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Malloy nodded, clearly impressed. "You've done good work, Caleb. Real good work. Let's get this scum locked up, and then we'll figure out how to retrieve those animals." With Harlan safely in a cell, Caleb handed over the letters and other evidence.
Sheriff Malloy took the letters and other pieces of evidence from Caleb, his eyes scanning the contents with a focused intensity. After a few moments, he nodded in satisfaction, clearly pleased with what he saw.
"This is solid proof," Malloy said, setting the letters down on his desk. "Harlan won't be able to weasel his way out of this one. And it's good to know that the buyers didn't realize the livestock was stolen. We'll let them off with a warning, but I don't think we need to pursue them any further."
Caleb nodded, relieved that the situation was being handled so efficiently. Sheriff Malloy opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out a stack of dollar bills. He counted them carefully before placing the money on the table in front of Caleb.
"This is 50 dollars," Malloy said. "The ranchers pooled it together as a reward and a thank you for what you've done. They're mighty grateful, Caleb. You've done this town a great service."
Caleb smiled, feeling a sense of pride as he took the money and tucked it into his satchel. "Thank you, Sheriff. I'm just glad I could help."
Malloy leaned back in his chair, studying Caleb with a thoughtful expression. "You've got a knack for this kind of work. Ever thought about making it official? We could use someone like you as a deputy here in Valentine."
Caleb hesitated, considering the offer. While the idea of becoming a deputy was appealing, he knew that his ultimate goal was to make a name for himself and eventually cross paths with the Van der Linde gang. For now, he decided to keep his options open.
"I'll think about it," he said. "But first, I need to help bring back the stolen livestock. The animals are still at near the camp at south of Twin Stack Pass. I'll need a couple of your deputies to help me round them up and bring them back to the ranchers."
Sheriff Malloy nodded and called for two of his deputies, a pair of rugged men named Hugh and Barnes. They entered the office, their hats in their hands, and listened as Malloy briefed them on the situation. "Caleb here has located the stolen livestock. You two will ride with him to Twin Stack Pass, help him round up the herd, and bring it back to the ranchers. Understood?"
"Yes, sir," the deputies replied in unison.
Caleb led the way out of the sheriff's office, tying the five Kentucky Saddlers he had brought back to the hitching post outside. He mounted Morgan and waited for the deputies to saddle up their own horses. Once they were ready, the three of them set off toward Twin Stack Pass, the deputies following Caleb's lead.
The ride back to the camp was uneventful, the midday sun casting long shadows across the rugged terrain. Caleb kept his eyes sharp, scanning the landscape for any signs of danger.
His high perception allowed him to spot potential threats before they became a problem, and he felt a sense of confidence as he guided the group toward their destination.
When they arrived at the livestock location, Caleb dismounted and led the deputies to the makeshift corral where the stolen livestock was being held. The cattle and sheep were still there, grazing peacefully now that the chaos of the previous night had passed. Caleb felt a sense of relief as he counted the animals, 5 cattle and 15 sheep, all accounted for.
"Alright," Caleb said, turning to the deputies. "Let's get these animals rounded up and back to Valentine. We'll need to move carefully to avoid spooking them."
The deputies nodded and set to work, using their experience to guide the livestock into a manageable herd. Caleb helped where he could, using his Horse Mastery skill to keep the animals calm and moving in the right direction. It was slow, tedious work, but by late afternoon, they had the herd ready to move.
The journey back to Valentine was even slower, as the group had to navigate through the terrain while keeping the livestock together. Caleb rode at the front, guiding the herd with Morgan, while the deputies flanked the sides to prevent any stragglers from wandering off.
The sun was beginning to set by the time they reached the outskirts of Valentine's, the golden light casting a warm glow over the town.
As they approached the livestock yards south of Valentine, the ranchers led by Tom and Jed came out to meet them, their faces lighting up with relief and gratitude. "You've done it!" Jed exclaimed, clapping Caleb on the shoulder. "We can't thank you enough for bringing back our animals."
Caleb smiled, feeling a sense of accomplishment as the ranchers took charge of the herd. The deputies helped guide the animals into the pens, and Caleb took a moment to rest, leaning against a fence post as he watched the scene unfold.
He had done it. He had solved the mystery of the livestock thefts, brought the mastermind to justice, and returned the stolen animals to their rightful owners. It was a good day's work to elevate his reputation here in Valentine's.
As the ranchers finished securing the livestock, Tom approached Caleb with a small pouch in his hand. "This is for you," the man said, handing Caleb the pouch. "It's not much, but it's a token of gratitude from us the ranch hands as our pay doesn't need to be cut anymore."
Caleb opened the pouch and found 20 dollars inside. He thanked the rancher and tucked the money into his satchel, feeling a sense of satisfaction as he realized how much his efforts had paid off.
Between the reward from Sheriff Malloy, the money from the lockbox, and the additional rewards from the ranchers, he now had a substantial sum to his name once again.
With the job done, Caleb and the deputies returned to the sheriff's office to report their success. Sheriff Malloy was waiting for them, a proud smile on his face. "You've done well, Caleb," he said. "Valentine owes you a debt of gratitude. If you ever decide to make this line of work official, you know where to find me."
