Spoils of Eden

by Linda Lee Chaikin

  “I’m sorry if you think so. It’s not my intention. Do you think I enjoy bringing pain into your life? First, with what I must do about Molokai, and then with Kip?”

  At the mention of Kip, his hand loosened on her arm and he drew back. She rushed on. “I was hoping Ainsworth wouldn’t find out, for at least tonight.” Her eyes came to his, anxiously searching. “Rafe, I need a little more time to prepare a suitable explanation.”

  “My exact thought,” he said smoothly. “I have decided to be mercifully generous with you. I agree that a little more time will help you survive tonight—in spite of how you threw my expensive engagement ring back at me.”

  She sucked in a breath. “I did not!” She knew he enjoyed the exaggeration and folded her arms. “I cried.”

  “I didn’t cry. So I will become the magnanimous gentleman and, like Samson, let the pillars collapse upon me as I come to your rescue. I will say nothing about our separation.”

  Relief swept over her as she understood he was willing to help her. His maturity was overruling any revenge. “Oh, Rafe, it’s generous of you to keep quiet. I feel dreadful about all of this.”

  “So do I,” he quipped dryly. “I’ll buy you more time to decide when and how you wish to confront the old lion. Zach won’t say anything tonight; he’s riled over Silas.”

  “Candace and Nora have promised they won’t bring it up, either.”

  “They know the storm it will cause. And Candace has her own mountain to move.”

  “You’ve been more than fair with me, and I—”

  “And you, my heartless one, have been a frustration to yours truly.” He lifted her chin with one finger. His gaze dropped to her lips. “Ah, but love is patient.” He opened his palm, and the diamond engagement ring sat winking in the evening lamplight. “Yours, my dear, for the retaking—at least for tonight, if not forever. Call me gallant, if you like.” He placed the ring on her palm, then gently folded her fingers around it.

  Eden felt a lump in her throat. She swallowed hard. The cold diamond began to warm, and if her imagination were rich enough, the stone began to beat with a life of its own, bringing her senses back again to Waikiki, the warm white sand beneath her feet, the wind, his arms around her, his kiss …

  “Yes, I can be patient, but not so patient that I won’t ask something in return,” came his next words, jarring her back to the moment. Her eyes lifted quickly to his. Dark and vital, there was love and mystery mingled in their depths.

  “So! There’s a trap to this!”

  “Not at all, my sweet.” His smile was disarming. “I’m trying to help you, to protect you from the ire of Ainsworth—should he learn it was you, not your humble fiancé, who wanted out of our perfect love affair on its way to a happy home and many future children.”

  “My, how poetic you’ve become.”

  “I’m bighearted is all, and as you’ve said, you need time to prepare your case. And I, being the unrequited devotee that I am, offer you such—on one condition.”

  “I knew it.”

  “I want you to enjoy your dinner tonight with your beloved father, home at last to sit before the cheery fire crackling in the hearth—”

  “In Hawaii?”

  “So you can wear my ring freely tonight. Let’s agree to three days, to avoid a showdown. By then you’ll be ready for the gladiator arena.”

  “That’s indeed bighearted of you, Rafe,” she said sweetly.

  He smiled. “For you? Anything. Now, we’ve got that settled.” He glanced below. “Ainsworth’s asked me to meet with him in the billiard room before dinner for a one-on-one chat.”

  “Yes, but it couldn’t be about the engagement,” she hastened, “because he doesn’t know yet.”

  “Quite. He doesn’t. However, there’s no telling what might come up in that warm little confab. Who knows? I might lose control of my emotions and break down in bitter tears, telling all. All about how his most gracious of granddaughters, his most beautiful by the way—and that green dress is lovely on you—has broken my heart, as well as the engagement, and intends to follow the footsteps of her father, not to Timbuktu, but … to leprosy-infected Molokai.”

  She narrowed her gaze. “I always knew you were but an inch from behaving the scoundrel. You would have made a telling pirate.”

  “Perhaps.”

  “If I remember correctly, it was you—you who were anxious to take the ring back once I offered it, you nearly snatched it from my hand.”

