Free The Healer's Touch by Lori Copeland

keep ahead of them.” He tacked another piece in place.
    â€œThere’s going to be a hanging after a while. Are you going?”
    Kneeling, he fitted the line to a post. “Nope.”
    â€œWhy not?” She put both hands on her knees and bent close,crowding him. He gently eased her aside and continued with his work.
    â€œAh…that’s a shame,” she prattled on. “You don’t go out often, do you?”
    â€œNope.”
    Undeterred, she followed him down the fence line, hands on her knees. Someone needed to tell this girl that she was headed for trouble if she dogged all males like she did him.
    â€œI don’t get to go to any hangings.” She sighed. “I’d like to, but Lyric won’t let me.”
    â€œTwelve-year-olds shouldn’t be witnessing such things.”
    â€œI’m fourteen now. Did you forget?”
    Forget? He wasn’t aware he’d ever known. Or cared. When he didn’t answer she leaned closer. “Do you think that’s fair, or do you think she’s just mothering me?”
    â€œMothering you. Your mother’s sick, isn’t she?”
    â€œYeah, she’s real bad.” She handed him a nail when he turned to reach for one.
    â€œThanks,” he mumbled, frowning.
    â€œYou’re welcome. I’m hoping Mother will live a long time because when she dies Lyric wants to leave this holler but I don’t. I want to spend my life right here.” She cast a glance his way. “I want to get married and live here forever.”
    When he didn’t answer again she prompted, “Do you think that’s silly?”
    â€œSilly?” He eased to the next post.
    â€œYou should go out more often,” she decided.
    â€œThat right?”
    â€œYou’re too young to stay cooped up by yourself. It isn’t good for a body.”
    He turned slightly to stare at her. “How do you know what I do?”
    â€œOh, I know,” Lark said. “I watch out for you.”
    â€œWatch out for me?” Straightening, he looked her straight in the eye. “Why do you watch out for me?”
    â€œI just like to make sure you have everything you need. You know, you being alone and all.”
    Pitching a wire cutter into a bag, he said tightly, “Don’t let me catch you anywhere near my place.”
    â€œWhy not? I’m not trespassing or anything. I’m just keeping an eye on you.”
    â€œYou don’t need to check on me. I’m doing fine.”
    Now he’d have to watch for her peering in his windows. When was she going to get over this childish crush?
    Shaking her head, Lark grinned. “Are not.”
    â€œLook, don’t you need to be somewhere?”
    â€œNope. Not until they come for the outlaw.”
    â€œWhat outlaw?”
    â€œThe one we got in our parlor. We think he might be one of the Youngers. He tore through our barn door a few nights ago and we’ve been expecting him to die any minute, but he keeps hanging on. We’re supposed to take him to the sheriff’s office this morning, where someone can hopefully tell us who he is. Then they’re going to hang him.”
    â€œThe sheriff.” The remark came out harsh and unsympathetic.
    â€œYou don’t like our sheriff?”
    â€œHe’s a runt. Doesn’t have enough gumption to come in out of the rain.” He hammered, using more force than necessary. Sheriff Dixon should have never appointed his nephew to the job. The boy had no experience with outlaws and barely knew how to pin his badge to his shirt.
    â€œSounds more like you don’t respect him…or maybe you’d like the job?”
    â€œI wouldn’t turn it down.” He stood, adjusting his hat brim, and leaned down to pick up a tool. “And you can bet I would do someboot kicking in this holler.” He met her eyes. “Shouldn’t you be running along?”
    Glancing up, she appeared to study