If you want to read 20 Chapters ahead, be sure to check out my Patreon!!!
Go to https://www.patreon.com/Tang12
...
Caleb stood beneath one of the larger trees with Mary-Beth, the breeze lifting loose strands of her hair as she leaned against the trunk. For the first time since the incident, she looked genuinely calm, still subdued, still healing, but no longer brittle.
They stood close, hands intertwined.
"Today's the day," Caleb said quietly.
Mary-Beth looked up at him. "With Arthur and Hosea?"
He nodded. "Yeah. I can't keep puttin' it off."
She squeezed his hand. "You're nervous."
"A little," he admitted with a faint smile. "Not because I think they'll be angry. Just… because once it's said, it can't be unsaid."
Mary-Beth considered that, then nodded. "Do you want me with you?"
He turned toward her fully. "If you want to be."
She smiled softly. "I do."
Before either of them could move, footsteps approached along the main path. Hosea and Arthur walked side by side, mid conversation, Arthur rolling a cigarette between his fingers.
Caleb straightened slightly. "Hosea. Arthur."
Both men stopped.
Hosea smiled faintly, eyes sharp as ever. "Caleb. Mary-Beth."
Arthur glanced between them. "You look like you're about to confess to robbin' a bank."
Caleb huffed out a short laugh. "Somethin' like that."
Hosea's brow lifted. "Is there somethin' you'd like to talk about?"
Caleb blinked. "How'd you—"
Hosea chuckled quietly. "Your face. You get that look when you're carryin' weight you're about to set down."
Caleb shook his head, amused despite himself. "Didn't think I was that obvious."
"Son," Hosea said gently, "you're honest. That makes you readable."
Caleb exchanged a glance with Mary-Beth, then nodded. "Let's talk somewhere a bit more private."
They walked together toward the edge of camp, stopping near the stream where the water ran shallow and clear. The sound of it created a natural barrier, muffling voices without isolating them completely.
Arthur leaned against a rock and finally lit his cigarette, exhaling slowly. "Alright," he said. "What's on your mind? This ain't about Dutch, is it? Your talk with him three days ago?"
Caleb shook his head. "No. That conversation weren't important. He said the same things he'd already been sayin'. This… this is somethin' else."
Hosea studied him carefully. "Go on."
Caleb took a breath. "I've been keepin' a secret."
Arthur raised an eyebrow. Hosea's expression grew more serious
"What kind of secret?" Hosea asked. "One that could endanger the gang?"
"No," Caleb said immediately. "Not like that."
"But?" Arthur prompted.
"But it's… big," Caleb admitted. "And it might change things. Maybe for the better."
Hosea folded his hands behind his back. "Then we're listenin'."
Caleb glanced at Mary-Beth, who gave him a small, encouraging nod. Then he looked back at the two men who now carried more of the gang's future than anyone else.
"I got a business in Valentine," he said. "A restaurant."
Arthur blinked. "A what?"
"A legitimate one," Caleb added quickly. "Food. Drinks. Tables. Regular customers. Folks who wouldn't shoot their guns first talked later."
Hosea's eyes widened, not in disbelief, but calculation. "You established this after joinin' us?"
Caleb nodded. "Yeah. Bought the land cheap. Then build it myself and paid some workers as wel. Hired some locals to be my workers. I don't run it day to day, but it turns a steady large profit."
Arthur took a long drag of his cigarette, then let it out slowly. "You're tellin' me you been runnin' a legal business this whole time."
"Yes."
"And you didn't think to mention it to us," Arthur said, tone unreadable.
"I didn't know how," Caleb replied honestly. "And I didn't know if I should."
Hosea was quiet for a long moment. The stream filled the silence.
"Why keep it secret?" Hosea asked at last.
Caleb met his gaze. "Because under Dutch, it would've been taken. Used. Twisted into somethin' reckless. Or burned the moment it didn't serve his pride or purpose."
Arthur grimaced. He couldn't argue with that.
"And now?" Hosea asked.
"Now," Caleb said, "I think it could be somethin' else. A way to make money that don't involve blood. A foothold. A place to disappear into if we need it. Or… a step toward not havin' to live like this forever."
Arthur snorted softly. "You talk like that's possible."
Caleb looked at him. "It is possible. It's just hard."
