Choices of the Heart (7 page)

“Where’d you get such notions, Randy?” Mrs. Lloyd closed her slack jaw just enough to question her husband.

“I read a newspaper article in the
World Herald
some months ago about the bootlegging here in Nebraska. The writer said how a lot of it was gettin’ sent in motorcars up to the Great Lakes. Chicago, Milwaukee, even St. Louis. There are organizations there, in an underground sort of way, which disperse the hooch.”

“And you think our Ronnie got involved with them?” Mrs. Lloyd looked pale, having much the same reaction as Reese had when Chloe broached the topic the day before.

“It’s possible. Remember them war buddies who came out here to visit? I sure as hell—pardon me, Chloe,” Mr. Lloyd excused his language, “didn’t trust none of them as far as I could throw them.”

“They were just different,” Reese argued. “Streetwise. They’d just returned from the war.”

“Now, Reese, you mighta been young, but you ain’t stupid. Them Chicago boys were no good.” Mr. Lloyd went back to eating.

Chloe watched anger pass across Reese’s face. She was not at all surprised when he shoved his chair back and stalked out the door. He was never good at confrontations; he’d get tongue-tied and red in the face. Flustered and frustrated. They never argued, he and Chloe, but she’d seen it happen enough with his father and brother.

Bobby crawled off his chair and followed Reese out the screen door.

Chloe was torn. She wanted to follow Reese outside but wondered if that was appropriate anymore. Could she offer him comfort? Would he even
want
her comfort?

“Excuse me.” She stood and placed her napkin next to her plate. She left the table, passed Reese’s dirty clothes piled in the mudroom and then exited through the back door.

She found him right away, leaning against the porch railing, smoking yet another cigarette. “I can’t imagine those things are very good for you.”

He glared at her then looked away and took another drag.

“Hot out here.” She moved closer to him and sat on a wooden rocker where she could watch Bobby chase the chickens in the barnyard. “I like what you’ve done to change the place.”

“It’s slow going.”

Reese was so handsome, brawny, muscular and strong. His warm brown eyes did something to make her heart flip-flop in her chest. When a lock of his curly dark hair slid across his forehead, Chloe wanted to push it away. She longed to touch Reese…in any way. Her fingers itched to feel his naked skin again. He was her drug of choice. It was rather obvious she felt the same as she had when she left.

Desperately in love.

“Doing all the work myself. The porch I put on last summer. Had to replace some of the siding. I just tarred and shingled the roof in May.” He smiled. “Little by little.”

“The house is pretty old, right? Didn’t your granddad build it before he married your grandma?” The occasional farmhand had lived in it, but until about four years earlier, it had been empty for a long time. Reese had all kinds of ideas back then, ways to fix it up, to make it special.

“Yep. ’Bout fifty years ago. Could use a coat of paint, too, I reckon.” He shrugged. “Maybe after harvest this fall. No time to get started now.”

She met his eyes. They pierced her heart. The heat of the sun had nothing to do with the warmth flooding through her body. His eyes were causing the reaction. She knew what he could do to her body with his hands, but his eyes—they spoke volumes without saying a word.

Chloe stood up, as if hypnotized by his stare, and walked the short distance to where he sat on the low rail of the porch. He held out his hand to her, although the look on his face seemed less than welcoming, almost questioning of her motives. She took his hand in hers and intertwined their fingers.

Dare she lean forward and fulfill her urge to kiss him?

He pulled her into his arms and her resolve caved in. The temptation was too great. She leaned in to him on that hot, sticky July day and took another bite of the forbidden apple. She kissed him, gave in to the need to feel him, to taste him. One more time…even if it was the last time.

His tongue coaxed her mouth open. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, and his hands found her hips, drawing her even closer. How could something so wrong feel so right?

“Come back in, would you…? Oh, my.” Dottie’s voice carried through the screen door, breaking them apart.

The rapid tap of Dottie’s shoes retreating farther into the house made Chloe blush. She pulled away, feeling flushed but not ashamed.

“I’m sorry, Chloe.” Reese ran a shaky hand through his hair. “I shouldn’t have.” But he was only human, and she was definitely tempting him.

