Whatever Tomorrow Brings

by Lori Wick

“Rigg told me you bought a lot of supplies. Why are you so hungry?” Sean had stayed close due to the strange behavior of his sisters.

  “We do have food, I’m just not used to cooking and packing a lunch. We’ll be fine.” Kate laughed again when she thought of the molasses and Marcail had to explain. Sean did his own share of chuckling before reaching over to mess his sister’s hair.

  Offended by his rough treatment, Marcail would have started a wrestling match if Kaitlin hadn’t stopped them.

  The afternoon found the entire school on a walk. The older children had been put into specific charge over the younger and they ventured forth in small groups to find items that were on their spelling list.

  When one was spotted, the find was reported to Miss Donovan and she marked it off the list. Nearly everyone found at least one item and the outing must have been a huge success since the children begged to make it a weekly trip. Kate, in her soft voice, restored order and said that she would consider it.

  After school, the moment Kaitlin hit the door, she began supper preparations. She was a woman with a mission and in less time than she expected her efforts paid off. There was no butter for the biscuits or meat for the beans and rice but it was all pretty tasty and she and Marcail were able to eat their fill. Feeling proud of herself, she packaged up the leftovers for lunch the following day.

  That night was prayer meeting and even though Kate did not feel up to the walk, she and Marcail started out in time to be there. Rigg, who told her she should have waited for a ride, brought her home. She told him in all honesty that it hadn’t occurred to her and realized she hadn’t thought of Sean all afternoon.

  With her head so fuzzy, she figured the best place for her was bed. As usual she slept soundly. Breakfast was another fiasco and this time it did make them late to school.

  “I’m sorry I’m late this morning, class. I’ll certainly make an effort not to let it happen again. I want to thank you for all being in your seats. I’m proud of the way—” Kate stopped talking in mid-sentence because Joey Parker had come in late and put an apple on her desk, causing her to look at her desk for the first time that morning.

  Her actions in front of a few of her students yesterday at lunch came sharply to mind as she stared at the array of food covering her desk top. Cans and boxes of food, baskets with napkins hiding treats within, two casserole dishes and a few fresh fruits. Tears filled her eyes at the tender hearts of her students. She took a moment to get herself under control.

  “If I could choose any class, anywhere in the world to teach, I would pick this schoolhouse with you. Please accept my thanks and also pass it on to your parents for their generosity.”

  The faces of the children before her told Kaitlin she’d said the right thing. Smiling, her gaze encompassed the room.

  “Good morning, class.”

  “Good morning, Miss Donovan.”

  Another school day had begun.

  thirty-two

  It was mid-morning and Rigg sat at his desk, fidgeting with the sack of dry goods he had not yet delivered to Kaitlin. He was concentrating on the conversation he’d had with Sean over breakfast.

  “I sort of wish Kate and Marc had stayed at your folks’.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m just afraid that they’ll starve to death. I mean, Kate is a great teacher but she’s never had to do everything before. Marc is trying to help, but when she packed the lunch yesterday, she took molasses, yeast cakes and raisins.”

  “So all your sisters had for lunch yesterday was raisins?”

  “I had an extra piece of chicken that I shared with them.” Rigg noted that Sean looked very guilty. Rigg tried to choose words to help ease that guilt.

  “Kaitlin could ask for help.”

  “She probably never even considered it. She thinks of it as a challenge that she’s never met before and thinks she should jump in and do it.”

  “Why don’t you ask them to supper here tonight? I’m not a gourmet, but I can ask Kate if she needs me to show her anything.” The conversation ended then as both men went their separate ways.

  Now Rigg sat at his desk, his face almost brooding, praying about a way to help Kate without overstepping himself.

  “I’m in love with a woman who can’t cook.” Rigg spoke softly even as a smile came over his face. He froze when he heard steps behind him.

  “It’s not like you to talk to yourself Rigg,” Jeff said quietly. “Want me to leave?”

