The wagon was nondescript and broken down. Cloth that was supposed to form the roof fluttered in the breeze and much of the woodwork was rotten. Detritus surrounded the cart, rags, burned and broken pots and pans along with the smouldering remains of a fire. A half-starved horse watched them, flickering its ears nervously. There was no sign of life but they heard crying.

"Cass?" Joe called softly.

They made their way through the heaps and the sobbing got louder.

Scamp almost tripped over a box. "Cassandra?"

"Cass? Cassie? It's me. Little Joe."

The noise stopped and they heard movements. "Little Joe? Joe?...I'm scared!"

"Sshhh. Come out to me, honey."

They stepped through the ragged drape into the back of the wagon. The smell hit them. Rotten food, dirty clothes. A couple of fat flies buzzed in the hot, languid air.

"Oh, my God, Joe!" Scamp exclaimed. "Look!"

The child lay on the filthy divan, twisting and wailing in pain. She looked emaciated and exhausted. Her clothes were now torn to the point of uselessness. Her back, buttocks and legs were covered with angry welts, some of which looked as if they had broken the skin.

Scamp burst into tears and gently put her arms around her. Cassie flinched violently and howled.

"Oh, poor baby, poor child! Joe, who could have done this?!"

Joe's face was black. "It's obvious, isn't it? That no-good, dead-beat father of hers, Sullivan!" He picked her up and she fought him, out of her mind with pain and fear. "Cass! Honey, it's me. It's Little Joe!"

"L'il Joe?" She focused her eyes on his face and he smiled at her, slowly winking one eye so she knew everything would be alright again. "Joe! Joe? I'm scared!

"You don't need to be frightened any more. I'm here. And here's Scamp. We're gonna look after you."

"But...but...what about Papa?"

"Where is your father, Cass?" Scamp asked.

"I...dunno. He was here earlier."

"You're coming home with us. Pa'll know what to do. He'll help you, sweetheart. We will help you."

She started to struggle and panic. "But Papa will be angry! He told me to stay here and if - "

"Don't you worry about him."

"But you don't understand! He'll beat me and - "

"No-one's ever going to beat you again, Cass."

"That's right," Scamp said firmly. "No-one'll ever lay a hand on you again. We won't let them."

She became incoherent with terror. "No, L'il Joe! I'm scared! I'm scared!"

"We've got to get her home, Scamp. Pa'll know what to do."

They carried her out, past the filth and trash, to their own ponies. Scamp looked back at the starving horse. "And I'm coming back for him, Joe."

"Alright. Let's get her sorted out first, shall we?"

"Francesca!" she suddenly screamed. "Where's Francesca? I've lost her!"

"Oh, her darn doll! Go and find it, would you, Scamp?"

Scamp made her way back, poking and searching, eventually finding it on the floor under the bed.

They made slow time for Cass was in pain. She half knelt on Joe's saddle, facing him, her weight on his chest and shoulder. She clung to him for grim death. Even when his arm started to ache and Scamp offered to carry her, she would not let go of him. "Joe, Joe!" she crooned.

"It's alright, baby. We're nearly home."