Tyler let out a yell and quickly turned, knocking into a wave that hit him back going against him. The wave completely soaked him, and the water spilled over his deck. Kenneth shut his eyes and quickly looked to make sure the mast was still intact. Tyler was full throttle, trying to keep out of the spouts path. He was freaking out.
"Hang on, Ty! Hang on!" Kenneth yelled over the wind.
"Pa, help me!" Tyler screamed over the waves. Kenneth heard his cry and quickly went to his bow to comfort him and get him through.
"Hey, keep, goin' Ty! You're gettin' away!" Kenneth said. Tyler was in tears and having a full blown meltdown. Panic attack more likely. "You got this!"
"I don't feel like I do!" He whined.
"You do! You do! Keep going!"
Sooner than later, the storm began to pass by. The spout had already disappeared and Tyler was beginning to slow down from his panicked speed run.
"Woah, okay, you got it. You got it." Kenneth soothed. "You got out, it's over."
Tyler was breathing heavy, and his tears were threatening to come back. "That was scary, Ken, I don't want to do that again, please."
"Hey, I'm with you." Kenneth said. "But you gotta take it easy, relax, okay? It's all over, you weren't hurt, we're still alive." He gave the small tug's cabin a hug best he could. "Now, we don't head back out until you're back to your cheery self, okay?
Tyler gave a shaky sigh and nodded. That had been more frightening than the last, and Tyler did not want to be caught out in another storm as long as he lived. He tried to keep back his tears as he took deep breaths and focused on the task ahead; find Josh. He wondered if Josh would be amazed that the little tug had made it that far, and almost got a little excited thinking about it. As soon as he caught his breath and his mind changed to the task, Tyler sailed back on track and headed off for the next spot.
Kenneth came up to his front. "How're you doin' Ty?" He asked.
"A little better. I need to show Josh how strong I am."
"You don't gotta push yourself that hard, Tyler. As long as you make it, he will know."
"That's true I guess. I'm just wonderin' why he hasn't gotten any help to get back home. I mean, Conner said that when he passed by, he didn't seem too concerned about much really."
"Well, I guess we'll just figure that out when we see him. He is just a kid." Kenneth said. "Wait, is that Newfoundland there?" He pointed a lift to a landmass out in the horizon.
"Yeah, according to my maps."
"Perfect. Head out there, we'll fill up, and then sail around the tip to get to the New York harbor."
"Kenneth, I'm so excited! We're so close! We sailed so far!"
"I know buddy, we'll soon be farther than we were last time. Just keep chugging and doing what you're doing. Pa will understand soon enough."
"You think so?"
"He has to. Other than that storm we've been doing very well. It's not like we can predict when storms will hit." He shrugged.
As Tyler neared the land of Newfoundland, he became increasingly worried. "I'm just afraid for what Pa will say when we get back."
"Don't worry about it, bud. We can deal with that when the time comes. We have to keep our minds focused on the plan ahead and save Josh."
"Yeah, guess you're right." He was still worried. Pa's voice when they had left still echoed in his head. It was a tone he had never heard before. He wasn't sure if it was an angry tone or a scared tone.
Tyler came to a stop at the docks in Newfoundland and docked himself with an anchor. Kenneth jumped onto the dock to get him refueled. Tyler looked at his Nav. system and deemed only a day and a half to get to New York, if they ran into no trouble and it was smooth water. Kenneth loaded on extra fuel jugs as Tyler took in the scenery. He wondered if he would see Dolly anywhere, the nice tug that helped them out last time when he had gotten beached. She must've been from here, because they had been close by Newfoundland at that point.
"Lookin' for someone?" Kenneth asked, shaking him from his thoughts.
"Uh, not really. Just hopin' Dolly might be here somewhere. She was really nice."
"Oh, that red tug huh? Maybe she is here." Kenneth fitted the last jug to Tyler and climbed aboard. "Ready? Maybe we'll pass her by. She was really nice, wasn't she?"
Tyler lifted his anchor and backed up from the dock. He began to follow his map and headed back out to open water when he heard a bell.
"Tyler! Is that really you?" A voice called and Tyler looked back. There was Dolly coming up behind him.
"Dolly!" Tyler grinned and turned around to greet her.
"What are you doin' back here? Weren't you headin' home?" She came to a stop in front of him.
"Yeah, but Kenneth and I ventured out again. We found my friend in New York and we're gonna rescue him!"
"That's wonderful! Amazin' a small little tug like you could come that far, good on you." She smiled and it made Tyler feel warm inside. "Well, I better help the other crew with a shipment. It was really good to see you again!"
"You too, take care!" Tyler smiled and they both parted. Chatting with her left a smile on Tyler's face all the way to New York.