Joy walked down the street the painting that Ike Godsey had asked for clutched carefully in her arms. The sun was still high in the sky so Joy felt comfortable walking by herself.
Ike Godsey's market was moving normally as Joy walked in. She smiled as she saw John Walton sitting enjoying a soda drink.
"Afternoon, John." Joy said smiling wide. "Sheriff, Mr. Godsey." She nodded a hello to each of the men.
"Afternoon, Joy." John said with a smile and a quick hug. "What do you have there?"
"The painting Mr. Godsey wanted." Joy said making the shop owner smile and walk around.
"Oh this is beautiful, Joy!" Ike said with a large smile. "It's going to look great on the wall." He smiled at the young woman. "Wait here until I get your payment."
"Just get the usual, Mr. Godsey." Joy said with a smile. "Running low on supplies."
"You're that busy?" Ike said walking over and stacking up a couple of small canvases, erasers, paints and a bag that had been filled with sweets.
Joy nodded with a large smile. "The Baldwins asked for three two months ago, and had asked when I'll have more. I had to tell them I won't have any for at least a couple of weeks. They didn't seem to mind."
Ike nodded and slid the supplies in Joy's bag which was just big enough for everything. "Well I won't be surprised if you become the most famous artist on Walton's Mountain." Ike said as he turned and looked at John. "You sure raised a nice group of talented kids there John. John Boy with his writings, Jason and his band, Emma Davis and her singing and Joy here with her art."
John smiled beaming with pride. "Yes sir. I sure do got a bunch of great talented kids."
Joy looked through her bag and looked back up at Ike. "Mr. Godsey, I have a dollar, may I get a watercolor kit too?"
"Sure thing, Joy." Ike said smiling and grabbing a kit from a small shelf. "Ninety-Five cents."
Joy handed the dollar she had and smiled up at Ike. "Thanks so much, Mr. Godsey; and I hope you enjoy your picture."
"I'm sure I will." Ike smiled.
Joy walked over towards the door and turned around to face John. "See you back home, John." She smiled and ran out the door making John shake his head with a smile.
As Joy walked she decided she'd go and see the others at Drucilla's pond and maybe sink her feet into the cool water. As she walked near she bumped into two people she didn't know.
"I'm very sorry." Joy said blushing with embarrassment.
"It's alright, Miss." Said a man who looked to be around twenty. "My wife Clara and I were just trying to find our way around town. We moved here from Utah."
Joy smiled friendly but didn't like the way the young man looked at her. "Well, welcome to Walton's Mountain. There's a general store down that way. Ike Godsey runs it and will help you with any other problems you might have, Mr..."
"Adam Wells." He took Joy's hand and shook it and even though she wore a modest dress she felt uncomfortably naked around him as she nervously covered herself.
"Joy you alright?" Joy looked over her shoulder and saw John had stopped the truck next to her.
"Thanks, Daddy for picking me up. My leg is starting to act up again." Joy climbed into the cab of the truck. "It was nice to meet you two?"
"Likewise. Thanks Miss. Maybe we'll see you around." Adam waved goodbye as John began to drive up to the house.
"You know," John said glancing over at Joy. "In the nearly five years you've been living with us, you never called me 'Daddy'." John slowed down to turn and noticed the pink on the tip of Joy's ears. "What's the matter, honey?"
Joy rubbed her arms. "Just felt uncomfortable around Mr. Wells." She said clearing her throat and rubbing her left knee. "Plus my leg was starting to hurt."
John nodded with understanding as he neared the house
"Would it be alright if I work in the barn?" Joy asked looking up at John. "I have to finish a few paintings before this weeks over."
"That's fine, Honey. If you spend the night, just make sure to hang the lantern out the window so we will make sure to get you up in the morning."
"Will do, sir." Joy said with a smile. She slowly climbed out of the truck and headed straight for the barn.
~DSCWIN~
Joy loved working in the barn. It was quiet and the cow was decent company as she would critique the work as she worked on the straw she had helped pile in her pen. She was careful as she dipped her brushes into her homemade pallet. When she painted all other noises blended together. So when she smelt some cooked peas, chicken and fresh bread she turned around and smiled when Jason stood with a plate.
