Secrets and Surprises
The next day in town Valerie walks into her hotel room and was surprise when she saw the mysterious man.
"I hope nobody saw you" warned Valerie. The man grins. "You worry too much" he says "How's our plan coming along?"
"Splendid! I got Joe right where I want him. I got him believing that his own brother lie to him and trying to break us apart. He is so well convinced that he even proposed just like we panned he would" said Valerie deviously.
The man walks up to her and kisses her. "It's all coming together. Once you marry Little Joe Cartwright and steal all of his money without him knowing about it" said the man.
"Then it's just gonna be just you and me" said Valerie. "Husband and wife" said the man. He kisses again even more passionately.
They started to kiss more and more. Then they walk over to the bed and make love to each other.
Amelia walks into the hotel lobby just as the man was walking down the stairs coming from Valerie's room. He walks past her and out the door.
Amelia saw him as he passed by her and got an eerie feeling about him. She hurries out of the hotel and over to her horse and mounts on then rides out to the ranch.
At the ranch Ben was walking out of the kitchen carrying a cup of coffee heading to his desk when Amelia walks in.
Ben looks at her "Did you get the mail?" he asked. Amelia was so distracted and frantic that she didn't hear her father.
She hands him the mail with shaking hands. Ben notice how shaky she was and became concerned. "Are you alright darling?" asked Ben concerned.
"Yeah I'm fine Pa" said Amelia trying to assure him. "Is Adam around?" asked Amelia. "He's out in the barn" said Ben suspiciously.
Before he would say anything else Amelia bolts it out the door across the yard to the barn where Adam was polishing his saddle.
"Adam!" cried Amelia frantically running in the barn. Adam looks over his shoulder and saw his sister in distress and he quickly stops what he was doing and walks over to her.
He squats down in front of her and touches her arms comfortingly. "Shortcake, what's the matter?" asked Adam concerned.
Amelia takes a couple of deep breaths trying to calm down. "I saw a man walking out of Valerie's hotel room and it wasn't Little Joe" said Amelia worriedly.
"What did the man look like?" asked Adam. Amelia describes the man exactly how Adam had seen him. "I'm worry about Joe, Adam. If I tell him this who knows what might happen. He could treat me like he did to you" said Amelia.
"No he won't" reassured Adam. "What makes you say that?" asked Amelia confused. "There is nothing in this world that would convince Joe that his baby sister would lie to him" said Adam.
Seeing that she wasn't reassured he decides to try a different approach. "Do you want me to tell him?" asked Adam. "No I don't want to cause another fight between you" said Amelia.
She walks out of the barn just as Joe rides in the yard. He mounts off his horse and walks up to her. "What's with the long face?" asked Joe curiously.
Amelia looks up at him. "I need to tell you something" said Amelia. "You can tell me anything" encouraged Joe seeing how she was struggling to tell him.
Before Amelia could say anything Valerie rides in the yard on a buggy. Joe turns to his sister. "We'll talk later ok" said Joe he walks away and over to Valerie.
Adam walks up behind her. "Did you tell him?" asked Adam. "I was about to when Valerie showed up" said Amelia annoyed and discouraged.
"Maybe it's for the best if you don't tell him just yet" advised Adam. "I suppose" said Amelia. She turns around and faces him. "But he has to know Adam" insisted Amelia.
"I know but I think we should wait and figure out what Valerie is up to. Maybe there's a way we can prevent Joe from getting hurt" said Adam.
"I don't see how" said Amelia. "Leave it up to me" said Adam he winks at her. "Until we know no one should know what you saw. Promise me that you won't tell anyone especially Joe" said Adam.
"That's gonna be tough. I tell Joe everything" said Amelia who didn't like the idea of hiding something like this from her brother. Adam smiles "I know but it's for Joe's sake".
"I promise" said Amelia. Adam smiles then walk in the barn and over to his horse and saddles him up. He then walks out of the barn pulling the reins of his horse then turns to Amelia.
"Where you going?" asked Amelia. "I'll be back" assured Adam. Seeing how concern Amelia was he walks up to her and holds her in his arms.
"Everything is gonna be ok" persuaded Adam as he pulls away from her. He looks down to see her reassured eyes. "I love you" said Adam he kisses her on the cheek then mounts on his horse.
"I love you too" said Amelia smiling. Adam rides out of the yard just as Hoss was walking out of the house.
He walks over to her. "Where's Adam off to?" asked Hoss. "I don't know" said Amelia. Hoss could tell that something was off about his sister; like something was bothering her.
"You alright honey?" asked Hoss with a mixture of curiosity and concern. Amelia smiles "I'm fine" assured Amelia.
"Pa wants you to come in the house. Joe and Valerie have an announcement they want to make" said Hoss. "This ought to be good" thought Amelia as they walk back to the house.
The walk inside Ben looks at his daughter curiously. "Where's Adam?" asked Ben. "He went out" replied Amelia staring at Joe and Valerie.
"What's the big announcement?" asked Hoss. Joe looks at Valerie then looks at his brother and sister.
"Valerie and I are getting married on Saturday" said Joe excitedly. Amelia was stunned. "That soon" she gasped.
"We don't want to wait another second" explained Valerie. "That's wonderful" said Ben happily.
Hoss walks over to Joe and hugs him. "Congratulations little brother!" said Hoss. They turn to Amelia who was still stunned by the news.
"You alright Amelia?" asked Joe concern. Amelia blinks out of her stunned trance and looks at him.
"I'm fine just surprised is all" said Amelia. She looks at Valerie then at Joe. Her eyes began to well up with tears.
Ben could tell that something was troubling his daughter. Amelia looks around the room and saw concern looks of her father and brothers and started to panic.
She runs out of the house. Hoss looks at his father. "You want me to go after her?" asked Hoss. Ben shakes his head. "No leave her be" said Ben.