Spoils of Eden

by Linda Lee Chaikin

  Then I, too, shall be casual and friendly, as though nothing in all the world has happened between us.

  “Dr. Bolton requested that I deliver Great-aunt Nora her new prescription. Then I happened to meet Zachary on the road. He had news about Grandfather Ainsworth. He’s returning from San Francisco this afternoon.”

  “Ainsworth?” He frowned.

  “Yes. Candace should be told, and I’m hoping to get her to come with me to Kea Lani before he arrives.”

  “Is that what you wanted to see me about?”

  “Well, there is more I need to speak about,” she said, unable to veil the note of concern in her voice.

  Rafe sat on his horse looking down at her, toying with the leather reins, but beneath the casual manner she read an alertness.

  “Then why don’t I bring you up to the house to see Candace? You can give Nora her medication as well. I imagine they’ve got Kip up by now, playing in the nursery.”

  Eden tensed at the mention of Kip, struggling with the main reason for her visit to see Rafe. Conflict loomed like a shadow cast over the future, and her brightened spirits, enlivened by seeing Rafe, sagged. Their first meeting in months had been so pleasant, and now her dreadful announcement would surely separate them again in mind and heart.

  He swung down from the horse and gave a swat to its hip. The horse trotted back toward the bungalow, and Eden inched sideways to make room for him on the seat beside her. As he stepped up she handed him the reins. He gave them a flip, and the horse started down the path.

  Eden scanned the distant hills of green foliage contrasted with dark boulders, streaked with garnet and mauve.

  “You know the difficulty Grandfather has with the idea of Candace and Keno getting married,” she said. “There’s going to be trouble because Oliver P. Hunnewell is returning with him. The engagement Ainsworth wants is no doubt at hand.”

  “Candace’s bound to dig in her heels,” Rafe agreed. “Even so, she’s not been here the last few weeks just to spend time with Keno. She’s been teaching some of the wives and children of our workers who’ve recently become Christians. Keno and I are going to build a another bungalow to meet in and put a cross on top,” he said simply.

  She stared at him, surprised that he’d been active in church planting when she knew of the eighteen-hour days he’d been keeping to get the pineapple plantation established.

  “Why—that’s wonderful, Rafe! Does Ambrose know? He didn’t mention it to me.”

  “Keno was talking about it with Noelani, so she’ll pass it on to him. I’m trying to get Keno to become the lay pastor, but he’s got cold feet.”

  “Then who’s been doing the teaching?”

  “Candace,” he said. “She’s been teaching the women.”

  She hadn’t known; she was learning some things.

  “We also need a good interpreter. What do you know about Ling Li?”

  “Strange you should mention him. I’ve seen him just this morning. Yes, he might be helpful, though his youngest boy is ill. I’m hoping to see him, and I may need to contact Dr. Bolton.”

  He turned his head. “You’re taking too many risks, Eden.” His resonant voice was calm, but with a note of purpose.

  “I’m a nurse. It’s my calling.”

  Under his scrutiny she felt suddenly uncertain. Tension seemed to rise between them. After a moment he went on. “Your women’s class at the mission church has been successful.” He looked at her evenly. “Maybe you’d consider helping us here? Taking Candace’s place for a while? We meet on Thursday nights.”

  Eden realized she must have been looking at him with her feelings written on her face. She turned her eyes away. “Yes, I think I could manage it. Thursday nights?”

  “Yes, around seven.”

  Eden looked toward Mauna Loa. A haze robed the mountain with mixed shades of charcoal, purple, blue, and green. The palms and ferns rustled alongside the road.

  Grandfather Ainsworth’s return to the islands had apparently seized Rafe’s attention, for he returned to that topic as he drove the horse and buggy toward his plantation house. “So your Grandfather’s back in Honolulu,” Rafe said. “I’ll be interested to hear what’s developed from his meetings in Washington D.C.”

  “Don’t tell me what I’ve heard about you is true after all.”

  He lifted a brow. “What have you heard?”

  She toyed with her sun hat. “Oh, just that you’re beginning to be swayed toward annexation. That you’re a member of Loren Thurston’s Honolulu Rifles. That you attend their secret meetings.”

