butchering hens, Jessica hastily offered, “No, I’ll do it.”
“Suit yourself. I’ll get the grease to heating.”
Jessica went to the sideboard. Rummaging in the cab inet above, she found a small, clean Mason jar, filled it with tea, and added a fresh mint sprig. Turning toward Ma, she grimaced at the sight of the woman ladling a huge chunk of white lard into a cast-iron frying pan.
“Have you—um—had your cholesterol checked recently?” she remarked.
“Huh?” asked an obviously befuddled Ma.
“I take it we’re having fried chicken for dinner?”
“Yep.” Ma wiped her hands on her filthy apron. “But first I’d best get you settled, missy, before one of the boys comes in and spots you in that scandalous getup.”
Jessica took a sip of tea. “Good point.”
“Come along. I’ll show you where you’ll be bunking.”
Jessica followed Ma back through the parlor, into the hallway, and across to the front bedroom. She paused in the doorway of the pleasant room with its braided rug and pine furnishings. “Wait—isn’t this Cole’s room?”
Ma was already at the four-poster bed, pulling off the pillows and quilts. “Not anymore. I already met up with my eldest in the yard and gave him the news. That varmint kidnapped you, so he can give up his room for a spell and sleep with his brothers in the bunkhouse.”
Jessica chuckled. “Sounds like a fitting punishment.”
“Missy, would you fetch me a set of clean sheets?” Ma asked, huffing away as she pulled off more bedding. “I recollect there’s one in the bottom drawer of the bureau.”
“Sure.” Jessica crossed the room, noting a pair of Cole’s dusty boots sitting beneath the front window, his hat hung on a peg near the bureau. Setting her tea down on the dresser scarf, she leaned over, opened the bottom drawer, and pulled out a set of white, embroidered sheets scented with spicy sachet.
She crossed over and handed them to Ma. “Here you are. May I help you?”
“Sure.”
Jessica watched Ma plump up the tick, sending feath ers into the air. Then the two women stretched the bottom sheet over the mattress and tucked it in. They were un folding the top sheet when Jessica heard a male throat being cleared. Both women turned to see Cole lounging in the doorway, his wickedly glinting eyes focused on Jessica. Jessica felt herself blushing at the sight of him, especially as she recalled their earlier intimacies, and quickly ascertained from his expression that his thoughts were equally decadent. Her fingers automatically moved to the top button of her wrapper, which was heavy muslin but hardly the stoutest covering.
Ma spoke first, her tone indignant. “What are you doing here, you rascal? Can’t you see the lady is in a state of disarray?”
Cole chuckled, his intent gaze still focused on Jessica. “Yeah, I can see. But since you’ve banned me from my own room, can’t I at least fetch my clothes?”
Ma waved him in. “Go ahead, varmint. But rattle your hocks. After that, this room is off-limits, you hear?”
“Oh, yes, ma’am, I hear,” Cole drawled, striding arro gantly toward the dresser. He paused to regard Jessica with amusement. “My, but you scrub up nice, Miss Jessie. Enjoy your bath?”
As Jessica glared, Ma scolded, “Hush up that scandalous talk! And who told you the lady had a bath?”
Cole jerked a thumb toward Jessica. “Isn’t it obvious? Her skin’s all rosy . . . ” He paused, deliberately sniffing the air. “And I can smell your lavender soap on her.”
Ma shook a finger at her son. “Enough! You and your no-good brothers have already tried my patience sorely, so don’t think I won’t fetch my broom again and give you your comeuppance. Quit sniffing the lady like a tomcat on the prowl and gather up your things.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Tossing a last leer at Jessica, Cole busied himself at the bureau, while Ma and Jessica finished making up the bed. Smoothing down the quilt, Jessica turned to see
“Suit yourself. I’ll get the grease to heating.”
Jessica went to the sideboard. Rummaging in the cab inet above, she found a small, clean Mason jar, filled it with tea, and added a fresh mint sprig. Turning toward Ma, she grimaced at the sight of the woman ladling a huge chunk of white lard into a cast-iron frying pan.
“Have you—um—had your cholesterol checked recently?” she remarked.
“Huh?” asked an obviously befuddled Ma.
“I take it we’re having fried chicken for dinner?”
“Yep.” Ma wiped her hands on her filthy apron. “But first I’d best get you settled, missy, before one of the boys comes in and spots you in that scandalous getup.”
Jessica took a sip of tea. “Good point.”
“Come along. I’ll show you where you’ll be bunking.”
Jessica followed Ma back through the parlor, into the hallway, and across to the front bedroom. She paused in the doorway of the pleasant room with its braided rug and pine furnishings. “Wait—isn’t this Cole’s room?”
Ma was already at the four-poster bed, pulling off the pillows and quilts. “Not anymore. I already met up with my eldest in the yard and gave him the news. That varmint kidnapped you, so he can give up his room for a spell and sleep with his brothers in the bunkhouse.”
Jessica chuckled. “Sounds like a fitting punishment.”
“Missy, would you fetch me a set of clean sheets?” Ma asked, huffing away as she pulled off more bedding. “I recollect there’s one in the bottom drawer of the bureau.”
“Sure.” Jessica crossed the room, noting a pair of Cole’s dusty boots sitting beneath the front window, his hat hung on a peg near the bureau. Setting her tea down on the dresser scarf, she leaned over, opened the bottom drawer, and pulled out a set of white, embroidered sheets scented with spicy sachet.
She crossed over and handed them to Ma. “Here you are. May I help you?”
“Sure.”
Jessica watched Ma plump up the tick, sending feath ers into the air. Then the two women stretched the bottom sheet over the mattress and tucked it in. They were un folding the top sheet when Jessica heard a male throat being cleared. Both women turned to see Cole lounging in the doorway, his wickedly glinting eyes focused on Jessica. Jessica felt herself blushing at the sight of him, especially as she recalled their earlier intimacies, and quickly ascertained from his expression that his thoughts were equally decadent. Her fingers automatically moved to the top button of her wrapper, which was heavy muslin but hardly the stoutest covering.
Ma spoke first, her tone indignant. “What are you doing here, you rascal? Can’t you see the lady is in a state of disarray?”
Cole chuckled, his intent gaze still focused on Jessica. “Yeah, I can see. But since you’ve banned me from my own room, can’t I at least fetch my clothes?”
Ma waved him in. “Go ahead, varmint. But rattle your hocks. After that, this room is off-limits, you hear?”
“Oh, yes, ma’am, I hear,” Cole drawled, striding arro gantly toward the dresser. He paused to regard Jessica with amusement. “My, but you scrub up nice, Miss Jessie. Enjoy your bath?”
As Jessica glared, Ma scolded, “Hush up that scandalous talk! And who told you the lady had a bath?”
Cole jerked a thumb toward Jessica. “Isn’t it obvious? Her skin’s all rosy . . . ” He paused, deliberately sniffing the air. “And I can smell your lavender soap on her.”
Ma shook a finger at her son. “Enough! You and your no-good brothers have already tried my patience sorely, so don’t think I won’t fetch my broom again and give you your comeuppance. Quit sniffing the lady like a tomcat on the prowl and gather up your things.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Tossing a last leer at Jessica, Cole busied himself at the bureau, while Ma and Jessica finished making up the bed. Smoothing down the quilt, Jessica turned to see
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