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Arthur followed Caleb's gaze, his eyes landing on the double barreled shotgun mounted above the fireplace. He chuckled, shaking his head. "Looks like my eyes are beginning to fail me. I can't believe I missed such a big gun right above me. Well, I'd like to have it as well, but since you're proposing a smaller cut, how about this, you get none of the cut and all of it shared equally between me, Charles, and John, but you can keep the shotgun and anything you loot. You can decide whether to give it away or keep it."
Caleb's eyes lit up at the offer. It was a generous deal, almost too good to be true. But he didn't want to cause any suspicion or resentment from John or Charles, so he decided to put up some act. "Really, Arthur? I mean, it's such a generous offer, but I don't know if the others will oppose this. I don't want to cause a problem or make a bad impression on anyone."
Arthur waved off Caleb's concern. "Of course, it's not a problem. What you loot doesn't need to be shared with the gang. Just think of it as you giving a bigger share to me, John, and Charles in exchange for the shotgun and maybe around 60 dollars' worth of loot in total from money and valuables you looted. So, what do you say?"
Caleb, already having pocketed 88 dollars without Arthur's knowledge, knew he was coming out ahead. Combined with the valuables he'd looted, he estimated his total haul to be around 150 to 160 dollars. But he didn't want to risk raising suspicion, so he offered a compromise that would not only benefit the gang but also strengthen his relationship with Arthur.
"I would love to agree," Caleb said, his tone thoughtful. "But how about this, my cut is donated to the gang's fund in exchange for the shotgun. I think it's a good deal, don't you?"
Arthur raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed by Caleb's suggestion. "Well, aren't you full of surprises? Alright, kid, you've got yourself a deal. The shotgun's yours, and your cut goes to the gang fund. Dutch'll be pleased to hear that."
Caleb smiled, feeling a sense of satisfaction. He had not only secured a powerful weapon but also earned Arthur's respect and trust. As Arthur handed him the double barreled shotgun, Caleb couldn't help but admire its craftsmanship. It was a fine weapon even though it was in poor condition but he could clean it up, and this weapon would serve him well in future battles.
The two men finished looting the cabin, finding a few more valuables and supplies that would be useful back at camp.
Arthur took the 600 dollars and divided it as planned, setting aside half for the gang fund and splitting the rest for himself, John, and Charles. As for Caleb, true to his word, donated his share to the gang fund, earning a nod of approval from Arthur.
As they exited the cabin, Arthur clapped Caleb on the shoulder. "You've got a good head on your shoulders, kid. Dutch was right about you. Keep this up, and you'll go far in this gang."
Caleb nodded, his expression humble. "Thank you, Arthur. I'm just doing my part."
The two men mounted their horses and rode back to Horseshoe Overlook, the sun beginning to set over the horizon. The camp was alive with activity as the gang members prepared for the evening.
Dutch and Hosea were waiting near the campfire, their expressions a mix of solemness and anticipation.
"I already heard from John, that Colm wasn't there in the cabin," Dutch said as Arthur and Caleb dismounted. "It's a shame that we don't get to him, but we at least put a big hole in his operation, did you find the money Kieran said to you?"
Arthur nodded his head. "Yeah, Colm wasn't there. But just like you said Dutch, we took out a good number of his men and brought back some loot for the camp." He then handed Dutch the money for the gang fund, and also explaining Caleb's contribution.
Dutch's eyes narrowed, but he nodded in approval. "Good work, boys. We'll get him next time." He turned to Caleb, his expression softening. "You've done well, Caleb. Keep it up."
Caleb tipped his hat respectfully. "Thank you, Dutch. I'll do my best."
After that Dutch signaled to Hosea and Arthur that he wanted to speak with them privately, Caleb, with his high perception notice this, and immediately excused himself. "I'll go to Arthur's tent to rest up and clean the double barreled shotgun with some gun oil," he said, tipping his hat respectfully before walking away.
Dutch and Hosea exchanged a glance, both men visibly impressed by Caleb's ability to read the room. "Smart kid," Hosea remarked, his voice low. "Knows when to step back and when to step up."
Dutch nodded, his expression thoughtful. "He's got a good head on his shoulders. We'll see how far he can go with us."
Caleb made his way to Arthur's tent, his mind already racing with plans. As he walked, he noticed the camp was bustling with activity. Pearson was busy preparing dinner, while Uncle was lounging by the fire, nursing a bottle of whiskey. The women were tending to chores, and the men were either cleaning their weapons or sharing stories from the day's events or gets up to guard around the camp.
Caleb reached Arthur's tent and, after a quick glance around to ensure no one was watching, slipped around to the other side of the wagon. He found a flat stone to sit on and began unpacking the loot he had stashed in his satchel. The weight of the valuables had made his satchel unusually heavy, and he was eager to sort through his haul.
Unlike in the game, where Arthur could carry an absurd amount of items thanks to the Legend of the East satchel, Caleb's inventory was limited. He had been selective in what he took, focusing on valuables like pocket watches, buckles, jewelry, and cash. As he laid out his loot, he couldn't help but smile. He had managed to gather quite the collection, consisting of:
- 2 platinum pocket watches
- 3 gold pocket watches
- 5 silver pocket watches
- 3 gold-plated buckles
- 4 silver clam buckles
- 2 silver emblem rings
- 1 silver chain bracelet
All of this valuables in total worth 122 dollars, remembering the price of each item when he sells it thanks to his memory skills. Combined with the money he had looted from the dead bodies around the camp, 18 dollars and 58 cents, and the 88 dollars he had discreetly taken from the table inside the cabin, Caleb's total haul came to 228 dollars and 58 cents. It was a small fortune, especially considering the gang's current financial situation.
