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With the wounded man slumped against him, Caleb turned Morgan back toward the trail south. The sun was just past its peak, casting long shadows across the forest. He had miles to ride, and wounds to treat, but the bounty was his. And in the back of his mind, he couldn't help but wonder what other devils this country might throw his way outside of what he sees in the game.
The ride back to Valentine was long and painful, Dree Dallas trussed like a turkey over a spare horse. The sun hung low when the town's familiar buildings came into view, the evening light painting everything in shades of gold and crimson.
Sheriff Malloy was standing outside of his office, arms crossed. His eyebrows rose at the sight of Caleb's bloodied form and the prisoner that he brought alongside him.
"Good Heavens, son!" the sheriff shouted. "You actually managed to bring Drew Dallas alive, we will handle it for you from here."
Caleb dismounted stiffly, dragged Drew Dallas from his horse with his right arm, and then looked at Sheriff Malloy. "Of course, Sheriff. Even if I can bring him dead and still get my reward, many people wanted to see him get hanged properly."
Sheriff Malloy approached Drew Dallas, and crouched down examining his face "They'll be pleased by it. The 100 dollars bounty is yours and I gave you a bonus of 50 dollars for bringing him in breathing."
He then stood up and gestured to Caleb's wounds. "Get yourself patched up first though. Don't need you dyin' before payday. Boys get this man off to his cell."
As the deputies hauled Drew Dallas away, Caleb caught sight of Jasper standing frozen in front of the saloon, his face pale at the sight of Caleb's bloodied form. The boy recovered quickly, rushing over.
"You're hurt!"
Caleb waved him off. "Just scratches. Help me get to the doctor's."
Jasper's shoulder was surprisingly strong as he helped Caleb walk, the boy firing off questions faster than Caleb could answer. "Was it Drew Dallas? Did you get all his men? How many were there? Did—"
"Later Jasper, after I go and treat this then I will tell you," Caleb grunted. Right now, all he wanted was whiskey, stitches, and a long sleep. The bounty money could wait till morning.
With Jasper's help, Caleb entered the doctor's office beside the sheriff's. The familiar creak of the wooden floor echoed as they stepped inside, the air thick with the scent of medicine and something bitter, likely opium tincture.
Doc Calloway looked up from a ledger behind his desk, peering over his spectacles with a practiced scowl.
"Oh god what happened to you Caleb," the older man said, setting the book aside and standing. "Son, help him in there to the back room to your right."
Jasper gave Caleb a nervous glance as he steadied him toward the door, leading him to a modestly outfitted room with a padded leather chair, a tray of gleaming instruments, and a shelf stocked with bandages and bottles.
Doc Calloway entered after them, "On the chair, son. Let's see what damage you've done to yourself this time."
Caleb gritted his teeth as he lowered himself while Jasper helped him onto the chair letting outcome grunt, a cold sheen of sweat on his brow as he cradled his wounded left shoulder. Blood had crusted around the torn fabric of his shirt.
"Bullet's still in there," Caleb grunted, peeling back his blood soaked shirt wanting to reveal the wound in his left shoulder but he failed.
Doc Calloway wasted no time. He helped Caleb to peel back his shirt and it reveals the sound to Doc Calloway. "You're lucky, Caleb," he muttered while examining the wound.
"Bullet didn't punch through any major veins. Clean pass through, but it's deep. Gonna need to fish it out and stitch you back together after cleaning the wound."
Jasper stood by the side, wide eyed. "You gonna take the bullet out now, Doc?"
"Of course I am," Doc Calloway grumbled, dabbing the wound with some tonic that made Caleb hiss. "Ain't gonna leave it in there like some fool superstition. Hand me that scalpel and pincet over there, also fetch that bottle of ether from the shelf to your left. And hold him down this ain't gonna be pleasant."
Caleb braced himself, gritting his teeth as the pain flared with each touch. He tried to focus on something else, anything else, and that was when it happened.
DING!
A sound that no one else heard rang sharply in his ears, and in the corner of his vision, a familiar blue glowing interface shimmered to life.
