Reiner had woken up like he did most mornings buried to the hilt in Tilly with her still in his arms. But after having chopped the firewood, brought Maize to Pearson, hay to the horses, fresh water to Pearson's wagon, and feeding the Chickens he was now preparing to go for a hunt. He'd accompany Arthur, Uncle, Tilly, Mary-Beth, and Karen to Valentine, then he'd escort them back as far as halfway between the N and E on the Map that spelled New Hannover on it and the Camp. After that he'd go kill someone, and then actually go hunting. He had to go track something down and then he'd go hunting for Horses, and hunting game after that, hopefully bring some meat back to the Gang. He didn't plan to replace Bucephalus, but he wanted to begin producing a specific breed of Horses for his new empire.
To that end, he'd create a Quad-Cross that would eventually introduce a new breed of Horse into the West. Bill would be part of that business because of Brown Jack as would Dutch symbolically and Hosea. He planned to breed Arabians to Thoroughbreds for five generations and Ardennes to Irish Draught Horses for five generations with the end goal of breeding a Quad-Cross of exceptional quality. Additionally, he planned to breed Andalusians with Nokota's and Pryor Mountain Mustangs with Lusitano's for the same amount of generations before crossing them into a separate quad-cross. He was building a money machine for his descendants. The Horses that didn't go towards this goal but were still useful and healthy would be used by his organization. He did plan to give the Nokota to Tilly though, and he knew where to find a few spare arabians and at least one Turkoman.
As for other matters, Valentine would be the primary hub of operations in New Hanover for the first few years before everything was set up properly in the state. But, depending on how things turned out in Lemoyne and West Elizabeth, New Hanover might become the primary residence of his new empire. But the flowers in the garden weren't ready to blossom just yet, so for the moment, he had to ride into Valentine.
''Reiner, you busy?'' He turned to see Tilly.
''I always have time for you, Tilly.'' He said placing his Carcano Rifle down.
''I'm heading into town with the girls, Uncle, and Arthur, would you like to accompany me?''
''I have to go back to Valentine at some point anyways, might as well be with my woman.'' He said as she smiled. He enjoyed being able to say she was his. In Lemoyne he'd never be able to say that, and not end up beaten or dead. It took him years to be able to mentally flip a switch to turn his accent on or off. Tilly knew he was born south, just not that he was born in Lemoyne.
''Good, behave and… maybe Mary-Beth and I will have a surprise for you.'' He smiled beneath his bandanna at that as his eyes wandered.
Tilly smirked at him but said nothing. Walking away with a more noticeable sway to her hips.
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Reiner had loaded his Carcano Rifle and Evans Repeater onto his horse, with a round in the chamber of both. His LeMat and his Navy Revolvers were at his hips, while his backups were behind his waist out of sight hidden beneath his coat.
He had a pair of M1899 Pistols behind him. Revolvers were his preferred method of dealing with people at close to mid-range, but he could trick people by making a move to adjust his pants and pull them up, only to draw his M1899 Pistols free and open fire very quickly. Rate of Fire and Reload Speeds were very fast, and while the stopping power was low, with a few modifications it was increased as was the range. He planned to stop in to the Gunsmith and get some engravings done.
Of course, what the gunsmith didn't know was that he was a mark for a new business. Reiner's alloys could not be engraved upon or rifled without special tools that only he possessed and knew how to make. He'd leave his Springfield Repeater with the Gunsmith, taking the Evans Repeater and Carcano Repeater with him for murder and hunting. Then go to the Stables and buy that Ardennes, stable it and go for a Nokota. The Gunsmith would be given some spiel and when Reiner returned the fun would begin.
''Reiner you coming with us?'' Uncle asked as the old fart, Arthur and the girls arrived.
''I'll ride with you to Valentine, beyond that I have business to attend in town, and I gotta track down some people, see if I can find out what the fuck is happening in my own organization.'' He said mounting Bucephalus and pulling up across from Tilly, as Arthur steered the horses.
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Having arrived at Valentine, Arthur and Uncle had finished up business in the General Store while Reiner went to see the Gunsmith, and the women went to do something at the Saloon. Arthur bought a Cigar, a couple of Bottles of Whiskey, some ground coffee, and at Reiner's request; a couple of bits of Mature Venison Meat, some Ground Coffee, a box of Cigars, a couple of Bottles of Guarma Rum, and two fresh Loaves of Breed.
Now he and Uncle sat down enjoying their Whiskey.
''Oh, here's to your good health, sir… and to being down here off that mountain.'' Uncle said, handing Arthur a bottle.
''Absolutely.'' Arthur agreed, taking the bottle and lighting one of the cigars he bought for himself, passing one to Uncle.
''It's a funny world. By this point in my Career I expected to be married to an Heiress.'' Uncle said, as he and Arthur kept drinking.
''What's your take on Reiner's organization, Arthur? From the way Reiner's acting, sounds like someone's trying to ice him out of his own syndicate.'' Uncle asked Arthur.
''Hard to say, Reiner likes to keep things close to his chest, this is the first time we've really seen him afraid of anything. Hopefully it doesn't blow up in his face.'' Arthur replied as Mary-Beth came running over.
''Gentlemen, I think I got something good. I snuck into this fancy house, and acted like a servant girl - it usually works -, anyway someone was saying her sister was taking a trip from New York or someplace. A train full of rich tourists, heading to Saint Denis and then cruising off to Brazil.'' Arthur was sure he understood the appeal.
''Okay?'' He asked.
