The Edge of Town

by Dorothy Garlock

  “No. The team wouldn’t be able to depend on me. Something could come up and I’d have to leave. How about you, Johnson? Are you a ball player?”

  “Only on a very low level.”

  “Looks like the practice is over,” Corbin said, his eyes shifting out to the ball field.

  “Jack made the team,” Joe announced enthusiastically. “Look at that grin on his face. There’ll be no livin’ with him now.”

  “Congratulations, Jack,” Corbin said when the boy joined them.

  “Thanks for telling us about it.” Jack grinned at Julie. “That was fun, Sis. I could hear the kids yelling for me.”

  “I just knew you’d make the team,” Julie said proudly.

  “Now he’ll be pestering me to throw balls at him morning, noon and night,” Joe complained, but he was beaming.

  “When he’s playing at Wrigley Field, you can say you had a hand in his training.” Evan held out his hand to Jack. “Congratulations, Jack.”

  Ron Poole came toward them, wiping sweat off his face with a white handkerchief. He was with a man in duck pants, a striped shirt and wide suspenders.

  “Chief,” Ron called, “thanks for sending Jack. He may save us from making complete fools of ourselves when we play the league team.”

  Julie glanced at her brother. He was beaming.

  “You may have the next Babe Ruth here,” Corbin replied.

  “Welcome to the team, Jack.” Ron stuck out his hand.

  “Thanks.” It was all Jack was able to say.

  “Dr. Forbes,” Ron said. He turned to the man beside him. “Meet Chief Appleby and the Jones family. This is Miss Jones,” he said, indicating Julie. When she extended her hand, the young doctor shook it. “Another Miss Jones, Joe and Jack the young ones.”

  “Don’t forget me. My name’s Joy.” The child looked up at the tall man and grinned.

  Ron put his hand on her head. “No one could forget a pretty little girl like you. How old are you now? Seven? Eight?”

  “I’m four.” Joy held up four fingers.

  “Only four?” Ron said and winked at her. “I thought you were old enough to get married. I was coming courting.”

  “You’re silly,” Joy shouted and giggled happily.

  Ron introduced the doctor to Evan.

  “Pleasure to meet you,” Evan said as the two men shook hands.

  The young doctor was a stocky man with broad shoulders and legs as sturdy as tree trunks. His sandy hair was thick and needed trimming. He had friendly light green eyes and a constant smile.

  “Dr. Forbes is here to lend Doc Curtis a hand,” Ron said. “He’s from a small town in Tennessee about the size of Fertile. We’re hoping to keep him here when Doc Curtis retires.”

  “Where in Tennessee?” Corbin asked. “I’ve been there a time or two.”

  “Harpersville in the eastern part of the state.” The doctor had a definite southern accent and a slight hesitancy in his speech.

  “I’ve not been east of Nashville. Welcome to Fertile.”

  “Thank you. My father was a s-small town doctor. It’s what I always wanted to be.”

  “Doc’s going to play shortstop for us. He played while he was in school in Knoxville.”

  Julie noticed that Ron Poole directed his conversation to the police chief, seeming to ignore Evan after the introduction. It irritated her. Evan, however, stood with arms folded, appearing to be totally at ease. His eyes went often to Julie, who stood between her brothers. Joy sidled over and took his hand. The gesture was noticed by both the police chief and the councilman.

  “I’ve got to be going,” Corbin said. “Anyone need a ride uptown?”

  “Doc and I will take you up on that. See you tomorrow afternoon, Jack.”

  “Yeah and … thanks.”

  After Corbin left with the doctor and Ron, Joe helped the kids get into the back seat, then got in and pulled Joy onto his lap. Julie moved close to Evan to make room for Jack.

  “You look pretty tonight, Sis. I’ll get you dirty. Why don’t I stand on the running board?”

  “No,” Julie said quickly. “That’s too dangerous. If you get my dress dirty, it will wash.”

  “Get in, Jack, so she’ll have to sit close to me.” Evan winked at Jack, and Julie’s face reddened.

  “There’s Papa’s car,” Jill said as they drove through town. “I bet he took her to the picture show. I hope she took that whiny brat of hers with her. Serve him right.”

  “Whoa. Our little sister’s got her stinger out tonight.” Jack glanced back over his shoulder at Jill.

