Sarah sat in the parlor with her mother. She was anxiously counting down the minutes until 5 pm. "Are you certain this is a good idea?"

"I'm staking my reputation on it."

Paula smiled. "Then it must be a golden opportunity."

They heard the clip clop of horses.

"He's here," Sarah made a mad dash to the hallway mirror.

"Good luck sweetheart."

Paula blew her a kiss. Sarah caught it.

There was a knock at the door. Sarah held her breath.

"Good evening, Kevin."

"Wow! You look pretty tonight."

She twirled. "Thank you."

"Are you ready to go?"

She slowly shook her head, no. "I want to show you something first."

She grabbed a hold of his hand and led him into the parlor. They walked to a small window on the northern side of the room.

"Do you see this little glass egg?"

She picked it up and gave it to him.

"Yeah."

"What do you see inside?"

"A little red heart."

"Look closer."

"I see…" he froze. A slight smile came over his face. He spun around.

"Hi there!"

"Carmen?"

"That's me. And I think you already know Lynn, Tommy and Emily here."

"I don't know what to say."

"But I do. I say, 'Let's go.'"

Kevin couldn't believe it. "You want to go to a church singing in Raymond instead of the carnival in River City?"

Carmen nodded. "I want to go because that's where you'll be."

Kevin choked up, "I… I… only got room for four in my carriage."

Carmen took him by the hand. She led him to the back of the house. "Ta-da" she said with much bravado.

"Hey Kevin?" Pete yelled from the driver's seat of his 1910 Kissel Truck. "I gotta make a delivery over in Raymond tonight. Do you want to help me?"

Kevin laughed. "Whatcha got?"

He held up a monkey wrench. "Hey, my dad co-owns the hardware store. He said the monkey wrench he bought over in Raymond broke and he wanted me to get a new one."

Pete shrugged. "He never said… how I was to accomplish that."

Kevin clapped. "Fair enough."

"Ever ridden in a truck before?"

"Nope."

"Then sit up front."

Kevin reached out his hand to Sarah. She took it, kissed it and then placed his hand in Carmen's hand.

Sarah shrugged. "I'll ride in the back with the rest of the gang."

Carmen smiled at him.

Kevin was unsure.

Sarah nodded. "It's ok."

Kevin climbed in the front seat next to Pete; Carmen sat on the passenger side.

The truck rumbled a bit and sputtered before it took off.

Sarah sat next to Emily; they leaned against the wall directly behind the cab.

Tommy had his arm rapped around Lynn.

Sarah tried not to look, it only made her feel sad.

"Are you ok?" asked Lynn.

"He's more than just a boyfriend; he's a person who is hurting."

"And so you're willing to give up the man you love?"

Sarah nodded and wiped a tear away. "Lynn, the word 'love' has many definitions."

Lynn reached over and grabbed Sarah's hand. She whispered, "Then, you must really love him."

Sarah bit her lip to keep from crying. "I do, I do."

The singing was to begin at 6:30. They had enough time left to get a bite to eat before it began. Once again, Sarah insisted that Carmen, not Sarah, sit with Kevin at the table. They talked through out dinner.

At the end of the night, the song-leader was taking requests.

"Someone just handed me a note," he opened it. "Please sing 322 for the boy who won a rubber ducky and my heart all in one shot."

The crowd chuckled. They didn't understand the meaning, but they did comprehend the message.

"In heavenly love abiding, no change my heart shall fear.
And safe in such confiding, for nothing changes here.
The storm may roar without me, my heart may low be laid,
But God is round about me, and can I be dismayed?"

As they sang, Carmen put her head on Kevin's shoulder. He greatly appreciated that gesture. It bolstered his confidence.

Sarah, in the row behind them, strained to sing as she watched them. Lynn held her hand for support.

"Wherever He may guide me, no want shall turn me back.
My Shepherd is beside me, and nothing can I lack.
His wisdom ever waketh, His sight is never dim.
He knows the way He’s taketh, and I will walk with Him."

Sarah could the third verse brought much comfort to Kevin.

"Green pastures are before me, which yet I have not seen.
Bright skies will soon be over me, where the dark clouds have been.
My hope I cannot measure, my path to life is free.
My Savior has my treasure, and He will walk with me."

When the song ended, Sarah whispered, "Amen."