Whatever Tomorrow Brings (The Californians 1)

by Lori Wick

  "I'm not a child, but neither do I have the wisdom of the ages, and I just don't know how to handle this underlying animosity between us. In another circumstance I would just keep my distance from you, but with Sean living with you and me staying temporarily with your folks, that's impossible.

  "If I've done something or am doing something that is offensive to you, I'd be more than happy to clear the air. And I know I've said a lot but there's just one more thing. I hope that anything between us won't affect the way you treat Sean and Marcail. I know they like you and it's so hard to be here without our folks, I just hope that-"

  "Kaitlin." Her name, softly spoken in his deep voice, brought her to a halt. He came close enough to touch her, but did mt.

  "I've been so wrong in the way I've treated you. Will you please forgive me?"

  "Yes," she said immediately.

  "I'll try not to be so bossy with you, but please understand that you and Marcail gave me quite a scare on Friday. In my mind, leaving you at that house would have been like leaving an infant in the snow. You had no money or food or even sufficient blankets for the bed. I was afraid you would refuse me so I ordered instead of asked.

  'As for the other-the teasing-all I can say is that I'm not myself with you. We got off to such a bad start. I mean, right away you didn't like me, and I wanted you to like me. And not just because I let your brother live with me. Am I making any sense to you?"

  Kate nodded. "Thank you for telling me. It clears up a lot. So much has happened to bruise my emotions, and my mind never goes more than an hour all day without wondering where my Father is and if he's all right.

  "What I need right now is friendship. I hope you'll understand when I tell you I can't handle anything more than that."

  "I do understand, and I hope you'll consider me a friend."

  "Thank you." The words were whispered sweetly and Rigg watched as tears puddled in those huge brown eyes. Rigg mentally shook his head. He'd just offered to be her friend. Husband was much closer to what he had in mind.

  Desperately wanting to be the man Kaitlin needed him to be, his heart cried out to God for help. He knew as he looked into those eyes that if it took forever, he was going to try to win this woman's heart. If he had to stuff his own emotions into a place deep within himself in order to do that, that was exactly what he would do.

  "It's getting pretty cool out here. Why don't we go in?"

  "Okay. Mr. Riggs, may I ask you something?"

  'Anything." Rigg wondered how long he could endure being addressed as Mr. Riggs.

  "Did Sean really do all right today? Were you pleased with the job he did, or did he get into some sort of trouble?"

  "I think he did fine. Why do you ask?"

  "He said something he's never said before, something about making mistakes and getting the hang of it. I've never known Sean to have a bit of trouble catching on to anything."

  "The young man training him might have given him a hard time this morning. I checked on them several times this afternoon and even though they're not best friends, I think they both know where the other one stands."

  Kate thanked him for explaining. She strongly suspected that Sean was putting pressure on himself to work and be the man in the family. She shared her belief with Rigg, feeling for the first time like she could really talk to him.

  'And what bothers me the most is his schooling. Sean will be 15 in December. I don't want him getting it into his head to quit school and try to support us."

  "I have noticed that he's very conscious of your welfare. I think he'll stay in school and it'll help that Nate is there. But I will keep my ears open and if he says anything to me about wanting more hours before summer, I'll discourage it."

  "Thank you. I feel better knowing that you think he should stay in school. Some people think that once you're a teen, you've had all the school you need."

  "Well, Santa Rosa certainly has some of those but I'm not one of them."

  They were back at the house, Rigg walking with Kaitlin, his heart swelling with joy. She was talking to him like he was a friend. When he'd felt a very definite burden to join her and Jeff, he'd fought it. At the moment he couldn't have been more thrilled that he'd listened to his heart.

  All the lamps were lit in the living room when Kate and Rigg stepped through the front door and Bill immediately told Kate they wanted to talk with her. Sean, Nate and Gil were taking their baths. Marcail was sharing Jeff's chair and they'd been reading a story until Kate came in. Kaitlin sat down on the sofa expectantly.

