A Surrendered Heart by Tracie Peterson Page A

accounts from the Rochester Savings Bank. Jonas had argued at great length with his father, but he’d finally won his confidence. When his father had made the change, many of his business associates eventually followed. Once the transfers had been completed, Jonathan had shown his appreciation with any number of loans at lowered interest rates or without proper security. Of late, the banker hadn’t been as agreeable when Jonas had requested financial aid. There was no way to know whether Jonathan would be amenable to this request. But Jonas was prepared to remind the banker of past favors. He had no choice. He needed help, a fact he didn’t like to admit, even to himself.
    Head bowed against a stiff wind, Jonas didn’t notice the bulky white-thatched man until they collided near the front door of the bank. He mumbled a quick apology, but the thick fingers digging into his upper arms caused him to look up and twist away from the hold.
    “Jonas! It is you, isn’t it? Jonas Broadmoor. How long has it been?”
    Jonas stared into the intense blue eyes for a moment before realization slowly washed over him. “Ellert Jackson. Where did you come from?”
    Ellert clapped him on the back and, with a hearty laugh, pointed over his shoulder. “The hotel. I’m here for only a few more hours. I was going to have lunch at the men’s club. Do you have time to join me?”
    “Of course, of course,” Jonas replied. “I was going to take care of some banking business, but it can wait. Friends are more important than work.”
    Ellert gave him a sideways glance. “Since when?” He guffawed and nudged Jonas in the ribs. “If you’ve changed that much, it may take more than one lunch to hear what’s been happening in your life.”
    From time to time Jonas had heard mention of Ellert’s continued success in New York City, but the two men hadn’t seen each other in years. While living in Rochester, Ellert and Jonas had invested in several of the same business enterprises, though they’d never been close friends. Ellert had never been accepted in fashionable social circles. He’d belonged to the gentlemen’s club, of course, but his name failed to be included on the Rochester social register. When Ellert later joined forces with some foreign investors and moved to New York City, the two men lost contact. Some years ago Victoria had mentioned reading an obituary for Ellert’s wife. Or had one of his wife’s gossipy friends mentioned the death? He couldn’t remember, but he did recall there had been no children born to the union. Jonas had expected Ellert to meet with failure and return home, but that hadn’t occurred.
    They walked side by side the short distance to the club. “It appears life has treated you well in spite of the country’s bleak economy,” Jonas said.
    Ellert smiled and nodded. “I can’t complain. Life has been good since moving to New York City.”
    Ellert’s words seeped into Jonas’s consciousness like a soothing balm. His old acquaintance who could access financial resources had appeared after years of absence. Was this simply a fortuitous encounter, or was God looking out for him? Jonas smiled at the thought. Even though he attended church services on Sunday mornings, it had been a long time since he’d truly considered the possibility that God might be interested in his life.

    Mr. Rosenblume welcomed Fanny with a kind smile. Perhaps because he had been her grandfather’s trusted lawyer for years, Fanny felt a sense of comfort whenever she entered his office. He escorted her to the library table, where he’d arranged papers for her review.
    Fanny handed him the private files he’d given her at their last meeting. “I thought I should bring these back to you for safekeeping.”
    He nodded and accepted the folders from her, setting them aside. “It is probably for the best. I hope the information was useful to you.” He offered her a seat. “I wanted to go over a few details regarding the