Whatever Tomorrow Brings (The Californians 1) (15 page)

"We certainly have our fair share of crime but please don't let today paint a black picture for you. Santa Rosa is really very nice. It's growing fast so there is a lot of opportunity here. There's also a good deal of community involvement if you're so inclined.

"Nearly everyone in my parents' generation is very concerned for the education of our generation and it shows in the schools they build and the teachers they hire."

"Was -I just complimented, Jeff?" Kate smiled at him.

"No, I'm just trying to butter you up so you'll help me dry some of these dishes when you're done washing."

"Not a chance. If you remember, I gave you a choice."

"So much for chivalry. Next time I'll rope Rigg into doing this.

"Why did you do that?" Jeff said after a second.

"Do what?" Kate asked cautiously.

"Stiffen up at the sound of Rigg's name."

Kaitlin didn't answer and when she held out a dish to Jeff he just stood looking at her without reaching for it. Kate sighed and looked him in the eye.

"Jeff, I know you love your brother but the truth is, he's very high-handed and a flirt to boot."

"Rigg!" Jeff was astounded.

"I shouldn't have said that Jeffrey. Please forgive me. He's your brother, I had no right to speak ill of him."

"Kaitlin," Jeff's voice was serious now. "I don't know how to say this, but Rigg isn't what you think." He stopped when her look told him she was more than a little skeptical.

"I mean it, Kaitlin. Rigg is the nicest guy on earth and very much a man of God."

"I can see why you think that way, Jeff, but you did ask me and I thought I could be honest with you."

"You can be. I'm sorry I jumped on you." He dried a few more plates and then asked carefully, "Why do you think he's high-handed?"

"You were standing there, Jeff, when he ordered me to get my things and come here. Please don't get me wrong. I really appreciate your family, but your brother could have been a -little more diplomatic.

"He also thinks I'm a rag doll. Telling me he'll put me in the wagon and nearly sitting on me when he thinks I'll move from the sofa.

"Whether or not you want to hear this Jeff, the fact of the matter is, your brother is very accustomed to getting his own way."

Jeff could think of nothing to say. All that Kate had mentioned was true. Also true, was the fact that Rigg wasn't normally like this. In fact Jeff had never seen him so forceful or intent on a person. Kaitlin would never believe it, but Rigg was a little shy around the women at church.

When Jeff said nothing Kate was overridden with guilt. "I don't know what came over me just now, Jeff. But I'm so sorry to talk to you that way. Rigg has been very kind to Sean and I know he wants to help us. I hope you won't hold this against-me."-

"It's all right, Kate, really." He gave her his most engaging grin and they finished the dishes over a discussion about the church the Taylors attended.

twenty-three

Kaitlin and Jeff had been seated in the living room with Bill and May for just a few minutes when Rigg, right on down to Marcail, came in from outside where they'd been seeing the barn.

Marcail sat next to her sister on the sofa and Rigg took a place on Marcail's open side.

"You should see the barn Katie!" her sister told her with enthusiasm. "They have four horses but one is old and tired; they use him for burning hay."

Kaitlin laughed along with everyone else at Marcail's description. "I think what they meant was that he's too old to work so all he does is eat. That's a hay burner."

"I think Loni's brother must be a hay burner, but he's not that old."

The Taylors watched as Sean and Kaitlin exploded with laughter. The brother Marcail spoke of was 19 and very lazy. They had never heard it put that way before but it was very fitting.

When the laughter subsided, Gilbert asked a question of Marcail.

"Who is Loni?"

"She's my best friend in Hawaii."

"And how old is her brother?"

Marcail looked at Kate.

"Nineteen I think," Kate supplied the expected answer.

"May tells me you sometimes talk to each other in-"

"Hawaiian." Sean supplied for Bill, who was speaking to Katie.

"Right, Hawaiian. Maybe you could give us a sample." His voice was coaxing and Kate could see he was fascinated, but before she could answer him, Sean spoke up.

"There's a sure way to get Katie to speak Hawaiianjust get her mad or upset." Kaitlin threw her brother a warning look but kept silent.

"I know some songs in Hawaiian," Marcail said.

"Please sing one for us, Marcail," May entreated from her chair near the fireplace.

In the next instant the room was filled with the sweet, high sound of Marcail's singing voice. Kaitlin and Sean joined her after a moment and the family with whom they were staying was transfixed at the beautiful words of the song and the perfect blend of the Donovan voices.

No one spoke after the song ended and when the silence continued, Kate told them in a soft voice what the words meant.

"Praise to our God who does save us, Praise to our God who is Lord. He is the Maker and Creator, we know Him better from His word. Praise Jehovah, Praise the Master, praise the Father and Holy Ghost, Praise with all your heart and being, here on earth and heavenly host."

May had tears in her eyes and Bill leaned forward in his chair. "Kaitlin, would you consider singing that for our church on Sunday?"

