Chereads / It's Ancient History / Chapter 21 - Tossed About

Chapter 21 - Tossed About

As Madolyn was leaving, Darby called out to her

"Aw! So soon? We were having such a pleasant time! Until later then Madolyn!" Madolyn whipped her head back and yelled "Don't call me that, I am Miss Browning! We are not that close, Miss Herrington!" And then she hastily walked away. Darby turned and smiled at Jack and said,

"She is always such a delight!" Jack looked confused over the whole conversation and said

"Really? She doesn't seem to like you very much.." Darby laughed lightly and shrugged, saying

"Well, that is to be expected, we have always competed in our course work and then after that we went to work at a rival museums. Also, she prides herself on being a refined lady and I know I am not everyone's cup of tea" Jack looked upset for Darby and said "Well, you have always been quite nice to me!" Darby burst out into a loud laugh.

"Mr. Clemins we have only met recently...give it time." Jack nodded thoughtfully considering Darby's words

"That is true, we don't know each other very well." Jack thought again 'I feel guilty for following her here for her father without her knowing..' Darby patted him on the back, bringing him from his thoughts. She said

"I am sure all that will change. Now let's go check on our equipment and luggage too. We won't be aboard the ship for very long before we reach land again and then we are traveling by train the rest of the way." As they walked in the direction of the luggage Darby thought to herself, 'I almost feel guilty..' Darby started walking faster and called over her shoulder,

"Let's go Mr Clemins, we need to make sure everything is ready to transfer to the train later." As she looked back over her shoulder to see if Jack was still following, she saw him walking along and then suddenly jolted to a stop and then rushed to the railing and put his hands over his mouth as he became pale. Darby walked over to Jack, asking

"Oh, are you feeling unwell? Perhaps some seasickness? It is very common." Jack had now gone from pale to a shade of green. Darby ordered

"Lean over if you need to vomit! Stop covering your mouth!" She put her hand on his back and pushed him closer toward the edge. All of a sudden, the boat shifted in the direction that she pushed him and Jack went flying toward the railing. He grabbed the railing before he could be flipped overboard. Darby reached out and grabbed him to steady him. Jack was shocked for a moment, realizing that he had almost fallen overboard. Darby started giggling abruptly and said

"Hahah...I am so sorry for laughing" She tried to compose herself and added "but that was entirely an accident." Jack looked at Darby puzzled and said

"Well, of course it was an accident. What else would it be?" Darby's eyes shifted away to the side and she murmured out

"Oh right, hehe" Jack felt sick again and leaned heavily over the railing again. Darby grabbed his arm and exclaimed "Well be careful leaning over!" He looked back at her and asked

"If seasickness is so common, then why am I the only one feeling sick and you are fine?" Darby smirked a little at his question and replied,

"Ah poor, simple Mr. Clemins, mind over matter" as she tapped her finger to her temple. Jack looked at her in disbelief and thought "Did she just imply I am not very smart and that is why I am sick?" Darby continued speaking.

"And also this, bleh" she stuck out her tongue at him, to show she had a mint leaf on her tongue. Jack was a little taken back and asked

"What is that?" Darby pointed to her tongue, still sticking it out.

"It's a peppermint leaf! Want one? Or I have just mints or maybe oil?" She rummaged in her back and pulled out a bottle, and a couple boxes, her hands full of options. Jack saw all the stuff in her hands and laughed a little.

"How much stuff do you carry in your bag?" By then Darby had taken a mint out of the box while he was talking and flipped it into his mouth, saying

"Too slow, you get a mint", Jack was startled by her flipping a mint into his mouth and coughed as Darby suggested,

"Why don't you rest here and I'll go check the equipment by myself?" Jack quickly yelled.

"No!...uh I mean I should go with you." Darby laughed "Ok if you insist, but try to take it easy, we can walk slowly." They began to walk off towards where the luggage was stored. Jack stumbled along, trying to keep up with her. He puffed out

"I thought you said we could go slowly!" Darby laughed "Come along Mr Clemins, you will be fine," Thinking to herself 'Maybe distracting him would help him not feel so sick.' She continued speaking to Jack.

"We won't be at sea very long. Soon we will be traveling by train….unless you also get trainsickness?" Darby looked up at him innocently with her big blue eyes, and batted her eyelashes. Jack narrowed his eyes at her and said,

"I might be wrong, Miss Herrington, but I feel like you're making fun of me" Darby widened her eyes and looked at Jack, saying sadly, "Poor Mr. Clemins! You really must be sick!" Darby continued to walk while Jack stared at her for a moment, thinking

"Hmm.." and then he began to slowly follow after her. Darby and Jack walked through the different levels of the ship and down into the luggage and storage area. The boat shifted and creaked as it tossed them about while they walked along inspecting all their crates. As they neared the end of their row they saw Madolyn a bit of a ways off looking over her own luggage, she spotted Darby and turned and huffed off, not wanting to be deal her again. Darby and Jack finished making sure everything was in order and then spent the rest of their time on the deck of the ship enjoying the fresh air and cooling breeze. The boat eventually came into port at their next destination. All of the museum's equipment was moved to the train and Darby and Jack boarded the train and made their way to the restaurant car. As they entered the dining car, Darby took a moment to look around and made note of their surroundings. She leaned in to whisper to Jack and he bent down a bit to hear her,

"It appears that a lot of our competition is here as well, Mr. Clemins, we will need to keep a watchful eye."