  “No, come on in.” Rigg watched as his brother folded his long frame into a chair. He dwelt briefly on the fact that the young ladies at church were very attracted to Jeffrey Taylor but he never responded in kind. It looked for a time as though Jeff might be headed for trouble where girls were concerned, but something had happened when Jeff was still a teen that seemingly changed him forever.

  Rigg knew his younger brother to be as desirous of a wife as he was and wondered how Jeff was feeling about what he’d just overheard. He decided to ask him.

  “I think the word infatuation fits a little better than love does, Rigg.”

  “You think it’s too soon for me to be in love then?”

  The younger man shifted uncomfortably over the vulnerable look on his brother’s face. He, quite frankly, thought the world of his older brother and it was hard to see him unhappy. And then there was Kaitlin. It was not at all hard to see why Rigg believed himself to be in love.

  “You started working in this store Rigg, when you were only 14. And then Uncle Leo turned the whole thing over to you at 19. You haven’t had any time to date girls or even spend much time with them and now Kaitlin Donovan comes into town and knocks you right off your feet. Naturally you assume it’s love. Maybe it is, I don’t know.”

  Jeff felt that he’d said enough and watched Rigg’s face carefully to see if he’d upset him. When Rigg finally spoke, Jeff wished he had made him angry. Rigg was more upset than he was letting on and Jeff didn’t want anything unresolved between them.

  “Well, I doubt if you came by to discuss my love life. What did you need?”

  “Rigg?” Jeff’s voice was pained.

  “No, Jeff it’s all right. I do feel like I’m in love. But Kaitlin isn’t ready for anything like that, and having to explore these feelings on my own is a hurting thing.”

  “And I just made it worse by saying you’re not even in love.”

  “It’s all right, Jeff.” Rigg suddenly smiled. “I’ll just make you eat those words at the wedding.” Jeff laughed. This was the Rigg he knew; confident and purposeful.

  “Rigg wants you to come for supper,” Sean told his sisters.

  “What about all this food?”

  “I’ll help you take everything home. By the way, Kate, I was telling Rigg that you can’t cook so if you need help with anything, you can ask him tonight.”

  “Sean Donovan! How dare you say I can’t cook!”

  “Well, Kate!” The young man was equally indignant. “You told me yourself what a mess supper was. And don’t forget I stood and watched you and Marc swallowing raisins yesterday without even stopping to chew.”

  The anger drained out of Kate and she began to giggle. Sean shook his head in mock despair. Neither one noticed that Marcail was very quiet.

  “If you would catch some fish Sean,” Kaitlin said between chuckles, “we could ask Mr. Riggs to our house instead of him always feeding us.”

  “He’d probably never believe that you weren’t out to poison him.”

  Sean walked his sisters home and then went to see if they’d received any mail. He then headed to the Mercantile to tell Rigg they would be there for supper at six.

  “If there’s some reason Marcail, that you’d rather not go to Mr. Riggs’ for supper, you can tell me.”

  The girls were nearly at Riggs’ and Kate, who’d finally noticed Marcail’s behavior, had been trying for an hour to bring her out.

  “It’s fine if we eat here.”

  “Marc,” Kate said gently, “what’
s wrong?”

  They had come to a stop just short of the porch steps at Rigg’s. He had seen them approaching and stood framed in the front door looking down at them.

  Marcail looked down at the path beneath her feet and then glanced up at Rigg. When she looked back at Katie, a single tear slid down her cheek.

  “I don’t know if I can tell you.” Her voice was soft but Rigg heard and stepped back as Kate led Marcail into the living room. The girls sat on the sofa and as soon as they were settled, Marcail turned her face into Kate’s side and sat very still.

  Kaitlin kept her arm close around her and stared up at Rigg and Sean who looked on helplessly.

  “Marc,” Kaitlin finally spoke softly, “please tell me what’s wrong. Maybe I can fix it.”