Kaitlin couldn't have been more surprised if he'd thrown something at her.

"Bill," May spoke softly. "Maybe you should give them a chance to get to know the people at the church. I mean, it doesn't have to be this Sunday, does it?"

The relieved look on Kaitlin's face told Bill his wife's insight had been correct.

"No, but you will do it sometime?"

Kate glanced at Sean who was looking as surprised as she was. "I think we could do that. If your church is very big though, I'm not sure our voices will carry."

"It's a small building." Rigg spoke for the first time. He realized how content he was just being in the same room with Kate. But something was on his mind and he thought that now might be the time to bring it up.

"Will you do me a favor, Marcail?"

"What is it?"

"Well," Rigg put an arm around her and brought her gently to his side. She snuggled against him and he continued. "If it wouldn't bother you, will you please tell me what happened in-front-of the store today?"

Rigg's peripheral vision told him Kaitlin had started at his request. He raised his arm from around Marcail and reached to touch Kate's shoulder. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, Marcail."

"No, I'll tell you. I can't remember everything, but Katie was taking a long time in the store and I heard a dog bark, so I went out front to see where it was. I don't remember seeing that lady or that man but then she started to yell and he grabbed me."

"You mean the officer?"

If "Yes.

'And you didn't see anyone run away with the purse?"

"No."

"Okay, Marcail, go ahead."

"Well, he grabbed my arm and it hurt and the lady kept yelling and then he shook me and that hurt and then Katie was there and I got sick. That's all I remember."

Kaitlin bolted from the couch then, and Rigg, after giving Marcail a quick squeeze, went after her. May came over to sit with Marcail and Sean stood, gripped with indecision. He looked toward the kitchen where Kate had run and then back to Mr. Taylor, who smiled at Sean in understanding.

"Don't feel like you have to go out, Sean. I think Rigg will handle it." Sean looked relieved and sat back down. Jeff reached for the checkerboard and all in the living room were glad for something else to do besides wonder what was going on outside with Rigg and Kaitlin.

Kate had hit the backyard at a run and was almost to the barn before Rigg caught her. Running in front of her, he turned and gently brought her to a halt. Rigg watched as she buried her face in her hands and cried. He hesitated for a moment before tenderly pulling her into his embrace. Kate came without resistance and sobbed against him.

"I don't know how to be a mother to Marcail." Her voice was broken. "It's my fault she got hurt; I should have kept better track of her."

Rigg let her cry against him. He could tell that Marcail's story was hurting her and he'd honestly never given a single thought as to how she might react. His attention, when he asked the question, had been solely on Marcail. By the time he realized his mistake, he could only pray that his hand on Kaitlin's shoulder would be enough. But it hadn't been.

"We need our Father, doesn't God know that? I feel like we've been deserted." Her voice was growing calmer but Rigg still held her in the protective circle of his arms.

"Marcail doesn't blame you, Katie, and neither does anyone else. You're very good with Marcail and I can see she thinks the world of you. What happened today could have happened just as easily with your father here. Did you think about that? Marcail was in the wrong place at the wrong time. It's no one's fault."

Kate was still for a moment and then pushed free from Rigg's arms and stepped away from him as though she'd been burned. Rigg watched with some frustration as she smoothed her hair and looked up at him, once again the prim and proper schoolteacher.

"Thank you for coming out with me. I'm feeling better now.,,

"Are you really? Well, quite frankly I'm surprised since you seem afraid to face that this really happened. You seem hesitant to let yourself feel anything."

Kate had never been so hurt or surprised. He was angry with her and she didn't know why. Her voice told him how hurt she was.

"I've obviously done something to anger you, Mr. Riggs, and I'm sorry. You've been very kind and if I've offended you in some way, I'd be glad to apologize and make it right with you." Kate watched him rake an agitated hand through his hair. When he spoke, his voice was soft in the gathering darkness.

"I'm not angry Kate, but if you should find that you're still upset about what happened today, you can talk to me anytime."

"Thank you," Kaitlin said simply, and tried not to think of how nice his arms had felt and how solid his chest had been. You've no business throwing yourself at the man that way, Kaitlin Donovan, you really should be ashamed of yourself, Kate said to herself as Rigg walked her back to the house.

If Rigg could have read her mind he'd have been furious.

Marcail was waiting inside and the anxious look on her face made Kaitlin feel ashamed of the way she'd run from the room.

"Are you all right, Katie?"

"I'm fine Marc," Kate answered and hugged her.

The little girl held on to her sister for a long time, wanting to comfort as well as be comforted. When they finally crawled into bed that night, Kate's tears came on afresh when Marcail reached for her hand and whispered that everything was going to be fine.

twenty-four

"Is Katie okay?"

"I think so," Rigg answered Sean as they rode home in his wagon. "She blames herself for today and I really wish she wouldn't."