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Arthur popped up and fired a shot, downing one of the other bounty hunters. Charles flanked left, using his shotgun to suppress and advance. Caleb activated Dead Eye again, targeting the man with the rifle. Two quick shots, one to the shoulder and one to the leg, dropped the man, sending the rifle clattering to the dirt.
The final two bounty hunters tried to flee. Arthur dropped one with a clean revolver shot. Charles chased down the last, tackling him before finishing him off with a hard punch and a knee to the ribs, before then blasting him off with his sawed off shotgun.
The gunfire immediately fell silent after that.
Caleb immediately jogged over to the fallen rolling block rifle and picked it up. It was in excellent condition, with custom long sights, improved barrel and rifling, and engraved stock.
"This'll save me some money," he said aloud, slinging it across his back, before proceeding to loot the four bodies. He got 23 dollars and 13 cents with 2 silver rings and 2 silver pocket watches.
He also held his hand on their guns, revolvers and also repeaters, putting their bullets inside his inventory without moving the guns.
Arthur on the other hand looked around the barn. "That all of 'em?"
Charles nodded as he came in from the rear. "That's all of them I think."
Caleb joined them and then looked back toward the cabin. "Let's head back. Make sure Trelawny's alright."
As they made their way back through the cornfields, the tension began to ease. Caleb kept alert, but he was starting to relax. Mission success.
And somewhere deep inside, he couldn't help but smile. He was bending the game's script just enough, playing his part, but owning the moments like usual.
When they returned to the cabin, Trelawny was sipping from a flask and dabbing at his wounds with a rag.
"I assume all those ruckuses you cause have ended means you've done your part, gentleman?" he asked.
Arthur groaned as he heard that. "You're lucky we like you, Trelawny."
Charles crossed his arms. "Next time, try staying outta trouble."
Trelawny raised an eyebrow while he held himself. "And deprive you gentlemen of your heroics? Perish the thought."
Caleb chuckled at Trelawny's theatrics while Arthur stepped over and extended a hand to the wounded conman.
"C'mon, up you go," Arthur muttered, helping Trelawny to his feet. As he did, he glanced down at the blood on Trelawny's shirt. "Who were those bounty hunters, anyway?"
Trelawny winced as he stood, using Arthur for support. "Bounty hunters attached to a man named Cole Stoudemire," he said, breath shaky. "Not the most reputable crowd, mind you."
Arthur nodded slowly, processing the name as he helped Trelawny down the few creaky steps of the cabin's porch. Behind them, Charles had already gone around the side of the cabin and untied one of the bounty hunter's horses from a hitching post.
"Got one for him," Charles called, leading the horse over.
Caleb remained where he was, a few paces back, eyes scanning the cornfield like a bodyguard who refused to relax. He hadn't lowered his guard even as the fight was long over. The Rolling Block rifle was slung across his back now, and his eyes moved with slow, deliberate control.
"They weren't exactly looking for me per se," Trelawny continued as Arthur guided him toward the waiting horse. "Just sniffing around. Unfortunate coincidence."
Arthur helped him mount with Charles's assistance, steadying him as Trelawny grunted and groaned. "What did you tell 'em?" Arthur asked.
"Not much," Trelawny said, settling into the saddle with a sigh of relief. "Told them I was an intellectual, a scholar, come down here from Oregon, seeking an employment at the university."
"Uh huh," Arthur said flatly, adjusting the stirrup for Trelawny. Charles handed him the reins.
"Of course," Trelawny added with a roll of his eyes, "they didn't believe a word of it."
Once he was seated properly and held the reins, he turned his head toward Arthur again, the sharpness returning to his voice. "Seems that you've stirred up quite the hornet's nest back in Blackwater. The hunting hasn't stopped, even after we fled the state and we go into hiding."
Arthur swung into his own saddle and grunted. "That's what I've been hearin'. Blackwater's been in trouble ever since."
Charles mounted up as well and gave a low grunt of agreement.