“Don’t be sorry, Reese. Not for this. Never for this.” She released his hand but he pulled her back.

“Why were you here last night?” he whispered.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“On ol’ Freddy. I saw you.” He tipped her chin up so her eyes would meet his. “I don’t think it was my imagination anyway.”

“I was here,” she admitted.

He pulled her into him and kissed her again. “Why didn’t you come in?”

“Because you said
no
last time, and I didn’t think you had changed your mind, not after spending time with Isabelle.” She took both of his hands in hers and gave them a squeeze before moving to the edge of the porch to call Bobby. “Come on, Bobby. Let’s go inside.”

The barefoot little boy came running from the barnyard up onto the porch, laughing the whole way. As Chloe waited for Bobby, Reese lit another cigarette.

“I’ll meet you inside in a minute,” he told her before walking off the porch into the yard.

Chloe took Bobby’s hand and led him inside. He was laughing and giggling, talking about the chicken that tried to peck his toes. She walked into the kitchen and the Lloyds ceased their discussion. Were they talking about what Dottie had seen on the porch?

“I’ve cleaned up the dinner dishes,” Dottie told her, not quite meeting Chloe’s eyes. “We’ll open the papers now if you’re ready.”

“Sounds like a fine plan, Ma.” Reese came in behind her, holding two small balls of fur.

“Kitties!” Bobby clapped, ran up to Reese and grabbed on to his leg.

Reese bent down and swung the boy up into his arms, tickling him. Making the boy giggle and wiggle like a worm in Reese’s strong arms. He put him down and handed him the kittens.

Had Bobby seen his parents die, Chloe wondered? Did he remember anything about Daisy? About Chicago?

“Time for a nap, young man. Take the kittens with you.” Mrs. Lloyd met them just inside the kitchen doorway, took the boy from Reese’s arms, threw the small blanket he liked to sleep with over her shoulder, and headed up the stairs to the bedrooms.

Chloe couldn’t think of the bedrooms. That led to the memory of the kiss on the porch and the other intimacies that they had shared. Memories that had to be left buried deep in the back of her mind. She was here only until the paperwork could be sorted out and the remnants of Ronnie and Daisy’s life laid to rest, just as their young bodies had been the day before.

Reese grabbed Bobby’s leather satchel and laid it on the kitchen table. Chloe had looked inside just briefly, paged through the few papers that were not in sealed envelopes.

“I’m curious what’s inside.” Mr. Lloyd nodded toward the bag. “Curious what happened to all their belongings.”

“That’s why I gotta go to Chicago.” Reese pulled out a chair.

“Is Mr. Simmons coming by?” Chloe asked. “It might be wise to wait until he arrives.”

“Don’t trust us, girl?” Mr. Lloyd looked at her over the rim of his coffee cup.

“Mr. Lloyd,” she backtracked, “it’s not that at all—”

“I’m joking with you, Chloe.” He laughed then, as if to back up his answer. “I agree with you. We need to have a legal person here. Just in case there’s anything odd. S’pose we oughta call Gus, too.”

“He’s pulling up the drive, as we speak.” Dottie joined them again in the kitchen.

Chloe’s heart was throbbing, pounding so hard and so suddenly, her head hurt. She stood, agitated. “What’s he doing here?”

“Oh, dear.” Dottie covered her mouth. “
Jed Simmon
s is coming up the drive, not your father.” She tapped herself on the forehead. “I’m sorry, Chloe.”

“Oh.” Chloe sighed, relieved. “Thank goodness.” She slumped back into her chair at the kitchen table. “I wasn’t sure how Pa could be here. I think he’s still locked up.”

“He’s not welcome here,” Reese stated before he walked out the back door. She heard his boots thumping on the porch and in the distance. Less than a minute later, his voice carried through the open kitchen window as he greeted the family’s lawyer.

“Jed’s a good man,” Mr. Lloyd commented.

Dottie sat at the table next to her husband. “He is. We may not be needin’ him for anything but good to have him here.”

Jed and Reese came back in the house, along with a man Chloe didn’t recognize.

“Miss Brandt, good to see you again. Mrs. Lloyd, Randy.” Jed nodded to each in turn. “I’ve hired myself a partner. This here’s Mitchell Schroeder.”

