“Have you got her chartered?”
“Oh, no. We're using her in our own trade. Skinner will have a cargo ready for her by the time she gets back, although we don't know yet where we will send her.”
“Well, Matt, you tell Skinner he can't have her and to look around for some other vessel to take her place. I may give her to him at the last minute, but then again I may not. When she arrives at the mill, Matthew, my boy, tie her up to the mill dock to await my pleasure.”
“Why, what the devil are you going to do with the Tyee?” Matt demanded, astounded beyond measure.
“I might want to take a cruise for my health and use the Tyee as a pleasure boat,” Cappy answered enigmatically. “They tell me she's as fast as a yacht in a breeze of wind.”
“The longer I'm acquainted with you, father-in-law,” Matt Peasley declared, “the less I know you. You can have your Tyee, but for every day she is held awaiting your pleasure your personal account will be charged with something in three figures. I'll figure out her average profit per day for the last five voyages and soak you accordingly.”
“Fair enough,” quoth Cappy Ricks.