When I Last Saw You - Bette Lee Crosby Page 0,115

try to patch things up. As he walked, a new thought came to him.

Maybe he was better off without her. Life was never easy with Martha Mae; yes, she knew how to make him happy, but women looking for a good time were a dime a dozen. He didn’t have to put up with her crap.

He could start over. Find a new town, a new woman, a new life. He’d disappeared once; he could do it again. He wouldn’t make the same mistakes this time. He’d use a different name and steer clear of the Masons. He could walk away and be rid of Martha Mae, Eliza, and the kids in one fell swoop.

A plan began to settle in his mind. That night he’d collect the men’s union dues and pocket the money. It would be more than enough for a fresh start. By the time everyone went back to work on Monday, he’d be long gone.

Although Martin was pleased with the plan, he felt a certain sadness about leaving Martha Mae behind. She’d been the best thing in his life so far. Of course, he wouldn’t have had to do any of this if it weren’t for Eliza. She was the one who ruined his life. It was her fault. Her and those damn kids. Maybe he’d pay her one last visit before he left. Yeah, one last visit to take back the money he’d given her.

He left his suitcase in the bin at the train station and made the rounds, collecting union dues for the district. It took all evening but netted him a nice $942. He still had time to catch the 10:30 train to Barrettsville.

——————

WHEN ELIZA CAME TO, SHE was lying on the living room floor with her knickers beside her in shreds. She couldn’t remember everything, but she remembered enough to know what had happened. The pain in her side was excruciating and worse yet when she tried to move. Crawling across the floor, she moved over to where she could hold onto the sofa and pull herself up. The pain was bad enough to cry out, but she didn’t. The shame of what Martin had done would be a thousand times worse if the children were to find out.

Bracing herself against the furniture, the walls, and then the staircase rail, she made her way upstairs, got into her nightdress, and fell into the bed. She lay there too exhausted to move and too devastated to sleep. When she heard Oliver in the hallway, she called out to him.

“I’m not feeling well this morning. Could you see to breakfast? There’s biscuits and—”

“What’s wrong, Mama?”

“I fell on the staircase last night. I’ll be okay once I rest up.”

“My room’s right by the staircase; if you fell, looks like I’d have heard it.”

“It was late. You were asleep.”

“I would’ve heard…” He hesitated. “Before or after Daddy left?”

“After, long after. I know what you’re thinking, Oliver, but it wasn’t your daddy. He left shortly after you went to bed.”

“If it’s all the same to you, me and Ben Roland are gonna be keeping an eye out today. You want me to send for the doctor?”

“It’s not necessary. Just a pain in my side. No need to go spending money on the doctor. I’ll be fine once I get some rest.”

Oliver said he’d see to breakfast. As he turned away she caught the look on his face and knew he hadn’t believed her.

Eliza hardly ever took to her bed; even after the children were born, she was up the next day. This time it was impossible. With the pain too great to move, she could do nothing but lie there, comforted by the attention the children showered upon her.

All day they were in and out of her room, asking if she wanted tea, a warm poultice, or an ice pack. If it wasn’t one thing, it was another. Louella prepared both dinner and supper while the older boys kept watch over the house, checking the rooms, making sure the downstairs door was locked.

At various times throughout the afternoon, the tears would come. She’d pledged her life to Martin, borne eight of his babies. They’d laughed together, shared the same bed, and even in the most trying times she’d not complained or turned against him. She knew now life with him was and always had been an impossibility. She’d tried to make a silk purse from a sow’s ear and failed miserably.

She thought of the Winchester they’d brought from Coal

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