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The three men stared at the money in their hands, then at Caleb, then at each other. Five hundred dollars each, just as an advance, for a job that hadn't even started. It was a king's ransom for men used to day wages.
George was the first to find his voice, his usual bravado softened by sheer awe. "Boss… I don't know what kind of business you're in, and I ain't askin'. But this… this is more than square. We'll get it done. Strawberry won't know what hit it."
"See that you do," Caleb said, his tone leaving no doubt about the expectations. "This is the foundation of something big. Don't screw it up."
He clapped George on the shoulder, a gesture of camaraderie and absolute authority. "Now, show me the inside of my new house."
For the next hour, Caleb toured the completed property with his foremen. The house was solid, spacious, and designed with security in mind, thick interior doors, sturdy locks, sightlines from the upper windows that covered all approaches.
The barn could hold a dozen horses and had a hidden loft space accessible only by a cleverly concealed ladder. It was perfect. A base for the gang, a sanctuary if needed, and a tangible asset.
As the sun began to dip, casting long shadows from the new buildings, Caleb knew it was time to go. Now he can fully returned to Mary-Beth and the familiar comforts of Valentine.
He climbed back into the stagecoach, the 50 dollar tip already counted out and ready for the driver. "Back to Valentine. Take me to the southern road, near the trapper's cabin before the town. I'll walk the rest of the way."
The driver, richer and wiser, just nodded. "Yes, sir."
As the coach rolled away from the newly minted ranch, Caleb looked back. One project complete. Another, even grander, about to begin.
As the farmstead shrank behind him, Caleb's thoughts shifted again, gears turning smoothly.
The house would serve its purpose. A safe place. A rally point. A bridge between legitimate business and the outlaw world he was quietly reshaping. The gang would have stability. Work. Options beyond blood and gun smoke.
And that mattered.
Valentine appeared on the horizon not long after, its familiar shape rising against the open sky. As the coach approached, Caleb felt the subtle tightening of focus that always came with returning to a place where many of his threads converged.
The stagecoach rolled into Valentine at an unhurried pace, wheels clattering against the familiar dirt roads as the town came alive around them.
Caleb watched it all through the window first, his restaurant sign swinging gently in the breeze with several customers lining up, the stable where a few hands were brushing down horses, the blacksmith hammering away at a glowing horseshoe. All of it was his in some way now. Threads he had placed carefully, invisibly, but firmly.
The coach turned left, just as he'd expected, and came to a stop in front of the hotel. The driver hopped down, opened the door, and offered a polite nod.
"Here we are, sir."
Caleb stepped down, straightening his coat as his boots touched the ground. The suit caught the afternoon light just right, clean lines, dark fabric, unmistakably expensive. That alone was enough to draw attention.
A pair of townsfolk lounging near the saloon whistled low.
"Well I'll be damned," one of them called out with a grin. "Where you been, Caleb? You dressin' like that, don't tell me you snuck off to Saint Denis and started rubbin' shoulders with them silk glove types."
A ripple of chuckles followed.
Caleb smiled easily, lifting a hand in casual dismissal. "Nothin' so fancy. Got hired on as a bodyguard for a rich fellow down in Saint Denis. Paid me in coin and clothes, figured I might as well wear it."
Another man laughed, clapping his hands together. "Hear that? Our Caleb's reputation done reached the city. Bounty huntin' hero of Valentine, now protectin' high society."
Caleb waved it off, already moving toward the hotel doors. "You're givin' me too much credit."
Inside, the familiar warmth and smell of polished wood greeted him. The clerk looked up, did a double take at the suit, then smiled.
"Afternoon, Mr. Thorne."
"Afternoon," Caleb replied, nodding as he crossed the lobby and headed for the stairs.
He took them two at a time, anticipation building despite himself. When he reached his door and reached for the handle, it opened from the inside.
Mary-Beth stood there, eyes widening in surprise for half a heartbeat before her face broke into a smile. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him gently, pressing her cheek to his chest. "You're back," she said softly.
Caleb smiled, arms coming around her as he kissed the top of her head. "Miss me?"
She huffed a quiet laugh against him. "Maybe a little."
