Free Lawman in Disguise by Laurie Kingery

shouldn’t get used to it, she reminded herself, because he wouldn’t be staying.
    â€œBilly Joe, you be careful with that knife, mind. I need you to start those potatoes, and bring in some kindling. Set the table, too. Right now, or you’ll forget.” Plus, it would get her chatterbox of a son out of the barn. She’d seen the weariness on Thorn’s face and sensed he needed to rest.
    â€œAww, Ma, do I have to?” Billy Joe cried, dragging his foot through a pile of straw. “I was gonna talk to Mr. Thorn and keep him company,”
    â€œBilly Joe, a man does what a lady asks of him, especially when that lady is his ma,” Thorn said, with a nod of encouragement at the boy. “I was feeling a need for a little nap, anyway.”
    Was it her imagination, or was Thorn looking a little flushed? “You can come talk to Mr. Dawson after supper— if you wash the dishes,” Daisy told him. “They’d better be done when I come home.”
    â€œYes, Ma.”
    Satisfied, Daisy shifted her gaze to Thorn. “Billy Joe will bring out your supper. I’ll bid you good-night now, since it will be late by the time I’m back. Come on, son.”
    â€œThank you, ma’am.”
    * * *
    Thorn watched Daisy and the boy go, appreciating the gentle, graceful sway of her skirt as she walked. And because of how much he appreciated that, and how he immediately missed her company as soon as the barn door closed behind her, Thorn knew he needed to get himself gone from here as soon as possible. There was no use becoming too attached to what he couldn’t have. Ace was growing restless, too, not being used to spending so much time in a stall. Unfortunately, even though the horse wasn’t getting his usual exercise, he was still eating just as much as ever. Thorn couldn’t help but feel guilty about the bales of hay and the large bucket of oats that had appeared in the barn shortly after his arrival. He guessed Daisy could ill afford to feed his horse, if she worried about the cost of replacing chicken feed.
    Thorn had considered letting the horse out to run off some of that energy. But allowing Ace to exercise in the small pasture behind the barn might have aroused too much curiosity from Daisy’s neighbors, since she apparently hadn’t had a horse for some time. And if one of the outlaws spotted Thorn’s distinctive bay, it would be as good as posting a sign to tell the Griggs gang where he could be found.
    If he was going to leave, though, he’d have to regain his strength, which couldn’t be done by lying around in a barn all day. He’d have to find some tasks to help make himself active and strong again. For one thing, he’d promised Daisy he’d fix the barn roof before he departed, despite the fact that she’d said it wasn’t necessary. He’d have to ponder a way to manage that without being seen.
    Right now, though, he was going to sleep. It seemed so hot in the barn all of a sudden. He wished he’d asked the boy to fetch him some cold water before he left him alone...
    Some time later, Thorn roused from his sleep wishing he had a blanket. It was so cold his teeth were chattering. Had a norther blown in while he was napping?
    He must have dozed again, for the lantern Billy Joe had brought was an island of light in the dark barn. The chill had faded completely and Thorn felt scorched with heat again. The boy was shaking him awake. “Thorn! Mr. Dawson! Wake up! Why are you so hot?”
    â€œBilly Joe, is Mr. Dawson all right? Does he want some supper?” he heard Daisy call.
    â€œMa, he’s hot as a firecracker! I cain’t hardly wake him!” Billy Joe’s voice held an edge of panic.
    Knowing Daisy was home brought Thorn partially out of his stupor. He heard her steps quicken, and then she was there, her cool hand to his forehead, her eyes wide with worry. He leaned into her touch, enjoying the