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(A/N: Hello everyone! I would like to address the matter concerning the money value, I have read several comments and responded to it, after a but of searching I agree that the money value in the game was buffed up, and I followed the game logic thinking that it was the same value as during this time in real life, and I just would like to say that since it was RDR2 world, I will keep using the money value from the game since if I change suddenly mid story it could cause some confusion, it doesn't mean I don't value everyones opinion or suggestions, but let's follow the game logic in money value and not real world value, thank you everyone 😊)
Using his perception of 8 to its maximum potential, Caleb noticed small details in the pens that seemed out of place. Among the dirt and hay, he spotted faint impressions that looked like bootprints. He crouched down to examine them more closely, his sharp eyes picking up on subtle irregularities that the ranch hands had missed.
He turned to Tom and Jed, pointing to the ground. "Look here," he said. "These look like boot prints. Do any of the ranch hands wear boots like these?"
Tom and Jed exchanged glances before shaking their heads. "No," Tom said. "Our boots are all the same since it's dirty work, and these prints don't match. Besides, none of us have been in this pen today. We've been keeping everyone out of here since the thefts started."
Caleb nodded, his mind racing. This clue might not seem like much, but his perception told him it could lead to something significant. He followed the faint trail of bootprints, his eyes scanning the ground for more signs. Soon, he found another footprint, and then another, each one barely noticeable to the untrained eye but clear to someone with his level of perception.
The trail led them to one of the barns at the edge of the livestock yards. As they approached, Caleb's senses were on high alert. He motioned for Tom and Jed to stay quiet as they entered the barn.
Inside, they found more evidence, tracks of cattle and sheep, along with dung and disturbed hay. It was clear that the barn had been used recently to house the animals that had been stolen.
Caleb crouched down again, examining the tracks. "This must be where they've been keeping the stolen cattle and sheep," he said quietly. "They're using this barn as a temporary holding area. Once they've collected enough, they herd the animals out and take them somewhere else, probably to a base outside of Valentine."
Tom's eyes widened. "So it's not a ghost after all. It's a group of thieves."
"Exactly," Caleb replied. "And they're organized. They know the layout of the ranch and how to avoid detection. That's why there haven't been any signs of a struggle or broken fences. They're moving the animals quietly, probably under cover of darkness."
Jed clenched his fists. "If they've been using this barn, they'll be back tonight. We should set a trap."
Caleb nodded. "That's what I was thinking. We'll need to station men around the barn and wait for them to show up. When they do, we'll catch them red handed."
Tom looked at Caleb with newfound respect. "You've got a good eye, son. We've been searching for days and didn't notice any of this."
Caleb shrugged modestly as he lied. "I've had some experience with tracking. Let's just focus on catching these thieves."
The three of them quickly devised a plan. They would station ranch hands around the barn, hidden in the shadows, and wait for the thieves to arrive. Caleb volunteered to take the most dangerous position, inside the barn itself. If the thieves entered, he would be the first to confront them.
As night fell, the ranch hands took their positions, armed with rifles and revolvers. Caleb crouched in the corner of the barn, his Schofield Revolver in hand. The air was tense, and every sound seemed amplified in the darkness. Hours passed, and just as Caleb began to wonder if the thieves would show up at all, he heard the faint creak of the barn door opening.
His heart pounded as he watched three shadowy figures slip inside. They moved with practiced ease, clearly familiar with the barn's layout. Caleb waited until they were fully inside before stepping out of the shadows, his revolver aimed at the closest figure.
"Don't move," he said, as he steadied his voice trying to not show his nervousness. "You're surrounded."
The thieves froze, their eyes wide with shock. Before they could react, Tom and Jed burst in from the other side, followed by several ranch hands. The thieves were quickly disarmed and restrained, their faces pale with fear.
Caleb holstered his revolver and approached the leader of the group, a wiry man with a scar across his cheek. "Who are you working for?" he demanded.
The man hesitated, but under the pressure of Caleb's gaze and him kicking the man several times, he cracked. "We're just hired hands," he admitted. "There's a man in outside Valentine who pays us to steal the animals. He sells them to buyers outside of town."
Caleb exchanged a glance with Tom and Jed. "Looks like we've got more work to do," he said. "But for now, let's get these men to the sheriff, I will try to track this mysterious man."
As the thieves were led away, Caleb felt a surge of satisfaction. He had solved the mystery of the "ghost" and proven himself to the ranchers. His reputation in Valentine would surely grow after this, at least by a minuscule amount since the true mastermind hadn't been caught yet.
But as he walked back to the ranch house, Caleb couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. The man from outside of Valentine who had hired the thieves was still out there, and if he wasn't fast enough the man could be suspicious about what happened tonight and flee.
At the ranch house, Tom, Jed, and the other ranch hands tied up the three thieves securely. They gave Caleb the honor of leading the group in bringing the captured men to Sheriff Malloy, acknowledging that without his sharp perception and quick thinking, the mystery of the "ghost" might never have been solved.
Caleb mounted Morgan, with one of the thieves tied up and slung over the back of his horse. The group set off toward the Sherrif's office, the other two thieves being led by the ranch hands on their own horses.
