Healer's Touch Read Online Free PDF

“No.”
    “Come on, Jonas. Hear the kid out.” Al swung down from the cart and joined them.
    “I ain’t no kid”. She crossed her arms, scowling at her supporter, who laughed. She narrowed her eyes further, to no effect, then returned her attention to Jonas. “You’re leaving Cheer, right? I want to leave Cheer.”
    “Not our problem.”
    “No. But all the same. I have a little money. Not enough to get me a ticket on a coach, but I could make myself useful, earn my passage with you.”
    “Ain’t nothin’ we need from no thief.”
    “I wasn’t always a thief. I used to help my pa in his smithy. I can help.” The selection of knives in Jonas’ vest caught Llew’s eye again. “I can fight.”
    That got a brief laugh out of Jonas.
    “I can!” She made fists, waving them in front of her just as she had many a time against boys she’d rough ’n tumbled with.
    Al placed a hand over hers, pushing down.
    “We could at least see what Aris has to say,” he said.
    “No. This ain’t no job for a criminal, no matter how good his words sound.”
    A movement behind Jonas drew Llew’s attention. It was the Farry. She dived into the back of the low cart, pulling sacks and an old blanket about her.
    “Get out,” said Jonas flatly.
    “Please.” With the realisation that her safety was in the hands of someone who had every reason to turn her over to the law, she could think of nothing else to say. She threw everything she had into a pleading look
    Jonas looked down his nose at her, then along the road at the approaching law man. With a grunt, he flicked the blanket over her.
    Llew waited to discover her fate. Maybe Jonas wasn’t an unfair man. She had deserved the fist to the gut. She didn’t deserve to hang.
    The sack closest to her nose smelled of dirt and potatoes. Something else nearby smelled sweet. Apples? She inhaled and her mouth watered, remembering that she had yet to eat. She forced it from her mind. For now, she could do nothing but be still.
    “What happened here?”
    “Old drunk walked in front of us. Spooked our horse,” said Jonas.
    “Yeah. He just stumbled out of nowhere,” said Al.
    “You two ain’t from around here.”
    “No, sir. Over from Phyos,” said Al.
    “What for?”
    “Just helpin’ a friend,” said Jonas.
    “Where you staying?”
    “Postmaster Muor’s house.”
    “Nice place.” The lawman sounded impressed.
    “Sure is,” said Alvaro.
    “He’s a good man,” said the officer. Another pause, as though he was waiting for the boys to confirm. “Well, maybe the old drunk’ll learn for next time, huh?” The officer laughed, inviting the two young men to join him. They didn’t. “You wouldn’t happen to have seen a young lad about so tall, white shirt, grubby, would you?”
    “Just that old boy,” said Al.
    “If we see him, we’ll be sure to let you know,” said Jonas. “What did he do?”
    “He’s wanted for questioning about a murder.”
    “Murder?”
    “Yeah. We have an eye witness saw him do it.”
    Silence from Jonas and Al. Llew tensed. This was it. They were going to give her up. She’d swing from a rope by the end of the week. Or worse. There was always worse. Llew just didn’t have the imagination to fill in the blanks.
    “Alright.” A hand slapped the side of the cart. “You boys stay out of trouble, you hear?”
    The distant sound of children playing reached Llew’s ears. A bird fluttered overhead. What would they do? They hadn’t revealed her so far. That was something to cling to.
    The blanket was pulled back.
    “Get out,” said Jonas.
    “I didn’t do it. You have to believe me,” she pleaded with him, making no effort to keep her voice deep.
    “I don’t gotta do nothin’.” He looked at her with his stony expression. “Out.”
    She turned to Al. “I’m innocent.”
    Al raised an eyebrow.
    “Well, maybe not entirely innocent. But I didn’t kill anyone. On my mother’s honour.” They still looked unconvinced. “She was