It had been sometime since the hill sliding incident. Edward suggested that they should put the feud behind them, and be friends and brothers again. Despite the fact that James accepted the pact, he was fuming over something Edward had said to him during that day.
"How dare he say who does he think I am?" He snorted. "I am disgusted with him, and now I regret ever accepting that pact!"
"Calm down, James," His driver said. "Edward's only trying to protect you from getting hurt."
"Exactly," His fireman added. "That's what big brothers do, I'm afraid. I have one, you know. He used to protect me a lot, and although it annoyed me a lot at the time, I am thankful that he helped out back then, otherwise I might not be the same today as I was then."
"Besides, if it's getting that much to you James, I think a talk with Edward might benefit you." His driver added.
James was reluctant to admit that his crew were right, so he pretended to think about it.
"Alright," He said "I'll speak to him."
So he went to find Edward. After talking to BoCo at Wellsworth, James found out that Edward was Crock's Scrapyard, so that was where he went next.
...
"Uh oh- red engine at twelve o' clock Edward!" Reg told him, grinning as he noisily grabbed a pile of scrap from the conveyer belt.
"Hello James," Edward said, sounding genuinely surprised. "Is there something I can help you with? You usually hate coming here."
"Actually, I need to talk to you." The younger engine admitted.
"Go ahead, I'm all ears." Edward replied, smiling kindly at his younger brother.
James told Edward all about how he had felt in response to what his older brother had said about the feud. When he finished, he looked at Edward.
"Well, I ... I don't know what to say," Edward admitted. "I'm sorry James, for making you feel like this."
"I just felt hurt and confused." James admitted.
"I can see that now, and I am truly sorry, James. I didn't mean any of those horrid words- I was only trying to protect you from a choice you may live to regret."
James felt glad that Edward had done so-even if their brotherhood had been at risk.