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He was still mulling that over when he strode over toward Arthur and Lenny. He gave a small smirk as he called out, loud enough for only the both of them to hear. "Mt. Tacitus Kilgore! I didn't expect to see you here in town." Arthur turned sharply, one hand drifting toward his holster before his eyes landed on Caleb. A surprised chuckle escaped him.
Arthur's head snapped up, hand twitching toward his revolver before recognition smoothed his features. "God damnit, boy. Don't go sneakin' up on folk like that." He grinned, tipping his hat back. "What brings you to town?"
Lenny, who had started to tense beside Arthur, looked at Caleb with suspicion, knitting his brow, and then leaned toward Arthur to whisper, "Who the hell is this guy, Arthur?"
Arthur scratched his jaw. "Right, I forget you two never met. Lenny, this here's Caleb Thorne. Newest member of the gang. Dutch invited him in a little while back, when you and Micah were off scouting, he had helped me and the gang when we come to Valentine for the first time and when we had a saloon brawl. Caleb, this here's Lenny Summers, our youngest rider in the gang."
Lenny blinked, his suspicion giving way to curiosity. "Ah. That explains it. Dutch don't usually bring in new folks unless there's a damn good reason."
Caleb offered his hand with a small grin. "Caleb Thorne. Good to finally meet you."
"Lenny Summers," he replied, shaking his hand firmly. "Arthur had told me about his first visit on Valentine. So you helped Arthur and the girls, huh?"
"Had my hands full, yeah. That was a wild day."
Arthur chuckled again. "Could say that twice. Caleb here's sharp with his gun and rifle, decent with a horse, and smart enough to not speak things we shouldn't spean. I trusts him."
"High praise," Lenny said, eyebrows raised.
"Only 'cause I haven't cause any trouble yet," Caleb added.
They shared a few more words before Arthur patted Lenny on the shoulder. "C'mon, let's get that drink Dutch told you to have. You comin', Caleb?"
Caleb considered it for a second. The opportunity to follow Arthur and Lenny into the saloon during that mission was almost too tempting to pass up.
But his mind circled back to Micah. That bastard was in jail right now. What if this was the best chance he had to end things before they ever spiraled?
His thoughts were focused. Strawberry ain't far. If I leave by morning, I can be there in a day. Maybe a day and a half if I take it easy on Morgan. If I time it right, I could kill Micah and disappear before anyone knows.
But Killing Micah could change everything or it could backfire in ways he couldn't predict. Still... it was tempting.
Caleb was still lost in thought, weighing the consequences of a preemptive strike against Micah, when a hand waved suddenly in front of his face.
"Hello? Earth to Caleb? You in there?" Arthur's voice cut in, laced with amusement.
Caleb blinked and came back to the present. "Huh? Sorry Arthur, what'd you just say?"
Arthur chuckled and shook his head, exchanging an amused glance with Lenny. "I asked if you were comin' with us for that drink Dutch told Lenny to have. You know, unwind a little. Ain't got anywhere to be, do ya?"
The opportunity to witness and potentially participate this iconic mission from the game warred with Caleb's desire to deal with Micah. But changing the timeline was a delicate thing, and also he couldn't risk missing this chance to strengthen bonds with Lenny and Arthur.
Caleb rubbed the back of his neck, acting like he was still a little embarrassed at zoning out. "Right, sorry. Got caught up in my own head there for a moment." He glanced between Arthur and Lenny. "I don't got anything better to do right now. And hell, someone's gotta keep an eye on you two in case things get outta hand."
Arthur grinned and patted him on the back. "Now you're talkin'. C'mon."
Lenny held up a finger with mock solemnity. "I ain't gettin' drunk, though. Just one or two, and that's it."
Caleb nearly choked on his own spit. The sheer irony of that statement, knowing how this night would unfold, made his shoulders shake with suppressed laughter. "Uh huh. Famous last words, Lenny."
As they stepped through the batwing doors, Caleb noticed it was more packed, tighter than a cattle car, than the last time he'd been here with Jasper in the afternoon when they had some lunch.
Men crowded around tables, cards being slapped down, laughter and curses rising and falling like waves. The air thick with tobacco smoke and the sour tang of spilled beer.
A piano player hammered out an off key rendition of "Oh My Darling, Clementine" while a group of ranchers arm wrestled in the corner. Caleb followed Arthur's broad back as the older man carved a path to the bar, Lenny close behind.
Arthur and Caleb gently nudged two patrons who were leaning against the bar to step aside. After a bit of grumbling, they moved off, clearing space for the three of them to lean in with Caleb to the left, Lenny in the middle, and Arthur on the right beside another rough looking local sipping from a bottle of beer.
Arthur tossed a few coins onto the bar, signaling for service.
Lenny leaned toward Arthur, voice raised over the noise. "Just one or two... right, Arthur?"
"Of course," Arthur said with his eyes on the bar and exaggerated innocence. "Just a drink. No big drama."
Caleb almost snorted out loud and almost bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. The script was playing out exactly as he remembered from the game. He knew what was coming. And despite everything he'd been through, he couldn't help but smile. This was too good to pass up.
Shaking his head, he muttered under his breath, "Sure... no drama."
"You..." Mr. Douglas's eyes narrowed at Arthur as he approached the three of them. "I don't want no trouble."
Arthur spread his hands. "And you'll get none from me. I was defending myself last time."
Mr. Douglas looked skeptical. "Tommy, he's—"
"He'll be fine," Arthur interrupted, tossing a coin that Mr. Douglas caught reflexively. "Here, have one for yourself as well."
