Wróbel's total debt, with interest, came to only $38.80.
Not only had Davey forgiven it, but he'd also handed Wróbel fifty dollars in cash.
Though he called it an advance, it greatly eased Wróbel's burden. For now, at least, he didn't have to worry about his loans.
Davey did this because Wróbel was an honest man—someone he didn't have to fear would run away.
That made him entirely different from the counterfeit medicine peddler, Benedict.
A mix of intimidation and generosity worked perfectly on someone like Wróbel.
"Mr. Callander, please, have mercy. Let me go to the clinic for treatment," Benedict begged as they prepared to set off again.
"If not, my leg may never heal properly. It'll get inflamed—infected even."
Though he was a seller of fake medicine, it was well known that anyone who could make counterfeit drugs had to understand at least some medicine.
Benedict knew his leg was in bad shape, but with timely care, it could fully recover.
If left untreated, though, he'd end up crippled for life.
"Of course, Mr. Benedict," Davey said with a grin. "We can stop by Valentine's clinic and have you treated."
Benedict looked uneasy. "Mr. Callander, I'd like that, but there's a bounty on me. If I go to Valentine, they'll arrest me."
"If possible, could you buy me some medical supplies instead? I think I can handle the treatment myself."
Davey smirked. "Oh, Mr. Benedict, aren't you afraid you'll end up killing yourself? Plenty of folks have died after taking your fake medicine."
Benedict sighed helplessly. "Mr. Callander, I do know some basic medical procedures."
Davey stopped teasing him. "Relax, Mr. Benedict. I already paid your ransom—you're safe now.
It cost me a hundred dollars to clear it, so you'd better work hard and pay me back."
For the first time, Benedict felt a flicker of genuine gratitude.
He knew his bounty had been fifty dollars, and ransom always cost double—one hundred.
And Davey had paid it before Benedict had even done a thing.
"Alright, boys," Davey said, "let's get moving—to Valentine."
Benedict's leg still needed proper care. Mac had been ruthless, but not to the point of crippling him permanently.
Even with treatment, full recovery would take over a month.
Davey figured that within that time, once Benedict started earning money, he'd drop any thoughts of running.
After all, he'd peddled fake medicine for one reason only—to make money.
They arrived in Valentine around five in the afternoon.
It was dinnertime, but Davey took Benedict straight to the clinic.
The doctor at the Valentine Clinic had a little side business.
It wasn't by choice, though—he'd been forced into it by threats from the O'Driscoll Gang.
In the game's story, players could find a letter on the doctor written by Donal O'Driscoll, one of the gang members.
The letter was full of warnings and threats, even against his wife, Mrs. Calloway, and mentioned that the doctor had spoken ill of the O'Driscolls.
Back then, when first threatened, the doctor had tried reporting it to the sheriff's office.
But it did no good—the deputy sheriff was already in on it with the O'Driscolls.
In the game, players could even spot the deputy taking bribes outside the clinic.
Of course, in the real world, things wouldn't play out so blatantly.
Caught between the law and the outlaws, a small-town doctor like him had no power to fight back—especially when he got a share of the money.
The doctor's name was Ben Calloway. Under American law, women took their husband's surname after marriage.
For instance, Sadie was called Mrs. Adler.
Once inside, Doctor Calloway began treating Benedict's leg.
"Oh, it's you, Benedict," he said with surprise. "What happened to you? I heard someone paid your ransom just the other day. You really are a lucky one."
The two men knew each other—they were, after all, in the same trade.
Benedict mostly operated between Valentine and Annesburg, where his supply channels were based.
In fact, the Valentine Clinic itself had been one of his sources for counterfeit medicine ingredients.
Benedict gave a strained laugh, and Calloway quickly pieced it together—Benedict wasn't here by choice.
The two men with him were no friends of his.
Something similar had happened to Calloway once before.
While the two talked, Davey's eyes drifted to the window.
Outside, he saw Valentine's deputy sheriff loitering near the door.
At a glance, the man seemed to be on duty—but in truth, he was standing guard.
If anything suspicious happened inside, he'd make sure the secret—and everyone who knew it—stayed buried there forever.