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The sound of hammers echoed in rhythm, interrupted now and again by shouted instructions. Below them, George crouched near a post, carefully guiding the placement of wires, his hands deft as he ensured the electricity lines would stretch properly through the building to feed the lamps. Seth helped him, rolling out the cable and keeping everything taut and clean.
Caleb stood slightly apart, his hands resting on his hips, watching with a sharp eye. The skeleton of his new saloon, because that's what it was becoming, more than just a food stall, was taking shape right before him.
He could already picture it finished, polished wood, warm lamps glowing, chairs and tables filled with customers, laughter and music echoing in the night.
But as the hammer strikes rang out, another rhythm pulsed beneath his ribs, the memory of Mary-Beth's words. Blackwater. The money. Dutch's secret, Hosea's quiet confirmation.
Caleb's lips pressed thin as he weighed it. The time was ripe. With George, Jasper, Seth, Elias, and the others so deep into the work, his presence wasn't essential anymore. They could manage. They would manage.
His Crafting skill had sharpened theirs. His teaching had made them more capable than before. They didn't need him hovering over every nail. No, his true task lay westward, across dangerous country, back into Blackwater where the Pinkertons' shadow still lingered.
The thought alone sent a tingle of anticipation through him. If Dutch's stash was truly in Blackwater cemetery, if the money was still there, untouched… then it wasn't Dutch's anymore. It was his. And with it, he could change everything.
He turned to the side where Mary-Beth stood, basket in hand, her eyes shining as she watched the men labor. Her smile was bright, proud even, seeing the stall become something greater than anyone could have imagined.
Caleb inhaled slow, steady, then leaned closer, his voice pitched gentle. "Mary-Beth… I'll be headin' out of town for a few days."
Her smile faltered, surprise flickering across her features. "Out of town? Where?"
"Strawberry," Caleb answered smoothly, the lie rolling off his tongue with practiced ease. "Got some business to attend to. Thought maybe it'd be worth lookin' into expandin' there. Town ain't got a saloon, far as I know. Could be mighty lucrative."
Mary-Beth blinked at him, her lips parting slightly. "Strawberry? Why so sudden? You didn't say anything yesterday about leaving…"
Caleb chuckled, the sound light, easy, as though nothing weighed on him at all. "Came to me last night 'fore I drifted off. Figured since George and Jasper got things well in hand here, I can rest easy steppin' away for a spell. No sense wastin' time, right?"
Mary-Beth studied him, then bit her lip softly. "Could I… could I come with you? I'd like to see Strawberry too."
The request struck him like a stone to the chest. He hated denying her. Truly hated it. But this was one journey she could never join.
He shook his head slowly, wearing an apologetic smile, his voice tender. "Not this time, darlin'. I need to focus out there, and truth be told… I'd worry somethin' might happen to you. It ain't that I don't want your company. I do. But next time, next time, I'll bring you along. That's a promise."
Mary-Beth's expression faltered, her shoulders slumped slightly, her lips pursed into a pout. She looked down for a moment, disappointed but unable to argue. She couldn't. He was going away on business, business for the future of his business, his expansion, or so she believed, and she respected that.
"All right," she whispered at last, nodding. "Next time, then."
Relief slipped quietly through Caleb's chest. He reached out and brushed the top of her head gently, the same tender gesture he always used. "Thank you for understandin', sweetheart. I appreciate it."
Mary-Beth leaned into his touch despite her disappointment, her eyes softening as she looked at him. Caleb, meanwhile, smiled faintly, but inside, he apologized to her in silence.
'Forgive me, Mary-Beth. You can't ever know the truth of this trip.'
Because in just a few days, if fortune favored him, Caleb Thorne would not be coming back with nothing. He'd be returning with the gang take from the ferry job.
Now, with the lie planted, Caleb began preparing in his mind. Supplies. Ammunition. A route that avoided Pinkerton patrols along the main road leading to Blackwater. A cover story for any outlaw or local who might cross his path.