“Mitch, to my friends.” The newcomer smiled and held out his hand to Mr. Lloyd and then to Reese. “Glad to meet you.” He turned and smiled a greeting to Chloe and Mrs. Lloyd.

“How long have you been in Broken Bow?” Mr. Lloyd asked.

“Just over a month now.” Mitch smiled at Chloe.

“Well, come on, have a seat. Let’s get this business over with.” Mr. Lloyd pulled out chairs for each of the men and joined them at the table.

Reese sat next to Chloe, his leg rubbing up against hers under the table. She pulled away slightly but could still feel the heat from his body. She didn’t miss the interested glances Mitch shot her direction, but she ignored him, instead turning toward Reese with a tentative smile.

“Shall we begin?” With great care, Jed slowly removed all the paperwork from the bag and set each oversized envelope on the table. He peeked inside to make sure he’d taken everything out.

Reese took Chloe’s hand and gave it a squeeze as the first envelope was slashed open.

Chapter Seven

It was almost as if they had uncovered a treasure chest. Only it wasn’t as exciting as that, because his brother had died in order for Reese to see the booty. Chloe continue to hold his hand. He could feel her tension, and he felt the same uncertainty.

All eyes were focused on Jed as the he read the first sheet slipped from the thinnest envelope. “This is from the Merchant Bank in Chicago where your family had their accounts,” Jed said. “It says:

To Whom this May Concern:

We at the Merchant Bank are quite saddened to learn of the passing of Ronald M. and Daisy C. Lloyd. They have been clients of the bank for the past five years.

I have enclosed under separate envelope copies of the papers they had stored within a safety deposit box in our vault.

We have allowed their accounts to remain open. The beneficiaries listed are Mr. Reese Lloyd and Miss Chloe Brandt, jointly as guardians for Master Robert Lloyd, minor
.”

“Well, I’ll be damned,” his father looked to Jed. “You sure they named Reese and Chloe as guardians?”

“That’s what it says.” Jed said.

“Another reason for me to go to Chicago,” Reese told them. What had Ronnie been thinking? Reese guessed his brother assumed he and Chloe would be married by now. Reese certainly had.

“I reckon you’re right,” his father agreed. “What else does the letter say?”

Jed continued.

“
It is necessary we obtain the signature of both guardians to release the funds for Master Robert Lloyd. Once secured, we can transfer the money to an account in your vicinity
.”

“He lists the address of the bank, the telephone number and his name as a contact.” Jed handed the letter to Reese. “Looks like you’re
both
headed to Chicago.”

A trip to Chicago with Chloe. Reese’s heart skipped a beat.

He pulled his hand from Chloe’s to reread the letter. It was just as Jed said. They both had to sign to get Bobby’s funds.

“Let’s keep going,” his father said, leaning back on his chair.

Mitch tore in to the biggest envelope.

Reese watched the attorney’s eyes widen at the contents.

“Oh, my goodness,” Chloe cried. “What in the world?”

Mitch tipped the envelope upside down and three wads of bound Federal Reserve notes fell onto the table.

She reached forward to touch them tentatively, as if they would snap and bite her. She picked up one stack and shuffled through them quickly. “Oh, my word! They’re all one hundred dollar notes!”

“I’ve never seen so much money,” Reese whispered.

“They’re labeled, too.” She handed Reese the stack with his name on it. She gave one to his mother and then held the one with her name on it.

He watched her stare at it, transfixed.

When she met his eyes, he could see tears glistening.

“Where did this come from?” she asked.

“I hate to guess,” Reese told her. “Open your letter, and I’ll open mine.” He pointed to the white envelope with her name on it. “Maybe they will explain.”

With a deep breath, he opened his own note, clipped to the stack of cash, more greenbacks than he’d ever touched in his life. More than he had in the bank at the moment, more than he would maybe ever have in the bank. In silence, he read:

Reese:

If you’re reading this, it means that something serious has happened to me and to Daisy.

When I came to the city, I had so many expectations, so many dreams and hopes for a different life. The farm wasn’t for me. After the war, having seen the world, there was no way I could have stayed in Broken Bow. I knew there was more to life than corn and cows. I’m ashamed of much of what I have done since coming to Chicago. Feels good to be able to admit that to someone. I imagine that’s why you are reading this. I got in too deep. Involved in dealings I had no business being a part of.

