Summary

Murphy is the oldest son of Catherine Braithwaite. Being born into one of the ruling rich families around Rhodes, his life was strict and predetermined by his parents. He was meant to take over the moonshine business the family had established several generations ago. His family raised him to be highly educated for the times standards and trained him how to create the hooch, handle sales, horses and wagons. At the age of 12, Murphy was given his first horse, Pinto, to teach him first hand how to care for the animals as they would be essential for the moonshine business. Despite the tasks being forced upon him, he enjoyed the business and what it entailed. The young Braithwaite was introduced in the industry and business, he was educated and schooled at his home. Murphy has always been eager to learn as long as he could remember. His interest in discovering new things often got him into trouble as a kid however.

As he met Silas, he met up with the young boy on the family’s property or surrounding areas regularly. They soon became childhood friends and Murphy liked to share his home and possessions with the other boy. As time progressed and the boys grew up more, their connection was not welcomed but tolerated at first by Murphy’s family. When Silas was out and about he often brought Murphy little gifts ranging from stones to small animal carcasses. Since Murphy was forbidden to leave the property more often than not, he didn’t get to see much of the region in his younger years. Silas made sure to bring little parts of the unknown to him in that way. As they grew older their bond only strengthened, they roamed the area together, against the Braithwaite family’s wishes. The two young boys built relations between one another and ended up disappearing into the wilderness or abandoned buildings for days on end. Many years passed and at the age of 17/18 (tbd) Murphy found himself in the massive fields on the Braithwaite property. The young man failed to notice a panther lurking in the thicket of the adjacent jungle and ended up getting attacked by the massive animal. Family members heard the commotion and were able to shoot the animal before Murphy was killed. The Braithwaite was rushed to the doctor in Rhodes and treated there for several days.

Shortly after the attack his trusted childhood friend disappeared without leaving a trace behind, for reasons unknown to Murphy. It left the boy devastated and hurt for a long period of time. His relatives had observed him and Silas and took to mental and physical abuse of the young Braithwaite in an attempt to ‘cleanse’ him and make him focus on the family business once more. Left alone with his thoughts and feelings, Murphy decided to focus his attention on education. Months later, he was granted a trip up to Roanoke, to meet his soon to be teacher, Marko Dragic. Marko was a professor who knew the ways of modern technology and sciences. Having worked together with him from Spring to Autumn, he built a close friendship with the elder professor. Murphy learned about modern technology and the science it entailed. In addition to that he learned how to handle guns and rifles with the predators lurking around in the forests. Until then he had no reason to possess any guns, having kept sheltered on the broad property. Roanoke became the Braithwaite’s second home during the educational trip and in the coming years he would pay his friend and professor occasional visits. Upon return from his trips Murphy was integrated into the moonshine business again.

Years passed and at the age of 24/25 (tbd) one particular moonshine delivery to the Rhodes saloon turned Murphy’s life around completely. Upon arrival at the establishment a fight broke out. A Mexican looking fragile man found himself as the victim of it. Murphy made himself well known and respected but yet avoided around the town over the years, an almost authority figure if it wasn’t for the Gray family running the town. The young man used said authority to protect the victim and brought him in to the towns doctor. There, he learned that the fragile man was none other than his childhood friend Silas, however, the latter had no recollection of the Braithwaite. He learned that his old friend suffered from a severe case of amnesia. Murphy knew that Silas had nowhere to go and with the injuries he sustained, he would have surely died if he stayed on the streets. He decided to take him in and take care of him until he would be healthy again. His family was wary of the injured man, they knew who he really was. Murphy’s mother sent them both on moonshine businesses, even as his friend was still suffering.

As time progressed the moonshine still was sabotaged by Murphy’s cousins, causing it to explode as the young man was next to it. The young Braithwaite was lucky to only have sustained burns and a signature scar that was visible on his forehead and ran down around his eye, almost taking his eyeball in the process, over the bridge of his nose. Silas was there at the time, saving an unconscious Murphy from the fire the explosion caused.

The final straw that broke the camel's back was a hate crime within the town of Rhodes, an attempted lynching of Silas. With the help of Peyo, Silas’ horse, Murphy was able to save him just in time and sped off with him. Using his back as a shield, Murphy sustained multiple bullet wounds and was barely able to cling to consciousness. Eventually they tripped, the Braithwaite never failed to protect Silas’ body with his own. They landed in the thicket of a creek, hiding away from their attackers until they were gone for good. Murphy rested against a rock as he helped Silas regain consciousness. The two young men knew they couldn’t stay in the state of Lemoyne any longer than this and rode off into the wild, never turning back.