Caleb climbed onto his horse last, remaining silent. He didn't have a personal stake in Blackwater, he had joined the gang well after that disaster. Still, the mention of it set something churning in his head. The money. The untouched cache is buried in the wreck of that job. The gang was far enough from Blackwater now. Maybe it was time.
As the three rode alongside Trelawny, the man winced and adjusted his posture, clearly in pain. "I think it's best if I go with you gentlemen for a while," he said. "After all this, I can't return to that caravan. Too dangerous."
Arthur glanced over and nodded. "Yeah, makes sense. Stay at camp for a while. Miss Grimshaw'll patch you up. Reverend'll mumble over you."
He looked to Charles and Caleb. "You two bring him back to camp. Make sure he gets seen by Miss Grimshaw and Reverend Swanson. I'll catch up."
Charles turned his head, puzzled. "Where you goin'?"
Arthur gave a small shrug. "Just gettin' some fresh air. Don't worry about it. Just go. That gunfire's sure to attract someone's attention."
Caleb studied him for a moment, knowing exactly where Arthur would end up, in Rhodes, brooding in his usual stoic fashion. Which he has seen himself when playing as Arthur, all part of the game, or now the world's natural flow.
"Alright," Caleb finally said. "Be safe."
Arthur nodded and turned his horse away from the group, riding off through the trees. Leaving Caleb, Charles, and Trelawny to begin the long ride back to Clemens Point.
Within minutes, Caleb and Charles regretted their assignment.
Trelawny, despite his injuries, would not stop talking.
He began speaking almost immediately after they separated from Arthur. "That was quite the ordeal, wasn't it? I dare say we've earned ourselves a proper toast this evening. I shall compose an epic ballad in your honor. Yes, indeed. 'The Three Gunslingers and the Dashing Magician.' Or perhaps something a touch more refined? The Ballad of Bravery and Cunning—'"
"Trelawny," Caleb interrupted, his voice dry, "how are you still talking? You're injured. Bleeding. Shut up."
Trelawny gave a pained but amused chuckle. "Dear boy, you wound me deeper than the bullet did. I tell you pain is but a fleeting sensation. The art of storytelling, however, is eternal."
"Just shut up and save your breath," Charles added, half amused, half irritated, but his face was still stoic. "How can you even talk this much?"
"It's a gift," Trelawny said, slouching in the saddle but still managing to grin. "I'll have you know, some say I was born speaking."
"No doubt," Caleb muttered.
Caleb shot Charles a desperate look. The Native American's stoic expression cracked just enough to reveal sheer exasperation.
Trelawny rambled on. "Imagine it! A tale of danger, of narrow escapes, perhaps a romantic subplot? A fair maiden, a stolen kiss—"
"Christ," Caleb muttered.
Charles exhaled sharply. "If you don't stop talking, I'm pushing you off this horse."
Trelawny gasped, clutching his chest in mock offense. "Such cruelty! And after I survived such torture!"
Caleb rubbed his temples. "You weren't tortured. You were lightly interrogated."
"Semantics, dear boy!"
The ride dragged on, Trelawny's monologues only pausing when he winced in pain, brief respites Caleb and Charles cherished.
Despite the banter, the road was uneventful, a peaceful stretch that gave way to the familiar woods surrounding Clemens Point. The lake glistened in the sun, and the scent of pines floated on the summer air. As they neared camp, the sound of guitar playing and camp chores could be heard.
Pearson looked up from his kitchen station. "That you, Charles? Caleb? Who's that with ya?"
"Trouble," Charles muttered.
Miss Grimshaw meanwhile also noticed their arrival, her sharp eyes narrowing at Trelawny's disheveled state. "Oh, for heaven's sake," she muttered, striding over. "What've you done to yourself now?"
Trelawny attempted a bow from horseback, nearly toppling off. "Merely a misadventure, madam!"
Miss Grimshaw rolled her sleeves up. "Get him down for me please Mr. Thorne."