  “Let’s not quibble, my sweet. Look, you’re not the only one who could use a little time to think through these unexpected events. I need time, as well. To think about Kip.” He tilted his dark head. “To decide some issues that are important to me. So if you’ll give me a few days to think about Kip—then, well, I’ll say nothing to the old lion tonight. That’s fair, is it not?”

  She wouldn’t have responded, even if she could. She studied him a moment, and when he lifted a brow, she let out a breath. “I must say, I’m surprised to learn your motive in all this is Kip. Are you saying you’ve changed your mind about turning him over to me?” Her heart melted a little in sympathy when it came to the baby. “I promised you I’d defend and protect Kip at all costs,” she said fervently, “and I will.”

  “I believe that. But I haven’t said I’ve changed my mind.”

  “Then I don’t understand—”

  “I’ve offered you a short reprieve with Ainsworth. We both need to catch our breath. As I said, I too, need to rethink this matter with Kip. When do you need to return to Kalihi?”

  “Not until Monday morning. I’ve arranged it with Dr. Bolton and Lana so that I could stay the weekend at Kea Lani. Now that my father’s arrived, though, I might manage an extra day. He’ll return to the hospital with me, of course, to present his research to the Board.”

  “He’ll want to gain their support for a clinic on Molokai?”

  Remembering his words about following her father to Molokai, she grew uncomfortable. “Yes, certainly. Dr. Jerome’s research must be a crucial treasure of information.”

  “Perhaps, but leprosy and tropical diseases are subjects I can’t debate with you.”

  She smiled.

  Amusement showed in his eyes. “Well, it would take an intelligent woman to break my heart. So, then, Dr. Jerome will assume his past position at Kalihi in research?”

  “He hasn’t said so yet, but I’m almost certain he will. He’ll want to speak with Queen Liliuokalani, too. It was her brother who sponsored his world travels and research.”

  “Yes, I remember. Kalakaua had his strong points. All right, then, Eden. We agree to give each other three days.”

  She hesitated, unsatisfied, and yet his compelling gaze won out.

  “Very well. Until Tuesday, then.”

  He was about to say something when someone entered the hall below. Eden turned to look down the banister. Ainsworth Derrington stood, a tall, singularly slim man with silver hair, and a short V-shaped beard. He was dressed in tropics white, a somber man with eaglelike gray-blue eyes.

  “Ah, there you are, Rafe. I hesitate to interrupt, but if we’re to talk before dinner, we should begin soon. How about the billiard room?”

  Rafe’s fingers enfolded her arm, and they descended the stairs together, Eden holding tightly to the ring behind her apple-green skirts. He left her at the bottom stair and walked across the wide hall to the library. Rafe opened the door and waited until her grandfather passed through, then followed, closing the door behind them.

  Eden watched, disturbed. So Rafe needed time to rethink the issues involving Kip. Had he decided not to follow through on discovering who had alerted the Board? Knowing Rafe, he would remain committed. Eden opened her palm and looked again at the engagement ring. She thought of the warning Noelani had given her. Then, soberly, she slipped the ring on, walked across the hall, and entered the living room.

  I’ve stepped across more than one threshold this day. Were my decisions wise? Should I have
put the ring back on knowing I’m being a little deceptive? Do I have the right to tell Rafe I’ll wait about Kip? Is Noelani right about Rafe? Is it possible to lose him by waiting too long to assure him of my love?

  What did the Lord expect of her? Where would her decisions lead, and what consequences awaited?

  “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” As she entered the room, Dr. Jerome looked over at her, and his countenance brightened. “Ah, there you are, my daughter. I was hoping to speak with you alone before dinner.”

  “Of course, Father.” She responded swiftly, walking toward him.

  With his arm around her shoulders, they crossed the threshold into the large room.

  Chapter Eleven

  Whose Flag Do You Salute?

