COLLEEN: A Sweet Western Historical Romance Read Online Free Page B

were happy ones. She'd been a warm and loving person and Colleen remembered that she'd been a strong believer in fate, and often said 'everything happens for a reason' and on a slightly darker note, 'when your time is up, it's up.'
    She'd tried to make light of the fact that she was dying and to make her daughter understand that death was a natural occurrence. But at age six, the only thing that had really registered with Colleen was that her mother went to sleep one night and never woke up. They said it was tuberculosis. Over the years, though, her mother's words had brought her comfort during difficult times—the unwavering belief that things would work out the way that they were meant to. During the long trip out west, she'd thought of her mother often, and felt somehow that she was keeping watch over her.
    "I do have faith. It's what keeps me going." She smiled at her two good friends and was so grateful to be with them again. "I can't wait to see what is in store for me."
     
     

     
    Colleen rode into town the following day with Julia and Liam. At dinner the night before when they'd been talking about their plans for the next day, Colleen had noticed that Julia hesitated for a moment before saying she was working the lunch shift at the pub. She guessed that her friend felt guilty leaving her alone to fend for herself all day.
    "Why don't you let me come with you and make myself useful? I'm sure you could use an extra pair of hands and I love to keep busy." The thought of sitting around their house with nothing to do was not very appealing.
    Julia's eyes lit up at that. "Are you sure? We could use the help, but I don't want you to feel like you have to come to work. You're our guest."
    "I'm sure. I want to help."
    "What do you think, Liam?" Julia had asked.
    "We could certainly use the help. Lunches have been getting busier. Why don't we have Colleen act as a hostess?"
    "That's perfect!" Julia went on to explain that they didn't have a dedicated hostess at the pub. Everyone just kept an eye on the front door and whoever was the least busy would greet the guests and then lead them to a table. It would be a help to have someone take that on so they wouldn't have to worry about it.
    When they arrived at the pub, Liam went into the back office while Julia showed Colleen around. She first introduced her to Billy, and explained that he was Liam's right hand and during the day shifts. He usually stayed behind the bar while Julia served the dining room tables.
    "It's a pleasure to meet you," Billy said and held out his hand to Colleen. He looked to be about Liam's age, with sandy, brown hair and kind eyes. She remembered Julia mentioning Billy last night, that he was married with a young child and that he and Liam worked well together.
    She shook it and smiled in return, liking Billy immediately.
    "Liam floats between both areas, helping out wherever we need it," Julia added.
    "It will be nice to have someone hostess," Billy said as Julia led Colleen into the kitchen.
    "Mrs. Johnson, I'd like you to meet one of my best friends. Colleen just moved here from Boston."
    The older woman looked up from the dough she was rolling out, and took a moment to wipe her floury hands on a towel. She was slightly plump and shorter than both of them, at just a bit over five feet.
    "Welcome!" The older woman smiled as Colleen shook her hand.
    "It's so nice to meet you. I've heard wonderful things about your cooking."
    Mrs. Johnson blushed ever so slightly at that, and turned back to her dough.
    "It's nothing. Just doing what I love to do, but that is nice to hear," she admitted.
    "What do we have for specials today?" Julia asked.
    "I made a shepherd's pie for the entree of the day. The soup is a beef stew and sandwich is a grilled cheese with tomato."
    "That sounds so good," Colleen said.
    "You'll see for yourself when we break for our lunch later." Julia explained that once the lunch rush was over, they'd be able to sit for a bit and