He could already feel the stakes tightening, the dangerous thrill that came whenever he leaned on his foreknowledge of the world to alter its path. If he succeeded, he wouldn't just have money for his business, he would have power enough to bend the course of the gang's future itself.
And when he returned, Mary-Beth and the others would see only the face of a man who'd gone to explore business prospects. The truth would remain buried, like the fortune itself, until Caleb chose to reveal it.
The road to Blackwater called.
And Caleb intended to answer.
With that in mind, Caleb lifted his hand from the top of Mary-Beth's head and straightened himself. He gave her one last look, tender and apologetic, before turning his attention toward the men laboring on the saloon frame.
"Boys!" he called, his voice loud enough to cut through the clang of hammer and rasp of saw.
The sound carried across the worksite, pulling George, Seth, Elias, Jasper, Simon, Troy, and Mickey from their tasks. One by one, they paused, glancing toward Caleb and Mary-Beth. The rhythm of progress broke into silence, broken only by the creak of timber settling and the whicker of a horse down the street.
Jasper, closest to him, wiped his brow with the back of his sleeve and frowned in mild confusion. "What's wrong, Caleb?" he asked, pointedly using his name instead of the usual "boss." His voice carried, and in the open street, with townsfolk and passersby milling about, it was too risky to reveal Caleb's true position outright.
Caleb smiled easily, masking the weight in his chest. "Nothin' wrong," he assured, spreading his hands wide. "Just wanted to let y'all know, I'll be headin' out of town for two, maybe three days. Figure it's worth scoutin' Strawberry. Heard tell they ain't got a saloon, just a hotel and a general store. That's opportunity starin' us right in the face, and I'd be a fool not to take a look."
The words struck his men and Mary-Beth like a gust of wind through an open door. Surprise colored their expressions. Even George, usually unreadable, cocked his head.
George and Elias exchanged glances, then shrugged near in unison. To them, Caleb's movements mattered little so long as pay was steady and fair. Seth, crouched near the half run of wiring, leaned back on his haunches and gave a small nod.
They have worked with Caleb previously to know he was steady with his word. If he wanted to scout, that was his business. Their job was simple, work, get paid, and keep their own skins safe.
Jasper, Simon, Troy, and Mickey were another matter. They frowned faintly, unease simmering just below the surface. Questions hung on their tongues, but with half the street listening, none dared press. In the end, Jasper gave a quick, almost forced smile and said, "Good idea, Caleb. That's… that's initiative. Can't hurt to look."
Caleb chuckled softly, catching the strain in Jasper's tone, the awkwardness of pretending to speak as if he were the boss. Keeping up appearances, it mattered. Out here, loose tongues got men hung. "I'll hold you to that, Jasper," Caleb replied, the amusement plain in his voice.
He shifted slightly, turning to Mary-Beth again. His eyes softened, though the lie weighed heavy between them. "While I'm gone, if anything comes up, any trouble, anythin' at all, you go to these fellas. George, Jasper, any of 'em. They'll help you out."
Mary-Beth nodded, though her brows knit in a faint line of worry. "I know," she said quietly. Then, with a faint smile of her own, she added, "Don't fret over me, Caleb. I can look after myself, too. You just… you just go do what you need to, with a clear mind. Be safe okay."
The trust in her tone cut him deeper than he liked to admit. Caleb nodded back firmly, then leaned forward, brushing the back of his fingers tenderly along her cheek. She leaned into it for half a heartbeat before he stepped away.
"Good girl," he whispered under his breath.
With that, he turned from her, from the crew, and headed toward the hotel. His boots thudded softly against the boardwalk, his mind already racing ahead.
Inside, the familiar scent of tobacco and wood greeted him as he climbed the stairs. He unlocked his room, entered, and closed the door with a quiet click. Without hesitation, he crossed to the bed where his gear lay.
His Lancaster Repeater and his Rolling Block Rifle rested side by side. He slung both across his torso in practiced ease, the weight of them grounding him. Checking the chambers, he made sure each was loaded and ready.
Locking the door behind him, Caleb descended once more and stepped into the street, the sun warm on his shoulders. He moved briskly toward the stable.
