Down Memory Lane
It had been a week since the accident and there was no change to Amelia's amnesia. After checking on Amelia's prognosis Doc Martin told Ben and the boys that it would be a matter of time for Amelia makes a full recovery, leaving the men feeling hopeful and anxious.
On a Saturday morning Amelia was grooming her horse in the yard with Hoss watching her from the window behind Ben's desk. Ben walks up behind him. "Whatcha looking at son?" asked Ben inquisitively.
Hoss turns to his father after taking another look out the window then walks in front of his father's desk. "I was watching Amelia out in the yard wishing that there was away we can trigger her memory back. She ain't been the same since the accident. Something about her isn't the same" said Hoss.
"What isn't the same is her memory Hoss" pointed out Ben. He understood his sons' frustrations over the matter; he himself was also frustrated to see his daughter suffering without a memory knowing that there was nothing he can say or do to change that.
Every night he prayed that Amelia would regain her memory but everyday was the same; no change. "Why don't you take Amelia out to her favorite place on the ranch? Maybe that would help jogged her memory" suggested Ben.
Hoss' face lit up "Can't hurt to try I'll go ask her" he walks out of the house and across the yard to where Amelia was.
"Hi Hoss" said Amelia cheerfully. She thought that if she was in a cheerful mood to her family then it would help her feel less disappointed by what Doc Martin informed them and that it would help bright her family's spirits.
"Since it's a beautiful day I was wondering if you would like to go on a ride around the ranch with me and maybe do some fishing?" asked Hoss. Amelia turns to him.
"What about my chores?" asked Amelia. "You can finish them later" persuaded Hoss smiling. "Should we ask Pa for permission?" asked Amelia. "Pa said that it was alright" accredited Hoss.
"Ok" said Amelia excitedly. Hoss smiles as he helps her mount onto Sapphire and then mounts on his horse Chubb. They ride out of the yard.
They ride up to a grassy spot by the lake. There was a wooden swing that was tied to a branch of a tall oak tree. "Does this place seem familiar to you?" asked Hoss curiously trying not to get his hopes up.
"A little why?" asked Amelia. "This is your favorite place on the ranch" explained Hoss. He mounts off his horse then helps Amelia off hers. She walks over to the swing. Hoss walks up behind her.
"Pa and Adam built you this here swing when were a little girl much younger than you are now" said Hoss. "Is that why this is my favorite place?" asked Amelia. "That and because this is a good spot to get good fish" said Hoss.
Amelia smiles and turns to him. "I love it here Hoss thanks for bringing me out here. I love you" said Amelia. "I love you too" said Hoss. Amelia started to get a serious bad ache I her head causing her to kneel to the ground in pain.
Hoss kneels down beside her worriedly. "Mia baby are you alright?" asked Hoss full of concerned. Once the pain was gone Amelia gets back on her feet with Hoss helping her.
"I'm alright Eric" replied Amelia. Hoss was taken back in shock and surprised. He never was referred to as Eric even though that was the name he was born with.
"Amelia you just called me Eric" declared Hoss confused. "That's your name ain't it" said Amelia. "Sure but you know everyone calls me Hoss" said Hoss. "Hoss wasn't my mother's name Catherine?" catechized Amelia changing the subject.
Hoss looks at her surprised by the question coming out of nowhere. "Yes" said Hoss with a nod. "And Little Joe's was Marie, yours was Inger, and Adam's was Elizabeth" said Amelia.
"Say how did you know that?" asked Hoss confused. "I remembered Pa talking about them" said Amelia not realizing the impact of what she just said. Hoss did and yells out a loud yahoo and picks her up and spins her around excitedly.
"Hoss what the heck are you getting excited about?" inquired Amelia confused unsure as to what was causing her brother's sudden excitement. Hoss puts her down and looks at her grinning from ear to ear with delight.
"Amelia honey you got your memory back" exclaimed Hoss frantically. "We have to go tell Pa and Adam and Little Joe. Oh Hoss!" cried Amelia overjoyed as she hugs him. "I was beginning to think I was never going to get my memory back".
They hurried to their horses, mounted on and hurried to tell the others. Joe and Adam were in a challenging game of chess while Ben was enjoying a cup of coffee. They heard horses riding up to the house. "Must be Amelia and Hoss" predicted Adam.
"I hope that ride helped Amelia" replied Joe. Just then Hoss and Amelia busted in. "Amelia got her memory back!" announced Hoss jubilantly. The men stood up and quickly walk up to them.
"It's true Pa I can remember everything" exclaimed Amelia. "Everything" repeated Joe nervously. He was wondering if she remembered before her accident how he disappointed her about not being able to pick her from school.
"What do you remember?" asked Adam eagerly. "I remember when I was first learning how to ride and you boys acting like nervous hens making sure I didn't fall" said Amelia laughing at the memory. Ben hugs her overjoyed that she had come back to them.
"I'm so glad that my baby girl is home" said Ben with tears in his eyes of relief and unspeakable joy. He stops hugging her and Adam walks over to her. "I knew you would get your memory back shortcake" said Adam hugging her with relief.
"I love you" said Amelia with a shaky voice as though she was about to cry. "I love you" said Adam kissing her on the head. "Amelia do you remember your accident?" asked Joe hesitantly.
"Joe I don't think we should discuss that tonight" said Ben sternly. "No that's alright Pa" said Amelia pulling away from Adam and turning to Joe.
"I remember riding to school and being distracted thinking about how Joe couldn't ride home with me. I guess I was so caught up in my thoughts that I lost my footing and fell" said Amelia.
With that said Joe storms out of the house. Amelia looks worriedly at her father. "I'm sorry Pa I didn't mean to upset him" said Amelia. "I know you didn't" reassured Ben who was concern about his youngest son's behavior.
Amelia walks out of the house to find Joe sitting on the rim of the huge flower pit on the porch of the house. Amelia walks over to him. "Joe I'm so sorry I didn't mean to upset you" said Amelia sincerely.
"You didn't" assured Joe with a small smile. "Then what are you upset about?" asked Amelia sitting next to him.
"I don't know. I keep thinking about the morning of your accident. How I should have rode home with you. I just keep thinking that if I had picked you up from school then you wouldn't have fallen off your horse" said Joe feeling guilty.
"It wasn't your fault Joe. You know how clumsy I am. It was no more your fault than it was mine. It was an accident no one's fault simple as that" said Amelia trying to reassure her guilt ridden brother.
Joe turns to her. "Before the accident I was real distant from you and I'm sorry" said Joe sincerely. "You don't need to apologize for that Joe. I understood that you wanted to hang out with your friends. I was hurt for a while that you didn't want to spend time with me altogether" said Amelia feeling bad.
Joe puts his arm around her. "I'm sorry I hurt you" said Joe. "I promise I'll find time to spend with you and it'll be like the old days" said Joe kissing her on the head. "Before you had friends" teased Amelia. "You think you're funny don't you?" joked Joe. He starts to tickle her all the way back to the house.
The End