by Lori Wick
There were several doors leading off the kitchen, one was a pantry, one took you to the backyard and one led to Rigg’s bedroom. But Kate didn’t see any of these because her attention was centered on the man standing at the stove.
Rigg’s pants were black and his shirt was snow white with a black string tie at the collar. His features were almost severe with his hawk-like gaze and aquiline nose. He would have been a little frightening if those beautiful gray eyes hadn’t been so kind.
“Good morning,” he greeted the newcomers. “Coffee?” He held the pot toward Kate.
“Please.” Kaitlin wanted to say more but he had come very close to hand her a mug and after the way she’d acted the night before, she was embarrassed.
Rigg prayed for the meal and Kate knew in an instant that he was a believer. It took such a load off her mind about Sean staying in this house that she wanted to weep.
Rigg had made a large pot of cooked cereal and heated a half a loaf of bread in the oven. It wasn’t fancy, but very filling. Sean put away enough cereal for three and even Marcail had seconds on cereal and toast. Kate’s hard night was catching up to her and the only thing she wanted seconds on was coffee.
Rigg refilled their cups and let himself really look at Kate for the first time that morning. She was in the chair nearest his. Her black dresses must have been in the wash because she was in a dark blue skirt and white blouse that accented her dark hair and eyes to the extent that Rigg could not look away. Kaitlin’s face began to warm under his regard and she knew she had to apologize now or she never would.
“Mr. Riggs, I’m very sorry about the way I acted last night when you were at our house. I hope you’ll forgive me.
Rigg smiled in a way that made Kate’s heart thunder. He wondered how long she’d rehearsed that in her mind before gaining the courage to voice it.
“It can’t be easy moving and adjusting to a new job. I promise you, it’s forgotten.” Rigg reached out and touched Kate’s hand where it lay on the table. It was a mistake. Kaitlin’s face registered shock and Rigg pulled back swiftly, feeling almost as though his hand had been burned.
Rigg was a physical person, in the sense that he was not afraid to touch a person to help convey his feelings. He hugged his parents and brothers often and it wasn’t at all unusual for him to touch the arm or shoulder of the person to whom he was speaking. Most people responded well to his warmth.
But, Rigg reminded himself as he began to clear the table, it would be easy to give the wrong impression. And that is the last thing you want to do with Kaitlin Donovan.
The first thing he wanted to do, and knew that he couldn’t, was to touch her hand again to see if it was as soft and warm as he’d remembered.
eighteen
Not until the dishes were ready to be washed did Rigg notice how quiet Marcail had been throughout the meal. His heart softened at the sight of her; she was so small and vulnerable. The family resemblance could be seen in all three of them but where Sean and Kaitlin had a very sturdy look about them, Marcail was almost frail in comparison. Rigg had a soft spot for children and set out to charm this little girl, whom he guessed to be maybe six or seven.
“Marcail,” he asked her, “if I get you a chair would you dry these dishes for me?”
“Sure,” was the congenial reply.
They worked for a time in silence as Sean and Kate continued to clear the table and straighten the chairs. Kate offered to wash but Rigg refused.
Sean disappeared and when Kaitlin had nothing else to do, she sat down at the table to read the newspaper. But it felt strange not to be working, and her eyes continued to move toward that broad back bent over the wash basin. Kate finally gave up on the paper and listened to the conversation between her sister and her host.
“Do you think you’ll like having your sister for a teacher?” Rigg was unaware of how patronizing his voice sounded, thinking he was addressing a very young child.
“She was my teacher in Hawaii, too.”
“How about Santa Rosa, do you think you’ll like it here?”
“I think it’s nice. I wish I had someone to play with. Do you have a little sister or brother?”
“I have three younger brothers but they’re all a good deal older than you.”
“We met your brother Jeff and your father. He stared at Katie an awful lot.”
“My father?” Rigg’s voice was surprised and Kate broke in from behind them in sharp Hawaiian.
