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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.
After that, he poured himself a cup of coffee from the tin percolator that Hosea had used to brew his coffee, and seeing that there was some, he poured it into his tin cup after asking Hosea if he could have some.
Once Hosea nodded, Caleb filled his cup and took a long sip, the warmth spreading through his chest and waking him up properly. He exhaled slowly, savoring the taste.
Then, after a moment, he turned slightly toward Hosea again. "So... what's going on with the plan about siding with the Grays? You know about the one pressuring the Braithwaites and sabotaging them, while looking for gold stash that both families have."
Hosea's eyes shifted from the trees to Caleb, his face settling into a more thoughtful expression. He sighed before responding. "Yeah, while you were gone, Dutch went ahead and pushed things forward. Ordered Arthur to start sniffing around Caliga Hall. Turns out Arthur made a connection with one of the Gray boys, Beau Gray. Young idealist type and from what Arthur has done, wants to marry a Braithwaite girl."
Caleb blinked. "Wait, what? That sounds... messy."
"You're telling me," Hosea said with a grunt. "But it gave Arthur a way in. Meanwhile, Dutch, Arthur, and Bill ran a job with that deputy from Rhodes, Archibald. Took down an illegal moonshine operation owned by the Braithwaites. Archibald rewarded us with a wagon full of moonshine. We stashed it near camp, and Dutch is planning to sell it off quietly."
Caleb processed the information, slowly sipping his coffee. "So we're already sabotaging the Braithwaites while getting cozy with the Grays."
"Exactly. Dutch is working on the next move to gain the Grays' trust. And of course, he's also sniffing around for that gold both families supposedly have hidden."
Caleb's eyes narrowed slightly. He hadn't expected so much to have unfolded while he was gone for just a week. When he returned to camp, it had felt like nothing major had happened, everyone lounging around, doing chores, and chatting.
Now he realized that the gears had been turning without him. Plans enacted, favor shifted, operations moving forward, all under Dutch's direction.
And none of it included him.
The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth, more pungent than the coffee. Dutch had always given him a smile, a nod, and spoken well of his contributions. But looks like that was starting to change.
He tried to think objectively, maybe Dutch had waited until he was gone to avoid complicating things. Or maybe... maybe the world of Red Dead Redemption, this strange reincarnated world he'd landed in, wanted to push him out of the main story. After all, his very presence was an obstacle.
But deep down, he felt the answer wasn't so abstract.
Dutch was beginning to exclude him. Despite Caleb being a top earner, a respected new member of the gang, his closeness with Mary-Beth and his fiercely independent nature set him apart. Dutch liked control. He needed it. And Caleb didn't fit into any mold Dutch could shape.
Maybe it was ego. Maybe it was jealousy. Caleb had noticed once or twice that Dutch looked at Mary-Beth a second too long. He had that messiah complex, a need to be admired, even loved by those around him. And Mary-Beth, sweet, intelligent, and vibrant Mary-Beth, had clearly chosen Caleb.
As he spiraled in his thoughts, he didn't notice Hosea looking at him until the older man gave him a gentle nudge with his elbow.
"You alright there, son?"
Caleb blinked, startled from his haze. "Yeah... yeah. Just caught off guard, I guess. Didn't expect that many things to have happened already."
Hosea chuckled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "That's how it goes sometimes. The world doesn't wait. Don't be sad you missed the action."
Caleb smirked, his tone lightening. "I'm not sad. Just surprised."
"Good." Hosea gave a satisfied nod, then tilted his head. "What're you off to now?"
"Figure I'll go donate a little something. Wouldn't want Dutch thinking I've been gone a week and came back empty handed."
Hosea shook his head with a smile, watching as Caleb walked away.
Caleb made his way toward the lock box, situated between his tent and Dutch's. It was quiet here, most of the gang still slowly rising with the sun. He unlocked the box and pulled out a crisp one hundred dollar bill from his satchel.
He placed it inside the donation box without fanfare. It wasn't just about appearances, he knew the gang needed money. But he also knew this was an investment. The goodwill this bought him would pay off several times over with his stall business that was at its booming phase.
As he turned, he noticed Dutch's tent flap shift slightly, as if someone had just exited or had been watching. But when he looked again, nothing. Just the breeze. Or perhaps paranoia.
Still, Caleb couldn't shake the feeling that the game was shifting again. The original path, the one he remembered from the game, already changed somewhat due to him. And now, Dutch was beginning to treat him as an outlier.
He needed to be careful.
After that he found Mary-Beth by the shore of the river, her fingers trailing in the water as she watched the sun light paint the sky in hues of amber as clouds were slowly moving due to the wind.
"You're brooding Caleb," she said without turning. "I can feel it from here."
Hearing that, Caleb was surprised and then let out a chuckle, his footsteps slowing as he approached her. "How'd you even know it was me? Let alone that I was brooding? You gotta teach me that trick. Might come in handy next time I'm out scouting or pulling a job with the boys."
Mary-Beth turned around, her cheeks tinged red already as she pouted slightly and narrowed her eyes at him. "Can you be serious for once, Caleb? I asked you why you were brooding, not for you to get all smart with me."
