10 – Scent of L'Amour 2

Jim allowed his wife to stay in the lead as he chased her around the colony. People looked at them like they were crazy, and their kids would probably die of embarrassment if they were here to witness it, but for now the chase was all that mattered. The moving air was drying his old perspiration, but the run would replace what was lost.

Elisabeth's hair flew out behind her, dark and shiny in the natural light. Jim was mesmerized by the movement of her legs as she called out, half-heartedly, in protest for him to stop.

Suddenly their sprint came upon Commander Taylor, who was walking with a few of his officers. Instead of swerving to go around, Elisabeth went straight for the commander, latching onto him and almost dragging the experienced survivalist to the ground with her momentum.

Jim stopped a few feet away, looking past his commanding officer to his wife, the look in his eye showing that he was willing to resume chasing her around in circles, even if those circles went around his boss. Taylor danced around as Elisabeth cowered behind him and shifted back and forth to anticipate her husband's next move.

"-in the world?" Taylor voiced, stunned by the chase as Elisabeth lightly pleaded for him to save her. Not wanting to get mixed up in the mix-up, his officers took a few steps back and abandoned him to his fate.

"Commander, tell him to go take a shower," Elisabeth panted, gripping at his sides for stability but still managing to point an accusing finger.

"Look, I don't want to get in the middle of-" Taylor began, but Jim's sudden move to his other side caused him to stop. He found himself being forcibly turned by Dr. Shannon's frantic hold on his breeches, and had to struggle to regain his own balance.

Taylor held up his hands in resignation, but this went unnoticed. He had to lower them again as the sheriff's wife dragged him in all directions.

After a couple more whirlwind turns, Elisabeth released hold on her hostage and ran off with Jim hot on her heels. The entire military procession watched them go, all with broad smiles. Stifling his own amusement, the commander straightened himself and called their attention back.

"We do not get involved," he said professionally and led them off.

A/N: The continuance of the eighth chapter. A sudden influx of comments has induced a sudden influx of updates - because I like comments!