The Double-Cross In Paradise; Episode 37, Goodbye To Cooper

This is episode thirty-six in the sixth novel of The Troy Adventure Series. It is titled The Double-Cross in Paradise. Here are the links to  The Double-Cross In Paradise: paperback, Kindle. 

Goodbye To Cooper

The sun rose and set its gaze on Efate Island. Mount Macdonald appeared like a green hump. 

Trace sat in the cockpit with his hand resting on the handle of the rudder. “It’s about time,” he murmured.

Moments later, Kelsey climbed from the cabin. He stretched and rubbed his eyes and heaved a heavy yawn. 

“Mornin’ mate,” Kelsey said.

“Turn around and you can see Vanuatu,” Trace said, nodding forward.

“It’s about time,” Kelsey said. 

“Can you give me a hint as to what you have in mind?” Kelsey asked. 

“We’ll go aboard The Tramp Islander. Hopefully, it’s just the way I left it. If it is, me and you and Patterson will sit down and hash things out. He can give me the name of a contact, and I can make a move to try to put together some sort of deal. I’m sure that word has reached them and it’s had time to marinate. They’ll probably be glad to see me, especially since Franks put in a good word for me.”

“You seem pretty confident in that,” Kelsey said, sitting on the bench.

“I’m depending on it,” Trace said. 

“So how is it you expect to get this Patterson kid cleared?” Kelsey asked.

“You are familiar with these types of organizations,” Trace said. “They keep their people and associates in line with fear. I think they’ll be glad to share how they deal with people who cross them. Those things serve as a warning for guys like me—keep me in line.”

“If I get this right,” Kelsey said, “you get them to brag about how they framed Patterson, right?”

“That’s right.”

“And it’s your word against theirs,” Kelsey added.

“Not if it’s recorded,” Trace said.

“That’s a dangerous move,” Kelsey said. “What if they check you for a recording device?”

“First things first,” Trace said. He stood and nodded toward the tiller. “Can you hold her steady for me?”

“Sure,” Kelsey said, “I’ll try not to crash into the island.”

Trace walked forward and grabbed the mic from the radio through the companionway. “Calling, Tramp Islander, come in. Calling Tramp Islander, come in.” Trace waited. “Calling, Tramp Islander, come in. Calling Tramp Islander, come in.”

“Tramp Islander, over.”

“Is that you, Sage? Over.”

“Yep, Trace, over.”

“Good to hear from you. Where are you? Over”

“A couple of miles away. We just entered Mele Bay. I’ll be there in forty-five minutes to an hour, over.”

“I’ll have the coffee on, over.”

“Breakfast for three, over.”

“A cowboy breakfast? Over,”

“Are you sure? Over.”

“Sure, over.”

“Comin’ right up, over.”

Trace hung up the mic. 

Cooper sat up in his bunk and rubbed his eyes. “Are we there yet?”

“Relax,” Trace said, “we have half an hour yet.”

Trace returned to Kelsey at the tiller.

“I assume you have a weapon in your gear?” Trace asked.

Kelsey said nothing.

“Something’s wrong on The Tramp Islander,” Trace said. 

“How do you know that?” 

“Sage and I go back to before we could talk,” Trace said. “Cowboy in front, in back, or in the middle of anything means something is up.”

“I have a weapon,” Kelsey said.

“Conceal it on you,” Trace said, “It just so happens I have one also.”

“What’s going on?” Kelsey said.

“I’m not sure,” Trace said, “but let’s just play it as if we know nothing.”

Trace and Kelsey continued to talk for a few minutes. And then Cooper popped out of the cabin. 

“Did I hear that breakfast was ready?” Cooper asked.

“Yeah,” Trace said. “But there has been a change in plans.”

“Like?” Cooper asked. 

“When we dock, I want you to take my duffel bag. Get to the airport and fly back to Suva,” Trace said.

Cooper twisted his face. “Why?”