Caleb laughed again, finally reaching her side. He sat down beside her and looked at her face, taking in her expression. "And I was serious. I really would like to learn that sixth sense of yours. Knowing someone's emotions could help a lot when I'm trying to persuade folks. Could even save my life one day."
Mary-Beth rolled her eyes, but despite herself, a smile was creeping over her lips. She reached over and pinched him lightly on the arm. "I didn't realize you had such a sweet and glib tongue. You sound a lot smoother than the Caleb Thorne I remember and met for the first time."
Caleb smirked. "Maybe I'm just braver now. That hug you gave me last night… and that kiss on the cheek before I went to bed, it gave me confidence."
Her blush deepened, spreading from her cheeks down to her neck. Caught in the memory, she looked away for a second before Caleb, impulsive again, pulled her into a gentle hug.
"Maybe I've been playing a long game," he murmured against her hair. "Acting all noble and quiet so you'd drop your guard. And now look at you, falling right into my trap. Can't get out now."
Mary-Beth sputtered in mock outrage, her face a deep crimson. She squirmed in his arms, trying to pull back. "You're such a hooligan! And don't flatter yourself. I'm not so naive that I don't know when something's a trap. I walked in willingly, just to see your true nature."
Caleb couldn't help but laugh, finally releasing her, though the warmth of her body lingered in his arms. "Alright, alright. I'm sorry. Just couldn't help myself."
Mary-Beth shook her head, still smiling. "So, seriously… what's got you brooding? It's more than just the weather."
Caleb sighed and looked out across the river for a moment before answering. "It's not brooding exactly. More like… surprised. Hosea told me about the plan with the Grays. How things have already moved forward. Arthur's already got an in with them. Bill and Dutch are making moves. And I was completely out of the loop."
Mary-Beth laughed, covering her mouth. "You're sulking because they didn't wait for you? Oh, Caleb… I didn't know you were that childish."
He gave her a sheepish look, playing up the sheepish act to mask his real concerns as he scratched the back of his neck. "Guess I'm found out, huh?"
Mary-Beth giggled, then stretched her arms. "Well, since you've been gone and feeling so left out, how about we go eat together? I haven't had breakfast yet, and I'm starving."
Caleb perked up immediately. "Now that's a plan I can get behind."
He followed behind her, his eyes softening as he watched her walk ahead. Even in the light of camp and the responsibilities piling up around them, she still seemed to glow with a simple kind of joy.
At the stew pot, Mary-Beth scooped a couple servings for them both while Caleb stood nearby, his hands tucked in his belt. The aroma was strong, beef, potatoes, and something faintly sweet, and it made Caleb realize how hungry he was.
Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Arthur and Charles riding in, looking dusty and a little worse for wear. They both dismounted and began tying their horses to the hitching post near the wagon.
Caleb touched Mary-Beth lightly on the shoulder. "Wait here a sec. I need to talk to them."
She nodded. "Go on. I'll keep your stew warm."
Caleb approached the pair just as Charles was pulling his saddlebag off his horse. "Arthur. Charles."
Both men turned, surprised.
"Well, look who it is," Arthur said, his voice gruff but not unfriendly. "Thought you ran off for good, Caleb."
Charles chuckled as he reached for a canteen. "Yeah, we figured you'd gotten tired of us or maybe decided to live out in the woods permanently."
Caleb grinned and gave a small shrug. "Just needed a bit of time away. Business, scouting, some peace and quiet. But I came back. I always come back."
Arthur nodded slowly, his expression softening. "Well, Dutch didn't wait around. Things have been moving fast, as I'm sure Hosea's told you since he has been worrying about you."
"He did," Caleb confirmed. "I wanted to get your take on things. You were the one who got close to Beau Gray, right?"
"Yeah," Arthur muttered, clearly not thrilled about it. "The boy's soft. Head over heels for a Braithwaite girl, Penelope. He wants to end the feud, run off together, or something romantic like that. But Dutch saw it as an opening."
"Think it'll work?" Caleb asked, his tone cautious.
Charles answered that one. "Depends. Dutch wants to keep supporting the Grays openly, and the two families might come into blows if Beau and Penelope run off together, so we come and help the Grays gain more relations. But I don't trust that either family will just go like that. They've got blood in their teeth, both of them, and were smarter than we think."
Arthur gave a short grunt of agreement. "The Grays are more structured. The Braithwaites, more wild. But neither's to be trusted."
Caleb thanked them, offering a quiet nod, and turned back toward Mary-Beth. His mind was buzzing with what they said, but at the same time, he felt oddly grounded.
Mary-Beth was waiting with a bowl of stew and a smile, sitting at a small bench beside the fire. "That took a while. What'd they say?"
Caleb sat beside her and took the bowl gratefully. "Pretty much confirmed what Hosea told me. And gave me a bit more to think about."
Mary-Beth nudged his leg with hers. "Don't overthink it. For now, just eat. You're here, you're safe, and it's a good morning."
Caleb looked at her, her soft expression framed by the sunlight filtering through the trees. And for the first time that morning, he felt everything would be fine and would go according to his way, so he let out a smile. "Yeah," he said. "It is."
...
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: 522 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: -