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"People of Valentine!" he said. "Today, we deliver justice! This man, Edmund Lowry Jr., stands before you not as a victim, but as a killer. A kidnapper. A man who preyed on the innocent and the defenseless!" Shouts of agreement rose from the crowd — "Hang him!" — "Monster!" — "He deserves worse!"
Lowry Jr. didn't flinch. He tilted his head and smiled eerily, as if amused by the spectacle. "You all came to watch my masterpiece," he said in a slow, eerie tone. "Every one of you. You wanted a show? Well, here it is. You think this ends me? This is only the final chapter of my masterpiece…"
People booed, hissed, one woman even threw a rock. Sheriff Malloy ignored him.
"This man is no longer a threat. No more will he prey on the weak! Justice will be served. May the families of his victims find some peace today."
With a nod, Sheriff Malloy stepped back.
The hangman pulled the lever.
The trapdoor dropped.
And Lowry Jr.'s smirk disappeared in an instant as the rope snapped taut as he struggled lightly until he stay silent.
The crowd fell into a heavy silence for a few moments before someone began clapping. Soon others joined, not out of joy, but solemn, exhausted relief.
Caleb stared a little longer, then gently tugged Morgan's reins as he saw the crowd began to disperse, some lingering to gawk, others heading back to their daily routines. Weaving through the thinning mass of people until he reached the sheriff.
Sheriff Malloy was wiping his hands on a handkerchief, his expression grim. He looked up as Caleb approached.
"Hello son." The sheriff nodded. "Didn't expect to finally return after gone for several days. I was looking for you to inform you of the hanging but you weren't at town."
"Sorry bout that Sheriff, had some business out of town and I just returned now," Caleb said, glancing back at the gallows. "The permission to immediately hang was that fast for him huh?"
Sheriff Malloy exhaled sharply. "Yeah it did. The money I revived the letter, I immediately had him hanged, he gave me the creeps. Even though hanged, the bastard didn't even have the decency to look scared."
Caleb didn't reply. There wasn't much to say.
The sheriff studied him for a moment, then jerked his chin toward the direction of the saloon. "By the way, you got a minute, son? There's something I wanna talk to you about."
Caleb raised a brow but nodded his head, and together head with the Sheriff who walked while Caleb ride on Morgan. Reaching the saloon, he hitched Morgan to the hitching post outside the saloon.
Inside, the usual midday crowd was thinner than usual, probably because half the town had been at the hanging. Sheriff Malloy led him to a corner table and signaled toward Mr. Douglas for two glass of whiskeys.
Once the drinks were set down and he gave the payment to Mr. Douglas, the sheriff leaned in.
"You've done good work for this town after your arrival, Caleb. Brought in high valued bounties all alive, even captured that bastard Loiwry Jr. for u after looking for him for so long. Many of the townsfolks respect and admire you. Of course minus that brawl you got yourself involved to."
Caleb smile wryly before he took a slow sip of the whiskey, waiting.
Sheriff Malloy tapped his fingers on the table. "I'm short a deputy. Jenkins quit last week, couldn't handle the stress he said. I need someone who knows how to handle themselves decently. Someone who ain't afraid to get their hands dirty to uphold the law around here."
Caleb nearly choked on his drink. "Really, Sheriff?You still consider me for this job?"
"Of course and before you say no, it's just temporary, unlike the permanent position I offered you before." Sheriff Malloy clarified. "Just until I find a permanent replacement. Pays decent, and you'd have the law on your side when dealing with dangerous bounties."
Caleb's mind raced. A deputy? The irony wasn't lost on him, an outlaw working for the law. But the benefits were undeniable.
He swirled the whiskey in his glass, considering.
"I'll think about it Sheriff," he finally said.
Sheriff Malloy smirked. "That's not a no."
"It's not a yes either."
The sheriff chuckled and raised his glass. "Fair enough. Let me know by the end of the week."
Caleb nodded his head and downed the rest of his whiskey in a single drink, the warmth burning a steady path down his throat. He stood up from his chair, pushing it back quietly as the legs scraped against the floor.
"I've got some things to tend to, Sheriff. I'll leave you to it." He said casually.
Sheriff Malloy looked up from his own glass and gave him a small nod. "Just… think about it, son. Seriously."
"I will," Caleb said tipping his hat. "You'll have my answer before the week's done."
With that, he turned on his heel and left the saloon. The sunlight outside made him squint for a moment, but it was the stale, musty smell clinging to his body that hit him next. He grimaced.
The quick rinse at camp earlier that morning had been enough to not smell like roadkill, but the stink of dried sweat, gunpowder, and horse still clung to him like a second skin. He lifted a fold of his Vaquero coat and gave it a sniff, he instantly regretted it as he immediately recoiled.
"Jesus," he muttered.
There was no helping it. He needed a real bath.
Morgan at this time flicked her ears at him, unimpressed.
"Yeah, yeah," he grumbled, patting Morgan. "I know what you think girl, I stank. You wait here while I got take a bath."
Crossing the street, he headed toward the Valentine Hotel. The warm afternoon sun cast long shadows as townsfolk passed by, some chatting about the execution, others pretending it hadn't happened at all.
Caleb moved through them silently, weaving through the crowd until he stepped into the polished wood and brass trimmed lobby of the hotel.
"Afternoon, Mr. Thorne," the clerk greeted him with a practiced smile.
Caleb returned a nod. "I'll be needing a bath. Hot, if possible."
"That'll be 25 cents," the clerk replied.