Mr. Levi stood out front, brushing dust from his hands after seeing a customer off. He noticed Caleb approaching and offered a genial nod. "Mornin', Caleb."
"Mornin', Mr. Levi," Caleb returned with a faint smile. "Think I'll be takin' Stark out for a ride. Few days' trip, if you don't mind."
"Of course, of course," Mr. Levi said warmly. "Give me just a minute, I'll bring her out."
Caleb leaned on the post outside, listening to the muffled sounds of movement within the stable. A moment later, Levi emerged, leading Stark by the reins. The American Paint mare's ears pricked forward the moment she saw Caleb, her eyes bright. She let out a pair of eager snorts, tail flicking in restless delight.
The sight warmed Caleb more than he expected. He chuckled softly, stepping forward to take the reins from Levi. "Thank you kindly."
"No trouble at all," Mr. Levi replied, tipping his hat before stepping aside.
Caleb's Horse Mastery skill flared subtly in his awareness, the bond between him and Stark more than just rider and horse. The mare's snorts carried meaning, 'Where've you been? I missed you.'
"Been busy, girl," Caleb murmured, patting her neck. "But now we're ridin' out together, couple days just you and me. Make it up to you."
Stark let out a happy neigh, head tossing lightly. Caleb smiled, swung into the saddle, and settled himself with ease. One firm pat to her shoulder, then he flicked the reins. Stark moved eagerly into a trot, leaving the stable behind.
They passed through Valentine, weaving past the auction yard, the train station, and down toward the open road. The town soon fell away, replaced by wide skies and the rolling stretches of the Heartlands. Caleb urged Stark onward, first at a trot, then a swift canter as they approached Citadel Rock.
Dust rose behind them as they followed the main road south, the train tracks glinting beside them. Caleb's eyes scanned ahead, already tracing the path in his mind. When the road split, he reined Stark right, keeping to the track until Flatneck Station came into view.
He didn't stop. He crossed the Dakota River at a shallow point, the cool splash of water against Stark's legs breaking the steady thump of hooves. Then it was onward westward, toward Riggs Station. The hours bled together, broken only by the rhythm of riding and the distant cries of hawks overhead.
At Riggs, he turned south, pressing on until the Upper Montana River loomed before him. He guided Stark carefully across, the mare steady even in the rushing current.
On the far side lay the Great Plains. Vast, wild, and untamed, where Blackwater was build on the east side of he plain, beside the Flat Iron Lake. Caleb slowed Stark's pace, letting her breathe as his eyes drank in the endless golden waves of grass. Herds of wild horses ran in the distance, their manes whipping in the wind. Deer bounded across a rise, vanishing into a cluster of trees.
...
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 4)
- Rifle (Lvl 3)
- Firearms Knowledge (Lvl 3)
- Past Life Memory (Lvl MAX)
- Knife (Lvl 2)
- Blunt Weapon (Lvl 1)
- Sneaking (Lvl 3)
- Horse Mastery (Lvl 4)
- Poker (Lvl 4)
- Hand to Hand Combat (Lvl 2)
- Eagle Eye (Lvl 1)
- Dead Eye (Lvl 3)
- Bow (Lvl 2)
- Pain Nullifier (Lvl 1)
- Physical Regeneration (Lvl 0)
- Crafting (Lvl 3)
- Persuasion (Lvl 2)
- Mental Fortitude (Lvl MAX)
- Cooking (Lvl 3)
- Teaching (Lvl 2)
- Germanic Language Proficiency (Lvl MAX)
- Inventory System (Permanent - 5x5x5)
- Acting (Lvl 2)
- Alcohol Resistance (Lvl MAX)
Money: 1,897 dollars and 10 cents
Inventory: 5,407 dollars and 43 cents, 7 gold nuggets, 8 gold bars, 7 silver rings, 1 Double Action, 1 Schofield, 2 large bags of jewelry, 4 gold rings, 2 silver rings, 4 silver pocket watches, 3 gold buckles, 1 gold pocket compass, 2 platinum pocket watches, 2 Colm's Schofields, and land deed (Parcel)
Bank: -