The docks, Sunday Afternoon

[cowboy-sailor.livejournal.com]

Soon enough it would be time to secure the skiff for the winter. But as long as the weather was still good, Tully was going to get all the use out of it he could.

He set a cooler with drinks behind one of the seats, and double checked everything. He was all ready to go. All he needed now was his date? passenger.

[For Mary]

Comments

[montecito-east.livejournal.com]

His passenger arrived shortly with a picnic basket. "Hi Tully! I brought sandwiches but not drinks. I'm meeting some of the girls later on at Caritas and didn't want to start too early."

[cowboy-sailor.livejournal.com]

"Okay well I've got drinks, some of which are even non-alcoholic, so we're covered."

[montecito-east.livejournal.com]

"Great! Let me just set this basket in here... Do I just climb in?" asked Mary, looking nervously at the skiff.

[cowboy-sailor.livejournal.com]

"Want me to give you a hand?" Tully offered. Good thing the water was calm.

[montecito-east.livejournal.com]

"Yes, please, that would be great," said Mary, holding her hand out.

[cowboy-sailor.livejournal.com]

With one foot on the dock, and the other in the boat, Tully helped her aboard. "Anything for a lady."

[montecito-east.livejournal.com]

"Thanks," said Mary, taking a seat. "So, how far around the island are we going today?"

[cowboy-sailor.livejournal.com]

"I think we could make it about halfway around and back. Sound good? You can't beat the view of the school from out there."

[montecito-east.livejournal.com]

"Sounds good. It's a side of the school I haven't seen before," said Mary. "There's been other people around town with boats, but the only one I visited kept his yacht tied up at the docks."

[cowboy-sailor.livejournal.com]

"Well now that's just silly." Tully said, starting the engine. "Why have a boat if you're just going to keep it at the dock?"

[montecito-east.livejournal.com]

"I'm sure it came in handy when he decided to flee the island," said Mary. "There was another woman who had a yacht that she kept tied up. One day, she just took off in her yacht and never came back. But I can't say I was sad to see her go. She dated my fiancé before he and I started seeing each other."

[cowboy-sailor.livejournal.com]

Tully thought about that. "Was she a b-uh, unpleasant person?" Because he didn't think badly of the husband of his ex, and he hoped he didn't think badly of Tully. Tully had always rather liked Clark Gable.

[montecito-east.livejournal.com]

"I'd like to think that she was just a sad person who was trapped in an unhappy marriage, which caused her to act out," said Mary. "But that's from the perspective of knowing that I'll never see her again."

[cowboy-sailor.livejournal.com]

"So, that's a yes, but in a nice way?"

[montecito-east.livejournal.com]

"Of course. I'm a nice person that way," said Mary, chuckling. "In any case, I was never invited aboard her yacht, even though I invited her to my party."

[cowboy-sailor.livejournal.com]

"Oh, one of those types." Tully laughed. Like he went to a lot of parties. "At least the other guy invited you on his boat."

[montecito-east.livejournal.com]

Mary wasn't eager to talk about what happened on GOB's yacht the night she had amnesia, so she changed the subject. "Have you found anyone else to work at the lighthouse?" she asked.

[cowboy-sailor.livejournal.com]

Tully sighed a bit. "No, not since Murdock left. I still have my help wanted sign up but no takers so far. Maybe I need something flashier."

[montecito-east.livejournal.com]

"Or maybe you need to make the compensation a bit more obvious?" suggested Mary. "Like how I offer comped hotel stays for the guests of my staff during Parents Weekend."

[cowboy-sailor.livejournal.com]

"That might work. Once the tower's completed there'll be a gift shop and museum in half of the house. I could offer an employee discount. Maybe offer use of the skiff."

[montecito-east.livejournal.com]

"That's a good start," said Mary. "Any other benefits to working at a lighthouse?"

[cowboy-sailor.livejournal.com]

"Well, Murdock found the top of the tower to be a good place to bring a date."

[montecito-east.livejournal.com]

"I guess that could count as a benefit," said Mary.

[cowboy-sailor.livejournal.com]

"Not sure how I would put that in a help wanted ad though."

[montecito-east.livejournal.com]

"Of course, the easy route might be to advertise a really high starting salary," added Mary.

[cowboy-sailor.livejournal.com]

"I could do that. There is one, I was just vague about it on the sign."

[montecito-east.livejournal.com]

"There are a lot of other job opportunities for students right now, like Turtle & Canary, that new law office, the comic book store. I could still use one more person and haven't had any new applications come in," said Mary. "It can't hurt to offer something a little extra than what they'll get elsewhere."

[cowboy-sailor.livejournal.com]

"I'll definitely give it some thought." Tully nodded. They were coming up on the best angle to see the school.

"Almost there now."