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Caleb laughed, shaking his head as he turned toward the door. "Don't worry, I'll manage. Thanks again." And with that, he pushed the door open and stepped back out into the bustle of Valentine's main street, the bell above the frame jingling faintly in his wake.
The sun had climbed higher by now, casting warm golden light down on the street. Dust swirled under the hooves of passing horses, wagons creaked by loaded with goods, and the din of voices filled the air. But what caught Caleb's attention most was the sight ahead, his business.
Even from down the street, the change was obvious. A line of customers stretched out from the freshly painted window counter, folks waiting eagerly with coins in hand.
The porch tables, sturdy and polished, were packed with townsfolk laughing and eating. Even the extra sitting area he'd set under the roof terrace beside the building was filled. The scent of cooked meat and fried potatoes lingered in the air, drawing more passerby to stop and look.
Caleb's lips curved into a broad smile. Renovations, his week of work, and their brief closure had clearly stirred demand into a frenzy. It might have been the novelty of reopening, but the boom of customers spoke for itself. His gamble was paying off again.
He climbed the three wooden steps to the porch, careful not to jostle his cargo too much. Along the way, he tipped his hat to the waiting customers. "Mornin', folks. Appreciate y'all comin' out today."
A few gave greetings back, some tipped their hats, others just smiled. There was chatter about "finally they could eat the famous fast food," about how the place looked better than ever, and how they'd been waitin' days for it to reopen. Each word only made Caleb's grin wider.
Just as he reached for the door, it swung open before him. Jessie appeared, balancing a tray with several orders of plates of burgers and bowls of fries. She stopped short, blinking in surprise at the sight of Caleb burdened with sacks and a crate. "Oh! Caleb! You're back."
Her eyes widened at the load he carried in his hand. "Goodness, what on earth do you have there in your hand?"
Caleb chuckled, stepping aside so she could pass. "Supplies. Just somethin' for me to experiment with later to create some new menu. Don't worry about it. You just keep up the good work you're doing today."
Jessie flushed slightly at the praise, nodding quickly. "Yes, sir. Orders keep pourin' in nonstop, but we're managing and people want to wait due to the new layout of our business." With that, she hurried down the steps to deliver her tray to several table of customers.
Caleb slipped inside. The familiar warmth of the restaurant enveloped him, the scent of sizzling meat, fried potatoes, fresh bread, and the faint sweetness of onions already caramelizing. Voices buzzed from outside and through the counter window, filling the air with a busy, lively energy.
He carried his load to a side table on the left, setting the sacks down carefully, then placing the crate beside them. Rolling his shoulders, he exhaled, glad to have the weight off. For now, those ingredients could wait.
He turned then, eyes sweeping over the scene. Jasper was at the window counter, moving like a man possessed. He scribbled orders into the ledger, called back to the kitchen, and took payments swiftly, dropping coins and bills into the lockbox with efficient precision. His face glistened with sweat, but he wore a grin, he thrived on the rush of business.
Caleb chose not to interrupt. Instead, he leaned against the wall, arms crossed, and thought. The place was packed. Demand was high. The timing was perfect to roll out something new.
'Start simple,' he mused. 'Don't overwhelm the kitchen just yet. Let's test the waters.'
First idea, the melted cheese. Add it as a topping for burgers, or drizzle it over fries. Folks hadn't tasted anything like that here before, not in Valentine, maybe not anywhere in this world begore. It would be rich, decadent, and something worth paying extra for.
Second was garlic added into the mix of Creeping Thyme that have been added directly into the patties. It'd infuse the meat with flavor, maybe it could elevate it even further from the flavourful fried beef into somethin' more extraordinary.
Third was putting chilies. He could mince them fine and blend them into the patties for a fiery kick, offer a "spicy option" for the bold. Or better yet, experiment with turning the chilies into a paste or sauce, a dipping option for fries, or even drizzled over them. Bold, different, and definitely unforgettable.
The ideas spiraled quickly, his system interface flickering showing his Cooking Skill faintly at the edges of his vision as if encouraging his train of thought. Recipes, combinations, costs, everything began slotting into place.
And still, the line outside grew longer, the clatter of coins hitting the counter punctuating the air. Caleb knew then, this was only the beginning.
He stepped toward the kitchen, rolling up his sleeves, and bringing the items he brought alongside him. "Let's see what Valentine thinks of melted cheese on their burgers and fries," he murmured to himself, fire of ambition burning brighter in his chest.
After saying so, Caleb walked deeper into the kitchen, his boots clicking softly against the wood floor. The air inside was thick with heat, smoke, and the tantalizing aroma of frying meat and potatoes. Simon was bent over one of the stoves, sweat dripping down his brow as he worked a spatula with precision, flipping patties sizzling in a large iron skillet. Beside him, Troy was just as focused, lowering long strips of cut potatoes into the bubbling oil, steam bursting upward as the hot fat hissed and crackled.
Both men looked up at once when Caleb entered, their faces lighting up despite the exhaustion of nonstop work.
"Boss!" Simon greeted, his voice carrying relief and respect. "You're back."
"Boss, welcome," Troy added, wiping his forehead with his sleeve before flashing a grin. Their eyes quickly darted to the things Caleb carried in his hands, the sacks and small wooden crate. The sight was enough to make both of them blink in surprise.
