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Arthur who hears that let out a snort as he takes the rein from Sadie's hand, "Why? Because you have caused enough trouble already, don't want you to cause more on our way back." Caleb who gets on the back of the wagon let out a chuckle when he heard that, while Sadie just huffed and snorted.
"Hmph. Misogyny and slander. That's what that is."
Arthur just chuckled and flicked the reins, urging the horses forward as the wagon rumbled out from the grass and back onto the road. Trees lined both sides, dappled light filtering through the leaves above, and the sound of hooves was steady and calming, at least for now.
"The three of us sure did show those bastards how it's done, huh?" Sadie said, a satisfied grin tugging at her lips.
Caleb smirked from the back. "We sure did. Those bastards better think twice before they ever try to rob us again. Especially with you around, Sadie."
Arthur kept his eyes on the road, jaw tight, but there was a trace of amusement in his voice. "I agree. And remind me not to get on your bad side, Sadie."
Sadie chuckled and adjusted her new hat. "Damn right. And they were clearly trying to bushwhack us."
"You did good," Arthur said after a moment. "But that's a lot of mess to make near camp. Hope it doesn't bring anyone sniffin' around."
Caleb, now lounging on a large sack of corn, tapped the wooden side of the wagon lightly. "I think no one'll sniff around. Sure, the law might come lookin', but when they find out it was these so called Lemoyne Raiders, they'll back off after cleaning the area. Fewer criminals to deal with, less paperwork for them."
Arthur nodded slowly. That made sense. Local lawmen weren't likely to dig too deep into a bunch of dead bandits. Not when those same bandits had been terrorizing locals around.
Silence fell between them for a while, the rhythm of the wagon wheels filling the space.
Then Sadie asked, "So... are you gonna tell Dutch about what happened?"
Arthur sighed and steered the horses onto the forest path that led toward Clemens Point. "Maybe. If he asks. But maybe not."
Caleb leaned against a barrel. "Arthur might tell him, but I'm not. Better not to stir Dutch's mind over something like this."
Sadie laughed. "Why thank you kindly, Caleb. At least someone's on my side. Unlike Arthur here."
Arthur rolled his eyes. "Sure, sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night."
Caleb and Sadie shared a short laugh.
Sadie tapped her chin. "So... who'd they say they were again? Lemoyne Raiders?"
"Yeah, somethin' like that," Arthur replied. "Who knows who they really were... Anyway, don't you go ribbin' Pearson about that letter."
Sadie gasped, putting a hand to her chest like she'd been accused of murder. "How dare you! Arthur, I'm shocked. Shocked, I tell you! I would never."
Arthur doesn't believe her at all. "Righttttt. You wouldn't."
With a light chuckle, Sadie repeated in a gruff and mocking tone, "I have traveled widely, making no small name for myself."
Arthur and Caleb both laughed when they heard that once again.
Arthur pointed at her with a gloved finger. "I won't be givin' you no mail to post anytime soon. That's for sure."
"Seconded," Caleb added with exaggerated seriousness. "That's an oath. Don't wanna have you peek into my secrets now."
Sadie waved a hand dismissively. "I don't want to peek at your mail, Caleb. I see the way you interact with Mary-Beth around camp. I doubt you've got anything to post except maybe flowers or something that you want to order for Mary-Beth."
Caleb chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.
Sadie continued, "But you, Arthur. I just want a peek at that journal of yours. The mind boggles."
Arthur scoffed. "Not a chance."
As the trees began to part, the calm waters of the Kamassa River came into view, glistening under the midday sun. The familiar shapes of tents and smoke from campfires drifted upward. Clemens Point was finally in sight.
Arthur guided the wagon into camp, slowing it to a halt near the supply area. Pearson, catching sight of them from his own wagon, stood up with an expectant look and approached.
"You didn't get yourself killed then, Mrs. Adler?" he called out.
Sadie was already climbing down from the wagon. "Not quite."
Arthur hopped off next, followed by Caleb.
Pearson walked over to the back of the wagon, eyeing the goods. "Well, I'd like to say I missed your refined conversation, but... I'd be lyin'."
Sadie scoffed. Pearson reached in and pulled out a crate loaded with sacks.
"I... I enjoyed myself out there with these two fine gentlemen," Sadie said with a grin as she took the crate from Pearson.
Arthur raised a brow, as he leaned on the wagon with his hand. "Yes, we errr... Mrs. Adler did okay."
Pearson, with his usual gruff demeanor, took another crate and handed it to Arthur, the weight causing the older outlaw to grunt slightly as he adjusted his grip.
"At shopping?" Pearson asked skeptically.
Arthur, shifting the crate in his arms, nodded, his tone a bit awkward. "Yeah. At shopping..."
Sadie, still holding her previous crate, smiled and said with mock formality, "Thank you, Mr. Morgan, Mr. Thorne."
Pearson, clearly not one to let people off easy, plopped another crate on top of Arthur's load and handed him a sack to carry with his free hand. Caleb stepped in, grabbing two big sacks of corn with ease while Pearson took a large crate himself.
Arthur glanced at Sadie as they started heading toward Pearson's supply wagon. "Don't mention it," he said, voice relaxed.
Caleb echoed him. "Yeah, no big deal."
Then Arthur continued, voice light, a little teasing, "I would ride with you again, Mrs. Adler... if you want to ride with me."
Caleb, hearing that from the rear, raised an eyebrow. "I think you mean ride with you and me, right Arthur?"
Arthur chuckled. "Sure. Whatever you say."
Sadie let out a snort of laughter. "Maybe. If you two prove you can handle yourselves out there."
The three of them shared a good natured laugh, moving along toward Pearson's wagon with their burdens in hand.
