COLLEEN: A Sweet Western Historical Romance (8 page)

Their conversation was friendly and quiet during the ride home. When Ricky pulled up to the door of Liam and Julia's house, he once again came around to help her out. It was dark by then and the only light they had was a small lantern that Ricky had lit as they left the restaurant. He walked her to the door and then asked to see her again.

"Let's plan to do something next weekend. Friday night this time? I'll see you one day this week at the pub and we can decide then."

"All right," Colleen agreed, and added, "Thank you again for a wonderful night."

"It was very much my pleasure," he assured her and leaned in and gave her a warm hug goodnight.

CHAPTER NINE

"I'm glad you had a good time," Julia said over breakfast the next morning.

"I really did. Better than I expected, actually," Colleen admitted as she buttered a piece of toast. She was still full from the evening before and was just having a single slice of toast with her tea.

"That's so interesting about his plans to run for mayor. I wonder what Liam will think of that?"

"What will Liam think about what?" Liam asked as he walked into the kitchen and helped himself to a cup of tea and a bowl of oatmeal. It was his favorite breakfast, and Julia had it waiting for him.

"Ricky wants to be our next mayor," Julia explained.

"Really?" Liam thought about it for a moment. "He might be quite good at that, actually."

"You don't think it's a crazy idea, then?" Colleen asked.

"Well, with anyone else Ricky's age, I would say so, but not Ricky. He has different skills than the rest of us, and they might be well used in a role like that."

"He seemed to think it might benefit his business as well," she added.

"It might. Makes even more sense now why he'd consider running."

"Would you vote for him?" Julia asked.

"I believe I would. Probably wouldn't be a bad thing to have a Donovan in charge of the town."

Liam finished his breakfast and went to change for church, while Colleen and Julia lingered over their tea.

"He also mentioned that it would improve his chances if he was married and seen as a family man," Colleen said.

Julia looked thoughtful, then said, "Maybe he thought you'd like to know he was thinking along those lines, that he's serious?"

"I didn't think of that. I couldn't help but wonder if he was more interested in being mayor than in being married."

Julia was silent for a moment. "All the more reason to take things slow and to be sure before you agree to anything."

It was a beautiful, sunny day as they drove to church a short while later. Liam's parents and Elizabeth were already inside and they joined them. A few minutes later, Paul arrived and David after that. He smiled at Colleen when he caught her eye. After the service, when they all made their way outside, David came over to her.

"Would you like to ride with me?"

"Of course." She followed him to his buggy and they set off.

She looked even prettier than the last time he'd seen her. Her soft pink dress made her cheeks look rosy, and her long hair was beautiful and the same dark shade of brown as his. He wondered how her date with Ricky had gone the night before. He hoped that she'd decided not to see him again and then felt mildly guilty for the thought—but just for a moment. He wanted to ask her, but instead said, "It's a beautiful day to go for a walk. I want to show you the pond at the bottom of the hill."

"That sounds lovely," she agreed. They rode for a bit in comfortable silence and then David decided it was a good time to raise the question he'd been dying to ask.

"Elizabeth has been talking all week about a dress you're going to help her make."

Colleen smiled. "Yes, I think she was going to get the fabric this week for it."

"She was telling me about the reason for the dress, that art society event." He paused for a moment, and then said, "I'd love to take you, if you don't already have plans to attend?"

She seemed surprised, and to his relief, pleased at the offer. "I'd love to. I've never been to anything like that before." And then she admitted, "I've always wanted to."

David relaxed and smiled, happy that he'd managed to ask her before Ricky thought to. He couldn't wait to spend some time with her after their Sunday dinner and it was good luck that it was such a beautiful day.

They arrived at the Donovan family home a few minutes after everyone else. As soon as Colleen stepped inside, Elizabeth came running over.

"I'm so excited about the fabric we found. I can't wait to show you!"

David looked amused. "Go on, I'll see you after dinner."

Elizabeth pulled her into a back room, where she had a gorgeous length of material stretched over a long table. "What do you think? I think it's perfectly divine!"

Colleen stepped forward to take a closer look. Even from a distance, the fabric was stunning. It was a pale blue shade with just a hint of green and it shimmered in the sunlight that streamed in through the windows. She carefully ran a finger over it, feeling the texture and weight of the material. It was silky and strong and would make a beautiful dress. With her pretty blonde hair and blue eyes, Elizabeth would be breathtaking in it.

"You'll be the belle of the ball in this," she said.

"You like it, then?" She seemed eager for Colleen's approval.

