Chapter Two
A month passed. Leann kept busy and tried to keep her mind off Ralph. He had not come to call and didn’t attend church on Sundays. She didn’t see him in town and couldn’t help wondering how he was getting along. He must be busy with the wheat harvest, but the crop should be cut, threshed, and sacked by now. The first of June usually saw the end of the harvest around Cuba.
The month of June had five Sundays, so the church in town planned a day of singing and dinner on the ground. Little was done in the way of merrymaking during the war, but now the conflict was over, the fun celebrations resumed.
Leann planned to wear her green voile dress with short puff sleeves and low-cut neckline. Ma wouldn’t let the neckline plunge too much, but the dress fit snugly to the waist with a flared skirt. She would wear only one crinoline petticoat underneath because of the hot weather and take her matching parasol to shield her face from the sun. The dress fit the hot summer temperatures, and she always felt pretty while wearing it. Hopefully, Ralph would attend the picnic. She longed to see him.
Leann learned about Ralph’s fight in the saloon the day after it happened. Ginger came for a visit with details of the brawl. She didn’t tell her parents or siblings. The thought of her love fighting over another woman, and a prostitute at that, made her sick.
Pa heard the news the next time he went into town. He told Ma in front of Leann that he wasn’t surprised. Ralph behaved like a kid, and he needed to grow up. Leann went to her room and cried. Pa would never give his permission for Ralph and her to marry. She made up her mind, if Pa didn’t let them get married when she turned eighteen, she and Ralph would elope—that is if he still loved her.
Leann, her mother and sisters, spent the week before the fifth Sunday picnic getting dress clothes ready and preparing food. They washed, starched, and ironed white shirts and black broadcloth pants for the men of the family.
"We’ll have to do this over again next week, the weather’s so hot. John and the boys will have these shirts soaking in sweat by the end of the day," Ma said while bending over the hot flat iron.
The younger girls laundered their colorful lightweight batiste dresses. Leann was very particular with the green voile dress. She washed the dress in mild soapy water and pressed it very carefully.
"You’re certainly being careful with that dress, Leann. Are you expecting Ralph to show up at the singing?" Sue teased.
Her sister looked at Mary Jane, who busily ironed her dress. Both girls giggled. Leann didn’t answer. Her sisters were notorious teasers, so she had learned to pay them no mind. They were excited about attending the church social too.
"Stop teasing your sister," Ma admonished the two girls. She turned to Leann and spoke so the other girls could not hear. "I know you’ve been unhappy about not seeing Ralph, but your pa’s right. The two of you need some time apart to get a handle on your feelings for each other."
"Ma, you were my age when you married. How can you say that?" Leann felt a lump form in her throat just thinking about Ralph.
"Times were different then. Your pa wanted to come west and was in a hurry. We had to get married if I was to come with him."
"Well, I hope Ralph comes to the social. I love him, Ma."
Ma reached over and patted Leann's hand. She turned to look into the older lady’s time-worn face. An expression of love filled her mother’s blue eyes. Leann knew Ma understood. She had been a young girl in love. Leann wiped an arm across her eyes then carefully placed her dress on a wire coat hanger.
Lord, please let Ralph attend the singing. I miss him so very much.
Leann took her freshly laundered dress to her room and hung it on a peg beside her bed. Her sisters did the same with their dresses. The girl's bedroom looked festive with the colorful dresses hanging beside each single bed.
The day finally arrived. After breakfast, the women of the family packed four large hamper baskets with the food—fried chicken, three loaves of freshly baked bread, boiled potatoes, black-eyed peas, several jars of the summer’s newest relishes and pickles, freshly cut tomatoes, and a large pound cake for desert—then went upstairs to dress.
Pa and the boys finished last minute chores in the barn. Leann finished dressing and stood in the bedroom window watching Pa bring the wagon, pulled by two bay geldings, into the front yard. Tom followed on the mare. They tied the horses to a tree and entered the house to change into their good clothes. She had a close relationship with her father and didn’t like being on the outs with him.
Ma went to the kitchen to put last minute items—forks, napkins, and a jug of lemonade—in the baskets. Pa finished dressing and went outside to wait beside the wagon. The young ones gathered in the parlor. Leann thought her family to be the best looking in Crawford County. Her three brothers, so tall and handsome, were sure to turn the heads of the young ladies today, and her sisters would definitely catch a beau, even Sally, the six-year-old. She prayed again that Ralph would be at the picnic. She so desperately wanted to see him, be near him, and feel his arms around her.