“In the duffle bag is a large sum of money,” Trace said. “It’s enough to compensate you for The Tineytanic, the flight home, and a nice vacation. There’s a key in the duffel bag. It’s to a safe deposit box. All the contents are yours. There’s a piece of paper in it also. It has an address. It’s my dad’s ranch in Texas. Go there and tell him what’s happened as far as you know.”

“But I don’t know much.”

“There’s an envelope with my dad’s name on it. Just give it to him.”

“Texas?” Cooper shook his head slightly, and his face strained.

“I’m sorry beyond what you can imagine that I got you mixed up in this. I didn’t think things would turn out this way. But I’m preparing for the worst. Texas is good, good people. You can live out your life there. You, my dad, grandpa, and Coyote will make great friends. You see, I’m afraid men may eventually come for you.”

Trace turned to Kelsey and smiled. “I have nothing for you.”

“Don’t expect anything, mate. It’s my job,” Kelsey grinned. 

“Anyway,” Trace said, “when we dock, you can take off too. You’re a man of resources. You’ll be fine.”

“Not a chance, mate,” Kelsey said. “Like I told ya, it’s my job.”

“Okay, then,” Trace said, “Cooper take the rudder, and I’ll drop the sails. We’ll motor the rest of the way.”

Kelsey followed Trace forward. They dropped the sails and secured them.

Returning to the cockpit, Trace pressed his lip and pondered as he looked at Cooper. 

“You want me to pick up the speed?” Cooper asked.

“No,” Trace said. “I want you to grab your gear and my duffel bag. I’ll get a little closer to shore. Let’s toss the rubber raft over, and you paddle to shore. It looks like only a couple of hundred yards.”

“Why?” Cooper asked.

“Somebody might be meeting us, and you won’t have that chance to get back to Suva.”

Cooper cut the engine. “I’ll not argue with you. If I were a younger man, I’d refuse, but I’d be in the way. Hope you don’t mind, but this is my boat, and I went through your gear and saw the weapons. I know you’re expecting trouble.”

“Sorry, Cooper,” Trace said. “Let’s get you off the boat.”

The raft was tossed overboard. Cooper tossed his gear in the raft.

“Kelsey,” Cooper said, “we had a good time together, and despite being an Aussie, you’ve been the best of mates.”

“You Brits,” Kelsey said, “it’s a strain to compliment.” 

They shook hands.

Trace hugged Cooper and said, “You bony old fart, I’ll see you in Texas.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” Cooper said and eased over the side and into the raft. He sat down and reached behind himself and beneath his shirt. He pulled out a revolver. He handed it to Trace. “It’s a bit of an antique, but it does go bang and makes a hole. I thought it might come in handy.” 

Cooper pushed away with the paddle.

Trace and Kelsey waited until Cooper paddled to shore. He jumped from the raft and waded to shore, pulling the raft.

“After this is over,” Trace said, “you should take a vacation. Visit Texas, too.”

“Planning for the future is a good way of easing a man,” Kelsey said. “I appreciate your hospitality and sentiments.”

Trace started the engine and steered toward the gap between the mainland and a small island that led to where The Tramp Islander was docked.

The Double-Cross In Paradise; Episode 36, Rough Seas

This is episode thirty-six in the sixth novel of The Troy Adventure Series. It is titled The Double-Cross in Paradise. Here are the links to  The Double-Cross In Paradise: paperback, Kindle.

Rough Seas

Before ducking below, Kelsey said to Cooper, who was at the rudder, “Tea?”

“Sure thing,” replied Cooper.

Kelsey stretched to look forward. “Hey, Trace!”

“What’s up, mate?” Trace said.

“Cuppa?”

“Make it strong, if ya don’t mind,” Trace said.

Kelsey grinned. “I’ll be makin’ some billy tea.”

“I like the sound of it, already,” Trace said.

Kelsey made the tea and brought two cups for Trace and Cooper. 

“When you go back for your cup, give us a reading from the barometer,” Trace said.

Kelsey went below and returned with his tea. “It looks like twenty-nine seventy-three.”

“Are you sure?” Trace said.

