Thank you all, everyone, for your reviews! I really do appreciate your feedback over the rewrite!
….
"Well, another night in the frozen wastelands that is a Skarloey siding." Geoffrey sighed dramatically.
"Oh, pipe down Geoff! Skarloey, Mr. Wendell, are there any more trains due tonight?" Richard asked determinedly.
"No- he was the only one due out with those empty slate trucks." Mr. Wendell answered. "Besides, the weather's hardly ideal for us- why would another engine be purposely sent out in this?"
"What did I say, Rich?"
"And what did I say, Geoffrey?" Luke's fireman asked in a steely tone.
"To sum it up, gentlemen," Said Skarloey grandly, "We are stranded out here tonight- unless a miracle happens."
Not one to believe in miracles, Richard wasn't taking this statement for an answer.
"Right- so this is on us!" He cried determinedly. He grabbed the coal shovel from Mr. Rose and started shovelling rapidly, trying to dig the brave old engine out; but it was made very difficult, as he was the only one with a shovel- and it wasn't even his!- Skarloey's fire had gone out, and they had no idea how far away they were from home.
Eventually, Mr. Rose started trying to help Richard dig the snow out too, using only a coal dust tainted bucket; and yet, he tossed the snow aside as rapidly as though he was in a leaky lifeboat- but the blizzard only grew stronger still- the wind whistled past their ears, the snow fell faster and faster, and their fingers froze rapidly, standing ramrod straight like soldiers; unwilling to bend to pressure.
"This is no good," Mr. Rose eventually conceded with a sigh, before forcing the bucket into the snow and sitting on it; looking like a very strange, adult version of 'Oor Wullie'. Beside him, Skarloey shivered shamefully in the freezing siding.
Old Faithful had promised his friends he would be careful heading to the Blue Mountain Quarry and back, especially after his return from the Steamworks- now he was stuck in the middle of nowhere, with Luke's crew stranded as well as his own, and the worst part was he could do nothing to help them keep warm until either help or dawn arrived.
"I-I'm so-sorry-Rhen-Rheneas, Pet-Pet-Peter Sam and R-Rusty." He whispered, shivering. Right now, he was cold, tired, anxious- and very scared; unlike the brave and resilient engine of the railway's days of yore.
Suddenly, a loud noise penetrated the air; it was a horn! But not just any horn, either! It was…
"RUSTY!" Skarloey called out triumphantly, as a familiar face halted next to him, grinning broadly.
...
"Rusty, are we glad to see you!" Skarloey said joyfully.
"I'm just glad I found you!" Rusty replied in a relieved tone. "Are you guys alright?"
"Yes, I just can't move now- this wretched snow put out my fire." Skarloey replied, embarrassed. "I can't take these men home, or even keep them warm."
"Tut- that won't do!" Rusty tutted sympathetically. "Don't worry about that- I'll pull you back to the sheds." The little diesel told him kindly and soon he was coupled up to his old friend and gently pulled him out of the siding.
"Thank you, Rusty- I can't tell you how grateful I am for you helping me. Now my crew and Luke's can get home – or at least somewhere dry and warm!" He paused," Hang on, how did you manage to leave the shed anyway?" the old engine asked curiously. "I thought your crew went home."
"Oh they did- I just abducted some late night workmen to abduct me." Rusty replied cheerfully. "I also stocked up on some antifreeze and had to persuade Rheneas to let me come out and find you- he was worried about you- but he didn't want me getting stuck somewhere."
"How long did it take you to persuade him to let you go out?"
"Well, not that long, actually- I had to mention that I was just as worried about him as he was and say that I was more than able to come out and find you. Also, Duncan just ordered Rheneas to send me out as he wasn't putting up with me complaining." Rusty chuckled. "Talk about irony!"
"Fancy that- Duncan complaining about you complaining!" Skarloey huffed.
"Yes, well, Duncan is- as Mr. Hugh puts it- a hypocritical little Scot." Rusty admitted, amused.
"He was most definitely being hypocritical." Skarloey agreed, before he turned serious. "Rusty, I appreciate you coming for me, but this is dangerous- and I don't approve of you guilt tripping Rheneas."
"I suppose I was guilt tripping him to an extent. I'm sorry Skarloey- I don't like leaving my friends in the cold like that- plus you've got your crew and Luke's crew with you- I didn't want them in hospital or their graves."
"I know." Sighed Skarloey.
"So, to change the subject, Skarloey- how is Luke?" The little orange diesel asked suddenly, startling the older engine out of a would-be melancholic reverie.
"His crew told me earlier, back at the quarry, that he's ill again- he got stuck in the snow last night rescuing… who was it… oh, Smudger." The older engine answered gravely.
"You mean...the same Smudger Duke told us about?" Rusty asked, wide-eyed. Not that Skarloey could see that, however.
"Yes."
"Oh dear,"
"Hmm..."
...
It was nearly midnight by the time the two frozen friends finally limped home to the Depot. The four men immediately scrambled out of Rusty's cab towards the worker's hut to seek out spare beds for the night, once the two engines were parked in the shed.
"Good heavens, Skarloey!" Rheneas exclaimed worriedly as he saw his big brother there on the next track. "Are you alright?"
"I'll be fine; Rheneas-I just need a bit of warming up." Skarloey assured, as Rusty carefully shunted the old engine next to his faithful friend.
"Good- now what happened?" Rheneas asked him worriedly.
Poor Skarloey was reluctant to admit his mishap on the line, but he knew that Rheneas wouldn't laugh at him- not over something like this, anyway. So, he quickly explained about meeting Luke's crew at the quarry and offering them a lift to the Depot; how he got lost and his fire going out; Rusty's arrival and how the little diesel had got everyone home safely.
"Aw, poor old you," Rheneas said sympathetically and sincerely, as Skarloey finished his woeful tale. "You'll feel better in the morning, after a good night's sleep. On the bright side, Skarloey"-
Skarloey immediately groaned.
"I haven't told you what it is yet!" Protested Rheneas.
"Rheneas, if it involves venturing out of this shed, I do not want to think about it."
This time, Rheneas did laugh. "Cheer up, brother mine!" He exclaimed, smiling. "Mr. Percival told us, after you left, that, should the weather be good for us to travel in- we can head back to the quarry tomorrow! We can find out how Luke, Owen and Merrick are holding up!" He said excitedly.
Rheneas was so excited to see their friends again that Skarloey and Rusty decided to keep their knowledge on Luke's illness a secret for now. Not only that; but the thought of seeing their friends again cheered Skarloey up enough for him to say he did feel a bit better about leaving the shed.
"Ach shut up and sleep already!" A familiar voice shouted, making the three engines roll their eyes- as well as causing Peter Sam and Sir Handel to both mutter something in their sleep.
