If you want to read 20 Chapters ahead, be sure to check out my Patreon!!!
Go to https://www.patreon.com/Tang12
___________________________
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?"
Caleb returned the smile and got straight to the point. "I'll be leaving Valentine for some time, maybe up to a two or three days, and I need some provisions to stock up and some equipment as well, not just for these journey but others I could possible do as well. I'm looking for canned goods, dried foods, matches, water canteens or water skins, a pair of binoculars, a rope, a compass, and a map of the surrounding area. Do you have all of that?"
Mr. Worth's eyes widened slightly at the bulk order, but he nodded enthusiastically. "I've got everything you need. Let me gather it for you." He moved around the store, collecting the items Caleb had requested. After a few minutes, he returned with the following items:
- Canned goods (5 cans of beans, 5 cans of peaches): 4 dollars and 50 cents
- Dried foods (5 packs of dried meat, 5 packs of dried fruit): 5 dollars
- Matches (5 boxes): 50 cents
- Water canteens (2): 4 dollars
- Binoculars (1 pair): 10 dollars
- Rope (1): 2 dollars
- Compass (1): 5 dollars
- Map of the surrounding area (1): 3 dollars
Mr. Worth tallied up the total. "That'll be 34 dollars even," he said, handing Caleb the items. "You planning a big trip?"
Caleb nodded as he handed over the money. "I've got some business to take care of outside of town. Shouldn't be more than a two days could possible be faster, but I just want to be prepared."
Mr. Worth raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. "Well, good luck out there. Be careful, and come back safe."
Caleb thanked him and left the store, putting the supplies on both of Morgan's Saddlebag. His next stop was the gunsmith's shop, the only one in Valentines and as he entered, the owner, R.L. Dalton or Mr. Dalton, as most people called him, greeted him with a cheerful smile.
"Morning, stranger!" Mr. Dalton said. "What can I do for you today?"
Caleb approached the counter. "I need some revolver cartridges, two boxes, and some gun oil to maintain my revolver."
Mr. Dalton nodded and quickly retrieved the items. "Two boxes of revolver cartridges will be 2 dollars, and the gun oil is 3 dollars. That'll be 5 dollars in total."
Caleb paid for the items and thanked Mr. Dalton before leaving the shop. With his supplies in hand, he made his way to the stable to prepare Morgan for the journey. He bought some horse treats, apples, carrots, and sugar cubes, costing him another 6 dollars, leaving him with 27 dollars and 75 cents in his satchel.
As he fed Morgan and checked her saddle and gear, Caleb felt a sense of readiness. He had everything he needed for the trip, food, water, navigation tools, and ammunition. Now, it was time to head out and track down the mastermind behind the livestock thefts.
Mounting Morgan, Caleb rode out of Valentine, heading southwest toward Twin Stack Pass. The morning sun cast long shadows across the landscape, and the air was crisp and cool.
Caleb kept his eyes sharp, using his high perception to scan the terrain for any signs of dangers along the way he could possibly encounter, from wildlife or outlaws.
As he rode, he couldn't help but think about the challenges ahead. The mastermind had bodyguards, and Caleb knew he would likely face hai first true gunfight. He felt was ready but it's good to be cautious, and use the element of surprise and the surrounding environment.
He had his Schofield Revolver, his supplies, and his wits. This was his chance to prove himself, not just to the people of Valentine, but to himself as well.
The journey to Twin Stack Pass wasn't that far as it would take 25 to 30 minutes top, but Caleb was determined. He would find the camp, confront the mastermind, and put an end to the threat to Valentine's livestock for his personal objective.
It was Caleb's first time venturing so far from Valentine, and as he rode through the surrounding terrain, he was struck by the beauty of the natural world. The landscape was even more breathtaking than he remembered from the game.
The wild deer grazing peacefully in the distance, the birds soaring overhead, and the gentle rustling of the wind through the trees created a serene atmosphere that momentarily eased his tension.
The lifelike version of this world was far more vivid and beautiful than anything he had experienced in the game, and it reminded him of how real and dangerous this place truly was.
As he passed through an area named Citadel Rock, the scenery shifted to a rocky, rugged terrain. Then he continued heading south according to the map and arrive at Twin Stack Pass.
Where it's area was dominated by large stone formations, lush vegetation of grass, and hills made of massive boulders with roads between the hills of hill boulders. The name "Twin Stack Pass" was fitting, as the towering stones with rode a in the middle of it to could pass through.
Caleb knew that this kind of terrain could easily hide crevices or gaps creating an area that was hidden, making it an ideal location for a hidden camp. While the open surroundings would make it easier to spot movement, it also meant that he would have limited cover, increasing the risk of being ambushed.
After heading further south, Caleb guided Morgan to the top of a rocky hill, dismounted, and pulled out his binoculars. He scanned the area carefully, his high perception allowing him to pick up on even the smallest details.