  Rafe Easton watched Ainsworth Derrington, who stood in white, staid and dignified. With concerted precision he lowered the satchel from under his arm, leaned over the glossy hardwood table, and removed some neatly bound papers. Rafe thought him a well-disciplined man, studious, frugal, and sober. Ainsworth looked much like his missionary father, Jedaiah Derrington, with a smooth, well-clipped beard and deep-set, pale blue eyes, very slim, and of a Puritan mind-set. One large disparity separated Ainsworth from Missionary Jedaiah. While Jedaiah had been committed to teaching and establishing the gospel in the Islands, Ainsworth was committed to making his beloved Hawaii a part of the United States.

  The years in the tropics had not changed Ainsworth as those same years of travel under hot sun had seeped away the health of his younger son, Jerome. Ainsworth was pleased with his work and too disciplined to grow indolent in the Hawaiian tropics. His wife had died many years ago, leaving him reasonably young, and he had never wished to marry again. His energy went instead toward sugar and the fate of the Islands.

  Suddenly, the library door swung open, and Townsend burst into the room, closing the door behind him with just enough of a bang to express his frustration. His strong proportions were evident beneath the white cotton jacket and frilled shirt. In his early forties, he’d once been as handsomely golden as his son Zachary, but a dissolute lifestyle left its trademarks on his features and was reflected in his eyes.

  Rafe mastered a swell of anger, but Ainsworth looked at his middle son with the steady gaze of an iceberg.

  “Though I understand I’m not invited, I will be included in this meeting,” Townsend snapped. “I’ve got to report to the League tomorrow on your Washington visit.”

  Rafe had become hardened to Townsend’s bullying personality since his childhood years when he’d often climbed out of his bedroom window at night to run away to his uncle Ambrose at the church bungalow. Out of respect for his mother he’d learned in his teen years to restrain his emotions when it came to his stepfather. There had been times when he’d wanted to flatten him—but one night, when alone with Ambrose in prayer, he’d vowed not to lay a fist on Townsend. It hadn’t taken long for his vow to be tested. He and Zachary had come to a showdown on Waikiki Beach over Zach’s brash treatment of Eden. Zach hadn’t believed Eden was his blood cousin and he’d grabbed her and tried to kiss her, ignoring her protests and refusing to turn her loose. Rafe had struck him down in the sand in view of Townsend, who had been driving by in a carriage. Townsend came bounding out of the carriage and across the beach to find out why his son was lying dazed, sprawled in the white sand. Zach had blamed Rafe, and nothing Eden said would convince Townsend otherwise. Townsend determined that Rafe, the bully, would be taught a lesson, and Rafe had endured the beating because of the vow he’d made while praying with Ambrose. After that, anything Townsend said was filtered through distrust in Rafe’s mind.

  Though restraining physical action required discipline, Rafe had confided to Ambrose that it was just an initial struggle. The real battle was with the anger, sometimes even rage, that kept churning on the inside. “That’s the battle I can’t handle. It wins most every time—no matter how I struggle.”

  “We must realize it’s a spiritual battle,” Ambrose told him. “And it’s ongoing. You can win one day and fail the next if you’re not aware of the danger and dressed in the armor of God. It demands spiritual weapons to defeat a spiritual enemy. Victory can come, but only by applying the Word of God and having confidence in the Holy Spirit who indwells you.”

  After bursting into the library, Townsend strode over to the large table, eyeing the stack of papers Ainsworth had carried into the meeting. For an awkward moment no one spoke. Rafe, showing respect for Ainsworth, turned his full attention upon him, ignoring Townsend.

  “You wished to speak with me, sir?” he prodded politely.

  “Yes, indeed, Rafe. I’ve some important matters to discuss with you.” Looking over at his son, he added, “Since this is a family affair and the outcome will affect all present, it’s not inappropriate that Townsend has decided to join us.”

  Rafe might have cocked a brow at that bit of rainbow-colored sentiment. A family affair since when? Eden had been treated as an outsider until she’d begun to mature, and until he’d returned from his voyage with the coveted pineapple slips, he’d been fit for little except to be “run out of Honolulu.”

  As Rafe considered this man who had bargained to allow him an engagement to his granddaughter Eden, he wondered what Ainsworth’s response would be when Eden told him the engagement was off?