“Marcail, you deliberately let him misunderstand you!” Whenever Marcail’s siblings spoke to her in Hawaiian she always followed suit.
“Well, he thinks I’m just a baby because I’m small, and I’m not.” Kate gave her a stern look but kept silent.
By now Rigg had turned from the countertop with dripping hands to stare at the females in his kitchen. Sean came in just then, and having heard the conversation, was smiling at the look on Rigg’s face. He also took pity on the older man.
“You’ll have to watch Katie, Rigg. She tends to forget that everyone here speaks English. And by the way, Marc is nine.”
Rigg was still silent. Kate turned a disapproving eye on her brother for a moment and then glanced back at Rigg to find him studying her intently. He seemed to be waiting for something, so Kate apologized.
“No, don’t be sorry. I’m just waiting for you to do that again.”
Aunt Maureen had done this once so Katie was not totally taken aback. Of course, Kate was a good deal more comfortable with Aunt Maureen than she was with this man. She searched for something safe to say and after a moment spoke in soft Hawaiian.
“I’m not sure if I thanked you for breakfast and for letting Sean stay here, but please know that we’re very grateful for both.”
Rigg’s eyes immediately swung to Sean who translated. A huge smile broke out on his face and he turned back to Kaitlin.
“You’re welcome.”
Kate answered with a smile of her own and Rigg went back to the dishes grinning like a fool. This woman captivated him, there was no getting around it. A plan had been forming in his mind and as soon as he was finished with the dishes, he was going to bring it up. As he worked he prayed for the right words and for the proper way to approach this young woman, this enigma, who’d landed so unexpectedly in his life and who was causing his heart to do the strangest things.
“So you see Miss Donovan, Sean is welcome here for as long as he needs, but for now I think you girls should go to my folks. We can make the announcement Sunday at church that you need blankets and dishes and things. I’m sure by next Sunday you’ll have all you can use and more, and then you’ll be able to move back to the little house.”
“But Mr. Riggs, you haven’t even checked with your mother. She’s already having us for lunch on Sunday and we can’t—”
“Yes you can. She would love to have you. What you can’t do is go on freezing the nights away and sharing spoons. The other idea I have is that I’ll move home until school is out and you can have this house.” Kate stood up so fast she nearly fell.
“Put you out of your home? We couldn’t possibly!”
Kaitlin moved away from the living room sofa where she’d been sitting with Rigg and began to pace the room. Putting some space between them helped her to think more clearly.
Didn’t this man know he did crazy things to her insides? Kate was not what anyone would term petite, but while on the sofa next to him she’d felt like a little girl.
Rigg watched Kaitlin in silence, as did Sean and Marcail. When she stopped by Sean’s chair and finally looked at Rigg, he spoke.
“You don’t have to tell me right now what you want to do. But think about your options; there are advantages to both. Here you have everything you need but you’d have to relocate when school was out. The little house is more work because you’re starting with nothing, but it might feel more like your own home and you won’t have to move.”
Kaitlin could only nod, understanding his logic but unable to fully conc
entrate with him in the room. She was silent for a long time.
“Have I upset you?” Rigg’s voice was deep and soft, his gaze watchful.
“No,” Kaitlin wished she didn’t sound so breathless. “I’m just surprised and not sure what to do.”
“I can understand that. You’re more than welcome to stay here and discuss it.” His look encompassed Sean and Marcail too. “I need to get to the store, it’s nearly eight.” He stood up and continued, “In fact, why don’t you come down to the store today? It’s the one you pass when you go from Burt Kemp’s office to the schoolhouse. If I don’t see you, well, just come up the stairs to my office.”
Rigg left and Kaitlin felt like she’d been mowed down by a runaway stage. Marshall Riggs could be a bit high-handed, but he was also compassionate and kind. Kate couldn’t believe he had actually suggested that they gather their things and land themselves at the door of the Taylor home.
