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The atmosphere went quiet, the weight of his threat hanging heavy in the air. The rancher looked like he might push further, but something in Jasper's tone, something deadly serious, made him falter. He grumbled, spat on the floor, and backed off. The others followed suit, though not without shooting glares at the counter.
Caleb, watching from the kitchen doorway, couldn't help but smile faintly. Jasper had a way of handling people that reminded him of a sheriff keeping his town in line. Tough, uncompromising, but fair.
"Tomorrow," Jasper said again, his voice booming. "Tomorrow, you'll have what you've been waiting for. And I'll tell you right now, it'll be worth it."
The customers muttered, some still sour, but most resigned themselves to waiting. They shuffled out, leaving behind the scent of frustration mixed with anticipation.
Caleb turned back to Simon and Troy, who were still hard at work practicing the new recipes. Tomorrow, he thought, would be a big day. Not just for the business, but for him.
Because after tomorrow, he and Mary-Beth would return to camp. And he knew deep down, when that happened, things were going to change.
That night, Caleb walked Mary-Beth back to her room on the hotel after everything was done back on the business. As they stood outside her door, the light flickering against her face, she looked up at him with a soft smile.
"You know," she whispered, "every time I see you in that restaurant, teaching, creating… you look more like yourself than anywhere else. Like that's where you belong."
Caleb's chest tightened. He brushed a strand of hair from her face and murmured, "Maybe it is."
She leaned closer, her voice softer still. "Just don't forget, camp may not feel like home, but it's still family. They'll need you. And… I'll be there with you when we go back."
Caleb kissed her forehead gently, his voice steady. "I know. And I'll make sure they don't fall apart. Not this time."
As she slipped into her room, Caleb lingered for a moment, staring out into the night. Tomorrow, the launch would mark another step forward. Another piece of the future he was building.
The next day, Caleb woke up early in the morning. The faint orange glow of dawn filtered through the curtains, brushing against his face. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes, swung his legs over the bed, and exhaled slowly. Today was going to be big. Not just for the business, but for him. He dressed, tugging on the McLaughlin outfit—the sharp, clean set of clothes he had bought back in Blackwater when he had gone there to secretly retrieve the gang's money. The weight of the memory settled briefly on his shoulders, but he shook it off. Today wasn't about Dutch or the gang. Today was about proving himself here, in Valentine.
He made his way downstairs to the hotel lobby where Mary-Beth was already waiting for him. She was radiant even in the morning light, her auburn hair pinned neatly back, her simple dress carrying a warmth that made Caleb's chest tighten. When she saw him, her face softened with a smile.
"You ready?" she asked softly.
Caleb smiled back, adjusting his cuffs. "More than ready. And I'll be glad to have you by my side today."
She blushed faintly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Well, I'll do my best not to slow you down."
Together, they walked out into the crisp air of Valentine. The dirt streets were quiet still, save for a few ranch hands on horseback riding out of town and a couple of storekeepers opening their doors. The world seemed to pause, as if waiting for the day to begin in earnest.
Arriving at the business, the sight that greeted them was reassuring. Jasper was already there, standing tall on the porch, keeping a sharp eye on Jessie and Mickey as they bustled about, arranging chairs and wiping down tables. The air smelled faintly of soap and wood polish, a fresh start for what was going to be a busy day.
"Morning, boss, ma'am" Jasper called out the moment he caught sight of Caleb and Mary-Beth walking up the steps. His voice was strong, steady, already carrying the energy of the day. Jessie and Mickey turned as well, both greeting warmly.
"Morning boss and ma'am!" Mickey said brightly, brushing his hands together.
"Good to see you both," Jessie added with a grin.
Caleb tipped his hat with a smile, Mary-Beth offering a gentle wave in return. "Morning to you all," Caleb said. "Looks like you've been busy already."
"Got to be," Jasper replied. "Today's gonna be chaos, so best to be ready for it."
Caleb nodded approvingly, then glanced around. "Where are Simon and Troy? Thought they'd be here by now."
"They're out on their second run for supplies," Jasper explained. "First trip's load is already in the kitchen. I sent 'em back for more since we'll need double the stock. Folks are gonna come in droves for these new menus, no doubt about it."
"Good thinking," Caleb said. Then he gestured toward Mary-Beth. "By the way, she'll be helping Jessie and Mickey today. I know the two of them have it covered, but with the kind of rush we're expecting, another pair of hands will make a difference."
Jasper smirked knowingly. "If the lady of the boss wants to help, who am I to argue? More help's always better. Jessie, Mickey, you hear that?"
Jessie beamed and walked over to Mary-Beth. "Of course! Miss Mary-Beth, we'll be glad to have you with us."
Mickey nodded enthusiastically. "It'll be no trouble at all. We'll help you get the hang of things in no time."
Mary-Beth stepped forward quickly, smiling at Jessie and Mickey. "I hope I don't get in the way. I'll do whatever you need me to. Just… teach me the ropes, and I'll try not to spill anything."
Jessie chuckled, shaking her head. "The lady boss a burden? Don't be silly. You'll be fine."
"Yeah," Mickey chimed in, his grin wide. "We'll show you the basics. You'll be flying by lunch."