As they rode through the town, the sight of the captured thieves drew the attention of the few townsfolk still out at this late hour. People gathered on the porches and in the streets, whispering and pointing as Caleb led the procession. The thief tied to Morgan began thrashing and pleading, his voice desperate.
"Please, let me go!" the man begged, his voice trembling. "I'll tell you where the man who hired us is camped! Just let me go, and I'll give you everything you need to find him!"
Caleb slowed Morgan slightly, considering the man's offer. He weighed the pros and cons quickly. If he let the man go, he could gain valuable information about the mastermind behind the thefts.
But if he kept him tied up, the man might refuse to talk, and the trail could go cold. After a moment, Caleb leaned down slightly and whispered to the thief, "Tell me where the camp is, and I'll let you go. But if you're lying, I'll hunt you down myself."
The thief's eyes widened with hope. "I swear it's the truth! The camp is in the woods, some miles southeast of Valentine, south of Twin Stack Pass. The man who hired us has a band of bodyguards, four or five men, protecting him. That's all I know, I swear!"
Caleb nodded, his expression unreadable. He discreetly pulled out his knife and cut the ropes binding the thief. The man fell off Morgan with a grunt, landing hard on the ground. For a moment, he looked up at Caleb with a mix of gratitude and disbelief, then scrambled to his feet and bolted into the darkness.
Tom, Jed, and the ranch hands shouted in surprise, thinking the thief had somehow freed himself. "Caleb! He's getting away!" Tom yelled, reaching for his rifle.
But Caleb was already moving. He drew his Schofield Revolver in one smooth motion, took aim, and fired. The shot rang out, and the fleeing thief dropped to the ground, a bullet hole in the back of his head.
He showed a bit of grimace, but the nauseous feeling he had in the past wasn't as strong as before, and he felt that he was beginning to get used to killing people, while it was good he also had to manage himself so that he would become a psychopathic person. Meanwhile, the townsfolk gasped, and the ranch hands stared at Caleb in stunned silence.
Caleb holstered his revolver, turning his face to a calm but resolute one. "He was a fool to think I'd let him go," he said simply. "He gave me the information I needed, but I couldn't let him live. He'd only cause more trouble."
Tom and Jed exchanged uneasy glances but nodded in understanding. They continued on to the sheriff's office, where they handed over the remaining two thieves to Sheriff Malloy. The sheriff listened intently as Caleb explained what had happened, from tracking the thieves to the confrontation in the barn and the escape attempt.
Sheriff Malloy leaned back in his chair, a look of approval on his face. "You've done good work tonight, Caleb," he said. "Valentine owes you a debt of gratitude. Here's 20 dollars for your trouble."
Caleb accepted the money with a nod, tucking it into his satchel. The sheriff then leaned forward, his expression serious. "You've got a sharp mind and a steady hand. Have you ever considered becoming a bounty hunter? If you're interested, I'd like to offer you the bounty to track down this outsider who's been stealing our livestock. He's a threat to the town, and I'd feel better knowing someone like you is on the case."
Caleb considered the offer. Becoming a bounty hunter would give him a chance to further build his reputation and earn some much needed money. It would also put him in a position to gain the attention of the Van der Linde gang when they arrived at Valentine's. After a moment, he nodded.
"I'll do it," Caleb said. "But I'll need some supplies and information. Do you have any leads on this man besides what the thief told me?"
Sheriff Malloy shook his head. "Not much, I'm afraid. But if he's camped near Twin Stack Pass, that's a good place to start. Be careful, though. If he's got bodyguards, he's not going to go down without a fight."
Caleb nodded again, his mind already working on a plan. He thanked the sheriff and left the office, stepping out into the cool night air. Tom and Jed were waiting for him outside, their expressions a mix of admiration and concern.
"You sure about this, Caleb?" Tom asked. "Tracking down a man like that… it's dangerous work."
Caleb shrugged. "It's what I do now. Besides, if I don't stop him, he'll just keep causing trouble for Valentine. I'll head out at first light."
The ranch hands wished him luck, and Caleb made his way back to the hotel. As he lay in his bed at the hotel that night, his mind raced with thoughts of the upcoming hunt. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but he was ready. This was his chance to prove himself, not just to the people of Valentine, but to himself as well.
At the light of dawn, Caleb woke up from his sleep, feeling a mix of anticipation and determination for the day ahead. He knew that tracking down the mastermind behind the livestock thefts would be a challenging task, and he needed to be fully prepared.
After dressing quickly, he headed downstairs to order a bath, which cost him 25 cents. The warm water helped clear his mind and soothe his muscles, leaving him feeling refreshed and ready for the journey. Once he was clean and dressed, Caleb left the hotel and made his way to Worth's General Store. Mr. Worth had just opened the store for the day, and he greeted Caleb with a warm smile. "Good morning, Caleb! What can I do for you today?"
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Name:Caleb Thorne
Age: 23
Body Attributes:
- Strength: 6/10
- Agility: 6/10
- Perception: 8/10
- Stamina: 6/10
- Charm: 4/10
- 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 0)
Money: 72 dollars and 75 cents