  Ainsworth’s icy blue eyes glinted in the lamplight as keenly as sunlight on the ocean swells. Rafe felt those eyes measure him anew, but they told him even less about what stirred around in his mind. If it was about Eden, he’d need to keep their secret awhile longer as promised on the stairway, no matter the personal cost. It was crucial for his own plans as well. In the end he may need to apologize to Ainsworth, but so be it.

  Rafe kept his manner and words amiable, but formal and appropriate to the meeting. This was no warm social call, despite Ainsworth’s mention of a “family affair.”

  “I spent some time in discourse and planning with Parker Judson while in San Francisco,” Ainsworth continued. “We had a solid meeting. I congratulated him on the wisdom of backing you in Hawaiiana, and I let it be known that if I’d been more discerning as to your abilities, I’d not have failed to recognize the initial stages of a successful venture.”

  Though satisfying, the compliment made him uneasy.

  Townsend began to move about restlessly. “Maybe, but Rafe could have come to us on his return and told us about those pineapples!”

  “Gaining the pineapple slips was as much a stroke of good fortune as it was grit,” Rafe said to Ainsworth.

  Townsend laughed shortly. “Don’t be so modest, Rafe. We know that’s hardly how it must have been.”

  “It took courage, and it took ambition—the right kind, I may add.” Ainsworth glanced meaningfully at Townsend, who did not seem to notice. “You had the insight to judge where Hawaii’s success is likely to be in another decade or two. That’s what the best of us struggle to determine, and I’m not the first person in Honolulu to recognize your accomplishment, Rafe.”

  “Good speech, Father,” Townsend said with a bold grin. “Just tell Rafe you’re sucking him into the whirlpool of a future Derrington-Easton conglomerate and save us all a lot of time.”

  Ainsworth scolded him with his gaze. Rafe remained unreadable. The intentions of the Derringtons were well known to him.

  “Hawaiiana is sure to be a success,” Ainsworth continued.

  “Thank you, sir. Before I become too conceited over all this praise, there must be another reason you wanted to speak with me.”

  Townsend threw back his golden head and laughed.

  “Another reason other than you’re becoming my future grandson?” Ainsworth smiled faintly.

  Here it comes. Keep Eden out of this as best you can.

  “There is another reason. It concerns Parker Judson,” Ainsworth continued.

  Again Rafe remained quiet. When near a precipitous ledge, move slowly.

  “Parker i
ntends to stay on in San Francisco for some time. His sister, as you probably have heard, is incurably ill. She may not live much longer. The daughter, Parker’s niece, I forget her name—”

  “Bunny Judson.”

  “Yes, that was it, unusual name—she’s taking the news with great difficulty, as one might expect. She was close to her mother, I understand. Parker wants to stay and help them through this ordeal, so he may be away from Honolulu for a year or more.”

  “Very commendable.” However tragic the death of the mother may be for the Judson family, Rafe wondered what the matter had to do with him. Judson kept in contact with him by telegraph and mail, and Rafe wrote monthly reports on Hawaiiana’s progress and expenses.

  “You were the main topic in our meeting,” Ainsworth went on. “Parker and I decided to settle the big question. Where each of us stood on ownership of Easton land in Hawaii, and when to return it to the heir.”

  For the first time Rafe was taken off guard. This was the last topic he could have imagined Ainsworth willingly discussing.

  Townsend also appeared stunned. His gaze darted between Rafe and Ainsworth. “What’s this?” he demanded. “What do you mean about Easton land returning to the heir? Are you referring to Celestine’s property? That will be a snowy day in Honolulu! Why wasn’t I consulted on this? What’s been going on in San Francisco behind my back? I’m the one to handle Celestine’s property. She’s my wife!”

  “Keep quiet, Townsend,” Ainsworth said coldly. “One might argue those points in court. And as for Celestine, you’ve forgotten you even have a wife.” He turned his gaze back to Rafe.

  Ainsworth’s stern rebuke mollified Rafe’s anger. Better he should say it than I. I’d take it a mile too far.

  “Rather than waiting for Hawaiianas pineapples to become successful in the market, Parker agrees that he should return the Kona coffee plantation to you immediately. What’s more, it will be returned debt free.”

  His words might as well have been dynamite. Rafe hardly trusted himself to speak.