Spoils of Eden

by Linda Lee Chaikin

  “Eden! I need to talk to you.”

  Stepping down from the seat, wearing fawn-colored riding habit and shiny boots, he winced when his weight shifted to his left leg. Had he injured himself?

  He left his buggy and came around to where she stood beside the hackney. Maybe he’d hurt his leg riding one of Rafe’s new horses. The men did share one interest in common. Both loved purebred horses imported from California—and sometimes risked their lives to tame and ride them!

  Zachary’s brows were furrowed. Since childhood he’d manifested emotional disturbances of one sort or another, some so troubling he’d been under a doctor’s care in a home. It wasn’t until she’d had the recent privilege of leading his troubled soul to faith in Christ that he’d become a more genial personality. Even now there were times when he became so emotionally upset he’d take the medication prescribed by Dr. Bolton.

  Eden had a special sympathy for Zachary. He’d become the brother she’d never had. Zachary had become amenable to the relationship, though at one time he’d refused to believe she was a true Derrington and contested Rafe for her attentions. All that was past; he understood she was his blood cousin and treated her so. He often confided in her to share his frustrations with his father, Townsend, Eden’s uncle.

  “Are you going home to Kea Lani?” he asked, taking her bag from the hackney. “I’ve a meeting there—with—my father,” he said, choking on the word as though it were bitter.

  She looked at him, uneasy. Trouble again. No doubt over his half-brother, Silas. “I won’t be going to Kea Lani until this evening. Right now I’m on my way to the mission church for a chat with Ambrose, then over to Rafe’s. Great-aunt Nora is there. I’ve a new prescription for her.”

  Zachary nodded, but his thoughts appeared to be elsewhere. He was only half attending to what she said.

  Eden paid Ling Li, and the hackney clattered back toward Kalihi Hospital. Then she walked with her cousin to his buggy. He stowed her bag and helped her in, then went around and swung himself into the seat, wincing slightly.

  “How did you injure your leg?”

  His jaw tightened as he touched his left knee. “Oh, it’s nothing. I must have twisted it a little the other day.”

  Eden scanned his features. He was behaving oddly. She wondered why.

  With a flip of the reins Zachary guided the fancy buggy down the palm-lined dirt road. “Since you’re going to stop at the little church, I’ll bring you as far as the turnoff to Kea Lani. I can’t be late for my meeting.” Zachary’s scowl deepened. “Besides, I’d just as soon not accompany you to Ambrose’s.”

  She removed her wide-brimmed hat and pulled her dark hair away from her neck, where it had come loose from the roll. “An odd admission to make. Why wouldn’t you care to visit our beloved Ambrose?”

  He scowled. “It’s not Ambrose, but … well, okay, I’ll tell you. Remember the Bible study he started for several of us young men a few months back?”

  “Yes, of course. You, Rafe, and Keno. I’ve been urging Ling Li to join you, even though he’s older. Not that it should matter, except he’ll feel out of place.”

  “Ling who?” he scowled, his brows twitched in a nervous habit.

  “Ling Li. You know, the dear old Chinese hackney driver. He’s pretty much of a set piece around Kalihi grounds.”

  “Oh, him.” Zachary sounded distracted.

  “Well, Ling Li isn’t young, as I said,” she went on, “and he’d likely stand out, but—”

  “Never mind him, Eden. He’s just a coolie.” He frowned at her. “You’re always preaching to people. Women aren’t supposed to do that sort of work.”

  The Derrington’s can be such awful snobs, she thought.

  “Anyway,” and he moved a shoulder impatiently, “I’ve been too busy to attend a study on Monday nights. He left off in the Bible somewhere in an uncomfortable chapter—I think it was Romans chapter one. I suppose Ambrose will call me on it. My not being at the meetings, I mean.”

  “Oh come,” she said with a laugh. “As if Ambrose carries a whip! You know very well he’s one of the warmest, most fatherly pastors we’ve had since we were children. If anything, he’d welcome you back like the prodigal.”

  Zachary cracked a smile as if his face hurt. “Oh I know. Actually, I haven’t been away that long. Just since April.”

  She recognized the defensive tone in his voice. April? What happened in April? Then she remembered. Silas Derrington, Zachary’s half brother, had arrived from Louisiana in April.

