Read Online The Edge of Town by Dorothy Garlock - Free Book Online

for Evan Johnson. Mrs. Humphrey will help her get him or any other man, for that matter.”
     
     
    “How does Ruby May know that?”
     
     
    “She heard her mother and Mrs. Humphrey talking. Mrs. Humphrey wants her out of the house. The only way she’s going to do it is get her married off. That kid of hers is a brat. Ruby May says she throws a fit if a dog comes near her.”
     
     
    “She probably can’t help being afraid.”
     
     
    “Bullfoot,” Jill snorted. “Mrs. Humphrey told Mrs. Jacobs that her sister-in-law was lazy and only worked when Mr. Humphrey came into the house.”
     
     
    “Ruby May shouldn’t be spreading gossip.”
     
     
    “Ruby told me not to tell anyone. But … oh, poot! If I can’t tell my very own sister—”
     
     
    “Papa didn’t come back with Jack,” Jason announced from the back door. “Jack won’t say where he went, but he’s smilin’ real big and keeps sayin’, ‘Just wait, just wait.’ Make him tell, Julie.”
     
     
    “Open the door, stinkpot.” Jack came in with a fifty-pound bag of sugar on his shoulder. “Where do you want this, Sis?”
     
     
    “Leave it there by the door for now. Jill and I washed the big flour and sugar tins this morning, and they might not be completely dry yet.”
     
     
    “What are you grinning about?” Julie studied the smile on her brother’s freckled face.
     
     
    “You’ll see. Want me to take the vinegar to the cellar?”
     
     
    “No. That’s my white pickling vinegar. I’m afraid someone will come along and dump it in with that old stuff in the barrel. When will Papa be back?”
     
     
    “Soon.”
     
     
    “Shall I set a place for him or not?”
     
     
    “I don’t know.” Jack winked at Jason and hurried out.
     
     
    “See? Julie, make him tell.”
     
     
    “For crying out loud!” Julie exclaimed. “What’s got into you two?”
     
     
    “Car comin’. Car comin’.” Joy pushed roughly past Jason, almost upsetting him, brushed against Julie and headed for the front of the house.
     
     
    “That …that little … brat!” Jason sputtered.
     
     
    “See who’s coming, Jason. Lord, I hope it isn’t someone we’ll have to invite to dinner. This is a skimpy meal.”
     
     
    “It’s comin’ ’round—” Joy ran back through the kitchen. She was out the door and onto the porch.
     
     
    “Grab her, Jason,” Julie shouted. “She might run right out in front of it.”
     
     
    “Papa’s drivin’ a … car!” Jill squealed.
     
     
    “Papa’s … drivin’ a car,” Joy repeated in a shrill voice over the excited barks from Sidney.
     
     
    “Whose car is it?” Jill moved off the back porch and into the yard.
     
     
    Julie stood in the doorway, wiping her hands on her apron.
     
     
    “Well, whatta ya think?” Jack’s grin spread all over his face.
     
     
    “Is it ours?” Jill asked.
     
     
    “Papa bought it. So I guess it is.”
     
     
    Jethro stepped out of the car and screwed his old felt hat down on his head. He had a sheepish look on his face when he looked over the top at Julie, who had come out onto the porch.
     
     
    “I didn’t know you were thinking of buying a car.”
     
     
    “I … well, I hadn’t thought about it much. Fred Olson down at the garage had it. It’s in good shape. Well, maybe it needs a little fender work, and the top’s kind of ragged, but it runs good.” When Julie didn’t say anything, he said rather defensively, “The boys need to know about cars.”
     
     
    “It’s a Model T, Sis. The top folds back for good weather, but in case of rain you can snap on side curtains. The double windshield tilts out to let the breeze through. I bet we can get Evan to do some welding on the fenders.” Jack lifted the engine cover on one side and Jethro lifted the other. As they stood gazing at the engine, Julie walked up beside her father.
     
     
    “I didn’t know that you knew how to drive, Papa.”
     
     
    “There’s a lot you don’t