The name Barrett Hicks, to Billy the Kid, was like the sound of thunder.
And yet, this legendary gunslinger had been effortlessly erased by Henry.
Billy's interest in Henry now burned brighter than ever. It was the thrill a man feels when, having reached the peak of his own mountain, he hears tales of an even higher one in the distance.
He decided he would spend the night celebrating, and tomorrow, he would face Henry in a duel to the death.
And so, every now and then, he raised his own glass with the rest of the saloon, joining the chorus of "To Henry!"
That afternoon, Henry had received his winnings from Thor: his original $200 stake, plus a profit of $360.
After inventorying the wallets and pouches of the two outlaw gangs, he'd collected another $432.40. As he'd suspected, men with nothing to lose rarely feared death.
Adding Barrett's $2,264.80, his total windfall for the day was $2,857.60. He tossed ten dollars to Luke and told him to treat the sixteen deputies who had helped at the duel to a feast.
He had also confirmed the identities of the two gangs—the Wild Wolf and Skull Gangs—and according to department records, his ambush had effectively annihilated them. There was another $1,630 in bounties to be claimed from other departments, though some required live capture, which might complicate things.
The haul of weapons included 12 double-action and 8 single-action revolvers, as well as 21 Winchester rifles. Three of the single-action pistols were Smith & Wesson Model 3s.
Henry booked the rifles into the department armory, but only turned in the three Smith & Wessons. The other revolvers went into his office—and from there, into his private storage.
Due to their mechanical nature, the rapid, violent fanning technique he favored was brutal on revolvers and would quickly wear them out. He needed a constant supply of replacements to ensure he never suffered a weapon malfunction at a critical moment. It was one of the costs of maintaining his overwhelming firepower.
That was why he favored a single model of firearm and a single caliber of ammunition; it made swapping weapons in a fight a seamless, instinctive process.
That evening, he returned to the Phoenix Saloon for dinner.
The moment he walked in, the crowd erupted in a massive cheer. Henry, still buoyed by the acquisition of a new talent and his recent earnings, was in an excellent mood.
He raised his voice over the din. "A round of bourbon for everyone on the ground floor," he announced. "On me!"
There were over two hundred men present. The cost would be about ten dollars.
A deafening roar of approval shook the room. "TO HENRY!"
A few sycophants even added, "To the generous and mighty Henry!"
He smiled and went up to his private room, where he ordered double the usual amount of steak and bread. Drummond never appeared, which meant the intel on the McKinley family wasn't ready yet.
After dinner, he went straight home. At 10 PM, he began his nightly patrol. It was another quiet night, aside from a dozen drunks causing a ruckus, which the saloon bouncers quickly handled.
Early the next morning, Henry went to Linda's house. She had nearly finished packing. After having breakfast with her and the children, he went to the office and called Pete into his office.
"Pete, in the next three to five days, I'll be escorting Linda and the kids to Denver to catch a train. You and Mary will go with them. You'll see the three of them safely to New York and then return. I'll cover all your travel expenses."
"Hasn't Mary been saying she regrets not having a honeymoon? Here's your chance. Spend a few days in New York with her before you come back."
Pete was ecstatic. "Thank you, Henry! I guarantee I'll complete the mission. And we won't stay in New York for too long."
Henry gave him a disdainful look. As if you'll be the one making that decision.
"It's fine," he said. "If Mary wants to stay a few extra days, you stay with her."
"No, really," Pete insisted. "You've just taken over as Sheriff. You need the help."
Henry's heart warmed again. The kid has potential, he thought. Ability is secondary. Position and loyalty are what matter most.
"For today, you'll take four of the new men and continue to stand guard at Linda's. Go now, and help her with the last of her things. We can't have any trouble in these next two days."
"Yes, Sheriff!" Pete said with a grin, saluted, and hurried out.
Henry turned his attention back to the department's files on the three major families. The information was basic, but the locations and personnel were clear enough. He made a decision. Whether Drummond's intel arrived or not, he was going to make his move tonight at 7 PM, or tomorrow at 5 AM. He was going to wipe out the McKinley family's private army.
They were the most likely source of an ambush during his escort mission. Whether they had a plan in place or not, the mere possibility was enough. He had to ensure that possibility was eliminated. He was confident he could handle any other common outlaws or gangs, as long as it wasn't a large-scale ambush. But the McKinley's disciplined cavalry force was too great a threat.
Besides, if he didn't act now, Marshal Duncan would eventually return. Having a federal lawman looking over his shoulder would be a major constraint.
Escorting Linda was only one of his reasons for going to Denver. The original Henry hadn't been to the city in over six years. He needed to scout it for himself. There was no future for him if he remained cooped up in Frisco. The title of Sheriff was just a stepping stone.
Henry had a decisive advantage over every other man in this era. It wasn't just his powers. It was his knowledge.
He had a rough understanding of the major events of the Gilded Age, of America's political and economic structure, and of the changes that were to come.
His time as a mercenary had given him a deep understanding of weapons design and development, and of modern military history and tactics.
And finally, he had personally traveled to the American West three times in his past life. He had a passing familiarity with Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, California, and Idaho. He knew their railway systems and their famous landmarks.