Yankton

Chapter 34

Chapter 34 Stranger in a Strange Land

I was forced to constantly keep Mr. Sedgwick in line reminding him that this wasn't some trail ride in Yellowstone, but the realization that there were no paved roads utility poles and lines, nor any evidence of modern life constantly distracted him.

By the time we were in sight of Purgatory Mark's dad was so confused he didn't know whether to s**t or go blind, I heard him babbling something about "where are all the cars? I don't see any cars." It was around eleven in the morning so there didn't appear to be a lot of customers around we tied up in front of the clinic and dismounted.

"Now was that so bad,?" I asked, "Looks like your riding skills came back."

"It would seem that way," He replied, "Is this where Mark is?"

"Stay here for a moment, I have to go in first, just be patient for a few moments longer sir."

I went inside, to find Mark drinking coffee, and chatting with Melonie and Kitty.

"Mark, listen up guy, I couldn't help it, I'll explain later, but your dad is out…"

At that moment Mr. Sedgwick stormed through the door

"Mark! What's the meaning of this, what's going on here?"

Mark immediately gave me a dirty look then turned to his father.

"Dad! What are you doing here?"

In an angry tone of voice, he blurted out,

" Your sister told your mother and I some wild tale about you and your friend here living in the wild west, frequenting brothels, shooting people, and God knows what else, now what is going on around here?"

Mark gave me another dirty look, took a sip of coffee then launched.

"Shut-up dad, just sit the hell down and listen up, would you like some coffee before I start?" Mr. Sedgwick calmed down and looked around nobody was smiling. Taking the offered coffee, Mark first made introductions.

"First of all dad, this is Melonie Bishop, the young woman I'm teaching modern medical skills, this lady is Kitty Turner, she works over at the saloon." Both greeted him as he took a seat.

"For starters dad, Brian wasn't lying, this IS…The year 1877, and we are north of Deadwood Dakota Territory Melonie here was born in 1855, and Kitty…1858 I think you told me."

Mr. Sedgwick's eyes got wide as his son continued.

"Brian can explain it better than I can, but you came here through the courtesy of a time machine, or as we call it, our "wayback" machine. These people are real, everything around you is real, this is the way things really were, and are dad. Melonie here expressed a desire to learn to be a doctor, I'm doing what I can to help her reach that goal, she's really catching on, together we saved Kitty's life, Now…What was it that was so important, you had to come all the way here to ask me?"

Mr. Sedgwick looked at Melonie, Kitty and then hesitatingly said,

"It's a bit private son, all these people, I mean…"

"They are my friend's dad; I'm not going anywhere, just tell me what it is you want."

Mr. Sedgwick sat and collected his thoughts for a moment, then said.

"Well you know my feelings on this Obamacare thing, from the looks of the way things are shaping up, I simply won't be able to remain in business, with what they would reimburse me for, it's just not feasible. You remember my friend Dr. Shankins? Well He's been talking to me about opening a new practice in which it would be strictly cash only; we would treat strictly cash only patients. Your mother is also interested in the idea. I wanted to talk to you about the possibility of you going back to school, getting your PA degree, and joining us, there would be a lot of tax benefits to something like this."

"But dad, you're a heart specialist, that's a big come-down if your forced to do that," replied Mark.

Mr. Sedgwick shrugged, "Yes, that's true, but I'm not ready to throw in the towel just yet, the only other thing is to partner up with some of my colleagues head for Costa Rica and open up an offshore clinic down there, but there's a lot of problems with that as well, what do you say son?

Mark looked at his father for a moment, then replied,

"I'll think about it dad, right now I am making a difference right here teaching Melonie, treating people that need it, considering the state of medicine here in 1877 I probably know more than ninety percent of the doctors in the country right now. Tell you what dad, as long as you're here, stick around for a bit, share some of your knowledge with Melonie here. Admittedly, there's a lot I can't teach her, you know stuff that requires technology that just isn't available yet, but there is a lot that is. Stay for a couple weeks anyway, Brian can return you to a day or so after you left 2014, weren't you collecting old time medical equipment, well here's your chance to collect it at the source."

It was about this time Mark's father started to realize where he really was and start to come to terms with it. Turning to Melonie, he apologized,

"I want to apologize for my boorish behavior, so you're the young lady who is interested in becoming a doctor?" Mel blushed, as she smiled.

"Yes I am good sir. Is it true, do you actually repair people's hearts?"

"Mr. Sedgwick returned her smile,

"Um is it Ms, or?"

"Cut it out dad," exclaimed Mark,

"None of that PC baloney here, her name is Melonie."

Turning to Melonie, Doctor Sedgwick said,

Melonie it is," She smiled and nodded.

"Well Melonie, medicine has come a long way these hundred and thirty odd years, I not only repair hearts, but replace them as well, if we get some time later on, I will be more than happy to explain what is involved." He then looked at Kitty, asking.

"What exactly were you suffering from young lady?" Kitty giggled at her newfound admirer.

Mark again spoke up,

"Dad, Kitty is what they call a "soiled dove," some yahoo stabbed her, and because there's no such thing as blood transfusions yet, she damn near died. Helping to patch her up was Mel's first big test, she's not afraid of blood, got right in there and got the job done, while I supervised, you ought to see her "needlework." Mr. Sedgwick frowned looking at both women, then at his son.

"How…how was that possible? What did you use for anesthesia, oxygen, that sort of thing?"

