“Can I tell Marcail?” Joey finally asked. “And Sean too?”
“That’s a wonderful idea Joey,” May said. “They’re in the living room; go right in. Then maybe you’ll want to go in and tell your father what’s happened.” Joey nodded and left the kitchen.
Upon Joey’s departure, Kate surrendered to the battle with her tears. She and May embraced for a long time and when they broke apart, Rigg hugged his mother.
“Thanks for stepping in Mom.”
May’s smile was still watery but her face was radiant as she made her way to the back stairway. As soon as she left, Kate and Rigg began to pray for the man to whom Bill was ministering. They both had a premonition that there would be a long road ahead for all of them when it came to Parker and his attempts to bury the past and present in drink.
fifty-five
Parker was sitting at the table eating when Rigg and Kaitlin left the farm. Joey was beside him and, as Kate thought back, she wondered if she would ever forget the poignant scene of Joey telling his father he’d trusted in Christ.
Parker had stared at his son for a long time before nodding and going back to his plate. Parker, with his forehead bandaged and wearing clean clothes, looked like a new man. Kate found herself praying that he would soon understand that he needed to be clean on the inside, too.
Sean did not have to work the next day but May did. So, thinking Sean might like the change of pace, May asked Sean to stay at the farm the next day so he and Nate could care for Marcail.
Rigg thoroughly enjoyed having Kate to himself for a few minutes and told her so.
“I like it too,” she admitted softly.
“How are you feeling about Burt Kemp’s offer?”
Kaitlin immediately remembered Sean’s words about discussing that subject with Rigg if she was going to make Santa Rosa her permanent home. The thought made her blush, turning her face a fiery red, so red that Rigg noticed in the gathering dusk.
“You’re blushing.” He stated the obvious as he lifted her down from the wagon. He dipped his head to look her in the eye since she wouldn’t raise her gaze to his. “What did I say?”
Kaitlin didn’t answer him.
“Let me see.” Rigg spoke quietly and continued to watch her. “My last words were about Burt’s offer—oh! There she goes again.”
Kate hated her lack of self-control as her face began to heat all over again. She wished it had been darker when they arrived back at the house.
“Please don’t tease me Rigg.” The words were spoken softly and Rigg took both her hands in his own as they faced each other.
“I’m sorry. You don’t have to tell me.”
Kate was silent for a moment. She could feel Rigg’s eyes on her but kept her face averted. Finally, “May I ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
“What would you do in my place?”
“I can’t tell you what to do Katie.”
“No, I guess you can’t but you must have some feelings about it. I’m just asking you to share those with me.”
“All right. Answer some questions for me. What do you want to do, teach or work at the store?”
“I love teaching but I think I might like working in your office just a little more, but then I feel guilty because I know they need a teacher. I also have guilt because you hired me and I can’t just walk out on that job. And if Father returns I’ll probably have to quit, no matter what position I take.”
“But you need work now. And don’t feel guilty on my behalf. Do what you feel the Lord would have you do. I’ll be praying that you’ll know His will and follow it.”
“Thanks Rigg.”
They stood for a moment longer and then Rigg bent and placed a soft kiss on Kaitlin’s forehead. Her heart nearly burst at his tenderness. But she wasn’t prepared for his next words.
“Kaitlin, I’m in love with you.” The words, spoken in Rigg’s soft, deep voice, were humble and sincere.
“Oh, Rigg.” Kate breathed, wanting to tell him of her love also but being so unsure of her future, she held back. “If only I knew—”
“Shhh.” Rigg’s voice was gentle as he stopped her. “You don’t need to say anything. But I wanted you to know how I felt and I also want you to be secure in my love, not intimidated by it.”
Once again Rigg kissed her brow and then placed his arms around her. Kate held tightly to him, thinking that nothing had ever felt so wonderful.
We need to be together, she told the Lord as Rigg pulled away from her and climbed into the wagon. He loves me and I love him. I’ve prayed so long to know Your will. Show us Lord, show us Your path for our lives. Give us Your blessing heavenly Father, to build a marriage in You.
As though he could read Kate’s mind, Rigg prayed as he drove home. He too longed to be with her and felt it was God’s will. He also knew what a weighty thing it was for Kate not to hear from her father. Rigg sternly told himself that he needed to bide his time in pursuing her. In the light of his belief that it was God’s will they be together, he needed to wait for God’s timing.
“I’m completely caught up on the past books, Rigg. Would you like me to start on this month?” It was Friday afternoon, and Kate and Rigg were in the office.
The week had sped by. Burt Kemp had checked with Kaitlin one more time but again she had put him off. It was as though her life hung in the balance until she heard from her father.
Rigg told Kate she could go home for the day and plan to start the next journal on Saturday. As she’d done every day that week, she headed to the post office. Today was different; today there was a letter from Father.
Kate noticed that, for the first time, it was addressed to her alone. She clutched it to her chest and hurried home. Kate prayed as she sat alone at her small kitchen table and asked God for help in dealing with the contents of the letter.
My darling Kate,
I write to you today with a bittersweet feeling in my heart. Bitter, because I’m so far from you at this wonderful time when you’ve fallen in love, and sweet, because I know—I remember so well how you are feeling.