Mary-Beth's smile softened, her eyes shining. "Thank you. Really."
They moved off to the side porch together, Jessie and Mickey immediately explaining how they worked the tables, how to carry trays balanced just so, how to read orders quickly. Mary-Beth listened intently, nodding, even practicing with an empty tray. Caleb watched them with a gentle smile. She was adapting quickly, as he knew she would.
Satisfied, Caleb turned back to Jasper. "Get the new menu written up on the board. Put it below the old ones so customers can see both of the menus."
"On it boss," Jasper replied, already grabbing the chalk. His handwriting wasn't elegant, but it was bold enough to catch eyes. Soon, the new items were neatly listed:
Cheese Burger – 4 dollars and 50 cents
Garlic Patties Burger – 3 dollars
El Diablo Burger – 4 dollars and 50 cents
Cheese Fries – 2 dollars and 50 cents
Hot Mamacita Fries – 2 dollars and 50 ceta
The names alone carried a flair that would stand out, even to ranchers who'd never tasted anything beyond beans and salted pork.
Caleb stepped inside the building, heading straight for the kitchen. He rolled up his sleeves and began preparing the supplies, arranging everything in neat order, stacks of patties, blocks of cheese, buns, fresh garlic cloves, chilies, and crates of potatoes ready for cutting. His mind focused on efficiency, every second saved would matter when the rush hit.
Not long after, Simon and Troy arrived, slightly out of breath from hauling the second load of supplies. "We're back!" Simon called, carrying a sack over his shoulder.
"Got everything we'll need and then some," Troy added, dropping his load onto the counter with a grunt.
"Good," Caleb said, his voice firm but encouraging. "Today's gonna test us. Let's make it count."
By 8 AM, the doors had barely opened when the crowd descended. Ranchers, townsfolk, and even some folks from outlying areas, all of them eager, some practically salivating at the thought of the new dishes they'd heard about. The line stretched across the porch, down the steps, and onto the street.
When their eyes landed on the menu board, there were murmurs of surprise at the prices, these were no cheap meals. But almost immediately, those murmurs turned into orders. Curiosity and anticipation outweighed thrift.
"I'll take one of them cheese burgers!" shouted a burly rancher.
"And gimme the El Diablo too, just to see if it's worth it!" another called.
"Hot Mamacita fries! Two orders!" a young farmhand added eagerly.
Jasper stood tall behind the counter, taking the money and scribbling down the orders with the precision of a general directing troops. He relayed the orders back into the kitchen with a loud bark, his voice cutting clear over the noise.
Inside, Caleb, Simon, and Troy were already in motion. The sizzle of meat on hot pans filled the air, mingling with the rich aroma of garlic and chilies.
Caleb moved like clockwork, his hands steady, his timing perfect, while Simon and Troy mirrored his actions as best they could. He corrected them quickly when needed, but their progress was clear, they were learning fast.
Out front, Jessie, Mickey, and Mary-Beth darted between tables, trays balanced with practiced ease. Mary-Beth stumbled once, nearly spilling a plate, but Jessie caught it with a laugh, steadying her. "Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it!" she said, giving her an encouraging pat on the arm.
The hours blurred into a whirlwind. Orders flew in, food flew out. The smell of melted cheese, sizzling patties, and spiced chili filled the building, drawing in even passersby who hadn't planned to stop.
Caleb noticed Mary-Beth working tirelessly, her face flushed but smiling as she kept pace. Still, he wasn't about to let her go hungry. When a brief lull came, no more than a minute, he quickly made all five new dishes himself and set them aside on a tray.
"Mary-Beth," he called softly, handing it to her. "Lunch. Sit for a moment and eat."
She blinked in surprise, eyes widening at the full spread. "All of them? Caleb, you didn't have to—"
"I did," he cut in gently, a smile tugging at his lips. "You're not running yourself ragged without food. Not on my watch."
Jessie and Mickey teased her good naturedly, but neither dared protest. Everyone knew Mary-Beth was his woman, and if Caleb wanted her treated special, that was the way it was.
She ate quickly but gratefully, savoring each bite, her eyes shining as she tasted his creations. "These are incredible," she whispered to him when she had the chance. "You've really made many new special menus here."
The rush continued without pause until 3 PM, when finally, Caleb looked down at the counter and realized the supplies were gone. Not just the new menu items, everything. Even the original burgers and fries. They'd sold out completely.
The last few customers groaned in disappointment when told there was nothing left. Some cursed under their breath, frustrated that they'd missed their chance.
Jasper stepped forward, hands raised, his voice booming to silence them. "Listen up! Supplies ran out today, but tomorrow we'll have double, triple, what we had today. Every one of you will get your chance. You can buy as much as you want. That's a promise!"
His words carried weight, and though the crowd still muttered, they accepted it, grumbling as they dispersed.
Exhausted but triumphant, Caleb and his team cleaned up the kitchen and dining area. The sun was already dipping low, painting the streets of Valentine in golden light. When everything was finally scrubbed and put away, Caleb wiped his brow, his muscles aching but his heart full.
...
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 4)
- 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: 104,278 dollars and 93 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: -