Spoils of Eden (28 page)

Still, the response hadn’t turned out as badly as Eden had feared. “Who else is here from the family?” Eden didn’t like to think of the Derringtons being exceeded in charitable work by any of the other missionary families. The Eastons of course, through Ambrose, and Rafe’s cousins were all involved, using their resources and time for the emergency, as were the Judsons, the Galloways, the Bellingtons, and the Hunnewells.

“Silas and Zachary are around, keeping order in the camps, and most everyone else is here, too, except Great-aunt Nora. She’s still at Tamarind. Poor Nora. She’s altogether frustrated because she can’t seem to locate a section of her manuscript. And Uncle Townsend … ” Candace let her voice trail off.

Eden was stacking sterilized white cloths into a transportable cupboard when Candace paused. The mention of Townsend brought an uncomfortable moment. “What about Uncle Townsend?” Eden looked over her shoulder. Candace was staring into space. “Is something wrong?” Eden pressed for an answer.

Candace blinked and looked at her. “What? Oh, it’s just Uncle Townsend. He was thrown from his horse and is recuperating back at the plantation house. And Grandfather and Rafe are at the Legislature—”

Eden dropped the towel she had in her hands, turned, and stared in shock at her cousin.

“What did you just say? Rafe is
where?”

Candace arched her cinnamon brows. “Do you mean to tell me, Eden, that you of all people, don’t even know what Rafe Easton’s up to?”

It was rather hard to keep up with Rafe, she wanted to say, but didn’t.

“Parker Judson gave up his seat in the Legislature to stay with his dying sister and Bunny in San Francisco. He wrote to Liliuokalani saying he wanted Rafe Easton to fill his seat, then to run on his own.”

The Legislature!

Candace picked up a large bag of boiled towels and began to fold them neatly. “Rafe was sworn in yesterday.”

Eden remained stunned at the news. Rafe, sworn in to the Hawaiian legislature—and she’d known nothing about it. For a fleeting moment she imagined herself there as he took his oath and wished ardently she’d been invited to watch. An emotional letdown descended upon her. Why hadn’t he told her? Why couldn’t he have stopped by Kalihi yesterday and picked her up to bring her and Dr. Jerome to the ceremony?

“I’m surprised Rafe agreed to settle down,” Eden commented a bit testily.

“I’m not,” Candace said, shooting a glance her way. “He’s wanted to settle down
with you
for a long time.”

Eden considered. “Maybe. He still speaks of making another voyage.”

“Keno says Parker Judson and Grandfather got their heads together in San Francisco and made their plans. They both agreed Rafe Easton would be the perfect candidate to run for his seat when his term is up. Filling in for Mr. Judson now will give Rafe a head start in next year’s race.”

Eden still couldn’t get over her surprise. Rafe entering politics was the last ambition she would have expected of him. Perhaps she didn’t know him as well as she thought?

Then again, why not politics? He certainly had a magnetism that could influence and draw people. She remembered his zealous editorials for the
Gazette
, except back then they’d been written in
favor
of the Kalakaua monarchy. She had no doubt that under the right circumstances, Rafe could stir a crowd with his words and pleasant countenance. Ainsworth and Parker Judson must have thought they’d found a political goldmine for their cause.

She recalled the conversation between her grandfather and Rafe in the library. Was that when her grandfather had laid out their plan? Probably. And no doubt Ainsworth had pledged the full support of the Hawaiian League.

“Will he run as an annexationist?”

“Without a doubt. To finish out Mr. Judsons term, he’d need to be a member of the Reform Party.”

“Great-aunt Nora will need smelling salts for the first time in her life.”

“We’ll be hearing much about Rafe Easton in the Legislature from now on, I think. You should be proud of him, Eden.”

Proud of the man she loved? Yes, she was, indeed. But she wasn’t at all happy about Rafe’s abilities being utilized to support the annexationist call for Hawaii to become a territory of the United States.

Then again, knowing Rafe as she did, there must be something else motivating his new convictions about Hawaii’s destiny in the world. Grandfather Ainsworth knew how to sway men’s minds, but Rafe wouldn’t have been easily won.

A memory renewed itself. On the morning she’d told him of the Board’s decision about Kip, Rafe had become frustrated with the laws of the Board of Health. He’d declared their decision to arbitrarily seize Kip as tyrannical and unjust. Could this experience have motivated him to accept Ainsworth’s and Judsons political backing? Evidently the offer had come at the right moment, or they would never have gotten him involved.

