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The three of them lined up in front of Dutch and Hosea. Arthur's brow furrowed slightly, clearly curious about Caleb's inclusion. Javier gave him a sideways grin, maybe thinking it was just another chance to see what the new guy could do.
Dutch's smile didn't quite reach his eyes. The truth was, he didn't like Hosea picking Caleb for this. Caleb had been getting far too comfortable in the gang, earning trust and respect too quickly. Hosea trusting him enough to bring him on a job like this was another step in a direction Dutch wasn't sure he wanted.
But he didn't let any of that show. Instead, Dutch clasped his hands behind his back, all leaderly charm. "We've got ourselves a fine little opportunity, gentlen. Hosea's made a deal with the Grays, seems they want us to help them… lighten the Braithwaites' stable a bit."
Arthur nodded slowly. "ans so prize horses, right?"
"That's right," Hosea confird. "Tavish Gray will et you at Caliga Hall. Says these horses are worth a lot of money to the right buyer, around five thousand dollars. Once you've got them, take them to Clens Cove. There's a man nad Clay Davies, so horse fence. He'll pay the money and handle the rest."
"Sounds easy enough," Javier said with a grin.
"Easy jobs tend to go wrong when you get cocky," Arthur muttered, though his tone wasn't unfriendly.
Dutch's gaze lingered on Caleb for a second too long, as if trying to asure him. Caleb t it evenly, not giving him the satisfaction of looking away.
"Alright," Hosea said, clapping his hands together lightly. "You three head out in an hour. Make sure you're ard and ready. We want this smooth, quick, and without drawing too much attention."
Arthur gave a small nod and walked off toward his tent to gather gear. Javier followed, humming to himself.
Caleb stayed still for a mont longer, just enough to feel Dutch's attention shift back to Hosea. He caught the faintest hint of irritation in Dutch's tone when he said, "You could've sent John."
Hosea's reply was calm, but firm. "Caleb's sharp, and he's proven himself already. We need sharp on this one."
Dutch didn't answer right away, but his jaw tightened before he finally muttered, "We'll see."
Caleb pretended not to hear and turned to go prepare. Inside, though, he filed the exchange away. Dutch's change was accelerating, faster than Caleb rembered. The distrust was there, simring just under the surface.
And if Dutch was already thinking about ways to push him out… then Caleb needed to be ready.
From there, the camp moved in its usual rhythm, Pearson hollering for people to bring him more at, Abigail chasing after Jack to get him washed up, and Sean loudly telling so outrageous story to anyone who'd listen.
Caleb headed toward his tent to grab his Rolling Block rifle. As he passed the campfire, Mary-Beth looked up from her book and offered him a small smile. "Heading out?"
"Yeah," he said, slowing his steps. "Stealing the prize horses of the Braithwaites with Arthur and Javier."
She bit her lip, hesitating before speaking. "Be careful, alright? I heard the Braithwaites are… unpleasant people."
Caleb smirked. "I'll be fine. But I appreciate the concern."
Before he could say more, Karen's voice cut in from nearby. "Oh, would you two just kiss already? The tension's killin' ."
Mary-Beth's face turned scarlet, and Caleb chuckled, shaking his head. "Later, Karen."
Karen cackled, but Mary-Beth ducked her head, hiding her smile behind her book.
Caleb liked the shy look on Mary-Beth. It was that quiet, almost hidden smile that you didn't see often, the kind that made him think maybe Karen wasn't entirely wrong about the "tension" she claid to see.
With a half smirk of his own, he reached out and brushed the top of Mary-Beth's head with his hand, a light, teasing gesture. That earned another loud holler from Karen, who looked like she was just waiting for a real kiss so she could make even more of a scene.
Mary-Beth, flustered but still smiling despite herself, closed her book and marched toward Karen, muttering sothing about her needing to be quiet before she embarrassed herself even further. Caleb just chuckled and kept walking, heading toward the hitching post.
