Chipper lost his wife and his land. He built a small house and teenage wahines and paniolos from Pu’u O Hoku Ranch frequented his luaus. The house was his outpost and he saw himself as the leader of a defiant tribe on the ranch he once owned. He could stay on the land as long as he lived and he planned on living it up. The more noise he made the happier he got—he knew Julia would hear it from the beach house. He was sure she was drinking. Drinking alone. At least he had friends and plenty of wahines. He loved the imu and the aroma of steamed pig. Men cheered as girls danced around his bonfire. Gambling, brawls, and wild sex marked his luaus. Sometimes he woke up with three wahines in his bed not knowing whether he'd slept with any or all. Chipper got two girls hapai and paid off their parents. Then Anika got crazy drunk and drowned in the swamp.
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