crumbs were gone, the oil had cooled, and the line had finally vanished. The crew wasted no time cleaning up.
Tables and chairs were wiped down and returned inside. The kitchen was wiped, utensils rinsed, and the leftover grease disposed of properly.
Then came the most anticipated part and that is counting the revenue.
Caleb sat at the back of the stall with a small notebook and pencil.
"Alright," he muttered.
"160 burger servings at 3 dollars each... that's 480 dollars. And we sold out 250 servings of fries at 1 dollar and 50 cents each... that's 375 dollars."
He did the math.
"Total revenue of today was 855 dollars."
He smiled.
"That's 427 dollars and 50 cents more than yesterday. We're growing. Fast."
One by one, he handed out payments.
"Jasper, 60 dollars. You took on a bigger load today. Mickey and Simon, 45 dollars each. Good work. Troy, first day, handled that situation like a pro, 45 dollars for you too."
The men accepted their pay with nods and smiles, the weight of the dollar bills in their palms a tangible reward for their hard work.
He tucked the remaining bills back into his satchel and locked the stall.
Before they left, Caleb pulled Jasper aside. "I need to head out of town for a few days. You're in charge while I'm gone."
Jasper's eyes widened. "What? You sure? I knew we had talked about-"
Caleb took out 65 dollars and the key from his satchel. "I'm sure, you know the business as well as I do now. Cut the servings tomorrow. Serving of 100 burgers and 165 fries. That'll be easier to manage without me here." He pressed the money and the key into Jasper's hand. "For the supplies tomorrow and also to opened the stall."
Jasper hesitated, then nodded firmly. "We'll keep things running smooth."
Caleb clapped him on the back. "I know you will."
That evening, as the sky deepened into shades of purple and rose, the team went their separate ways. Troy tipped his hat before walking off into the street, Mickey and Simon head toward the saloon together as they talked, and Jasper lingered just a little longer.
"You sure you're alright heading out and leaving the business in my hands?" Jasper asked.
"Of course I'm sure. And also I've got something to take care of," Caleb said vaguely. "But don't worry. I'll be back soon enough that you I won't even realize I'm gone."
And with that, he walked down the street heading into the hotel, boots tapping against the ground, a shadow swallowed by the falling dusk.
He entered the hotel, paid 10 dollars to extend his room by 10 days, then took his Valentine outfit that had been freshly washed and folded at the hotel clerk at the counter.
After a short nod of thanks, he headed up the stairs to the second floor. Once inside his room, he changed into the Valentine outfit, folding his Vaquero outfit neatly and storing it into his inventory. He also withdrew 850 dollars and stashed it inside his inventory, securing it properly before locking the room behind him.
Back downstairs, he stepped outside into the evening air, where Morgan was hitched to the post, ears flicking forward at the sight of him. Caleb walked over, patted her neck, and smiled. "How's my girl?"
Morgan neighed and snorted twice, her tail brushing left and right in a rhythm that was unmistakably joyful. Caleb could tell she was in a good mood, his Horse Mastery skill allowed him to interpret her behavior like a second language. He chuckled and offered her an oat cake, which she munched on eagerly.
After making sure her saddle was secured, Caleb mounted up. He gave the reins a light flick. "Let's return back to camp."
They left Valentine from the south, passing through the low ridges of Citadel Rock. The sun hung low behind him, casting long shadows over the grassy plains. As they made their way through the wide Heartlands, the fields glowed in hues of gold, and deer grazed in the distance.
Soon he reached the dry bed of Dewberry Creek, its cracked, dusty banks crunching under Morgan's hooves. He pushed forward, entering the gentler hills of Scarlett Meadows. Birds chirped in the canopy above as the trail narrowed, the trees becoming denser the closer he got to camp.
By the time he entered the woods surrounding Clements Point, dusk had settled in fully. The dirt road curved beside the Kamassa River, its gentle current shimmering under moonlight. Then, the familiar shapes of tents and lanterns appeared through the trees, home.
Javier was leaning against a tree, repeater in hand, and Lenny sat near a log, sharpening his knife. Both looked up as Morgan came trotting in.
"Well, look what the cat has finally dragged in," Javier called, grinning.
"Took you long enough," Lenny added, standing up. "Was starting to wonder if you'd run off with someone from town."
Caleb chuckled as he dismounted. "Valentine's still standing, ain't it? That means I left it in one piece."
Javier walked over and gave him a quick pat on the shoulder. "Glad you're back, hermano. We've been holding things down, but Hosea's been asking around for you. To see if you were back from your trip."
...
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 2)
- Blunt Weapon (Lvl 1)
- Sneaking (Lvl 2)
- Horse Mastery (Lvl 3)
- Poker (Lvl 4)
- Hand to Hand Combat (Lvl 2)
- 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)
- Acting (Lvl 1)
Money: 622 dollars and 0 cents
Inventory: 3,245 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: -