If you want to read 20 Chapters ahead, be sure to check out my Patreon!!!
Go to https://www.patreon.com/Tang12
...
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."
"I figured. I'll talk to him first thing tomorrow, how's the camp been?" Caleb said.
"You know," Javier said. "As usual, hermano. Pearson's been complainin' about supplies, but you know how he is."
"Arthur around?"
"Out scoutin' with Charles about some leads," Lenny said. "Should be back by mornin'."
Caleb exhaled, stretching his shoulders. "Alright. I'll get settled in first."
As Caleb made his way through camp, familiar faces greeted him. Karen, Tilly, Uncle, Pearson, Sadie, and the others. But there's only one person he was looking for, and when he saw Mary-Beth reading her book while sitting in her bedroll with the help of a lantern, Caleb smiled and walked toward her.
Mary-Beth was engrossed in her book, her fingers tracing the lines of text under the warm glow of the lantern. The camp around her was settling into its nightly rhythm, soft chatter, the crackle of fires, the occasional burst of laughter. She barely noticed the footsteps approaching until her bedroll shifted slightly beneath her.
Startled, she looked up, and her heart leapt.
A bright smile bloomed across her face before she could stop it. She set the book down hastily, stood, and brushed imaginary dust from her dress in a nervous flutter. Then, before she could second guess herself, she stepped forward and hugged him. Tightly.
"You're finally back!" she said, her voice muffled slightly against his chest. "I was worried something had happened to you. You were headed to Valentine and you've been gone for so long, I started thinking… I don't know, something bad happened."
Her words tumbled out quickly, breathy with worry, even as she held onto him like she wasn't ready to let go. "We left Horseshoe Overlook because the Pinkertons and Cornwall's men were on our tails… and you just waltz off into town like that."
Caleb blinked. He hadn't expected Mary-Beth, sweet, usually shy Mary-Beth, to hug him. But far be it from him to waste the opportunity. He returned the hug, wrapping his arms around her gently, her hair smelled like lavender, faint but sweet, and he spoke with a calm warmth.
"No need to worry about me," he said. "You've seen what I can do. Remember when we hit that bank stagecoach with Bill? You were there, watching. I can handle myself."
Mary-Beth pulled back slightly, her hands still on his arms. Her eyes narrowed, her face turning from relieved to a little angry.
"I have every right to worry," she said firmly. "You went somewhere dangerous and didn't come back for days. That's not exactly comforting, you know."
Caleb rubbed the back of his neck, recognizing the tone and wisely choosing not to talk back. "Alright. You're right. I'm sorry, Mary-Beth."
Her frown eased and turned into that soft, caring expression he'd come to know so well. Then it shifted again, this time into concern.
"Were you hurt while you were there?" she asked, her hands suddenly brushing across his chest and arms, checking him for injuries. "Did anyone lay a hand on you? You weren't hurt anywhere, are you?"
Caleb chuckled, touched by her fussing. "I'm fine, I swear. You can stop worrying now. I'm right here."
Her hands finally stilled. As their eyes met, Mary-Beth's face turned crimson as she realized what she'd been doing, patting him all over, hugging him so tightly, fretting in front of everyone.
They both realized then that some of the others in camp might have seen everything. Even Uncle had tilted his hat upward from his resting spot near the fire. Karen smirked knowingly from a distance, while Sadie raised a brow.
Mary-Beth stepped back, her voice a flustered whisper. "Oh... oh, goodness, I... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—"
But Caleb wouldn't let her retreat. He reached out, took her hand gently, and pulled her back toward him.
"Hey, it's okay," he said with a teasing grin. "I like that you worry about me. It makes you even cuter."
Mary-Beth's eyes widened, and her cheeks flushed deeper red. "You — Caleb Thorne!" she squeaked, and gave him a soft smack on the chest, though it had no force behind it.
He laughed quietly, the teasing in his eyes dancing like firelight. "What? I'm being honest."
Before she could muster another protest, Caleb asked, "Have you eaten yet? Because I haven't. And I'm starving."
Her expression flipped again, from flustered to scandalized. "What? You haven't eaten?! Caleb, it's late!"
He shrugged with a sheepish smile. "Didn't have time. I just git back and came to see you first."
Mary-Beth puffed up indignantly. "Sit and stay here. You wait here nicely. I'll get some stew from Pearson. Honestly!"
She turned and stormed off toward the stew pot, muttering under her breath, her braid bouncing behind her. Caleb watched her go with a chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck again and shaking his head.
As he waited, he felt a few glances coming his way. Sadie smirked at him knowingly from across the campfire.
"She's got you wrapped around her finger already, Mr. Thorne," she called, half teasing.
Caleb didn't deny it. "Not the worst place to be, I actually like it," he said.
Karen raised her cup toward him. "Just don't break her heart, Romeo."
He gave her a small salute and leaned against a crate beside Mary-Beth's bedroll.
Mary-Beth came back quickly, carefully carrying a bowl of stew which she had ladled a generous helping into, a chunk of bread, and a spoon. She handed it to him with a small frown. "Eat. All of it. No leftovers."
