She began walking again, mentally making a list of all the things she needed to teach Martha. With Harry gone, the reaper wouldn’t be wasting any time coming for her. Martha would be in good hands in Morgan, as long as she was meticulous as she laid all the groundwork.

Just as she turned down the drive, a pain erupted in her chest. It reached out her arm to the fingers, dragging with it a bale of barbed wire. She didn’t know whether to bring her hand to her chest or fling it away; it was just a foreign appendage, and it hurt like bloody hell. It was a terrible thing, the pain, and it brought not so much panic and fear as sorrow and a more urgent prayer that her time not be up yet. She clutched at her breast, then sat down heavily in the middle of the road, rubbing her hand, her arm, tears flowing silently, freely down her face. Not yet, please God, not yet. I have to take care of Martha first.

She lay down gently in the road. The pain subsided slowly. When it was gone, she got up and walked carefully to the house.

21

CHAPTER 21

Leon finished loading the truck with trash for the dump, then went into the kitchen to wash his hands. “I’m leaving now, Martha. I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”

Her voice came from close behind, startling him. “I’m going with you.”

He looked her up and down. She looked terrific. Her gray hair was brushed up and held with a pin in the back. She had some makeup on, powder, lipstick, and what looked to be a new dress, belted in at the waist. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

They got settled in the truck, and Leon drove slowly toward town. “Where do you want to go?”

“The bank. The store.”

“Okay.” Uneasiness filled him. This was The New Martha’s first venture to town. No telling what the townsfolk would say. “Want me to come with you?”

She looked directly at him. “You’re going to the dump.”

“I can always go to the dump.”

“No. I think I’ll go alone.”

“Okay.”

He dropped her off in front of the bank. “I’ll pick you up right here.” He smiled.

“Okay.” She took a quick look in the side mirror, adjusted her dress, and walked away. Leon wanted to go with her, but he suppressed his protective instincts and instead gunned his engine and headed for the dump, determined to be back as soon as possible.

The bank was cool and expansive, with a slight sickening odor she remembered. She went to the first person she saw, a redhead at the teller window.

“I want to talk about my money.” The girl’s eyes widened in recognition and disbelief. She came forward to look closely.

“Martha?”

“Yes.” Martha smiled.