If you want to read 20 Chapters ahead and more, 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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When they saw Caleb stepping down from the carriage, they immediately pinched the glowing cherries off their cigarettes, tossing the butts into the gravel. They pushed themselves off the stone wall and approached him. Caleb met them halfway on the gravel path. He looked between the two men, noticing a strange, highly unusual nervous energy radiating off of John. Arthur, on the other hand, looked like the cat that had just eaten the canary.
"Gentlemen," Caleb greeted them smoothly, slipping his hands into his pockets. "Everything alright? You boys holding the fort down while we were out conquering the literary world?"
Arthur let out a deep, rumbling chuckle. He reached out and delivered a massive, open handed slap squarely to the middle of John's back.
Smack!
The heavy impact caused the younger outlaw to flinch hard, stumbling a half step forward. John whipped around, scowling fiercely at the big enforcer.
"Jesus, Arthur! Take it easy on the force, will you?" John grumbled, rubbing his shoulder blade with an irritated grimace. "You hit like a damn draft horse."
"Builds character, Marston," Arthur grinned unapologetically, clearly highly amused by John's discomfort.
Arthur then turned his attention back to Caleb. The humor faded slightly, replaced by a firm, brotherly respect.
"You got a minute, Caleb?" Arthur inquired, gesturing vaguely toward the quieter side of the garden. "We didn't want to interrupt your celebration with Mary-Beth, but John here says he would like to talk to you about something important."
Caleb's demeanor instantly shifted from the casual host to the fiercely protective brother. He nodded his head without a single second of hesitation.
"Of course I do," Caleb said warmly, gesturing for them to walk with him down the stone path, away from the ears of the perimeter guards. "You boys don't ever have to ask for my time. It's like we just knew each other... we are brothers. You can say whatever it is that you would like to say."
They walked slowly through the blooming magnolias. John walked between them, his usually stoic, hardened face looking incredibly flushed. He kept his eyes locked on the white gravel, kicking a small stone with the toe of his boot.
John chuckled sheepishly, reaching up to rub the back of his neck in a classic display of profound, uncharacteristic nervousness. He was a man who could stare down a dozen Pinkertons without blinking, but facing the emotional reality of his own life terrified him.
"Well... uh..." John stammered, entirely failing to find his usual tough guy cadence. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to look at Caleb.
"I need your help, Caleb," John admitted, his voice dropping an octave. "And... I also need to ask to borrow some money as well. If you can spare it. I know you've already given us the world by letting us stay here, but..."
John stopped walking, turning to face Caleb fully. The nervous hesitation vanished, replaced by a fierce, undeniable conviction.
"I want to use it to propose to Abigail," John declared, the words finally tumbling out of his mouth.
Arthur smiled proudly, crossing his arms over his chest as he watched his younger brother finally step up to the plate.
John continued, his words rushing together. "I've been a fool, Caleb. For a long time. I ran away, I doubted her, and I dragged her and Jack through the mud for years. But seeing what you've built here... seeing that we finally have a real, actual future that doesn't end at the end of a rope... I want to do right by her. I want to make her an honest woman."
John swallowed hard, his hands balling into fists at his sides. "And I also want to throw a party for her as well. An wedding party. But... I don't want to hold it here in your mansion."
He quickly held up his hands, desperate not to offend the Don. "Not that your home ain't beautiful! It's a palace! But... I want it to be mine, you know? I want to take her somewhere special. Maybe in a fancy restaurant, or some high end place in town... I don't know the city well enough yet, but that's the plan I have in mind. I want to give her a night she'll never forget."
Caleb stood perfectly still on the garden path. Hearing that profound, deeply emotional confession from John Marston, he was genuinely surprised. He knew from his past life knowledge that John and Abigail eventually married, but seeing the man actively take the initiative, driven by the absolute security Caleb had provided them, was incredibly moving.
Before then, the surprise melted away entirely. Caleb let out a massive, brilliant smile. He reached out and gave John a big, highly enthusiastic thumbs up, his voice ringing with absolute, joyful validation, "John... that is exactly how it should be."
Caleb stepped forward, clapping his hands firmly onto John's shoulders, shaking the man slightly with sheer pride. "It is about damn time, brother. She is a wonderful woman, and she has stood by you through the absolute worst of it. She deserves everything."