I regret that Daisy has suffered too because of my greed. Our marriage was not what I had hoped for. She was a farm girl, should have stayed there in Broken Bow. But, I couldn’t come back, and I wouldn’t let her come back or even write. Too many secrets here. She’s been sad, depressed, worse even since our Bobby was born. I couldn’t even share that with you—imagine, a son, Reese!

I’ve become something I never wanted to be. But there’s no way out. No way to go back to what I was.

You were always a good brother. An even better friend. I’ve missed you. I wish you all the best. Use this money to make your life a little easier, maybe even expand the farm as you always dreamed of doing. Be a better man than me, Reese. Raise Bobby the best you can. I know you will. You have a big heart.

Love,

Ronnie

Reese looked up into Chloe’s face, stunned by her intense reaction and the tears streaming down her cheeks. What had her sister written? Maybe after the attorneys left, she would share. He glanced away, toward his mother, who was still reading her letter. Her father held a sheet of paper, as well.

Without comment, his mother stood and left the table. Reese exchanged a glance with his father when they heard the parlor door click closed. His father poured himself some more coffee. Reese could have used a stiff drink.

The attorneys were staring at them expectantly. Mitch was sipping on lemonade. Reese watched Mitch’s gaze stray to the money that lay on the table. Reese had not missed the interest Mitch showed toward Chloe. Reese felt proprietary, as if he still owned her heart.

“What else is there?” Chloe asked between sniffles.

Mitch reached for another envelope, slit it open. He pulled out a small stack of papers. “This is their will.” Mitch looked to Reese’s father. “Shall I wait until Mrs. Lloyd joins us?”

“No,” Reese answered. “Let’s get this over with.”

“Very well.” Mitch started to read through it aloud.

Reese felt his mind drifting off, lost in all the legal words he really didn’t understand, didn’t care to question. His mother would be upset—Ronnie had always been her favorite. Not that she didn’t love Reese, too, but Ronnie had been her first baby.

“Here’s the part you might want to listen to, Mr. Lloyd, Miss Brandt.”

That got his attention, of course. He looked up from his boots and focused on Mitch.

“
Legal guardianship of Robert Reese Lloyd shall be given to Mr. Reese Lloyd in conjunction with Miss Chloe Anne Brandt, Uncle and Aunt of said Robert Reese Lloyd.
”

“Your mom ain’t gonna be none too pleased with that, Reese.” His father put his cup on the table. “She’s loving on that boy already like he’s her own.”

Reese swallowed and stared down at his boots. He couldn’t raise the boy by himself. How could Chloe? Could they do it together? Would she be willing? What about Isabelle? The questions whirled in his mind. Damn, he hadn’t expected this.

“Can we sign over guardianship?” Reese asked after a few minutes of silence.

“Well, sure,” Jed answered. “But consider, Reese, your brother and his wife wanted you and Miss Brandt to care for their son. This is not a decision that would be made in haste or taken lightly.”

“But they ain’t married,” his father complained. “She don’t even live in Broken Bow. How’s she gonna care for the boy if she’s nursing in some city hospital?”

“What else is there?” Chloe asked, ignoring his father’s concern.

Jed looked back at the papers and read some more. “
All worldly possessions listed on the following pages shall be passed down to Robert Reese Lloyd. With the following exception, to Reese Lloyd, I, Ronald Lloyd, leave the three hundred and twenty acres in Broken Bow, registered in the courthouse in my name
.”

“Well, that makes sense.” Reese sighed. “I’ve been farming it for the last five years anyway.”

“There is a hefty list of property on the following sheet. Here you go.” Mitch handed him the papers.

Reese looked down at the long list and shook his head. What in the hell had his brother involved himself with?

“Where would all these items be?” He waved the sheet of paper in the air. “He has four Model T’s listed, three addresses, and a boat.” He whistled.

“Perhaps the attorney who drew up the papers will be able to steer you in the right direction,” Mitch said. “I’ll contact him on your behalf.”

“I’d be much obliged.” Reese cleared his head, struggling to assimilate so much new information. “Is there more?”

