It suffices to say that because this is one novel in a series, there may be things not understood unless one knows what has taken place in previous novels from this series. Here is a link to the first novel in the series: The Big Gamble in Paradise, paperback or Kindle.
New Crew
Trace and Adam showered and dressed.
Trace combed his hair in the mirror.“You know,” he said, “it’s nice to shower in a motel, but it’s not home.”
“I’ve been thinking about getting one of those walk-in showers at home,” Adam said, sitting on the bed, putting on his socks. “The water comes from the ceiling, like rain.”
“You’re getting soft, Dad,” Trace said and walked out of the bathroom. “I remember you telling me there’s nothing like a bath in a water trough.”
“That’s after a hard day’s work, and it’s not to get clean, it’s just to cool off,” Adam said. He stood and slipped on these shoes. “I should have brought my boots. I feel like a tourist.”
“Where do you want to have breakfast?” Trace asked, and he reached for the doorknob.
“That place we went a couple of days ago,” Adam said, following Trace.
“Let’s ask Sage and Coyote to join us,” Trace said.
“Sure,” Adam said.
Sage opened the door after Trace knocked. “You guys heading out already?”
“Going for breakfast,” Trace said. “Ya want to come?”
“Give us a minute,” Sage said.
“We’ll meet you in the lobby,” Trace said.
Trace and Sage rode the elevator to the lobby. Walking out of the elevator, Trace immediately saw Makani’s big smile.
“Where have you been?’ Trace smiled. “I thought you might have taken off, never to be seen again.”
“Spend time with relatives on other island,” Makani said. “And other things.”
“We thought you might have bought an island,” Adam said.
“Yeah,” Trace said, “I’ve already been to the dry dock.”
“I pay,” Makani said.
“No way,” Trace said. “And you knew that.”
“Never really sure,” Makani said.
“We’re all having breakfast together,” Trace said. “There’s a place around the corner. The food sort of reminds us of home.”
“Adam,” Makani said, “if you want a Texas breakfast, I fix for you. Trace and Sage teach me.”
“Everything’s better with cowboy coffee,” Adam said.
“I fix that too,” Makani said.
The five of them sat at a table in the middle of a small restaurant that served American-style breakfasts. The eating was over, and the plates were removed. Everyone was on their second cup of coffee.
Trace cleared his throat. “The Tramp Islander is already at the dock. I got a call from Higgins this morning. I also have a few men looking for work. They’ll be there at nine. Allie said she has freight whenever we’re ready. I don’t want to be too hasty, but we have to decide on a crew pretty quick. Let’s pick the best two of the lot, no matter how good they are, and try to make sailors out of them.”
“That’s the only hand we have,” Sage said.
“Makani, what do you think?” Trace said.
“Like sage said,” Makani said. “If they complain about food, I know old Maori recipe for white man stew.”
Everyone chuckled.
Adam cleared his throat.
“Go ahead, Dad, either you or Coyote,” Trace said, “we value your opinion. Both of you have faced situations like this.”
Coyote glanced at Adam. He looked as if holding on to a secret. “Go ahead, Adam,” he urged.
“Coyote and I were talking a couple of days ago,” Adam said. “Both of us can outwork two or three men half our age.” He paused for a moment. He pressed his lips and bobbed his head. “You see, Coyote and I would like to sign on with you for a while.”
“Yeah,” Coyote said, “we know our ranches run just as well without us. And we already called our foremen.”
“What!” Sage said.
“There’s no cow manure in those ears of yours,” Coyote said. “We want to come to work for ya.”
Sage turned and stared at Trace. Trace and Adam stared at each other. Trace and Adam broke into a smile at each other.
“I think it’s a great idea,” Trace said. “Are you sure?”
“Sure,” Adam said.
“Very sure,” Coyote said.
“Hold on, Pops,” Sage said, “you ain’t never been on anything but a fishin’ boat on a lake.”
“I’ve busted broncs,” Coyote said. “Can’t be that bad.”
Trace looked at Makani, “What do you say?”
“Cowboy coffee, meat, potatoes, and beans,” Makani grinned.
Trace looked at Sage, “What do you say?”
Sage looked over at Coyote. “It will be great.”
“Well,” Trace said, “let’s drink up, pay up, and saddle up and go let The Tramp Islander look at her new crew.”
They tossed their money on the table and walked out.
They climbed into two cars and drove to the dock where The Tramp Islander sat tranquil and pristine.
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