Chapter 2
I guess I should start at the beginning. It all started out as any ordinary day here on the Ponderosa. I don't know how ordinary it can be with three devoted older brothers who get themselves (and others) into some kind of trouble (most of the time) and a loving father who has to put up with all this chaos. (No wonder why he has gray hair but I know it's not because of me).
Anyway the day started out as any other. Pa was sitting at the head of the table drinking coffee and eating breakfast that our wonderful cook Hopsing made.
My brothers Adam and Joe were already sitting at the table eating their breakfast while I was in my room fixing my hair. My father hates it when I'm late for breakfast but I wanted to make sure my hair look just right.
Once I was finish I walk down the stairs and sat down at the table across from my brothers. "Morning darling did you sleep well?" asked Pa looking at me.
"I slept fine Pa" I said as I started to eat my breakfast. Just then the door open and my big brother Hoss walk in. "Morning Pa! Big brother, little brother! Baby sister" said Hoss cheerfully as he walks over to us.
My brother Hoss is always the cheerful one in the morning unlike Little Joe who loves to sleep in.
As for me I can't complain I love waking up in the morning. I'm what Pa and Adam calls a "morning person".
Hoss hands Pa the mail and sits beside me. As we are eating breakfast Pa is reading the mail.
"Amelia" he said. I poke my head up and turn to my father. "Yes sir?" I answered nervously.
"You're Aunt Martha is coming for a visit" he said. "Aunt Martha?" I question confuse. I didn't know I had an Aunt Martha. I knew my mother had a sister but I never knew her name nor have I ever met her.
"She's you're mother's sister" Pa said. "Why is she coming for a visit?" Little Joe asked.
"I don't know it's been a long time since she last came to see us" said Pa. "What is Aunt Martha like Pa?" I asked. Curiosity got the better of me.
I don't know why but I was fascinated that I had an Aunt whom I didn't know about. I hope she was nice and could tell me stories about Mamma. I always wonder what she was like when she was a girl.
I wonder if I am anything like her. I hope so because I always wanted to be like her. Pa would tell me stories about her when I was little. He use to say how beautiful she was and how kind and loving she was to everyone she met.
He even told me that she was friends with Little Joe's mother Marie. I wonder if that made him feel closer to her and brought him some comfort after Marie died and Pa married my mother.
"When is she coming?" Adam asked. "She doesn't say" said Pa. "That's peculiar ain't it. She says that she's coming for a visit but doesn't say when" said Hoss confuse.
"I agree son but that's how Martha is. She says she'll come for a visit but never says when. She likes to visit people when they least expect it" said Pa.
"What is Aunt Martha like?" I asked. "Well to tell you the truth Amelia I ain't quite sure. I only met her once" said Pa.
"When did you meet her?" I asked curiously. "I think it was when your mother and I had gotten married. You're Aunt Martha came and she didn't like me at all" Pa said as he took a sip of his coffee.
"She didn't like you? I find that hard to believe Pa I think you're a likeable person" I said honestly. Pa smiles at me.
"Why don't finish your breakfast and get started on your chores" Pa told me. "Yes sir" I said.
Just like Pa said I finish my breakfast and walk out the door to start on my chores.
Ben looks at the boys. "What am I about to tell you three can't go any further than this table understood?" he said. The boys look at each other wondering what their father was gonna tell them.
"I want you boys to be very cautious when Martha gets here. I didn't want to tell your sister this but whenever Martha makes unexpected visits it's never a good sign. When she came here last time she tried to talk Catherine out of marrying me and she hated it when Catherine sent her a telegraph telling her that she was pregnant. Martha has an ulterior motive to come to visit and I'm afraid it involves Amelia" said Ben worriedly.
"What makes you think that it would involve Amelia?" asked Hoss. "I don't know for sure Hoss but it's a gut feeling I have. I don't want Amelia to know that I am suspicious about her Aunt Martha so I would greatly appreciate it if you boys wouldn't say anything to her" said Ben.
"Don't worry Pa we won't say anything" said Adam solemnly. Ben smiles at them gratefully and they finish eating their breakfast.