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Sheriff Malloy straightened up, his eyes narrowing before smoothing into a practiced smile. "Oh, hello there, son," Sheriff Malloy said, clearing his throat. "Didn't expect to see visitors this early, especially you, this early in the morning." His voice was too loud, too jovial. "Well, uh... Mrs. Calthorpe here was just leaving."
Caleb tipped his hat in silent greeting, playing dumb even though every fiber of his being was on alert. He didn't speak, letting the weight of his presence do the work.
Sheriff Malloy stepped forward quickly, gently guiding Moira toward the rear exit. "You remember what I told you," he muttered under his breath to her as he opened the back door.
Moira paused in the threshold, cast Caleb a wary glance, then nodded silently and stepped out into the alley behind the office.
The moment the door clicked shut, Sheriff Malloy exhaled heavily and turned back toward Caleb, dropping the facade of friendliness just enough to show his discomfort.
"So," he said, returning behind the desk. "What business brings you here this fine morning, son? Oh—" his expression brightened again, "this about my offer isn't it? You've made up your mind, son?"
Caleb nodded. "Yeah. I have. I accept your offer, Sheriff. I'll take the badge. But I got one small condition."
Sheriff Malloy's brow arched. "Let's hear the condition then. What is it, son?"
Caleb met his eyes evenly. "I work my own hours. When I need to. I got other commitments, things I gotta tend to. But when you need me, I'll be there Sheriff. So long as I can keep my independence."
Sheriff Malloy studied him for what possibly a long, quiet moment. His gaze was hard but thoughtful, while the air thickening with unspoken calculations. Finally, he let out a small sigh that seemed to defakte his entire frame and gave a tight nod.
"Fine," he said. "You listen to me when I have need kfyou. Understood, son?"
"Understood. Loud and Clear, Sheriff."
Sheriff Malloy turned to a locked drawer behind the desk, rummaged around, then pulled out a small brass badge and tossed it onto the desk.
"Temporary Deputy," he said with a smirk. "Ain't many folk I trust, but you've got a good head and a steady aim. Just don't go throwin' that star around like you're untouchable."
Caleb picked up the badge and clipped it onto his vest, making sure that it was in plain sight. He need to advertise his contemporary position as soon as posisbk. To gain more good impression and goodwill.
Sheriff Malloy gave him a curt nod and extend his hand toward him. "Welcome aboard, Deputy Thorne."
Caleb let out a smile and shake his hand, "Thank you for your welcome, Sheriff. Since I'm free today, what job you want me to do on my first day as deputy round here?"
Hearing that, the sheriff think for some time to come up with what Caleb going to do. "Hmm. I think you can go and make rounds around town, make sure the townfolks know there's new deputy in town. Also check in with the business around town, making sure everything was fine. Lastly, keep an eye out for troublemakers or worse criminals." He paused, eyeing Caleb's holster. "And try not to shoot anybody unless you have to, son."
Caleb hearing that nod his head, "Okay, Sheriff. Don't worry, I will be your most safe deputy you ever had." Them he nod his head and turned to leave, he stepped outside and let the door swing shut behind him.
Valentine unfolded differently with a badge on his chest.
The passing town folks greet him more respectfully then before, some even says to him that the new in Valentine becoming much better with him on board. Even the usual drunk patrons outside of the saloon straightened up or seobered a bit when he walked by.
It was... Pretty good feeling for Caleb not gonna lie.
His first stop was the general store. Jasper nearly dropped a crate of tinned peaches when Caleb walked in.
"Whoa! You become a part of Valentines law now, Caleb?" The kid's eyes widened. "Guess I should call you deputy, huh?"
Caleb chuckle as he tapped the badge. "It's just temporary and just keep calling me Caleb. By the way, Mr. Worth around?"
"Storage room. I'll get him—"
"No need, son." The older man emerged from the back, wiping his hands on his apron. His gaze lingered on the star before meeting Caleb's eyes. "Heard about the poker tournament cause of you yesterday, and today you suddenly become a deputy, Caleb. You planning to arrest yourself now for the cheating accusation on you during the poker games?"