They lingered like that for a moment before Caleb pulled back slightly. "Pack up. We're headin' back to Roanoke Valley."
Mary-Beth blinked, looking up at him. "Back to camp? Why, did somethin' happen? Are we in danger?"
He shook his head. "No. Not that. The homestead's finished. Figured it's time everyone moved in proper. No more sleepin' under tarps when there's real walls waitin'."
Her eyes lit up instantly. "Really?" she said, excitement coloring her voice. "That's… that's wonderful, Caleb. Everyone havin' a place to call home…"
He brushed his fingers lightly over her hair. "That's the idea."
Mary-Beth didn't waste another second. She released him and immediately began packing, movements quick but practiced. Their belongings were modest, clothes, her writing tools, her journals, but she handled them with care.
Caleb leaned back against the wall, arms folded, watching her with an expression that softened the longer he looked.
When she finished, she turned with a satisfied nod. "We can leave now. Ready when you are."
Caleb pushed off the wall, grabbed the Litchfield Repeater and the Pump Action Shotgun from where they rested near the chest, slung them properly, then picked up the luggage. Together they headed downstairs.
At the desk, Caleb paused. "We'll be outta town a few days. In case anyone asks."
The clerk nodded immediately. "Of course, Mr. Thorne. Safe travels to you and your lady."
Outside, the stagecoach was already gone. Morgan stood hitched at the post, ears flicking as Caleb approached. He set the luggage down and patted her neck.
"How you doin', girl?"
Morgan snorted and stamped a hoof, tail swishing with attitude. Caleb's max level Horse Mastery translated her words with perfect clarity. "You abandon me for shiny carriages and fancy clothes. She brings apples and brushes my coat. I know who the better human is."
Caleb laughed. "Yeah, yeah, I know. I hear you. You've been waitin'. And yes, she spoils you more than I do."
Mary-Beth smiled, running a hand along the mare's flank. "She's been very good."
Caleb patted her neck affectionately once again. "We've got a journey now. Be good, listen, and there might be an apple in it at the end."
Caleb secured the luggage, checked the knots twice, then helped Mary-Beth up into the saddle. He mounted behind her, settled in, and flicked the reins.
They rode north, leaving Valentine behind, passing into Cumberland Forest as the light shifted through the trees.
The road wound east, the air cooling as they entered the Grizzlies East. Moonstone Pond passed on their left, its surface glassy and still. Then O'Creagh's Run, the familiar stretch of water reflecting the sky.
They crossed back into New Hanover, the land growing denser, greener, until finally the trees opened into Roanoke Valley.
By the time the camp came into view, twilight had settled in. Lantern light flickered between the trees. Charles and Javier stood watch, rifles slung.
"Look who finally decided to come back," Javier called, a grin spreading across his face.
"Good to see you," Charles added, giving Caleb a nod.
"Good to be back," Caleb replied.
He guided Morgan inside the camp, stopping at the hitching post. He dismounted, secured Morgan, then helped Mary-Beth down. The camp felt alive, voices, movement, the quiet rhythm of people who had grown used to living together.
He and Mary-Beth then walked into the heart of the camp. It was as it always was, a transient, ramshackle village of tents and lean tos. Here, in the relative safety of the northern woods, a weary equilibrium had set in.
People looked up as they passed, Karen weaving by the fire, Tilly mending clothes, Swanson nursing a bottle in the shade. Their gazes held curiosity, a flicker of hope at Caleb's return. He was the man who brought money, solutions, and a strange sense of outside order.
Then, movement from the direction of Dutch's tent drew his eye.
The tent flap was pushed aside, and Hosea stepped out, followed closely by Arthur. Both men looked older, wearier than Caleb remembered, the weight of leadership and disillusionment etching new lines on their faces.
Kieran and Lenny stood guard on either side of the tent's entrance, their postures tense, their eyes watchful. No jokes. No idle chatter. Whatever Dutch had once been to them, whatever charm or authority he used to carry, it was gone. Burned away by too many lies, too many near misses, too much blood.
Inside, Dutch was no longer the center of the world. He was a problem. A contained one.
Hosea's eyes, however, still held their sharp intelligence, and they lit up with genuine warmth as they landed on Caleb. A tired but sincere smile spread across Arthur's face as well. They walked over, the grim atmosphere momentarily lightening.