Well, they had to do something; but what that something was to be, at the moment, she didn’t have a clue.
nineteen
Kate took a two hour nap on Sean’s bed and by ten-thirty she was refreshed and headed with her family to Riggs Mercantile. It was easy to find and one of the nicest stores she’d seen.
Large windows faced the street and the front doors were open wide. A variety of sights and smells assailed their senses, as they walked through those doors—leather goods, paint, bolts of new cloth and ready-to-wear clothing, the apple bin, a pickle barrel—Kaitlin tried to encompass everything.
Things were fairly quiet and Kaitlin took her time touring the aisles where high shelves were stocked with canned foods, sewing supplies, cooking utensils, pots, pans. And again it was almost too much to absorb.
Sean had gone off to find Rigg and Kate assumed Marcail was beside her as she looked at the wall full of beautiful bolts of cloth. Kaitlin was fingering a lovely blue gingham when a commotion started out front. She had no interest in the problem but it caused her to notice that Marcail was no longer at her side.
Looking calmly, then frantically down the aisles Kate then ran to the door. A crowd gathered and a woman’s high voice, raised to almost an hysterical note, was accusing someone of stealing her handbag. Not until the woman shouted, “I tell you she stole it!” did Kate see Marcail being held by a man in uniform. Her heart leapt to her throat as she rushed on the scene.
“Where is it?”
Marcail’s upper arm was being held by a short, square built man in a black law officer’s uniform. The little girl’s feet were nearly dangling due to the angle at which he was holding her. Every so often he gave her a shake.
“You’ll tell us who you are right now. Where are you from? Who’re your folks?” Each sentence was punctuated with a shake that was none too gentle and would have gone on all morning if Kaitlin’s voice, so hurt and distressed, had not gained the attention of the officer.
“Please, you’re hurting her.”
The officer, who took his job very seriously, looked from this beautiful young woman addressing him to the child in his grip and slowly released her. Deep shame for his actions was bitter in his mouth as he realized that he’d let a screaming woman cloud his good judgment and that he had hurt a child. He had children of his own at home and he’d have challenged any man who dared to do what he’d just done.
When Marcail felt his hold loosen she ran into Kaitlin’s embrace. Kate pulled her close and then watched in alarm as her little hand came up to cover her mouth. Rigg came on the scene just as Kate was holding Marcail at the edge of the boardwalk so she could vomit into the street.
There was some conversation behind Kate but the crowd had quieted. That a man had come forward, proclaiming Marcail’s innocence and claiming to have witnessed the whole episode, Kate was not to know until later. She turned, seeing no one but the officer and spoke directly to him in a shaky voice.
“I’m sure there has been some mistake. My sister would never take something that didn’t belong to her. I’m taking her home now.”
His voice was a bit strained as he said, “That will be fine, miss.”
Kate held her sister in her arms and was nearly to the house when Sean caught up to them. Once inside, she gave her sister a dipper of water and then held her as tears streamed silently down her face. She was so upset she vomited again.
“It’s all right, Marc,” Kate crooned softly, as she cleaned her up and tried not to be sick herself. “We know you didn’t take anything. It was all a big misunderstanding.”
Marcail sat trembling in Kate’s lap when someone knocked at the door. Rigg and Jeff were standing there.
“Is she all right?” Rigg wanted to know straight away.
“I think so,” Sean answered.
Jeff and Sean watched in silence as Rigg knelt down next to Kate’s chair and spoke to Marcail. “You’re kind of young to be in trouble with the law,” he teased softly.
“I didn’t take her purse,” Marcail hiccuped.
“Of course you didn’t. There was a man on the street who saw the whole thing, came forward and said it was some boy. Did you see a boy, Marcail?”
“No,” she answered with some surprise.
“That’s all right.”
“Is that man going to come and take me away?” Her voice shook and Kate spoke with more confidence than she felt.
“I wouldn’t let that happen, Marcail.”