Caleb let out a laugh hearing that. "Not today, Mr. Worth. Now that I'm the law, I will protect my cheating. But in seriousness, I'm just checking in. Sheriff's order, making sure everything was fine. Seen any unfamiliar faces lately?"
Mr. Worth snorted. "Besides yours now that you have become a deputy? Nah. Quiet as a church mouse."
The pattern repeated at the butcher's, the stable's, the small saloon, the gunsmith's, and the doctor's office. By midday, Caleb had circled back to the saloon, where Mr. Douglas was already setting up for the promised poker tournament.
The bartender eyed his badge with amusement. "Well now. Does this mean I gotta call you 'Deputy'?"
"Only if you want me to start checking your liquor licenses, Mr. Douglas."
Mr. Douglas barked a laugh. "Touché, Caleb. Drink on the house?"
Caleb shook his head. "On duty. Maybe later at night. Need to make round around town."
After that Caleb leave the saloon and go on his rounds around Valentine, making sure he was truly seen by every towns folk in Valentine. In keep going until the afternoon sun was dipping toward the mountains when suddenly shouts erupted from the train station.
Caleb arrived to find a crowd gathered around two men, a rancher and a railroad worker, nose to nose in the middle of the street.
"—called me a liar!" the rancher snarled, spittle flying.
The rail worker shoved him. "Cause you are, you damn sheep humper!"
Caleb stepped between them before fists could fly, one hand resting lightly on his navy revolver. "That's enough, gentleman."
The effect was instantaneous. Both men froze, their anger momentarily eclipsed by the sight of the badge on Caleb.
"This how civilized men settle disputes in our town?" Caleb kept his voice calm, almost bored. "Or you two wanna explain to Sheriff Malloy why you're clogging upon each other at his jail?"
The rail worker backed down first, muttering curses as he stalked off. The rancher lingered, face red.
"He started it—"
"And you're ending it, mister," Caleb said flatly. "Now move along."
As the crowd dispersed, something peculiar happened. An older woman pressed a small apple pie into his hands. "Thank you, Deputy. We need more like you."
Caleb stared at the pie, then at her retreating back, utterly bewildered.
Since when do outlaws get pies? Since becoming a temporary deputy it seems.
Thinking so, Caleb made his final round through Valentine, finishing the apple pie one generous townswoman had pressed into his hands earlier.
The pie, while slightly overcooked on the edges, had a comforting cinnamon flavor that reminded him of the autumn fairs from his old life. He smirked at the thought, outlaws didn't usually get pie, but then again, he wasn't just an outlaw anymore. Not officially. Not today.
He took one last bite, savoring the buttery crust, before tossing the remaining crumbs to a scrawny dog loitering near the general store. The mutt scarfed it down with a grateful wag of its tail.
The streets were quiet as the sun dipped low, painting the town in soft orange and gold. Caleb's boots tapped steadily against the boardwalk as he passed the familiar shops, waving to old Bob at the butcher's, tipping his hat to Dr. Calloway closing up his clinic, and giving a quick nod to the stablehands brushing down horses for the night.
As the last bit of sunlight melted behind the distant ridges and the gas lamps began flickering to life, Caleb turned his boots back toward the saloon.
From halfway down the street, he could already hear the din, laughter, music, clinking glasses, and the rising murmur of voices layered on top of each other like chaotic harmony. It sounded like a festival.
When he pushed through the batwing doors, the wall of sound hit him like a physical force.
The place was packed.
Every table was occupied. Men stood three deep at the bar. Even the upstairs balcony was crowded with spectators leaning over the railing. And when the crowd spotted him?
The cheer was deafening. It was so loud that the saloon practically exploded.
"DEPUTY THORNE!" someone hollered, followed by another cheer from half the room.
"There he is!"
"About damn time!"