Caleb fished a coin from his coat pocket and placed it on the counter. "Also… I want this outfit washed" He gestured down to his dusty, travel worn Vaquero gear. "I'll leave it at the desk in a bit. Can you have the girls take care of it?"
"Of course, sir. 25 more cents for the laundry."
He dropped another coin, then headed upstairs. Once inside his room, he opened the cabinet in his room and sorted through his meager wardrobe.
Most of his clothes were either dusty or sweat soaked, but he found a relatively fresh set, a simple dark shirt, brown trousers, his less worn duster, and a vest that didn't stink of the road. Not exactly Sunday best, but it would do.
With the clean outfit in hand, Caleb returned downstairs and passed through the rear hallway to the bath area. The smell of soap and warm water welcomed him instantly. A clawfoot tub waited for him, filled with steaming water and thick bubbles.
With the clean outfit bundled under his arm, Caleb returned downstairs and passed through the rear hallway to the bath area. The smell of soap and warm water welcomed him instantly. A clawfoot tub waited for him, filled with steaming water and thick bubbles.
He shut the door behind him, stripped off his dusty clothes and undergarments, and lowered himself into the bath.
Relief washed over him, literally and figuratively.
The hot water seeped into his sore muscles, unwinding the tension that days of travel and doing many things had tied into knots. He let out a deep sigh and slumped deeper into the tub until only his head remained above water. Every inch of his skin seemed to thank him for the moment of peace.
He dunked his head under, scrubbing his hair free of dust and sweat before leaning back against the tub with a long sigh.
As he reached for the soap and began to scrub the dirt from his arms, he thought back to Sheriff Malloy's offer.
Temporary deputy.
It sounded simple on the surface. But nothing ever was.
Wearing a badge, even temporarily, meant more than just legal authority. It meant visibility. It meant accountability. And it meant if the wrong person from Dutch's gang, like Bill, caught wind of it before he had a chance to explain, things could turn ugly real fast.
Still, there were undeniable benefits. Easier access to information. A better reputation in town. Less suspicion from lawmen when he was poking around bounties or asking questions. And also get closer to Sheriff Malloy and the law of Valentine.
He let the thought sit with him for a while, letting the water and bubbles rise as he rinsed the grime off his chest and face.
"It's temporary," he told himself. "It ain't permanent. Just till he finds someone else."
He made up his mind.
He would accept it.
But he'd need to tell Arthur. And Dutch. Let them know this wasn't a betrayal beforehand. They might even see the value in it. Information was power, after all. Showing that he was thinking long term plan, even if Dutch haven't think like that since the Blackwater incident.
With his decision made, he washed the rest of the dirt from his body and finished the bath, lingering only a few more minutes in the heat before pulling himself out. He dried off and changed into his fresh clothes.
Carrying his Vaquero outfit bundled in one arm, he returned to the lobby and handed it to the clerk.
"Need this washed," he said, placing the folded clothes on the counter. "Already paid."
"Yes, sir. I'll have one of the girls take care of it immediately."
With that handled, Caleb stepped back out onto the street, feeling like a new man. His stomach rumbled low in protest. He turned and walked across the street to the general store. As he pushed open the door, the little bell above jingled softly.
Inside, shelves lined with all manner of dry goods and supplies greeted him. The scent of tobacco, old wood, and flour hung in the air.
At the far end, Mr. Worth was gesturing toward a shelf while Jasper, struggled with a mediums sized crate in his arms.
"No, no, boy, the salted flour goes there, not next to the soap! You want your biscuits tasting like lavender?".
"Sorry, Mr. Worth," Jasper muttered, adjusting the box as he shuffled toward the right shelf.
Mr. Worth finally noticed Caleb. "Ah! Caleb. Afternoon to you."
"Afternoon," Caleb replied with a respectful nod. ".Just here to pick up a few things."
"Bread, some cheese, salted venison if you got it, and a couple apples and pears."
"Good taste," Mr. Worth said, and immediately turned to start gathering the items.
Caleb walked slowly through the store, idly browsing other shelves while he waited. Mr. Worth grabbed a loaf of bread, a wedge of cheese, some salted venison, and a few apples and pears, piling them onto the counter. Then he tallied it up with practiced efficiency.
"That'll be 3 dollars and 20 cents."
Caleb paid him the money, thanked him, saigoddbye to Mr. Worth and Jaspwr who was busy, and left the store with the bundle under his arm.
The sun was beginning to dip now, casting Valentine in soft amber hues. Caleb made his way back to the hotel, found a quiet bench on the porch, and unwrapped his food. He tear his bread, put in the cheese and a few pieces of salted venison. The apples and pears were sweet and refreshing, washing away the bitter tang of whiskey from earlier.
As he ate, he watched the town move around him. Men herded cattle down the street. A young couple argued about where to go for supper. Somewhere in the distance, a dog barked.
It was peaceful. It was almost… normal. Caleb took a deep breath and let it out slow. Tomorrow, he'd ride back to camp to speak with Arthur, Dutch, and Hosea. He'd explain the deputy situation and make sure there were no misunderstandings.
...
Name: Caleb Thorne
Age: 23
Body Attributes:
- Strength: 7/10
- Agility: 6/10
- Perception: 8/10
- Stamina: 7/10
- Charm: 5/10
- Luck: 6/10
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 2)
- Horse Mastery (Lvl 3)
- Poker (Lvl 2)
- 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)
- Crafting (Lv1)
- Persuasion (Lvl 2)
- Mental Fortitude (Lvl MAX)
Money: 1258 dollars and 23 cents and 2 gold nuggets
Bank: 320 dollars, 4 gold bars, a large bag of jewelry, and 3 gold nuggets