https://youtu.be/O1PZBWISepM

Mission Irresponsible

Bart and the Chief had departed with the quickly drawn up helmet designs and were well on their way before Bret had decided another way was required

They were charging after Missy and Denver, completely unaware of the additional issues that had transpired

The need for Missy and Denver to take a diversion probably wasn't ideal

However, with no way of knowing, they were still convinced that the need for speed on was real

With a twitch of her bridle, Missy took a shortcut, at the next bend, in the track

Denver had no option but to follow, her unexpected diversion from the Pass, but he was not in the mood to afford her any slack

Her thought process was simple, it would keep them closer to the Patchie River

This would not normally be an issue, but in her haste, she'd failed to consider the flash flood, as she was, in a mood to dither

But unknown to them Conan's horse had thrown a shoe, which had brought him to a neck jarring halt, so he and his horse were now moving at a limp

At the rate he was traveling, it wouldn't be long before Bart and the Chief caught up, and with their recent history, you could bet that Bart would laugh like a horse, and with the jokes, he would not skimp

Irrespective of what was going on elsewhere, Denver and Missy, remain locked in a personal race, which was verging on obsession

This time of year, the river reaches we're crowded with tall stalks of pampas grass, standing proudly to attention

Here the Salt Marshes still belonged to Mother Nature and were fraught with hidden danger, the potential range of consequences, were too numerous to mention

There's little doubt that they would have ended up in trouble, even if they had been paying attention

Traveling at speed, on horseback they would not have seen the perils underfoot, laying silently in wait

It's hard to imagine but the unlikely acting ship's captain, was taking to his responsibilities, like a duck to water, it was an unexpected twist of fate

The much-maligned card sharp and womanizer was competently coping with the unexpected complications, using unmarked cards, dealt from an unfamiliar deck

It's all but certain, that without his leadership, the Liberty Belle would already be a wreck

With the full support of a re-energized crew, he was fully focused on getting her ready to sail, with just one exception

He allowed time out for the ships cook, to prepare a meal for the entire crew because to him it was important that he showed them his respect and appreciation 

He made sure that the cook and his galley crew, did not miss out, for when this was over, all the crew would pull together, and help clear up the inevitable mess

They all began to wonder what an unusual captain this was, it seemed, that to him, everyone mattered, he showed no favors, upstairs or downstairs, and didn't care who had to clean the pots and pans, he was a breath of fresh air, he was really beginning to impress

He even sat next to the smoky stoker and danced a jig, with the passing gypsy travelers, and of course a few of the girls, but not just the pretty ones

It was late evening, Bart was busy sweeping the floor, Shadow, was dressed in an apron, stood at the kitchen sink, washing dishes, where she was laughing, and joking with everyone, in an effortless way, something she'd never been able to do before, and was discovering there was more to life than her usual anonymity when without warning, a series of blurred images flashed before her eyes, and shivers ran through her bones

And with her next breath, she was yelling at Brett, we've got to get this ship moving, Ma and Pa are racing each other into trouble, I know it

He knew better than to ask how, so he told the crew, to forget the dishes because we have to get going, and in a flash, the smoky stoker was off and running, and to the boiler room he sped, carrying his shovel, he didn't need to be asked twice, he just did it

Shadow, where are we going? I don't know exactly, just make your way back to Busted Gulch via the river margins, I'll pick up Mum's echoes along the way

All I can say is that Ma and Pa appear to have put themselves in danger, by going astray

They are so wrapped in one of their aging egotistical races

That they have turned their journey into a Mission Irresponsible, and sooner or later will be flat on their faces