  "I've been planning to make an announcement tomorrow morning to the congregation about your house needing supplies. I don't mind doing that, and I can promise you there will be a great response. But Kate, we'd really like you to stay here. That is, we want you to know that you're welcome here for as long as you'd like. We even have an extra wagon and Nate can drive all of you to school each day."

  Smiling at the sincere faces of the people before her, Kate's voice told of her gratitude.

  "You've been so kind to let us stay with you and I praise God for you. If I knew a little better when Father would be back, I might take you up on it. But I think Marcail and I should go back to the little house as soon as possible."

  The Taylors respected Kate's wishes even though their disappointment was evident.

  "I'll go ahead with the announcement as planned. May is ready to write down the things you need."

  So Kate began, with Marcail and even Rigg adding to the list. Dishes, silverware, hollow-ware, pots, bedding, extra chairs; the list seemed endless.

  "Now," Bill said when the list looked complete. "how are you set financially?"

  "I got paid today." Sean had come down the stairs in time to hear the question.

  "When will you be paid Kaitlin?" Rigg wanted to know.

  'At the end of April. Since I don't start teaching until March twenty-seventh, that is, since the month is almost over, Mr. Carson figured he would just put those five days in March onto my April check."

  "Has Mr. Carson been handling everything for you, Kaitlin?"

  "Yes, he's been very nice."

  Bill's face gave no hint of his thoughts, and even though Rigg and Jeff were exchanging a look, Kate didn't notice. None of them were exactly sure when Burt Kemp had left town. They were all hoping that Kate had worked with him, but it looked as if Greg Carson had been on the job.

  "So Mr. Carson found the house for you?"

  "Right."

  'And how about your wages. Did Mr. Carson set that too?" Bill's voice was as smooth as honey, and Kate answered calmly with no signs of offense over such a personal question.

  "Yes, he took care of that. You see, I don't have a teaching certificate and he felt it would be better to give me a little lower wage to compensate for that. The rent at the house takes a major part of my salary but we'll get by with Sean working." She smiled with genuine confidence at Sean.

  "Kaitlin, would you think me intruding to ask how much your monthly salary is?"

  "Oh no, I don't mind. Actually it's kind of nice to have someone to talk to because we've never lived on our own before." Kate went on to answer Bill's question and noticed that the adults in the room became very still. When Rigg spoke his voice was tender.

  "Katie, your wages aren't a little lower than the usual teacher's pay, they're less than half of what they should be."

  "Oh," was all she could say and she looked over at Marcail who had begun to gnaw on her lip, a sure sign of distress.

  "Well," Kate said carefully-and maybe a little too cheerfully-her eyes on her sister, "you said the people at the church would be helping us with the things we need, so we just need to buy food."

  "Did you have any money when you came into town?" Jeff asked kindly. No one had missed the focus of Kaitlin's gaze and all were sensitive to the feeling of security this little girl needed.

  "Yes, our aunt gave us some. We used it to pay our rent," Sean supplied.

  'And your rent is paid throu
gh April?" Bill probed.

  "We had enough to pay for about three weeks, so half of April."

  'And what had you planned to do then?"

  "We've been praying about that."

  Bill leaned forward in his chair to make sure he had Kate's attention. "Then will you consider me an answer to those prayers? I would like to give you some money and I would also like to speak with Greg. He needs to be made aware of your financial situation."

  "Oh, I don't know. I mean, I don't want him to think I came running to you and complained."

  "I can explain everything to him Monday morning, that is, if you agree."

  Kate looked over at Sean who told her yes with the move of his head and the look on his face.

  'All right Mr. Taylor. And thank you for everything."

  "The pleasure is all ours Kaitlin, believe me." These were the first words May had spoken during this talk and Kaitlin would have run from the room if she could have read her hostess' mind. May had just thanked God for a Christian wife for Rigg.

  twenty-seven

  The next morning found the Donovans and Taylors in church together. A wonderful peace stole over Kaitlin as she entered the house of the Lord; she'd really missed being part of a formal service. Not all of the songs were familiar but they were still beautiful to her ears.

