Yankton

Chapter 8

Chapter 8 Cowboys and Indians, Anyone?

I gave Mark the address, with him promising to get here in a day or so. The next morning, I invited Melonie to step outside and look down the hill. She was amazed to see a paved street, a changed landscape, and houses down the hill, it was then she noticed my truck, and motorcycle. "What are these strange machines," she asked. This called for another round of explanations concerning "horseless carriages, how we didn't ride horses anymore, the motorcycle was as close to a "steel" horse as you could get. I showed her the truck's motor explaining how it powered the vehicle, and that all the "horses" were in the motor. For some reason, Melonie was able to understand the concept of motor vehicles, the simplicity of riding in a vehicle powered by an engine.

For the rest of the day I puttered around, while Melonie got caught up in a book the professor had dealing with Custer's defeat on the little Bighorn. I turned the radio on to a country station, but Melonie said the music distracted her, so I fooled around on my computer for awhile. Shortly after midday, Melonie put her book down and made comment on it. "This is simply incredible," she said. "I remember reading of the disaster, in the newspaper, but the account was not nearly as detailed as this book." I sat down across from her, and said, "You have to remember, Melonie, I've read that book as well, it is, I think the most comprehensive description of what actually happened I've ever come across. In all the books I've read on the subject, that's the first one that goes into any length over the government inquiry held on the m******e. It also draws on information that has since come to light based on archeological evidence discovered after a huge grass fire back in 1984, exposed a lot of old rifle pits, spent cartridges, pieces of bone, and even pieces of boots and harnesses,' I seem to recall they found a man's finger bone with a ring still on it, even after all these years."

I left her alone while I drove to the store and picked up some more groceries, along with more over -the-counter medications. When I returned, Melonie was still deeply engrossed in the book, so I used the opportunity to take some pictures of her sitting in an easy chair reading her book. Taking a break from her reading, Melonie commented, "It is most interesting that you read this book as history, yet I'm reading it as an expanded news story, as well as a description of things yet to come, such as the court of inquiry not yet set to happen for another four years." I then had her come over and sit next to me at the kitchen table in front of the computer. "Everything you ever wanted to know is on the internet…And a great deal you didn't," I said. We browsed a website devoted to Victorian and old west wear. Melonie was tickled to see that she could purchase "acceptable" women's clothing which was better made, and a little more stylish, than what was available in her own time.

I casually pointed out a "soiled Dove" costume, "Should we get this for Montana?" It was then Melonie looked closer at the prices for the clothing, the soiled dove dress going for over one hundred dollars, not counting anything else. "Is that the correct price for that dress?" she gasped. "Chalk it up to inflation, and the fact that these things are made in this country," I replied. "If you want any of these items of clothing, don't worry about the price, while they are a little on the expensive side, the prices aren't all that outrageous." I finally called it a night, and went to bed, while Melonie stayed up a little longer reading her book.

Late the next afternoon, a knock came at the door, when I opened it, a very tired Mark was standing there. "Greeting's all!" Mark stepped in dragging a couple duffel bags and a gun case, throwing everything on the floor, he said, "When you said come, I grabbed a bunch of s**t and came, all my med packs and stuff are out in my car." "Well I'm glad you made it Mark, by the way, this is Melonie Bishop, Melonie, meet my best friend Mark Sedgwick." They shook hands, as Mark looked closer at her and remarked, "Are you into reenactments?" Melonie looked puzzled, "Reenactments, what are they?" Seeing where this was headed, I immediately stepped in. "Uh no Mark, uh you look tired, care to take a nap, I've got a few things to tell you, and it might be a good idea to wide awake when you hear what I've got to say." He agreed it was a good idea, and once he had brought the rest of his gear in, headed upstairs to the loft to sleep for awhile. I moved all of his gear off to the side while Melonie asked, "Your friend seems like a good friend, quite handsome as well." I did a double take at that comment, but let it pass, "Mark's a terrific guy, we've been through a hell of a lot in Iraq and Afghanistan, he's a real stand-up guy, as you will soon see," I replied.

Melonie then lowered her voice, "What do you intend to tell him about me, and where I come from?" I gave her a look, "What do you mean Melonie? I intend to tell him everything, don't worry." Mark slept for almost three hours, when he came shuffling downstairs, heading for the bathroom first. When he came out, I handed him a cold beer, and said, "Have a seat Mark, I've got a hell of a story to tell you." Melonie came over and sat down nearby, I then said, "What I'm about to tell you Mark is not to be repeated, it is for your ears only, I'm offering you a unique opportunity to participate in an incredible adventure, everything I'm about to tell is the god's honest truth, Melonie is living proof of that." I then went into my story, starting with the visit to professor Wainwright. I was very thorough, and left nothing out. When I finished, there was a moment of dead silence, then Mark looked at Melonie, "When were you born?" "In 1855, near Niles Michigan." Nodding, Mark added, "so that dress you're wearing is the real thing?" Melonie shrugged, "Yes, I suppose it is."

