"The Song of the Nightingales"
Chapter Four
As Rhonda was taking inventory in the supply tent preparing for their move, she was interrupted by a familiar voice.
"You don't salute officers in this unit?
Rhonda stopped what she was doing, turned around and replied,
"Of course we do Ma'am. Sorry."
With a sly smile and a quick salute, Rhonda stepped forward and gave the intruder a warm hug.
"I've missed you Susie." Rhonda squealed.
"Me too little sister."
Rhonda continued,
"Besides dear sister, even though you have been in "This Man's Army" longer than I, we are both the same rank. And honestly, I don't think I should have to salute a sister who used to play hide and seek with me, and then forgets to look for me?"
They both laughed.
"Sorry little sis. But how was I to know you'd stay hidden for 3 hours? Boy was mum ever mad, especially after she found me in the shed playing doctor with Timmy Tailor."
They both laughed again, but this time it seemed a little strained.
"So big sister, why are you here?"
Rhonda had turned her attention back to the inventory.
"Well little sister,"
Susan laughed,
"They needed volunteers to pack up and help move a little hospital. At first I thought, not me, too close to the action. Then they mentioned that it was your unit and I just had to come."
"So, where's this doctor you wrote mum about? Have you two gotten to know each other yet?"
Susan knew the answer to her question even before she asked. Rhonda was a "good girl". Mum made sure of that. Sex was something that happened only after marriage.
She, on the other hand, believed life was short. Have fun now and pay for it later. Her thoughts drifted back to Tim.
At the end of summer, both she and Tim had a chance to leave home. She chose to go off to college. Tim chose to join the Army and go off to war. She graduated and he was killed. Life wasn't fair. But for right now, she had a chance to visit with her little sister and that was all she needed.
"Well little sister, where's your doctor?" Susie asked.
Rhonda laughed as she dodged the question.
"He's not a real doctor," she smiled,
"Everyone calls him Doc, but he's a medic and a good one. He even saved Lieutenant Gabriel's boyfriends life."
With that she pointed to a desk in the corner where Susan noticed someone sitting. As she turned, her eyes focused on the bars on the collar. She snapped to attention and saluted.
"Sorry Ma'am I didn't see you there."
This caught Gabriel by surprise. Finally, a proper salute, Gabriel thought.
Gabriel returned the salute, and then held out her hand to warmly welcome the new comer.
Sisters huh? Gabriel thought.
I know the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, but I don't think these two apples were ever in the same orchard.
Susan turned her attention back to her little sister.
"So Rhonda, he's a medic? "
"Well, yes. And he's a good one. Just ask the Lieutenant.
Doc was out in the field when a sniper shot Private LeMay. If it hadn't been for him, Private LeMay would of surely died. Right sir?"
"Yes, that's right."
Gabriel answered, but not wanting to discuss her love life with the new arrival, she turned back to her paperwork.
"I'm impressed little sister. When do I get to meet him?"
Hearing Susan's request, Gabriel looked up.
"Rhonda, why don't you show your sister around a bit, spends some time with her. We have time before we leave tomorrow to finish this up. I need to go over and peek in on our patients."
"Yes Ma'am. Thank you Ma'am"
She gave Gabriel a quick salute and then took her sisters hand.
"Come on Susan, I'll show you where I sleep."
As Rhonda turned and pulled her sister towards the door, Susan tried to give a salute of respect to Gabriel, but it was useless. Gabriel laughed, returned the salute, and then headed over towards Caje's cot.
Chapter Five
The squad had made it back to the field hospital. Most of the patients by now had been transferred, with just a few left for Dr. Reynolds and his nursing staff to tend to. Dr. Reynolds insisted the men bunk in one of the hospitals empty wards off to the side, finding it foolish for them to set up camp outside.
Kirby had been at his best friend's bedside for a good part of the day. The remaining patients, who were able, mingled outside, waiting, along with the squad, for the order to move out.
Caje, who had felt so useless when the squad left without him, now felt whole. Gabriel could see the change in him. He seemed to grow stronger just by being around these men. As the time grew near for the group to move out, it was apparent the transport for Caje would not be there in time to move with them.
"Why don't I stay and go with Caje, Sarge?" Kirby asked "I don't think they should go without an escort either."
Kirby felt uneasy. He really couldn't put a finger on it, but he felt something just didn't seem right.
"The ambulance will have its own escort Kirby, but you're right… Doc?" Saunders called out,
"Doc, I think it would be better if you stayed with Caje and the two nurses. Is that ok with you?"
"Sure Sarge."
A smile spread across Doc's face. "I think that's a great idea."
With the news of Doc staying to help with moving Caje, Gabriel turned to Rhonda and asked,
"Rhonda, are you sure you want to stay? I can handle this with just Doc."
Gabriel gave Doc a sly little grin. She knew perfectly well Rhonda would want to stay now that Doc would be helping out.
"Oh no Ma'am, I think I would like to stay and help."
Rhonda turned to her sister just as Private Kirby was about to leave and called out
"Private Kirby, have you met my sister Susan yet?"
Kirby, hearing his named, turned back around to face Rhonda. Then he looked past her and saw to his delight, a very petite, blonde haired, brown eyed nurse he had not seen when he first arrived. His eyes widened and a smile slowly spread across face.
"Ok, Saddle up."
Sargent Saunders had just walked in to the area where they had moved Caje to wait for the transport. He spotted Kirby with that 'up to no good' smile on his face.
"Alright, I said saddle up. We're moving out and Doc will be staying with Caje and the nurses."
"Oh, that's fine with me Sarge." Kirby was quick to reply.
"Have you met Rhonda's sister Susan yet?
As Susan stepped forward to meet Sergeant Saunders, the Sergeant extended his hand.
"No, can't say that I have, nice to meet you Lieutenant."
"Will you be staying here to help your sister, or will you be moving out with the ambulatory patients?"
As Susan released the Sergeants hand, she stole a look over to where Kirby was standing and gave him a wink. She then turned her attention back to Saunders and said,
"I'll be going with you Sergeant, if that's ok?"
Saunders replied,
"That's fine with me Ma'am, I don't make the orders, I just follow them.
He then turned to face his men,
Ok, let's move out."