  There was one embarrassing moment before the sermon, when Bill made his announcement and asked Kate, Sean and Marcail to stand and be introduced. He told everyone of their situation and that he'd start the list around. He concluded by saying that if anyone had anything to give, it could be brought to the shipping office.

  When the sermon began Kate immediately liked Pastor Keller. His eyes were kind and his voice was filled with conviction as he preached from the Word. The morning's text was John 3:14 and 15. He began by reading the verses.

  "'And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.'

  "Let's pray. Our Father in heaven we believe You are the one true God who is able to teach us all things from Your Word. We ask now, Lord, that You open our hearts to Your truth and convicting spirit. In Christ's name I pray, Amen.

  "If you remember back in the book of Numbers, God instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent and raise it high on a pole. The Word says that any and all who looked at the bronze snake would be healed from the poisonous bites of the snakes tormenting them.

  "What I want you to think on this morning, is that those who had to look at the snake were condemned to physical death-they'd already been bitten by a poisonous snake. God proved His mercy toward the children of Israel, for when those bitten looked toward the serpent for healing, they were indeed healed.

  "Each one of us has also been bitten and received a more dangerous poison: spiritual sin. That old serpent Satan bit all of mankind when he deceived Eve and Adam sinned. We must realize that we are now condemned to spiritual death, and each person must act for himself. In other words, it is our personal responsibility to look to Christ, who was lifted up on the cross, as our healing from the spiritual poison of sin, and to understand that without that salvation, we will know spiritual death.

  "This is far from the first time I've spoken to you about eternity. Sometimes God burdens my heart so heavily that I know I can't go another Sunday without explaining this precious truth to you. Coming forward will not save you, believing there is a God will not save you. You must be born again by believing in the only begotten Son of God.

  "Please, friends, if there is any doubt in your mind, come to me or any one of our elders. We want to see you know Christ in a most personal way."

  Pastor Keller closed in prayer and then Kaitlin noticed a man go down front. Pastor Keller embraced him before they sat in the front pew and began to talk.

  After the service many greeted the Donovans and told how they had prayed for a schoolteacher. It was a good beginning for everyone. After walking back to the wagon, Kate told Rigg how much she liked the church.

  "What?" Rigg asked absently. He had the hardest time concentrating when she looked like she did today. Her dress was a pale pink with every imaginable color of flower swirled all over it. The white lace at her collar against the tanned skin of her face and dark hair was not merely distracting; it was hypnotizing.

  "I was just saying that everyone was very nice. I even met some of my students."

  "Good."

  Kate finally picked up on his distracted attitude and became concerned. "Are you feeling well?"

  "Rigg's just having a little heart trouble," Jeff answered as he approached and dropped an arm around Kaitlin's shoulders, as though he were a long lost brother. Kate could see he was having one on her.

  "Honestly, Jeff, you'd think I was a hitching post the way you lean-on- me!" But she wasn't really upset.

  Rigg, who had been sending warning glances to his smiling, unrepentant brother, reached up and tossed Jeff's arm away. Rigg's hands went to Kaitlin's waist and he swung her up onto the wagon seat. Jeff looked at the way Katie spread her skirts on half of the seat and then to Rigg who still stood by the-wagon .

  "I suppose this means I'll be riding in the back?"

  "Maybe you can find something back there to lean on," Rigg replied dryly, and Kate laughed. -- -- - - -- - - - -

  Jeff grumbled good-naturedly as he boarded and when the wagon pulled away he leaned against the seat back, his legs stretched out before him. He waved at friends and made a few observations as Rigg drove away.

  "Hey Katie, have you still got that black dress I first saw you in at the schoolhouse?"

  "Yes."

  "Maybe you should wear it to church."

  "What is he talking about?" Kate inquired of Rigg.

  "I think my brother, in his own klutzy way, is trying to tell you that you were turning heads as we left church today."