Caleb dismounted and helped guide Trelawny down. Miss Grimshaw took charge immediately, barking orders.
"Reverend! Mr. Swanson! Get over here and make yourself useful!"
Reverend Swanson came stumbling over, eyes half lidded but hands surprisingly steady as he helped support Trelawny toward a bedroll near the wagons.
Caleb stepped back, exhaling. Charles gave him a pat on the back.
"You alright?"
"Yeah," Caleb replied. "Just tired."
Charles nodded. "Get some rest. We earned it."
As the two parted ways, Caleb headed toward his tent, but he wasn't done thinking. He put the Rolling Block rifle that was slung across his back inside his tent. It was his biggest reward, and a reminder of the money, valuables, guns, and everything he could get from this world are so many.
Still, only Blackwater lingered in his thoughts.
That money.
Maybe it was finally time to go get it.
Then suddenly Mary-Beth appeared at his side, her brow furrowed.
"You're hurt," she said, fingers brushing a fresh scrape on his forearm.
"Just a scratch."
She gave him a look. "You say that every time."
He grinned. "And you patch me up every time."
Her lips quirked, but she didn't argue, leading him toward the fire where a pot of coffee simmered.
At this time Dutch emerged from his tent, surveying the scene, then approached Caleb and Mary-Beth. "Where's Arthur?"
"He took a detour Dutch," Caleb said. "He said he wants to take some fresh air and will be back soon after us."
Dutch's expression was still stoic, but he didn't press. Instead, he turned to Trelawny, who was now holding court despite Grimshaw's attempts to silence him.
"—and then, just as the ruffians closed in, I distracted them with a rousing soliloquy on the virtues of chivalry and thus, the legend of my heroism shall echo through the ages—"
Miss Grimshaw shoved a bandage into his mouth. "Hush."
Caleb smirked into his coffee.
Later that evening, the camp was alive with the usual quiet bustle of dusk. Dutch sat at the table with Hosea, talking in hushed tones, Sadie cleaned her revolver nearby. John and Abigail spend some time with Jack, Karen, Tilly, and Sean drinking some beer while talking.
Caleb passed Bill and Javier, who were playing cards again, but waved off their invitation to join.
He wandered down toward the edge of the lake, as he saw Arthur's horse was hitched by the hitching post, confirming his return. In there, he found Arthur himself standing nearby, smoking a cigarette and staring at the water. Caleb approached, but didn't speak at first.
After a few moments, Arthur glanced his way. "Trelawny settle in?"
Caleb nodded. "Miss Grimshaw and Reverend Swanson's patching him up. He was talking the whole ride back, I almost regret saving him."
Arthur chuckled quietly. "That's him alright. Now you say that, I almost feel the same about him staying at camp now."
Caleb chuckled at that but noticed Arthur was a bit weird. "You alright?" Caleb asked.
"Yeah," Arthur replied. "Just... thinking."
Caleb didn't press. Instead, he stood beside him in silence, both of them watching the calm water reflect the stars. And somewhere in the distance, Caleb knew that a new future waited, full of unknown danger, unknown choices, and opportunities to keep bending the world toward a different ending.
...
Name: Caleb Thorne
Age: 23
Body Attributes:
- Strength: 7/10
- Agility: 7/10
- Perception: 8/10
- Stamina: 7/10
- Charm: 6/10
- Luck: 6/10
Skills:
- Handgun (Lvl 3)
- Rifle (Lvl 2)
- Firearms Knowledge (Lvl 3)
- Past Life Memory (Lvl MAX)
- Knife (Lvl 2)
- Blunt Weapon (Lvl 1)
- Sneaking (Lvl 3)
- 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 2)
Money: 935 dollars and 48 cents
Inventory: 3,245 dollars, 7 gold nuggets, 5 gold bars, 4 silver rings, 1 Double Action, 1 Schofield, 2 large bags of jewelry, a gold ring, two silver rings, four silver pocket watches, a gold buckle, and a gold pocket compass
Bank: -.