Suspicions Unearthed

Adam walks into the Saloon and over to the bar. "Hey Burney" said Adam greeting the bartender.

"Looks like you can use a drink" said Burney. "I don't think a drink is gonna solve my problem" said Adam.

"Anything I can do?" asked a familiar voice. Adam turns around to see Ben walking toward him.

"Pa what are you doing here?" asked Adam surprised. "Looking for you" responded Ben.

"Why?" asked Adam curious. "I want to know what's going on with your sister" said Ben determine to get some answers.

"What makes you think t would know?" asked Adam as they walk over to a table and sat down.

"When she came home earlier today with the mail she was upset about something and was looking for you" explained Ben.

"Amelia saw a man walking out of Valerie's hotel room" said Adam. Ben grew concerned. "What's it the same man you saw her with?" asked Ben.

Adam nods his head. "Amelia is certain of it, which was why she came to me. She didn't know if she should tell Joe because of the fight he and I had".

"I'm afraid I have some news for you. Joe just announced that he and Valerie are getting married on Saturday" informed Ben. "That doesn't give us a whole lot of time of time" said Adam.

At the ranch Valerie had left and Amelia was sitting on a bench in the garden when Joe walks over to her.

"Are you alright honey? You seemed upset when you walked out of the house?" asked Joe. "Nothing" said Amelia sniffed her back turned to him.

Joe sits beside her and puts a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Then why are you crying?" asked Joe.

"I can't tell you" said Amelia sobbing. Joe was taken back then turns her around and looks at her. He touches her neck brushing his thumb on her wet cheeks.

"Can't tell me? You tell me everything" said Joe concerned. "I know but I can't, not this time. Believe me I really wish I can tell you, you have no idea how much this is killing me keeping this from you" said Amelia getting up.

She didn't want to hurt him by pushing him away but it was the only way she knew to protect him.

Joe looks at her confused "I don't understand. Why do you feel you have to keep something from me? You know that you can tell me anything"

Amelia turns around. "I don't want to hurt you Joe. I love you too much" said Amelia. Joe immediately gets up and walks over to her.

"Hurt me?" said Joe he puts his hands on her shoulders and looks in her eyes. "Sweetheart there is nothing you can ever do that would hurt me" said Joe confidently.

"Yes there is" cried Amelia trembling. She looks up at her brother's worried eyes. "I have to tell you this despite the promise I made to Adam" said Amelia.

"What does Adam have to do with this? What promise?" asked Joe confused.

"I saw something when I was in town getting the mail. I was afraid of telling you because I was scared that if I told you then you would hate me like you hate Adam. After I told Adam what I saw he made me promise not to say anything to you" said Amelia.

"What was it that you saw honey?" asked Joe.

Amelia takes a deep breath and cries. "I saw a man walking out of Valerie's room at the hotel" Joe lets go of his sister in complete shock.

The longer Joe stayed quiet the more Amelia became afraid that he was angry with her. "I'm so sorry Joe! I know I should've told you sooner" said Amelia panicking. "Please don't hate me"

Joe looks at her and hugs her. "I don't hate you. I could never hate my baby sister. You have nothing to be sorry for".

Amelia looks him. "Are you alright?" asked Amelia. Joe looks down at her with a serious look on his face as he pulls away from her which made Amelia feel nervous.

"You're not just telling me this so I'll make up with Adam, are you?" asked Joe suspiciously.

Amelia was appalled. "You think I'm lying don't you?" accused Amelia defensively and hurt that her own brother would accuse her of lying.

"I didn't say that" said Joe.

"You were thinking it. Since when is a more important than your family" demanded Amelia trying to control her temper.

"That's not true" said Joe shock that his sister would say something like that.

"Then why are you so sure that it was Adam who has been lying to you and not Valerie. When are you gonna wake up and face the fact that it's been Valerie all along?" asked Amelia.

Letting her words sink in Joe takes a deep breath realizing that his sister was right. Putting his hands on his hips Joe turns to her.

"You're right I am choosing to believe Valerie over Adam. I don't know why it's easier for me to believe her over Adam. I know Adam would never hurt me like that I don't know why but somehow I convinced myself that he would" said Joe confused as he thought about it.

He sits down on the bench. Amelia sits down next to him. "Maybe so you wouldn't have to face the fact that Valerie would lie to you" said Amelia.

Joe turns to her "I suppose".

"But I can't understand why Valerie would lie to me. Who knows maybe she hasn't been the one who has been lying to me" said Joe.

"Come on Joe you said it yourself that Adam would never hurt you like that. Besides why would Adam of all people lie to you?" demanded Amelia frustrated.

Joe runs his hands through his short curly brown hair in frustration. "I don't know!" yelled Joe facing her.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to yell at you like that. I'm just so confuse and frustrated" said Joe apologetically.

"It's alright Joe. I know you're in a tough predicament and I don't want to make it any worst that's why I didn't want to tell you about what I saw. Now I can see that me telling you did make it worst and that was the last thing I wanted to do" said Amelia feeling guilty.

"You were trying to protect me and you wanted to help. You may not be a perfect sister but you're the best one I have and I love you" said Joe.

Amelia smiles and hugs him.