Mark then let out with a low whistle. I then injected, "Melonie's been reading that book over there about Custer, she remarked that when I read it I was reading it as history, she's reading it as a news story." "So tell me Melonie," said Mark, "Where are you from?" "A little town called Niles Michigan, in The southwestern part of the state." "Niles, eh, north of South Bend Indiana?" "Yes," replied Melonie, the Studebaker family builds wagons there." Mark smiled, "Yes I know, after they quit making wagons they started building automobiles, until they went out of business in the '60's."

"Well anyway," she continued, "my father owns large farm, in which he and my two brothers work, my uncle Seth is a doctor. Every time we would go into town I would go visit him at his office, I just seemed to have this fascination about curing people of sickness, and even though it is very unbecoming of a young lady to be interested in things of this nature, he would show me things. I always admired Clara Barton and her work during the civil war."

Mark grinned, "Very admirable miss Bishop, Clara Barton started the red Cross which to this day is still going strong, I think I've got some reference material from them in my stuff. So your interested in becoming a doctor?" "Oh I know it's silly," she replied, still…" "Say no more Melonie," said Mark. "I come from a medical family, my mom is a surgical nurse, my sister is a navy nurse, my dad is a heart doctor. As for becoming a doctor, your looking at almost ten years of your life, four years of college, then another four of medical school, then a couple years of residency and internship not to mention tons of cash to pay for it all, or owe your soul to the government for all the student loans you have to take out."

"Mom and dad weren't too happy with me when I joined the navy, but they've since gotten over it, especially since my sister joined, but while I can't help you be a doctor now, I think I can train you with enough skill and knowledge to beat any country sawbones in your own time…That is, if your interested?" Melonie sat there for a moment, with a sad expression on her face, "You would do this for me?" Mark grinned that famous "Mark Sedgwick" grin at her, and replied, "Miss Bishop, it would be my pleasure, to know that I've taught somebody from a long time ago proper medical procedures and methods would forever leave a warm spot in my heart." "And what would this instruction cost me Mr. Sedgwick," she added. "Not a thing, Melonie," said Mark. "I'm thinking of starting college and working on a nursing degree, teaching you would give me the opportunity to refresh a lot of things in my mind, believe me Melonie, this effort will benefit us both."

Mark thought a moment, then said, "A couple things though, are you squeamish at the sight of blood, I don't mean bleeding from a cut finger, but blood squirting all over, maybe the guy is screaming, and your trying to get hold of him, that kind of "blood." Melonie thought a moment, then replied, "It would most certainly upset me, but I believe I could perform my duty satisfactorily." Mark still didn't look convinced, "Could you apply a tourniquet to a guy who, let's say accidentally chopped his toes off while cutting down a tree, or cut a finger off while butchering out a steer. Or how about a woman who's had complications from childbirth and is bleeding from her uterus?" I mention these examples because these are what we in 2013 call "crunch time," seconds count, and you'd better know your shit." Melonie thought some more, then replied slowly, "Yes, Mr. Sedgwick, it would be hard, but I will be prepared."

Mark patted her on the arm, then said, "How about oversensitivity to the human form, considering the time and place, I doubt you'll ever encounter a situation like this, but could you treat a man if he had a wound near on his privates?" Melonie started turning red, and gulped, bur replied in the positive. Mark then said, "Brian here is the history freak, but I've always had the impression that everyone in the Victorian age was stuffy and prudish about s*x, and showing too much skin." Looking at me, he asked, "Has she seen the way women dress nowadays, or I guess I should say, "don't dress." "Only from what she's seen on TV" I replied. I then added, "I have a sneaking suspicion Melonie that you'll be treating primarily female patients, however there's always the chance that you'll come across a situation in which you're the only doctor around, some guy's just going to have to cowboy up, and let you treat him."

We spent another hour or so talking about Melonie's desire to treat patients, and the fact that Mark might have to tailor his instruction leaving out a lot of treatments and procedures that Melonie simply wouldn't have the equipment for, such as blood testing and transfusions. In the morning during breakfast, while I was making pancakes, Mark sat across from Melonie and went into a little more detail. "One of the most important things I'm going to teach you, and it's something you will most certainly run afoul of with your so-called colleagues is field sanitation and prevention of infection. Most of your contemporaries don't believe in it, but it's why they lost so many men in the war due to infection." Mark then went on to detail why it was so important to wash your hands and maintain a sterile environment around the wound.