Hosea studied the water, then Caleb, then Mary-Beth. "How successful is this… restaurant?"
"Successful enough to pay its workers, cover its costs, and still accumulated money back," Caleb replied. "Very big amounts."
Arthur shook his head in disbelief. "You really are somethin' else."
Hosea let out a slow breath. "You understand what this means, don't you?"
Caleb nodded. "Yeah. It means if word gets out wrong, it could draw attention. Law attention."
"And yet," Hosea said softly, "it also means somethin' we haven't had in a long time."
"Options," Arthur said.
Hosea nodded. "Exactly."
Mary-Beth spoke up then, voice gentle but steady. "He didn't do it to replace anyone. He did it because he believes we can be more than runnin' forever."
Arthur looked at her, then back to Caleb. "You trust that this will go through?"
She nodded without hesitation. "With my life."
Arthur took another drag, then crushed the cigarette beneath his boot. "Well," he said, "I ain't sayin' I like secrets. But I like the idea of not havin' to shoot someone to eat even more."
Hosea smiled faintly. "You did right comin' to us."
Caleb exhaled, tension easing from his shoulders. "So… what do we do?"
Hosea looked between Arthur and Caleb. "We move carefully. Quietly. No announcements. No grand plans. But we explore it. Together."
Arthur nodded. "And if this works… it might just change things."
Caleb smiled, small, but real. "That's all I wanted."
The breeze stirred again, carrying with it the sound of camp life continuing behind them. Not perfect. Not healed.
But moving forward.
The four of them walked back toward the center of camp together, the sound of the stream fading behind them as the familiar smells of smoke, stew, and damp earth returned. Camp life continued in a quieter rhythm now, people talking in low voices, tools being used, horses shifting in their tethers. Not normal, not yet, but functioning.
As they approached Dutch's tent, a figure stepped out from beneath the canvas flap.
Molly O'Shea.
She held a half empty bowl of stew in both hands, her posture stiff, her face pale but composed. For a moment, all four of them slowed, surprised to see her there.
Since the disastrous argument at Clemens Point, Molly had kept as much distance from Dutch as physically possible. She hadn't spoken his name unless forced to. She hadn't gone near his tent.
Yet here she was.
At the tent entrance, Javier and Bill stood on guard duty now, rifles resting against their shoulders. Javier's eyes flicked briefly toward Molly as she passed, then back to the tree line. Bill shifted uncomfortably, clearly unsure where to put his hands.
Arthur was the first to speak. "Molly."
She stopped and turned, her Irish accent soft but sharp as ever. "Arthur. What is it?"
Arthur hesitated, then chose his words carefully. "I just wanted to ask… are you alright with feedin' him today? If you ain't, you can tell Miss Grimshaw. Or I can. No one'll force you."
Molly looked at him for a long second, then shook her head slowly. "No. No need for that."
Arthur frowned slightly. "You sure?"
"It was my idea," she said quietly. "Miss Grimshaw asked me if I was certain. I told her yes."
Hosea stepped closer, his voice gentle. "May I ask why, Molly?"
She swallowed, fingers tightening around the bowl. "Because I needed answers."
The word hung heavy between them.
Hosea studied her face. "And did you find them?"
Molly nodded once. "I did." Her lips trembled, but she held herself together. "They weren't kind answers. But… they were honest ones. At least to me."
Caleb watched her closely. There was pain there, deep and raw, but also something else, closure.
"It hurts," Molly continued softly. "But it's what I suspected for a long time. Knowin' it for certain hurts less than keepin' hope alive for somethin' that was never comin' back."
No one interrupted her.
"I won't be goin' back in there again," she added. "But I needed to see him like that. Needed to know it wasn't all in my head."
Hosea nodded slowly. "I understand."
Molly looked between the four of them, then inclined her head. "Goodbye."
Mary-Beth stepped forward impulsively. "Molly… wait."
Molly paused.
"I... I'd like to walk with you," Mary-Beth said gently.
Molly studied her face for a moment, then gave a small nod. "I'd like that."
Mary-Beth turned to Caleb. He already understood.
"Go," he said softly. "She shouldn't be alone right now."
Mary-Beth leaned up and kissed his cheek quickly, a quiet promise in the gesture, then followed Molly away from the tent, the two women walking side by side toward the edge of camp.