  “I’m not the only one who’s been absent from the Monday meetings.” He shot her a glance, as though about to reveal something. “Rafe hasn’t been showing up either.”

  She refused to respond. Ambrose was Rafe’s blood uncle. They were close, and Rafe supported his missionary endeavors. So why hasn’t Rafe been attending?

  They rode in silence. Zachary glanced at her. “I’d better get on with the real news. Cousin Candace is over at Rafe’s new plantation, isn’t she?”

  “Yes, she’s visiting with Rafe’s mother. Why do you ask?” She scanned his tense face with curiosity.

  Rafe’s mother, the ailing Celestine, widowed after the accidental death of Matt Easton, had made a great error some years ago when she agreed to marry Zachary’s father, Townsend Derrington. The marriage had swiftly turned unhappy for Celestine, as many feared it would, and it had made Rafe and Zachary stepbrothers. It had also given Townsend Derrington rights over Easton property.

  Rafe and Zachary were related through the mismatched marriage of their widowed parents, and though they’d spent much of their growing-up years on different plantations, they had often quarreled, their temperaments and plans being worlds apart. As Eden well knew from past experiences, Zachary was usually at fault. Thankfully, the two men were friendly now, and she attributed the change to Zachary’s conversion.

  Silas Derrington, on the other hand, had been a total stranger to Zachary and Rafe until his staggering arrival in April. Rafe had seen Silas a few times at some of the festive plantation gatherings held by the bigger island families like the Derringtons, Hunnewells, Judsons, Landrys, and Eastons, but recently Rafe claimed he was too busy with the new pineapple plantation to spend much time on festivities. Even Eden hadn’t seen Rafe since they ended their engagement two months ago.

  “Great-aunt Nora’s also at Rafe’s,” Eden emphasized, wondering where Zachary’s uneasy expression was trying to lead her. “If you think Candace and Rafe are—”

  “No, not at all.” Zachary waved an impatient hand. “It’s clear what woman Rafe wants.” His mouth twitched.

  Eden looked away. She wished she could be as certain. He’d ended the engagement at her request readily enough. She frowned to herself. She would have expected him to at least protest or to again vow his undying love, but he hadn’t. If she would permit her heart to brood over another woman, it wouldn’t be Candace that concerned her, but Bunny Judson, Parker Judsons niece in San Francisco. She’d best not mention Bunny now—Zachary had fallen for her during the holiday season last year.

  Continuing, Zachary observed, “Grandfather wanted Rafe to marry Candace last year, but Rafe, in his distinctively polite but blunt way, said no.”

  Eden remained inscrutable, and switched topics. “Even though Celestine hasn’t been well lately, Great-aunt Nora is at the plantation to gain political support for Queen Liliuokalani.” She looked at Zachary, studying his troubled face.

  His shoulder jerked in frustration. “Of course she isn’t well. What woman could be at peace in mind or soul married to my father, roustabout of the islands?”

  Eden was sadly accustomed to Zachary’s bitterness. The problems between son and father had raged for many years, extending well beyond Townsend’s immoral reputation to include the criticism he’d heaped upon Zachary since childhood. And now, ever since Townsend’s illegitimate son, Silas, had appeared two months ago, Townsend praised Silas’s abilities at Zachary’s expense.

 
Zachary flicked the reins, frowning. The horse trotted at a faster clip.

  “A cable came this morning from San Francisco. Grandfather Ainsworth should be arriving today.”

  “Today?”

  “Yes, this afternoon.”

  “But Cousin Candace is at Rafe’s!”

  “Exactly. Since Grandfather asked Candace not to see Keno while he was away in Washington D.C., there will be trouble if he arrives and finds her at Rafe’s. You’d better warn her.”

  Candace’s love for Keno was known by the family, and, like Grandfather Ainsworth, they disapproved. The fact that Keno was a steadfast Christian would not change Grandfather’s mind, “though I like the young fellow for it,” he had faintly offered.

  Eden had been present on several occasions when their Grandfather had gently but firmly reminded Candace that, “such a marriage was not plausible.”