Caleb gave them a nod, a smile tugging at his lips. "Good work, you two. Don't let me distract you. Keep focusin' on the orders, we got a lotta hungry folks out there. I'll be runnin' some experiments, tryin' out a few new menu ideas."
Both Simon and Troy nodded firmly, not questioning his words for a second. "Got it, boss," Simon said, turning right back to his skillet. Troy echoed with a quick, "Yes, sir," before returning to his fryer.
Caleb strode toward the back table of the kitchen, setting down his load. He untied the sacks and opened the crate, drawing out a block of pale yellow cheese wrapped in cloth and a firm, ripe tomato. His knife flashed in the light as he cut a neat square from the block of cheese, then sliced a single tomato ring with practiced ease.
Turning to Simon, Caleb lifted his voice. "Simon, fry me one patty, just one. Cook it halfway through, then lay this square of cheese on top. Let it melt there. When it's ready, set it on a bun. I'll add this tomato slice myself."
Simon raised his brows but nodded, instantly obeying. "Will do, boss." He grabbed one of the raw patties already prepped with Creeping Thyme, slapped it onto the skillet, and the room filled with that familiar sizzle and pop. He worked quickly, flipping it once before carefully laying the square of cheese over the top. The heat worked its magic, and in moments, the edges softened and began to melt downward, golden liquid seeping across the patty's surface.
While Simon worked, Caleb cut several smaller pieces from the block of cheese, tossing them into a clean pan he pulled from the shelves beneath the table. He slid the pan across to Troy. "Heat this up. Let the cheese melt down smooth. Once it's liquid, drizzle it over a bowl of fries, fresh from the oil."
"Got it, boss." Troy grabbed the pan, placing it close over the campfire flames that served as their stove. Slowly, the cheese began to bubble and melt into a thick, gooey pool. The rich aroma drifted into the air, mixing with the already mouthwatering scents of the kitchen.
Simon let out a low whistle as he leaned over the skillet. "Woahhh… this smell, boss, it's amazin'." He lifted the patty, cheese glistening on its surface, and slid it onto a bun. He passed it over to Caleb, who placed the tomato slice on top before closing it with the other half of the bun. Caleb then cut the burger into three equal pieces with a quick slice of his knife.
He picked up one section and bit into it. The explosion of flavor hit him instantly, the juicy beef mingled with the tangy tomato and the rich, salty melt of cheese. It was cheeseburger perfection, the kind of taste that brought him straight back to his past life. Nostalgia swelled in his chest, almost making him laugh. God, I've missed this.
Simon and Troy hovered expectantly. "Well, boss? How's it taste?" Troy asked, eyes wide.
Caleb chewed slowly, savoring, then smirked. "Why don't you two find out for yourselves?" He held out the other two slices.
Without hesitation, Simon and Troy each grabbed a piece and bit down. Both men froze as the flavors hit them, eyes going wide. Then, in unison, they let out groans of satisfaction.
"Boss!" Simon exclaimed, nearly dancing in place. "This… this right here is on another level. It's like the patties we been servin', but, better. Way better."
""The cheese!" Troy exclaimed, his words muffled by the food. "It's all creamy and… it makes the meat taste even better! The old burger is a level below this one!"
At that moment, the cheese in the pan had finished melting. Troy remembered his task, quickly pulling a fresh batch of fries from the oil. He drained them, sprinkled salt across them, then poured the gooey, golden cheese directly on top.
The hot fries sizzled as the cheese coated them in a glossy layer. He set the bowl down in front of Caleb with a grin. "Cheese fries, boss."
Caleb took a fry, blowing on it briefly before biting down. His eyes closed in satisfaction. The salty crunch of the fry, the rich creaminess of melted cheese, it was heavenly. He nodded firmly, then gestured to Simon and Troy. "Go on, try."
They didn't need to be told twice. Each man grabbed a fry, dipped in molten cheese, and stuffed it into their mouths. Immediately, both gave a huge thumbs up.
"This'll sell like crazy," Simon said, still chewing. "People'll pay extra for this, no question. Who knew potatoes and cheese could taste like this."
Troy nodded eagerly. "Cheese on burgers. Cheese on fries. We're onto somethin' big, boss."
Caleb leaned back slightly, satisfied. "Then it's decided. Cheeseburgers and cheese fries go on the menu. Price, we'll figure it out later. Right now, we just test the waters."
With that handled, Caleb reached for the garlic. He peeled and chopped, his knife moving quickly until the cloves were reduced to fine, smooth minced pieces. Mixing them into a patty already blended with Creeping Thyme, he handed it to Simon. "Cook this one."
Simon tossed it on the skillet, and almost instantly the air was filled with a sharper aroma. The garlic burned slightly in the heat, sending a spicy sting into the air that made Simon's eyes water. "Woo! That smell's strong!" he coughed, though a grin spread across his face. "But, boss, it smells good."
...
Name: Caleb Thorne
Age: 23
Body Attributes:
- Strength: 7/10
- Agility: 7/10
- Perception: 8/10
- Stamina: 7/10
- Charm: 6/10
- Luck: 8/10
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 - 10x10x10)
- Acting (Lvl 2)
- Alcohol Resistance (Lvl MAX)
- Treasure Hunter (Lvl MAX)
Money: 1,899 dollars and 46 cents
Inventory: 102,917 dollars and 43 cents, 7 gold nuggets, 58 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: -