Arthur and Javier were already there, both mounted up and looking like they'd been waiting for him for a while.
"Took you long enough, slowpoke," Arthur called out with that wry half grin of his. "We been sittin' here ready to go, and you're takin' your sweet ti gettin' ready… even flirtin' with Mary-Beth before you finally decide to join us."
Javier, hearing that, grinned broadly and leaned over in the saddle. "The ti to flirt with girls is later, amigo. After the job is done. Why don't you co with to the saloon in Rhodes after, eh? I'll show you the world. Teach you how to talk to many won so you don't get stuck just on Mary-Beth."
Caleb chuckled as he swung up onto Morgan's back. "Maybe you two are just too fast," he said, adjusting the reins. "The ride to Caliga Hall doesn't take too much ti. And for the record, I've got every right to flirt with the woman I fancy, especially when she fancies back."
Then he turned to Javier with a mischievous grin. "And as for your… 'lessons Javier,' I'll pass. Ti to flirt with girls is every ti, it's just the girls we like decide when it happens and how long. I'd be happy to co with you to the saloon, but I'm not listenin' to a word of your teaching. I'm not an easy man, Javier. And unlike you, I've already got a good woman who likes and will give her ti because she loves , not because there's money in it at the end."
That sarcastic burn hit Javier squarely, making Arthur let out a loud, surprised laugh. Javier himself burst into laughter too, though with a mock wounded expression. "Hermano, your words hurt ," he said dramatically, holding a hand to his chest.
"I have had real love before, you know. I just… choose to spread my wings now. Enjoy the types of won I et. And if I must spend so money to do so, then so be it."
Caleb just shook his head with an amused snort, offering no further reply.
Arthur leaned forward on his saddle horn, still grinning. "Sure, Caleb, you win. You can flirt with your woman whenever you want. But take pity on poor Javier here, no need to burn him that hard. He's doin' what he's doin' by choice, not 'cause of circumstances. Well, at least as far as I know. Could be he's got… performance issues down there. Maybe that's why he's keepin' himself single."
That set off another round of laughter from both Arthur and Caleb, while Javier threw his hands up in mock outrage. "Why you suddenly attack like that, Arthur? I do not have any performance issues, thank you very much! And I will rember this. I'll get my revenge when you least expect it amigo!"
Arthur just chuckled. "I'll be waitin' for it. But for now, I got myself a big win over you."
Caleb finally stepped in to stop it, holding up his hand. "Alright, enough of that. We should get moving toward Caliga Hall. Don't want to be late for our eting with Tavish."
Arthur nodded, still smirking, and Javier let the conversation drop. With Arthur taking the lead, the three of them rode out of camp and headed east toward Caliga Hall, the sprawling plantation estate belonging to the Gray family, just beyond Rhodes.
The road wound gently through the countryside, the sun already leaning toward late afternoon. Javier broke the silence first. "So, Arthur… these prize horses. If they're so valuable, why do we have to sell them and not keep them for ourselves? After all we could use so good horses."
Arthur glanced over at him. "If you want to get recognized and hunted down by the Braithwaites, be my guest. Those horses are worth more in money than in trouble. Sell 'em far away and we'll never have to deal with the ss if the Braithwaites doesn't knew who stole it."
Caleb nodded in agreent. "If they're really that fine, the Braithwaites will know them on sight. Anyone riding around with similar breeds or coats would get questioned, maybe worse get kidnapped. Easier to take the cash and walk away."
Javier tilted his head, considering that. "What you both said make sense."
After that, they rode in comfortable silence for a while. The air slled faintly of cut grass and tobacco. Soon, the neat, endless rows of the Gray family's tobacco fields ca into view, stretching far to the left and right.
Finally, they reached the gate of Caliga Hall. Two Gray guards stood there, shotguns resting casually in their hands but eyes sharp. One of them stepped forward, raising a hand to stop them.
"Who are you, and what business you got here?"
