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"That's what I like to hear." The four of them walked toward Morgan, who was grazing near the hitching post. Caleb patted her neck affectionately. "Alright girl," he murmured. "You gotta work a bit today. Carryin' three people and whatever we hunt. But I'll get you some treats after, promise."
Morgan snorted and tossed her head as if acknowledging the bargain.
Caleb laughed softly.
Mary-Beth stroked Morgan's muzzle with her fingers. "She's such a sweet horse."
"Smart too," Caleb added. "Almost too smart sometimes."
Jack hopped excitedly. "Can I ride in front?"
Caleb nodded. "Yeah of course Jack, you'll sit with me. Mary-Beth will be right behind me. Cain can run alongside."
Cain barked happily, tail spinning like a windmill.
Caleb mounted first, lifting Jack up in front of him. Mary-Beth climbed up behind Caleb, her hands resting lightly around his waist. The warmth of her presence at his back felt comforting in a way he didn't want to examine too closely.
"Alright girl," Caleb said, patting Morgan's neck. "Let's ride."
Morgan kicked off with a steady trot, Jack giggling excitedly at the movement. Cain ran beside them, leaping over fallen branches, barking happily as if the world was one giant playground.
Mary-Beth leaned slightly forward so Caleb could hear her over the wind. "So where are we taking him?"
"I'm thinkin' the small clearing north of Lagras," Caleb replied. "Plenty of small game. Ground's safe. And far enough from camp Dutch won't come yellin'."
Mary-Beth chuckled softly. "Good plan."
Caleb smiled. "I thought so."
The ride was peaceful.
Swamp birds called from the trees. Dragonflies buzzed around the reeds. Jack pointed at everything, every turtle, every bird, every crooked tree root, as if the entire world was new and magical.
Caleb found himself relaxing more and more.
When they reached the clearing, Morgan slowed to a halt. Cain ran ahead, sniffing around excitedly.
Jack hopped down with Caleb's help, almost vibrating with energy.
"What're we huntin' first!?" Jack asked.
Mary-Beth smiled as she dismounted. "Maybe something simple. Rabbits? Squirrels?"
Jack nodded. "Rabbit! I wanna try rabbit!"
Caleb crouched beside him, placing a hand gently on his shoulder. "Alright, bud. Remember the first rule of huntin'? Quiet. Gotta move slow. Gotta watch the ground. Animals hear everything."
Jack nodded seriously, his excitement turning into intense focus.
Caleb gave him his bow, it's pretty safe, light, the kind of weapon perfect for teaching a child, since Jack couldn't stand it's recoil.
"Hold it firm," Caleb instructed as he stood behind him, helping him draw the bow. "Keep your stance steady. And breathe slow."
Jack followed every step as if it were sacred.
They moved through the grass, Mary-Beth walking beside them, watching Jack's careful movements with quiet admiration.
Cain stayed next to Jack, tail lowered, sensing he had to be calm now.
Then Caleb spotted it, a rabbit in the brush, ears perked.
He whispered, "There, bud. See it?"
Jack whispered back, "Yeah…"
"Alright. Just like I showed you."
Jack inhaled, exhaled, steadied… and fired with Caleb's help.
The swift sound of an arrow fly.
The rabbit dropped instantly.
Jack gasped. "I... I got it!"
Caleb grinned. "You sure did. Clean too. That's a good shot, Jack."
Mary-Beth clapped. "Very good!"
Jack glowed with pride. "Pa's gonna be so proud!"
Caleb ruffled his hair. "I bet he will."
They continued hunting, two more rabbits, a couple of squirrels. Jack improved with each shot, listening ato every word and following every move Caleb guide him.
They took a break by a fallen log, sitting together while Cain gnawed happily on a stick.
Mary-Beth leaned her head slightly toward Caleb. "You're good with him."
Caleb shrugged softly. "Just tryin' my best."
"No… really." She smiled warmly. "You're patient. Gentle. Jack adores you."
Caleb glanced at the boy, who was trying to teach Cain to roll over.
He smiled faintly. "He's a good kid."
