If you want to read 20 Chapters ahead, be sure to check out my P-Tang12!!!
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(A/N: Don't forget to give those power stones to Skyrim everyone!)
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Mary-Beth, at this time, simply couldn't sit still any longer. The adrenaline, the shock, and the sheer, overwhelming magnitude of the revelation forced her to move. She stood up from the bed and walked back and forth across the small room, the wooden floorboards creaking softly beneath her boots.
She pressed the palms of her hands against her flushed cheeks, her eyes darting around the rustic room as she tried to calm herself down.
As she paced, the profound shock slowly, beautifully transformed. The anxiety melted away, and from surprise, it turned into an overwhelming, radiant happiness. Her brilliant, romantic mind began to race, connecting the dots of the empire her lover was constructing right before her eyes.
She thought that the future had just become even brighter than she could have ever dared to dream. She mentally tallied his incredible portfolio.
First, after Caleb owning his highly successful, steadily profitable restaurant right here in Valentine. Then, his massive, multi hundreds of thousands of dollar buyout of the legitimate firearms manufacturing company back in Connecticut, ensuring a legal fortune. And currently, his grand project constructing the luxurious, futuristic, electrically powered hotel up in the mountains of Strawberry.
And now... he was the Don of the Saint Denis mafia. The king of the underworld. He controlled both the absolute peak of legitimate industry and the terrifying depths of the criminal shadows. He was forging a dynasty.
Of course, a small, rational part of her brain acknowledged that living a mob life is inherently dangerous. There would always be threats, rivals, and the ever present shadow of the law. But she knew full well that Caleb could navigate it.
He wasn't a sloppy outlaw like the men she had grown up around. He was a visionary. He possessed a terrifying intellect and an unmatched lethality that would make their lives very, very safe. He would surround her with walls of steel and armies of fiercely loyal men.
The pacing stopped. She took a deep, shuddering breath, a brilliant smile breaking across her face, illuminating the room. She was no longer a camp waif hiding from Pinkertons in the mud. She was about to become royalty.
And so, she turned to face him, her dark eyes shining with absolute devotion, thrilling excitement, and a profound readiness to embrace her destiny.
She walked back to him, resting her hands on his broad shoulders, and asked him, her voice breathless with anticipation, "When do we leave?"
Before he could answer, she bit her lip, a thought of her old family crossing her mind. "And... should we at least tell Arthur and Hosea about this? About what you've become? They've been so good to us, Caleb. They might worry if we just vanish into the city."
Caleb smiled, reaching up to rest his hands on her waist, pulling her gently between his knees. He loved her pragmatism, her loyalty to the people who had protected her when she was vulnerable.
"Tomorrow," Caleb said, answering her first question with absolute certainty. "Tomorrow morning, we pack the luggages, and we go to Saint Denis. Your new life begins in less than twenty four hours."
As for the second question, his eyes narrowed slightly in tactical calculation. As for Arthur and Hosea... they were good men. They were honorable outlaws. But he doesn't want to tell them yet, at least for now.
"They should know, Mary-Beth," Caleb agreed softly. "But maybe a bit later, and definitely not now. If I tell them I am the Don of the Italian mafia, it will cause a massive disruption in the camp. Arthur would ask too many questions about the morality of it, and Hosea would worry about the heat tat will brought upon the group. I need to consolidate my power in the city first. I need to make the throne untouchable."
Caleb looked up at her, his expression entirely sincere. "I need to find the perfect time for them. When the empire is fully legitimate, when the dust has settled, we will invite them to the mansion. We will show them that there is a way to survive this changing world without living in the dirt. But for now, our business in Saint Denis is ours alone."
Mary-Beth, hearing that flawless, highly logical reasoning, immediately nodded her head. She completely understood the delicate politics of the Van der Linde gang, and she trusted Caleb's judgment above all else.
And she says, her voice ringing with absolute, unshakeable loyalty, "I will follow whatever decision you make, Caleb. You have never steered us wrong."
She took a step back, clapping her hands together, a sudden, delightful surge of feminine energy taking over the heavy geopolitical conversation. The reality of her new status was sinking in, and the romantic writer within her was already setting the scene.
"So," Mary-Beth announced, her eyes dancing with excitement. "Now, I will pack my clothes."
She moved toward the large wooden wardrobe in the corner of the room, throwing the doors open. "Including the beautiful, expensive ones you bought for me back at the high end tailors in Saint Denis. The silk dresses, the velvet coats, all of it."
She looked back over her shoulder at him, a playful, incredibly seductive smirk touching her lips. "If I am going to walk into a grand mansion... at least I have to look respectable. I have to look the part of the Lady of the Don, don't I?"
Caleb laughed, a rich, joyous sound that filled the small rustic room. The title sounded absolutely perfect coming from her lips. She wasn't intimidated by the shadows; she was ready to rule them alongside him.