  “If you know that much, it doesn’t speak well for their secrecy, does it?”

  She glanced at him and saw a smile.

  “Who’s been depicting me as this dark conspirator? Zach?”

  She didn’t want to make trouble between the two men she cared most about, so she shrugged gracefully.

  “You know the political situation. As you say, there are many hotheads. Seems everyone’s talking revolution.”

  “And choosing sides like children in a game.”

  “Surely you’re not saying there won’t be a revolution?”

  “With the foolish standoff between Liliuokalani and the Legislature? I’d be the last one to suggest otherwise.” Unfortunately, I don’t think she understands the genuine convictions of men like Thurston. It’s too easy to underestimate their sober opinions. They won’t have their individual rights and property subject to the whims of absolute sovereignty, not after her brother’s faulty reign, giving too much power to a fraud like Gibson.”

  Eden did not favor Gibson, but she was concerned over what Rafe believed. “You’ve always supported the Hawaiian monarchy,” she reminded him.

  Three years ago, when Rafe had first planned to enter a life of journalism, he’d written well-researched articles for Great-aunt Nora’s Gazette, all of them fully supporting the Hawaiian monarchy.

  “Unless Thurston’s group has managed to persuade you otherwise,” she wheedled.

  His smile was indulgent. “You’d make a good spy. Are you sure you’re not working for the monarchists? Have you considered changing your profession?”

  “Very amusing. I shall never give up medicine.”

  “Never?”

  She smoothed the ribbons under her chin, looking straight ahead.

  “If I’m to be swayed toward annexation of the islands,” Rafe went on, “I’ll decide for my own conscience. I won’t need Thurston and Dole. As a matter of fact, though, you’re wrong about those two. They’re decent men, conservative in their politics, and they have the future of Hawaii in mind.”

  “I don’t believe I’m wrong. Nora’s told me so much about them. Facts that she’s dug out of the cave, so to speak.”

  “Sounds dangerous.”

  Eden folded her arms and ignored his comment. “Thurston desires a revolution at any cost, even bloodshed.”

  “Nora has convinced herself of that. Once she’s convinced, it’s easy to pound the drums to win others.”

  “So, you do support annexation!” she said almost indignantly.

  “Thurston’s not one of the hotheads pushing for annexation, but there are prominent men on both sides of the issue, by the way. Nora lacks some incontestable facts; what she does have is an over-supply of zeal for Liliuokalani.”

  “I shall be sure to tell her that.”

  “One thing is certain, you won’t find me out front leading the charge like a General Lee. I may support the birthright of Liliuokalani to the Hawaiian throne, but that doesn’t mean I’ll put my head on the chopping block for her royal cause again.”

  Again, because, as Eden well remembered, before he’d embarked on his voyage to French Guiana, he’d written on the right of Liliuokalani to reign after her brother, who was childless. While his article had upset Grandfather Ainsworth, her Uncle Townsend became enraged. To this day, Townsend believed that he’d frightened his rebellious stepson Rafe out of Hawaii. “If the need arises,” Townsen
d boasted, “I’ll do it again.” Eden knew her uncle was deceived. Rafe had planned his trading voyage on the Minoa almost a year before leaving Honolulu with Keno and the others. He had chosen a rigorous captain, “a seasoned man of the sea,” as Rafe had called him, who had vowed to “indoctrinate” Rafe in the ways of a ship. The voyage from Honolulu took over two years, and when he and Keno returned, Rafe was the Minoa’s new captain, with a highly prized cargo—the new variety of pineapple slips.

  “Nora’s urging me to resume my old journalistic position at the Gazette,” Rafe was saying with a faint smile. “In my spare time, that is.”

  “Well, I hope you stay too busy with Hawaiiana,” she said candidly. “Zachary’s passionate about his work at the Gazette, as you know. Great-aunt Nora has all but promised him control of her newspaper if he’s successful. It means everything to him.”