“You’ve been so busy here,” Candace said, “that it’s little wonder
you haven’t kept up with all that’s happening.”

Eden hadn’t heard a word of anything else developing in Honolulu except the epidemic, the fires, and her relief work. Not even Ambrose had told her Rafe was to fill Parker Judson’s seat in the Legislature. Ambrose was as busy as she, with prayer meetings, Bible teaching, and comforting the fearful and bereaved. She’d seen Ambrose several times talking with Silas, and it looked to her as though Ambrose were discussing eternally serious topics.

Could so much have happened in just three days?

Three days. With a start she came alert. Today would complete the bargain she’d made with Rafe. Although the Board was overburdened with the Rat Alley epidemic, in spite of everything she may still have been called before them to account for Kip. Thus far, Lana Stanhope was the only one at Kalihi who knew Kip was missing.

She would, in addition, need to return the ring—and then break the news to Ainsworth, who was sure to be provoked. After her grandfather’s well-laid political plans for his future “grandson-in-law,” Ainsworth would be greatly displeased.

“I haven’t seen Kip since the night of the dinner at Hawaiiana.” Candace pulled at an earlobe. “Kip … strange situation, isn’t it? Yet Rafe doesn’t appear the least bit worried. Most strange.” Her eyes met Eden’s, a mischievous gleam flickering. “Did you have anything to do with Kip being taken?”

“Me?” Eden said. “I was as bewildered as anyone else.”
Maybe more so
, she thought. She certainly hadn’t expected Rafe to whisk Kip away somewhere.

Aunt Lana stepped through the tent door, carrying a medical box. At the sound of Kip’s name, she looked from one to the other.

Eden, taut, waited. She was nearing the deadline for the reprieve Lana had granted her.

Lana took out a key and unlocked a red metal cabinet, then went about her business of re-supplying the medical bottles.

“So far the Board remains too occupied with what’s going on in Honolulu to inquire about Kip’s whereabouts. I can’t say how much
longer it will remain so. If either of you see Rafe, tell him to contact me. I’ll try and arrange a private meeting between him and Dr. Bolton.”

Candace looked from Lana to Eden. “So, then, what I’ve heard from Ambrose is true. You were sent to Hawaiiana to take Kip away to Kalihi?”

Eden sighed and gave a small nod. Wearily she leaned against the cabinet. “I should have let Lana handle it. She was right. I’m much too involved with Rafe.”

“I’m sure you handled it in the only way it could be handled,” Lana said.

“I’ll probably get into trouble saying this, but I don’t blame Rafe for taking Kip,” Candace said. “In his position I may have done the same thing. We all know Kip doesn’t carry leprosy.”

“I won’t comment on the moral right or wrong of it,” Lana said, stacking bottles with brisk efficiency. “And actually, we’ve no proof that he did take Kip and conceal him.”

Candace walked over to the tent door and looked out. “Rafe was here at the camp less than an hour ago. He was looking for Ling Li.”

Eden turned, uncertainty nudging her. Had Rafe heard what happened at Ling’s family bungalow on Kea Lani? Even if he had, what made Rafe think he could find Ling here, in this particular camp?

“Ling was released yesterday,” Lana said.

“Did you speak with Rafe?” Eden asked Candace, trying to keep concern from dictating her tone of voice.

“Only for a moment or two. He saw me, asked if I’d seen Ling, and when I said I hadn’t, he rode on without comment.”

Eden’s thoughts settled into a bed of worry. Why had Rafe shown up here? What did he wish to see Ling about, if not the fire?

Candace appeared to have lost interest in either Kip or Ling and walked over to Lana, watching her work. “It must be either wonderful or maddening to work closely with the man you love.”

Lana was startled at the bluntness so common with Candace, then she relaxed and laughed. “If you’re asking whether the long-delayed romance between me and Clifford is reheating after so many years, the answer is yes.”

“I thought so. I’m so pleased for you both.”

Lana stopped what she was doing and searched Candace’s face. “How did you guess? I thought I was being discreet, and I know Clifford is.”

“Women know these things,” was all Candace would say. “Well, I’m glad love is working out for one of us.”

Lana and Eden both looked at Candace with sympathetic sobriety.

