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"Wouldn't miss it, but let's see if your body can keep up or need rest," Caleb promised. "Now get some rest. Tomorrow we work on moving targets, if you can even move." As Jasper disappeared into his room, Caleb lingered in the hallway, his shoulder throbbing dully. The pain was worth it, he decided.
Caleb returned to his room after bidding Jasper goodnight. The exhaustion of the day weighed on him, the lingering ache in his shoulder, the fatigue of teaching, and the residual adrenaline from the shootout with Drew Dallas' gang.
He uncorked the small vial of ether and let a single drop fall onto his tongue. The bitter, medicinal taste spread across his palate, followed by the familiar cooling numbness that dulled the pain.
He stretched his shoulder experimentally, feeling the wound pull but no longer burn. Satisfied, he stripped off his dust coated shirt, washed his face with the basin's tepid water, and collapsed onto the bed. Sleep took him almost instantly.
The next morning, Caleb woke to pale sunlight filtering through the thin curtains. He blinked, disoriented for a moment, before registering that the pain he was feeling was much less compared to yesterday. His left shoulder, which was stiff and tender upon waking yesterday, felt a bit better compared to before.
He flexed shoulder a bit, rotated his shoulder slowly, and marveled at how much easier the movement was. He contribute this to his physical regeneration skill. The skill wasn't advanced enough to heal him in just two days, but it had clearly accelerated his recovery.
He then put on his Vaquero Outfit after taking it off last night. The bandage around his shoulder was much looser and with less blood seeping out, the wound beneath it begun to scabbed and healing.
Then he leave his room and he knocked on Jasper's door. The first two raps yielded no response. On the third, the door creaked open to reveal Jasper, bleary .eyed and disheveled, his hair a wild tangle.
Dark circles underscored his eyes, and he leaned heavily against the doorframe as if standing upright required monumental effort.
"Mornin' Caleb," Jasper mumbled, voice thick with sleep.
Caleb smirked. "Morning Jasper, you look like you got trampled by a herd of bison."
Jasper groaned, rubbing his biceps. "Feels like it too. I can't even lift my arms past my shoulders." He attempted to demonstrate, wincing as his muscles protested.
Caleb chuckled. "That's what happens when you use muscles you didn't know existed. Still up for moving targets today?"
Jasper's face twisted in dismay. "I'd fall flat on my face before I could even lift a gun. Think I'll pass, at least 'til this afternoon. Maybe I got some energy then."
"Smart choice. Rest up. Just do your job today. We'll pick up where we left off in two days." Caleb clapped him lightly on the shoulder, earning another groan from Jasper, who nodded weakly and retreated into his room, the door clicking shut behind him.
With Jasper sidelined, Caleb found himself with an unexpected free day. His thoughts drifted to Horseshoe Overlook. He'd been away from camp for nearly a week, long enough for Dutch to maybe grumble about his absence, long enough for Mary-Beth to wonder if he'd forgotten his promise.
The memory of her hopeful smile when he'd mentioned the fountain pen warmed him. He had found one according to his memory skill from playing the game at the cabin near Emeral Ranch.
Back in his room, he rummaged through his satchel and heave a sigh of relief that the fountain pen was still inside his satchel, nestled in its velvet lined box. Strapping on his weapons, dual Schofields, the Lancaster repeater, and the pump action shotgun, he headed downstairs.
Outside, Valentine was stirring to life. Me. Worth swept his store porch, stable hands led wagons of supplies toward the stables. Morgan and Stark stood hitched side by side, their coats gleaming in the sun. Caleb hesitated.
Bringing Stark to camp would raise questions, like how he got it and he have to store it in camp, which could obstruct some of his activity in Valentine like teaching Jasper. So it's better to ride Morgan and leave Stark in Mr. Levi's care for now.
He paid Levi an extra dollar for Stark's upkeep, then mounted Morgan. The mare flicked her ears, eager to run. Caleb nudged her into a trot, guiding her onto the road leading east out of town.
The ride to Horseshoe Overlook was peaceful. The morning sun cast golden light over the Heartlands, the grass swaying in a gentle breeze. Caleb passed a lone rancher herding cattle, tipped his hat, and rode on. By midmorning, the familiar silhouette of the camp's wagons appeared on the horizon, smoke curling from the cookfire.
As he approached, Pearson's voice boomed across the clearing, "Well, look what the cat dragged in!" The camp's activity paused, heads turned, greetings were called. Karen waved from where she sat mending a shirt, Uncle lifted a bottle in salute from his cot.
Dutch emerged from his tent, arms spread in theatrical welcome. "Caleb, my boy! We were starting to think you'd gone native in Valentine, since you have been gone for some time."
Caleb dismounted, patting Morgan's neck. "l just had some business to settle." He then showed his pump action shotgun and this Lancaster repeater. "Got to do some snooping around and managed to snag this two beauties in return."
Dutch's eyebrows shot up as he looked at Caleb's new arsenal with a whistle, "I see that you've been busy, son. Those two worth some pretty good price and getting them for free is good."
"Had a lucky streak." Caleb's gaze swept the camp, searching for Mary-Beth. He spotted her near the edge of the clearing, perched on a log with a book in her lap. Her eyes met his, and a shy smile curved her lips.
Excusing himself from Dutch, Caleb strode toward her. She closed her book as he approached, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "You're back, Caleb," she said softly.
"Of course I would be. Just got some business to do outside," He reached into his satchel and produced the fountain pen box. "And then I found this, keeping my promise to you."
