Learning to Love by Catherine Harper Read Free Book Online

to him. She knew he wasn't the religious type, but he'd taken it anyway. Remembering how he'd laughed at her for mothering him, she was happy to see that he'd still kept it.
    “I know it's none of my business and all-” Sean apologized.
    “What's not?”
    “Well, I suppose you'll be going home now.”
    “To Ireland? Not a chance.”
    “I don't mean to pry, but I know he was sending you some of his money-”
    “And?”
    “I know you're in shock and all, but you'll have to consider how you'll take care of yourself with Conor gone. I mean life in the city, well you must have been supplementing your wage with what he gave you.”
    Hearing the words Shannon felt another blow. She hadn't thought of what the consequences losing her brother would mean to her own life.
    “Look, I'll be staying in town for a few more days, got a few things to clear up. But I'll be back when you've taken it all in... I've also sent word home to your parents.”
    Giving her a hand another squeeze, he left without another word. Still staring at the door long after it had closed, Shannon gripped the bundle of letters to her chest and cried for all she was worth. 

Chapter 2
    Although hard to forget him after his last appearance, Shannon looked Sean over with surprise. Throwing herself into her work and refusing to take time off, she tried everything in the last two days to keep Conor's death out of her mind. Now like before, he was bringing her back there again. 
    “Shannon.”
    “Sean.”
    “How are you?”
    Shannon tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “OK, I suppose, much as I can be.”
    “I'm sorry,” Sean said, looking to his feet. “That was stupid. I was looking for the right thing to say all the way over here.”
    “It's alright. You're not the only one that's been tip toeing around me,” Shannon nodded to the patrons at the bar. “So how are you?”
    “Fine, fine. Is there somewhere we can talk?”
    Looking to the table, they'd been at before, Shannon led the way. Getting there before him, she watched Sean walk toward her with a strong limp. Waiting for him to make himself comfortable, she compared his appearance to the last time she'd seen him. Getting to America six months before them, it was his letter's home that had spurned the two of them to make the voyage here. Now sitting across from her it looked like those words didn't paint a true picture of his life. Looking a little more than his twenty eight years, his once black hair bore more than a flicker of grey at the temples.
    Slapping his knee Sean apologized, “Sorry about that. Must be the weather. It does that sometimes.”
    “What happened to you?”
    “Laying rail. Well, I should say it tried to lay me,” Sean smiled. “A few lengths of it landed on my leg, my own fault I suppose. Anyway, busted my knee. Doc said I was lucky not to lose it. So I guess I can't grumble.”
    “I didn't know, sorry to hear that.”
    “Hey, these things happen. What can you do about it?”
    Seeing him uncomfortable talking about his condition, she tried to get the conversation back on track.
    “So… you said you'd be here for a few days?”
    “I'm going home-”
    “Really? Why?”
    “Well, as you can see, life out west isn't all that it's cracked up to be. Having a dodgy leg kinda puts a limit on what you can do. Plus I'm homesick. Looking at miles upon miles of open prairie might suit some, but I'd swap it for greens fields with stone walls any day.”
    Shannon smiled, remembering where they'd grown up. Coming from a small rural village in west Cork, her past life had seemed so quaint and small now.
    “It's funny I was just thinking there-” Sean smiled.
    “About what?”
    “You remember that time, the time that cow walked in in the middle of mass?”
    Shannon smiled, remembering back to the scene of it having to be pushed out during Sunday morning mass. “I'll never forget the look on Father Flaherty's face-”
    “That was Conor and I that did that”
    “Conor?