"Redemption's Run": Chapter 23 closes

A Star Tribune serialized novel by Jane Fredericksen

Chapter 23

The story so far: Kinney relives the tragedy, and asks forgiveness.

The sound unnerved Kinney. It made his ears ache, his skin prickle and burn. It screamed louder than any wind. Each slow, agonized tearing pierced him like a dagger, like the Blade of Truth itself. It ripped his very soul.

"Stop it," he whispered. Then, louder, "Stop it!"

But she continued to tear at him.

He leaped across the bed and grabbed her hands, forcing her to face him.

He was beyond fear, tacking hard into fury. "Damn it, Kacie! For once in your life, stop what you're doing and listen! For starters, let's get one thing straight! Call me Kinney, or call me Jack, but don't you ever call me Dad!"

Kacie, afraid and confused: "OK."

"And you'd better get used to taking orders, because no one sails with me who can't. Understand?"

Less afraid, still confused: "OK."

"And I want to be able to live my life. Maybe I'll want to date someone. Maybe even someone you know, and you better not get all weird on me about that."

"And it won't be much of a normal life, because I have to work a lot, and I can't be coming to school recitals and soccer games and all that crap … much."

"It's OK. I'm home-schooled."

"You are?"

Kacie nodded.

"OK." He let her go.

Kacie wiped her eyes. "You … you don't have to do this, you know."

Kinney nodded. "I know. But Kacie, you're the best first mate I ever had. And they're damn hard to find."

Kacie launched herself into his arms, knocking the wind out of him.

"Ribs," he gasped, but for once he didn't pull away. Instead, he held her tightly, as if he'd pulled her from the raging storm all over again.

And maybe she had saved him, too. Again.

"That's right. What if…" Kinney reached behind to pull the paper off the desk. He held it before Kacie and slowly ripped it in half. "Maybe family can run beyond blood, Kacie. Maybe, in some cases, it should."

Kacie hugged him again.

Kinney ran a hand through his shaggy hair and groaned. "But what am I thinking? I must have scrambled brains."

Kacie giggled. "I'm really glad."

Kinney laughed. A laugh long buried, finally freed. "Yeah." He kissed the top of his daughter's head. "Yeah. Me too."