Mary-Beth's breath caught. She took the box, and opened it, marveling it as it nestled inside the velvet box, and tracing the fountain pen with her fingertips. "It's beautiful," she murmured. Then, impulsively, she stood and hugged him. "Thank you."
Caleb stiffened momentarily, physical affection still felt foreign, but relaxed into the embrace. Her hair smelled like lavender and campfire smoke. "You're welcome," he said, voice low.
When she pulled back, her cheeks were flushed. "I've been working on a new story. Maybe… maybe you'd like to hear it sometime?"
"I'd like that."
A whistle cut through the air, Karen, grinning shamelessly from across the camp. Mary-Beth rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a laugh.
Caleb also let out a small chuckle and then spent the next few hours catching up with the gang. He shared a drink with Charles, listened to Javier's new guitar piece, and endured Uncle's rambling tales.
He doesn't see Arthur, but John had told him that he had gone out to do some debt collecting for Herr Strauss, and hearing this Caleb was surprised then head to Herr Strauss who was sitting on his chair near his tent, who was doing some calculation on his debt ledger book.
Caleb approached Herr Strauss with an easy gait, the late morning sun warming his back. The sharp sound of quill scratching parchment, where Caleb greets him.
The gaunt Austrian looked up from his ledger, adjusting his wire frame glasses with one ink stained finger. "Ah, Mr. Thorne. "Back from Valentine, I see. What can I help you with?" His accent clipped the words sharply.
Caleb leaned against the tent post and his hands resting casually on his gun belt, keeping his voice casual. "Herr Strauss, John mentioned you sent Arthur out collecting debts. That true?"
Strauss closed his book with deliberate slowness. "It is, Mr. Morgan is… efficient, when he bothers to do the work. Does this trouble you, Mr. Thorne?" His eyes narrowed slightly. "You disapprove of our loan business? Dutch approves, it brings stable income for the family."
Caleb paused a beat. He met Strauss's cold, calculating gaze, weighing the words he really wanted to say. The loan sharking racket reminded him of things he'd seen in his past life, families ruined, desperation turned to crime, lives crushed under insurmountable interest.
But he wasn't in the twenty first century anymore. This was 1899. Morality didn't carry the same currency out here. At least he had to pick when to choose between morality and survival.
But Strauss, for all his ruthlessness, was fiercely loyal to Dutch. This wasn't the time for moral grandstanding.
Caleb shook his head. "No opinion on the business itself. I just heard Arthur's not too fond of collecting, so I figured I'd offer to take it off his plate. Next time you've got a debt needs collecting, you can come to me."
Strauss tilted his head, clearly intrigued. "Hmm… That is unexpected."
His fingers drummed against the closed ledger as he considered it. "Mr. Morgan has voiced his dissatisfaction more than once, it's true," he said after a moment, voice as smooth and clipped as ever.
"And since you offering, I won't refuse. From now on, you will handle the collections. See that you do so thoroughly. Understand, this isn't pleasant work. And remember, leniency doesn't put food on our tables."
Caleb gave a short nod, the tension in his shoulders easing. He was just in time. He knew what was coming, what might've come, had he not intervened. Thomas Downes was still just a name right now, not yet a death sentence hovering over Arthur's future.
"I know how to persuade folks," Caleb said. Better him than Arthur. Better anyone than Thomas Downes coughing blood onto Arthur's face when he goes to collect his debt.
"Very well." Strauss opened his ledger again. "I'll mark you for collections starting tomorrow. There's a farmer near Flatneck Station—"
The sound of hooves interrupted them. Arthur had returned.
He watched as Arthur dismounted with his usual quiet composure, his worn hat pulled low over his brow. He led his horse to the hitching post and gave it a final pat before walking toward the center of camp.
Arthur made his way to the donation lockbox near Dutch's tent, taking out the money he had collected from his satchel and put it inside the box, just as Strauss called out to him.
"Mr. Morgan!" Strauss called. "Come, we have news."
Arthur approached, wiping sweat from his brow. His eyes flicked between them, lingering on Caleb. "Strauss. Caleb. You two look cozy. What's this about?"
Strauss gestured to Caleb. "Mr. Thorne has generously offered to handle debt collections from now on. Given your... reluctance."
Arthur's shoulders loosened visibly. He studied Caleb with new interest. "That so? You know what you're signing up for?"
Caleb met his gaze evenly. "Collecting from folks who owe money. Besides, I could use the excuse to get around more, Arthur."
A ghost of a smile touched Arthur's lips. "Well, I won't stop you. Strauss's clients are a miserable bunch, sick, desperate, stupid."
"Mr. Morgan," Strauss chided, though without real heat. "They sign the contracts willingly."
"Sure they do." Arthur spat into the dirt. "Anyway, if Caleb wants the job, it's his funeral." He clapped Caleb on the shoulder. "Appreciate it, though. Hate that damn work."
As Arthur walked off toward the cookfire, Strauss lowered his voice. "He's not wrong. Many debtors are... unsavory. But business is business. Come see me tomorrow, I'll give you the first batch of ledgers."
Caleb nodded, already mentally mapping the locations from the game. Downes Ranch would be the most dangerous as the debt owner had tuberculosis, he needed to handle that before Strauss sent Arthur there by mistake.
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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: 700 dollars and 61 cents
Bank: 40 dollars, 2 gold bars, a large bag of jewelry, and 3 gold nuggets