Mark grinned,

"Like I told that blabber mouth sister of mine, this is real "seat of the pants," medicine dad, I've got a device similar to what an Iraqi doctor showed me, it uses chloroform vapor. It's not the greatest, you've really got to work fast before the effect wears off, but it's all we have. Right now, I'm looking for someone who can build me another one using local materials."

His father could only shake his head in disbelief, then began to ask the women about life here in the Black Hills. While he was doing that, Mark came over to me and whispered in my ear,

"We need to talk…Our tent…Right now!'

We headed outside over to our tent cabin, Mark threw a few more pieces of wood into the stove and turned to me.

"Well…I'm listening."

"I grimaced, then stated,

"When Melinda and I got back home there were several messages on the answering machine, three were from your dad, he was in town and was trying to see you, I called him and tried to put him off, but he insisted on coming over to see you, I'm sorry Mark, he sounded pissed, what was I going to do? Wendy talked out of turn getting everything I told her all confused and sensationalized. Anyway, once he came over and started making veiled threats, I became worried; I think he thought we were involved in something illegal. I'm sorry; I really didn't know what else to do."

Mark continued to look disgusted, then shrugged, then asked,

"So what did he do when you brought him here?"

"Basically freaked out," I replied, "I really put the zap on his head anyway."

Mark grinned, and patted me on the shoulder, "It's OK buddy, in a perverted kind of way I'm kinda glad he's here, I kinda wanted Wendy to experience all that we enjoy here first, but eventually I had planned on inviting mom and dad too, his arrival is just a little sooner than I had planned. Maybe I'll introduce him to that doctor Cochran, and watch the fur fly."

"So what did you think of his offer," I asked.

"Actually it sounds interesting, but my commitment to Mel comes first. Dad's a big medical history fan, he might get a kick out of sticking around for a bit, I still want to get into a little anatomy work with Mel, he might be pretty helpful there."

We returned to the clinic, where Mark's dad was still chatting away with Melonie and Kitty.

"Dad," announced Mark, "There's some other people here I think you need to meet, Kitty, Mel, are you two coming, drinks on me." Before we left Mark announced to his father,

"Dad, we're going over to the saloon, now, keep in mind this is NOT 2014. None of that political correctness here, keep in mind everybody will be armed, including Brian and I, some of our customers would just as kill you as look at you , there is no police department, or state police, fire department, or any of a dozen other agencies to come to the rescue. There is always the very real possibility that Brian, Colin or I will have to actually shoot and kill someone, remember this is the Wild West."

Mr. Sedgwick didn't look too comfortable with this news, but accompanied us over to the saloon.

There were about five or six customers three were playing cards three were drinking at the bar, we headed for our table and sat down, shortly Montana came down the stairs, spotted us and came right over. We all stood up and Mark introduced his father.

"Dad, this is Montana, Montana, this is my father Dr. Norman Sedgwick."

Montana offered her hand as Mr. Sedgwick took it and shook her hand.

"Enjoying your visit to the past Mr. Sedgwick," asked Montana.

"It's…Interesting, to say the least," replied Mr. Sedgwick.

Montana proceeded to sit down as Mark's dad looked at her, then at his son, then back at me.

"Is there a problem Mr. Sedgwick," asked Montana. Before she could answer, Maggie came down the stairs and walked over to where we were sitting, we all stood again as Mark introduced them.

"Dad, this is Maggie Flynn, she also works here, and yes, Mel and I check them all the time for STD"s, I'm sorry to say it's a reality of the old west, Montana takes real good care of them, and compared to the way the girls are treated in places like the Gem or the Bella Union Kitty and Maggie really have it good." His father had nothing to say other than just form a puzzled look on his face.

Finally Ingrid came over, followed by Colin just coming in from outdoors, Mark introduced them as well, but since Sockie was on duty, she had to return to the bar. Mark's father kept gawking at Montana, Kitty and Maggie who were chatting with Melonie, Mark was talking with Colin, so he leaned over to me and quietly asked.

"Are these women actual prostitutes?"

Grinning, I replied, "Well they're certainly not actresses' portraying prostitutes, this isn't the set of "Gunsmoke."

He continued to stare at Kitty and Maggie, until Maggie asked him,

"Something you like mister, perhaps we could take your interest upstairs?"

This really threw him for a loop, with Mark laughing and adding.

"Careful there dad."

Montana saw what was going on, and intervened by engaging him in conversation. As all this was going on, a man entered the saloon and looked around until he spotted us all sitting at the table. Announcing,

"I'm looking for a Brian Yankton."

I raised my hand, "I be he," I replied.

He reached down and shook my hand,

"Names Clay Jennings sir, Sheriff Bullock gave me your name; I also checked up on you, you're a man who gets things done."

"And people dead," I added.

"Uh well that too, but when you're dealing with gold, sometimes it can't be helped."

I pointed to an empty table in the far corner and said,

"Let's talk over there." Mark also excused himself and joined me at the table.

"Well Mr. Jennings," I said, "Lay it out."

"Sheriff Bullock told me you were in Deadwood the other day but wouldn't speak to me, why is that?"

I thought to myself, "What's the matter with this guy? I thought he was here to talk business, now all he's worried about is the fact that I slighted him."

With a sigh, I looked Jennings in the eye and firmly said,

"Because you were hanging out at the Gem, Swearingen and I don't see eye to eye, had I come down there chances are pretty good I would have been forced to kill him, it would have ended up a f*****g war in there…Now, can we talk business?"