"Boys," Ma shouted from the kitchen. "Come get these baskets."
The boys headed for the kitchen. Luke pushed Stewart in the back. Stewart turned to push back.
"You boys stop that horse playing and get in here," Ma called her sons.
Leann walked out to the wagon while her sisters ran ahead, trying to be first to get the best seats in the back. The heat of the day was already becoming oppressive. Her dress would be ruined before she arrived at the church. The horses neighed and stomped their feet, eager to be untied and on their way.
Pa helped the younger girls into the wagon bed. He then assisted Leann onto the wagon seat that was covered with a blanket to keep their good clothes from getting dirty. She moved close to the end so Ma would have room in the middle beside Pa. Sometimes she sat on the middle seat, but today she didn’t want to sit beside her father.
The boys loaded the food baskets in the wagon bed with several instructions from their sisters to avoid the newly pressed skirts. Stewart, Leann’s youngest brother and Sue’s twin, climbed into the wagon bed and squeezed between the baskets. The girls scolded him when he pushed their skirts aside to make room. Tom rode the family’s only saddle horse with Luke riding behind. Usually Luke, being younger than Tom, rode in the wagon, but the food baskets left no room for him today.
Pa helped Ma to her seat and then climbed up to take his own. He took up the reins in leather-gloved hands, his black felt hat pulled low over his eyes. Leann opened her parasol while Ma and the girls pulled bonnets around their faces. The boys secured their straw hats.
Pa clucked to the horses. "Okay, family, we’re off to the races." He laughed when the wagon started with a jerk. The wagon’s passengers rocked forward with the jolt, one on top of the other. The girls yelled at their father, telling him to be more careful.
"Now, John, stop your playing around. The girls have worked awfully hard getting these clothes ready to wear, and they don’t want them all wrinkled."
"Sorry, girls. I’ll try real hard to be more careful. All of you look right dashing today. I can just see all those young men craning their heads to get a glimpse of the pretty Clark girls in this wagon." He looked sideways at Stewart. "And the girls gawking at my good-looking sons."
Leann turned to look at her sisters. They were smiling. Pa could always make them feel pretty and special. She loved her pa, but at present, still held a deep resentment toward him for keeping Ralph away. She didn’t doubt Ralph’s love, and felt certain he would wait for her, but she also knew other girls had their eye on him, including Ginger.
Ginger tried to hide her feelings for Ralph from Leann, but too many things her friend said about him gave her away. One day in town, she spotted Ginger and Ralph talking in front of the Barber Shop. Neither one saw her, but she watched for awhile. Ginger ducked her head and giggled at everything Ralph said. The flirt reached out and placed her hand on his arm. Ralph didn’t move, but
continued to talk to the redheaded girl.
They laughed, and then Ralph saw Leann sitting in her family’s wagon waiting for Tom to finish loading the supplies. Ralph quickly removed her hand, tipped his hat to Ginger, and walked to the Clark’s wagon. Leann didn’t say anything to Ralph about Ginger, but her suspicions were confirmed. Ginger was one of Ralph’s female admirers.
Leann had admirers of her own. Several young men around town vied for her attention, but none of them equaled Ralph in her eyes, except one, and he left town to join the Confederacy during the War.
The trip into town seemed longer than usual. Leann’s heart began to beat faster as the wagon rounded the bend and the church steeple came into view. She took a deep breath to settle her nerves.
Pa brought the wagon to a halt in the churchyard. Tom and Luke rode in behind them. Luke quickly slid off the horse’s rump. Tom dismounted and tied the mare to a tree. Stewart jumped from the wagon. The boys helped their sisters to the ground while Pa helped Ma. Leann’s brothers grabbed the food baskets, while Pa tied the horses beside the mare.
The family made their way to a large table under the trees that was loaded with food. Ma told the boys to put the baskets down. She unloaded the bowls of food and covered them with napkins. She set the bread and cake next to the bowls, making sure they were covered properly, then placed a knife close by for slicing. The aroma of the fried chicken penetrated the air. Luke raised the napkin from the chicken bowl and grabbed a chicken leg.
