"Come along now." He tried to pull her toward the door, then stopped. "I was good to your maw," he said.
"You killed her," the girl cried. "You made her take in washings, and ... and worse."
"You can't teach an old cat new tricks."
"You killed her," Early Ann shouted.
"Shut your mouth, you little bastard," Joe said.
He tried to kiss her and she began to fight again. He slapped her face methodically a dozen times.
"You're my girl," Joe said. "You're my step daughter, and you ain't eighteen yet."
"I am eighteen," she panted. "Let me go, Joe." She sunk her teeth into his arm while he screamed.
"Now you're going to get it," he said. He ripped her dress and bent her backward until she thought he would break her back. Then she went limp and did not fight any more, but nothing happened. A moment later he flung her away.
"You ain't any good to me, either," he said with a great, wistful sigh. She saw his face in a flash of lightning. There was no lust there nor anger. A cat rubbed against her leg purring loudly.