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By Root 717 0

Duncan was the happiest he'd ever seen him, also the most dangerous. Gone was the weak, tired, old drunk. In his place was a man on fire, obsessed, determined to beat back Mother Nature. Determined to win at all costs. For a split second, Duncan McKenna reminded Tyler of his own father, the man who had stolen him from his mother, taken him away from everyone he loved, because it was what he wanted, what he needed.

Selfish obsession -- some thought it led to greatness. It took that drive, that impossible ambition, that foolish courage to tackle insurmountable odds. But, ultimately, Tyler thought it led to defeat. His father had died a broken man. Duncan was battling to continue a career that in reality had ended eight years earlier.

"Give it up," he said out loud.

Duncan shook his head. "Never. Never give up. Go into the wind. It's the only way to win."

"Or go back, reevaluate, live to fight another day." "

That's the safe way."

"That's the smart way."

"I've been sailing longer than you've been alive. I know what I'm doing."

"How far are we from shore?"

"Not far. I thought you had more guts than this -- a hotshot reporter like yourself."

Tyler was knocked sideways as the boat surfed up one side of a big swell and down the other. He had a life jacket on, but no safety harness, and he didn't think it would take much to go overboard. Still, he felt better on the deck than in the cabin below. "Shouldn't you put on a life jacket?" he asked Duncan.

"Only got the one."

"What? You mean you don't have a vest?"

"I won't need it. You worry too much," Duncan added. "Just like Katie. She was always looking over my shoulder, second-guessing my decisions, wanting to take charge." Duncan pulled out his flask and took another swig.

"Are you sure you should be drinking right now?"

"Just a little something to warm my bones."

"It could slow your reaction time."

"I'm fine, Jeremy, just fine."

Tyler stared at Duncan, wondering if the old man realized he'd just called him Jeremy. But Duncan was fiddling with the sails again and not looking at him at all. Why would he call him Jeremy?

Because he was getting drunk and confused. And Tyler had been an idiot to get himself into this mess. He wondered if Kate had ever felt this helpless with Duncan, this vulnerable. But her situation had been different. She'd known how to sail the boat. She could have taken over if she had to. Tyler had no idea what to do. He had seen a radio down below. Maybe he should call for help. Duncan would probably kill him for casting aspersions on his ability to make it back to shore. Then again, at this rate, Duncan might just kill him anyway.

"Whoo-hoo!" Duncan screamed with delight as the boat went straight up a wave and down the other side.

"Holy shit!" Tyler swore, managing to hang on as water crashed over them. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Living," Duncan yelled. "Isn't it grand? I'd forgotten what it's like. I'm never going back to that life."

"But we are going back to shore, right? You can race again on Saturday. You can sail all the way to Hawaii and wherever else you want to go, but right now we're going home."

"It hasn't been home since Nora died."

"Your daughters are there."

"They hate me."

"That's not true. Kate loves you."

Duncan shook his head. "She blames me. They all do."

"For what?" .

"I didn't mean to hurt him."

"Hurt who?"

Duncan took another drink. "Jeremy."

Tyler saw a flash of pain in Duncan's eyes. "How did you hurt Jeremy?"

"He pissed me off, telling me I was cheating, threatening to turn me in. He didn't know what was at stake."

Tyler was having a hard time following the conversation. "Cheating at what?"

"The race. K.C. had sent him to spy on me. That's why Jeremy was looking through my things. I didn't want to hurt him," Duncan repeated. "I just shoved him. I didn't even know he went off the damn boat until I heard Kate scream. Then she was gone. I had to save her." Duncan's