“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?”
“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.”
“Did she tell you that?”
“Yes she did, and even though I told her it wasn’t true, I don’t think I convinced her.”
“Maybe I’ll talk to her,” Sean’s voice was thoughtful and Rigg was further convinced that he was a special young man who cared deeply for his family. Rigg didn’t feel that the time was right to ask Sean if anything was bothering him, so he just prayed, asking God to show him the right time.
The next day Sean was awake at a very early hour, brimming with excitement. This was his first day at work. Rigg came into the kitchen to find his young housemate sitting quietly at the table waiting for him.
“How did you sleep?” Rigg’s voice was still gravelly from sleep and Sean smiled.
“Fine. How about you?”
“Good. I thought a lot about your sister and I need to ask you something Sean.” Rigg took a place at the table and leaned toward Sean, his face serious. “If I were to show interest in Kaitlin, I mean romantically, how would you feel about that?”
Sean answered without hesitation, “I’d think it was okay just as long as Katie did.”
Rigg nodded. “She doesn’t seem to like me too well, does she?”
Sean found this question embarrassing and didn’t know how to answer.
“Don’t feel bad, Sean. She’s already told me she thinks I’m a flirt.”
“Are you?” The words were so quiet that Rigg, who had moved to the stove to start the coffee, almost missed them. He turned to find Sean’s heart in his eyes.
“No, Sean, I’m not. I’m not sure if I’m coming or going where your sister is concerned, but this is no game I’m playing.” Rigg watched Sean’s face to see if he understood and was satisfied with what he saw.
“Come on over here, Sean
,” he said after a moment. “I’ll show you how to make coffee.”
Rigg walked with Sean to the post office. After Sean posted his letter, Rigg sent him to the mercantile to ask for Joe Crawford, the man with whom he’d be working that day. As he watched Sean head eagerly down the street, Rigg grinned, remembering his first day at the mercantile. He then headed to the shipping office.
His father was in early as he expected. Heading into his office, Rigg shut the door behind him. He took the chair across the desk and looked at the man who’d been a father to him for most of his years.
“Did you see Kaitlin before you left the house today?”
“No, the only one up was your mother.”
Rigg nodded and sat quietly.
“I’ve never believed in love-at-first-sight, Dad, but something is going on. I can’t get that girl out of my mind.”
Rigg spoke the words sincerely and Bill’s heart ached for him. It had been over 23 years since he’d met May but he remembered very well how it felt to watch and wait and wonder. He also remembered befriending a little boy who, if he hadn’t responded to him as well as he had, might have kept him from winning May’s heart.
But the boy was not three any longer. He was a man, 26 years old—a godly man of faith, with his own business; a man with hopes and desires of his own.
“Do you remember the first time we met, Rigg?”
“My third birthday.”
“Yep. I bought you a toy soldier.”
“I still have it.”
Bill didn’t say anything else; he didn’t need to. Rigg smiled at what he was thinking.
“Are you trying to tell me that you went through me to get to my mother?”
Bill grinned back at him. “Not exactly, but the fact that you liked me certainly helped my case.”
“So you think I should go on as I am, being there for Sean and Marcail, but not pushing Katie?”
“Well, I certainly don’t think you should propose—at least not until she relaxes around you.”
“I have no one to blame for the way she treats me but myself.”
Bill’s brows rose in question but Rigg didn’t elaborate.
“I guess I’d better get to work.”
“All right. Are you coming to the house for supper?”
“I’m planning on it. Are you going to make that announcement about household items for Kaitlin to the congregation in the morning?”
“I’m planning on it.”
Father and son grinned at one another and then Bill told Rigg he was praying for him.
“Thanks, Dad, thanks a lot.”
Kate lay in the bed next to Marcail and knew she should get up. She’d had a very restful night that started almost as soon as her head hit the pillow. Heavy sleeper that she was, she’d been gone until morning.
She had wanted to pray and tell God everything she felt about Marshall Riggs, but her body had had other plans. Now this morning she couldn’t think beyond getting ready for school on Monday.
Her mother had always planned for the following week on Saturday, and so that was what Katie planned to do today. She had brought the classification register that Mr. Carson had given her. She said a quick prayer of thanks for Sean’s job, and asked protection for him as he worked, and then slipped out of bed. The thought of getting dressed made Kaitlin stop and pray again.
She pleaded with God about wisdom over wearing black for a year. It was easier for Sean, who simply put a black band around the sleeve of his jacket. But for her and Marcail, it was a major wardrobe change. Marcail had one black dress and Kaitlin had two. She also had a dark skirt but only a white blouse to go with it. The rest of her things, as well as Marcail’s, were lightweight summer prints.
She stood for a moment, and then the decision was made. She would wear whatever was clean on any given day and sew the lace collars and cuffs back on her black dresses.
After having a huge breakfast and exploring the farm with Marcail, Kaitlin was back in the house to work on her lessons. A thrill shot through her as she opened the register and began to read, careful to pass over the percentages of the students. She didn’t want any preconceived notions when she walked in that door Monday. Each student would have a fair chance to prove himself.
