Not until the dishes were ready to be washed did Rigg notice how quiet Marcail had been throughout the meal. His heart softened at the sight of her; she was so small and vulnerable. The family resemblance could be seen in all three of them but where Sean and Kaitlin had a very sturdy look about them, Marcail was almost frail in comparison. Rigg had a soft spot for children and set out to charm this little girl, whom he guessed to be maybe six or seven.
“Marcail,” he asked her, “if I get you a chair would you dry these dishes for me?”
“Sure,” was the congenial reply.
They worked for a time in silence as Sean and Kate continued to clear the table and straighten the chairs. Kate offered to wash but Rigg refused.
Sean disappeared and when Kaitlin had nothing else to do, she sat down at the table to read the newspaper. But it felt strange not to be working, and her eyes continued to move toward that broad back bent over the wash basin. Kate finally gave up on the paper and listened to the conversation between her sister and her host.
“Do you think you’ll like having your sister for a teacher?” Rigg was unaware of how patronizing his voice sounded, thinking he was addressing a very young child.
“She was my teacher in Hawaii, too.”
“How about Santa Rosa, do you think you’ll like it here?”
“I think it’s nice. I wish I had someone to play with. Do you have a little sister or brother?”
“I have three younger brothers but they’re all a good deal older than you.”
“We met your brother Jeff and your father. He stared at Katie an awful lot.”
“My father?” Rigg’s voice was surprised and Kate broke in from behind them in sharp Hawaiian.
“Marcail, you deliberately let him misunderstand you!” Whenever Marcail’s siblings spoke to her in Hawaiian she always followed suit.
“Well, he thinks I’m just a baby because I’m small, and I’m not.” Kate gave her a stern look but kept silent.
By now Rigg had turned from the countertop with dripping hands to stare at the females in his kitchen. Sean came in just then, and having heard the conversation, was smiling at the look on Rigg’s face. He also took pity on the older man.
“You’ll have to watch Katie, Rigg. She tends to forget that everyone here speaks English. And by the way, Marc is nine.”
Rigg was still silent. Kate turned a disapproving eye on her brother for a moment and then glanced back at Rigg to find him studying her intently. He seemed to be waiting for something, so Kate apologized.
“No, don’t be sorry. I’m just waiting for you to do that again.”
Aunt Maureen had done this once so Katie was not totally taken aback. Of course, Kate was a good deal more comfortable with Aunt Maureen than she was with this man. She searched for something safe to say and after a moment spoke in soft Hawaiian.
“I’m not sure if I thanked you for breakfast and for letting Sean stay here, but please know that we’re very grateful for both.”
Rigg’s eyes immediately swung to Sean who translated. A huge smile broke out on his face and he turned back to Kaitlin.
“You’re welcome.”
Kate answered with a smile of her own and Rigg went back to the dishes grinning like a fool. This woman captivated him, there was no getting around it. A plan had been forming in his mind and as soon as he was finished with the dishes, he was going to bring it up. As he worked he prayed for the right words and for the proper way to approach this young woman, this enigma, who’d landed so unexpectedly in his life and who was causing his heart to do the strangest things.
“So you see Miss Donovan, Sean is welcome here for as long as he needs, but for now I think you girls should go to my folks. We can make the announcement Sunday at church that you need blankets and dishes and things. I’m sure by next Sunday you’ll have all you can use and more, and then you’ll be able to move back to the little house.”
“But Mr. Riggs, you haven’t even checked with your mother. She’s already having us for lunch on Sunday and we can’t—”
“Yes you can. She would love to have you. What you can’t do is go on freezing the nights away and sharing spoons. The other idea I have is that I’ll move home until school is out and you can have this house.” Kate stood up so fast she nearly fell.
“Put you out of your home? We couldn’t possibly!”
Kaitlin moved away from the living room sofa where she’d been sitting with Rigg and began to pace the room. Putting some space between them helped her to think more clearly.
Didn’t this man know he did crazy things to her insides? Kate was not what anyone would term petite, but while on the sofa next to him she’d felt like a little girl.
Rigg watched Kaitlin in silence, as did Sean and Marcail. When she stopped by Sean’s chair and finally looked at Rigg, he spoke.
“You don’t have to tell me right now what you want to do. But think about your options; there are advantages to both. Here you have everything you need but you’d have to relocate when school was out. The little house is more work because you’re starting with nothing, but it might feel more like your own home and you won’t have to move.”
Kaitlin could only nod, understanding his logic but unable to fully concentrate with him in the room. She was silent for a long time.
“Have I upset you?” Rigg’s voice was deep and soft, his gaze watchful.
“No,” Kaitlin wished she didn’t sound so breathless. “I’m just surprised and not sure what to do.”
“I can understand that. You’re more than welcome to stay here and discuss it.” His look encompassed Sean and Marcail too. “I need to get to the store, it’s nearly eight.” He stood up and continued, “In fact, why don’t you come down to the store today? It’s the one you pass when you go from Burt Kemp’s office to the schoolhouse. If I don’t see you, well, just come up the stairs to my office.”
Rigg left and Kaitlin felt like she’d been mowed down by a runaway stage. Marshall Riggs could be a bit high-handed, but he was also compassionate and kind. Kate couldn’t believe he had actually suggested that they gather their things and land themselves at the door of the Taylor home.
Well, they had to do something; but what that something was to be, at the moment, she didn’t have a clue.