Carter Winston

Nickname: Car, Cart, C.J., Two-Bits

Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland

Occupation: Card Sharp, Opportunist

Age: 30

Relationship Status: Unwed

Appearance: Average height and weight, blonde hair - usually kept short, blue eyes.

Face claim: Richard Widmark

How did you come by your nickname?
Alright, just cause I'm tellin' you this, don't mean you're allowed to use it unless we're buddies. When I was a kid, I'd say my own name more like 'Quarter'. And my grandpappy started asking if I was 'Two-Bits'. It stuck.

To which social class do you belong?
Never had much money for long. I aim to change that.

Do you have a criminal record? If yes, tell us what you’ve been accused of or charged with.
Are you counting Rebellion against the United States as a criminal record? Well, then yessir, I guess that makes me a criminal since I ain't ever taken that Oath of Allegiance. Don't got no plans to neither.

Any birthmarks, scars, and/or tattoos we should know about?
Nope. Well, there's this little tattoo on the back of my hand. Shaped like a bowtie. Cause I'm the fancy one between me and my brother.

What is your most treasured possession?
This deck of cards and these dice. They were blessed by a priest. It's true! Right hand to God! Always win more'n I lose when I use 'em.

Do you carry any weapons? If yes, describe them.
I keep a six shooter in a shoulder holster, a derringer in my coat pocket, and a knife in my boot.

Aside from weapons, what items do you always carry on your person?
Those cards and dice in case I find someone willing to bet a few nickels on a game.

How would you describe your life thus far?
Ain't how I planned it, that's for sure. I worked on the docks and on some of small boats comin' in and out of Baltimore. Figured I'd work my way up until I owned one of them fancy boats. The war sure sent that plan off course.

But I still got a plan to get a boat. A big one. Just gotta scrape up the money.

What brought you to the railroad and when did you arrive?
Bout a year ago? Nah, little longer'n that. It was springtime of '72. This camp's a goldmine. Always new suckers, I mean, fellas willing to play a game of chance.

Do you have any kin here with you? If yes, list their name, age, and relationship to you.
My brother, Dauber. Looks a lot like me. Just like me, in fact. Which is real handy sometimes.

Describe any influences in your past that led you to do the things you do today.
Our Pa. Wade Winston - he was always looking for an advantage and taught us to do the same.

Which three words would you use to describe yourself?
Handsome. Lucky. Adventurer.

Which two virtues do you align with most and why? (Chastity, Temperance, Charity, Diligence, Patience, Kindness, and Humility)
Uh ... Ch ... nah...

Patience, that's a good one. I think half of my good luck comes from waitin' til the right moment. And Charity - never hurts to slip the barkeep and the dealer some charity when I'm having an extra lucky night.

Which two vices do you align with most and why? (Wrath, Greed, Sloth, Pride, Lust, Envy, and Gluttony)
Greed and Envy. I see them rich bastards out there. Livin' it up. Ain't no care in the world. They get all the good lookin' women too. I want that.

What secrets are you keeping?
These dice are loaded. And the deck's marked. This bowtie tattoo got put on my hand after I got caught cheatin' at cards down in Alabama.

What is your biggest fear?
Shit, I dunno. Who dwells on this kind of stuff? I don't like the thought of losing Dauber. Me and him are real tight. Oh, I'll tell you what else - losin' a limb. Some of those fellas that got hit with a cannon ball during the war and lost a leg? Half of 'em are beggars and the other half ain't nuthin' but a burden on their families. If that ever happens to me, just put me outta my misery.

You’re on a deserted road and see a broken-down wagon with someone stranded ahead. What do you do?
I'd help 'em. Always nice to make some friends and have folks owe ya a favor.

You've found a sack of gold! What do you do with it?
I told you I was lucky, didn't I! This is going to fund my boat. And maybe to a round of drinks in the saloon tonight.

If time travel were a possibility, what specific date or time would you travel to and why?
1900. I bet they got some real nice boats by then.

Have you ever killed someone? If yes, then please tell us about your first kill.
It was during a battle off the coast of Virginia. I won't ever forget it when we sunk that first wooden Union warship. Down, down, down she went. And all them Yanks along with her.

The Civil War was fought on American soil between April 12, 1861, and May 9, 1865. How did the war affect you?
You mean the War of Northern Aggression? I fought in it. Dauber'n I both did. We headed south, joined up with the Confederate Navy. Both ended up on the Virginia. Those ironclads sure are a thing of beauty, aren't they?

Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Folks back where I grew up like to say us Winston Boys were conceived when our daddy won a hand of poker with our Ma. They say he cheated. I reckon he did. But my Ma told me once that she did too.