WoW thanks so much for all the kind reviews, I truly appreciate it! I love to write to it's great to see when people like your work :-) Here's another chapter to keep you on the edge of your seats! Review and enjoy

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Peter soon fell into a pleasant routine at the Goldberg mansion. He loved Victoria and after he finished his work with the horses, he would play games around the mansion with her. He felt like a child again when he was with her. He had even taught her to ride her favorite mare, Honeycomb. Mr. Goldberg praised Peter for his patience and rewarded him with several handsome sets of clothes. On his sixth week with the family, Mrs. Goldberg presented him with a pair of fine leather boots. Peter was happy with them. He still hoped his memory would return and he might find his family one day but he was content with the Goldbergs for now. Of course he hadn't forgotten the mermaid's message but he had decided against going back to Neverland at the moment. Perhaps one day he would return but for now, he had a pleasant home at the Goldberg mansion.

Peter checked his reflection before leaving and sighed. For some reason, he didn't like that he was looking so grown up. But that was silly, of course. Everyone had to grow up. Mrs. Goldberg had insisted on cutting his long hair and now his golden curls weren't so tousled as they had been. He was growing a bit of stubble on his cheeks and he had gained several inches on his height. His muscular arms and chest were clad in a fancy purple shirt Mrs. Goldberg had made for him and on his feet he wore the leather boots she had given him as well. He sighed, shook his head, and went outside to prepare the carriage, for Mr. Goldberg wished to go to town today to buy Victoria a birthday present. Peter waited with the carriage while Mr. Goldberg ventured into various shops and Peter jumped down to stretch his legs a bit. He was stroking Nightingale's back when there was a loud commotion behind him and he spun around at the noise. A young woman was running toward him, several men were chasing her.

"Thief! Stop her! THIEF!" She ran right into him and his arms wrapped tightly around the girl and brought her down to the ground. She struggled and beat him with her fists, screaming at him to let her go. The men reached the two and pulled the girl up by her dress.

"Let go of me!"

"I'll have my coins back, wench."

"I don't have your coins, unhand me! Barbarian!" Peter brushed himself off and took the hand of one of the men, who helped him to his feet.

"I thank you for your assistance, lad. This thief has been dodging us for days."

"I'm no thief," the girl continued to holler but the man who held her backhanded her and she cried out in pain. Peter's jaw clenched, for he did not like to see a woman treated so, no matter what her crimes were.

"No, you're worse. You're a whore. I've seen you with the men around town. Maybe a night in jail will make you less saucy, eh whore?"

"Don't call me that! I'm worth twenty of your women!" The men all threw their heads back and laughed. The woman gingerly wiped away the blood at her lip.

"Throw her in a cell."

"No, please! Please, have mercy!" Peter's heart panged as he watched the men drag away the screaming girl and he remembered he was the one who had captured her. He sighed and stroked Nightingale's muzzle.

"I'm a horrible person, Nightingale." She snorted in agreement and he shook his head.

"You're not supposed to agree with me, old girl." The mare whinnied and Peter's eyes remained on the spot where the woman had been moments earlier.

"What's all the commotion about?" Mr. Goldberg had exited the shop, holding a large parcel under his arm.

"Oh, a young woman was being chased by some men who were calling her a thief. They just dragged her off to jail."

"Poor thing, probably innocent. This town is dangerous for women of the street." Peter felt even worse at Mr. Goldberg's words and jumped up into the driver's seat and clicked the reigns. On the way home, his thoughts remained on the young woman and he pondered what he could do to help her.

The next morning Peter tended to his chores and checked with Mr. Goldberg if there was anything else he needed to do. Next he hurried up to his room and took out a small velvet pouch from under his pillow and weighed it in his hand. He had been saving his earnings, not really needing to spend it on anything since the Goldbergs fed and clothed him quite well. Peter changed into a clean white shirt and some clean trousers and pulled on a green vest over his chest. He pulled on his leather boots, tucked the velvet pouch into his pocket and went to saddle up his favorite mare, Darling.

The ride into town was quick and he had to ask someone where the jail was. When he entered, the warden stared at him suspiciously.

"I'm here to inquire about a young woman who was brought in yesterday. They said she was a thief."

"Follow me." Peter followed the warden to the end of the hall and stopped in front of a large cell with a single person in it. The woman sat on the floor with her knees pulled up to her chest, her long hair hiding her face.

"Wake up you! You have a visitor." Peter was let into the cell and he timidly tapped the woman's shoulder. She looked up at him and her eyes widened.

"You." Before he could speak, she slapped him smartly across the cheek and his hand flew to his face in shock. The warden started to open the door.

"Oy, you'll pay for that, wench. Wait til I get my hands on you—" But Peter held up his hand and the warden paused.

"It was my fault, I frightened the poor girl. Carry on with your work." The woman stared at Peter and his eyes traveled up and down her body. Now that she was standing in the light, he could see her more clearly. She had long blonde hair, which looked extremely dirty and her face was smeared with dirt and tears. She was tall and quite skinny and her dress was ripped all over. She had bruises all over her tiny body and it made an anger rise up in Peter to see them.

"What's your name?"

"What's yours?" she deflected the question.

"I asked you first."

"I'm…" she paused and Peter looked politely confused. Finally she spoke. "Jill." Peter knew she was lying but he didn't press the matter.

"I'm Peter Waters. Where do you live, Miss Jill?"

"Here at the moment," she said quickly. Peter had to admire her quick tongue.

"Not for long."

"What?"

"I've come to pay your bail. You're free." Jill frowned.

"Why would you do that when you were the one who handed me to them in the first place?" Peter stared at his feet and bit his lip.

"I, er, also wanted to apologize. I'm sure you're no thief."

"I stole a loaf of bread to keep from starving to death. If that makes me a thief, this is a very sad world indeed." Peter continued to stare at the girl and noticed there was something familiar about her.

"Where do you come from?"

"No business of yours, Mr. Waters." Peter rolled his eyes. Ok, quit being difficult, he thought to himself.

"Very well. Warden!" The warden shuffled back and opened the cell. Peter dumped a handful of coins into the warden's hand and he nearly dropped the money in surprise.

"I'd like to purchase this young lady's freedom."

"Out with you then, whore."

"And don't call her that," he said through clenched teeth. Jill shot him a grateful smile before following him outside. The warden tripped her as she made her way out and she fell to the ground in a heap. He threw his head back and laughed and Peter stepped up to him, his fists clenched.

"Apologize to the lady. Now."

"I see no lady here, boy."

"I live in the mansion of Mr. Charles Goldberg, sir," Peter was glad to see fear appear in the warden's eyes. "I said, apologize."

"My apologies, Miss," the warden said quickly as Peter helped Jill to her feet. She brushed herself off and briskly walked outside.

Outside, Peter turned to Jill and attempted a smile.

"Can I give you a ride home, Miss Jill?"

"Thank you, Mr. Waters but you've done enough." Without another word, she turned in the opposite direction and started to walk away. Peter watched her go, his heart sinking. He knew he knew her from somewhere but he just could not place it. Mr. Goldberg had called her a woman of the street…perhaps he had just seen her around town. Still, he felt uneasy for some reason. He jumped on Darling's back and keeping his distance, he followed her. Jill looked back behind her and Peter yanked on Darling's reins, making her turn away and he looked in the opposite direction. Jill seemed satisfied that no one was following her and she turned down an alleyway.