You have acquired two new Skills:
Pain Nullifier (Lvl 1)
Dampens 15% of incoming physical pain, allowing sustained focus and functionality during moderate injury.
Physical Regeneration (Lvl 0)
Initiates minor self repair processes in the body. Fasten the regeneration of your body by 5% outside of combat. Efficiency increases with rest, hydration, and nutrition.
Skills level up:
- Handgun (Lvl 1 → Lvl 2)
- Rifle (Lvl 1 → Lvl 2)
- Horse Mastery (Lvl 1 → Lvl 2)
A laugh broke from Caleb's throat, raw, surprised, and oddly joyful. The sting in his shoulder suddenly felt duller, and the searing pain reduced to something more tolerable.
It was a good haul, no doubt about it. Drew Dallas was behind bars. His gang had been decimated. And Caleb himself… well, he wasn't the same man as the one who rode out this morning. Stronger, a bit tougher, and definitely smarter for it.
The sudden movement made Doc Calloway's scalpel slip slightly. "Hold still, dammit! What the hell's so funny? I'm hand deep in your shoulder and you're laughin' like a lunatic, Caleb."
"Sorry Doc," Caleb coughed, breath catching as the doc resumed pulling the slug out. "Just remembered something funny, that's all."
Do Valloway muttered something unflattering about this that become bounty hunters become idiots as he soaked a rag in ether. "Bite down on this. Count backward from ten."
The world swam as the anesthetic took hold. Caleb focused on the system notifications, marveling at their timing. The Pain Nullifier skill already seemed to be working, though the bullet wound still burned, the edges of the pain felt... much duller, as it became manageable.
His musings were interrupted by the sharp sting of metal probing flesh. Even with the new skill, his back arched off the chair as Doc Calloway dug for the bullet.
"Hold him steady, boy!" Doc Calloway. barked at Jasper.
Caleb's vision whited out for a moment, then cleared just in time to see the doctor drop a misshapen chunk of lead into a metal tray with a satisfying clink.
"Now the fun part," Calloway said, reaching for his suture kit.
The next hour passed in a haze of alcohol burns, needle pricks, and tightly clenched teeth. Through it all, Caleb monitored his new Physical Regeneration skill.
Though still at level 0, he could swear the bleeding slowed a bit faster than normal, and that the flesh around the stitches knit together a bit faster visibly.
Finally, Doc Calloway stepped back, wiping his hands on a bloodied towel. "Keep it clean, change the dressing daily, and for God's sake Caleb, don't go out or get shot again for at least a month."
He rummaged through his cabinets, producing two small bottles. "Laudanum for the pain. One drop when it gets bad, no more. And this," he held up a second bottle, "is a tonic of my own making. Helps with blood loss you have."
Caleb reached for his money on his satchel with his good arm, wincing a bit at the movement. "How much do I owe you, Doc?"
"15 dollars for the extraction and stitches. Another 5 for the medicines."
The price was steep, but Caleb counted out the bills without complaint. The bills for medical assistance from doctors didn't come cheap during this era, especially since Doc Calloway could be said to be skilled ones even though it's still a crude technique.
Jasper helped him to his feet, the boy's eyes wide as he stared at the bloodied bandages. "You alright to walk?"
"Better than I was before," Caleb admitted. And it was true between the Pain Nullifier skill and the doctor's ministrations, the wound already felt more manageable than it was before.
The evening air was a relief after the stuffy office. Valentine's main street bustled with its usual activity, ranch hands heading to the saloon, shopkeepers closing up for the night.
None gave Caleb's bandaged shoulder more than a passing glance. Gunshot wounds were commonplace here. Even if the one who got shot was Caleb, maybe just more couple of glances but that's it.
As they walked toward the hotel, Caleb fished out 15 dollars and pressed it into Jasper's hand. "Get us some lamb fry from the saloon. I'll be in my room."
Jasper stared at the money. "This is too much for—"
"Keep the change," Caleb interrupted. "You've earned it today." He hesitated, then added, "And... thanks. For the help."