“It’s definitely below twenty-nine seventy-five,” Kelsey said.

Trace stood and looked to the northwest horizon.

“What does it mean?” Kelsey asked.

“It means a storm,” Cooper said. 

“I’m going to flip on the radio,” Trace said. Then he said to Kelsey, “It’s supposed to be at twenty-nine eighty. It’s been falling fast. It means a storm is coming in.”

Trace reached inside the cabin and switched on the radio. He sat on the bench next to the companionway. The report was 20 to 25 knot winds with rain and 10 to 12 foot seas.

“That’s not good, is it?” Kelsey said.

Trace didn’t answer.

“Cooper,” Trace said, “have you ever had The Tineytanic in those types of seas?”

“No,” Cooper said.

Trace stood on top of the roof of the cabin and held on to the mast. He looked northwest again.

“There’s something out there. That’s for sure,” Trace said. “Let’s get our vests on and prepare for rough seas.”

“What about you? Have you sailed in the type of storm that’s coming our way?” Kelsey asked.

“Plenty of times,” Trace said. “I can handle the boat, but that doesn’t mean it’s not dangerous. Unexpected things can happen and probably will. We all have to keep our heads and not do anything stupid.”

Dark gray clouds rolled from the northwest horizon like smoke from the rampage of a charging Army of stallions. They picked up, and the sails flapped like the sound of a whip.

“Stay at the rudder with Cooper,” Trace said to Kelsey. “I’m reefing the sails.”

Trace said to Cooper, “Second reef and I’m taking in the Genoa.”

“You’re going to have to be at the rudder,” Cooper said.

Trace dropped the Genoa and reefed the mainsail. 

The winds picked up, as did the seas. 

Cooper looked across the cockpit at Kelsey’s worried face.

“This is a sturdy boat,” Cooper assured him. “You’ll find none her equal.”

Kelsey stared.

“I bought this a few years back from the guy who built it,” Cooper said. “He was going to sail it all over the world. He built it to withstand tougher seas than what’s coming our way.”

Kelsey bobbed his head affirmatively. Those words calmed him.

Overhead, a solid gray sky blanketed the sea. The stallion of black clouds rolled closer. The wind picked up and carried small droplets of rain. The waters swished and jumped.

Cooper opened a bench and drug out a rolled canvas. 

“I haven’t used this in years,” Cooper said and said to Kelsey, “Give me a hand.”

They snapped it to the dodger. Poles were slid into holes on both sides of the cockpit, and bamboo rods arched from one side to the other. They stretched the canvas over the rods, giving the cockpit protection from the rain.

“That ought to help some,” Cooper said, inspecting the canvas.

Cooper dug into the bench and tossed slickers to Trace and Kelsey. After climbing into them, they sat under the canvas canopy. The rain stopped. They looked at each other as if almost disappointed that it didn’t rain.

Cooper joked, “It’s like getting your car washed is the sure way to make it rain.”

Trace tossed his head forward. Cooper and Kelsey looked.

A solid gray veil of darting rain swept across agitated waters with crashing darts like a million explosions against the surface. Before it could all be mentally processed, they were immersed beneath a crashing waterfall of rain. Moments later, The Tineytanic bucked and rolled like a rodeo bronc. 

“You can hardly hear yourself think,” Kelsey said, trying to sway with the tossing waves.

“In weather like this, it’s better to piss your pants than stand,” Cooper said.

Trace said nothing. Every muscle and thought lay on the boat, the waves, and wind.

A wave pushed The Tineytanic into a wave that crashed starboard. It lifted the boat high and seemed as if the floor was swept from beneath them. The boat smacked against the water. 

Kelsey’s eyes widened.

“Don’t worry, mate,” Cooper said. “I said she was well-made. It will take more than that for her to break apart.”

“That’s nothing more than a big fat kiss,” Trace grinned through a stern face.

The wind and rain lasted for two more hours. At times, they held tight to whatever they could to prevent being struck to the deck or dashed into the sea.

