A Not So Happy Reunion

At the hotel lobby Ben was pacing around worrying about Amelia while the boys were in the Saloon. Ben heard someone walking in and turns around.

His hearts dropped relieve when he saw his precious girl standing there. Amelia had scratches on her face and arms. She had dust and dirt on her dress and her hair was messed up.

Ben had tears in his eyes and walks over to her. "Pa! Oh Pa!" cried Amelia relieved as she rushed into his arms. Ben hugs her tightly silently thanking God for bringing is his daughter back to him.

He stops hugging her and puts a hand on her cheek. "You alright darling?" asked Ben concerned. "I'm fine Pa I'm just glad that I got Nancy out of there" said Amelia.

"Is Nancy alright?" asked Ben concerned. "She might have a broken leg but other than that she's fine. Her father took her to see the doc" said Amelia. Ben hugs her again.

Adam, Hoss and Joe walk in. "Any news Pa?" asked Joe worriedly. Ben who's back was turned facing the boys hovering over Amelia. Ben turns around to face them still blocking Amelia.

"Why don't you see for yourself?" said Ben choking back sobs. Amelia appears next to their father and sees the anguish faces of her beloved brothers.

The boy's faces lit up when they saw her. They rush over to her. One by one they lifted her up in their arms smuggling her with hugs and kisses.

"Pumpkin you near scare us to death" said Hoss jubilantly as he scooped her up in his arms and kisses her on the cheek then puts her down.

"Are you alright?" asked Joe worriedly looking at his sister's face. "I'm fine Joe honest" said Amelia enjoying the attention she was getting from her brothers.

"You're sister's a hero boys" said Ben beaming with pride. "I didn't do much" said Amelia sheepishly.

Doc Martin walks in. "I heard Amelia was alright thought I should see for myself" said Paul. "I'm fine doc. How's Emily doing?" asked Amelia walking up to where he father stood.

"Well young lady if you didn't control the bleeding when you did your friend could have bled to death" said the doctor sternly. "Does that mean she's gonna be ok?" asked Amelia. "She did lose a lot of blood but she is gonna be just fine thanks to you" said Paul proudly.

Joe walks over to his sister and puts his arms around her kissing her on the back of her head. "How's Nancy doc?" asked Hoss. "She has a broken leg but it'll heal in a few weeks" said the doctor.

He turns to Ben. "Ben you should be proud of your daughter. She's quite the hero" said the doc. Ben looks at his daughter proudly. "Yes I know" said Ben proudly.

Josh walks in. "Amelia are you alright? I was so worried about you?" Amelia runs up to him and hugs him. Clem walks in.

Amelia sees him and pulls away from Josh. Clem looks at Amelia. "You're suspicions were right Amelia" stated Clem. Everyone in the room was confused.

"What you talking about?" asked Ben confused looking at Clem then at Amelia. "Amelia made the assumption that the convicts held up the school under someone's orders" said Clem.

"Base on what?" asked Josh. Amelia turns to face everyone in the room. "Based on the fact that I heard them talking about what the boss wanted and one of the convicts knew that I was a Cartwright" said Amelia. "Did you tell them that you were a Cartwright?" asked Adam.

"Nope all I told them was that Pa owned the biggest ranch in the territory" said Amelia. She turns to Clem. "We question the convicts and they told us who helped them escape and hire them to raid the school" said Clem.

"Who was it?" asked Amelia anxiously. "It was Josh" said Clem feeling bad for Amelia. Amelia turns to face Josh who had a guilty look on his face. The Cartwright's and the doc were stunned.

"Please tell me that that it's not true" said Amelia calmly. "Amelia I can explain" said Josh remorseful. Amelia saw the guilt on his face and was shock then turned to anger.

"YOU SON OF A BITCH!" yelled Amelia furiously she cracks Josh with a right hook in the jaw. Josh looks at her touching the corner of his lip that was bleeding.

"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU PUT EVEYONE THROUGH? YOU PUT THOSE CHILDREN IN HARM'S WAY BY HAVING EXCONVICTS HOLD THEM HOSTAGE AND THEN BLOWING IT UP!" hollered Amelia.

"Do you realize that I could have died tonight? Emily was shot and Nancy has a broken leg and if it wasn't for me the children could have ended up seriously hurt! They could have been killed! Did you ever thought about what you put their parents through not to mention what you put my father and brothers through?" screamed Amelia.

Josh became furious "DON'T GO BLAMING THIS ALL ON ME! IF THIS IS ANYONE'S FAULT ITS YOURS!" hollered Josh.

"DON'T YOU DARE BLAME THIS ON MY DAUGHTER" bellowed Ben angry.

"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT JOSH! YOU'RE THE ONE WHO HIRE THOSE MEN TO HOLD US HOSTAGE! FOR WHAT REASON WHY DID YOU DO THIS? I THOUGHT YOU LOVE ME!" screamed Amelia on the verge of crying.

"Amelia I do love you" persuaded Josh. Amelia slaps him across the face. "YOU LIAR YOU DON'T DO THIS TO SOMEONE YOU LOVE! WHAT YOU DID WAS HEARTLESS, CRUEL AND SICK! SOMETHING I CAN NEVER FORGIVE YOU FOR! DAMN IT I LOVED YOU BUT YOU KILLED IT. YOU KILLED EVERY FEELING I HAD FOR YOU! I HATE YOU" Amelia cried full of anguish.

Amelia turns away from him taking calm breathes. Josh puts a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry Amelia I don't know what I was thinking" said Josh. Amelia was at her boiling point and turns around.

"Something we can agree on. I don't know what you were thinking of gaining by doing this but I know what you lost ME!" said Amelia. She storms out of the hotel.

Ben walks over to Josh. "Don't go near my daughter ever" warned Ben. He walks after his daughter. Amelia's brothers walk up to him.

"I hope you know you just broke my little sister's heart" growled Joe full of furry. "Consider yourself lucky that Amelia beat us to it by beating you up" said Adam. "My little sister loved you; she trusted you and this is what she gets in return" snapped Hoss grinding his teeth.

Clem steps in. "Alright that's enough boys you better go with your Pa and sister" said Clem. The boys glared at Josh then they walks away.

They saw Emily and Melanie walking across the street toward them. Amelia walks over to them. "Mia thank god you're alright" said Emily. "Yeah it's been a crazy night" said Amelia trying to give her a smile.

Clem walks out of the hotel with Josh in handcuffs. Amelia watches them as the tears began to run down her cheeks and her heart slowly breaking into a million pieces.

"