Four of the ten young men in the car, including Dylan, had been pistol-whipped and were now bruised and bleeding. Chris, still in agony from the two rifle-butt strikes to her face, could only endure in silence.
The car was a labyrinth of partitions and winding corridors, but Henry saw a clear path.
He took the six bodies of the dead outlaws from the first car and, one by one, hurled them through the door of the last car.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The outlaws inside opened fire, shredding the corpses in a hail of bullets.
After the fifth body, the door was a splintered ruin. Henry leaped onto the gangway, holding the last corpse in front of him as a shield, and charged.
The outlaws fired again, but their volley was less intense; many of them were now reloading their six-shooters.
Henry dropped the corpse and activated his Super Reflexes. Two revolvers appeared in his hands.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Six shots. The three Younger brothers were all dead, the bullets passing inches from their hostages.
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
Four more shots. Charlie, the outlaw who had been holding Chris, collapsed, a bullet through his left eye. Frank James, who had been using Kaylee as a shield, screamed as a bullet tore his right ear from his head. He dove for cover.
Only Jesse James remained, his pistol pressed against Consuelo's side. He had been reloading when the attack began.
"Who are you?!" he screamed. "Don't shoot! I'll kill her! She's the granddaughter of the railroad king, Vanderbilt! You'll be a dead man if she dies!"
"I am Sheriff Henry," Henry's voice replied, cold and steady. "And who are you?"
"We are the James brothers. Who the hell are you?"
"Jesse, you and your brother are lucky men. Every other outlaw who has dared to cross me is now in hell."
"All sixty-eight of your men are dead. You two will not escape. I have killed over three hundred outlaws. Not a single one has survived. Throw down your guns and surrender. It's your only chance."
Jesse's mind reeled. The man was a phantom, a demon. In the span of a single second, the three Younger brothers and Charlie were all dead, and Frank was grievously wounded. And these were the best gunmen in the South.
"We'll die if we surrender," Jesse shot back. "Even if you don't kill us, the law will. If you push me, I'll kill every hostage in this car."
"Tell me what you want, Jesse. But the money and the hostages are off the table. And I'll remind you, your time is running out. The law will be here soon. With the bounties on your heads, they won't hesitate to shoot."
"Let my brother Frank go first. He's wounded. I'll take this girl to the gangway, and when I give the word, we'll retreat, one at a time. It will take twenty seconds. Then you can have her back. I swear I won't shoot."
"You are a thief, Jesse. Your word is worthless. I am a lawman. My word is my bond. I will let you go, for their sake."
"Release the two women, the one you are holding and the one your brother has. Then Frank can leave. After that, you can retreat, using the others as your shield. As long as you don't fire another shot, I will not pursue you. That is my guarantee."
"No! The girl I have is the most important one. I'll release the others."
"I believe all these lives are equally important, Jesse. It is precisely because you believe she is the most important that you will release her first. It will be a sign of your sincerity. And if you harm a single one of them, this negotiation is over."
"Believe me, Jesse. If I wanted to hunt you, you would not escape. This is a rare opportunity. Take it. It is my final offer."
A heavy, suffocating silence fell over the car. Jesse and Frank exchanged a look. Jesse saw the blood pouring from his brother's head. If they didn't get him medical attention soon, he would bleed out. He thought of his mother, and of the eighty thousand dollars in cash and jewels he had hidden away.
"I need your word, Henry," Jesse called out.
"You have it. A wise choice, Jesse."
"As long as the James brothers release the two ladies, I will allow Frank to leave, and then Jesse. As long as they do not harm another soul today, I, Sheriff Henry, guarantee they will not be pursued."
"Remember your words, Henry. Don't push two master gunslingers too far." He nodded to his brother. "Let them go."
Consuelo and Kaylee were released. They ran, stumbling, toward Henry. He directed them to take cover behind the seats.
"Good. Frank can leave."
Just then, Chris cried out. "My sapphire necklace! Give it back!"
"Give it back to her, Jesse," Henry's voice commanded. "Life is more important than jewels. I told you, all valuables are to be left behind."
"Give it to her, Frank," Jesse said.
One step back, and then another. It was the only way.