"Yes, ma'am," Caleb said playfully, accepting the bowl and taking a seat. She sat beside him, still visibly flustered but trying to act like she wasn't.
They sat there quietly for a few moments while he ate. The camp buzzed around them, Uncle began to snore lightly nearby, Lenny was playing cards with Javier as they were on guard duty, and the occasional hoot of an owl from the woods. But it all felt far away.
"You really scared me," Mary-Beth said after a while, her voice quieter. "I kept thinking about all the things that could've happened to you."
Caleb looked at her, his voice gentle. "I know. And I'm sorry. But I'm back now. And I don't plan on going anywhere without informing you that I'm safe if I could send a letter."
She smiled faintly, eyes glistening just a bit in the firelight. "Good. Because I don't think I could take not knowing if you're okay or not."
"Next time," Caleb said, offering a grin, "Maybe I'll even take you with me."
She chuckled, then leaned slightly against him, just enough to rest her shoulder against his.
"I'd like that," she said.
He smiled and kept eating, feeling a warmth settle in his chest that had nothing to do with the stew.
Later that night, as camp quieted and people turned in, Caleb stood up from Mary-Beth bedroll and Mary-Beth followed suit. The lantern still glowed softly beside her book.
"Thank you for the stew," he said.
"And thank you for coming back," she replied.
They lingered a moment longer. Then, just before she turned to lie down, she leaned up and kissed him on the cheek.
"Goodnight, Caleb."
He stood there, stunned for a second, before managing to whisper, "Goodnight, Mary-Beth."
As he made his way to his tent which was between Arthur and Dutch's tents, a soft smile played on his face.
He was home. At least for now.
Tomorrow, he'd speak to Hosea. There was always something else to do. But for tonight, he let the warmth of the fire and the memory of Mary-Beth's touch and kiss on his cheek lull him to sleep.
The next day dawned clear and bright. Caleb woke early, his muscles stiff from the ride but his mind sharp. He dressed quickly, into much older, rougher clothes that he stored in camp, not the Valentine outfit, and stepped out from his tent.
Hosea was already up, sipping coffee by the fire. He raised his cup in greeting as Caleb approached.
"Welcome back," Hosea said. "Start to think something had happened to you, son. Seeing as you didn't return for quite some time."
Caleb let out a low chuckle and stepped beside him. "Yeah... sorry about that, Hosea. I didn't think I'd end up staying that long in Valentine either. But once I got spotted by the Sheriff, he started going on about how glad he was I made it out alive. Then the townsfolk recognized me, folks I'd helped before, and suddenly I was getting offered work, meals, drinks, and next thing I know, I'm at a poker tournament."
He shrugged with a small grin. "Won a nicely decent chunk I tell you. Figured I'd donate some of it to camp after this."
Hosea laughed under his breath, shaking his head. "Well, I'm glad you're safe, and it's good to hear the folks in town still have warm feelings for you. And that you came back with some money... but you could've sent a letter, you know. Just something. Maybe to the train station at Rhodes. Let us know you were alright."
Caleb's smile faded just a little, replaced with a more serious tone. "Yeah, you're right. I didn't think. I'll do that next time. I realize now I can't just disappear and then reappear just like that, I'm not Trelawny."
Hosea laughed more heartily this time. "No, you're not. And lucky you. Trelawny's... well, eccentric. Man disappears for days and comes back with a new story, a new accent, and maybe no pants. He is a different kind of breed."
Caleb chuckled with him.
"So," Hosea said, voice dropping slightly. "How's Valentine? No sign of the Pinkertons? Cornwall's men?"
"All clear," Caleb confirmed. "Sheriff said they packed up and moved on, They don't have any lead on us anymore. For now, anyway. I'm still keeping my eyes open when I'm walking around town."
Hosea gave a satisfied nod, then raised a brow. "You mentioned work... and poker. That's it?"
Caleb's lips thinned into a faint line. "Mostly. I did have a run in with three O'Driscolls. They heard about my poker winnings, lured me into an alley, and tried to rob me."
Hosea's brow furrowed. "What happened?"
"I took 'em down. Quick and clean. Stabbed them in the thigh, kept them alive. Then brought the three of them to the Sheriff's office myself."
Hosea whistled softly. "Well damn. That'll teach them."
"Sheriff said he'd lock 'em up until their blood stops leaking, then throw 'em on a wagon headed out of town. I don't think they'll be back anytime soon."
Hosea looked off toward the horizon, the rising sun painting gold across the treetops. "You've made quite the name for yourself, Caleb. Town hero, poker champion, and now a lady's man in our camp..."
Caleb smirked, then rubbed the back of his neck. "I just do what needs to be done. And please, I'm not a lady's man."
"Lady's man doesn't mean be flirty with girls. Know that you're valuable to this gang, son. Just... remember to send that letter next time okay."
Caleb nodded. "I will. Promise." The two men stood in companionable silence, the camp slowly coming to life behind them. There was always something coming next. But for now, Caleb felt that he was exactly safe here and he could just rest easy, no need to think about many matters.
...
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: -