Free Assassin's Curse by Debra L Martin, David W Small

know,” Clara said.
    “Actually, I don’t know,” Jeda said.   He was not used to finding things so difficult to accomplish.   Since he had been cursed with the girls, his entire life had become one challenge after another.    
    “Let me show you how,” Clara said, slowly moving to the table.
    Jeda watched the woman approach him like he was a wild animal.   She held out her hands as if to show him she held nothing dangerous in them.   The scene was so comical he laughed out loud and nearly frightened her to death.
    “What?” Clara cried, jumping back.   “I ain’t gonna hurt you.”
    “I know that,” Jeda replied, still smiling.   “And I’m not going to hurt you either, so relax.   We’ll get through this a lot easier if we both trust each other a bit.”
    Clara stood up and straightened her apron.   “Well, fine then.”   She walked forward and took two of the milk containers from him.   She twisted the ends of each to make a nipple so the twins would be able to suckle from them.
    “You do it like this,” Clara explained, propping the milk container up on each baby’s blanket.   Positioned correctly, the twins were able to reach and grab the containers and drink away contentedly.   “This way they can drink the milk and you can move about.”
    Jeda saw the ease with which Clara fed the children and wondered where her own might be.   “I can see you have experience in this matter.   Where are your children?”
    It was Clara turn to laugh.   “My children are long grown up and gone.   They’ve been out of my house for years.   It’s just me and my Jed these days.”
    “Jed?” Jeda asked, momentarily confused at the name she mentioned.
    “Now, don’t go getting alarmed.   Jed is my old mule I use to bring my bread to the next village.   That’d be the village of Rocher, south of here.   They don’t have a baker there, but they do have a fine healer.   If you really need to find a good healer, she’s the one I’d go and find.   Forget about old Bertha here.   I usually go to Rocher twice a week, but it ain’t that far: round trip takes about a day.”
    Jeda recognized the village name as the one Miriam mentioned and knew that was his next destination.   It should not hard to find, but an idea came to him.   “When is your next trip?”
    “Matter of fact, I’m heading that way tomorrow.”
    “Would you mind if the girls and I came along with you?” Jeda asked.   “It would be a lot easier on us if we could ride on your wagon.”
    Jeda had no worry that the trip would wear him out, but if anyone was tracking them, a wagon with a man, a woman, and two children would not attract the attention that a man carrying two infants would, especially in these small villages where gossip went around like wildfire.
    Clara thought about Jeda’s request for a moment.   Jeda was a dangerous man, but the children could probably use a more-experienced hand in caring for them.   The longer she stayed with them, the more Jeda could learn about how to take care of them.   “Sure, I would enjoy the company,” she said.
    “I would also like to rest here for the day and night,” Jeda said, “if you could manage it.”
    “Don’t see as that would put me out too much.”
    “I have coin to pay, too,” Jeda said, laying a silver penny on the table between them.
    Clara stared at the coin lying there.   It was a lot of money, more than she could make in a whole week and definitely more than a night’s stay was worth.   “With that kind of money, you and the girls can have my room and bed for as long as you like.   I’ll just sleep here in the kitchen.”
    “Just the day and night will do nicely,” Jeda said.
    “Well, if you’re sleeping here and coming with me tomorrow, I should at least know your name.”
    “My name’s Jeda.”
    Clara laughed at that. “No wonder you startled when I mentioned my mule’s name.   Mind you now, we leave early in the morning, well