  A few more moments went by and Marcail shifted until her cheek lay against Kate’s side. Rigg, seeing the evidence of tears on her face, was surprised. He hadn’t been aware that she was crying because she hadn’t made a sound. His heart melted at the sight of those tears and he sat down beside her.

  “Is there anything I can do, Marcail?”

  “No.”

  “You might feel better if you talk about it Marc,” Sean suggested from a nearby chair.

  “Someone will get into trouble.” Her young voice was almost depressed.

  Kate cuddled her closer with new understanding. How many times had history repeated itself over this subject. One child had information over another child’s sin and was in torment over whether or not the news should be shared.

  “Marcail, I understand why you’re upset but be sure to ask yourself if this person will end up in worse trouble if you don’t tell.”

  Marcail was silent for a few minutes and the others in the room watched her chew her lip in indecision.

  “Joey Parker told me today that he took that lady’s purse. He said his father told him to.” Marcail’s face was once again buried against her sister’s side. Rigg looked down and watched a shudder run over the child, the only indication that she was crying again. He looked up to see Kaitlin’s face—it was white with strain.

  “Would this man really do that?”

  “I wouldn’t be surprised.” Rigg’s voice was regretful.

  The next hour was spent trying to calm Marcail down enough to eat supper. The food had gone cold but no one really seemed to notice.

  Little by little, as they ate supper, Marcail elaborated. She said that Joey had approached her during afternoon recess and asked her if she’d told her sister who took the purse. Marcail hadn’t known what he was talking about. When he realized his mistake, he’d become very angry and said it hadn’t been his fault to begin with: He was just doing what his Pa had told him to do.

  They all knew they were going to have to step lightly around this small boy in the very near future or he would surely know that Marcail had told.

  Kate and Marcail didn’t stay long after supper but before Rigg walked them home he asked everyone to gather in the living room for a brief time of prayer over what to do and how to reach out to Joey without causing him more hurt.

  thirty-three

  Kaitlin had told herself on Friday night that she was going to sleep until noon on Saturday. She could tell by the angle of the sun that it wasn’t that late but she awoke so rested she didn’t care about the hour.

  May had sent word through a blushing Nathan the afternoon before, that she and Marcail were invited to the Taylors’ for supper on Saturday evening. They were to also plan to take their baths, stay the night and go with them to church in the morning.

  Kate shuddered at the thought of tackling Marcail’s hair. After visualizing herself washing that thick mass as well as her own in the dish-pan, she decided to accept May’s offer. But right now the whole day stretched ahead of them and Kaitlin was going to start it with prayer.

  As she remembered her family, her mind returned again and again to Joey Parker. Kate thought he was one of the most precious little boys she’d ever encountered.

  She had surmised right away that he was not as well liked as the other children and even though they played with him, he was always on the outer fringes of their special talks. There were certainly other children who didn’t really fit in either. But Joey was the only one who appeared to be from a very poor home. And after Marcail explained her tears the day before, well, Kate couldn’t even think of the boy without her own tears starting.

  Please Father, use me. Help me to help him. I want so much to go to him right now and hug him and ask him to church but it’s too soon; I know that. And I also know that You love him and died for him. Please God, make the pathway to this little boy clear so I can tell him of Your love.

  Kate prayed for many minutes in this vein, and not until she realized that Marcail was stirring beside her, did she begin to pray for her friends in Hawaii, Mr. Riggs, the Taylors and her other students.

  “Good morning, Katie.” Marcail’s voice was heavy with sleep but she was always cheerful in the morning.

  “Morning, Marc. How did you sleep?”

  “Good. Are we staying at Taylors’ tonight?”

  “Yes, I think it’s a good idea. It’s hard enough to do your hair without you having to bend over for half an hour.”

  “Maybe we should cut it.”

  “What would Father say?”

  “I don’t know.” She was silent for a moment. “He is coming back, isn’t he Katie?”

  “He said that he would and I know that he’ll come as soon as he can.”

  The girls had a leisurely breakfast and then went to the post office. There was a letter from Aunt Maureen and they decided to wait until they returned home to open it. As they walked past the shipping office, Gil hailed them.

