Red Dead Redemption 2: From Gaming To Cowboy

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"Alright," Caleb said, rolling up his sleeves. "Lesson one, how to make what I called a ground beef." He laid out the meat on a clean cloth, then took up the cleaver. With swift, practiced chops, he began mincing the prime cut into fine grounds. Jasper watched, fascinated, as the texture transformed.

"Now," Caleb said, sprinkling salt and the last of his creeping thyme over the meat, "we mix."

His hands worked the herbs and salt into the beef, the earthy aroma of thyme blending with the rich scent of fresh meat. Once satisfied, he portioned the mixture so that they could make four thick patties.

He showed Jasper how to make the patties, where they shaped the mixture into flat and round shapes by hand. Jasper's first one was a little lopsided, but by the third, he'd gotten the hang of it.

"Not bad," Caleb said, nodding with approval. "Now we grill."

The grill went over the fire first. As it heated, Caleb sliced the onions thin and set the bread rolls aside. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he placed the patties onto the sizzling iron.

The scent of the sizzling meat and herb was instant, savory, herbal, and utterly mouthwatering as it's drifted into the air almost instantly. Jasper's eyes widened and his stomach growled loudly.

"Damn," the kid muttered. "That smells amazing."

"Wait till you try it."

Caleb flipped the patties, revealing a perfect crust. As they cooked, he added sliced onions to the grill, letting them caramelize just enough before laying them gently atop the cooking meat.

A few minutes later, he placed a thick slice of cheese over each patty, allowing it to melt from the residual heat. Then, he took the bread rolls, sliced them clean, and assembled the burgers, bottom roll, patty, melted cheese, grilled onions, and top roll.

He handed the first burger to Jasper whose hands trembled slightly as he took it. "Try it."

Jasper took a hesitant bite. Then his eyes widened. He took another bite. Then another. Then nearly half the burger disappeared before Caleb could blink.

"Holy hell, this is... this is crazy good" he gasped, wiping juice from his chin. "What is this? Why ain't folks been makin' this all along?!"

"It's called a burger," Caleb said, taking a bite of his own, "and also because they don't know what they're missing." As he said so, he could taste the flavors exploded, herbs, beef, sharp onion, and the slight sweetness of the roll. Perfect.

"You're gonna be rich if you sell this Caleb.," Jasper breathed.

Once their stomachs were full and the fire was still burning steady, Caleb moved to the next step.

"Time for something even better," he said. "Potatoes. You know how to peel em?"

Jasper wiped his mouth. "Sure do. My ma used to make me help whenever she's makin' stew."

"Good. We need long strips. About the width of your finger."

Together they dump all of the potatoes from the sack and use the cool water that Jasper had took from the well to wash the dust and dirt off. Once clean, they sat on overturned crates they found nearby and peeled them using their knife, laughing and sharing stories of weird townsfolk and bad meals.

Once skinned, they cut the potatoes into long strips, Caleb demonstrating the technique with his kitchen knife until Jasper was mimicking him almost exactly. It was slow going, but eventually they had a pile of raw, clean fries.

Caleb returned to the fire, pouring the bottles of lard into the cooking pot and waiting patiently until it bubbled and shimmered. Then, they carefully lowered the first batch of fries into the hot oil.

The sizzle was immediate. The smell, even better.

"What's it called again?" Jasper asked, leaning in for a closer look.

"French fries."

Jasper grinned. "Fancy name."

"Fancier taste."

Each batch cooked until golden brown, then Caleb fished them out with a makeshift wire hook and and dumped them into the second cooking pot, lined with a bit of cloth to soak the oil. When all were done, he sprinkled them lightly with salt and handed a handful to Jasper.

"Try it," he said.

Jasper bit into one, then stood still, eyes wide as though he'd just heard angels sing as he moaned. "This is illegal. Like it's some sort of a magic. It's gotta be."

Caleb laughed. "Nope. It's lunch. But yeah, it kinda feels like that."

They sat there under the shade behind the stable, both eating and watching Morgan occasionally flick her tail and stomp at flies.

As they ate, Caleb laid out his vision.

"I'm thinking of setting up a food stand. Selling burgers and fries. Maybe more later when I come up with something else. I need someone to help me run it when I'm on duty or leave the town."

Jasper's eyes lit up. "You mean... me?"

"You're quick. You know the town. And Worth works you too hard for too little." Caleb leaned in. "I'll pay you good wages based on the amount of sale. Hell, if we take off and expand our business, I'm making you my business partner."

Jasper didn't hesitate. "I'm in. You have helped and teach me to stand on my own legs in this world. Helping you is a small natter compared to that."

They shook on it, grease and all.

As the sun started to dip, they cleaned up the tools, wiped out the pots using water from the well and dried them in the fading light.

Caleb wrapped the what's remained of the salt and Creeping Thyme in cloth, stashed the kitchen gear into one and put his grill back in Morgan's saddlebag, and tucked the leftover fries into a cloth wrapped bundle for Jasper to take back into his room.

As they walked back toward the hotel with Morgan in tow, the orange amber glow of the setting sun casting long shadows behind them, Caleb felt a subtle thrum echo inside his skull, a sensation not of this world, like a ripple through static.

Then, with a familiar, metallic ding and a transparent shimmer, the System Interface flared to life before his eyes. A thin blue frame blinked into view, hovering silently in the air.

[New Skills Acquired!]

[Cooking (Lvl 2)]

Description: Gained through creation of culturally advanced food (Burger and French Fries) and prior life culinary expertise. Improved food crafting speed and taste detection. Increased effectiveness of cooked food for healing or morale.