  “You’re the only child of Douglas,” he’d said of his firstborn son, who’d drowned at sea together with Candace’s mother in a shipping accident. “I’ve placed you as my primary heir, Candace my dear, and you simply must live up to the honor of your father, Douglas A. Derrington.”

  The “better” plans Grandfather Ainsworth had made for his favorite granddaughter did not include her marriage to the hapa-haole Keno, even if he did have an “Englishman from a good family” for a father. The Englishman had left for England without a backward glance, even before Keno’s first cry was heard.

  Grandfather had replaced the loss of his firstborn son, Douglas, with Candace, often smothering her unintentionally with family plans. “You’re a fine Derrington,” he would say.

  Candace complained, “The shoes don’t fit, Grandfather, and they never will.” But Ainsworth merely smiled. He believed that if they didn’t fit now, they eventually would.

  Zachary shook his blond head. “That’s not the worst of the news. Grandfather isn’t returning alone. There are several people from San Francisco in his party, including Oliver P. Hunnewell. This is going to be Candace’s dark hour, I’m afraid.”

  Oliver P. Hunnewell was Ainsworth’s choice to become Candace’s husband. Several years ago, their grandfather began forging an alliance with the highly respected George F. Hunnewell of San Francisco and Honolulu with this in mind. The Hunnewell family was well known in society and respected by others with wealth and power. George F. Hunnewell was one of the mighty sugar kings in California, along with Parker Judson and Eden’s own family, the Derringtons. Certain newspapers had named them “the Big Three.”

  “Candace thinks she can avoid this marriage,” Zachary said, gloom returning to his voice. “She’d like to love and live unpretentiously with Keno in a little grass hut. I told her she doesn’t realize what she’s coming up against when the Derrington patriarchs want to expand the sugar industry and enter politics.”

  “I believe she does know,” Eden said. “Candace is no girlish simpleton. She’s not after a ‘grass hut’ as you suggest, but a man who is a strong Christian. She’s already told me she won’t marry a man, no matter how wealthy and important he is, if he’s not a believer.”

  “Well, Oliver is a believer. So she has no recourse where Grandfather’s concerned. All the Hunnewells are Christians. They come from missionary stock, same as us—and Rafe Easton, for that matter. His father just lost his wealth, that’s all, and now Rafe’s planning on getting it back. As for Oliver, he even goes to church most Sundays.”

  “Unless it’s raining, or too hot, or he’d rather sleep late,” she said lightly.

  “When he’s home in the islands, he does go to Kawaiahao.” Kawaiahao, the historical missionary church was across the street from the royal Iolani Palace.

  Eden grew serious. “Candace doesn’t think he’s sincere, Zachary. He’s what she calls a nominal Christian, whereas Keno is genuine.”

  “And, she loves him. I know.” He grew quiet a moment. “Well, she knows I’m all for her. And she knows she can count on you, too. The thing is, her simple piety just won’t work in this situation. Not with Grandfather. Wait and see.”

  “It’s not just piety. She wants a firm foundation to build her life and family on, not piles of sugar-gold.”

  “Oh I know, I know. It’s just that Derrington marriages have always been this way—first approved by the patriarchs. Except for Uncle Jerome’s, that is.” He glanced at her. “When he married your mother it was against all the family rules—and he’s paid, too.”

  Yes, he paid in full, Eden thought, refusing to take offense from Zachary’s thoughtless words. They had all paid. Her father, her mother, and she herself.

  “And what about me?” he added. “Candace is not the only one whose marriage is prearranged. It’s my duty as a Derrington to marry Claudia Hunnewell, Oliver’s sister!”

  Eden couldn’t help but laugh, for he looked so self-sacrificing. “Poor Zachary. It’s your suffering duty for the Derrington name to marry Claudia, who at one time you wanted more than all the gold in the world.”

  His face showed humor for the first time. He was boyish and handsome when he relaxed.

  “Well, maybe Claudia Hunnewell and piles of gold. As a matter of fact, I’d take Bunny Judson for nothing, though I haven’t seen her since she was out here visiting her uncle Parker for Christmas.” His smile vanished. “And she hasn’t answered my letters.”

  Eden recalled that Bunny Judson went home to San Francisco to stay with her ailing mother. She was surprised, though, that Parker Judson’s beautiful niece hadn’t answered Zachary’s letters. She had given the impression that she enjoyed his attention—along with Rafe Easton’s.

