"Redemption's Run": Chapter 20 continues

A Star Tribune serialized novel by Jane Fredericksen

Chapter 20

The story so far: Kacie learns the Pirate's true identity.

Kacie wiped the spray from her eyes. She was exhausted from watching the waves, minding the helm, keeping one eye on Kinney and another searching for help. She hadn't seen any other boats at all. No one would be crazy enough to be out here, she thought. No one but the freighters in the shipping lanes, but she was far from the shipping lanes now.

She stole another quick glance at the GPS and depth meter. Everything seemed OK, but she knew that a wave trough could dip her deeper than the charts might indicate. She would have to be careful not to skirt in too close to shallow water.

She was very near Cat Island now. The navigation charts showed there were shoals along the northern tip; she'd have to give them a wide berth. She had no idea whether Ronnie or anyone else waited along the west beach. She knew the island would offer some protection from the relentless northeast wind. That was something, at least. She hoped she could anchor there, try to get Kinney warm and find some way to contact help.

She had to find help.

No, a flare, Kacie reflected. A distress flare. Someone's there. Someone's in trouble.

Her eyes fell on Kinney's prone body and she realized: We are. And we have flares, too.

Kacie tied down Redemption's wheel and threw open the locker lid. She soon found what she needed.

"Let's hope I'm doing this right," she whispered, as she fired off one of the red parachutes.

* * *

Ronnie turned to see another flare, shimmering from the north. It was hard to see through the rainfall, but it was definitely there.

"It's got to be them," Ronnie muttered. "Got to be!" She fired up the searchlight, and this time, it bounced off the bow of Redemption, emerging from the clouds like a phantom ship from another world.

"It's Redemption!" Matt yelled.

"She's coming in fast," observed David.

"Too fast," agreed Ronnie. "What's Kinney doing?"

"Fenders!" cried Ronnie.

She and David hauled out the rubber boat fenders to cushion the impact. They frantically tied them onto True Wind's side.

Matthew fired up a white hand flare and held it above his head to signal the approaching boat. "Slow down!" he warned.

But Redemption kept barreling down on them. At the last second, she pulled alongside and her port quarter swung toward True Wind.

Matthew jumped from the deck to the cockpit as the two boats slammed together. His head glanced off the boat wheel and he sank to his knees, moaning.