[Teaching (Lvl 1)]

Description: Gaines through consistent instruction to others (Jasper Granger). Students learn 15% faster when taught directly by the user. Future opportunities to develop charisma based leadership skills unlocked.

Caleb blinked, slightly stunned. Then a grin broke across his face as he muttered, "Alright, hell yeah."

Two highly practical skills, one grounded in survival and business, the other in people. The System had good timing for once.

Jasper glanced over, curious. "You good, Caleb?"

"Better than good," he said, clapping the boy on the back. "Remind me to keep teaching you stuff, Jasper. It's payin' off more than you know."

Jasper, ever a quick learner, chuckled. "If it gets me more of those burgers, you bet I'll stick around."

By the time they reached the front of the hotel, the oil lamps were being lit one by one across the town's main street. The night breeze was cool, the sky was speckled with stars.

After hitching Morgan back onto the hitching post, Caleb and Jasper head inside the hotel, and go to Caleb's room first on the second floor to put the kitchen gear. Then after that Jasper returned to his own room.

On the last day of the passing five day, He reported in to Sheriff Malloy at sunrise, received a nod and a half mile, before then started his morning patrol.

He stepped out into the morning air, wearing the badge, his sidearm visible at his hip. As he made his rounds, greeting familiar townsfolk, tipping his hat to the ladies, nodding at the ranchers and stablehands, he kept his senses sharp. While keeping Valentine safe, his ears stayed open for whispers of danger or opportunity.

Near the general store, he heard a hushed conversation about a caravan due to pass near Cattail Pond next week, full of mining equipment and payroll. Might be worth noting for the gang to look into. Still no whispers about the gang whatsoever or about the Pinkertons.

After that, he played the part of the calm lawman, keeping the streets clean of drunks and rowdies. He even helped an old lady called Miss Abernathy with her broken wheelbarrow, which got him a freshly baked cherry tart for his troubles. A nice bonus that becomes his lunch.

Sheriff Malloy paid him 5 dollars at dusk, counting out the bill with a satisfied nod. "Town's been quieter since you started wearin' that star. Almost makes me wanna keep you around permanent like."

Caleb pocketed the money with a noncommittal smile. "We'll see, Sheriff. But don't keep your hopes up, while it's an easy job but this ain't my choice of work."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the saloon's lanterns flickered to life, casting long shadows across the muddy street. The second poker tournament was about to begin, and from the crowd spilling out the doors, it was going to be bigger than the first.

The second round of the Poker Tournament brought in nearly double the crowd. Word had spread. Mr. Douglas stood at the bar, beaming with happiness as his business boomed.

The working girls wore fresh dresses and brighter smiles, making rounds with drinks and flirty winks. The piano man was already halfway through a lively ragtime number when Caleb entered and the room erupted.

People cheered his arrival. Some clapped him on the back; others eyed him cautiously. A few sneered, sore losers from the first tournament. But Caleb just nodded, cool as ever, and took his seat at the table.

Mr. Douglas stood atop the bar, banging a bottle for order. "Alright, you animals! Tournament rules same as last time but with a raised stake! Buy in's 25 dollars now, and same as last time, the winner takes the pot and Caleb's bonus of 150 dollars!"

Hearing that Caleb paid it without blinking, and the players included two railroad men, a rancher from Cumberland Forest, a former bounty hunter who kept scowling at him, and a well dressed stranger who had the shifty eyes of a card cheat also does the same. Caleb kept his poker face solid.

Then the game began.

Caleb took it slow at first,folding weak hands, watching their tells. The bounty hunter tapped his fingers when bluffing. The railroad man scratched his chin before betting big. The well dressed man smiled too much when he had a strong hand.

But Caleb wasn't just playing cards. He was studying. Reading. Tracking every twitch, every flicker of doubt or pride. His Past Life Memory and Poker (Lvl 3) Skills guided his instincts.

Then came the big hand.

Four players stayed in, the pot swelling over 200 dollars. Caleb had a full house, kings full of sevens. He watched the bounty hunter go all in, probably holding a flush. The railroad man hesitated, and folded. The cheat called.

Caleb paused, then shoved in all his chips.

Gasps around the room.

Cards turned.

The bounty hunter's eyes went wide in horror. The cheat cursed in some European tongues.

Caleb grinned. "Full house."

The saloon erupted in cheers, jeers, and catcalls. Bets had been placed on the game and the outcome. The ones who backed Caleb were jubilant. Others groaned and threw their hats. Mr. Douglas himself poured Caleb a free drink and gave him a nod of respect.

Even the working girls took notice, one of them running her finger along his arm as she whispered, "Honey, you just made yourself very popular."

Caleb laughed. He couldn't help it. The rush was real.

When the dust settled, he'd made 204 dollars and 37 cents after buy ins and splits. A good haul.

But not without consequences.

As the crowd thinned and the piano music turned slow and wistful, Caleb leaned against the bar and scanned the room. His high perception stats twitched.

A group of three men sat near the back corner, not locals. One of them kept eyeing Caleb's satchel. Another whispered behind his hand. As Caleb knew they meant trouble, one of the working girls, Lilly, a brunette with a sharp wit, leaned into Caleb at this time. "Watch yourself, sugar. Those three fellers? They have been asking around about you. Where you stay. When you ride out."

...

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)

- Cooking (Lvl 2) - New

- Teaching (Lvl 1) - New

Money: 1660 dollars and 88 cents and 2 gold nuggets

Bank: 320 dollars, 4 gold bars, a large bag of jewelry, and 3 gold nuggets