Yankton

Chapter 12

Chapter 12 Calling the Shots

The next morning after breakfast, the three of us packed up our gear, guns and picnic lunch and headed up over the rocks to find a small open area perfect for shooting. While Mark took an axe to cut some posts for our targets, I set up the folding shooting table, as well as a mat for prone shooting. We were set up to shoot at around 200 yards, and closer for the pistols. Mark and I shot our modern rifles first, with Melonie watching the targets through binoculars. I shot first, putting all my rounds right on the targets. Then Mark shot his rifle requiring only minor adjustments. Melonie was amazed at the accuracy of our weapons as well as practically no smoke. I then began Melonie's marksmanship training. Starting with demonstrations of proper hold, I started her out with a Spencer carbine we'd bought at a gun shop. Carefully explaining proper stance, grip and rifle butt/shoulder connection. I was very patient with her, explaining, making her go through the steps, repeating and answering any questions. We all wore hearing protectors and safety glasses.

Once I was satisfied that she understood all the principles, I carefully explained proper sight picture, and sight adjustment. We then broke for lunch, spreading out a blanket and enjoying sandwiches, fruit salad, potato chips and cookies in the warm sun. While we ate, I covered a few things I had missed earlier, as well as answer her questions. After lunch, we did a quick review, of everything taught earlier, with Melonie remembering everything. Then it was time to shoot. Starting with the Spencer, I got her used to the loud noise and smoke, then working into actually aiming and firing. Melonie was having problems at first, with hitting anything, but I got her to work the action, quickly bring it up to her shoulder, make a quick "weld" with the butt of the rifle, quickly aim and fire, all in one fluid motion. I had her fire close to one hundred rounds before switching to a Colt army model, which for some reason she seemed more accurate at. I had her fire that for awhile, then we switched back to the Spencer. I then began to notice that her accuracy was steadily improving, and that she was becoming more confident in her shooting ability.

I kept expecting a group of townspeople to come up over the hill curious as to what all the shooting was about, but surprisingly, none did. Later on I got Melonie shooting in the prone position, a position she seemed to shoot quite well in. I had her practice reloading and c*****g both the pistol and rifle while laying down, towards the end of the day, Mark and I let her shoot our modern rifles for familiarization. All in all, we shot up a hell of a lot of ammunition, with the following day scheduled for more of the same. That evening Mark split his time between lecturing Melonie on medical procedures, and cleaning his weapons. I t was a good thing I bought as much black powder cleaning supplies as I did, our black powder guns fouled a whole lot more than I had imagined, but with some effort, we got them back in shape again. The next morning, we were back out at it again. Since all our modern stuff was all properly sighted in, we stuck strictly to black powder, and working with Melonie. Of course, Mark and I practiced heavily on our black powder weapons, getting comfortable with single action pistols more than anything else.

By noon we were completely out of ammunition so back to the cabin we went. Melonie now felt very competent in handling guns both rifle and pistol. Mark and I felt equally confident in shooting and reloading our B/P pistols, each of us carrying a couple extra cylinders in pouches on our belts. Mark and I also noticed that Melonie seemed to be enjoying all the attention as well. "When I lecture her and assign her chapters to read, she pays attention," observed Mark. "She asks intelligent and thoughtful questions, and appears to really want to learn." He then chuckled, "The real test will be when a live patient or body comes our way, then we'll see just how serious she is." Marks words were uncannily prophetic, two days later, we were awakened around one in the morning by Montana beating on the cabin door. "Gasping, and clad only in a coat thrown over her under things she informed us of a stabbing at Dora's.

"We need your help, Kitty's been stabbed, she's hurt bad…Blood all over, I've got a carriage, please hurry!" Instantly we were all moving, Mark threw on his jeans, and boots, "Melonie! Crunch time girl, you're with me, grab that medium aid bag, yeah, the red one, let's go…NOW!" Melonie had barely enough time to pull on a "hoodie" over her night clothes, as she and Mark flew out the door into Montana's waiting carriage. I shouted that I was following right behind, as they rolled quickly down the hill. When I finally arrived at Dora's, Mark and Melonie were upstairs in the girls room. The whole place was in an uproar, I saw one of the other girls carrying a pan of steaming water upstairs, as Dora pulled me aside.