  “Zach doesn’t need to concern himself with me taking his place. As you so aptly put it, my hands are full at present, nurturing sweet, glorious pineapples and Kona coffee, I might also add, if I regain control of my father’s plantation on the Big Island.”

  She knew Hanalei was Rafe’s supremely desired treasure. As yet, it still dangled like a pearl before his eyes.

  “It’s Silas who has an eye for position as Nora’s editor-in-chief,” Rafe said.

  The disclosure rendered her momentarily speechless. Had Silas worked in journalism before coming to Honolulu?

  “I’m certain that will astound Zachary. He thinks of Silas as a gambler.”

  Rafe looked thoughtful. “So Zach’s told me. The truth is, I’ve been so busy here at Hawaiiana that I haven’t spent more than a few minutes in conversation with Silas since he arrived in April.”

  “Silas’s interest in running Nora’s newspaper won’t make things any easier between Zachary and Silas.”

  “Zachary is insecure,” Rafe said quietly and uncritically. Eden recognized in Rafe the same protective attitude that he’d had for Zachary since boyhood. She thought of Zachary’s injured leg, and how Ambrose told her that Rafe came by the mission church that morning to ask whether he’d seen Zachary the night before. Had Candace really seen Zachary on the lanai after midnight? If so, why had he chosen to flee? Candace certainly had a clear mind; was there some misunderstanding?

  Hawaiiana Plantation House emerged, a handsome white structure in full sun surrounded by sage-green palms and a wide lanai. She had little time left alone with Rafe and knew she must grit her teeth and accomplish the task if it was to be done. She smoothed the edge of her nurses pinafore and gave him a glance.

  “Rafe … ” she began, clearing her throat delicately. “I was on my way here to see you before Lana Stanhope gave me Great-aunt Nora’s prescription, and before I ran into Zachary on the road.”

  He turned toward her.

  “This is not going to be easy for me to tell you,” she began again, “or for you to receive.” She straightened her shoulders and stared ahead. “You see, I’ve been sent by Kalihi Hospital’s Board of Health. It’s about Kip.”

  There. She’d opened the dread door that would lead to trouble. A moment of stark silence followed and she let out a quiet breath. His tanned hands tightened their grip on the reins. Although Rafe was a solid Christian, she knew he was sometimes like a restrained volcano. Several years ago she’d watched in horror on the beach as his stepfather, Townsend, struck his face several times with fists while Rafe kept his arms loose at his sides. But she’d also seen him flatten Zachary—no easy task—when Zachary had tried to embrace and kiss her. Zachary hadn’t understood that she was his blood cousin.

  Rafe turned to look at her. Though she stared straight ahead and refused to meet those dark, energetic eyes, she could feel his gaze.

  “You have my full attention, Eden. What about Kip and the Board of Health?”

  “Rafe, first I want you to understand how I went out of my way to try to get the Board members to change their decision, and that I also requested to be sent to you as their representative. Lana thought I should have let her do it. Maybe she was right, but I had my reasons. I know this won’t make you feel any better toward me.”

  Rafe stopped the buggy where there was shade under several large crape myrtle trees in full magenta bloom. With the plantation house directly in front of them, he dropped the reins, jumped down, and walked around to her side. Before speaking another word, he lifted her down, held her shoulders and faced her. Their eyes locked.

  “What about Kip?”

  “I wanted to bring the news because I couldn’t bear the thought that you might think I was indifferent to the Board’s decision.”

  His gaze narrowed intently. “What decision?”

  “I—I almost feel a certain responsibility over what’s happening. Because I’m part of Kalihi, of the medical group who has made these laws. But Rafe, we must enforce them! I have no choice—”

  She saw the small flame come to life in the depths of his eyes. And yet his voice came with utter calmness.

  “What about Kip?” he repeated.

  She drew in her breath and forced her emotions to stillness. She nodded and swallowed.

  “Someone, I don’t know who, alerted the Board of Health regarding Kip’s birth at Kalawao … and now you can’t adopt him, Rafe.” In a monotone she continued, “I’ve come to take him back to Kalihi.”

  A moment elapsed. The breeze rustled the nests of purple flowers, and the leaves swayed.