Arthur, unfazed, leaned forward slightly. "We're here under direction of our associate who's got an arrangent with Sheriff Gray. His older brother, Mr. Tavish Gray, asked for help with sothin'. Said we'd et him at the stables here at Caliga Hall."
The guard's gaze moved over the three of them, taking in their guns, their horses, and their dusty trail-worn clothes. Then he nodded once, stepping back. "Alright. Stables are round back past the main house. Don't wander around."
They rode through the gates, past rows of tobacco plants so green and orderly it almost hurt the eyes. The main house lood ahead, a massive, white columned affair ant to impress. Even from this distance, Caleb could tell it had been built not just for living, but for showing off.
As they passed the front steps, a pair of well dressed n in Gray family colors gave them a quick once over but didn't stop them.
The stables were tucked a bit behind the house, large enough to hold at least a dozen horses comfortably. The sll of hay and leather filled the air, mingled with the soft whicker of horses and the faint creak of wood.
Tavish Gray himself stood waiting, an old man with neatly combed hair and beard, having the kind of posture that spoke of both confidence and careful self control. He looked them over with a faint smile.
"The three of you must be the man of my brother associate," he said, his voice smooth. "Sheriff Gray told that his associate n are skilled and sharp. I'm countin' on that."
Caleb dipped his head slightly. "We'll get it done sir."
"Good," Tavish said, gesturing toward the far end of the stables. "The Braithwaite horses are bein' kept in a pen not far from here. Should be three of 'em, black thoroughbred, a grey, and a chestnut. They're guarded, but not well enough to stop the three of you. Get them, ride 'em to Clens Cove. Clay Davies will pay you there. Fastest route's across the field of wheat."
Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Wheats?"
Tavish smirked faintly. "It's part of the Braithwaite land. They won't expect you to cut through it. Just… don't forget to ride as fast as possible."
Javier chuckled. "Sounds easy enough."
Arthur shot him a look. "We'll see."
Caleb simply adjusted his hat, already running through the possible routes in his mind.
Tavish's voice cut in again. "One more thing. Don't linger. The Braithwaites get wind of you on their property, you'll have a fight on your hands. And if you do run into trouble… make sure there's no one left to tell about it."
Arthur gave a curt nod. "Understood sir." With that, Tavish stepped back and let them prepare. The three of them exchanged quick glances before getting gup on their horses and rid out, with Arthur at the front, Caleb in the middle, Javier at the back.
...
Na: Caleb Thorne
Age: 23
Body Attributes:
- Strength: 7/10
- Agility: 7/10
- Perception: 8/10
- Stamina: 7/10
- Charm: 6/10
- Luck: 6/10
Skills:
- Handgun (Lvl 3)
- Rifle (Lvl 2)
- Firearms Knowledge (Lvl 3)
- Past Life mory (Lvl MAX)
- Knife (Lvl 2)
- Blunt Weapon (Lvl 1)
- Sneaking (Lvl 3)
- Horse Mastery (Lvl 3)
- Poker (Lvl 4)
- Hand to Hand Combat (Lvl 2)
- Eagle Eye (Lvl 1)
- Dead Eye (Lvl 2)
- Bow (Lvl 2)
- Pain Nullifier (Lvl 1)
- Physical Regeneration (Lvl 0)
- Crafting (Lv 2)
- Persuasion (Lvl 2)
- ntal Fortitude (Lvl MAX)
- Cooking (Lvl 2)
- Teaching (Lvl 1)
- Germanic Language Proficiency (Lvl MAX)
- Inventory System (Permanent - 5x5x5)
- Acting (Lvl 2)
- Alcohol Resistance (Lvl MAX)
Money: 1,058 dollars and 48 cents
Inventory: 3,245 dollars, 7 gold nuggets, 5 gold bars, 4 silver rings, 1 Double Action, 1 Schofield, 2 large bags of jewelry, 4 gold rings, two silver rings, four silver pocket watches, a gold buckle, a gold pocket compass, a platinum pocket watch, and 2 Colm's Schofields
Bank: -
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