Her voice filled with emotion, she told me, "I took a chance and had Montana get your friend instead of doc Cochran, I hope my decision was well placed." I put my hands on her shoulders and replied, "Dora, Mark is one of the best combat medics I've ever seen, if there's even a slight chance of her making it, Mark will make it happen, he won't let her die, believe me." She then gave me a brief run-down on what happened, a drunken john couldn't get "it" up, Kitty laughed, when she shouldn't have, he got mad and stabbed her, taking off out the front door, knocking another girl down in the process. A very distraught Montana came down the stairs and came up to me her arms out for a hug. She was sobbing a little, as I comforted her. "Shhh, now Montana, Kitty's in the best hands, she'll make it." Both of us went upstairs, where she shooed the other girls away from the open door, as I peered in, my nose was filled with the coppery smell of blood, Mark and Melonie were on opposite sides of the bed bending over the naked girl Mark working his "magic," just like in Afghanistan. "Mark, I brought the big lantern, where do you want me?" Without looking up, he said through his surgical mask, "At the end of the bed in the right corner, shine the light right down on her gut."

I did as I was told, shining the big battery operated LED flashlight right at the girl on the bed. The extreme brightness the flashlight threw out lit the whole room up creating a brilliant light for him to work. Concerned faces peered in from the hallway, staring at me as well, and the strange light I was holding. I watched Mark and Melonie work, she didn't seem fazed one bit by the scene before her. Mark calmly instructed her as to what he wanted her to do. He was always the cool one under fire, a building could be taking mortar fire or RPG hits shaking the very foundations, yet Mark stayed focused, and remained calm. I continued to watch Melonie, I noticed that she was also wearing a mask and latex gloves, holding a smaller flashlight on the wound, and passing Mark his instruments, I knew this chick was going to be all right. Montana made an appearance once or twice, showing much concern, then shooing the other girls away, which only lasted for a few minutes, as they kept coming back.

Finally after what seemed like hours, Mark sprinkled a powder like substance on her wound, and placed a large patch bandage over it. He then laid a clean towel Montana had given him over that, and stood up. I turned off the dimming flashlight turning the room gloomy again, illuminated by a single oil lamp. "Montana and Dora were standing in the doorway, as mark removed his mask, and announced, "Don't worry ladies, she's going to make it, if that fucktard's knife and been just a quarter inch to the left, he would have hit an artery, it was that close." But then looking at me, he grinned, and added, "We know all about "close" don't we sergeant Yankton?" I grinned as well and nodded, "All too much corpsman."

"Melonie and I have a few more things to finish up in here then we'll be downstairs, take off Brian, you did a great job." Back downstairs, a jubilant Dora and Montana, were crying tears of joy offering me a drink of whisky, which I gladly accepted. Looking at them both, I said, "I told you Mark would come through, the guys' good, 'nuff said." Dora then came up to me and in a low voice, said, "I'd like you to go after her attacker and kill him." This took me by complete surprise, but I allowed Dora to usher me into her office, where she bluntly asked me to find this guy and kill him, bringing her proof, she promised a hundred dollars in gold for the job. When I tried to beg off citing a lack of a description, she brought in another girl who apparently knew this man, giving me not only a name, but where he might be found, as well as a very detailed description of his appearance. "All right Dora, but I'm going to require half in advance, as I don't own a horse yet, and I need to get one." Without hesitation, she opened her desk drawer and handed me fifty dollars in gold, then, "Here's another twenty, get yourself a cheap saddle and halter, but I expect results, and proof." I stood there and replied, "And you'll get both ma'am."

Shortly thereafter, Mark and Melonie came downstairs each shouldering a medic's bag. "We need to get some sleep Dora, but we'll be back here later in the morning. When Kitty has rested a couple days, I'd like to get her up to our place, it will be quieter, and she'll be away from all the activity here, I can keep a closer eye on her as well." Dora agreed, and hugged Mark and Melonie as well. She also whispered something in Mark's ear, as we were leaving. Montana gave us a lift in the carriage back up the hill, promising to stop by later. We all headed for our respective beds with Mark and Melinda saying little, but they were both simply beat, and wished to sleep.

Later that morning, as I fixed breakfast, Mark looked at Melonie and smiled, "Brian, I'm here to tell you that was what the Brit's call a "close run thing." She had lost so much blood by the time we got there, I was afraid I'd loose her, but when they say our ancestors were tough, I believe it. She is definitely one tough chick, tough as nails, I don't have the equipment to transfuse blood, so I had to stem the flow damn fast, but Melonie here jumped right in and saved the day." He then gave Melonie a very serious look. "Melonie, I'm very proud of you, you got right in the game got your hands "dirty" didn't crap out on me, I see now that you do have the knack, and learn quickly, anything to say on your part?"

"I was terrified at first, but I just watched you. You stayed calm, didn't get mad at me, I just kept thinking of poor Kitty lying there, I just pushed everything to the back of my mind, and concentrated on what needed to be done, and nothing else." Mark reached over and shook her hand, "You done good Mel, you done real good."