Read Online Whatever Tomorrow Brings (The Californians 1) by Lori Wick - Free Book Online Page B

scrubbed clean. On the teacher's desk sat a globe of the world. Kaitlin moved it to a library table against the side wall. She continued to move around touching this and moving that in a way that reminded Sean and Marcail of their mother.
    Mr. Carson was very solicitous and had all the school records with him. Kaitlin looked through them with great relish. That she loved to teach was written on her face and her every movement. She would have sat all day in that schoolroom planning for Monday, but Mr. Carson brought her quickly back to the present.
    "I think Sean and I should go get your things at the hotel. We'll stop at your house first and then go to Rigg's, so Sean knows where it is."
    Kate was quickly learning that when Mr. Carson had a plan, he executed it almost immediately. Before she could say yea or nay, he was gone with her brother in tow.
    "Where will I sit, Katie?"
    Kaitlin looked at her younger sister and thanked God for her. Marcail had a way of bringing Kate down to earth with her questions.
    "Well, Marc, I don't know. We're going to have to wait and see." Kate watched her expressive face and smiled. Marcail was worried and trying not to show it. "What's bothering you?"
    "I miss Loni and I wish I knew which desk was mine."
    "Does it matter?"
    "I don't know, I just wish I knew."
    Kaitlin didn't try to sort through this. She just listened and went over to sit beside her sister on the long bench that stretched across the front of the schoolroom.
    "Everything is so different here Katie, and I don't want to get a spanking."
    "Why would you get a spanking?"
    "Because we left Aunt Maureen's without asking Father."
    Kate slipped an arm around the nine-year-old. "Marc, who is in charge when Father's not here?"
    "You are."
    "That's right. So if Father is angry about our move, and I don't think he will be, I'll be the one in trouble."
    "Who will be in trouble?" A good-natured voice spoke from the doorway of the schoolhouse and two men came in with easy familiarity.
    Kate had been startled to have someone speak so suddenly. Both she and Marcail had jumped up and spun around to see them approaching. That they were father and son was more than obvious as they came closer.
    "I'm William Taylor and this is my son Jeff. I'm sorry if I startled you." He didn't look the least bit sorry and Kaitlin couldn't help but smile at the charming display of teeth he was giving her.
    "It's nice to meet you both. I'm Kaitlin Donovan and this is my sister, Marcail. I was hired yesterday as the new schoolteacher."
    The younger man, who Kaitlin had only glanced at when introduced, mumbled something about Nate being lucky, something Kaitlin didn't understand. But then Mr. Taylor was asking her a question and she didn't have time to pay any further attention to Jeff.
    "We were staying with our aunt in San Francisco when I saw the ad for this job."
    "How was the trip up?"
    "Well, it was different," Kate tried to put it delicately. "You see, we'd never ridden in a stagecoach before and we were unprepared for the dust."
    "Where are you from?" Jeff asked, as if Kaitlin had just sprouted wings. Kaitlin was not offended, in fact, she laughed and Marcail answered.
    "We live in Hawaii."
    "Hawaii? As in the middle of the ocean, that Hawaii?" Again Jeff was incredulous.
    "One and the same," Kaitlin said with great amusement, even as she thought that Jeff Taylor was very nice looking.
    Bill watched his son's face as he spoke to the new teacher. He doubted Jeff knew he was staring rudely, but then Bill was also compassionate. Kaitlin Donovan was a beauty, as was her little sister. May was going to love these-girls.-
    "What I've come about is to ask if you would come with us to church Sunday morning and then join our family for dinner. And you can't tell me no, because my wife is already planning on you."
    Kate was so pleased she took a moment answering. "We'd love to. Oh, my brother, that is, he's here, too, and-"
    "The invitation includes all of you. Jeff