A Chance at Love by Beverly Jenkins

handed the forms to his boss. The immediacy of the action caught Diggs so by surprise, he dropped the papers and they went fluttering to the floor. Both men bent hastily to retrieve them only to wind up soundly bumping heads in a scene so comical the girls giggled.
    Diggs’s hand went to his ringing skull. He paid no attention to Buxton’s attempts to make amends and grittedout, “Get back to your window, Buxton, I’d like to be alive when the day ends!”
    Buxton left holding his own head. Loreli fought to keep from laughing out loud.
    The distressed Diggs then said, “My apologies, the man’s cursed. Mayhem follows him like a cat, been like that all his life. Hope his new missus knows. If you’ll sign these papers we can get you on your way, Miss Winters.”
    Still chuckling, Loreli and the girls went over to one of the raised tables so Loreli could write. As she filled out all the information on the bank’s slips, she explained to the twins what she was doing. She wasn’t sure the girls understood it all, but she didn’t fret. As long as they understood a woman could have her own money and transact her own business without the benefit of a man’s help, approval, or interference, they would have learned their lesson for the day.
    After receiving Mr. Diggs’s assurances that her money would be resting in her new account in his bank no later than the day after tomorrow, Loreli and the twins headed toward the door. They were almost bowled over by a White man who came barreling into the bank. He was tall, thin, and dressed in shabby farmer’s clothes. Upon seeing Diggs, the man shouted angrily as he waved a document in his hand, “Damn you, Diggs! What’s this supposed to mean?”
    Diggs replied coolly, “You know what it means, Peterson. Your farm reverts to the bank on Monday.”
    The man looked stunned and angry. “You foreclosed on me?”
    Loreli moved the girls closer to her side to keep them safe.
    Diggs replied sharply, “I warned you back in December that come June your note would be due, and June is here.”
    â€œHow could you do this? You know how hard I’ve been working. Give me until the harvest at least. I’ve got a good crop of corn growing.”
    â€œNo. I’ve been carrying you for two years. I have bills to pay too.”
    Peterson barked disdainfully, “Bills for what—more fancy suits and carriages! You’re just punishing me because you think I’m organizing for the Knights.”
    Diggs puffed up like an adder. “The Knights be damned. This has nothing to do with that. You owe me money, Peterson, and I’m tired of waiting.”
    Peterson sneered. “You’re offal, Diggs. I got five kids. How am I supposed to take care of them? Where are we supposed to live?”
    â€œThat’s not my concern. Now, leave before I send for the sheriff. You’re frightening my customers.”
    Peterson turned and eyed Loreli and the girls for a second, then swung back to Diggs. “You’ll pay for this, Diggs—one way or another. You’ll pay.”
    Peterson stormed out.
    Loreli met Diggs’s eyes, and he said, “Sorry you and the girls had to witness that.”
    â€œDoes he really have five children?” asked Loreli.
    Diggs paused for a moment to assess her face, then offered. “Yes.”
    â€œHow much does he owe?”
    â€œSuffice it to say, more than I’m willing to carry any longer.”
    â€œHow much?”
    He kept his face blank. “As an officer of the bank, I’m not at liberty to divulge such private information.” Then he smiled and asked, “Is there anything else I can do for you, Miss Winters?”
    Loreli swore he looked like a shark who’d just finished a big, fine meal. “No, Mr. Diggs. The girls and I will be going.”
    Holding the twins’ small hands, Loreli led them back out into the