Whatever Tomorrow Brings (The Californians 1) (20 page)

Kaitlin told them they could go to lunch a little early and then had to bite her lip to keep from laughing when one very snippy ten-year-old informed her that it was too early.

"Thank you for telling me, Leslie, but I'm hungry right now. If you're not, you could always eat your lunch during our afternoon break." She winked at the little girl and caught Sean grinning like a fool.

It was very clear to Kate that most of the students had never considered that a teacher would experience hunger. So no one would see her smile, she turned to the board to write the time she expected them back in their seats.

After lunch she again caught the students off guard when she called on them, one-by-one, to come forward and tell what they did during the four weeks without school. She had listened to six reports when Leslie raised her hand almost frantically.

"Yes Leslie?"

"You're writing something down. Are we being graded on this Miss Donovan?"

A few of the children snickered over this question and the class was given its first taste of disapproval from Miss Donovan. She stood up and scanned the room with a very stern look. No words were necessary, but a few of the older children looked to Sean, who was giving Kaitlin his complete attention. His look told them she would brook no disobedience.

"No, Leslie, you're not." She spoke when she was sure her point had been taken. "I'm just trying to get to know all of you a little bit better."

The little girl looked so relieved that Kate knew she had an over-achiever on her hands. She smiled at her before calling the next name, which happened to be Joey Parker.

Joey, Kaitlin noted, refused to look at the class. His hands were stuffed in his pockets and his head was bowed. When, after a full minute he didn't speak, she coaxed him in a quiet voice.

"You don't need to give us a long speech, Joey, just share a few things that you did."

"I went to the creek and I hung around town." The boy beat a hasty retreat back to his desk and Kate thanked him as if he'd just shared great pearls of wisdom.

The remainder of the day flew by and Kate could hardly believe it when it was time to dismiss. Nathan and Sean went to get the wagon; Marcail tagged along. Katie was straightening her desk when Rigg walked in.

"How did it go?"

"Oh, it was wonderful. They're all so bright and respectful and fun. I mean we really had fun."

Rigg had never heard her talk so fast and was sure she didn't know that she was switching back and forth between Hawaiian and English so fast that he could hardly keep up.

"I take it you had a good day?" Rigg smiled and asked when she came to a breathless halt. He noticed her eyes were sparkling with joy and knew it was a waste of time to hope that the intensity of his feelings for her would abate.

At that moment he found it hard to believe he'd only known her a few days. It just didn't seem possible that he wanted to marry this girl who was almost a stranger. But he did want to marry her and maybe, just maybe, Lord willing, someday he'd be able to tell her.

"Oh, I wanted to tell you," Kate spoke, as though she'd just thought of it, "Marcail and I are going to move back to the little house tomorrow. I'm ready, and if we have to do without a few things, well, I don't think we'll notice."

"You know there's no hurry. My folks meant it when they said you were welcome for as long as you like." Rigg said the words almost casually but he was feeling a little alarmed. Knowing that Kate was at his folks gave him tremendous security. Not that he expected something to happen, it was just nice to know.

"Oh, I know we could stay and it's comforting to know that they're there for us, but my mind's made up. And to tell you the truth," she whispered, "I'm a little excited about it. It's such a cute little place, and we'll be much closer to the school and to Sean."

Rigg's smile was very tender. She was flying high all right, and was probably going to be exhausted later. He didn't stay any longer but told her that he'd invited himself out to supper at the folks and that he'd see her then.

thirty

Rigg's prediction had certainly been correct. Kaitlin fell sound asleep in the Taylors' living room after supper. Nathan and Marcail had already gone to bed and it was a few moments before anyone noticed that Kate was no longer with them.

She was in the rocking chair by the fire and Rigg moved toward her when her body began to slide forward. Surprised that she didn't wake up when he touched her, Rigg looked to his mother for help.

"Lift her gently Rigg, and I'll follow you upstairs."

Rigg did as he was told and expected Kate to wake at any moment, disoriented and upset over being carried to bed. But it didn't happen.

Marcail was already asleep and Rigg gently laid Kate on the bed. He exited quickly, and his mother shut the door behind him. He and Sean, who needed to get to bed himself, waited until May returned to the living room before getting ready to leave.

"Did she ever wake up?" Rigg asked.

"No." Sean supplied the answer before May could. "Once they're asleep, my sisters are like dead people. I've actually held Marcail upside down before and had her sleep through the whole thing." Everyone laughed at the idea. Sean and Rigg bid everyone good night and left a few minutes later.

Kate woke in the morning, refreshed and ready for the day. She didn't remember falling asleep in the living room so she made no inquiries about how she got to bed or why she'd slept in her shift and not her nightgown.

They left a little earlier for school that day so that Kate and Marcail could take their things back to the house. Nate helped them unload and then they were off to the schoolhouse.