However, after several minutes of searching, he found no signs of the thieves' camp. This told him that the mastermind and his men were likely using one of the caves or crevices in the area as their base, which made the task of finding them much more challenging.
Caleb sighed, realizing that this mission would require patience and caution. He would need to stay in the area for a couple of days, carefully searching for clues while avoiding detection.
Fortunately, he had brought enough supplies to last him a week if necessary. He decided to set up a temporary camp in a secluded spot where he could observe the area without being seen.
After finding a suitable location, Caleb tied Morgan to a small tree and began unpacking his supplies. He set up a small camp with bushes and hills behind him, ensuring that it was well concealed from prying eyes.
He then took out his map and compass, marking the areas he had already searched and planning his next steps. He was scouting the area for two days before he finally found something.
At the third day, when the sun began to set, Caleb decided to conduct a quick reconnaissance of the area before nightfall once again. He moved quietly, using his Sneaking skill to avoid making noise and his high perception to spot any potential dangers. He kept his Schofield Revolver close at hand, ready for any unexpected encounters.
After an hour of searching, Caleb found something promising, a set of fresh bootprints leading toward a large crevice inside a large hill.
The prints were faint, but his keen eyes picked them out easily. He crouched down to examine them more closely, noting that they matched the ones he had seen at the livestock yards. This had to be the trail he was looking for.
Caleb followed the bootprints cautiously, his senses on high alert. The crevice led to a hidden path that wound deeper into the rocky terrain. As he moved forward, he began to hear faint voices in the distance. He slowed his pace, using the rocks for cover as he crept closer to the source of the noise.
Peering around a large boulder, Caleb finally spotted the thieves' camp. It was nestled in a small rocky terrain surrounded by the hill from each every side except the entrance, and top of the holl, with a makeshift tent and a fire pit at its center.
Five men were gathered around the fire, talking and laughing, while a fifth man, who appeared to be the leader, sat slightly apart, examining a map. Caleb counted 6 men in total, more than what the thief had said.
Caleb's heart raced as he assessed the situation. He was outnumbered, and the camp's location made it difficult to approach without being seen.
He would need to come up with a plan to take them down without alerting the entire group. His mind raced through the possibilities, a stealthy approach, a diversion, or perhaps even waiting for the right moment to strike.
For now, Caleb decided to observe the camp and gather more information. He found a hidden vantage point where he could watch the men without being seen and settled in for the night.
As darkness fell, he kept his eyes on the camp, noting their routines and listening to their conversations. He learned that the leader's name was Harlan, and the group planned to move the stolen livestock they had hidden in an area near the camp to a buyer in the next two days.
Caleb knew he had to act quickly. He couldn't let them leave with the animals, but he also couldn't risk taking on all five men at once. As he sat in the darkness, he began to formulate a plan.
He would wait until the men were asleep leaving one or two men as sentries, then use his Sneaking skill to take them out one by one.
If things went south, he would rely on his Schofield Revolver and the element of surprise to even the odds. The night stretched on, and Caleb remained patient, his determination unwavering.
Caleb kept waiting, the hours dragging on as he fought to stay awake. The night was quiet, save for the occasional crackle of the fire in the thieves' camp and the distant hoot of an owl.
He estimated that it was past midnight, the perfect time to strike. The camp was mostly silent now, with only the two sentries still awake. The rest of the men, including the leader Harlan, were asleep in their bedrolls, their snores faintly audible in the stillness of the night.
Caleb rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the drowsiness that threatened to overtake him. He couldn't afford to make a mistake now. Taking a deep breath, he peered out from his hiding spot to assess the situation.
The two sentries were positioned on opposite sides of the camp, each armed with a repeater rifle. One of them, a burly man with a thick beard, was smoking a cigarette, his eyes scanning the darkness lazily. The other, a leaner figure with a hat pulled low over his face, was pacing back and forth, occasionally stopping to stretch.
Caleb's heart pounded as he formulated his plan. He would take out the smoking sentry first, as he seemed more distracted. Then, he would deal with the second sentry before they could raise the alarm. If he moved quickly and quietly, he could neutralize both men without waking the others.
With his knife in hand, Caleb crept out of his hiding spot, using the shadows and the rocky terrain to his advantage. His Sneaking skill, though still at level 1, was enough to keep him silent as he approached the smoking sentry.
The man was leaning against a boulder, his repeater rifle resting against his side as he took a long drag from his cigarette. Caleb moved closer, his boots barely making a sound on the rocky ground.
But just as he was within striking distance, his foot caught on a small stone, sending it skittering across the ground. The sentry's head snapped up, his eyes widening as he turned toward the sound.
Caleb's instincts kicked in. He lunged forward, clamping one hand over the man's mouth while driving his knife into the side of his neck. The sentry's eyes bulged in shock, and he let out a muffled gurgle as blood spurted from the wound. Caleb held him tightly, his own heart racing as he felt the man's body go limp.
________________________________
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: 27 dollars and 75 cents