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

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