"Momma and Daddy said you were working in the barn." He said setting the plate on a small workbench. "Drucilla's pond in the fall." Jason said walking up to the picture. "Very pretty. But how come I don't see your pencil lines?"
"I've been there so many times that I don't need to sketch it out." Joy said rubbing her head and smearing some paint across her forehead. "But I need to get this finished before tomorrow. As I promised the Baldwins that I'd have their paintings done. As this is my last one to be done." Joy smiled and went to hug Jason, who flinched slightly under her touch. "Jason, you okay?"
"Joy, I'll have to cancel our plans for Saturday." Jason said his cheeks turning pink.
"Why what's the matter?" Joy asked looking confused.
"I met an old friend at the pond today. She was a friend that moved to Charolettsville but moved back. She was wanting to spend some time together with me."
Joy took a step back and forced herself to smile. "Well, that's okay." She said keeping her voice from breaking. "It would mean I could spend some time to figure out what else to draw and paint."
"Well, I'm glad you won't be stuck at home." Jason said. "Well, I should head back inside. Night Joy."
"Night." She said going back to finish her painting. She heard the barn door squeaking closed as she turned and looked to see that Jason was indeed gone. Joy turned when Chance let out a low moan making Joy turn and nod. "Yeah, you're right, Chance. I should head to bed."
Joy cleaned out her brushes and set them aside. Making sure her easel was out of the way, she walked over to her small lantern she was using and carried it up the ladder. She found a few blankets and set a couple on the hay on the top of the loft. After blowing out the lantern and hanging it outside like she was told, Joy laid down and pulled another blanket over her. But as she was settled in, sleep never came. Her mind kept replaying what Jason had told her about his new friend.
"If you're meant to be with Jason, then you'll be with Jason."Grandma Esther's voice echoed but it didn't seem to give Joy any comfort. She felt something fall into her pit of her stomach as she continued to lay there listening to Chance snore beneath her. She curled up and closed her eyes but sleep never came for her.
~DSCWIN~
Olivia was surprised when she saw that breakfast had been set and coffee already heating on the stove. She wondered who was up at that early hour until she heard the back door opening up.
Joy walked in placing her easel and painting up against the wall near the back door. She moved back into the kitchen and froze before seeing that Olivia was standing there. "Morning, Olivia." Joy said trying to smile but instead began to yawn.
"Good morning, Joy." Olivia was amazed she was already dressed and her hair brushed for school. But there was something about Joy that Olivia had to get to the bottom of. "Joy, is everything alright?"
The question caught Joy off guard; but before she could answer John walked down and kissed his wife. He looked at her curiously when she kept staring off towards the back door. He turned his head and saw Joy standing there.
"Joy," John said smiling but that smile quickly faded when Joy didn't say anything. "Did you sleep alright in the barn?"
"Yes I did, sir." Joy said a smile playing with her lips. "Before I forget, would you be able to take me down to the school please? The teachers said it was alright for me to use their arts room to finish my paintings as long as I clean up afterwards."
"Sure thing, honey." John said making the young girl smile. "Why don't you put your things in the truck now, and come on back for breakfast?"
"Okay, sir." Joy turned and gently picked up her easel and painting before taking it outside. A few minutes later she returned her books, and art supplies, in her bag. she then silently sat down when John Boy rushed down the stairs.
"Morning John Boy." Olivia said with a smile and was rewarded a quick kiss on the cheek by her eldest child. Olivia walked over and placed a bowl full of oatmeal in front of John and Joy who began to sprinkle sugar and milk on top.
"Morning Momma, Daddy." John Boy said sliding in and taking the bowl of oatmeal gently away from Olivia. "Daddy, you think I can borrow the truck today? I'd like to go to the library. They sent me a letter saying my book's in."
John cleaned his mouth with a napkin and looked at Joy. "I'm okay with that. Would you drop Joy off at the school, please?"
Joy turned her attention to John Boy, after he nodded Joy smirked and finished breakfast. Before any of the other kids came down, John Boy and Joy left the house.