"Let one piece be enough until the blessing is said. I know your appetite," Ma reprimanded.
Luke took a large bite of the juicy chicken, "Okay, Ma, but I hope we eat soon. I’m starving." His changing voice cracked when he spoke.
Leann’s siblings scattered to find friends. Pa brought two large quilts from the wagon and spread them under a tree with several others. Ma took a seat on one quilt, while he walked away to speak to a friend. Leann stood beside the tree, her eyes taking in the townsfolk and farmers. Colorful quilts were spread under all the trees with women and children sitting together, talking and laughing.
The men stood in small groups discussing the harvest and politics. Some chewed tobacco and spit on occasion. Children chased each other through the crowd and around the churchyard. Young boys and girls stood together talking in soft tones. Leann spotted Sue talking to Johnny Townsend. Tom and Lucy Springer were in deep conversation. Stewart and Luke stood with a group of teenage boys. Mary Jane skipped with a girlfriend, and Sally came to sit beside Ma.
Leann saw Ralph’s parents sitting not far away, but Ralph was nowhere to be seen. She didn’t see Ginger either. Were they together? Leann noticed Joe Wade’s fiddle case. Ralph's father intended to play this afternoon. Surely Ralph would play his fiddle with the other musicians when the music began
Someone touched her shoulder. She spun around expecting to see Ralph. Instead, she came face to face with Bill Keller, a young man who had asked to court her several months ago. She had refused his attentions in favor of Ralph’s.
"Hello, Leann." A broad grin stretched across his face. The cowlick on the back of his dark blond head stood straight up when he removed his hat.
"Hello, Bill." She gave him a polite smile.
"Would you like to walk with me down by the creek?"
"Thank you, but I need to help Ma as soon as Reverend Daniels announces the food is ready to be served."
Bill cast his eyes down to the ground. Leann felt sorry for him, but she couldn’t go off with the man and then run into Ralph. Nevertheless, he may not come to the celebration at all.
"May I eat lunch with you and your family, then?" Bill asked, shuffling his feet.
What could she say? Ralph had not asked her. He wasn’t here. She didn’t want to hurt Bill’s feelings. She looked at Ma for an answer, but Ma was talking to Sally.
"Okay, Bill. Only lunch, then I want to stay here and listen to the music."
His smile broadened. "Great. I’ll sit with you. I always enjoy the music."
What if Ralph came and saw her with Bill? Maybe seeing her with another man would actually be good for him. After all, he wasn’t making any kind of a move to soothe her feelings or even see her after he left in such a huff. And then there was the brawl in town over the prostitute. Yes, she would let Bill sit with her.
Reverend Daniels climbed the church steps and stood on the stoop. His deep booming voice rang out over the crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for joining us for the singing and dinner on the ground."
The crowd quieted down. All eyes turned toward the preacher. "If you will bow your heads, I'll say grace. Then you can help yourselves to the good food our ladies have prepared. I want to say thank-you to the ladies for providing us with such bounty."
A voice from across the churchyard shouted, "What about the farmers who grew it?" Some in the crowd laughed.
Reverend Daniels smiled as he continued, "Yes, and for the farmers who grew the food. Now, please bow your heads for prayer."
The people bowed their heads while the good reverend offered a prayer of thanksgiving for the food, the end to the fighting, and the newly united country. When the prayer ended, the children and teenagers rushed to the food table, heaping tin plates provided by the church. Each received a tin cup full of lemonade at the end of the table.
Bill escorted Leann to the food table and handed her a plate. Pa and Ma followed with Sally. Her other siblings were somewhere with friends, enjoying their lunch. Leann continued to search the crowd, but did not see Ralph. She did spot Ginger in line with Ellen, another girlfriend. Leann knew if Ralph didn’t come, Ginger would make sure he knew about Bill. Leann watched Ginger leave the line and rushed to them.
Her friend gave Leann a big hug. "Hello, Leann. So good to see you. Would you like to sit with Ellen and me?"
Ginger said that on purpose. She could see Bill was Leann's escort. "No, thank you, Ginger. I’ll see you later."
Her friend eyed Bill. "Okay. Have a good day." She left to take her place in line.
