DISCLAIMER: The Young Riders is the creation of Ed Spielman, and the property of Ogiens/Kane productions in association with MGM/UA television. This Story is created for entertainment purposes only, no infringement intended. Not to be copied without permission from the author.
WARNING: This Story contains an alternative Universe theme, if this type of story is not to your liking or will somehow offend you please return to Tall Tales and choose another Story.
They may all have been misfits back in the world, no family to speak of and no close friends to care, but once they hit the ground on a mission, they worked liks a well oiled machine.
They immediately and instinctively fanned out for the LZ in a regulation wagon wheel formation, crouching in silence in the damp grass for almost 15 minutes, silent and motionless. Long enough to know that their enemy had not noticed their insertion. Cain signalled Noah to establish radio contact with their base and when he signalled that he had clear contact, they all knew it was time to move out.
Moving out slowly, easing through the dense razor sharp elephant grass and periods of dense rainforest like shrub. Moving as quickly and efficiently as they could, carrying 75 pound rucksacks, weapons and extra ammunition, they scanned their surroundings for any sign of their enemy.
Buck immediately took his normal position at point, carefully and efficiently ensuring their path was clear of boobytraps. All the while tracking the most recent movements of their enemy. His body and well worn uniform soon drenched in perspiration, the heat seeming more intense than usual. Despite the oppressive heat and everpresent danger, he knew in himself that he was growing to love this lush fertile country so different from his own.
The rest of the team following behind him, McCloud and his cameraman ensconced in their midst, the squad already trying to shield them as much as they could from any possible danger. Noah following closely behind Sam, Jimmy in front of the despised journalists, his tee shirt already perspiration soaked as he carried his M60, extra ammo and rucksack without complaint. He seldom wore the full uniform preferring to wear just his regulation khaki tee shirt in the liquid heat.
Cody and Ike followed closely behind him, eyes peeled and ever alert to sounds of the VC or the NVA in their vicinity. Following a short distance behind was Kid, always protecting their rear and ensuring that they weren’t being tracked by enemy soldiers.
Their slog through the jungle seeking NVA supply trails continued for two hours until the hazy orange ball of the sun began to sink into the muted olive of the elephant grass, prompting them to look for a suitable Night Defence position before they lost the ability to see their surroundings.
Six women, six brave independent women sat around a table in the mess tent sharing their companionship and the bond that only they had. They had come from completely different backgrounds but were forced together by circumstance, they had become firm and eternal friends.
Captain Emma Shannon, a brilliant surgeon, pushed her crinkly red hair back from her forehead as she watched her companions. Each of them were worried about the men in E Company. Each having good reason to be afraid. They had all seen first hand the pain and suffering, the damage that this conflict did to the men on this base on a daily basis. Each time the choppers left they wondered if it would be the last time they saw their loved ones. She closed her eyes and tried not to think of the fate that could be befalling Sam, her fiancé but it didn’t matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t shake her fears from her mind.
Lt. Rachel Dunne, wiped a weary hand through the sweat on her bare neck, thankful her long blonde hair was pinned in a loose bun on the top of her head. She thanked her lucky stars that she didn’t have the same worries as her companions. She worried about every one of the men that went out on a mission from the base, but she was not romantically attached to any one on base, her own husband, Henry, being killed in one of the first offensives of the conflict, prompting her to join up and help her country whatever way she could.
Two women, who lived on base, but worked with a local mission group, sat on the other side of the table, they had come to Vietnam to help the children who had lost everything in this conflict, but had fallen in love with two of the men in E company as well as the youngsters they cared for.
Cassie Ellis, a beautiful young black woman, had seen her opportunity to make her mark on the world and care for others less fortunate then herself. She had immediately signed up with an aid agency to help. She herself was an orphan, with only Quinn her younger brother to care for, she knew how alone and hurting these children must be, and wanted desperately to help them. Soon after she arrived, she had met and fallen hopelessly in love with Noah Dixon, the radio operator for E Company. She smiled to herself as she thought of the long talks and even longer kisses they had shared, praying silently for his safe return.
Elizabeth Dooley, a small beautiful strawberry blonde sat beside Cassie and clasped her hand in hers, knowing exactly where her thoughts were, because hers were right alongside them. She had been prepared to devote her life to God, until she met Billy. How she loved that man. His smiling blue eyes, his dazzling wit and his effervescent personality. She had almost turned her back on the church prepared to wait for him until his return from this conflict, until she had discovered that she could be closer to him by continuing to do the mission work she had pledged to do. Never dreaming for a moment that she would be stationed at the very same firebase he was at.
The final two women, so alike in age and personality, sat quietly at either end of the table. Red Cross Volunteers, or donut dollies as the soldiers called them, they served no real purpose other than to wholesomely boost the morale of the men on the fire base. Emily Metcalfe had come to Vietnam expecting adventure, but instead she had found the man with whom she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. Ike fought with so many internal demons, but even in his silence she knew that he loved her back, and she knew that just by being there she helped him to cope with life in country. Even though her heart nearly broke every time he went out on a mission.
The final woman, Jenny Thompkins, had travelled here with her father against his wishes, to help him to run the px store that he had set up. Her father always out to make a buck had seen a profit in the Vietnam Conflict for himself, and although she knew that his head ruled his money sense, his heart was in the right place, well eventually anyway. She had been emotionally adrift, not sure where she was going or what she wanted to do with her life, in Vietnam she had found her answers.
Soon after her arrival, she had been harassed by a group of soldiers, one brave strong man had come to her aid, and she had lost her heart the moment she looked into his bottomless brown eyes. Cpl Buck Cross had fought two men to protect her, he was a fierce brave man, a man his Kiowa ancestors would have been proud of, but with her he was gentle, kind and loving. From that moment on they had been like two halves of the one whole, he had pleaded with her to return to the world, but she couldn’t leave the two men in her life her alone, wondering with every breath if they were both safe and well.
Six sets of eyes flew to the opening of the tent as they heard the loud brash young man they had all been waiting for approaching. As he entered the tent and his eyes adjusted to the dimmer light, his eyes scanned the room looking for something. Seeing the women seated there, he walked towards them completing the ritual that happened every time E Company went on a mission.
“Ladies” he nodded his head in courteous greeting “How are you today?” he smiled knowing the response he was going to get
“Dammit Hack, why do you do this to us, stop torturing us please” Emma spoke from between gritted teeth watching as her companions nodded
“They’re fine ladies” he spoke his face serious “Inserted without incident” he stated then a twinkle returned to his eye
“Do you think I would be brave enough to come in here if it wasn’t” he laughed as he reached down to place a gentle kiss on Rachel’s cheek. He knew she wasn’t ready for a romantic relationship yet, but he was more than willing when she was.
“They will all be fine Trust me” his eyes skimmed the faces of the women at the table and yet again thought how lucky the men of E Company were.
“They’d better be Hack” Emma murmured silently as their thoughts all drifted back to their loved ones.
TO BE CONTINUED
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