  “Hi. What are you two up to?”

  “We got a letter from Aunt Maureen,” Marcail told him.

  “Good for you.” He smiled at Marcail and touched her shoulder.

  Kaitlin thought he was one of the nicest men she’d ever met. Good-looking, too. Of course she believed that Gilbert and his brothers were all handsome, with their light blue eyes, medium brown hair and tall, lean physiques.

  “I’m glad you came by. A few things were delivered yesterday from the church folks and I wanted to take them to your house. Are you headed home now?”

  “We’re going to the mercantile,” Marcail informed him.

  “But we can go right home if you want to meet us there.”

  “There’s no hurry,” he said with a smile. “Why don’t you give me a time and I’ll meet you then.”

  “Oh no, Gilbert, we don’t want to put you to any trouble—” Kaitlin began but stopped when his eyes told her he was close to laughter.

  “What time?” The question was asked again. Kate suggested ten-thirty before turning and moving down the street, a little bemused, wondering what Gilbert must have found so funny.

  Gil watched them walk away, his eyes still smiling. One of these days, Katie Donovan, he thought to himself, you’re going to understand that the look in Rigg’s eyes when he’s near you, makes you and your family very special.

  Kate wondered how many times she would be able to walk into Riggs Mercantile and not feel a sense of wonder. It was all so delightful. She loved to look at the farm tools, the counter laden with jars of penny candy, paint supplies—from stove-pipe enamel to paint brushes of every conceivable size. There was a large selection of toys, with baby dolls and tea sets of fine china. You could find sports and fishing equipment and even a selection of ladies intimate apparel.

  Kaitlin never stayed in that section for very long, but she was very curious and a little envious of women who wore muslin nightgowns trimmed with lace, or taffeta and silk underskirts with camisoles bordered in scarlet ribbon.

  “This is pretty, isn’t it Katie?” Kaitlin was brought out of her dreams when Marcail picked up an underskirt piped in pale blue ribbon.

  “It sure is.” The girls exchanged a smile of understanding. Even if their father were here and wo
rking steadily, he would not have allowed such an extravagant purchase.

  Watching from his office, Rigg knew exactly what the girls were looking at even though he couldn’t hear their words or see what they were holding. Sensing that he might be invading their privacy, he turned and sat at his desk.

  Rigg believed it to be totally improper to give clothing to a woman who was not his wife, but the smile he’d seen on Kate’s face led him to believe that such a gift would bring her great pleasure.

  I need patience, Lord. I can’t rush her and I want to do Your will but I can’t get her out of my mind. Show me some peace Lord, show me how to be near Katie without scaring her off.

  Rigg’s prayers were cut short when the object of his every waking moment called from the stairway.

  “Mr. Riggs, are you up there?”

  “Come on up.”

  “We just wanted to say hello before we go home. Gilbert is bringing more stuff to us from the church,” Marcail informed him. He stood until his visitors had found seats.

  “Did you get everything you need?”

  “Yes, we were just here for some little things,” Kate answered, and noticed for the first time how heavy his beard was. He was clean-shaven, but the outline of whiskers was black against his tanned face. He was very nice to look at and for the first time Kaitlin let her eyes have their fill.

  She watched for a moment as Rigg talked with Marcail and then suddenly drew in a sharp breath. He was exactly like the man she visualized being married to one day! Kaitlin had grown up around well-built Polynesian men with black hair and dark skin and eyes. Rigg would never have been mistaken for one of the men from the island, but he did have the looks that Kate found most attractive.

  Rigg’s peripheral vision made him very aware of Kate’s scrutiny but he kept talking with Marcail. He desperately wanted to know what was going through Kaitlin’s mind but was afraid to ask.

  When a few minutes later the girls said good-bye, Rigg wished he had questioned Kate. She had seemed uncomfortable when she left, almost as if she were afraid of him. For an instant he wondered if he reminded her of her cousin and then frowned at the thought.