Free Whatever Tomorrow Brings (The Californians 1) by Lori Wick

will come by with the wagon Sunday morning about ten."
    "That would be wonderful. My brother is living withwhat was his name Marc?"
    "I don't remember his name but I think he's the Marshall."
    Bill and Jeff shouted with laughter over this, much to Kate and Marcail's confusion.
    "I think you mean Marshall Riggs."
    Marcail nodded.
    "Marshall is his name and he happens to be my stepson. Rigg, as we all call him, lost his father before he was three. I married his mother the next year, the woman you'll meet Sunday. Actually I hadn't thought of it before, but if your brother is staying with Rigg then you can just all come to church with him. I'll ask him about it. Either way someone will be at your house that morning."
    "I'm not sure how to tell you where our house is."
    "We just saw Greg Carson," Bill assured her. "He told us where you're living."
    "Oh, well, thank you, Mr. Taylor. We'll be looking forward to Sunday then."
    "Anytime and if you need anything, I run the shipping office where the stage came in. Just come down and if I'm not there, someone will know where to find me."
    Kate once again thanked him and then decided she'd best get to the house and get settled. She wondered, as she and Marcail walked to find Sean, if he was getting along.
     

fifteen

    "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