Training Day - Rifle Competition

Dan was making his way to the place where the shooting competition was to take place. He was almost afraid that it had already started and that he wouldn't be able to make it on time. He wouldn't want to miss a decent shooting for the life of him!

Arriving at the field he realised that not only had the shooting not yet begun but there weren't even many around yet - at least not many Rifles. He cast a quick look around. Perkins was there, with a lad from the 60th by the look of him. He didn't see Cotton though...

The old Poacher made his way over to his young fellow 95th Rifleman.
"Hey, Perkins. You goin' ta show them how some propper shootin's been done?"

Perkins looked suddenly shy. "Me? No, not for this one anyways. Think I did all right in the skirmishing though. But something like this, and everyone watching...?" He shook his head, smiling with embarrassment. "But I sure hope you're going to! Best o' the best, you are!"

Hearing the admiration in the boy's voice made Hagman almost blush. He'd probably never get used to it.
He patted Perkings on the shoulder: "Ah, come on, lad. Ya didn't earn that stripe for nothin'!"
He had to smile a bit at Ben's sudden shyness. The lad was a fairly good shot, so why shoudn't he prove himself in such a competition?! But he knew better than to press him.
"So, where is everybody?"

"They're comin'. Langley turned his knee, you know, so they took him to the surgeon. I gotta go tell Captain Vickery. Oh, this here's Joe Newbury, and uh, sorry, I don't know your name," he said, smiling apologetically to the boy standing behind the rifleman.

"Ross, my name is. Jem," Jenny said cheerfully.

"And I'm Ben Perkins, and this is Dan Hagman. You met Dan, Joe? Anyway, the others are over yon gettin' set up," he concluded, pointing in Cotton's direction.

There was a small group of Riflemen off chatting together. It looked as though Hagman was with them, and Cotton waved at him and paused. Who was the other man in 60th uniform, standing with them? It wasn't... it probably was Jenny Ross. What the devil was she playing at?!

He shook his head and turned back to helping set up the targets.

Newbury, naturally, shook his head at Hagman's assertion that the 95th would show-up the 60th. Not possible, not today! Then Ross spoke and he frowned. Ross... he glanced at the other greenjacket and understood suddenly. Ah hell. What was he, an idiot?

"Sorry lads," Newbury said, turning his frown at Ross, "but I gotta get this one off to see Sarn't Müller. Quick-like."

"Aye, thankee Joe," Jenny said. "Good luck in the competition, Hagman!" She hurried to catch up with Newbury's long strides, giggling at him but saying nothing more for the moment.

"What," Newbury began, once they were safely away from the two 95th men, "the devil are you playin' at?"

He really must be an idiot, to not have caught on to this charade sooner.

Satisfied with the preparation of the targets, Lt. Jaeger called out: "Well done lads! Now, everyone back 50 paces and then draw a line on the ground!"

Cotton grinned and headed back away from the targets. Competitions like this were the best part of being a Rifleman. He wouldn't mind if he didn't win, he just wanted to do well, especially with all the redcoats watching.

Jenny simply laughed at Newbury and then turned around. "Oh look, they're about to start! Never mind Sergeant Müller now. Let's go and watch!"

Oh for - Newbury had no chance to protest, for the signal for the event to begin was given. Sighing in weary resignation, he turned toward the line of targets as well and unslung his rifle so he could lean on it.

"The lads'll show 'em how it's done," he said confidently.

Hagman strolled over to where they were supposed to line up. He came to stand next to Cotton and a grin spread over his face in anticipation. He liked nothing better than a good demonstration how some propper shooting was done.

"May the best shot win, again eh, Cotton?" he said as he gave the other Rifleman a flap on the shoulder.

He turned to see Dan Hagman, and grinned at the older man. "Hello, Mister Hagman," he said, nodding. "Though if I lose, I wouldn't mind losing to you. You're real handy with a rifle."

Dan looked at Cotton a bit bewildered at hearing the lad call him 'Mister'. "Ah well, it's one o' the few things I learned bein' good at" he answered not too seriously. "But I say, no matter what it looks like at the end of tha day, we should get some drink down together to make ya lose all that formality again, lad" he added with a wink.

"Sounds good to me, mate," he said. "And your lads did real good in the skirmish earlier, an' all." Maybe 'Mister' had been a bit formal, but Cotton was just trying to be polite. If Hagman wasn't comfortable with it, though, Cotton wouldn't call him it.

Dan saw a slight irritation on Cotton's face as he answered him. He didn't intend to reprove the boy over calling him 'Mister', knowing he had meant only to be polite. But he never really liked being made a kind of senior - though he knew he was, purely by age. He just saw himself as one of the lads, that was all. Thus, 'mate' sounded much better!

"Sure, we'll have to celebrate somthin' or other at the end of tha day. Let's just see who's goin' ta pay for the first round!"

Maggie looked back and saw Jenny and Newbury returning, pushing their way towards her spot at the front where they would have a good view. Jenny was still in her boy's clothes. "Well there you are - Jemmy," Maggie said with a cheerful smirk. "You really ought to change your uniform, me lad. Thank you, Joe, for your help," she added, reaching across to squeeze Newbury's arm.

Major Vereker saw the riflemen gather and moved across. The Colonel would be encouraging the visiting staff to give their support to the competitors, and he would be very happy to referee.

He beckoned the first two forward.

Lt. Jaeger whispered the mens names to Major Vereker.

Carty was waiting nervously in the clump of the 95th. He should never have let Cooper egg him on, but he'd been so proud of how he and Harris had done with the skirmishing- bloody Cooper!

Hagman stood with some of the other lads, quite relaxed, waiting for his turn. He wondered whom he'd be paired with... Cotton again? Or that young Irish lad? Well, Harris wouldn't be a bad competitor either...

Major Vereker looked at the two competitors and suppressed a smile. Age and experience against youth and - by the look of it, nervousness.

"All right," he said, producing a coin. "Rifleman Hagman, you call - heads or tails. The winner chooses whether to go first or second"

Hagman stepped forward and lined up with Carty, who looked positively nervous now. "Heads" he answered the Major's request. He turned to look at the boy and shot him what he considered to be an encouraging smile.
"You'll be all right, lad" he said "just do what ya did in tha skirmishing".

Carty shot a despairing look over his shoulder at Harris, then smiled as he saw that not only would he be against one of the 95th, he would be against Dan Hagman. No shame at all in losing against Dan Hagman. It'd be nice to get a shot or two in though; his expression took on a more determined aspect. "I try, I try. Good luck, Dan," he said with a grin.