They talked a little longer and then Rigg took the frightened nine-year-old into his arms. Kate was a little surprised at how easily she went and watched her sister cling to the big man. He stood and spoke down to Kaitlin where she sat.
“I want you to collect your things now, Katie.” Kaitlin was too surprised to notice his use of her name. “Sean can help you get everything, even your laundry. You and Marcail are going to my folks’.”
“I really don’t think it’s your place, Mr. Riggs, to order us about.” Kate had stood suddenly and was looking like an angry hen guarding her chicks. She opened her mouth to say more but Rigg, holding Marcail with one arm, reached with his free hand and cupped her chin.
“Marcail is so upset she’s trembling in my arms.” His eyes held hers with steely determination, his voice equally resolute. “And you’re white as a sheet and look ready to collapse. Not to mention, there is absolutely nothing in this house to eat or to eat with. Now gather your things, Kaitlin, because you and Marcail are going to my folks’.”
His hand slipped to her shoulder until the anger drained from her and she gave a small nod. Kaitlin still believed his actions were rude and overbearing but she was too tired to fight. Aside from all of that, Marcail was more upset than she’d ever been. And that was saying quite a bit in light of all they’d been through in the last several weeks.
twenty
At any other time Kaitlin would have been thrilled with the farm on which the Taylors lived. The surrounding land was not owned by the family, but three of the acres, the house and barn were all theirs, including a small wooded area where the creek meandered through.
It was a wonderful place to grow up, as Rigg or any of the Taylor boys would have told her. There was always something to do as long as the sun was shining. Even on rainy days there was hide-and-seek in the barn, with its hayloft and numerous nooks and crannies.
Jeff had gone ahead to see his mother at the shipping office and explain to her all that had transpired at the mercantile. That he knew all that had occurred was by sheer accident. He’d simply come to give Rigg some papers at the time of the incident.
There had been no hesitation or irritation when Jeff told his mother that Rigg was bringing the schoolmarm and her sister to stay at her house. Normally she would have left it up to Rigg to settle this family, knowing she would meet them at supper, but when Jeff described what had happened with the woman’s purse, she dropped what she was doing at the shipping office and had Jeff take her straight home.
Rigg plucked Marcail off the wagon seat as soon as he’d jumped down and then t
urned to reach for Kaitlin. Her cool fingertips in his palm made his heart race as he helped her from the wagon. Sean had taken his hat off when he saw a woman approaching and stood quietly, holding it in his hands.
All three of the children watched Rigg bend low to kiss his mother’s cheek before he made the introductions.
“Mom, this is the Donovan family. Kaitlin is the new schoolteacher. Sean is going to work some evenings and Saturdays for me and this is Marcail. She’s nine.”
May Taylor beamed at the children before her. Her hair was liberally shot with gray and the corners of her eyes had many seams, as though smiling was something she did all the time. Her figure was full and the gray eyes, now smiling at everyone with warmth and welcome, were so much like Rigg’s it was uncanny.
“It’s so good to meet you, please come in.” May was about to say more but she could see that Kate was hesitating.
“Mrs. Taylor, this is such short notice. Maybe we should come back another time.”
May could see that Rigg was about to step in so she lightly touched his arm to stop him.
“I promise you, Kaitlin, it’s wonderful to have you. God has blessed us with a large home and we’ve always opened it to anyone who might have a need.”
Kate didn’t know what to say to that and actually she didn’t have time because Rigg was moving everyone toward the house. May watched her son with some surprise.
This was far from the first time Rigg had sent someone over to stay. In fact the last time a young woman needed a home there had been quite a misunderstanding. Rigg had spent a few uncomfortable hours explaining that his intentions had not been romantic. But this time, well, May was sure she’d never seen him so determined to see someone stay with his family.
They had gone in through the back door and Rigg was heading to the back stairway. You could also get upstairs from the living room but since they’d come in at the kitchen, it was the logical way to go.