  He looked over at her. “What will Grandfather say when he learns you and Rafe Easton have parted ways over your plan to work with lepers?”

  Eden’s smile faded and she became uncomfortable. Yes, just what would Grandfather Ainsworth say? In the past he’d had disagreements with Rafe and the Easton family, but matters were at last coming to a peaceful end, though Rafe still awaited the rightful return of Hanalei, his father’s Kona coffee plantation on the Big Island. At least her grandfather and Rafe had settled upon a truce before the trip to Washington D.C.

  “I was wrong about Rafe,” her grandfather had told her reminiscently, rubbing his goatee. “I’m pleased you want to marry him. Rafe’s bringing those prized pineapple slips from French Guiana was quite a feat. Shows real spunk. I wish I’d made amends with him before he partnered with Parker Judson on that new plantation. If I’d been wiser, I’d have seen it coming with Rafe. He’s like Matt Easton,” he said of Rafe’s deceased father. “Rafe will be one to reckon with. Yes, he’ll make me a strong right arm.”

  What would she say? Glancing down at her empty ring finger made her uneasy. Had she made a foolish mistake?

  She broke the silence without answering Zachary’s question. “Maybe you could go to Candace and explain about Grandfather and Oliver Hunnewell. I need to stop at the church first to speak with Ambrose.” She, too, had troubling news to deliver—to Rafe. “Can you bring Candace back to Kea Lani before Grandfather arrives?”

  He shook his head, looking gloomy once more. “No, Townsend’s at Kea Lani waiting for me right now. I dare not show up late. I’m headed straight there once I bring you to Ambrose’s.”

  The tension in his voice was unmistakable. Zachary rarely called Townsend “Father,” a sad result of their failed father-son relationship.

  “Silas is there, too,” he added. “Townsend demanded a meeting between the three of us.”

  The cause for the meeting was no secret to Eden. Grandfather Ainsworth hadn’t been pleased with Zachary’s behavior. Although her grandfather was a moral man who had not forgotten his missionary roots, he was also one of the most politically influential planters in Hawaii, and a comrade to Claus Spreckels and Parker Judson, two of the California sugar kings. Grandfather Ainsworth and Townsend had expected Zachary to become a strong leader so he could one day take over the Derrington sugar enterprise. Eden believed their expe
ctations were unfair, and she knew Zachary felt the weight of their disappointment.

  Eden also understood Zachary’s hostility toward his father and Silas. Silas had appeared at Kea Lani plantation one morning while the family was gathered on the lanai for breakfast. Walking right up to the table, he calmly introduced himself as Silas Townsend Derrington, placing great emphasis on that middle name.

  As Eden remembered that life-altering scene on the lanai, she could still feel the appalling emotions that settled over those seated around the breakfast table. It seemed as though a full minute passed before anyone spoke. Townsend appeared as though he might fall out of his cane chair, but then his bravado pulled him through the moment, and he took control, boldly addressing the boy.“Well, well, Silas. When did you arrive in Honolulu? You should have let us know. I’d have had someone meet you and bring you here to Kea Lani. So, what do you think of the Derrington sugar plantation?” He acted as if the young man’s appearance was no more than a family member dropping by unexpectedly.

  With the arrival of Silas Derrington, Townsend began making public overtures that Zachary found alarming. Who knew which way the family winds would blow? It would depend on Grandfather Ainsworth’s reaction when he returned. Grandfather had been in Washington D.C., when Silas arrived, so he too would be in for a surprise that afternoon. He now had another grandson—an illegitimate one. How would he respond to Silas? The injustice Townsend had done to both Zachary and to Silas had angered Eden.

  Silas was perhaps the one who had suffered most for his father’s sin, though Zachary would certainly disagree. Townsend, meanwhile, continued to show himself calloused enough in conscience to proceed on his life’s journey without apparent guilt toward God, his wife, or either of his two sons. How that was possible, Eden often wondered.

  “‘A real man, my son Silas,’” Zachary mimicked Townsend’s voice. “‘Takes after me, his father.’”

  Eden, incredulous, looked at him. Had Townsend actually said this in front of Zachary? The anger on his face confirmed it.