Chapter Two

Six months latter

It seemed almost unbelievable that dodger had been in Australia for six months. To be honest he didn't find it all that bad. There was never a chilly night nor a foggy morning like the ones he experienced in London so many times before.

He had even made a few new mates. Jonathan , a boy two years older then him, Will a Eleven year old who got caught stealing sheep and good Charlie a boy who no one knew his age or what he had done.

The work was hard- it was more then hard it was back breaking. But he had started to get a nice tan and good muscles from labouring in the government labour yards. And at least he got fed everyday- with good food, no. But grub was grub.

A small hum escaped his lips as he hiked up the lane to the his small hut. It wasn't Fagin's clubhouse but it was a fine lodging with a good bed and a fireplace to keep him

warm.

His eye caught something red from behind the shack. He squinted hard- it looked like hair.

What on earth?

He crept up slowly to the side of the house. With careful steps he tiptoed closer.

The red hair belonged to a girl. She looked to be no older then fifteen perhaps a small sixteen year old. Her green eyes turned to face him.

"what are you doing here?" .

The girl let out a sharp gasp then stumbled backwards. She looked like, what Dodger thought a little kid who had got caught with her hand in the cookie jar and now had to face her Mother.

"well." he insisted keeping his disproving glare.

The girl took half a step forward then bowed her head. "I-" her bottom lip trembled almost making Dodger feel bad for her. "well I-"

"well you what?"

"I was just exploring… that's all." she tucked a strand of her red hair behind her ear. "When I saw this cabin, I did. So I wanted to look into the window."

"The window, huh?"

Her head bobbed up and down in a nervous nod.

He took a step forward then poked her in the chest. "what's the real reason you're here?"

He now noticed that she was leaning against the side of the cabin using it as a almost crutch. While her one foot dangled off the ground.

Her face twisted in pain as he took her arm off of the side of the building. Imidentently she gripped onto his neck to steady herself.

Her touch sent a shiver up his spine. "all right." the guilty party sighed. "I'm lost and I hurt myself." her Irish accent ran thick through each and every sentence.

That seemed to be a lot more fitting. "Now that I believe." he moved her body in closer to his to provide a better crutch. "now come on I'll lie you down and we'll have a look at that ankle of yours."

"lie me down!" her eyes grew large nearly popping out of their sockets.

He laughed softly. "not like that." he gave his head a slight shake. "But if you prefer…"

"no I would not prefer."

He took a step forward hoping that she would hobble after him. But instead she stood there. "I'm not going any where with you." the young Irish lass stated. "I'll make it home by myself."

He slipped his arm out of her grasp then shrugged his shoulders. "right then."

She stumbled forward, before falling she grabbed onto the side of the house again. She let out a loud sigh. "I guess-" she closed her eyes. "fine I'll go into your… cabin."

His lips curled up into a grin of victory. "I thought you'd say that." he wrapped his arm around her back then took her arm and wrapped it around his neck. "can you make it to the house?"

She scowled. "I can." her voice sounded like a runaway flame. So full of fire and spunk.

He took a small step forward. She gasped out in pain then flung her other arm around his neck.

Dodger sighed. "how bout I just carry ya in ?"

The invalid shook her head. "no." she said. "I can make it just fine without you… carrying me."

"right then."