"Well," Arthur said, "they say I lack finesse, but... I ain't afraid of gunsmoke."
Caleb added, "I think plenty around here could vouch for me. I don't back down when it counts."
Sadie just chuckled, her southern drawl more pronounced as she teased, "We'll see about that, boys."
Reaching Pearson's wagon, they laid the supplies down beside his sorting table. Pearson dusted off his hands and turned to Arthur and Caleb.
"The two of us got this," he said. "You two have done me a big favor today."
Arthur tipped his hat and made his way off toward his tent.
But Caleb on the other hand lingered. "Nah, let me help, Pearson. I've got nothing pressing to do anyway."
Pearson glanced at him with mild surprise, then gave a grunt and nodded. "Alright then. Appreciate it."
Together, the three made quick work of offloading the last of the crates, sacks, and tools. Sadie even stayed to help until Pearson insisted she go take a breather. Which Caleb doesn't believe Pearson has such good reason, he thinks Pearson just wanted to stay away from Sadie.
Eventually, with everything sorted and stored, Caleb gave Pearson a casual salute and walked off to the edge of camp for a little rest. He found a quiet spot under a tree near the perimeter, the breeze from the Kamassa River soothing and steady. He sat, exhaling and resting his back against the bark.
Not long after, the sound of soft footsteps reached his ears. Caleb opened one eye and was surprised to see Molly O'Shea approaching from a narrow trail between the trees. She stopped when she saw him.
"Oh," Molly said, blinking. "Sorry, Caleb. I thought no one was here. I'll just leave."
Caleb stood quickly, brushing off his pants. "No, please stay, Miss O'Shea. I was just resting for a bit. You look like you might need some peace too."
Molly hesitated, clearly torn between leaving and speaking. Just as Caleb began to step aside to give her space, she called out softly, "Wait a moment, Caleb... I... I have something I want to ask to you."
He stopped and turned, eyebrows lifting with genuine curiosity. "Oh? Sure. What do you want to ask me about, Miss O'Shea?"
There was a long pause. Molly's expression was conflicted, and her voice, when she spoke, was slow and unsure. "I know you're new to the gang... haven't been with us that long. But... what do you think of Dutch?"
The question hit Caleb like a sudden gust of wind. Unexpected. Sharp.
He blinked, but quickly composed himself. He couldn't exactly spill the trust, that he knew Dutch better than anyone here ever could. That he had played the end of this tale before. But still, the question demanded an answer.
Caleb put on a thoughtful expression. "Well... I think Dutch is a great man. He's kind. Charismatic. A man of vision. I'm grateful he offered me a place in the gang. Took me in when he didn't have to."
Molly's shoulders drooped slightly, her expression falling with disappointment. She had expected that answer, yet somehow hoped for something different.
Caleb hesitated, choosing his words carefully. The last thing he wanted was to set off Molly's temper or, worse, have his words get back to Dutch. But he also couldn't lie to her, not when she was clearly struggling.
But then Caleb added, more slowly, "But..."
Molly looked up, surprised.
Caleb exhaled and moved to lean against the tree again, his voice dropping, more personal now. "But... I've seen a lot of people like Dutch when I traveled around before staying in Valentine. Leaders with grand ideas. Men who can talk just about anyone into anything. They shine real bright at first... but sometimes? That shine covers cracks underneath."
He glanced at Molly, who was now fully focused on his words.
"Dutch talks about freedom. About a new life. But sometimes I wonder if he still knows what that really means. Or if he just says what he needs to say to keep us all together."
Molly's lips parted slightly. She hadn't expected honesty. Not like this.
Caleb shrugged. "I ain't saying he's bad. Just... that he's human. Prone to mistakes. Pride, maybe. Stubbornness."
"He is stubborn," Molly said, almost to herself. Then, louder, "But no one else sees it, do they?"
Caleb looked at her with a sympathetic frown. "Maybe some do. But they don't want to admit it. Not yet."
There was a moment of silence between them, charged with the weight of unspoken truths.
"Thank you, Caleb," Molly finally said. "I don't know why I asked. Just... needed to hear something honest."
After that, he stays silent, and when Molly thinks he is done, Caleb continues saying, "I also think the pressure's getting to him. The running, the Pinkertons, Cornwall... it's changing him. And not for the better."
Molly's eyes widened slightly, as if surprised someone else had noticed that. "You see it too?"
Caleb nodded. "I do. The way he snapped at you the other day, that wasn't right."
Molly's shoulders slumped, some of the tension leaving her. "I don't know what to do, Caleb. He used to listen to me. Now it's like there's a wall between us."
Caleb exhaled, glancing around to make sure they were truly alone. "Honestly? I don't think there's much you can do, Miss O'Shea. Dutch... from the short time I knew him, I think he was the kind of man who only listened to himself and that was always the path he chose. And it's pulling him away from everyone."
...
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 3)
- Hand to Hand Combat (Lvl 1)
- Eagle Eye (Lvl 1)
- Dead Eye (Lvl 2)
- Bow (Lvl 2)
- Pain Nullifier (Lvl 1)
- Physical Regeneration (Lvl 0)
- Crafting (Lv1)
- Persuasion (Lvl 2)
- Mental Fortitude (Lvl MAX)
- Cooking (Lvl 2)
- Teaching (Lvl 1)
- Germanic Language Proficiency (Lvl MAX)
- Inventory System (Permanent - 5x5x5)
Money: 513 dollars and 45 cents
Inventory: 1004 dollars, 2 gold nuggets, 1 gold bar, and 4 silver rings
Bank: 320 dollars, 4 gold bars, a large bag of jewelry, and 3 gold nuggets