Mr. Douglas was happy hearing that, pocketed the coin with a happy nod. "Thank you. Three beers coming up."
Mr. Douglas takes three bottle of beers from below of his bar, and put it in the table for the three of them. Caleb picked up his bottle and clinked it gently against Lenny's and Arthur's. "To no drama."
Arthur laughed. "You're never gonna let that go, huh?"
"Nope."
They all took a swig.
After a hearty swig, the warm beer sloshing down and settling warm in his gut, Caleb leaned one elbow against the bar, letting the hum of the saloon settle over him. The three of them stood comfortably shoulder to shoulder, each with a bottle in hand. The moment almost felt peaceful, until Lenny broke it with his words.
He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and frowned, his earlier suspicion creeping back into his tone. "Micah... he seems to know too many people," Lenny muttered, shaking his head. "That's the problem."
Arthur, who had just brought his bottle to his lips, paused, then lowered it with a grunt, his brow furrowing. "What d'you mean?"
Caleb saw the opportunity and seized it with the most innocent tone he could muster, feigning ignorance. "Oh yeah, by the way, who is this Micah?" He tilted his head, playing the part of a man who'd never heard the name before until Arthur just told him when he meet with him and Lenny.
Lenny opened his mouth to answer Arthur's question, but Arthur raised a hand and beat him to it, his voice laced with disdain. "Micah Bell's the last member of the gang you ain't met yet. The bastard who got himself locked up after causin' trouble while scoutin' with Lenny here."
He took another swig, his grip tightening slightly on the bottle. "In my opinion? He's a worth nothin compared to the trouble he bring. Snake with a silver tongue. Better off rottin' in that cell. But Dutch wants him back, so..." He trailed off with a shrug.
Caleb gave a slow, thoughtful nod, eyes narrowed slightly as if trying to piece together this "Micah" figure for the first time. He kept up the act with ease.
"Well, if he's anything like what you just said, Arthur, then I already share your opinion. Sounds like someone who causes more problems than he's worth."
He shot Lenny an apologetic glance. "Sorry, Lenny, I didn't mean to cut you off before. Go on."
Lenny waved him off. "Nah, it's fine." He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. " Anyway, what I meant was, I've seen a lotta crazy, crazy stuff, but Micah..."
Just as Caleb remembered from the game, as Lenny finished his sentence, the man to Arthur's right, the rough looking drunk who'd been sipping quietly from a beer, suddenly leaned closer and slurred in a mockingly loud voice, "I seen a lot of crazy, crazy stuff..."
Arthur's jaw tensed. He slowly turned his head toward the man, eyes narrowing beneath the brim of his hat. "Will you shut up?" before turning to face forward.
The drunk blinked, then grinned as if pleased with himself. "Will you shuuut up?" he parroted back in the same obnoxious, sing song tone.
Arthur jaw's tightened and he snorted. "Be quiet, buddy."
The drunkard threw his head back, burst out laughing, his voice grating and ugly. "They're dullards! My lord... you men is dull..." He cackled again, wiping his mouth with a grimy sleeve, then slap the bar, nearly knocking over his beer bottle.
Lenny sighed, leaned in, and nudged Arthur., "Just leave this fool alone, Arthur."
The man, now swaying slightly on his feet, grinned at Lenny. "Leave this fool alone, Arthur!" the man mimicked immediately like a parrot with a bad attitude, before adding with a dramatic flourish, "People been leavin' me alone for the last ten years!"
Caleb knew where this could go. He remembered clearly that in the game, Arthur had the option to intimidate, beat up, or charm the man. Here, in the flesh and blood world, the risk of escalation was real, and Micah's name had already soured the air. Tension was raising fast and Caleb wasn't about to let things escalate unnecessarily.
Before Arthur could react, Caleb stepped around Lenny, and angling himself between Arthur and the drunk, just enough to draw the man's attention without making it seem too aggressive.
"Listen," Caleb said coolly, voice low and even. "Why don't you go find somewhere else to be, friend? We're just tryin' to have a quiet drink."
The drunk's glazed eyes slid over to him, blinking as he registered the new face. "And who the hell are you s'posed to be?"
Caleb took a slow sip from his beer, then smiled with zero warmth. "Name's Caleb Thorne. Nobody important."
The name hit like a thrown brick for the man. The drunk's expression shifted subtly, his bleary bloodshot eyes narrowing as recognition stirred. "Caleb... Thorne?" he repeated. Then it clicked.
"You... you the one who took down Drew Dallas?"
Caleb gave a slow shrug, saying nothing more, letting the silence answer for him. The drunk blanched a bit, his confidence slipping.
He muttered something under his breath, turned his shoulder, and backed away nearly tripping over his own feet as he retreated into the crowd.
Arthur watched him go, then turned to Caleb with an amused smirk. "Well, that was easier than I expected. Guess your name's startin' to carry a bit of weight round here."
Lenny chuckled. "Yeah, that was smooth. Thought we was gonna have to peel that guy off the floor."
Caleb returned back to his position, leaned forward against the bar again, putting his bottle of beer into the bar. "Sometimes it's not about how loud you bark. It's about what folks think you'll do if they push the wrong button."
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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 2)
- Rifle (Lvl 2)
- Firearms Knowledge (Lvl 2)
- Past Life Memory (Lvl MAX)
- Knife (Lvl 1)
- Blunt Weapon (Lvl 1)
- Sneaking (Lvl 1)
- Horse Mastery (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)
- Physical Regeneration (Lvl 0)
Money: 665 dollars and 61 cents
Bank: 40 dollars, 2 gold bars, a large bag of jewelry, and 3 gold nuggets