  Joe laughed, but there was no mirth in it. “I’m goin’ to be careful and not get on your bad side. When you get down on someone, you stomp on ’em.”

  “I don’t care. I hate her.”

  “I hate her, too.” Not knowing whom they were talking about, Joy was sure she would hate whomever Jill hated.

  “Who do you hate?” Jason asked in a quiet voice. He, too, was in the dark as to Jill’s meaning. “Miss Meadows said we’re not to hate people.”

  “Miss Meadows is nice. I wish Papa liked her.”

  “Why don’t Papa like her?”

  “Papa likes her, but … oh, you’re too young to know about these things.”

  “When do you practice again, Jack?” Julie hoped to change the subject. She was conscious that her shoulder was tucked behind Evan’s and her hip and thigh against his. If she tilted her head the slightest, her cheek would be against his shoulder.

  “Tomorrow afternoon. Scott Graham didn’t want me on the team. He said I lived on the edge of town so I wasn’t eligible to play. Mr. Poole said it didn’t matter.”

  Evan turned the car up the lane and stopped beside the porch. Sidney stood wagging his tail in greeting. Jack got out, opened the back door and took Joy off Joe’s lap. With her straddling his hip, he stepped up onto the porch. Joy put her arms around her brother’s neck and laid her head on his shoulder.

  “Thank you for the ice cream and the ride, Mr. Johnson.” Jill nudged Jason.

  “Yeah, thanks, Mr. Johnson.”

  “You’re very welcome. We’ll do it again sometime.”

  “This little gal is all tuckered out.” Jack nuzzled his nose in Joy’s tangled curls.

  “Wash her feet before you put her to bed,” Julie called as Jack carried his sister across the porch to the door.

  Joe closed the door, stuck his head in the window and winked at Julie. “Have a good time. Sir,” he said to Evan, “I trust your intentions toward my sister are honorable.”

  “Joe!” Embarrassed, Julie pressed her palms to her hot cheeks.

  “Honorable?” Evan leered and twisted the end of an imaginary mustache. “It depends on what you consider to be … honorable, young sir.”

  “Oh, you two. Cut it out.”

  Grinning, Joe backed away from the car and waved when it headed back down the lane.

  Julie had moved over until she was no longer touching Evan. Alone with him in the close confines of the car, she could feel the pounding of her heart. She glanced at him and saw that he was looking at her.

  “Are you scared to be alone with me?”

  “Goodness’ sakes! I wouldn’t have come out with you if I were.”

  “You look like a frightened little bird ready to fly out the window.”

  “I … didn’t bring my wings,” she said with mock dismay, and he laughed, delighted with her.

  “I envy your having brothers and sisters,” he said quietly after he turned the car and headed back toward town. “It wasn’t much fun growing up alone.”

  She took a deep breath. “I can’t imagine life without them. Joe and I have always been close. I couldn’t have managed without him.”

  “You don’t mind having the responsibility of the house and seeing to your brothers and sisters?”

  “No. It was just something that had to be done when my mother died.”

  “How old were you?”

  “Sixteen and J
oe was fourteen.”

  As they passed through town, Julie saw her father’s car parked near the picture show.

  “Are you worried that your father will become interested in Mrs. Stuart?”

  “He’s already interested.”

  “It may not come to anything. She’s not the type to settle down on a farm.”

  “Then why is she leading him on?”

  “Because there isn’t anyone else handy.”

  “You’re handy.”

  “I’ve made it clear to her that I’m not interested.”

  Evan glanced at her profile and wished for a way to wipe the worried look from her face.

  Julie Jones was too honest to ever understand a devious, self-centered woman like Birdie Stuart.

  Chapter 15

  YOU PROMISED TO TELL ME what Joe and Thad Taylor were up to last Sunday at the ball game,” Julie said as they headed down the road toward town.

  “Didn’t Joe tell you?”

  “No. But I think he told Jack. They were snickering about something …regarding Mrs. Stuart. Joe said if I didn’t know, I’d not get in trouble with Papa.”

  “Thad and Joe are quite a team when it comes to spinning a windy.”

  “You had no part of it?”

  “Not directly. Thad, with help from Joe, was telling Mrs. Stuart about the barn dances that are held in this part of the country and how they make the floor slick for dancing.”

  “I’ve not been to a dance where they made the floor slick. What did he say they used?”

  “You don’t want to know.”

