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.
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