Caleb blinked, frozen for a moment as the working girls waved and blow kisses at him from the staircase, hats were waved and glasses raised in his direction, and the piano player struck up a lively, rollicking tune that made a few of the patrons start stomping their boots.
The smell of whiskey, sweat, perfume, and cooked meat filled the air like a heady perfume of celebration.
He smiled awkwardly and lifted a hand in greeting. "Evening, folks."
The cheer that followed made him chuckle as he eased his way through the crowd. It parted before him, he supposed the badge helped with that too, and he made his way to the bar counter where Mr. Douglas stood, wiping out a glass with a rag and watching the chaos with one brow raised.
"You caused this, you know," Mr. Douglas said with a smirk as Caleb reached the counter.
Caleb leaned on the polished wood. "Wasn't my intention, but hell, I'll take the warm welcome."
Mr. Douglas set the glass down and poured a generous finger of whiskey into it. "As promised, on the house. A man keeps his word."
Caleb lifted the glass in salute. "Appreciate it."
The whiskey burned, clean and sharp, down his throat. He let out a satisfied sigh and set the glass down with a soft clink.
"Busy night, huh?" he asked.
Mr. Douglas barked a short laugh. "You've no idea. This place hasn't been this packed in months. I oughta thank you, Caleb."
"Me?" Caleb tilted his head. "What'd I do?"
"You kicked up a storm yesterday with that poker run of yours. Had everyone talking. By this morning, I had folks begging me to start the tournament tonight since you are in town. Then there's the badge, your scuffle breaking act at the train station, and word traveling faster than a prairie fire. You're the talk of Valentine tonight, Caleb Thorne."
Caleb blinked, not expecting that level of notoriety. "And the cheerin' when I came in?"
"Well," Mr. Douglas chuckled, "turns out a lotta folk placed bets, some think you'll win the whole damn thing again, others think your luck's bound to run out in the first hand. Either way, you're the reason they're spending money, so cheers to you."
Caleb's eyebrows shot up. "You're kidding."
"Wish I was." Mr. Douglas nodded toward a chalkboard near the poker table where odds were scrawled in messy handwriting:
Thorne Wins: 2 to 1
Thorne Loses: 5 to 1
Caleb let out a slow, wry grin. Attention acquired. He hadn't planned on this happening, but it worked in his favor. Every victory at the tables meant progress.
If he played it right, he could grind his Poker skill to level 4... maybe even max it at level 5, the maximum skill cap of his system.
That would make him an absolute card shark a she would have the same level as a grandmaster of modern world poker player, something useful not just for making money but for reading people, bluffing in negotiations, and maneuvering through higher stakes political games in this frontier world.
He looked around. The saloon was alive with energy, but it was starting to spiral. A couple of ranch hands were getting rowdy near the fireplace, shouting over each other and jostling chairs. One of the working girls was dodging a too friendly hand, and the piano player was glancing toward Mr. Douglas, unsure whether to keep playing.
...
Name: Caleb Thorne
Age: 23
Body Attributes:
- Strength: 7/10
- Agility: 6/10
- Perception: 8/10
- Stamina: 7/10
- Charm: 5/10
- Luck: 6/10
Skills:
- Handgun (Lvl 2)
- Rifle (Lvl 2)
- Firearms Knowledge (Lvl 2)
- Past Life Memory (Lvl MAX)
- Knife (Lvl 1)
- Blunt Weapon (Lvl 1)
- Sneaking (Lvl 2)
- Horse Mastery (Lvl 3)
- Poker (Lvl 3)
- Hand to Hand Combat (Lvl 1)
- Eagle Eye (Lvl 1)
- Dead Eye (Lvl 1)
- Bow (Lvl 2)
- Pain Nullifier (Lvl 1)
- Physical Regeneration (Lvl 0)
- Crafting (Lv1)
- Persuasion (Lvl 2)
- Mental Fortitude (Lvl MAX)
Money: 1268 dollars and 82 cents and 2 gold nuggets
Bank: 320 dollars, 4 gold bars, a large bag of jewelry, and 3 gold nuggets