Read Hunter's Woman for Free Online

mind the task?  I could speak to him myself.”
    Enid shook her head.  “Likely as not, he’d try to gouge you.  We owe you as it is and I expect you’ll need to look in on Jomares again.  If you’d be willing to accept it as part of what we owe…?”
    Aslyn smiled, relieved by the offer.  In her past experience, landlords had been inclined to consider they might as well barter for ‘special’ favors while they were about it, as soon as they discovered she was unwed and traveling without a companion.  “Certainly.”
    As Enid turned her steps toward the heart of town, Jomares jogged the ox into motion, turned the cart down a narrow alley, and disappeared beyond a structure almost as ramshackle as the one that had belonged to Gershin.  Aslyn caught a glimpse of him and the cart once more as he reached a road that ran parallel to the one where she stood and turned back toward the heart of town.  She supposed they’d settled it between them that Jomares would take their belongings to begin unloading while Enid made arrangements. 
    Aslyn turned to survey her new domain.  It looked worse than any of the other cottages that lined the dirt packed road, but only by a little.  Sighing, she made her way to the door.  It was not locked, but the wood had swollen with moisture and was no doubt sealed with ice, as well.  She’d battered bruises on her shoulder before she managed to pry the door open sufficiently to squeeze inside.  Without any light source, the interior should have looked much like the cave she’d sheltered in the night before, for the house had been constructed of sod and thatch and boasted not a single window.  Unfortunately, there were more than a few unplanned ‘lights’, allowing sufficient illumination for her to make out the contents.
    Without surprise, she saw that it consisted of only one room.  A few rickety pieces of furniture littered the space.  In the far back was a cot … no doubt crawling with vermin.  Aslyn debated briefly with herself, but decided she was confident that Enid would prevail in her negotiations with the landlord.  That being the case, she saw no reason to wait upon word when she could be working at making the place a bit more comfortable. 
    Moving back to the door, she peered at the hinges and discovered the leather was rotted on the upper hinge.  It had begun to separate, allowing the door to sag.  Lifting up on the door, she opened it wide to let in more light and, hopefully, allow some of the musty odors trapped inside to escape. 
    She was reluctant even to touch the mattress, but she most certainly had no intention of using it until it had been thoroughly aired.  Grasping one end, she lifted it from the rope frame.  Expecting it to be heavy with moist, and probably rotting, straw, Aslyn discovered that the mattress, no doubt filled with down, was surprisingly light.  Having braced herself for more weight than she’d encountered, Aslyn staggered back a couple of steps as the down filled bedding flew toward her, tripped over something lying on the dirt packed floor, and landed on her rump so hard it jarred the pins from her hair so that they tumbled around her shoulders.
    A snicker greeted her mishap.
    She turned to glare at the intruder and her heart skipped several beats.  A man stood in the open portal, blocking much of the light.  She needed none, however.  His armor was enough to tell her two things; he was a stranger; and he was a knight, which meant he was a potential threat.  She got up with as much dignity as she could muster.  “May I help you?” she asked coolly.
    “I was told I might find the healer here.  Might you be her daughter?  Or have I the wrong cottage?”
    A patient … already?  Aslyn grasped her hair and quickly coiled it at the base of her skull once more, jabbing pins into it to hold it in place.  Smoothing her skirts, she stepped forward.  “I am the healer.”
    He stepped inside, dwarfing the tiny cottage.