Jesus swallowed with difficulty. “That is Anna,” he said. “I think she likes you.” He continued to stare into her silver eyes. It had been a long time since he had been so close to a girl his own age.

The girl dropped her gaze. She blushed like a garden.

Peter saw the exchange pass between them. He noted the stillness they shared and felt his chest tighten.

“What is your name?” Jesus asked.

The girl said nothing.

“We have to go,” Peter growled.

“But why is she alone here at night?”

“That is not our worry,” Peter said. “If it were left up to you, we would sleep on a dung heap!”

A door on one of the priests’ houses flew open with a crack. The girl and the shepherds ducked behind the well.

A large man with a greasy face stepped into the courtyard and threw a woman into the street as if tossing out a bucket of slop. The woman landed hard but scrambled to her feet. She spun and charged back at him.

“Give me my money!” she hollered. “Your master owes me!”

The large man threw her back down with little effort. Again, she rose and charged. Again, the man threw her down. He seemed to be making a game of it.

Above them, Jesus noticed the Temple priest with golden hair who had accosted them peering down from a balcony. He was busy retying the sash around his robe.

Across the courtyard, the woman leapt onto the large man’s back, sinking her teeth into his ear, poking at his eyes. “Give me my money!” she screamed.

The man roared in pain and charged into the courtyard, the woman clinging to his flesh like a burr. Enraged, he sunk to his knees and rolled over to crush her against a low wall. He forced his weight onto her again and again. She groaned and gasped for breath, eventually releasing her grip. The man staggered to his feet. He wiped blood from his eyes. “I swear I will tear you limb from limb, you filthy whore!” he bellowed and reached over to grab her by the hair.

“Mother!” the silver-eyed girl groaned.

Jesus sensed her tensing for an attack. Knowing she would be beaten to death, he grabbed her and held fast. She screeched in protest, but before she could bolt, Jesus shoved her to the side and charged forward. Solid as a bull, he rammed his full weight into the large man’s gut. The sudden attack knocked the assailant off balance so that he tripped and tumbled over the low wall behind him.

“Do not lay another hand on her!” Jesus roared, standing over him.

The brute leapt to his feet. When he saw the young shepherd, he began to laugh. “What is this?” he cried. “Would you defend a whore, little man? Have you already developed an interest in her wares?”

“Leave her alone.”

Peter stared, aghast.