Kate’s eyes skimmed over the names. There were eight students listed under “Upper Form,” ranging from age 12 to 17. In the “Middle Form” there were nine children listed, their ages were 10 to 13. At the bottom of the page was the listing for “Primary Form,” the ages being from 7 to 11 and totalling eight children. Adding Sean and Marcail to this list would give her 27 students.
Kaitlin went on to study the recitation program, taking note of who recited forenoon and afternoon. In an honest attempt to know as much as possible, she read every word of the teachers’ reports. She wanted to ease the transition for this class.
Around mid-morning May came back from the shipping office where she and Marcail had gone with the boys. They didn’t disturb Kate in the living room, but it wasn’t very long before the unmistakable aroma of freshly-baked cookies floated in to assail her senses.
She worked a bit longer, taking notes on a pad May had given her, and then went to the kitchen.
“How’s it going Kaitlin?” her hostess wanted to know.
“It’s going well. I’m all set and really looking forward to meeting the class.”
“They’re normally a good group of kids. I think they’ll like you.” May smiled. “If they get out of line you can always speak to them in Hawaiian and shock them all speechless.”
Kate and Marcail both laughed at the idea.
The remainder of the day was spent doing laundry and baking, and waiting for Sean to come and tell them about his first day at work.
twenty-five
Joe Crawford, the man Sean was to find and work with, turned out to be just a few years older than he was. Rigg had told Joe, who was moving out of town, that he’d found a replacement who would be starting Saturday. Joe was to train Sean and, from the look on the older boy’s face, he was none too happy about it. Sean, sensing a hostility in Joe that frightened him a little, tried not to ask too many questions. He found himself wishing that Rigg had offered to show him the ropes.
“That doesn’t go there.” The words were surly and Sean stopped where he stood, holding a heavy crate. “I told you those go over there! Are you stupid or something?”
Sean said nothing, thinking that, indeed, maybe he was stupid. Never had he made so many mistakes. He couldn’t seem to do anything to please his co-worker, but he stayed with it and tried to ignore the angry looks that came his way all morning.
“How is it going, boys?”
Sean watched Joe become a different person in the boss’ presence.
“Just fine, Rigg. Sean’s a great worker, real smart.” That the words were sickeningly sweet, Rigg didn’t seem to notice.
“Good. I knew you’d do fine, Sean. Why don’t we break for lunch?”
Joe grabbed his lunch pail, went through the store and down the street. Sean stood in indecision—he didn’t have any lunch. Rigg was checking the papers he held in his hand so Sean slipped quietly out the back door and walked up the street.
Not able to stop the flood of tears that began to flow, he sped up until he found himself on a quiet street. Ahead of him was the schoolhouse. He moved toward it and collapsed on the steps; his tears intensifying until he was nearly sobbing.
Rigg, who had not been far behind him when he left the store, had followed him when he hadn’t gone straight home. From a distance he watched Sean bring his knees up and lay his face on top of them. His arms were over his head, as though trying to protect himself from a blow.
Rigg turned, cut across a few yards and dashed up the back steps of his house. In a matter of minutes he was out again, bearing a loaf of bread, three apples, half a pie and a jug of cider. He whistled as he approached the school steps, giving Sean a chance to know of his presence.
Sean wiped hi
s face on his sleeve when he heard the sound and watched his employer approach.
“How about some lunch?”
“Thanks, but I’m not too hungry.”
“Mind if I join you?”
“No.”
Rigg sat down on the second step, bit into an apple, and watched Sean’s profile. “How do you think you’ll like the job?”
Sean continued to stare off in the distance as he answered. “It might take me a while to remember everything. I’ll understand if you feel you need to get someone else.”
Rigg had never known Joe to be sneaky or underhanded in any way, but Sean’s words made him wonder what kind of morning Joe had given him. Joe was not very happy that his family was moving back East. Maybe it had been asking too much to have him train his successor.
“This pie is good, sure you won’t have any?”
“I’m not a baby, Rigg. If you need to tell me that I’m fired, please just say it,” Sean said with quiet dignity.
“You really have worked yourself into a mood, haven’t you?” Sean looked at Rigg for the first time. “I think you’re doing fine Sean, and if you’re going to do a good job this afternoon, you need some lunch.” Sean caught the apple Rigg tossed him and ate it in silence. He didn’t refuse any more of the food that was passed his way and, miraculously, found that he did feel better.
Rigg hoped that Sean would share what was on his mind but he didn’t. They returned to the mercantile. Sean prayed and took a deep breath before going into the back room. Joe was already there and his first words were a criticism.
“You’re late.”
Sean said nothing.
“Get that crate unloaded and out with the rest of the sugar—on the shelf where I showed you.”
The next hour passed in a similar fashion. Sean said little and Joe reprimanded him nonstop. Sean stopped at one point and simply stared at Joe.
“I said, put that sack over there!”
For the first time he didn’t move to do Joe’s bidding.
“What’s your problem, Donovan?”