The first part of the plan had been for Lydell to move in with Cassie and Malcom, and so far it had gone very smoothly. She even feigned Christianity and went with them to church. Part two was for her contact in Tucson to establish a relationship with Cassie rapidly and use whatever means necessary to earn the young woman's trust. The third and most important part of the plan was infinitely more dangerous, but Lydell was sure she could make it work. She had monitored her own reproductive cycle carefully. Little Josh was spending a few days with Malcom's parents, and if Lydell could manipulate the circumstances the way she hoped, her father would have an heir and her own future would be secure once again. It was Lydell's distorted way of working her way back into her father's will and putting a permanent scar on the happy marriage her daughter enjoyed.