***
Leann climbed upon the wagon seat with Pa's help as Brother Daniels rushed to the wagon and asked, "John, we’ve had a request for Leann to sing before you leave. Aren’t you leaving a little early?"
"You can ask Leann, Reverend, but I don’t think she feels much like singing."
Reverend Daniels walked around the wagon to Leann. "Will you honor us with a song before you leave?"
She hesitated, looked at Ma, and swallowed hard. Ma nodded an affirmative. "Go ahead. We can wait a few minutes for you."
The Reverend held out his hand to help her from the wagon seat. The corners of his mouth turned up. "Thank you, Leann. The crowd will be pleased to hear your lovely voice." He escorted her to the church steps.
Leann avoided Ralph’s gaze, but felt his eyes piercing through her. Her heart raced to her throat. She may not be able to sing.
"What do you want to sing?" Joe Wade asked.
She turned toward the fiddle players, locking eyes with Ralph. He smiled at her and then winked. She couldn’t help but smile back, while her cheeks burned, and not entirely from the hot temperature. How she wished she had brought her fan. Perspiration glazed the foreheads of the musicians and began breaking out on her own. Several of the players pulled out handkerchiefs. What could she sing now? She could think of nothing.
"Do you want to sing, 'Amazing Grace'?" Joe asked. "Your voice suits that song real good."
She turned toward Joe, "Yes, I’ll sing, 'Amazing Grace'." If she could remember the words to the familiar old hymn.
Joe Wade played a cord and the other musicians joined the introduction. Leann lifted her voice to the words of the song. She could not look at Ralph or singing would be impossible. A droplet of perspiration stung her eye, so she closed it and wiped at the moisture with the back of her hand.
After two verses, she stopped singing. The musicians continued for a few chords, then stopped. The crowd applauded. Leann started to leave the church steps. Ralph reached up to take her arm. She looked into his brown eyes, now glinting with the joy of the music and her heart melted. She couldn’t stay angry with him.
"That was real pretty, Leann, just like you. If we weren’t standing here in front of all these people, I would show you how pretty you are." He whispered in her ear, "I’ll be out to see you this week for sure, that is if you want me to come." He nodded toward Bill, who stood beside the wagon waiting for her.
"Yes, I want you to come," she quickly whispered back.
"Good. See you soon then." He released her arm.
She smiled at him, longing for his arms and his inviting lips. He returned the smile. Her heart fluttered and her stomach flipped. The hot afternoon just got hotter. Dear Lord, she loved the man so. What would she tell Bill? Leann walked back to the wagon with her head swirling, trying to think of something to say to Bill.
He reached out to take her arm and help her to the wagon seat. "That was so pretty." If possible, his smile broadened. "You have such a lovely voice. I’ll be out on Thursday."
"I’m sorry." She looked into eyes that questioned, while his smile quickly faded from his face. "My heart belongs to someone else. It wouldn’t be fair to lead you on."
"I don’t have a chance to even court you? Are you still mooning after Ralph Wade? I heard he had a fight over a whore in the Golden Goose." Bill’s eyes narrowed and his face reddened with the pain of rejection.
It seemed the whole town knew of Ralph’s fight in the saloon. "I’m sorry, Bill. I would be doing you a grave injustice."
Bill helped her to the wagon seat and then tipped his hat and gave her a clipped, "Good-bye then."
"Good-bye," Leann said, feeling sorry for Bill. She knew they would never be friends again. Bill’s pride would not allow it.