Charles and Owen felt very grateful in their hearts, silently vowing to guard the camp well, because they knew Henry had voluntarily taken on most of the danger.
Henry left alone on foot, not riding a horse. With his stamina, he could reach Death Valley in just over 20 minutes.
He also didn't want to ride, to avoid alerting the bandits.
When gunfire travels over 1500 meters, it basically diminishes to near 60 decibels, making it impossible for people to distinguish as gunshots.
Considering sound attenuation in atmospheric environments, buildings, trees and such, gunfire would be even more inaudible at that distance.
So Henry hadn't heard the earlier gunshots from Richard's group being ambushed.
This morning after reaching the mountain road, Henry discovered his eyesight had indeed greatly improved - he could see farther, higher, and clearer. Even hawks flying high in the sky could be seen in perfect detail.
When Henry reached the valley entrance at Death Valley, seeing the gorge that looked like it had been split by a thick-backed, thin-bladed axe when gods created the world, he couldn't help but marvel at nature's miraculous craftsmanship.
Moreover, the mountain peaks on both sides were roughly the same height, covered with dense fir forests and shrubs.
According to Charles, the two peaks were about 2400 feet high, roughly 720 meters.
Based on Henry's information, it would be very difficult to cross from the middle or top of the peaks to the other side of the mountain, with some uncrossable ravines and treacherous terrain in between.
Native locals very familiar with the area should be able to cross, but definitely couldn't carry large amounts of supplies.
When large caravans passed through, they often had people waiting on the other side, checking both sides of the opposite peaks in advance.
So normally there weren't many bandits here ambushing passing travelers, because targets were either large caravans, or they'd wait a long time with no one passing through. Even when there were travelers, they were usually small caravans or solo travelers with little profit and likely very difficult to handle.
Unless, like this ambush of Henry, they had specific intelligence, strong gangs wouldn't come here for planned ambushes.
So if people from Denver were really setting ambushes here, it would most likely be on that side's half of the route, because they'd also worry about being ambushed by other bandits when coming to this side.
Therefore, there was no need to be overly concealed on this side. If any gang was ambushing Henry here and attacked him, it would actually save him reconnaissance effort.
Henry strode toward climbing the mountain peak on his right.
At this time, on the other side of the mountain, Jim was saying to Frank: "Boss, if that little beauty's family can't pay ransom this time, give her to me."
Jim had thought for quite a while and decided to strike first, greeting Frank beforehand to prevent other strong competitors in the gang from interfering later.
Although Frank was a terrible gambler with questionable gambling ethics, he had excellent marksmanship and kept his word - already remarkable golden qualities in the West, so his subordinates trusted him relatively well.
Frank immediately turned his cross-eyes toward Jim and said coldly: "Noble girls are only valuable when they're intact. I'm warning you - absolutely cannot touch her before ransom is negotiated!"
Jim felt somewhat intimidated by the cross-eyed stare and stammered: "Of course, I won't. I'm just talking about if her family refuses to pay ransom."
"We'll discuss it after I see her. At minimum, you need to perform well during the Henry ambush before I can make this decision," Frank's expression softened slightly.
"No problem, boss, watch me. I'll chop Henry's head right off," Jim grinned, showing his rotten teeth, and thumped his chest loudly.
On the other side, after being tied up for over half an hour, Richard's whole body was stiff and aching. He said to the young bandit watching nearby: "Could you loosen it a little? I promise I won't run."
The bandit smiled gloatingly and said: "Money works, no money means no deal."
Richard said: "All my things were taken. I'll pay you when the ransom is paid later, okay?"
The bandit chuckled dismissively.
"By the time ransom is paid, what business is it of mine? But I see your wife is decent. As long as she takes turns with us two brothers behind the trees for some fun, that'll work. How about it?"
Another young bandit also looked over excitedly.
Richard immediately felt Madeline's hands tense up and quickly said: "No way."
The two young bandits shrugged, reluctantly touching Madeline up and down with their gazes, but ultimately said nothing more.
Both Madeline and Edith beside her felt like ants were crawling all over their bodies, goosebumps rising on their skin.
Madeline now deeply regretted - she had been too willful, using charm and feminine wiles to completely subdue Richard, actually getting him to agree to let her come with him on this western business trip.
And she'd also dragged down her cousin Edith who had come to visit her.
She was the family's treasured jewel with high hopes placed on her.
Edith also felt she had made an extremely stupid decision.
Western air wasn't just free and wild - it was more savage and bloody!
"I think you should let him maintain better condition and loosen him up a little, in case something happens. He has congenital heart disease. Even when selling goods, you need to ensure the merchandise is in best condition to get a good price, right?" Edith mustered courage and called out loudly to Russell who was playing cards nearby.
Russell immediately looked over and asked: "Congenital heart disease? Are you sure?"
Edith said with complete sincerity in the most honest tone: "Of course, otherwise why would my sister come along to such a remote place to take care of him?"
Seeing the beauty so sincere, Russell chose to believe her and instructed: "Bick, loosen him up a bit, let him breathe."
The young bandit Bick who had earlier wanted some fun looked displeased as he loosened Richard's bindings, keeping only the ones on his hands.
Richard gratefully thanked Edith with his eyes.
Madeline also smiled happily at Edith.
Edith smiled and said to Bick: "Thank you."
Bick, who had just wanted to have fun with Madeline, couldn't quite handle her brilliant smile and said awkwardly: "It's only right, he has heart disease."
Edith maintained her sweet smile and said softly: "When my family comes to pay ransom, I'll definitely give you two 10 dollars each to go drink your fill at a bar."
Bick and the other bandit exchanged glances. This time he wasn't aloof, smiling and saying: "Thank you, miss. Anyone can see you're a proper lady."
Edith continued softly: "We've been waiting so long, so boring. Are you just waiting for that one person Henry? Could you tell me who he is? Just to pass time."
Faced with the beauty's sweet voice and flower-like smile, Bick's heart suddenly became incredibly soft.
Thinking it wasn't really a secret, and even if they knew they couldn't do anything about it, Bick said quietly: "I also heard this from our boss. That Henry is apparently the new sheriff of Fresco Town. He killed..."
(End of Chapter)
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