"You will be the most beautiful, terrifyingly powerful lady that city has ever seen," Caleb promised her, his heart swelling with pride.
Caleb smiled, pushing himself up from the edge of the bed. He crossed the room, stepping up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder as they looked into the wardrobe together. "Come on. I will help you pack. We have an empire to visit tomorrow."
Mary-Beth nodded her head, her eyes shining with an enchanting mixture of disbelief and absolute elation. The sheer scale of what Caleb was offering her, a life of safety, opulence, and untouchable status in the heart of Saint Denis, was enough to make her head spin. But as she looked at the calm, reassuring strength in his posture, she knew there was no place she would rather be than by his side.
And so, the two of them immediately set to work and packed their clothes.
Mary-Beth moved across the rustic wooden floorboards with a newfound lightness in her step. She reached under the heavy timber bedframe and took out a sturdy, leather bound suitcase that had seen its fair share of dust and travel.
Beside it, she laid out a big, thick canvas cloth onto the quilt of the bed, creating a makeshift binding for the overflow of garments they would need to securely transport.
It was a fascinating visual contrast of two completely different worlds colliding. On one side of the canvas cloth, Mary-Beth carefully folded the simple, practical cotton skirts and blouses she wore around the homestead.
But taking up the vast majority of the space were the exquisite, high end garments Caleb had purchased for her during his previous trips to the city. She ran her hands reverently over the smooth fabric of the expensive silk dresses, the deep emerald and sapphire hues catching the afternoon light streaming through the window. She gently packed the heavy, luxurious velvet coats, ensuring the delicate lace trims were perfectly aligned so they wouldn't wrinkle.
"I still can't believe I own these," she murmured softly, smoothing down a particularly beautiful crimson silk gown.
"You'll need a dozen more just like it by the end of the month," Caleb chuckled, walking over to place his own items onto the large cloth.
He packed his dark, tailored trousers, the crisp white linen shirts he wore when playing the part of the corporate tycoon, and the heavy charcoal suit jackets that commanded so much terror and respect in the urban underworld.
Together, they meticulously folded and secured the clothes belonging to her and also Caleb, wrapping the large canvas cloth tightly around the overflow and buckling the heavy leather straps of the suitcase until everything was perfectly contained.
After they finished packing their clothes and securing the luggage in the corner of the room, the two of them left the room and then went downstairs to eat together with the rest of the gang.
The atmosphere in the main house was incredibly warm and lively. As they descended the creaking wooden staircase, the rich, mouth watering aroma of roasted meat, savory gravy, and fresh baked bread completely filled the air, making Caleb's stomach rumble in anticipation.
Almost everyone had already gathered in the large, open dining room. The long, heavy oak table was surrounded by the familiar, weathered faces of the people who had become their makeshift family.
The only notable absence was, of course, the camp cook. Pearson, who was notoriously sick from his ill advised foraging experiment, was staying and eating a meager bowl of broth alone in his room, quarantined away from the heavy foods to save his fragile stomach.
When Arthur and Hosea looked up from their conversation at the head of the table and saw Caleb had already returned, the both of them greeted him warmly.
"Look who finally decided to grace us with his presence!" Arthur called out, a genuine, rugged grin breaking through his usually stoic demeanor. He pulled out a heavy wooden chair to his right and patted the back of it. "Come on over here, Caleb. Take a seat beside me. We've got a lot of catching up to do."
Hosea nodded his head in agreement, raising his tin cup in a silent toast. "Good to see you in one piece, my boy. The roads get more treacherous by the day."
Caleb returned their warm greetings, feeling a genuine pang of affection for the two veteran outlaws. He walked over to the designated spot, in which Mary-Beth also took a seat right beside Caleb, pulling her chair close to his so their shoulders comfortably brushed against one another.
With Caleb and Mary-Beth seated, everyone was already present. The noise of the dining room swelled as Miss Grimshaw, alongside Karen and Tilly, marched out from the kitchen area carrying massive, steaming platters. They served the food that had been masterfully cooked by Mary-Beth, Karen, and Tilly throughout the noon.
There were massive bowls of thick, hearty beef stew, platters of roasted root vegetables glazed in honey, and baskets overflowing with warm, crusty bread. The food smelled absolutely delicious, a massive step up from Pearson's usual salty, repetitive navy rations.
Before anyone could dive into the feast, Reverend Swanson stood up at the far end of the table. He clinked his spoon against his cup to gather everyone's attention. He swayed slightly on his feet, but his voice was clear and resonant.
The Reverend led everyone in a prayer before they ate lunch together. "Oh Lord," Swanson began, bowing his head as the rest of the table respectfully followed suit. "We thank you for the bounty placed before us today. We thank you for the safe return of our brother, Caleb, from the den of sinners in the south. Protect this family, guide us through these times, and bless the hands of the women who prepared this magnificent feast. Amen."