Caleb watched them go until they disappeared between the trees.
Then he turned back to Hosea and Arthur.
"I was thinkin'," Caleb said, breaking the silence. "If you two wanted… I could show you the place in Valentine. The restaurant."
Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Today?"
Hosea shook his head slowly. "I'd very much like to see it, Caleb. Truly. But I can't leave camp right now. Not after all this."
Caleb nodded. "I figured."
"People need guidance," Hosea continued. "And Dutch… even tied up and guarded, I sleep easier knowin' I can check on him myself if I need to."
"I understand," Caleb said sincerely.
He turned to Arthur. "How about you?"
Arthur considered it for a moment, then shrugged. "Yeah. I'd like to see this miracle establishment of yours. Maybe eat somethin' that didn't come outta Pearson's pot for once."
Caleb chuckled. "That can be arranged."
"We go tomorrow," Arthur added. "I'm free."
Caleb nodded. "Tomorrow works."
He gave a thumbs up reflexively, then paused as something else came to mind. "Hosea… there's somethin' else."
Hosea looked at him. "Go on."
"That chest," Caleb said. "The one Dutch kept the gang's money in. From after Blackwater."
Arthur stiffened slightly. Hosea's expression turned thoughtful.
"You know where it is?" Hosea asked.
"I don't," Caleb admitted. "But I was wonderin' if you might."
Hosea sighed. "I have an idea. Dutch moved it more than once. Always did like feelin' clever."
"If we could access it," Caleb continued, "we could use that money to improve livin' conditions. Better supplies. Better shelter. Hell… maybe even buy land near Valentine. Build somethin' permanent. A house. For everyone."
Arthur frowned, clearly picturing it despite himself. "That'd be somethin'."
Hosea nodded slowly. "It's a fine idea. Truly. But there's a problem."
"The bounties," Arthur said.
"Exactly," Hosea replied. "New Austin, New Hanover, Lemoyne… the Pinkertons made sure our names spread far and wide."
Caleb hesitated, then said quietly, "About that."
Hosea looked up sharply. "What?"
"When I was in Saint Denis," Caleb said, "before I came back… I had somethin' big to report. But Dutch… well. You know how that went."
Arthur's jaw tightened. "What is it?"
Caleb took a breath. "There's a conflict brewin' between Bronte and the Pinkertons. Or rather… there was."
Hosea's eyes narrowed. "Go on."
"There were rumors," Caleb continued, "that Agent Ross is dead. Shot. And Agent Milton's missing. Pinkertons lost a lot of men."
Arthur stared at him. "You're serious."
"As sure as rumors get in Saint Denis," Caleb replied. "Which is to say, no smoke without fire."
Hosea went very still. "If that's true…"
"It means pressure's off us," Caleb said. "Not gone. But reduced. They'll be busy cleanin' up their own mess."
...
Name: Caleb Thorne
Age: 23
Body Attributes:
- Strength: 7/10
- Agility: 7/10
- Perception: 8/10
- Stamina: 7/10
- Charm: 7/10
- Luck: 8/10
Skills:
- Handgun (Lvl 4)
- Rifle (Lvl 4)
- Firearms Knowledge (Lvl 4)
- Past Life Memory (Lvl MAX)
- Knife (Lvl 4)
- Blunt Weapon (Lvl 1)
- Sneaking (Lvl 4)
- Horse Mastery (Lvl 4)
- Poker (Lvl 4)
- Hand to Hand Combat (Lvl 4)
- Eagle Eye (Lvl 1)
- Dead Eye (Lvl 3)
- Bow (Lvl 2)
- Pain Nullifier (Lvl 3)
- Physical Regeneration (Lvl 2)
- Crafting (Lvl 3)
- Persuasion (Lvl 4)
- Mental Fortitude (Lvl MAX)
- Cooking (Lvl 4)
- Teaching (Lvl 2)
- Trilingual Language Proficiency - G, I, & C (Lvl MAX)
- Inventory System (Permanent - 10x10x10)
- Acting (Lvl 4)
- Alcohol Resistance (Lvl MAX)
- Treasure Hunter (Lvl MAX)
- Drugs Resistance (Lvl MAX)
Money: 3,726 dollars and 10 cents
Inventory: 112,892 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
Bank: -