Caleb's mind raced with possibilities. He could sell some of the valuables to a fence, donate a small portion of money to the gang fund to earn more respect and trust, and use the rest to upgrade his gear.
He had his eye on a bandolier and a new holster that was sold at the gun store in Valentine, which would allow him to dual wield revolvers. The thought of walking into a gunfight with two Schofields at his side was exhilarating.
After carefully repacking his satchel, Caleb returned to Arthur's tent and sat on his bedroll. He pulled out a bottle of gun oil and began cleaning the double barreled shotgun.
The weapon was in poor condition, its barrels caked with grime and its wooden stock full of dirt and dust, and it looks worn. But Caleb knew that with a little care, it could be restored to its former glory.
As he worked, Sean MacGuire passed by Arthur's tent. The Irishman's eyes lit up when he saw the shotgun in Caleb's hands. He let out an impressed whistle and said in his thick accent, "What a good toy you have in your hand, Caleb. It could blow someone to pieces. You'll have to lend it to me sometime."
Caleb looked up and laughed, his tone light but teasing. "You can borrow it sometimes, Mr. MacGuire. But I don't know if it'll be the barrel or the handle pointing at you when I lend it to you."
Sean's eyes widened, and he let out a nervous chuckle. "I don't know if I should be happy or afraid hearing that, Caleb. But you and Arthur share the same sense of humor. I can see now why both of you became friends."
Caleb chuckled as Sean walked away, shaking his head. The Irishman's reaction reminded him of how much he used to enjoy antagonizing Sean in the game. Sean's over the top personality and quick wit made him one of the more entertaining members of the gang.
As Caleb continued cleaning the shotgun, his thoughts turned to the future. He knew the gang's situation was precarious. Colm O'Driscoll was still out there, and the law was scouring and closing in on the gang, not just the law but Leveticus Cornwall was also on the horizon.
But Caleb was determined to make the most of the situation now, the more he live in this world and interact with the gang, the more his perception and how he see things began to change.
He had already earned the basic trust of Arthur and Dutch, and he was building relationships with the other gang members. With his knowledge of the game's events and his growing skills, he felt confident he could make a difference, but it also need the gang especially Dutch wanted that difference to happen unknowingly.
Once the shotgun was clean and in good working order, Caleb set it aside and began organizing his loot. He decided to keep the platinum pocket watches and the silver chain bracelet for himself and plan to store it in the bank, as they were the most valuable items.
The rest he would sell to Seamus, the fence that was in Emerald Ranch, which was the place he considered to go soon. He also set aside 30 dollars to donate to the gang fund tomorrow morning, knowing it would earn him even more goodwill.
After organizing his loot and cleaning his new shotgun, Caleb made his way toward Pearson's stew pot, his stomach growling in anticipation. The rich aroma of the camp stew filled the air, and he eagerly scooped a generous portion into his bowl. Balancing the warm meal carefully, he began wandering through camp, taking in the evening's activities while he ate.
His wandering led him toward the washing area where the soft glow of a lantern caught his attention. There, sitting on an upturned crate with a leather bound journal in her lap, was Mary-Beth Gaskill.
The golden lantern light illuminated her delicate features as she scribbled intently, her brow slightly furrowed in concentration. Caleb paused mid step, struck by how the warm light accentuated her natural beauty, the way it made her auburn hair glow and highlighted the thoughtful curve of her lips as she wrote.
Compared to the manufactured beauty of celebrities from his past life, Mary-Beth possessed something far more captivating, an authenticity and quiet intelligence that radiated from her combined with her beauty makes her very attractive.
He remembered from the game how both Dutch who was like a father figure to her, and the rat Micah had shown inappropriate interest in her, their gazes always carrying an unsettling hunger that made him and many gamers hate them more. The thought made his grip tighten slightly on his bowl.
At this time, Mary-Beth suddenly looked up, her pen pausing as she sensed his presence. For a brief moment, their eyes locked, and Caleb saw her cheeks flush pink. Unlike when Dutch or Micah watched her, however, her discomfort quickly faded into a shy smile when she recognized it was Caleb. There was something different in how he looked at her, with appreciation rather than possession, something she notice since they shared a dance.
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Name: Caleb Thorne
Age: 23
Body Attributes:
- Strength: 6/10
- Agility: 6/10
- Perception: 8/10
- Stamina: 6/10
- Charm: 5/10
- Luck: 5/10
Skills:
- Handgun (Lvl 1)
- Rifle (Lvl 1)
- Firearms Knowledge (Lvl 2)
- Past Life Memory (Lvl MAX)
- Knife (Lvl 1)
- Blunt Weapon (Lvl 1)
- Sneaking (Lvl 1)
- Horse Mastery (Lvl 1)
- Poker (Lvl 1)
- Hand to Hand Combat (Lvl 1)
- Eagle Eye (Lvl 1)
- Dead Eye (Lvl 1)
- Bow (Lvl 2)
Money: 261 dollars and 99 cents
Bank: 40 dollars, 2 gold bars, and a large bag of jewelry