The day flew by in a flurry of lessons and recitations. Kate promised a special treat the next day if the weather was nice. Right after school, Kate, Marcail and Sean, who was scheduled to work at the mercantile, made their way in that direction to buy supplies for their house.

Rigg was upstairs in his office which resembled a large indoor balcony at the back of the store. A railing allowed him to look out on the entire floor. When sitting at his desk, which was situated in such a way that he had a clear view of the front door, he could, if he were looking, see anyone who entered the mercantile.

To his great delight he saw Kaitlin enter. He was able to watch her for a time without leaving his desk. When she stepped out of his view, he moved to the railing. He noticed that Marcail stayed right at her side. Kate appeared to be a careful shopper and it was a few minutes before Marcail looked up and noticed him. She waved and Rigg signaled to her to come up.

He watched and listened as Marcail asked, and then as Kate looked up at him. She looked very surprised to see him standing above her, but she gave Marcail permission to go and Rigg watched her skip toward the stairs.

He was back at his desk when she arrived, so she took a chair near him and they talked like old friends.

"Did Kaitlin show you my doll?"

"Yes, she did. She's very pretty."

"I think so, too. Want to know what I named her?"

"Yes."

"Charity."

"That's very pretty."

"Aunt Maureen has dolls. Nice ones. She has a big house too, in San Francisco. We don't live with her anymore because cousin Percy tried to hug Katie." The nine-year-old's hand went to her mouth in surprise. "I'm not suppose to tell anyone that."

"It's all right Marcail, I won't tell anyone." Rigg was thankful that he already knew the details.

"What are you doing?" Marcail was looking at the books in front of Rigg now.

"These are the accounts for the store. I have to keep records of all the things I sell." His voice told her he didn't enjoy it.

"This line is wrong."

"What!" Marcail had been looking at the figures as he spoke and now Rigg spun the book around to check. He was flabbergasted when he rechecked the column to see that she was right.

"Katie's even better in math than me. You should ask her to do it."

'Ask me to do what?" Kate had come quietly up the stairs behind Rigg, carrying her supplies.

"Mr. Riggs doesn't like to do math and I told him you were good."

"Thank you, Marcail. Did you also tell him how well you do in math?"

"It's my best subject," Marcail told him. 'Are we going now, Katie?"

"Yes. I have everything we need. We just need to pay."

"Where are the rest of your things?" Rigg finally said.

"This-is- everything."

Rigg didn't say anything but Kate could see his mind working.

"You don't think this will be enough?"

"I think the supplies will last you a while, but you're going to get a little tired of biscuits, beans and rice." Rigg noted that all of the items were the most inexpensive he carried.

He also noticed that Kate was looking very unsure of herself. He was torn between a desire to hold her and another to scold her for leaving the protective care of his parents. He opted for something in between.

"Come here Katie, and sit down." She obeyed him without question. He watched her put her few selections on the edge of his desk. Reaching for paper and a pencil he asked Kate how much money she had. She drew her coin purse from her pocket and emptied it on the desk. Rigg did a quick count and then began to write.

Kaitlin watched Rigg write swiftly and was surprised at how complete the list was when he handed it to her. He only gave her time to read through half of it. There was everything from yeast to soap. Of course this was his business.

"Okay, I think this will help. It's a list of items and what they cost. Head back down and pick up all of these. You have more than enough money and don't forget that Sean will be paid Saturday."

Kate searched for the right words to express her thanks but before she could open her mouth Rigg pushed a large woven basket into her hands and headed her down the stairs. When he sat down again at the desk, Marcail spoke.

"You like Katie, don't you?"

"I like all of you."

Marcail looked almost insulted and Rigg knew he'd underestimated her again.

"Does it bother you that I like Katie?"

"No, there's always someone who does, but I think I like you better than the others."

Rigg wondered how many more there had been besides the young man in Hawaii and cousin Percy. "How did you know, Marcail, that I liked Katie?"

"Sometimes you look at her the way Father used to look at Mother."

Rigg pushed his desk chair back and reached for Marcail's hand. He pulled her out of her chair and into his lap.

"You think I'm a baby, don't you?" The little girl was obviously disappointed.

"No, I don't. I just wanted to hold you."

Marcail let herself be snuggled against him then and Rigg kissed her brow. They were still cuddled together talking when Kate came back up with all the things on the list. Rigg walked them out of the store and they were even able to wave to Sean who was dusting shelves.

"I'll bring the basket right back to you, as soon as I unload it."

"Just keep it for now."

"If you insist, and thank you, Mr. Riggs."

He watched them until they were out of sight and then went in to see the clerk who had taken care of their sale.

"Do me a favor, would you, Cal? Before you leave, fill a sack with the same things the Donovans just purchased. Oh, and, put in a few special things too. Just leave it under the counter there and I'll get it later."

Cal exchanged a look with the other man who clerked for Rigg. It had taken a while, but it finally looked as though the boss had found someone special.

thirty-one