  “Now you’ve got me curious.”

  “It’s something a farm has plenty of and readily available.” He glanced at her again, with more laughter in his eyes than she’d seen before. When he saw her eyes widen as she realized what he was talking about, laughter rumbled in his chest.

  “No! He didn’t tell her …that!” A giggle burst from her lips. “Thad wouldn’t—”

  “He sure did. Joe chimed in, too.”

  “Did she believe it?” Julie asked between gasps of laughter.

  “She did. I almost believed it myself, to hear Thad and Joe tell it.” It was such a pleasure to see and hear her laugh.

  “Oh, my. How could anyone be so …I wonder if she’ll tell my father. Surely by now she knows a joke was played on her. He’ll be angry at Joe.”

  “If she’s smart, she won’t tell him how dumb she was to believe it.”

  “Oh, she’ll make herself out the victim of a cruel prank.” Julie lapsed into silence, wishing she hadn’t made the remark. It made her sound petty.

  A mile beyond town, Evan turned on a well-used road that would take them to the area known as Spring Lake. The lake was not large, but it was clear, had a sandy beach and was popular for swimming and picnicking. Right after the war a pavilion had been erected for dancing.

  Tonight the large shutters on the sides and back of the building had been pulled up and fastened for an open-air effect. A string of light bulbs was hung around the pavilion. A railing surrounded two sides of the dance floor, leaving a space for benches along the wall.

  A sign on the outside of the building read:

  10 CENTS A DANCE OR 3 FOR 25 CENTS.

  TUES and THURS 2 FOR 15 CENTS.

  Evan found a place to park the car facing the building so that they could watch the dancers. A dozen or more couples were dancing to the music of a five-piece band.

  Julie leaned forward, her lips curved in a smile. He studied her profile, enjoying her obvious pleasure as she watched the dancers.

  “There’s Ernie Price.” She turned to look at him with shining eyes. “He works at the feed store.”

  “Do you want to go in and dance?”

  She turned quickly and shook her head. “Oh, no. I … can’t dance. Do you mind if we just watch?”

  “I won’t mind a bit if I can hold your hand.” His eyes teased her. She laughed. It seemed so natural to hold out her hand. He enclosed it in his big one and held it on the seat between them. The music ended and the couples left the floor. “If you want to learn how to dance, I’ll teach you.”

  “Oh, I couldn’t. I would be embarrassed for anyone to see me.” The band started up again. They were playing “The Sheik of Araby.” Couples passed through the gate where a man took their tickets.

  “They all had to learn at one time.”

  “I’d rather not … go in.”

  “Then let’s walk down by the lake. There’ll be no one down on the beach and we can still hear the music.”

  He opened his door before she could protest. Around on her side of the car, he took her hand and helped her out. Still holding her hand, he folded his arm under hers and laced her fingers through his. As they walked away, they heard the sound of breaking glass as a bottle fell from one of the cars. Then a muttered curse and a girlish giggle.

  “Someone is boozing it up,” Evan whispered.

  “There are almost as many people on the outside as on the inside.”

  “It’s early yet.”

  “Have you been here before?”

  “I drove out one night to see what was going on.”

  “Did you dance?”

  “No. Watch out for those rocks. Hold it. I’ll help you down.”

  Evan jumped down, turned and with his hands at her waist lifted her down.

  “Oh, no! I’m too heavy!” Her hands had automatically gone to his shoulders.

  “Too heavy?” He held her for an instant longer than was necessary. “I went over the side of a ship with a pack and a rifle that weighed more than you do.”

  “Thank you,” she said as soon as her feet touched solid ground. “The water is all sparkly.” She hoped that her voice didn’t sound as breathless as she felt.

  “The moon will be up soon.”

  They walked along the sandy beach until the dense trees and bushes hid the lights from the pavilion, although they could still hear the music. The band was playing “I’ll See You in My Dreams.” Evan turned her toward him, took her hand in his and lifted her free hand to his shoulder. With his hand at her waist, he began to sway.

  “Just sway to the music. You’ve square-danced, haven’t you?”

  “Yes. Joe and I have waltzed … some.”

  “That’s a good start.”

  “I can’t dance the Charleston or the shimmy.”

  “You’ve not missed much. I’d rather waltz.” He made a turn and she followed. “Did you say you couldn’t dance?” he teased and made another turn.