Caleb then immediately shut down the concept of a loan. He waved his hand dismissively through the air, his max level Business Skill completely writing off the expense before John could even finish his thought.
"As for the matter of borrowing money? It's incredibly easy, John. The answer is no, you are not borrowing anything," Caleb stated firmly. "You don't need to be worried about that matter. I am paying for it. Consider it an early wedding gift from your Don. I will handle all the finances."
John tried to protest, his rugged pride flaring up. "Caleb, I can't let you just pay for—"
"I am handling it, John," Caleb repeated, his tone brooking absolutely no argument, though his eyes were warm. "And as for the places to hold the party? You are absolutely right. You shouldn't do it here. You should take her out on the town. I will have Antonio draft a list of all the finest, most exclusive restaurants and private event halls in Saint Denis by dinner tonight. You just point to the one you want, and I will have the entire building bought out and closed to the public for your private use."
John stared at Caleb, completely overwhelmed by the sheer, staggering generosity. "I... I don't know what to say, Caleb. Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet," Caleb chuckled, stepping back and crossing his arms. He looked at John with a highly critical, focused eye. He needed to ensure the most vital component of the proposal was handled flawlessly.
The most important thing is the ring.
Caleb narrowed his eyes playfully. "Have you got the ring yet for Abigail, John? Because if you are planning on proposing with a braided piece of horsehair or a stolen silver band from a stagecoach robbery, I am going to have Silvio throw you in the fountain."
Arthur let out a loud, booming laugh. "I told him the exact same thing!"
John flushed, rubbing his neck again. "Well... no. I haven't got a ring yet. That's mainly what I needed the money for."
"Good," Caleb nodded decisively. "Because if you haven't, I highly suggest we get you something spectacular. Not just a normal, plain ring band, John."
Caleb gestured toward the wealthy commercial district they had just left behind. "Tomorrow morning, you and I are going to take a carriage into the city center. We are going to walk into the absolute finest jeweler in Saint Denis. We are going to find a jeweled ring that catches the light like a star, set in pure gold or platinum. We are going to put a ring on her finger that shows every single high society snob in this city that Abigail Roberts is a Queen."
John's eyes widened, the sheer magnitude of Caleb's support leaving him speechless. He looked at Arthur, who just clapped him on the shoulder again, much gentler this time.
"You heard the boss, John," Arthur grinned. "We're doing this right."
Caleb smiled, looking out over his meticulously manicured gardens as the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting the mansion in a warm, golden glow. The books were a massive success and his family was finally building the lives they deserved. It was going to be a very, very good week in Saint Denis.
After that deeply profound and life altering conversation in the sunlit gardens, Caleb turned on his heel and confidently entered back into the mansion, leaving John and Arthur outside to do whatever they want to do and process the monumental changes coming their way.
The heavy, brass studded oak doors closed with a soft thud behind him, sealing the humid, floral scented air of the afternoon outside.
He navigated the cool, shadowed marble corridors of the sprawling estate, moving with the relaxed, unburdened stride of a man whose world was finally operating exactly as he had designed it. He headed straight for the grand dining room, where the remnants of the massive welcoming feast had long since been cleared away by Antonio's impeccably efficient staff.
Inside the dining room, Mary-Beth was waiting for him. The heavy mahogany table, previously crowded with roasted meats and crystal decanters of bourbon, had been beautifully reset for a high society afternoon tea.
Mary-Beth was seated comfortably in one of the plush, high-backed leather chairs, delicately eating some absolutely exquisite pastries. The spread before her was a magnificent blend of culinary efforts.
There were delicate, cream filled eclairs and intricate fruit tarts that the estate's private French chef had made personally, placed elegantly alongside powdered beignets and rich chocolate truffles that had been freshly bought outside in the city's finest bakeries by the household servants.
She, of course, was eating alongside the girls. Karen, Tilly, and Molly were clustered around the end of the table, sipping hot tea from delicate porcelain cups and happily sampling the mountain of sugar before them. They were laughing and chatting idly about the sheer, unbelievable luxury of the estate, their voices echoing pleasantly against the wood-paneled walls.
The moment Caleb stepped through the towering double doors, Mary-Beth caught his eye. A bright, knowing smile illuminated her beautiful face. She immediately set down her half-eaten strawberry tart on a silver saucer and subtly signaled Caleb to sit at the empty chair right beside her.
