Printer in Petticoats by Lynna Banning Page B

just break her legs?
    She twisted toward the window and accidentally knocked a book off one of the fruit crates beside the cot.
    The humming downstairs stopped. Jessamine held her breath and clasped both arms over her belly to muffle the gurgling. Please, Lord, rescue me from this embarrassing predicament. Heavy footsteps sounded up the stairs, and in the next instant Cole Sanders loomed in his bedroom doorway.
    â€œJessamine! What the hell are you doing up here?”
    Jess quailed at the outrage in his voice. What excuse could she possibly offer?
    She could lie.
    No, she couldn’t.
    She could cry.
    No, she couldn’t. Tears would be just as much a lie.
    â€œI—I wanted to check what you could see from your window.”
    He propped his hands on his hips. “Yeah? What can you see from my window?”
    â€œI can see straight into my bedroom window.”
    He nodded. “So, now you know.”
    â€œI should think you would deny it,” she muttered.
    â€œNot likely. You’re intelligent. Observant. And curious. You’d have it figured out in a matter of seconds.”
    â€œWell, yes, I did figure it out.”
    â€œAnd you want me to apologize.”
    â€œI want you to stop spying on me.”
    He gave her a lopsided smile. “It’s a free country, Jessamine. You don’t own the view from my window.”
    â€œWell! You have a lot of nerve. I’ll—I’ll report you to Sheriff Silver.”
    â€œGo ahead. Know what he’ll say?”
    She shook her head.
    He laughed. “He’ll tell you to undress in the dark.”
    She couldn’t look at him. Somehow her presence in his bedroom sent her pulse skittering. A heavy silence fell.
    Cole took a single step into the room. “Jessamine, it’s not illegal for a man to admire a woman’s body.” He waited, but she said nothing.
    â€œDon’t undress in the dark, Jess. You’re beautiful. I’m not going to apologize for noticing that.”
    He moved another step into the room and reached one hand to touch her shoulder. “But you’d better get out of my bedroom. Might give Noralee the wrong idea.”
    All the way down the stairs and out the front door she heard his rich, gentle laughter. It made her spine tingle.
    * * *
    Rita Sheltonberg planted her feet heavily in front of Jess’s desk and leaned over the high rolltop. “Miss Jessamine, we gotta do something more for Johnny.”
    â€œJohnny? Who is Johnny?”
    â€œYou know, Jericho. Sheriff Silver. When he decided to run for district judge, I volunteered to be his campaign manager, but I’ve plumb run out of things to do.”
    Jessamine smiled at the still-handsome older woman. “Seems to me you’re doing a good job of spreading the word, Rita. I’ve seen the posters you put up all over town.”
    â€œNice, aren’t they? Kids at the schoolhouse made ’em for an art project. ‘Cast Your Vote for the Battle of Jericho.’ Kinda catchy, isn’t it?”
    â€œYes, catchy,” Jess agreed. “The trouble is, Mr. Arbuckle is putting up posters, too. ‘A Vote for Arbuckle Is a Vote for Good Government, Like Good Coffee.’”
    â€œI don’t get it,” the waitress blurted out.
    â€œMr. Arbuckle’s grandfather is the founder of Arbuckle’s Coffee.”
    â€œOh, that Arbuckle. I’ll have to make sure the hotel restaurant changes brands right away.”
    â€œThere’s money behind his campaign, Rita. And he’s finagled the support of the Lark newspaper but— Wait a minute! I have an idea.”
    â€œOh? What’s that?”
    â€œYes, a wonderful idea. Rita, you just leave everything to me.”
    When Rita left to return to the restaurant, Jess grabbed her coat and scarf. Eli planted himself in her path.
    â€œHold on a minute, Jess. Last time you had a ‘wonderful idea,’ the ranchers and the sheep men in