“Two evenings a week and Saturdays.”
“Thanks, Mr. Riggs!” Sean felt overwhelmed as he answered. He couldn’t believe he was actually being offered a job, something he’d never had before, and by the man with whom he would be staying.
“I think, Sean, that if you’re going to be living in my house, you should call me Rigg. Everyone does.”
Sean nodded and took a bit of bread. He had a strange look on his face and Rigg noticed.
“Is anything wrong with the food?”
“No, it’s fine. I just feel funny eating without Kaitlin and Marcail.”
“I’ve got plenty here. When you’re done, we’ll take the rest over.”
The young man thanked him in awe, finding it hard to believe how generous he was. Sean, quite frankly, had been terrified at the thought of going to live with this stranger, but he hadn’t wanted Kate to know. She was a good teacher and even though things were going to be tight, Sean believed they could make it.
He’d come to this house with Mr. Carson expecting the worst, and before he knew what was happening, he was being shown a nice bedroom and given a plate of food.
And Marshall Riggs, well, Sean couldn’t stop watching him. He was as tall as Father but Sean didn’t think he’d ever seen such a powerful chest and upper arms on a man. Maybe he wasn’t a very good judge, but Sean thought Rigg could break a man in two if he wanted.
But even as he thought of it he knew it would never happen. Marshall Riggs’ powerful build was not from fighting, not with those beautiful white teeth that flashed at you when he smiled. And his eyes, they spoke of a deep kindness whenever he looked at you or when he offered a couple of strange girls the rest of his lunch. No, Rigg was not the fighting type.
When Rigg spent the next few minutes explaining to Sean what his duties would be, it wasn’t hard to figure out how he’d built up his body.
“I get shipments of goods from all over, just about every day of the week. Anything that comes in on Sunday stays at the shipping office until Monday, but everything else I like unloaded right away. How much can you lift?”
“I’m not really sure.” Sean was afraid he’d take the job away, but he had to be honest.
“Well, the important thing is that you don’t overdo. Whoa, look at the time! I’ve got to get back to the store. Here, gather all of this up and take it to your family. I’ll meet them some other time. Oh, and Sean, can you start this Saturday?”
“Sure!” Sean’s expression showed all the enthusiasm he felt. Rigg put his hand out and Sean’s smile nearly split his face as they shook.
Sean watched Rigg head out the door and move in a long-legged stride down the street. Watching until Rigg was out of sight, he bolted out the door to find his sisters, the bundle of food in his arms.
“You really got a job?” Kate asked around a mouthful of cheese. Sean laughed. It wasn’t like his sister to be unladylike, but he knew how hungry she was.
“I start Saturday.”
“That’s wonderful. What’s Mr. Riggs like?”
“He likes to be called Rigg.”
“You don’t call him Rigg, do you?”
“He told me to.”
Kaitlin’s brow furrowed with disapproval and Sean shrugged. Nothing more was said on the subject but it continued to bother Kate. She was a bit leery of such familiarity with strangers.
Of course, she told herself, you agreed to have a meal at a home when you’d never before laid eyes on the man who’d asked you. Kate took time right then to pray for God’s protection and not to listen to fears that were groundless.
Some hours later the house was settled and clean but Kaitlin’s battle with the stove had been a losing one. After an hour of trying she could not get it lit and Kaitlin looked like she’d been in a war. Her face was smudged with soot and her hair was coming out of it’s bun and hanging around her face. The front door stood open for air because she could only get one of the windows open. The family was sitting down to a cold supper.
Kate had found two cans of beans on the shelf which she’d opened and put into the one pot the house sported. There were no dishes or bowls. She’d discovered two spoons and a knife in a drawer. Sean had moved the table up to the bed to provide a third seat. Marcail sat on the bed and Sean and Kate took the chairs.
The pot was passed around and the girls shared one of the spoons. There had been a bit of bread left from lunch but that had been devoured earlier and now the pot was passed from person to person in an attempt to satisfy the appetites they’d built up cleaning the cabin.
This was the scene Rigg came upon. As the afternoon wore on, he realized he didn’t know if Sean was coming back to the house for supper, so he’d gotten the address from Greg Carson to the schoolmarm’s house. The picture before him was one he would not forget.
Rigg’s frame, stealing all the light from the doorway, was the first indication to the Donovans that they were not alone. Sean immediately recognized their visitor and got up to welcome him.
“Hello, Rigg, come on in.”
“Thanks, Sean. I don’t want to take you from your supper.” Rigg had spoken to Sean but he hadn’t taken his eyes off Kaitlin. Kate was acutely aware of his scrutiny and equally aware of the way she must look. She came out of her chair in one graceful movement that belied what she was feeling inside, to meet their guest. Her hands fluttered around her face and hair before she forced them down to her sides.
For some reason she was overcome with uncharacteristic anger at being caught by this man in such disarray. Unfortunately, Rigg was to suffer the brunt of it. It didn’t help that Sean was looking at his sister strangely as he made the introductions.
“Rigg, these are my sisters, Kaitlin and Marcail.”
“Katie, this is Rigg.”
“It’s nice to meet you Mr. Riggs. We certainly appreciate your letting Sean stay with you.” She had to mentally stop herself from flying off into Hawaiian.
“It’s my pleasure, and please call me Rigg.”
“Thank you, Mr. Riggs, but I’m afraid I don’t approve of such informality. Sean, Marcail and I will call you Mr. Riggs.” Kate knew she sounded like a terrible snob, even Marcail was staring at her.
Rigg was not the least bit offended, only fascinated by this beautiful, if disheveled woman. That she wasn’t normally so snippy was obvious in the looks her siblings were casting her. That she was exhausted and embarrassed would have been evident to a blind man. Rigg also knew that his staring at her didn’t help in the least, but he was finding it hard to look away.
Rigg nodded in her direction and then turned to his housemate. “I just stopped Sean, to check on you. I’m headed home now and I’ll see you when you get there.” Rigg turned toward the door.
“Thanks, I’ll see you later.”
Rigg was not ten steps away from the house before he heard Sean’s voice raised in anger. “Kaitlin, what is the matter with you?” It confirmed his suspicions about Kaitlin Donovan’s actions of the last few minutes.
He had no desire to eavesdrop so he picked up his pace and was quickly out of earshot. Back at the house Kate was trying to make amends.
“I’m sorry, Sean.”
“Why, Katie?” Sean’s faced showed his keen disappointment. “I thought you would like him.”
“I don’t even know him.” Kate began to feel defensive all over again as her mind pictured those beautiful gray eyes leveled so intently on her. “But you’re right, my actions were inexcusable and I’m sorry.”
Sean forgave her and helped her clean up the few dishes. He told his sisters he would see them in the morning and then took himself off to Rigg’s.