“It’s so wrong,” Candace said, sitting down on the edge of a canvas cot, chin in both palms. “Keno is such a good man, strong, committed, loyal—and Oliver is so, well, so ordinarily wealthy, stuffy, and common. Do you know that old Mr. Hunnewell had to poke him with his cane and threaten to whack him on the head if he wouldn’t get up off his hammock to come here and dirty his hands? When Oliver did arrive, he was wearing a white watered-silk vest and an expensive derby hat. Imagine. White, in this smoky atmosphere. So insulting to those who’ve lost all they had, which was mostly nothing to begin with!”

“Many young women would stand on their heads to marry a wealthy man like Hunnewell, even if he is stuffy, common, and meticulous with his fashions,” Lana said with a small smile.

“I don’t mind being different,” Candace admitted. “Keno’s been here since the beginning, sleeves rolled up, making a sacrifice to do his part, courteous, strong … and
handsome
.” She looked off in the distance meditatively.

Eden exchanged amused glances with Lana. “Anything else?” she teased. “You mustn’t allow yourself to be modest with your praise.”

“Rafe, too, has been working long hours in the crisis,” Candace went on. “Whereas Oliver … ”

Rafe? Working in the camps?
Eden wondered. Why hadn’t she noticed him? Shed caught sight of Zachary and Silas several times, and too much of Herald Hartley. He was often at her elbow, often when it was unnecessary. She had a vague suspicion her father hoped she might find Herald a comely gentleman. It was true they shared much in common, but when it came to men, she was much like Candace. There was only one man that thrilled her.

Later, when Candace and Lana left the large tent, Eden too, went outside for a few moments of respite. She glanced around for Dr. Jerome and decided he must be busy elsewhere, for only Herald Hartley was in view, his shirt sleeves rolled up, his hat crammed low on his head. He walked toward her, his face tired and his brow damp.

“Miss Derrington, have you seen your father about?”

“I was coming to ask you the very same question.”

“I’ve not seen him since this morning. Ah, well, then. He must’ve gone off with the plantation owner, Rafe Easton. He rode up asking about the good doctor about an hour ago.”

So Rafe was here as Candace had said. Perhaps he was asking Dr. Jerome about Ling. Her curiosity grew. She turned to go, intent to locate them, when Herald cleared his throat.

“Ah, er, Miss Derrington—I was wanting to ask you if you, er—if you had received the letter from Mrs. Derrington?”

For a moment Eden became confused. She’d rarely heard Rebecca called Mrs. Derrington before. “Oh, my mother—why, yes.” She smiled. “Dr. Jerome passed it to me when we were at the Easton plantation. I’ve been meaning to tell you how appreciative I am of the effort you made to carry out my father’s wishes. I do apologize for not mentioning my gratitude.”

“Oh, no apology necessary. I wanted to be sure the good doctor passed it on to you, is all. As you say, we’ve all been so immersed in this dreadful situation that almost anything could go unnoticed.”

He used his hat to swish the dust off a nearby cane chair he drew up for her to sit upon. To refuse the gesture would be unkind,
though she was anxious to find her father and Rafe and to discover what the interest in Ling was all about.

She tucked her skirts in and sat down. Perhaps this was as good an opportunity as any to ask the myriad questions she had about Hartley’s involvement with Rebecca’s kokua. The letter from her mother was nothing at all like shed expected it to be. Perhaps Rebecca had thought it unwise or even useless in the present circumstances to write emotionally as one would naturally expect a mother to write to her daughter after many years apart. Perhaps the emotion was so ponderous there was no way she could ever express her feelings. Perhaps she was no longer able to speak clearly …

Eden found her fingers knotting into her skirt.

Yes, what could her mother say? How could she find words to tell her of her broken heart, lost dreams, shattered happiness, the suffering both physical and mental. How could she describe what it was like to be a young woman torn from her husband and daughter and brought to a hellish leper camp without much law and order, and without the hope of waking up on the next sunny morning to find that it all was just a passing nightmare?

How would she fit it all in one letter? How shed prayed for her these past years, how she took satisfaction in knowing Eden had grown up well, had gone to Chadwick Nursing school, and was now working at Kalihi showing help to other lepers … ?

Eden had imagined the letter shed
expected
to receive a thousand times. But the letter she
did
receive simply read, “Not a day has gone by that I haven’t remembered you, prayed for you, and taken pleasure in knowing you were safely cared for by the Derrington family. I knew Lana would intervene for you. I knew she would be the mother I couldn’t be.”