Mary-Beth watched Caleb for a long moment, her eyes soft. "Yesterday must have been hard on you. I… I didn't like seein' Dutch talk to you that way."
Caleb sighed. "It's alright. Or… it will be."
"You think he'll calm down?"
"Not sure," Caleb admitted. "But I gotta do my part to keep things steady, for everyone."
Mary-Beth touched his arm lightly. "You don't have to carry everything alone, you know."
He gave a small, grateful smile. "I know."
Jack suddenly ran over. "Caleb! Caleb! Can we do more!? I wanna hunt a deer next!"
Caleb chuckled. "Easy there, sharpshooter. Let's clean what we got first."
Jack nodded eagerly.
Caleb stood and began preparing the rabbits for transport, showing Jack how to store them properly.
Mary-Beth helped, humming softly as she worked.
When everything was placed on Morgan, Caleb lifted Jack up again and helped Mary-Beth climb on.
"Alright," he said, taking the reins. "Let's head back."
The ride home was slower, peaceful, the sun warm on their backs.
As Shady Belle came into view, Caleb spotted Arthur leaning against a post near the water, smoking while watching Kieran brush the horses.
Arthur looked up as they approached, a small smile forming.
"Well look at that," Arthur said. "Looks like you caught half the swamp."
Jack puffed up proudly. "I shot three rabbits with a bow!"
Arthur raised his eyebrows in mock astonishment. "Three? That so?"
"Uh huh!"
Mary-Beth climbed down, smiling. "He did great."
Caleb dismounted last, lowering Jack gently to the ground. Jack immediately ran to show John the rabbits.
Mary-Beth turned back to Caleb. "Thanks for lettin' me come along."
"Anytime," he said softly.
She gave him one last sweet smile before leaving to join with Karen and Tilly.
Arthur came over, arms crossed. "Good mornin' hunt?"
"Yeah," Caleb nodded. "Good for Jack… good for me too."
Arthur smirked. "Well, that's good to hear. Dutch ain't come outta his tent yet, so you dodged that bullet."
Caleb exhaled. "Good."
Arthur clapped him on the shoulder. "Just keep doin' what you're doin'. Stay close to the folks who matter. We'll figure the rest out when it comes."
Caleb nodded, feeling the truth in Arthur's words settle deep.
"Yeah," he murmured. "One day at a time."
Caleb at this time watched Jack and John carry the rabbits toward Pearson, their footsteps light, Jack practically bouncing in excitement while John tried, and failed, to hide his pride behind that usual gruff posture of his. Pearson took one look at the haul, let out a booming laugh that echoed across the swamp, and slapped his hands together.
"Well I'll be damned!" Pearson exclaimed. "Look at this! Didn't know the little man had it in him!"
Jack's grin nearly split his face. "I shot three! Caleb helped, but I did it!"
Pearson crouched down to ruffle Jack's hair. "You did more than most men do their first time huntin'. Hell, some grown folks in this camp can't hit a rabbit standin' still if you tied it down for 'em."
Jack glowed brighter than the sun.
Abigail arrived just in time to hear that, her hands on her hips, her expression soft despite her attempt to look stern.
"Well now," she said warmly, "ain't that somethin', Jackie? You done real good."
Jack nodded vigorously. "I hunted! Like Pa! Like Caleb!"
Abigail smiled at Caleb over Jack's shoulder, soft, grateful. Caleb returned the smile with a small nod. Jack's joy was infectious, even after everything weighing on the camp, moments like this were precious, important.
After that, the camp settled back into its steady rhythm. Caleb went about his day, doing exactly what he needed to, being visible, dependable, and helpful. The kind of man who made the camp breathe easier just by being around.
And he meant that sincerely.
He chopped firewood until his arms ached. Hauled sacks of chicken feed to Pearson's little coop. Helped Abigail fetch fresh water from the well so the girls could wash up. Repaired a couple of loose boards on the back porch.
Helped Hosea haul crates to the supply wagon. He even spent half an hour helping Jack try to teach Cain to "play dead," which resulted mostly in Cain rolling around in the dirt while Jack laughed until he hiccuped.