Trace lifted the main sail and set the Genoa. The Tinytanic dashed and wiggled its way through crests and mounds of sea.

The Double-Cross In Paradise; Episode 35, The Doldrums

This is episode thirty-five in the sixth novel of The Troy Adventure Series. It is titled The Double-Cross in Paradise. Here are the links to  The Double-Cross In Paradise: paperback, Kindle. 

The Doldrums

Three days at sea passed.

Trace sat on the foredeck against the cabin. He was reading a book. Cooper was at the rudder. Kelsey walked around the boat as if looking for something to do. He did deep knee bends, push-ups, and ran in place.

Exasperated Kelsey said, “How do you put up with this!”

“Sometimes I read,” Trace said.

Kelsey bent down to read the title of the book. “Moby Dick!”

“Yeah,” Trace said, “it’s a good book. You ought to read it.”

“Doesn’t the ship sink in the end, and they all die?”

“No,” Trace said, “Ishmael, the main character, lives.”

“If you know how it ends, why read it?” Kelsey said.

“Actually, this is the fourth time I’ve read it.”

“The sea has made you stark raving mad!” Kelsey said.

Trace laid the book on his lap. He smiled softly as if he understood Kelsey's condition of boredom. “There’s portions of this book where there is no wind. When there’s no wind, there’s nothing for sailors to do. In the book, it’s a difficult time. I sometimes think Melville wrote that portion of the book to inform others how taxing with monotony the sea can be. And reading about it eases the boredom.”

“I think a good workout does a man better,” Kelsey said. “Ya don’t want your muscles to atrophy.”

“I won’t argue the point with you,” Trace said. “But the mind can also atrophy. Cooper has a couple of good books below.”

“Like what?”

“I think there’s The Bobbsey Twins, The Mystery of the Deep Blue Sea, that’s if you fancy sea stories.”

Kelsey sneered.

“What! You've got to start somewhere,” Trace feigned concern. 

“You don’t trust anyone, do you?” Kelsey said. 

“Not so,” Trace said. “I trust my buddy back on The Tramp Islander, Sage. I trust his dad; they call him Coyote. I trust my grandpa and my dad. I trust cows, my dog, and my horse. But it does keep one eye open when it comes to the cows.”

Kelsey disdainfully sniffed.

“Here’s the deal, Kelsey, you don’t trust anyone—not one person. The guys over you, under you, and beside you. You can’t trust them. The guys beside you and under you would do almost anything to move above you, and the guys above you want to keep you where you are.”

“It’s that place everywhere,” Kelsey said. 

“Not back in Texas,” Kelsey said.

“Texas ain’t any different than anyplace else,” Kelsey grinned. “I’ve watched Dallas.”

“Where I’m from, that’s kiddy show stuff, Saturday morning cartoons,” Trace said. “In my parts, people show up like that, we spit in their coffee and send them back to Austin, Houston, or Dallas. It’s a big state. It’s like a big house; by the time you clean from right to left, right is dusty again.”

“Given what you’ve just said,” Kelsey squatted in front of Trace and came eye to eye, “why do you stay here? There’s deceit all around. I’ve read a file on you. I’m sure it doesn’t tell the whole story, but you’ve been involved in stuff that’s enough to make a sane man curse the good lord and die.”

“What keeps you going?” Trace asked. “What is it? Certainly, you don’t think that this is a Hollywood movie, once the bad guys are chased out of town, the whole valley is at peace? There is no closing scene or last chapter when all is good. When you retire, it will be worse than when you started. You should go back to the station or ranch or whatever you call it. Get yourself a good dog and horse.”

“And look at you,” Kelsey said. He stood from his squatted position. “I’m going below and look for that Bobbsey Twins book you mentioned, what was it?”

“The Mystery of the Deep Blue Sea,” Trace said. “It’s really not down there.”

“I know that,” Kelsey said, “but I’m going to look for The Bobbsey Twins in La La Land. It’s something that would be right down your alley, or in your wheelhouse, or whatever you call it.”