If you want to read 20 Chapters ahead and more, be sure to check out my P-Tang12!!!
...
(A/N: Don't forget to give those power stones to Skyrim everyone!)
...
"I welcome the challenge," Caleb smirked. After that lighthearted banter, the conversation naturally ended. Arthur took his leave, walking up the sweeping staircase to his private quarters to prepare for the most important date of his entire life, leaving Caleb alone in the drawing room to finalize his war plans.
Time passed rapidly, the freezing night giving way to the bright, crisp sunlight of the next day.
The morning inside the Garden District mansion was completely different than usual. There was a palpable, highly electric, and incredibly domestic tension buzzing through the sprawling estate. The impending war with Rhodes was entirely forgotten for a few hours. Today was about Arthur Morgan and Mary Linton.
All of the members of the Van der Linde gang were currently acting like a group of highly curious, gossiping schoolchildren.
In the grand, velvet draped front parlor that overlooked the pristine circular driveway, a ridiculous scene was unfolding. Sean, Uncle, Tilly, Karen, John, and Abigail were all huddled together, practically stepping on each other's toes as they were blatantly peeking from the gaps in the heavy front window curtains.
"Will you stop shoving you, Irish bastard?!" John hissed, elbowing Sean in the ribs. "If Arthur catches us spying on him, he's going to throw us all into the bayou!"
"Ah, shut your mouth, Marston," Sean whispered back, his eyes glued to the glass. "I just want to see the posh high society bird that finally managed to put a leash on the great Arthur Morgan. I bet she's wearing a crown."
"She's a very sweet, very refined lady," Tilly corrected softly, standing on her tiptoes to see over Uncle's shoulder. "And Arthur deserves to be happy."
"He looks like he's about to face a firing squad," Uncle muttered, taking a pull from a silver flask.
Outside, the reality of Uncle's observation was not far off.
Arthur was standing outside the massive, wrought iron main gate of the estate, waiting patiently for Mary to arrive.
He was an absolute, imposing sight. He had completely cleaned up for the occasion. He wasn't wearing his usual rugged leather duster or his mud stained boots. Instead, Arthur was wearing a beautifully tailored, dark navy blue suit that Caleb had specifically ordered for him from the finest tailor in Saint Denis. His boots were polished to a mirror shine, his hair was neatly slicked back with pomade, and his beard was trimmed perfectly.
But despite looking like a wealthy, sophisticated gentleman, the nervous energy radiating off him was immense. He was pacing slowly back and forth across the white gravel, his massive hands clasped behind his back, occasionally stopping to check his silver pocket watch.
The heavily armed Italian capos guarding the gate pretended not to notice their terrifying commander acting like a nervous schoolboy, maintaining their stoic, forward facing discipline.
Inside the parlor, Abigail smiled, a soft, maternal warmth in her eyes as she watched the big man pace. "He really loves her."
"He does," Caleb's rich voice suddenly echoed from behind them.
The gang jumped slightly, turning to see the Don of Saint Denis standing in the parlor doorway, holding a cup of steaming black coffee. Caleb wore a tailored dark waistcoat and trousers, looking completely relaxed. He walked up behind the group, effortlessly looking over their heads through the glass.
"Let him have his moment, boys and ladies," Caleb murmured, though he didn't order them to step away from the window. He was just as invested in Arthur's happiness as they were. "He has fought a very long, very bloody war to earn the right to stand on that gravel today."
Suddenly, Sean gasped, pointing a finger against the glass. "Here she comes! Look!"
Rolling slowly down the pristine, oak-lined avenue of the Garden District was a highly polished, elegant hired carriage. It pulled to a smooth, graceful halt right in front of the imposing wrought iron gates of the McLaughlin estate.
Arthur stopped pacing instantly. He stood up completely straight, his broad chest rising as he took a deep, steadying breath. He stepped forward just as the carriage driver opened the door.
Mary Linton stepped out into the crisp morning air.
She looked breathtakingly elegant, dressed in a beautiful, light-blue walking dress with a matching, stylish hat.
But it wasn't her clothes that caught the attention of the gang peeking through the window, it was the absolute, unadulterated look of pure awe and joyous relief on her face as she looked at Arthur, and then looked past him to the towering, palatial mansion that he now called home.
Arthur offered her a warm, slightly shy smile. He reached out, offering his massive, calloused hand to her. Mary didn't just take his hand, she stepped forward, closing the distance between them, and wrapped her arms around his waist in a tight, affectionate embrace right there on the street, completely ignoring the stoic mafia guards standing just a few feet away.
Arthur carefully wrapped his arms around her shoulders, holding her close, a look of absolute, transcendent peace settling over his scarred features.
Inside the parlor, Karen wiped a small, happy tear from her eye, while Sean let out a low, impressed whistle.
