Ralph watched Leann with a heavy heart while he played his fiddle with the musicians. Ginger stood nearby, her eyes glued to his every move. How could he get rid of the girl? He wanted desperately to speak to Leann, but when he arrived, she sat with Bill Keller, and John Clark hovered close, keeping a hawk eye on her.
Gees! Bill Keller of all people. What did she see in the man? He seemed to be the most uninteresting man Ralph could think of. Bill worked inside with numbers and figures all day. How dull can you get? What would Leann and he talk about—sawmill payroll or some such thing?
Ralph watched while John gathered his family and helped them into the wagon. Leann’s brothers loaded the food baskets. Tom and Luke mounted the family mare and rode ahead, while those in the family wagon waited for Leann to return. Bill waited beside the wagon. Ralph wanted to go over and give Bill a punch in the nose, but he couldn’t get in Leann’s father’s good graces if he started a brawl at the picnic. Besides, he had not seen Leann in a month.
The wheat harvest had kept him too busy to ride to the Clark farm. He had to get the wheat cut and threshed while he had the opportunity to use his pa’s threshing machine. He first helped Pa and Junior with their wheat harvest, and they in turn had helped him. The grain was finally sacked and stored in the barn. Some would be taken to the gristmill, but most sold if he could find a buyer willing to pay more than a pittance. Several of the farmers had let their land go back to the bank or sold it to pay taxes. Outlaw gangs roamed the countryside stealing and wreaking havoc. His family and he worked hard to keep their heads above water.
Soon he would have the hay cut and stacked in the fields. Then he would have a little extra time to visit Leann, but now she seemed interested in keeping company with Bill. How could she forget him so quickly? Ralph loved her with all his heart. No other girl could begin to take her place.
Ralph thought he might need a drink after watching Bill help Leann to the wagon seat with a smile on his face stretching from ear to ear. Then he remembered Wesley at the saloon and decided to go home. He didn’t want another fight, and he didn’t need to be drinking again. The hangover from the last few he had lasted through the next day, and he could hardly finish his work.
Ralph noticed Brother Daniels standing nearby. He stopped playing and walked over to the preacher. "Brother Daniels, Leann and her family are leaving, and she hasn’t sung for us."