“Two more envelopes.” Jed handed one to Mitch and he opened the other.

Inside the envelope was another envelope.

“Says
Mom and Dad
.” Jed set that one in front of Reese’s dad.

Reese watched his father finger the edge, itching to open it. “I’ll wait for Dottie before I open it.”

“This one’s for you and Miss Brandt.” Mitch handed Chloe the other, very overstuffed envelope.

“Go ahead and open it.” She handed it to Reese.

He looked at her then back at the envelope and did as she suggested. He slid his finger under the edge of the envelope and tore it open. Photographs fell out, along with letters, some open, some still sealed.

Chloe reached over him and picked up two photographs. One was of Chloe and Daisy when they were little. Reese remembered seeing that picture in the dining room at Chloe’s parents’ home. The other picture was Bobby when he was very small, probably in his christening gown. She handed the picture to Reese’s dad.

“Bobby?” he asked.

“I would guess so, yes,” Chloe said. “What are the others?”

“We’ll have to look through them,” Reese answered. “Looks like these are letters she never sent you, Chloe. They are addressed to you at a Lincoln address.” He turned toward her. “I thought you said you hadn’t communicated with them since they left.”

“Daisy sent a short letter right after they got to Chicago with an address. I gave it to your mom.” Chloe shrugged. “I kept writing to Daisy, even though she never wrote back.”

“Well, it appears she did write back but never sent them to you,” Reese said. “Ronnie wrote in the note with the money that he wouldn’t let her write or come home.”

“That doesn’t sound like Ronnie.” His father stood, walked to the sink and set his empty cup inside.

“No, it doesn’t,” Chloe agreed.

“City changes people,” Jed commented and glanced at Chloe. Then he blushed.

Reese figured he realized what he said.

“We best be going. We’ll give you folks some time to digest the information.” Jed said, and he and Mitch stood. “I’ll take the will with me and contact the attorney in Chicago. You reckon you’ll be going up there next week then?”

“Yes.” Reese stood and showed them to the door.

“I’ll set up an appointment next week for you to meet with him.” Jed turned to Chloe. “Nice to see you again, Miss Brandt.”

“Nice to meet you all,” Mitch said. He put his hat back on his head and tipped the brim toward Chloe.

Reese followed the gentlemen out of the house and toward their waiting car.

“Thank you for coming out and helping us through all this.” He stopped walking after the men reached the car.

“You’re welcome, Reese. Talk to that little lady a yours in there. Figure something out about the boy.” Jed opened the driver side door and climbed in. “I’ll be in touch after I get in contact with the Chicago people.”

Reese raised his hand and waved to the men as they left. After they disappeared from his view, he ran a hand through his hair. He’d expected to find a sense of relief from opening the envelopes. Instead, he felt as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Chloe felt lost. Confused and angry. She stood up from the table and wandered from room to room. She didn’t know where Mrs. Lloyd had gone. Chloe’d thought the parlor but the room stood empty, save for the dusty antique furniture.

The parlor mirrored the rest of the house. It seemed Reese spent his time in only the kitchen and the sitting room—at least on the first floor. Those rooms were tidy. The rest of the first floor—the dining room, parlor and front hall—were dusty and cluttered.

Chloe walked up the wooden stairs, her shoes clicking as she went. Bobby was just waking up. She could hear the softly mewing kittens, knew he would be scared about the different home, not certain what to expect.

She walked into one of the spare bedrooms and found the little boy rolling from side to side on the big bed, his little thumb stuck in his mouth. He smiled when he saw her. He reached out both arms toward her and said, “Cwowe.”

She laughed, sat on the bed and pulled him into her arms. “Did you have a nice nap, little man?”

She pushed aside his unruly hair, thinking he could still use a trim. His hair was so fine, but there was plenty of it, with cowlicks and curls resting in odd spots. She pulled his thumb from his mouth, and he pushed it back in. She laughed and gave in, letting him enjoy the security of it.

She looked beyond the little boy around the room. Reese had put an iron bed in the room with a chenille blanket over the top. There were crates in the corners and an old dresser under the window. No pictures on the walls but plenty of cobwebs decorating the corners.