An Improper Derailment Chapter Thirty Four

Where Mary sits in the dirt…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Catch up with chapter 33…

Start the adventure from the beginning.

“Those clouds are looking rather angry,” Mary said

as she pointed to the ominous presence of weather. “What shall we do?”

“Why my dear Mary we will lower ourselves to sea level and strap in.”

“Against what?” she asked.

“Usually there’s a tree or something,” Captain Forsyth said with conviction. “What we need is a town.”

“That looks like a town,” Marshall said pointing into the distance. “And it’s in the direction we’re going.”

“Do you think we’ll make it?” Mary looked at him. He gave her a shrug.

“It’s the same direction as the storm is pushing us,” the captain announced.

It seemed that it took more luck than skill that guided the Profound Name close to the edge of town. Captain Forsyth managed to pull the airship along side a tree that seemed to be more over grown shrub than anything else. He tossed the rope ladder over the side of the gondola.

“Over you go, lad,” he announced while looking at Marshall. “Once you get down there, grab one of the tethers to secure us in place.”

“I won’t be sad to get out of this tub,” Marshall said as he swung his leg over the side of the gondola.

“Be careful,” Mary called out as she watched over the edge of the flying ship as Marshall descended.

They were only a few yards above the ground, but definitely high enough to cause a mischief should he fall. Grabbing the ropes, Marshall jumped the last few feet to the ground. He secured the Profound Name several feet off of the ground.

“That should be high enough than any wandering sauran can’t jump in,” he said, giving the captain a wink.

Forsyth chuckled. “Good thinking my boy.”

Mary threw her leg over the side and scrambled down on her own without once demanding assistance from either the captain or Marshall.

Marshall stood back and watched her with pride.

“Finally civilization!” she declared once both feet were on the ground.

Marshall looked over her shoulder. “I hardly think this qualifies as civilization. However”— he pointedly looked down at her exposed legs— “I think that you might not want to be wandering down Main Street quite like that.”

Mary twisted up her face as she looked down at her exposed legs. “Yes, this is definitely not proper. How else am I to attain appropriate coverage for myself?”

“Why don’t you stay here and let me handle things?”

“I wouldn’t trust you to buy women’s clothing,” she said with a huff.

“Buying clothing and buying a skirt are very different things. I can manage a skirt, Mary.”

She crossed her arms and pouted before lowering herself to the ground with legs crossed, sitting in the dirt.

“I will stay here with Captain Forsyth. You can go shopping.”

“Oh no, I won’t be staying here. I’ll be going into town to buy more supplies.”

Mary pounded her feet into the ground, twisting herself around so she presented Marshall and the captain her back. “Fine, leave me on my own.”

“Now don’t be like that Mary. I’ll try to find you a skirt straight away.”

She didn’t acknowledge either Marshall’s or the captain’s farewell.

She sat in the dirt and pouted. It was very unladylike like. But as she stared at her exposed knees, she didn’t look much like a lady these days. She glanced up at the floating air ship. Should she return to the basket? What if the storm came upon them while she was alone? No, she’d rather hide under the branches of the tree. A flutter of movement caught her eye. A rabbit.

And hadn’t she seen wild plumb trees as the approached the town?

She stood and ineffectually dusted what remained of her skirts off. Finding the simple supplies she needed, she began making plans. She needed to set a trap, and go pick some plumbs.

Will Marshall get Mary a proper skirt? Keep reading with Chapter 35…

©2024 Lulu M. Sylvian