Everywhere Caleb went, someone was relieved for the help. And people of course noticed.
Mary-Beth especially.
She drifted to him more and more making them almost inseparable these days, book in hand or stew bowl or just her quiet, calming presence. Sometimes she sat beside him while he shaved wood for kindling, sometimes she helped him organize Pearson's scattered tools, sometimes she simply rested her head against his shoulder as they watched the fireflies gather above the swamp water at dusk.
Those days blurred together gently, peacefully.
Except for one thing.
Dutch didn't speak to Caleb. Not once. Not even a glance.
During the evenings, when the boys gathered around the main campfire swapping stories, drink in hand, Dutch would join in, loud, charming, theatrical as ever. He would talk to Javier, Hosea, Bill, even Sean on occasion. When Caleb walked over, everyone welcomed him with nods, smiles, space made for him near the fire.
Everyone except Dutch.
Dutch simply acted as if Caleb were a ghost.
Caleb pretended not to care, though everyone could see the tension forming in the air like distant thunder. But Caleb kept his behavior steady, talking when spoken to, laughing at stories, sharing drinks, helping Sadie sharpen her knives, playing cards with Sean, teaching Mary-Beth how to throw a lasso.
He showed no resentment, not even a flicker. And that only made the contrast sharper. People began looking at Dutch with uneasy eyes. And looking at Caleb with more respect.
Even Bill, though he avoided Caleb for a day or two after Dutch's outburst, gradually returned to normal, exchanging small nods, sitting near him at the fire, even asking him once about cleaning his revolver.
By the fourth day, Caleb's place in the gang felt more secure than it ever had.
Which was exactly why Dutch finally made his move.
On the evening of the fourth day, as the sun bled orange across the bayou and the insects began their nightly orchestra, Dutch stepped out of his tent.
His posture stiff. His expression calm but too sharp around the eyes. His smile stretched thin like stretched wire.
He clapped his gloved hands together.
"Boys! Sadie! Gather 'round! I've got a plan to share!"
That voice, booming, confident, and commanding, cut through the air like a blade.
Caleb looked up from the water bucket he was carrying, immediately wary. Dutch had not spoken to Arthur. Not spoken to Hosea. Not spoken to him. Not spoken to anyone.
A plan, out of nowhere, after days of silence?
His instincts screamed danger.
Arthur and Hosea exchanged a glance from across the yard, both tense, both uneasy. They fell in line alongside the others, forming a loose semicircle in front of Dutch's tent. Caleb joined them, calm on the outside despite his mind racing.
Dutch's eyes swept over everyone.
Except Caleb.
He skipped him deliberately, glaring at the air where Caleb stood without acknowledging he existed.
Caleb stood tall anyway.
Dutch cleared his throat dramatically. "I gathered all of you here because I have made a new plan. A grand plan. A plan that will finally get us the money we need to escape this damned country and find ourselves someplace new. someplace safe."
A few murmurs rippled through the group. The last time Dutch had a "grand plan," they'd blown up the lands of Grays and Braithwaites, stirred up the law, and been forced to abandon Clement's Point.
Hosea stepped forward, his voice calm, steady. "Dutch… is this information reliable? The last source you trusted damned near ruined us."
Dutch's eyes flared dangerously, but he forced a smile. "Old friend… I know I asked a lot of you then. And I know things didn't go as planned. But I triple checked this time. Triple. I went to Saint Denis myself these past two days. I made sure it was good."
...
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 3)
- Blunt Weapon (Lvl 1)
- Sneaking (Lvl 4)
- Horse Mastery (Lvl 4)
- Poker (Lvl 4)
- Hand to Hand Combat (Lvl 3)
- Eagle Eye (Lvl 1)
- Dead Eye (Lvl 3)
- Bow (Lvl 2)
- Pain Nullifier (Lvl 3)
- Physical Regeneration (Lvl 2)
- Crafting (Lvl 3)
- Persuasion (Lvl 3)
- 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: 3,655 dollars and 10 cents
Inventory: 104,669 dollars and 72 cents, 11 gold nuggets, 64 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
Bank: -