Louise will marry Billie Jo’s father and become Billie Jo’s stepmother. Louise is a “plain and honest” woman. She teaches the night school class Billie Jo’s father takes, and keeps her father company when Billie Jo runs away on the freight train. Louise is understanding of the difficult times that Billie Jo and her father have been through during the past year. She accepts her role as a newcomer to the family and is patient. She doesn’t push Billie Jo to talk, change, or do anything Billie Jo is not ready to do.