Katie, I can’t urge you strongly enough to follow God and your heart. If this young man desires you for a wife and you know that to be God’s will, do not hesitate.
My words may surprise you, but your mother and I talked about the possibility of you meeting someone on our furlough and not returning to Hawaii with us. We both wondered how we would ever survive the separation but a child is not meant to live with her parents forever. Your desire to want a husband and a home of your own is completely normal. We would never have stood in your way.
Now, I’ll admit to you that I always assumed I would know the young man, but you’ve introduced him in your letters, as have Sean and Marcail. And I will make this request: If he does want to marry you, that he write and ask me. I don’t expect you to hold your plans until I reply. In fact, Marshall can tell me the date in his letter, but I would like this small courtesy if he’s sincere about marrying my precious Katie.
If things have not progressed this far in your relationship, let me know. But I think now is a good time to warn you that I’ll not be coming in the fall, as I’d hoped. It will be some time after Christmas.
Kate had to stop reading at this point. Her eyes had flooded with tears until she couldn’t see the print.
She had been ready to deal with Father telling her not to get involved, something he hadn’t done. But she wasn’t ready to deal with his continued absence, even though he had warned them that it might be fall or later until he returned. Kate had not really believed him. She had not wanted to believe him. She needed him here.
There was no more doubt in Kaitlin’s mind as to whether or not Rigg was going to ask her to marry him; it was just a matter of time. But this was August! How could she ever tell him they had to wait until after Christmas to be married? And then there was still no guarantee that Father would be home. The letter said sometime after Christmas.
It also sa
id “do not hesitate.” Kate pulled herself together and finished reading.
It hurts me to write this to you, but my reasons are joyful. There is tremendous revival going on here and the need for spiritual leadership is greater than ever.
When we left Hawaii I felt it would be good for the mission to be without me, and then in San Francisco I was not certain I could return as a ministering pastor. There are no words to describe my loneliness for you, but God is using me and I feel I must stay on.
Maureen has been in touch, she hopes we’ll all be in San Francisco for the holidays. She will be keenly disappointed when I write her. Maybe you can see her? If not for Christmas, then possibly Thanksgiving. But do as you think best.
Having to communicate like this, with miles separating us, is difficult at best. I am praying for you as you knew I would be, and trusting God to guide your heart.
Give my love to Sean and Marcail.
Love,
Father
Kaitlin read the letter over a second time, knowing when she was finished, what her next course of action would be. This was what she’d been praying for. The uncertainty was gone; she now knew what direction to take.
With the letter tucked safely into the pocket of her skirt, Kaitlin went to find her brother.
fifty-six
Kate found Sean on the loading dock at the back of the mercantile, preparing to leave for the night.
“Sean.” Kate’s voice was urgent. “I need to talk with you.”
“What’s the matter?”
“I want you to help me talk with Rigg.”
Sean eyed her with a curious look. “You don’t have any problem talking with Rigg. What’s up?”
“This.” Kate thrust the letter at him and waited as he read. She watched the emotions play across his face as he came to the part about their father’s delayed return.
“I’m sorry, Sean. I know you’re disappointed and I know my timing is bad but I need a favor. I want to tell Rigg that I love him but I know I won’t be able to get it all out in English and I want you to translate.”
They had begun walking toward Rigg’s house and Sean turned his head to look at his sister as though she were crazy.
“Kaitlin, are you serious?” He sounded so incredulous that she felt ashamed.
“It’s all right Sean. That was a terrible thing for me to ask you. Just forget it, okay?”
Sean didn’t say anything to that. He knew she was embarrassed about having to ask him in the first place and then he had made it worse by ridiculing her. They walked on to Rigg’s and Kaitlin asked Sean if she could wait for Rigg. Her question made him feel terrible and he nearly stuttered as he told her to make herself comfortable in the living room. Rigg looked very pleased to see her when he came in an hour later.
“I stopped by your place; we must have missed each other,” he said with a smile.
There was no sign of Sean and Rigg noticed for the first time that Kate was looking rather agitated.
“I need to talk with you, Rigg.”
“All right.” Rigg answered, thinking that Kate had made up her mind about teaching in the fall. He sat next to her on the couch. When Kate sprang up away from him and stood in the middle of the room, wringing her hands, a frown covered his face and he doubted his own thoughts.
“I just haven’t known how to approach you about this or really when to approach you. I mean I’ve prayed and—”
Rigg listened and watched without interrupting as Kate went from tears to anger and back to tears again, speaking all the time in Hawaiian. Near the end Rigg caught on that she was talking about them. But by now an intense look of regret had come over Kaitlin’s face and Rigg felt his heart sink.
“I’m not able to say it,” Kate finally said, and Rigg felt that she was apologizing, not for her foreign words, but for something far more personal.
“Maybe if you give me a little time.”
“Sure.” Rigg wondered what he had just agreed to and watched, his heart feeling as if it were caught in a vise, as Kate moved toward the door.
“Katie,” Rigg called softly as she started to leave.
