The third number came in on the tail of the second and it was an even faster Chicago blues tune. Halfway through it Jim let up for the harps, but Ryder kept playing the backbeat, standing there, eyeing Leo over his harmonica. Leo waited a half-count for the cue, emptied his lungs, then he sucked in his best single-note wail that he hung right in on top of Jim’s chords. He closed his eyes and did it again, bringing the note to a sharp point he scattered all over with a cup-handed tremolo. Ryder cued him down for the backbeat and when Jim’s singing voice came over the speakers, Leo heard clapping. He wiped sweat off his forehead and looked out over the gazebo railing; the crowd had grown. It was at least the size of the one for the Ladies Auxiliary League. In Beatrice’s lot people were stopping to lean against their cars and listen, and some were walking over to join the others on the grass who had stopped chatting now and had their faces pointed up at the gazebo. Chick’s wife had found a place for him close to the rail fence under an elm tree. She sat on the ground next to his wheelchair, and both of them were bobbing their heads in time.

Jim finished singing his last refrain and Leo raised his harp to his lips and gave Ryder a bass chord backup for the exit, but Jim and Ryder ended on the exact same note, which left Leo’s a hole higher than he’d planned. Ryder winked over at him and smiled, but still, Leo’s face felt hot all over again. Jim paused to pull the capo off his guitar neck, then he leaned forward and said into the mike, “Good evening.”

Someone yelled out, “Hi, Jim!”

Leo watched his father so he wouldn’t have to see the crowd. Jim looked so calm and relaxed on his stool, and he took his time as he retightened his E string.

“To my right, on lead harmonica, is Ryder Stillwell.”

There was a fair amount of clapping. Leo heard someone whistle, Helena probably. His mouth was suddenly so dry he couldn’t work up any spit. He squatted for his cup of iced coffee and drank it all down.

“And on backup, my boy, Leo Suther.”

The applause was scattered and polite and it stopped as soon as Jim started talking again. “Leo’s shipping out to Fort Dix tomorrow morning. This is kind of a send-off.”