Leann and Bill returned to her family’s quilts. They sat on one while Pa, Ma, and Sally sat on the other. Pa looked at Bill a little funny but didn’t say much. Ma tried to engage Bill in light conversation, but he talked very little. He and Leann ate in silence. She couldn’t think of anything to say. Besides, her thoughts were a thousand miles away and centered on Ralph.
The musicians began to gather around the church steps with their instruments. One sat on the steps while others stood. Joe Wade took his fiddle out of the case and joined two other fiddle players. One man had a guitar, one an Ozark harp, and two had mandolins. A woman came forward with a dulcimer and sat on the steps beside her husband, who played a banjo. They began picking and tuning their instruments.
Reverend Daniels climbed the steps once more and introduced the musicians. He asked for anyone who wanted to sing with the players to come forward. Those in the crowd who felt like singing could join in at any time. A chubby lady walked forward and asked the musicians to play, "Shall We Gather At The River". She volunteered to lead the singing of the hymn.
The music began and Ralph still did not come. Ginger and Ellen walked over to join Leann and Bill. Ma rose to help clean up the food and wash the tin plates and cups. The younger children began running and socializing once more. Women pulled out their fans. The afternoon heat, even under the shade trees, became oppressive, but did not dampen the spirits of the crowd.
Reverend Daniels said a prayer for the country and the rebuilding after the war. Leann prayed silently for the Lord to help her know what He would have her do about Ralph. If Ralph was not coming back to her, she had to get on with her life.
After the prayer, she looked at Bill. His eyes met hers. She smiled, and then he smiled, showing straight white teeth. He wasn’t handsome like Ralph, but had a wholesome countenance. Bill worked as a bookkeeper at the sawmill and could make a good living for a family. He was friendly and had tried several times to cour
t her. Maybe she should reconsider letting him.
Leann turned back to the music while Bill conversed with Ginger. Ginger could not help but talk to someone, and Leann didn’t feel like engaging in light conversation. The musicians began playing, "My Jesus I Love Thee", and she lifted her voice to join the singing. Her heart leapt to her throat, so she croaked instead when she spied Ralph standing beside his father, playing his fiddle.
She began fanning so hard Ginger stared at her. The girl then followed Leann's gaze to Ralph. After two more songs, the musicians announced they were taking a break.
Ginger excused herself and walked toward the food table that held the water jugs and lemonade. Ralph now stood beside the table drinking a cup of water, watching Leann. Her heart fell to her feet when Ginger ambled up to him. He put the cup down then walked off with the flirt. Tears burned in Leann’s eyes. She sought a handkerchief in her small cloth reticule. Bill and Ellen watched her. Her father’s worried eyes caught hers.
"Are you okay, Leann?" Bill asked.
"Yes," she lied while taking small breaths to control her voice. "I’m just hot. I need to be excused." She stood. "Ellen, do you want to go with me?"
Ellen rose. "Of course, I’ll walk with you."
Leann looked at her father once again. He had a furrowed brow. "I’ll round up Ma and the children while you’re gone. We need to get on home," Pa said.
Leann nodded. Bill rose with hat in hand. "May I come out to the farm to see you, Leann?" he asked politely.
She didn’t know what to say. She watched while Ralph walk back to his fiddle with Ginger at his side. "Yes, you may," she told Bill.
Her father listened to the exchange and shook his head. She turned and walked with Ellen toward the backyard of the church. Her broken heart screamed, as a sour taste rose in her throat. Her knees buckled. Ellen caught her arm.
"Do you need to sit down, Leann?" her friend asked.
A large log lay nearby, close to the woods. "Yes. Help me to the log."
Ellen held Leann’s arm and guided her to the log. The two women sat for awhile.
"Ginger and Ralph make a sweet couple, don’t they?" Ellen asked.
Leann looked at Ellen. Couldn’t the girl see her misery? A gentle breeze blew, touching and cooling Leann’s hot face.
Ellen fanned Leann, which helped relieve the heat and queasy feeling. "Ginger thinks she and Ralph will be a couple soon. She said you and Ralph broke up last month. Bill seems awfully attentive."
Leann could not speak.
"Did you eat something that didn’t agree with you, Leann? Your face is so pale."
The two girls sat for a short time, until Leann thought she could stand and take her turn in the stifling privy. She might as well face the fact her heart would never mend.