Barrett had arrived at this bar over an hour ago. After finishing a delicious steak, he skillfully found two card partners while also listening to the surrounding people boast about Henry's supernatural marksmanship, especially the display he'd given before briefing the new officers that afternoon.
Indeed a formidable opponent!
The feeling of encountering a well-matched expert made Barrett's dormant blood pulse with excitement, manifesting as card skills blessed by the gods, winning until his two card partners' faces turned ashen.
After one gambler lost all the dozen-plus dollars in his hand, he finally exploded.
He suddenly stood up, drew the revolver from his waist and pointed it at Barrett, saying viciously, "You must be cheating! How could anyone have such good card luck?"
The other gambler saw this and couldn't fall behind or there'd be no money to split, so he also quickly drew his gun and pointed it at Barrett. His mouth full of rotten teeth split open in a sinister grin as he said viciously, "Disgusting fraud, hand over your gun!"
Barrett shrugged and said lightly, "Friends, we're just playing cards for fun. No need for this. How about I return your money to you?"
Seeing victory within grasp and the opponent being such a coward, the second gambler immediately sneered, "Not enough. We need compensation. Hand over all your money and guns."
"Bang bang!"
The two gamblers saw a flash before their eyes, felt tremendous shock in their hands, and involuntarily released their grips as both revolvers were shot into the air.
"Bang bang!" Two more gunshots.
This time both gamblers and bystanders saw clearly - the seated Barrett had somehow already drawn his gun, and with two casual shots had knocked the airborne pistols dozens of meters away.
The entire first floor of the bar fell silent as death. The two gamblers looked at Barrett's gun barrel pointing at them with ashen faces, their hands having nowhere to rest.
One gambler suddenly remembered something and shouted loudly, "Sheriff Henry, he's cheating! Help us!"
Everyone turned to look at Henry.
Henry methodically swallowed the last small piece of steak, picked up his water glass for a sip, then asked unhurriedly, "You say he's cheating. Where's your evidence?"
The two gamblers were speechless.
Henry said coldly, "You can't accuse someone of cheating just because they have good luck or card skills. Accept your losses."
"That friend there, please lower your gun. I'm the sheriff here. That money is yours by right - take it," Henry said to Barrett.
Barrett turned to look at Henry and said with a smile, "Henry, I know you. But for me to spare these two, you must best the gun in my hand. Are you certain?"
At this moment everyone's gaze naturally focused on Henry's young, handsome face.
Barrett's marksmanship display had been too stunning, so everyone wanted to know how Henry would respond.
Henry suddenly realized in his heart that the other party had come specifically for him. He said in a deep voice, "I'm very certain."
Barrett decisively holstered his pistol, stood up and touched his wide-brimmed hat in salute, saying, "Barrett Hicks challenges Henry to a pistol duel. Please confirm the time and place."
"It's him! Blue Death God Hicks!"
"No wonder his hat is blue!"
"My God, he's that Hicks who won over two hundred duels!"
"The person the Southern army most hated and feared!"
"Henry's in trouble this time!"
"Why would he appear here?"
Everyone excitedly discussed among themselves.
Henry said lightly, "Mr. Barrett, isn't living well enough?"
Barrett said decisively, "I insist."
"Then, following western dueling rules, tomorrow at noon, in the town center square, using pistols at thirty meters distance, with Pastor Philip as witness," Henry stated the time and place.
Barrett bowed slightly, then took out his money pouch, swept all the money on the table into it, and strode away.
The people in the bar hall all chattered noisily in discussion.
Henry looked at the deeply worried Thor and Hank and said quietly, "If someone starts taking bets later, put down 200 dollars for me, betting on myself to win."
After speaking, he took out his wallet, pulled out twenty ten-dollar bills and handed them to Thor, then stood up and strode away.
Thor and Hank looked at each other, then soon heard someone opening a book - it was Rock, a local slaughterhouse owner.
"Place your bets! Henry wins pays 1.8 to 1, Barrett wins pays 2.1 to 1, mutual destruction pays 5 to 1."
The atmosphere immediately became even more heated as everyone calculated how to bet.
"Hank, how much are you betting?" Thor asked.
"Everything!" Hank said through gritted teeth, looking like he was giving his all.
Soon, Thor looked at Hank with contempt - his so-called "everything" was 50 cents?
Unlike himself, who could pull out 2 dollars without changing expression!
But Henry absolutely had to win, or he might face a combined beating from Max and old Max.
Thor bet 202 dollars on Henry winning while praying in his heart for Henry's victory.
Bald Rock loudly confirmed, "Max family boy, you're certain you're betting 202 dollars on Henry winning?"
Their two families had business dealings, so they knew each other.
Thor also shouted loudly, "Of course! Our Sheriff Henry will definitely win!"
"Blue Death God" Barrett Hicks had appeared in Fresco Town and would duel Henry with pistols tomorrow at noon!
This news swept through the entire town like a hurricane.
Mayor William soon learned of it and was immediately filled with worry.
But since the duel challenge between both parties was established, there was nothing more he could do.
Unless he immediately sent a squad of gunmen to surround Barrett and shoot him dead.
But Barrett wasn't a fugitive - he was an American war hero, and this was a fair duel. William certainly couldn't do such a thing.
The McKinley family's town committee member Barack felt hopeful, hoping Barrett would be strong enough to interrupt Henry's rising path, or at least severely wound him.
The new officers all learned through Rock and Hank's vivid descriptions. Except for those still on duty, they all flocked to the four bars to place bets, all betting on Henry's victory.
After all, Barrett hadn't acted in a long time, while Henry had been killing left and right these past few days.
As the duty officers changed shifts, they excitedly spread the news to many families, including Pete and Linda.
Linda secretly prayed in her heart, hoping Henry would be safe and sound.
Others all enthusiastically participated in discussions and betting, since the town rarely saw such duels, especially between two sharpshooters.
In the West, fair gun-drawing duels under public scrutiny were very rare.
Polite, orderly duels were fine, but those were aristocratic rules.
Honor and dueling were privileges of the upper class; ambushes and shootouts were the understanding of the lower class.
(End of Chapter)
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