"Well I'll be damned," John Marston smiled, shaking his head. "He actually did it."
Caleb took a slow sip of his coffee, a deep, highly satisfied smirk on his face. After all, he had rebuilt it into something beautiful.
"Alright, show's over," Caleb commanded softly, turning away from the window. "Get back to your duties. Let Arthur give her the grand tour in peace. Because after today and couple of days later, a big event will come. As we will go to war."
Meanwhile, on the outside of the sprawling estate, the frigid bite of the winter morning was entirely ignored by the two figures standing on the white gravel driveway.
Arthur gently pulled back from the tight, desperate embrace, keeping his massive hands resting lightly on Mary's waist.
He looked down into her eyes, seeing the familiar, heartbreakingly beautiful features that had haunted his dreams for the better part of two decades. The sheer relief radiating from her face was a balm to his scarred, battle weary soul.
Mary reached up with a gloved hand, her fingers trembling slightly as she gently traced the line of his trimmed beard, as if she needed physical proof that he was actually standing there in front of her, dressed in a tailored navy blue suit instead of a dusty leather duster.
"Arthur," Mary whispered, her voice thick with emotion, her eyes darting from his polished boots up to his crisp collar. "You look... you look absolutely wonderful. I hardly recognized you standing here."
"I clean up alright when the occasion calls for it, Mary," Arthur rumbled, a warm, slightly shy smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He took a step back, gesturing grandly to the staggering, palatial architecture of the Garden District mansion looming behind the wrought iron gates. "And this seemed like a pretty good occasion."
Mary's gaze followed his hand, and for the first time since she had stepped out of her hired carriage, she truly processed the sheer, unimaginable scale of the property they were standing in front of.
Her eyes widened, tracking the massive stone pillars, the sweeping marble balconies, the perfectly manicured gardens, and the heavily armed, sharply dressed Italian capos who were guarding the perimeter with terrifying, military precision.
She let out a soft, breathless gasp, turning back to Arthur in complete, unadulterated shock.
"Arthur... my word," Mary breathed, her voice laced with profound surprise. "When you said you had found a stable position in Saint Denis, I imagined a respectable office or a quiet townhouse. But this? This is an estate fit for an tycoon of na industry. Is this... is this truly where your boss lives?"
Arthur chuckled, a deep, resonant sound that vibrated in his broad chest. He reached out and gently offered her his arm, which she took immediately, holding onto him as if he were an anchor in a storm.
"It is, Mary," Arthur nodded, leading her slowly through the massive iron gates. The capos parted instantly, bowing their heads in silent, absolute respect to their commander, a gesture that did not go unnoticed by Mary. "And I'll tell you something that will surprise you even more. You're probably picturing some old, grey haired oil baron or a wrinkled shipping magnate running this whole operation."
"I suppose I was," Mary admitted, looking up at the towering oak doors of the mansion.
"Well, you're going to be even more surprised," Arthur smiled, looking down at her. "Because the owner of this mansion, the man who built all of this from the ground up, is a young man. He's much younger than I am. But he possesses a mind and a vision unlike any man I have ever met in my entire life."
Mary's brow furrowed in sheer confusion and intrigue. A young man commanding this level of wealth and security was something out of a Gilded Age fairy tale.
As they walked up the sweeping marble steps of the front porch, the heavy double doors were smoothly pulled open by the estate's liveried staff. Arthur gently guided Mary over the threshold, and the two of them entered into the mansion.
If Mary had been shocked by the exterior, the interior completely and utterly stole the breath from her lungs. She was, of course, profoundly surprised by the sheer richness and unapologetic grandeur inside the mansion.
The grand foyer was a masterpiece of architectural wealth. Massive crystal chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceilings, casting a brilliant, prismatic light over the polished white marble floors.
Heavy, imported Persian rugs muffled their footsteps, while massive oil paintings framed in pure gold lined the silk wallpapered corridors. It was a level of opulence that even the wealthiest families in her social circles could only dream of.
Antonio, the impeccably dressed head butler, stepped forward. He bowed perfectly from the waist, his white gloves pristine.
"Welcome back, Mr. Morgan," Antonio greeted him with flawless, genuine deference. "And welcome to the estate, Miss Linton. If I may take your coat and hat?"
Mary, completely overwhelmed, allowed the butler to take her winter garments. She looked at Arthur, her eyes wide with a mixture of awe and lingering disbelief.
The outlaws she had known, the desperate men hiding in the mud and running from the law, were completely gone. Arthur wasn't a gang enforcer here, he was a highly respected executive of a massive corporate empire.
"Come on," Arthur smiled gently, placing a hand on the small of her back. "Let me show you around before we sit down."
Arthur gave her a small, guided tour around the sprawling first floor of the estate. He walked her through the grand ballroom, pointing out where the massive firearms auction had taken place just days prior, the sheer scale of the room echoing with their footsteps.
