"Jeni obviously recovered and everything returned to normal." Joe said. "It wasn't an easy recovery, Adam. She was hurt bad. It took months of healing."
Adam sat back, shocked. "And why didn't anyone tell me this?"
Joe shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "Well, you know how Jeni talks in her sleep. She was always talking about you. How you were leaving her or hurting her and other stuff like that. Then one day, she woke up and was alert for the first time since she'd been taken and she was really confused. Turns out that she didn't remember anything after she ran into the tree."
Joe took a deep breath and continued. "Doc Martin said it was because sometimes the brain blocks out times of extreme pain and it was better not to try and make her remember. One day Hoss accidentally mentioned something about Gerald Spaeth and Jeni got all white in the face and passed out. When she woke up, she still didn't remember anything. Doc said the memories might come back one day if she gets a head injury or sees something that triggers the memory. That was why we were all so worried about when you came back from college and that is why she acts the way she does towards you. The thing is that she doesn't know why she acts that way."
Adam sat with his head in his hands. Joe had gone to bed to give Adam time to think through everything he had told him. Adam felt tears in his eyes. "I feel like such a failure." He thought miserably. "I caused her so much pain, physical and emotional."
He rose and stood by the couch, looking at Jeni's sleeping form. "Jeni." He whispered. "Please forgive me. I'm so sorry I wasn't there when you needed me." A sob caught in his throat as he reached down to brush away a stray tendril of auburn hair from her face. He turned to go sit, but stopped when he heard a voice.
"Of course I forgive you, Adam. I love you too much not too."
Adam turned and saw Jeni smiling at him with tears running down her face.
"Can you forgive me for thinking that you had abandoned me?" She asked.
Adam's eyes filled with tears as he lost control of his emotions. He kneeled by the couch and held her in his arms. Both cried on each other's shoulders as years of misunderstanding and hurt was washed away by the healing power of tears.
Jeni woke feeling refreshed in mind, but sore in body. She started to sit up then realized that she was sleeping in Adam's arms. She sighed happily and snuggled in closer, burying her head in his shoulder. She breathed deeply, taking in the smell of her brother. Oh, she loved him so much! Whatever had kept her from loving him to the fullest had washed away last night.
Adam felt Jeni curl up against him and he smiled. He pulled his arm up behind her and drew her closer to him. He was so incredibly happy; it felt like nothing could go wrong. All of a sudden, they both remembered.
"PA!"
They jumped up and ran into the bedroom only to find an empty bed. Jeni glanced up at Adam, worry evident in her eyes.
"Joe?" Adam called. "Hoss?"
"Pa!" Jeni shouted. "Where is everyone?"
Just then, the door opened and Pa walked in followed closely by Joe and Hoss.
"Pa." Joe said. "You shouldn't be out of bed."
"Yeah." Hoss agreed. "Dadburnit Pa, you just got over scarlet fever. You can't just get right back up. You gotta rest!"
"Oh hush!" Ben rebuked. "I'm perfectly fine. I only went downstairs to get breakfast for our two sleeping beauties before the kitchen stopped serving breakfast food. It is 10:45 you know."
Adam and Jeni looked at each other in shock.
"10:45?" Jeni questioned.
Ben looked over at his daughter. "Yes, young lady. 10:45."
Jeni looked bewildered.
"Uhh..Pa.." Adam began.
"And you! How old are you exactly? Since when have you slept this late? I realize we are kind of on vacation now, but 10:45?" Ben continued.
"Dadgummit Pa!" Hoss said, exasperated. "If you'd just listen to what me and Little Joe have been trying to tell you all morning, you'd understand."
"Well, Hoss, I'm listening." Ben stated as he set down the breakfast tray on the coffee table.
Hoss looked taken aback. "Uh..How about you tell him, Little Joe?"
"No way. I told Adam a whopper of a story last night."Joe passed the buck back to Hoss. "It's your turn now."
Ben looked aggravated. "Someone tell me what is going on right this minute."
Jeni suddenly felt weak and the room started spinning.
Adam saw her sway and caught her then took her over to the couch to sit.
Ben's look changed from mild anger to alarm instantly. "What's wrong, honey?" He asked, concerned.
"I..uh..have a concussion." Seeing the look on her father's face, she quickly amended "A mild concussion. It's not that bad at all."
Confusion flicked across Ben's face. "How in the blazes did you get a concussion and why are your arms covered in bruises?"
Jeni squirmed uncomfortably.
Adam sensed her discomfort and came to her rescue with a quick rundown of the events the previous night that led to Jeni's present state.
Ben's face showed true horror when Adam told of how he'd thrown Jeni across the room. "Jeni, dear, I am so sorry. I.."
"It's fine, Pa." Jeni interrupted. "I know you didn't mean too. There is nothing to be sorry about. You had no idea what you were doing."
Ben pursed his lips. He knew no one blamed him, but he still felt guilty.
Adam continued to tell his father of how Jeni had called for him and how Joe had told Adam the story of Jeni's kidnapping. As he said that, Adam looked at Jeni, who now took her turn at looking confused.
"My kidnapping? What are you.." Jeni stopped short. Realization hit her and memories flooded back. "Oh!" She gasped. "That kidnapping."
Ben put his hand on her knee to comfort her.
"I remember now." Jeni said, slightly dazed. "I wish I didn't." She shut her eyes tightly, trying to will away the images and feelings that came to mind. "Pa!" she said suddenly.
"What? What's wrong?
"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean what I said. I know I made you angry. I don't blame you at all for hitting me. I deserved it. You should've hit me harder." Tears welled up in Jeni's eyes.
Ben reached out and wrapped his arms around her. "Oh honey. I didn't blame you. I blamed myself. I lost my temper over nothing." Suddenly Ben realized another hurt in the room. "Adam, I owe you a huge apology. I am so sorry I didn't tell you about Jeni. I didn't want to risk completely alienating the two of you and I just didn't know.."
Adam held up his hand. "I completely understand. If I had been in your place, I would've done the same thing. I'm just glad this is all behind us now."
"Me too." Hoss added. "I've never been good at keeping secrets."
Adam smiled to himself. Despite all odds, the cattle had fetched a good price and the family had made it home safely. Best of all, his relationship with Jeni had blossomed. They had become almost inseparable. Ben had fully recovered as had Jeni and they were all back in their normal places. Adam was reading Shakespeare. Jeni was reading Dickens. Joe was beating Hoss at checkers. Ben was reading the paper.
Ben glanced up from his paper and surveyed his children, all so different and unique, yet all so loved by each other and their father. "Adam, so intellectual and dependable; Hoss, so honest and trustworthy; Joe, so mischievous and full of life; And Jeni, my little girl that I almost lost, so fiery and thoughtful." Ben smiled to himself. "Thank you, Father, for the many blessings I don't deserve.
The End
