"Redemption's Run": Chapter 8 continues

A Star Tribune serialized novel by Jane Fredericksen

Chapter 8

The story so far: Kinney slices his hand while drinking, and Ronnie meets her crew.

Kinney looked terrible, unshaven, with surly hair. His hand was wrapped in a bloodstained towel.

Ronnie watched with interest as he opened a storage bin, pulled out a first-aid kit and popped the lid.

She moved to the edge of True Wind. Kinney seemed too bleary to focus on her.

"What happened to you?" she demanded.

"Damn!" He dove for the roll, but Ronnie jumped across the dock. In a flash, she knelt beside him.

"I can handle it," he said. But he fumbled the roll again.

Ronnie intercepted it. "I'm here," she ordered. "Let me help." She quickly rewound the gauze as Kinney reluctantly unwrapped the towel.

"It's nothing," he insisted. "A small cut."

Ronnie tried to catch a glimpse of the wound, while Kinney attempted to conceal it. "So what happened?" Ronnie pressed.

"Bit? By what?"

He seemed embarrassed. "A whiskey glass."

"Well, you wouldn't be the first. Let me see." She reached for his hand.

Kinney flinched, jerking it away.

Like last night, Ronnie thought. On the Mainlander. She had pretended not to notice at the time, thinking it was a fluke.

Kinney moved warily, but he finally extended his arm.

Ronnie gently examined the cut. It looked deeper than she had suspected. "It must be sensitive." She unrolled a length of gauze. "You seem a bit … touchy."

Kinney sounded defensive. "I just like to know what's coming, that's all. I'm bad with surprises."

Ronnie grinned. "Then why do you sail?"

His blue eyes met hers. And just for a moment, Ronnie felt herself slipping, like a sailor drawn to deep water.

My God, it's like reading a chart, Ronnie thought. She couldn't turn away.

And suddenly, she noticed those eyes moving closer, testing the waters. "Good question," he murmured.

Ronnie forced herself to focus on his hand. "You know, Vince is showing a good deal of trust in you." She sprayed disinfectant on his wound.

Kinney grimaced. "Not sure I trust him. Do you?"

"He's my fiancé."

"It's all right."

"Really, sorry."

"Don't worry about it." Ronnie started to wrap his hand.

"I mean, really, really…."

"Kinney, shut up." She decided to change the subject. "So. Pete said he'd never known anyone who could read the wind like you. What did he mean by that?"

She shot him a warning look.

"Don't be so suspicious. I promise I won't try anything. Just a demonstration."

"OK then." Ronnie closed her eyes. "Now what?"

"Concentrate. And tell me everything you notice. Use all your senses, except your eyes."

Ronnie concentrated.

He seemed nonchalant. "Just testing your powers of observation. Not bad. Now my turn. You can put your hands over my eyes, if you think I'm going to cheat."

"No thanks."

"OK then." Kinney closed his eyes. He seemed to focus all his energy on everything around him. "The dog's bark is more of a yelp. Some collie mix. He's tied up and wants to be free, but his rope is tangled. The people talking are actually arguing, and the bacon is burning. Married couple, I think. The wife's criticizing the husband for the loose halyards. He's criticizing her for the bacon. There's a kid on the shore practicing piano. Doesn't want to do it. You can tell by the plodding notes …"

Fascinated, Ronnie moved closer.