  Kate turned in her seat to look back at the churchyard and then to Rigg to see if he'd been serious. He had.

  "That's ridiculous," Kate said primly. "My skin is much too dark to be considered attractive and my jaw is too square." Kaitlin scowled as both men shouted with laughter.

  "I don't know what's so funny about that. Honestly, if any of my class is witnessing this display I'll have my hands full in the morning." But even with her stern words they continued to laugh.

  "I wish I'd ridden with your folks," she finally said, and Jeff and Rigg made an attempt to control themselves.

  'Are you really mad?" Jeff coaxed from the back.

  "Furious!" Kaitlin said, as she smiled and waved at Marcail in the wagon in front of them. Rigg glanced back at Jeff and the two men exchanged a smile.

  'And don't you be grinning at each other as though you were actually pleased with yourselves. It's too bad you're too big for a trip to the woodshed. Oh, Mr. Riggs," Kate reached and touched his sleeve, all teasing gone. "Who is that little boy?"

  "That's Joey Parker. You'll meet him tomorrow."

  "How old is he?"

  "I think about nine or ten."

  "Why did you ask, Kate?" Jeff piped up.

  "I noticed him outside the church but didn't see him come in. I'm glad I'll meet him tomorrow." Kaitlin watched as the boy walked across an open field. His clothes were filthy and his hair hung limply in his eyes. Kate wanted to hold him in her arms forever.

  Both Rigg and Jeff refrained from telling Kate what a rough home life Joey hailed from. At the same time, they were both very happy for Joey that a new schoolteacher had been found and he could, at least for a few hours every day, be away from his father.

  twenty-eight

  "Thank you, Mister ... ?"

  "Hodges."

  "Thank you, Mr. Hodges."

  "You're welcome, Miss Donovan. You don't know my wife, but when she gets a bee in her bonnet, well, let's just say there's no stopping her."

  It was late afternoon on Sunday and one of the men from the church had just arrived at the Taylors' with a wa
gonload of household goods.

  "I know this is quite a pile, so I thought if you'd come along with me and show me your house, I'd deliver it right to your door."

  Kaitlin seemed to be in a state of shock so Rigg answered for her. "Why don't we both go with you." He helped a silent Kaitlin into the wagon and they both listened as Mr. Hodges explained why his wife had sent so much.

  "Both of our mothers are dead and you always want to hold on to some memories, but we've an attic full of things that haven't been touched in years. The wife couldn't see any point of them sitting there any longer. You might want to air the quilts, but I think you'll find them in good shape."

  "I'm sure they'll all be wonderful," Kate's quiet reply caused Mr. Hodges to look over at her on the seat beside him, and then to Rigg. He spoke, after his attention was once again on the road, a smile in his voice.

  "I don't suppose there'd be any point in writing to my unmarried son and reminding him that he hasn't visited in a spell."

  "No point, Mr. Hodges, no point at all," Rigg answered without hesitation and didn't bother to look at Kate's face-he knew she was smiling. That knowledge made him the happiest he'd been since he met her.

  Once at the house the three of them worked steadily to unload the wagon. Quilts, sheets, pillows, pots, a pack of needles and thread, a few dishes and bowls, two vases, a rug beater, cookie cutters and a cookie sheetKaitlin wondered when it would stop. When they were finished she flopped into a chair and stared at the pile on the bed and table.

  "Mr. Hodges, please thank your wife for me and tell her I'll look forward to meeting her next Sunday. Thank you for bringing us to the house but you don't need to stay. I'll walk back to the Taylors'."

  "I'll stay too," Rigg spoke up, and smiled at the twinkle that came into Mr. Hodges eyes. He walked him to the wagon where Hodges gave Rigg another box, and told him briefly who it was from.

  Rigg left the front door open and set the box on a chair. He then went about forcing open the windows while Kate tried to sort through the piles. All the kitchen supplies went on the shelves near the stove, and then Kaitlin, who found everything fresh smelling, made the bed with the sheets and all three quilts.