Revenge of the Mad Scientist (Book One: Airship Adventure Chronicles) (36 page)

Pounding footsteps approaching across the landing field startled her and she hurried to look over the rail. Sam ran toward the ship, his face pale and streaked with fear.

“What’s wrong?” she called.

He reached the side of the ship and looked up at her. “It’s Rett.” He panted. “They took him.”

The breath went out of her. “What? Who took him?”

“Bounty hunters.” Sam ran up the gangplank and in seconds emerged on the deck where they all gathered around him.

“Bounty hunters? Here in Moro?” The unreality of the hunters showing up in this tropical paradise overwhelmed her. But then she remembered the men in the wagon and her heart sank. Damn it, she’d forgotten. It had to be them.

“Yeah, seems the Baron has upped the bounty on Rett and word of
Gambit
reached the ears of a lot of people. The scumbags were looking for him everywhere.”

“But where did they take him? I can pay his debt, we just need to find them,” Belle said frantically, guilt washing over her in a chill as she realized she might have stopped this from happening if she’d told Rett about those men yesterday.

“It’s no use. They’re gone. Left on that airship.” Sam jerked his head to the one she had just watched take off. “I was in the coal monger’s office and Rett wandered around looking at the docked ships when they grabbed him. They must have been watching him because they had their engines going already and took off before I could run across to the ship and stop them.”

Belle’s hands went to her face. She couldn’t believe it. But she knew they had to do something. She had to rescue him after all he did to help her find her father.

"Sam, get
Gambit
ready. We have to save Rett,” she said, determination welling in her chest. “They don’t have a big head start. We’ll follow them.”

Sam’s eyes brightened. “Aye, that I will. We filled up on coal and water yesterday so we can leave as soon as I get the engine started.”

“My Lady, are you quite sure you’re up to this?” Jasper asked, brow wrinkled.

“No, but we don’t have a choice. It’s my fault he’s in this mess. If I’d given him the money up front he could have paid off his debt before we left Eagle’s Peak. But I didn’t trust him and wanted to keep some back. Now look what’s happened.” She strode away, tears stinging her eyes. Damn it, she would not let him be hurt because of her.

Sam had the engine running and steam up within ten minutes. He returned to the deck and called for the ground crew to release their tethers. Belle leaned on the rail as the black airship grew smaller and smaller in the sky.

“Ship’s ready, My Lady, but we need a pilot. I can’t handle the engines and steer the ship,” he said as
Gambit
swayed, rising in the air.

“I can do it,” Benji said stepping forward. “I watched Rett and he taught me how to navigate as well as steer the ship.”

Belle didn’t hesitate. “Very well. We don’t have a choice. You shall be the pilot.”

He hurried up to the pilot station and couldn’t quite hide a smile of excitement as he put his hands on the wheel.

“Pull up the landing lines,” he called.

They rushed fore and aft to haul in the lines.

“Let ‘er fly,” he called.

He pushed the levers forward and
Gambit
rose, slowly gaining speed as he unrolled a chart and ran a finger over it.

Belle joined him and Sam on the bridge. “Do you know where they’re taking him?”

“I’m not sure it’s a final destination, but I did find out from the coal monger they filed a flight plan for Jelep this morning,” Sam said. “It’s logical. They’ll need to refuel there to go anywhere else.”

“All right then.” She nodded to Benji. “Follow that ship.”

“Aye, Aye,” Benji said. He turned the wheel and
Gambit
made a swooping turn to the west and soared up to the clouds following the fast disappearing bounty hunters.

Belle said a prayer under her breath as fear for Rett clutched her chest like a vise. She put a hand on Benji’s shoulder and murmured, “Don’t worry Rett, we’re on our way.”

The End…for now.

Look for Book Two
-
Rescue From The Baron -
coming soon!

www.laranance.com

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