Caleb walked over, pulling out the heavy leather chair and settling into it, loosening the silk tie at his collar. Before he could even reach for a cup of coffee, Mary-Beth leaned in incredibly close. The brim of her hat brushed against his shoulder as she lowered her voice so the other girls at the table wouldn't overhear.
She leaned in and whispered to him, asking what exactly John and Arthur had wanted to talk about out there in the gardens. Her sharp, highly observant mind had noticed the unusually serious demeanor of the two veteran outlaws when they had pulled Caleb aside.
Caleb paused, a slight, contemplative frown touching his lips. He sat back in his chair, quietly mulling over whether he should tell Mary-Beth the truth or not. On one hand, he knew for an absolute fact that John definitely wanted this proposal to be a massive, completely unexpected surprise for Abigail.
Outlaws were fiercely private about their emotional milestones, and John was the most guarded of them all.
But on the other hand, Mary-Beth was not just some idle gossip. She was his absolute equal, his partner in this empire, and the Madam of the estate. Keeping secrets from her, even entirely harmless ones, felt counterproductive to the unbreakable trust they had built.
In the end, his loyalty to his partner won out. He decided to tell her, but he also leaned in close, his breath warm against her ear.
"John is going to propose," Caleb whispered, his voice barely a breath. "He asked me to help him buy a ring and fund a massive, private engagement party for Abigail."
When Mary-Beth heard that, the aristocratic, high society composure she had been flawlessly maintaining all afternoon completely shattered.
She immediately let out a loud, high pitched shriek of absolute, unadulterated joy. It was a sharp, sudden sound that echoed like a gunshot in the cavernous dining room. She threw her hands over her mouth, her dark eyes widening to the size of saucer plates as she stared at Caleb in sheer disbelief.
Her sudden outburst completely shocked the rest of the room, entirely surprising the other girls who had been quietly enjoying their tea.
Karen jumped in her seat, nearly dropping a powdered beignet onto her lap. She looked down the table, her brow furrowed in deep confusion.
"Jesus, Mary-Beth!" Karen exclaimed, brushing a dusting of powdered sugar off her bodice. "You nearly gave me a heart attack! What in the world did he just say to you to make you scream like a banshee?"
Caleb immediately stepped in to run interference, utilizing his quick wit to protect John's secret. He let out a smooth, entirely convincing chuckle, waving his hand dismissively at the startled girls.
"My apologies, ladies," Caleb laughed, leaning back and resting his arm casually on the back of Mary-Beth's chair. "I didn't mean to startle the room. I simply just received a telegram from the executives downtown, and I whispered the updated sales figures of her novels into her ear. It seems the city of Saint Denis is buying her books faster than the presses can print them."
That brilliant, highly plausible excuse instantly worked. It completely piqued the interest of the three girls. Their eyes lit up with sheer, capitalistic curiosity. They eagerly leaned forward, completely forgetting about Mary-Beth's strange reaction.
Karen, Tilly, and Molly immediately asked Caleb for the exact amount. As far as they were concerned, it surely had to be something absolutely amazing if it had caused Mary-Beth to act that way in the middle of eating a pastry.
"Well, don't just sit there keeping it to yourself, Don McLaughlin!" Molly pressed, an elegant, demanding smirk on her face. "How many copies? A thousand? Two thousand? Tell us!"
"How much money did she make in one afternoon, Caleb?" Tilly asked, her eyes wide with innocent wonder.
Caleb just offered them a slow, infuriatingly mysterious smile. He tapped his finger against his lips and told them that it's a completely classified corporate secret.
"I am afraid I cannot disclose the exact financial mathematics of the syndicate just yet," Caleb teased them smoothly, his blue eyes dancing with amusement. "Client confidentiality, you understand."
Hearing that blatant refusal, the girls collectively groaned in loud, highly exaggerated frustration, tossing their hands up in the air. "You are a cruel, cruel man, Caleb Thorne!" Karen complained, crossing her arms and sinking back into her leather chair while Mary-Beth hid her lingering, joyous smile behind her teacup, profoundly grateful for the smooth cover story.
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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: 3,222 dollars and 60 cents
Inventory: 284,392 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: -