"Amen," the table echoed in a ragged, unified chorus.
With the prayer concluded, the dining room erupted into a chaotic symphony of clinking silverware, scraping chairs, and lively banter as everyone dug into the incredible meal.
During the process of eating lunch, Arthur chewed on a thick piece of beef, swallowed, and turned his sharp, calculating eyes toward Caleb.
"So," Arthur began, pointing his fork casually at Caleb. "Are you staying for some time around the homestead to help out with the perimeter, or are you going to leave once again to chase whatever it is you're chasing out down south?"
Caleb wiped his mouth with a cloth napkin, taking a sip of water before he answered. He kept his tone completely casual, masking the earth shattering reality of his actual position. "I will be staying for just a night here at home, before then I will be leaving back for Saint Denis tomorrow morning."
Hearing that, Arthur's fork paused halfway to his mouth, and everyone within earshot was visibly surprised. It was an incredibly short turnaround, even for a man as busy as Caleb.
"Tomorrow?" Arthur frowned, his protective instincts instantly flaring up. "You just got here, Caleb. Your horse is barely cooled down."
Before Arthur could press the issue further, Hosea chimed in from across the table. The older, wiser con man leaned forward, his sharp eyes twinkling with intense curiosity.
"If you are only giving us one evening, Mr. Thorne," Hosea dictated smoothly, "then you are going to spend it with us. With strong drinks and good cigarettes, of course. I want to hear about the situation down there. I want to know how our 'investments' are looking."
Hearing that, Caleb nodded his head amiably, playing the part of the cooperative, loyal gang member flawlessly. "Of course, Hosea," Caleb said. "I will absolutely accompany you men drinking and smoking tonight, and I'll tell you everything about what happened back at Saint Denis while I was staying there. It's been an eventful times in there."
He paused, letting the noise of the table settle just a fraction. He reached under the table, finding Mary-Beth's hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze. It was time to drop the first piece of the puzzle.
"Oh and also," his voice projecting clearly so that the entire table could hear, "I also will bring Mary-Beth to Saint Denis tomorrow with me, and that she will be staying in the city with me at a residence he have stayed since his first visit into the town."
The reaction was instantaneous. It was as if someone had fired a pistol into the ceiling. Everyone at the table completely stopped eating. Forks clattered onto wooden plates. Conversations died in an instant. Karen nearly choked on a piece of bread, and Tilly stared at Mary-Beth with wide, disbelieving eyes.
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Name: Caleb Thorne
Age: 23
Body Attributes:
- Strength: 8/10
- Agility: 8/10
- Perception: 9/10
- Stamina: 8/10
- Charm: 8/10
- Luck: 9/10
Skills:
- Handgun (Lvl MAX)
- Rifle (Lvl MAX)
- Firearms Knowledge (Lvl MAX)
- Past Life Memory (Lvl MAX)
- Knife (Lvl MAX)
- Blunt Weapon (Lvl MAX)
- Sneaking (Lvl MAX)
- Horse Mastery (Lvl MAX)
- Poker (Lvl MAX)
- Hand to Hand Combat (Lvl MAX)
- Eagle Eye (Lvl MAX)
- Dead Eye (Lvl MAX)
- Bow (Lvl MAX)
- Pain Nullifier (Lvl MAX)
- Physical Regeneration (Lvl MAX)
- Crafting (Lvl MAX)
- Persuasion (Lvl MAX)
- Mental Fortitude (Lvl MAX)
- Cooking (Lvl MAX)
- Teaching (Lvl MAX)
- Trilingual Language Proficiency - G, I, & C (Lvl MAX)
- Inventory System (Permanent - 100x100x100)
- Acting (Lvl MAX)
- Alcohol Resistance (Lvl MAX)
- Treasure Hunter (Lvl MAX)
- Drugs Resistance (Lvl MAX)
- Business (Lvl MAX)
- Leadership (Lvl MAX)
Money: 3,322 dollars and 60 cents
Inventory: 286,492 dollars and 61 cents, 11 gold nuggets, 74 gold bars, 1 Double Action, 1 Schofield, 2 Colm's Schofields, 1 land deed (Parcel), 1 Mauser, 1 Semi Auto Pistol, 1 Lancaster Repeater, 1 Old Wood Jewelry Box, 1 F.F Mausoleum small brass key, 1 Ruby, 1 Braithwaites Land Deed, 1 Broken Pirate Sword, 1 Milton's Safety Deposit Key, 1 Senator Pendleton Sealed Envelope, Proof Of Marlin-Thorne Firearms Co., 10 Dynamites, 1 LeMat, 1 M1899, 1 Carcano, 1 Ownership deed of Doyle's Tavern, 3 Diamonds, & Important Documents & Deeds Of Cornwall
Bank: -