''A train laden with baggage and passing through a bit of deserted country at night so as to get to the docks in time for the tides, in some place called Scarlett Meadows.'' Mary-Beth added.
''Yeah, I know it…'' Uncle said thoughtfully, scratching his chin. ''Yeah, yeah, it's right out on the border of New Hanover. Right, it's really quiet out there.'' Uncle said, remembering something useful for once. ''I've heard Reiner talk about it.''
''Sounds good. Where's Tilly and Karen?'' Arthur asked.
''I think at the Hotel, they were picking up some drunken fellers that they was going to rob.'' Oh shit.
''Why?'' Arthur asked sharply.
''It seemed easy.'' Arthur sighed deeply. ''They have been gone for quite a while.'' Mary-Beth mentioned.
''I guess I'll go see if there's any trouble.'' Arthur says, Reiner would be pissed if Tilly got hurt.
''Oh, there's Tilly over there… that does not look ideal.'' They watched an angry colored man roughly grab her, and Arthur saw Reiner witness that and draw his Revolver before striding towards them.
''And neither is that.'' He said, pointing at Reiner.
''Oh no.'' Even Uncle had his hand on his revolver, already cocking it before he drew it.
''Excuse me.'' Arthur said, drawing his revolver and striding over himself..
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''Get your hands off me!'' Tilly snarled.
''You think I wouldn't find you Tilly?'' Forman asked angrily.
''You can go kiss a damn snake for all I care… get off of me! Get off of me!'' Tilly said angrily.
Reiner pressed his LeMat right up against the back of the skull of Anthony Foreman,, and his Navy Revolver at the back of the bastard.
''Get your fucking hands off of MY Woman!'' Reiner snarled, he felt the demon waking up, demanding vengeance, Reiner buried the monster deeper.
''HEY! Get your hands off of her you son of bitch!'' Reiner glanced to see Arthur standing a few steps away, his Revolver drawn and pointed directly at Foreman's head.
''You heard them! Hands off!'' Reiner glanced to his left, seeing Uncle of all people pointing his Revolver at Foreman.
Reiner smiled, from every direction, Anthony Foreman was one Dead Man Walking.
''Easy, boys.'' Foreman said, voice wavering just slightly.
''Hand's off or you're dead four ways from Sunday!'' Reiner said cocking both of his Revolvers.
Foreman released Tilly.
''Your making a big mistake Tilly Jackson.'' Reiner shot Foreman in the leg.
''Leave…Now!''
''You bastard, you shot me in the leg!''
''Then don't threaten my woman! Leave Now!'' Foreman hobbled away towards the Valentine Doctor.
''Reiner.'' Reiner embraced Tilly, holding her tight.
''I'll escort you as far back to the camp as I can. But I need to run these leads down today. I'll be back in a couple of days. Let me just clear this up with Sheriff Maloy.'' Reiner kissed her deeply. ''No one threatens my Tilly.'' He snarled, before kissing her again. ''Take care of her, I'll be right back.'' Reiner said, heading to speak with Sheriff Malloy privately.
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(Author's Note:)
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I was procrastinating a little getting this chapter done, I was busy binging on The Boys, even got a chapter of a Story of it done. Regardless, here we are, chapter 5. Next chapter we'll go hunting and murdering. I also want to say that I really wish calling a black person a colored person was not a period correct term. I'll be upfront and say that one of the things Reiner's going to do towards the end of the story is trying to put an end to the bullshit segregation, closet racism, and other White Supremacy horse shit pretty early. By early I mean like 1910 to 1912-ish, more than that I won't say, and I am trying to keep terms like that to an absolute minimum since my point of view is that if you genuinely believe in White Supremacy then you fully deserve to ***.
There's no place for bigots, pedos, or racists in this world, and while everyone is entitled to their opinion, you are not allowed to spread hate. So fuck you if believe or support shit like that.
I'll see you guys next chapter.
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Thanks to Mitchell Howard, David Martinez, ROGUE505 Saver, Mathew T Linderman, Luck George, Kyle Diano, Julien, Morgan Sinn, Tom A, Nicholas Berenguer, Arimar26, Robin Kristiansen, Dragon emperor87, Daniel Setchell, James Fleming, Zero 12995, Spencer Davidson, Rowdy_Rich, Beastmode2003, Birhaledin, Blood For The Blood God, Dymarkus Tillman, Lorra Thorsdottir, Parker Kessinger, Ryan, Jacob Hixson, Kazim Zaidi, and Natalie McCowen for their support on P-atreon.
And also a big thank you to Cody, Luci Alarra, TJ Cruz, Kunta, Availon90, Gavin Barclay, Dragonslayer29, Jacarya Robinson, Nathan Just, Francisco J Guzman, Axlii, Reece Hutton, Ken Harris, Zeldris Wrath, Duy, lonelynib _, Austin, D3EATH707, Cutler1812, Aleksander_402, Lewis Wilson, Profound Magician, Arzard, HxC 740 VxD, Attila Kovács, Ruby Uzumaki, Mudit Chadha, Maciek, Joao Goncalves, Dwhateverprof, Jibreel Kamal, Luis, Luis, Zeca, Bent, Jason, Solus 1994, Evil King, Manuel, Benoit Valtin, Craig Butler, Joseph Brann, Cristobal Ahumada, Nathaniel Lessord, GGbeejee, Trey-Way, FisherKing711, Calvin Ellis, adrian szydlowski, Robert Hernandez, James Lloyd, Ryan, Meet Parikh, Kyle Santora, Toros Silver, Vlone_Icy, reikon aijin, weird song, and Cameron Krueger for their past support on Patreon.
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