"Well, I'll be," Hosea said, his voice a low rasp. "Look what the cat dragged in. Was startin' to think Valentine had swallowed you both whole."
Arthur clapped Caleb lightly on the shoulder. "Been more'n a week, partner. Good to see you in one piece. You two bringin' us some good news for a change? We could use a heap of it."
Caleb returned the greetings, nodding to Mary-Beth as she slipped away to join Tilly and Karen. "Good to be back. And yeah, Arthur, I've got news. Two pieces, in fact."
Hosea's eyebrows lifted with interest. "Don't keep us in suspense, son. Out with it. My old heart can't take the anticipation."
"First," Caleb said, keeping his voice low but clear enough for the nearby gang members to catch the tone, if not the words. "The homestead. West of Valentine. It's finished. Lock, stock, and barrel. A proper house, a big barn, fenced land. It's ready. We can start moving the moment we decide to."
The effect was immediate and profound. Arthur's jaw went slack for a second before a wide, incredulous grin broke through his usual guarded expression. "Finished? You're sure? A real roof?"
"A real roof, real doors, real windows," Caleb confirmed. "Three stories. Built solid. The crew I hired… they're discreet. The job's done, and they're gone."
Hosea let out a long, slow breath, his eyes closing briefly in what looked like a prayer of thanks. "A home," he murmured. "By God, a real home. That's… that's more than I dared hope for."
He opened his eyes, the practical leader reasserting himself. "The quality? It's sound? Not some slapped together shack?"
Caleb said calmly. "I hired people I trust. They know how to keep their mouths shut, and they know how to build things that last. I also have inspected it. Sightlines for security, thick walls, sturdy locks. It's a fortress that looks like a farm. We should move fast. Start packing tonight, ride out at first light."
Arthur's grin turned into a look of immense relief. "That'd be a damn blessing. Gettin' Dutch behind solid walls we can lock…" He trailed off, his expression darkening. "What about him?" Caleb asked, though he already had a bad feeling.
...
Name: Caleb Thorne
Age: 23
Body Attributes:
- Strength: 8/10
- Agility: 8/10
- Perception: 9/10
- Stamina: 8/10
- Charm: 8/10
- Luck: 9/10
Skills:
- Handgun (Lvl MAX)
- Rifle (Lvl MAX)
- Firearms Knowledge (Lvl MAX)
- Past Life Memory (Lvl MAX)
- Knife (Lvl MAX)
- Blunt Weapon (Lvl 2)
- Sneaking (Lvl MAX)
- Horse Mastery (Lvl MAX)
- Poker (Lvl MAX)
- Hand to Hand Combat (Lvl MAX)
- Eagle Eye (Lvl 2)
- Dead Eye (Lvl 4)
- Bow (Lvl 3)
- Pain Nullifier (Lvl 4)
- Physical Regeneration (Lvl 3)
- Crafting (Lvl MAX)
- Persuasion (Lvl MAX)
- Mental Fortitude (Lvl MAX)
- Cooking (Lvl MAX)
- Teaching (Lvl 3)
- Trilingual Language Proficiency - G, I, & C (Lvl MAX)
- Inventory System (Permanent - 10x10x10)
- Acting (Lvl MAX)
- Alcohol Resistance (Lvl MAX)
- Treasure Hunter (Lvl MAX)
- Drugs Resistance (Lvl MAX)
- Business (Lvl 1)
- Leadership (Lvl 1)
Money: 3,415 dollars and 60 cents
Inventory: 250,392 dollars and 61 cents, 11 gold nuggets, 65 gold bars, 1 Double Action, 1 Schofield, 2 Colm's Schofields, land deed (Parcel), 1 Mauser, 1 Semi Auto Pistol, 1 Lancaster Repeater, 1 Old Wood Jewelry Box, 1 F.F Mausoleum small brass key, 1 Ruby, 1 Braithwaites Land Deed, 1 Broken Pirate Sword, 1 Milton's Safety Deposit Key, 1 Senator Pendleton Sealed Envelope, & Proof Of Marlin-Thorne Firearms Co.
Bank: -