But Kate only looked at him with tears once again filling her eyes. “I’m sorry.” With those words she was gone, leaving Rigg in painful confusion.
Sean, who had been listening from the kitchen, came into the living room and cleared his throat uncomfortably.
“I’m sorry Rigg”
The older man stared at him, misunderstanding his apology.
“She was talking about us, wasn’t she? Kate was explaining how she feels about me?”
“Yes and I’m sorry. I had no business being here but after she asked me to help and I told her I wouldn’t, I got to thinking about how much she cares for you and how—”
“Sean,” Rigg cut in, “did you hear what she said?”
“Yes.”
“I want you to come in and tell me everything.”
Rigg was more baffled than ever. He thought Kate was telling him that she couldn’t love him and now Sean had blurted out how much she cared. Sean was obviously ill at ease and Rigg reassured him.
“Just tell me what you can. First of all, what did Kate ask you to help with?”
“Kate told me that she needed someone to talk with, you know, about you and her, so she wrote to Father. She’s been waiting to hear how Father felt about her getting involved with someone. And today a letter came.”
“And that’s what she said to me?”
“Some of what she said.” Sean was looking uncomfortable again.
“You still haven’t told me why she wanted your help.”
“She wanted me to translate for her. You know how frustrated she gets and she knew she’d never be able to get it all out in English.”
“Get all what out?” Rigg was feeling a little frustrated himself.
“That she loves you. But she’s never flirted before and she probably is too stuffy for her own good because she just didn’t know how to tell you or show you how she feels.” Sean felt out of breath, but he guessed Rigg understood because he was grinning like a fool.
The bigger man came toward Sean and pulled him out of his chair and into his arms. He gave Sean a mighty hug, thanked him and headed for the front door.
Kaitlin sat bent over the kitchen table. She was on her third piece of paper. She had cried all the way home over making a complete fool of herself and then, with a determined glint in her eye, she sat down to write a letter to Rigg to tell him how she felt.
The door opened without a knock and Kate looked up to see Rigg leaning against the jamb. His hands were stuffed into his pants pockets and his totally nonchalant stance belied the rush of emotions inside him. Kate felt herself blushing as he simply stood and looked at her.
“Do you know how many years I’ve prayed for you?”
Kate shook her head, unsure of how she was supposed to reply.
“I don’t think there is ever a time Kaitlin, that I walk by those chairs in my store, you know the ones where the men sit while their wives are shopping, without wishing my wife was shopping somewhere in my store.
“And the times I’ve ordered dresses and undergarments, wishing as I did, that my wife could be with me when I unpacked them, so she could have first pick. Or when the boxes of children’s shoes come in, wanting to have children of my own to put those little black shoes on.”
Rigg pushed away from the door then and came to the table. He placed his hands on the top and leaned down, his nose almost touching Kate’s.
“Do you understand what I’m trying to say Kaitlin?”
“Yes.” Kate felt out of breath and she couldn’t take her eyes from the man across from her.
“Then tell me, Katie, will you be that wife? Will you marry me?”
Kate couldn’t speak. Her heart thundered with joy and wonderment that he had come to her. She finally managed to nod, searching Rigg’s face as she did, to see if he understood.
“I have one more que
stion for you, Kate-love. And it’s the last time I’ll ask. Hereafter, I’ll take my welcome for granted. May I kiss you?”
“Oh, yes.” Kaitlin had no trouble with those words at all. Rigg kept his hands on the table and leaned until their lips met. The kiss was brief and gentle. Kate was unsure as to whether or not she’d pleased Rigg and voiced her thoughts as soon as she could speak.
“I’ve never done this before.”
“I haven’t either.” Rigg’s voice was equally as soft as Kaitlin’s had been and once again their lips met. No longer satisfied to remain so far from the woman he loved, Rigg moved around the table to take her into his arms.
When Kate could think once again, she found that Rigg had taken her chair and pulled her into his lap.
“I can’t sit in your lap!” Kate was appalled and moved away from him. “We’re not married.”
“But we will be, very soon, Miss Prim and Proper.” Rigg followed her right out of the chair and silenced her protestations with another kiss as they stood in the center of the room.
“You did say that your father was coming in the fall, right?” Rigg did nothing to conceal his enthusiasm—Kaitlin was finally going to be his wife!
Kate pulled the letter from her pocket and handed it to Rigg. As he read, she watched his face as she had with Sean. It occurred to her in the silence that she didn’t know why Rigg had come after her and proposed. She was about to ask him when he sat at the table and took yet another fresh sheet of paper. He was a study in concentration as he began to write. A few minutes later he handed the paper to Kaitlin.
Dear Mr. Donovan,
It would give me great pleasure to be speaking with you in person but your delay doesn’t make that possible. I would like your permission to wed Kaitlin. I just now asked her. She said yes, and showed me your letter. Thank you for the blessing to proceed in your absence. We have not discussed a date but my hope is that it will be this fall.
I have prayed long for a wife such as Katie and I thank you sincerely for the wonderful person that she is. I know the love that she bears for you will cause her grief at the time of our wedding but if you are agreeable, I would like you to marry us again at the time you return.