James was pleased to be finally over all his fears.
Im the bravest engine in the world! He boasted.
The other engines all thought him annoying
James we know you conquered your fears. His older brother Edward said firmly. I know you are proud of yourself, but you need to tone your pride down
He's right. Agreed Gordon, their father.
But James didn't listen to them.
...
Before long, he was chuffing merrily down the line singing
"I'm as brave as a Viking! I'm as brave as a Viking!"
James was pulling trucks of slate to take to Brendam Docks. The trucks didn't like James singing or boasting about how brave he was, and they decided to pay him out.
So they held back slightly.
"Come on- come on," Huffed James crossly "-or I'll be late!"
"We're coming, we're coming!" Retorted the trucks.
They continued to hold James back until the top of Gordon's Hill.
Then it happened.
...
Meanwhile, Molly was heading up the same track -in the opposite direction
"I can't believe I'm late!" She said. "I better hurry now if I want to get to the Dieselworks to deliver these parts!"
"Molly, we'll be fine- so long as nothing happens." Soothed her driver.
"Hang on- I can another engine coming." Cautioned the fireman "It sounds like James!"
The driver poked his head out and swore.
James was careering down the hill faster than lightning, whistle shrieking in distress out in
Bail!
...
The crash was horrific. Molly was thrown off the rails violently and she laid there- buffers dented, lamp smashed, connecting rods twisted, portholes now lay in tiny glittering shards around her boiler.
James was slightly less injured- but his goods and Molly's were now both badly damaged.
...
When Edward arrived later with Rocky, he was horrified to find his mother on the ground.
"Are you alright mother?" He asked her worriedly.
"I'll be fine, honestly." She insisted.
But the smaller blue engine glared daggers at his little brother.
James felt bad now.
"I'm sorry Mom, I wasn't meant to crash into you- honest!"
"James, I know. I'll be fine."
...
Gordon wasn't so sympathetic about the situation.
"James! How could you let that happen! You badly injured your mother and damaged several goods as well!" He snapped once an assembly had formed in the Steamworks.
"Si!" snapped Victor. "Resources on Sodor are not meant to be wasted on carelessness- both in here and everywhere else on the Island! Now the diesels have a lack of their fleet helping us! Not only that-but you and Molly are both out of action!"
The Hispanic engine took a deep breath. "But I'm sure the Fat Controller could deal with this better than I could." He added, a cold edge forming in his voice.
James gulped. Victor rarely got angry over anything- but when he did, he was a force to be reckoned with.
But he knew he was in worse.
...
He was.
The Fat Controller was livid with James. He said James hadn't caused an accident this bad since he collided with Edward at Knapford. That had been bad- but this was worse.
All diesel engines in need of repairs needed to wait another week; James and Molly were both unable to work; no shipment of stone could leave Brendam now and worse, Gordon and Edward had fallen out with James since the accident.
The red engine hadn't felt so bad since he attempted to ruin Rupert's image.
...
A few days later, he was repaired, and decided to make things up with his family.
So he got his driver to pick some violets as a present for Molly. She loved them as they were her favourite flower.
And when Edward and Gordon found out, they did soften and said they were sorry.
As punishment for James, he was ordered to work at the quarry for two months.
Even so, he ensured that the diesels were able to be mended and returned to work.
Now, Victor welcomes him warmly into the Steamworks, and his family were all on excellent terms again.