The Edge of Town by Dorothy Garlock

hair.
     
     
    “Joy and I are not going.”
     
     
    Jethro turned to frown at her. “You said the other night you were. The Humphreys were going to stop by for you.”
     
     
    “No, I didn’t. They offered to stop by
if
I was going. Joy and I will stay here, take a bath and wash our hair. We’ll go to church tomorrow.”
     
     
    “I wish you’d go,” he said slowly.
     
     
    “Why?” Julie asked, then silently answered her own question.
You want to use me as an excuse to be with Birdie Stuart and …you want to show off the car
.
     
     
    “Well, I told Mrs. Humphrey that you were and that we’d come by and give them a ride.”
     
     
    “Without Joy and me, there’ll be more room in the car.”
     
     
    Her father put the comb in the tin box that hung by the mirror and went out onto the back porch.
He’ll sulk for a while
, Julie thought,
but I can’t help that. I need time to get used to the idea that he wants to court a woman, possibly marry her and bring her here. It’s his right to do that, but I hope and pray that he’ll not rush into it
.
     
     
    Julie tried to imagine her father as another woman would see him. He was a nice-looking man. Hard work had made him lean and muscular. His hair was dark and curly. He had a wide mouth and his teeth were nice and white, not tobacco-stained as some men’s were. He was a gentle man and …he loved his children. His farm was almost paid for, proving that he was a good provider.
     
     
    On the downside, he had a grown daughter to contend with, and his three younger children would be at home for a long time. Julie decided, even with that burden, some unattached females would consider her father a good catch.
     
     
    Papa, be careful …be careful. There’s something about that woman that bothers me
.
     
     
    As soon as the car disappeared down the road, Jack took a teakettle of hot water and went down to the barn to bathe while Julie soaped and scrubbed Joy in the tub in the kitchen. By the time she had washed the child’s hair and rubbed it almost dry with the towel, Joy was yawning and ready for bed. Julie took her upstairs and tucked her into the bed they shared.
     
     
    “Good night, honey. I’ll be up soon.”
     
     
    “Night.” Joy tucked her hand under her cheek and was almost instantly asleep.
     
     
    Julie looked down at the child, who was so precious to her, and remembered the day she was born: so tiny, so helpless. The baby had been crying lustily when she placed her on the bed beside her mother.
     
     
    “Oh, you darlin’ little thing. You’re just a kickin’ and a rearin’, ain’t ya? You’re a joy, is what you are,” Julie’s mother had crooned to the child and she had become quiet. “Let’s call her Joy, Julie. That’s what she is, a joy to behold.”
     
     
    Julie closed the door now and hurried back down to take her bath before Jack came up from the barn. Times were rare when she was alone in the quiet house. She had put her clothes back on and was rinsing her hair over the tin sink when her brother came in.
     
     
    “Smells like vinegar in here.”
     
     
    “I’m rinsing my hair in it, nut-head,” Julie said from beneath the swirl of dark blond hair. “Hand me my towel.”
     
     
    “Nut-head? You called your sweet little brother a nut-head?” Grinning, Jack put the wet cloth she used to wash the dishes in her outstretched hand.
     
     
    “Ja-ck—” she sputtered and dropped it. “Hand me the towel. If I drip water all over the floor, I’ll box your ears.”
     
     
    “Say please.”
     
     
    “Please, please, pretty please with sugar on it.”
     
     
    “That’s more like it. Here you are.”
     
     
    Julie grabbed the towel. “Just wait until I get my hands on you!” she threatened as she wound the towel around her head.
     
     
    When she straightened, Jack was giving her a taunting grin from the other side of the table.
     
     
    “Bet you can’t catch me.”
     
     
    “I’m not even going