Caleb nodded, appreciating the offer. "I'll keep that in mind, Sheriff. For now, I think I'll take some time to rest and figure out my next move."
As Caleb left the sheriff's office, he felt a sense of pride and accomplishment. He had proven himself capable of handling dangerous situations and earning the trust of the people of Valentine.
Caleb unhooked the 5 Kentucky Saddlers from the hitching post outside the sheriff's office and mounted Morgan, leading the small herd of horses toward Valentine's stable. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over the town.
The streets were quieter now, with only a few townsfolk milling about, but Caleb could feel the weight of their gazes as he passed. Word of his success had spread quickly, and the respect he had earned was evident in the nods and smiles directed his way.
When he arrived at the stable, he saw Mr. Levi, the stablemaster, busy at work, brushing down a chestnut mare. Caleb called out to him, and Mr. Levi turned, his face lighting up with recognition. "Caleb! Heard you've been busy today," he said, wiping his hands on a rag. "Congratulations on a job well done. The whole town's talking about you."
Caleb dismounted and nodded modestly. "Just doing what needed to be done," he replied. He gestured to the 5 Kentucky Saddlers behind him. "I've got these horses here. They belonged to the thieves I dealt with earlier. I was wondering if you'd be interested in buying them."
Mr. Levi's eyes widened as he took in the sight of the horses. He stepped closer, inspecting each one with a practiced eye. "Fine animals," he murmured, running a hand along the neck of one of the geldings. "They've been well cared for, despite their previous owners' misdeeds." He turned back to Caleb, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I'll give you 10 dollars for each. That's 50 dollars total. Fair?"
Caleb nodded without hesitation. "Fair enough. They're yours." He handed over the reins, and Mr. Levi counted out the money, placing it in Caleb's hand. The weight of the money felt satisfying, a tangible reward for his efforts.
As Mr. Levi's stablehands took charge of the horses, Caleb handed over 5 dollars for Morgan to be groomed. "Take good care of her," he said, patting Morgan's neck. "She's earned it."
While Morgan was being tended to, Caleb and Mr. Levi exchanged words. The stablemaster was eager to hear the details of Caleb's adventure, and Caleb obliged, recounting the events of the past few days.
He knew that Mr. Levi was a well connected man in Valentine's, and anything he shared would likely spread through the town like wildfire. By the time Caleb finished his tale, Mr. Levi was shaking his head in admiration. "You've got a knack for this kind of work, Caleb. Folks around here won't forget what you've done."
When Morgan was ready, Caleb thanked Mr. Levi and mounted up, riding toward R.L. Dalton's Gunsmith store. The streets were bathed in the soft light of dusk, and the air was filled with the sounds of laughter and music drifting from the saloon. Caleb tied Morgan to the hitching post outside the gunsmith's and stepped inside.
The store was warm and well-lit, with rows of rifles, pistols, and ammunition lining the walls. Mr. Dalton, a wiry man with a thick mustache, looked up from behind the counter and broke into a wide smile. "Caleb Thorne! Welcome, welcome! Heard about your exploits today. You've done Valentine a great service."
Caleb nodded, appreciating the recognition. "Thank you, Mr. Dalton. I've got some items I'd like to sell, and I need to stock up on gun oil." He placed the 5 Cattleman revolvers and 1 of the carbine repeater on the counter.
Mr. Dalton picked up one of the revolvers, examining it closely. "These are in rough shape," he said, turning the weapon over in his hands. "I'll give you 12 dollars apiece for the revolvers and 20 for the repeater. That's 80 dollars total."
Caleb agreed, and Mr. Dalton counted out the money. Next, Caleb purchased fifteen bottles of gun oil at seventy-five cents each, spending another 11 dollars and 25 cents. He tucked the supplies into his satchel, feeling a sense of satisfaction as he updated his mental tally of funds.
With his business at the gunsmith's concluded, Caleb stepped back out into the cool evening air. He untied Morgan and mounted up, considering his next move. The day had been long and eventful, and he felt the weight of exhaustion settling in. He decided to head to the saloon for a hot meal and a drink before turning in for the night at his room at the hotel.
The Valentine saloon was bustling when Caleb arrived. The piano player was hammering out a lively tune, and the air was thick with the smell of tobacco and whiskey.
Caleb found a seat at the bar and ordered a steak dinner and a glass of whiskey, spending 10 dollars. As he ate, he overheard snippets of conversation from the patrons around him. His name was mentioned more than once, and he couldn't help but feel a swell of pride at the recognition.
After finishing his meal, Caleb made his way to the hotel across the street. He greeted the clerk at the front table and pays 25 cents for a warm bath, where after he fished he climbed the stairs, his body aching from the day's exertions.
Fortunately, he kept his room clean, well to the what of his abilities at least, and Caleb set his satchel down and began cleaning his weapons, using the gun oil he had purchased earlier. The repetitive task was soothing, and it gave him time to reflect on the events of the past few days.
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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: 246 dollars and 50 cents