He showed her the sprawling, mahogany lined library filled with thousands of leather bound books, and the quiet, sunlit drawing rooms where the syndicate handled their legitimate corporate affairs.
Mary walked through the rooms in a complete daze. The smell of expensive lemon polish, aged leather, and fresh winter pine filled the air. She realized, with a sudden, overwhelming wave of relief, that Arthur had not been exaggerating in the streets yesterday. He truly was safe.
Eventually, Arthur gently guided her down a wide, warmly lit corridor toward the rear of the estate.
"The boss and his lady are having their morning coffee," Arthur explained, his voice low and comforting. "They wanted to meet you."
Arthur pushed open the heavy oak doors of the grand dining room.
The room was bathed in bright, crisp winter sunlight streaming through the massive bay windows that overlooked the private gardens. Sitting at the head of a sprawling, polished mahogany dining table was Caleb.
He was dressed flawlessly in a tailored dark waistcoat and a crisp white shirt, radiating an aura of calm, terrifying, and absolute authority. Sitting right beside him was Mary-Beth, looking breathtakingly elegant in a soft, cream colored morning dress, a steaming cup of tea resting in front of her.
As Arthur and Mary entered the room, Caleb and Mary-Beth looked up, warm, genuine smiles crossing both of their faces.
Arthur stepped forward, keeping Mary close to his side, and proudly introduced the woman he have affection to the Don of Saint Denis.
"Caleb, Mary-Beth," Arthur rumbled, his voice filled with a deep, protective affection. "I want to introduce you to Mary. Mary Linton."
He then turned to Mary, gesturing to the young, handsome billionaire sitting at the head of the table.
"Mary, this is the man I was telling you about," Arthur said, revealing Caleb's identity with a tone of absolute respect. "This is Caleb Thorne. He is the head of this entire operation. He is the owner of this estate, and he is the man who pulled us out of the mud. And this beautiful woman beside him is Miss Mary-Beth."
Arthur elaborated slightly, wanting Mary to understand the unique, unbreakable bond they shared. "Caleb is also a member of our family. He joined us just a little over several months ago, when our gang was in a massive, terrifying state of turmoil. He took the reins and saved us all."
Mary looked at Caleb, her eyes scanning his sharp, handsome features. There was something incredibly familiar about his piercing blue eyes and the calm, unwavering confidence he projected. Arthur noticed her slight hesitation and chuckled. "You actually know him, Mary. The two of you have met in the past, briefly, in the town of Valentine."
...
Name: Caleb Thorne
Age: 23
Body Attributes:
- Strength: 8/10
- Agility: 8/10
- Perception: 9/10
- Stamina: 8/10
- Charm: 8/10
- Luck: 9/10
Skills:
- Handgun (Lvl MAX)
- Rifle (Lvl MAX)
- Firearms Knowledge (Lvl MAX)
- Past Life Memory (Lvl MAX)
- Knife (Lvl MAX)
- Blunt Weapon (Lvl MAX)
- Sneaking (Lvl MAX)
- Horse Mastery (Lvl MAX)
- Poker (Lvl MAX)
- Hand to Hand Combat (Lvl MAX)
- Eagle Eye (Lvl MAX)
- Dead Eye (Lvl MAX)
- Bow (Lvl MAX)
- Pain Nullifier (Lvl MAX)
- Physical Regeneration (Lvl MAX)
- Crafting (Lvl MAX)
- Persuasion (Lvl MAX)
- Mental Fortitude (Lvl MAX)
- Cooking (Lvl MAX)
- Teaching (Lvl MAX)
- Trilingual Language Proficiency - G, I, & C (Lvl MAX)
- Inventory System (Permanent - 100x100x100)
- Acting (Lvl MAX)
- Alcohol Resistance (Lvl MAX)
- Treasure Hunter (Lvl MAX)
- Drugs Resistance (Lvl MAX)
- Business (Lvl MAX)
- Leadership (Lvl MAX)
Money: 2,772 dollars and 60 cents
Inventory: 283,392 dollars and 61 cents, 11 gold nuggets, 74 gold bars, 1 Double Action, 1 Schofield, 2 Colm's Schofields, 1 land deed (Parcel), 1 Mauser, 1 Semi Auto Pistol, 1 Lancaster Repeater, 1 Old Wood Jewelry Box, 1 F.F Mausoleum small brass key, 1 Ruby, 1 Braithwaites Land Deed, 1 Broken Pirate Sword, 1 Milton's Safety Deposit Key, Proof Of Marlin-Thorne Firearms Co., 10 Dynamites, 1 LeMat, 1 M1899, 1 Carcano, 1 Ownership deed of Doyle's Tavern, 3 Diamonds, & Important Documents & Deeds Of Cornwall
Bank: -