The boy's face lit up like he'd been given a gold bar instead of dinner money. "Yes, mister! I mean... Caleb. I'll be quick."
Watching Jasper hurry off, Caleb marveled at how quickly the kid had adapted. From a terrified prisoner to a competent assistant in just days. The West had a way of forcing growth on people.
His room welcomed him with familiar smells, gun oil, leather, and the faintest hint of the lavender sachets the hotel staff used to keep moths away. Caleb shrugged out of his bloodstained shirt with difficulty, inspecting the bandages. No fresh bleeding. Good.
He'd just settled onto the bed when a knock announced Jasper's return. The boy entered balancing two heaping plates of lamb fry with roasted potatoes, along with two bottles of beer.
"Figured you could use this," Jasper said, setting one of the bottles by Caleb's bedside.
They ate in near silence for a moment, It was far from fancy, but after a long day of gunfire and grit, it was just about perfect.
They ate in comfortable silence, just the soft clink of cutlery and the occasional satisfied sigh. The lamb fry was greasy and seasoned well, and the potatoes were perfect. The rich flavors are a welcome distraction from Caleb's throbbing shoulder. Between bites, he caught Jasper staring at his bandages.
"Spit it out, kid, " Caleb said around a mouthful of potatoes.
Jasper hesitated. "Was it... bad? The fight with Drew Dallas and his gang?"
Caleb set his fork down, considering how much to share. "Eight men total. Took out five from the ridge before they knew what hit them." He touched his shoulder. "This was from some lucky bastard with a Carbine."
Jasper's eyes shone with something between awe and horror. "And you took them all?"
"Yes I took them all out by myself," Caleb admitted.
The boy looked at Caleb with reverence and admiration, it get even started could come out of his eyes. "You think... maybe someday you could teach me? Not just the shooting that you said will teach me, but all of it?"
The question hung between them. Caleb studied Jasper, the eager set of his shoulders, the determination in his eyes. He wasn't just asking for survival skills anymore, he was asking to learn to become a gunslinger or even a bounty hunter.
"Maybe," Caleb said finally after thinking about gaining people outside of the gang. "If you're serious about it." He pointed his fork at Jasper. "But first you master basic shooting. No sense learning tactics or anything else if you can't hit a bottle and move birds right."
Jasper nodded eagerly, practically vibrating with excitement. "I will! I'll practice every day after work, I swear!"
Caleb hid a smile behind his mug. The kid had spirit, he'd give him that.
After Jasper finished gathering their empty plates and headed for the door, "Get some rest," Caleb said. "Tomorrow we'll see about that shooting lesson."
The boy's grin could have powered the town's electric lights. "Really?! Thanks, Caleb!"
"No problem, kid," Caleb chuckled. "Now hurry go back to your room and get some sleep after returning those plates." Alone again, Caleb carefully tested his shoulder's range of motion. Still painful, but functional. He dug out the laudanum, considering it before putting it aside. Better to save it for when the Pain Nullifier isn't enough.
________________________________
Name:Caleb Thorne
Age: 23
Body Attributes:
- Strength: 6/10
- Agility: 6/10
- Perception: 8/10
- Stamina: 6/10
- Charm: 5/10
- Luck: 5/10
Skills:
- Handgun (Lvl 1) -> (Lvl 2)
- Rifle (Lvl 1) -> (Lvl 2)
- Firearms Knowledge (Lvl 2)
- Past Life Memory (Lvl MAX)
- Knife (Lvl 1)
- Blunt Weapon (Lvl 1)
- Sneaking (Lvl 1)
- Horse Mastery (Lvl 1) -> (Lvl 2)
- Poker (Lvl 1)
- Hand to Hand Combat (Lvl 1)
- Eagle Eye (Lvl 1)
- Dead Eye (Lvl 1)
- Bow (Lvl 2)
- Pain Nullifier (Lvl 1) - New
- Physical Regeneration (Lvl 0) - New
Money: 561 dollars and 14 cents
Bank: 40 dollars, 2 gold bars, a large bag of jewelry, and 3 gold nuggets