I stomped down the stairs to see my brothers sitting at the table taking care of Amelia. They look up at me with concern looks on their faces but I didn't care and walk straight out the door.
Hoss looks at Adam who nods his head. Hoss gets up and walks out the door just as Ben was walking down the stairs. Seeing the troubling look on his father's face Adam immediately gets up picks Amelia up and walks over to him.
Ben plops down on the blue chair while Adam takes a seat on the settee with Amelia on his lap. "Don't worry Pa Hoss went to go check on Joe" assured Adam.
Ben nods his head staring into space. "What happened Pa?" asked Adam. Ben turns to Adam. "Joe thinks that I favor Amelia" said Ben. Adam was shock but he suspected as much that that was what had been troubling his brother.
"Do you and Hoss think that I favor Amelia?" asked Ben worriedly. "Pa, Hoss and I know you don't have favorites and that you love us all the same" persuaded Adam confidently.
Ben smiles relieved. "I'm glad you both feel that way but I can't understand why Joe feels that way" said Ben struggling to understand.
"Joe was the youngest for a while Pa and when Amelia was being born Joe was scared that everyone was gonna pay more attention to the baby and not him" said Adam. Ben looks at him astounded.
"How come he never told me that?" asked Ben confused. Adam shrugs his shoulder. "Maybe he didn't want you to think that he was jealous of the baby" said Adam before kissing Amelia's cheek.
"Hoss and I were talking and we figures that by the way Joe is acting toward you and Amelia….well we think maybe he's jealous or still adjusting to the role of big brother" said Adam.
Ben nods his head considering what Adam had said. "Maybe he wants your attention after all you haven't spent time with him all week" suggested Adam. Ben's eyes widen. "Oh my I can't believe I was neglecting him" said Ben feeling guilty and horrible. No wonder why the boy was upset.
He turns to Adam as he gets up. "Thank you son for helping me realize what I need to do to make this up to Joe" said Ben. "You're welcome Pa" said Adam glad that he was able to help. He just hope that Hoss was having the same luck he did.