  “No one is taking Kip to Kalihi, Eden. Not even you.”

  His response did not surprise her, but his deadly calm affected her more than a swell of outrage. She would allow the grueling moment to ease a little before going on with her mission.

  “Tell me how the information reached the Board,” he said, his jaw clenching.

  “Yesterday, a message arrived for Dr. Bolton. It would have been at noon when he was alone in his office. Lana and the others had taken their usual lunch break out on the lanai.”

  “Yesterday … ”

  “I only learned of it this morning from Lana,” she explained, lest he misconstrue her delay in coming to inform him of anything so tragic.

  “It was a letter to Bolton?”

  “Not a letter. A sheet of ordinary paper, the words printed in ink, not pencil. The paper was folded neatly in half, and there was no envelope. Dr. Bolton said a Hawaiian boy delivered it to his office. I saw nothing familiar in the writing or in the spelling. All was correct.”

  “No pigeon English?”

  “No.”

  “What were the exact words, if you can remember?”

  She reached for her medical satchel. “I can do better than that. I wrote them down. I’ve brought you my copy.” She handed the note to him and watched as he read the words, which she now knew from memory.

  The baby boy named Kip held by Rafe Easton on Hawaiiana was born of a leper on Kalawao. You must do something. It’s illegal. The baby is a leper.

  “Dr. Bolton’s sympathetic,” she said quickly, hoping to convince him he had friends at Kalihi. “He and Lana are on your side of this issue. They tried to talk the Board into ignoring the message, but the others refused. The law is clear as they see it. I don’t think they’d have permitted me to represent them if they knew we’d been engaged.”

  “Just what does the Board think they’re going to do about Kip?”

  “You know the law as well as I. That’s why you kept Kip’s birth a secret when you brought him here. Most people think he’s your nephew. The truth is known, Rafe. I must bring him to Kalihi.”

  “For how long?”

  She hesitated. “It’s—the time can be rather indefinite. At least until they know he doesn’t have leprosy.”

  His discerning gaze made her uncomfortable, and she looked away.

  “And after he’s cleared?” Rafe persisted.

  He already knew the answer, as did she. He was forcing her to admit to the painful reality about Kip’s future.

  “I’ve already said
the law won’t allow adoption,” she confessed miserably. “He’ll need to remain on the Kalihi premises, or … ” She could not go on.

  “Or be sent to Kalawao,” he said brutally. “Isn’t that the true situation, Eden?”

  She remembered the tragic scene she’d witnessed earlier that morning as the lepers boarded the steamer for Molokai. She could envision little “Hansel and Gretel” holding hands to comfort one another and looking with frightened eyes back at their wailing mother. But Kip was still a baby and wouldn’t know why he was being taken from the warm, happy arms of Noelani and sent away to strangers at the leper camp. The thought was unbearable.

  “I’ll never let him go to Molokai!” she cried with strong revulsion. “I promise you he’ll remain in the Kalihi ward.”

  Rafe gave a stiff shake of his head. “You won’t be able to stop it, Eden. That decision will be left to the Board. I’m going to find out who it was that meddled in my private affairs. And when I do, he’d better slink away unseen for the first boat to Shanghai.”

  “Rafe, please. Let me handle this.”

  “Just what do you think you can do?”

  “I can protect Kip at Kalihi until it’s proven he doesn’t have the disease. Then, we’ll find a way to … to release him to better circumstances.” She didn’t think he was still listening.

  “There were just a few of us who knew about Kip’s beginnings,” Rafe was saying pensively. “That gives me a good start where to begin asking questions. From there I’ll talk to Lana Stanhope and Bolton and anyone else at Kalihi who might remember something. I’ll not give up till I track him down—if it was a he.”

  “You don’t think that Lana would do such a thing!”

  “Lana?” For a moment it seemed he’d never heard her name before. “Lana didn’t know where Kip was born. Did you ever mention it to her?”

  “I’ve never mentioned Kip’s birth to anyone, not even Ambrose and Noelani.”

  “I know it wasn’t them or Keno. They’d all die at the stake before harming Kip’s future.”