"I couldn't have picked out a better one myself. Did you get this at Joshua's store?" Liam's brother Joshua and his wife, Hannah, owned the mercantile down the block from the restaurant.

"Yes, and there's a beautiful lemon yellow fabric, somewhat similar to this. It would look wonderful on you." Elizabeth's excitement was contagious. Yellow was one of Colleen's favorite and most flattering colors.

"I'll stop in tomorrow on the way home from the pub, to take a look."

"So, you're going, then? With David?" Elizabeth looked hopeful.

"Yes, with David. He asked me on the way here from church."

"Oh, good! We'll have so much fun. Do you think Julia and Liam will come too?"

"Maybe. If she is up to it. When is it?" David hadn't mentioned the date.

"It's in three weeks." She looked nervous for a moment. "Will that give you enough time to make dresses for both of us?"

"Three weeks? More than enough time. When I worked in the dress shop, we often had to make a dress in just a day or two."

When they made their way back to the kitchen, everyone was just starting to sit down at the long table. Elizabeth led her over to where Julia was just settling into a chair and they sat next to her. The food was already there and as soon as everyone was seated, Naomi said grace and then they started passing platters around and filling their plates. The meal was sliced leg of lamb with buttered vegetables and roasted sweet potatoes.

"So, will you and Liam come, too?" Elizabeth had just finished telling Julia all about the fabric and the event at the museum. "After we eat, I'll show you, too. I'm so excited."

"Maybe. I'll have to see if Liam wants to go. It does sound like fun."

"If you don't have a dress, I'd love to make one for you, too. It's the least I can do after all you and Liam have done for me."

"We don't expect any kind of payment," Julia said and then smiled. "But I haven't had a new dress in ages."

"Then it's decided," Colleen said.

"If Liam agrees." Julia glanced his way. He was sitting on her other side and had heard the whole conversation.

"How can I say no to that? It's not every day someone offers to make you a dress," he said with a chuckle. "I'll just have to run it by Billy, to make sure he can cover for me, but it should be fine."

"Good, we can look at fabric after our shift on Monday," Colleen said.

"Perfect," Julia agreed.

After dessert and coffee, the girls helped Naomi clear the table and clean up in the kitchen, while the men went into the living room to talk. As they were finishing up, David came and found her. "Are you ready for our walk?"

"Yes, let me just grab my shawl." She found her wool shawl and wrapped it over her shoulders and followed David outside. It was sunny still but there was a cool breeze in the air and she pulled her shawl in a bit tighter.

"We're not going too far. The pond is just over the hill and past the meadow." He led her to what he said was his favorite spot in the whole world.

"We used to come here all the time, Paul and I. To fish and to dream. We planned our futures by this pond," he said as he spread out the blanket he'd brought with him and they both settled onto it.

"It's beautiful here, and so peaceful."Colleen looked around and marveled at the tranquility. The water was still. There was almost no breeze here, and the only movement on the water was a lily pad that occasionally dipped when the frog that was sunning itself on it shifted position.

"So you can see why I love it so much?" David asked.

Colleen nodded. "I'd come all the time if I lived here."

"I have a similar spot on my farm. The pond is smaller, but just as peaceful and even more private."

"Why haven't you married yet?" Colleen wondered out loud. David seemed so settled and ready for a family. She was surprised that it hadn't happened yet for him.

He was quiet for a moment, and then spoke. "Well, I did come close. I was about to propose about five years ago, to a girl named Maggie. I thought we were in love. I was wrong. She told me she didn't want to be stuck living on a farm the rest of her life." He frowned at the memory. "She took the next train to San Francisco, as a mail-order bride for someone she'd never met."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Colleen said and before she could stop herself, she asked, "Is she happy now?"

"I have no idea. I never heard from her again. I sort of withdrew a little after that. I couldn't believe I'd misjudged things so badly. I really thought she loved me."

Colleen said nothing, and after a moment, he continued, "When I finally started thinking about it again, all the eligible women in this area were gone, either married or moved away. And then you arrived." He reached for her hand and smiled. His touch felt warm and safe and something else—a tingle that went all the way to her toes.

"I want what my parents have," he said as his thumb lightly caressed the back of her hand, making it hard for her to focus on his words.

"They seem very happy," she managed to say.

"They are. They've had their ups and downs, but they are crazy about each other. If it's possible, even more so as the years have gone by." He stared out at the water for a moment, and then added, "Maggie did me a favor, actually, I suppose. I never would have had that with her."