After the boys were finish with their breakfast they walk out of the house and out to the barn where Amelia was feeding and grooming Ben's horse Buck.
"You're doing a heck of good job shortcake" said Adam proudly. I turn to face them and I smiled. I could tell that something was bothering them because they were awfully quiet and that's not like them.
"What's going on?" I asked. They look at me surprised. "Nothing why what makes you think that?" Joe asked.
"Well I never known my brothers to be so quiet unless they were being scolded by Pa" I teased. I love to tease them and I knew they like to tease me too.
"Did Pa scolded you boys?" I asked. "No he didn't he just told us to make sure we got our chores done and to make sure you got yours done too" Hoss said.
"Are you sure there's nothing bothering you boys?" I asked. "Everything is fine you don't need to worry about us" Joe said. "I know I guess it's just a habit" I said.
There was nothing in the world I wouldn't do for my brothers and I know that there was nothing in the world they wouldn't do for me. That's how close we are; we're not just siblings we're each others' best friend.
They grab their gear and walks out of the barn.
I turn back to what I was doing still thinking about what was bothering my brothers.
I know my brothers like to keep things to themselves especially when something is bothering them but I hate to see them upset or bother and not know what to do about it or how to help them.
They are always there for me when I have a problem and I would like to return the favor if I can. I guess it's hard for them to confine to someone when something is bothering them especially when that someone is their little sister.
I can see how they would get embarrass by that I find myself embarrass to confine my problems to them too but I hope they know that they shouldn't be embarrass and that I am there for them no matter what.
While I was cleaning the stalls I heard a carriage riding in the yard. I stop what I was doing and walk out of the barn to see that it was a man and a woman. I walk over to them.
"May I help you?" I offered. The woman looks at me surprise. "Yes I'm looking for a Ben Cartwright. Do you work for the Cartwright's?" she asked.
"Yes ma'am my name is Amelia. Amelia Cartwright" I said proudly. She looks at me as though I let a piano fall on her. "Not Ben Cartwright's daughter?" she asked.
"Yes ma'am" I replied. She gives me a disgusted look. "I would have thought he had better class and raise a young lady not a spitfire raunchy little girl. Of all the men my sister had to marry and a child with she sure pick a winner" the woman said bitterly. "Do you always dress like that?"
She looks down at my overalls and shirt. I know this wasn't common for girls my age to wear and it didn't help the fact that they use to be Little Joe's when he was my age.
Pa told me to wear clothes like these when I'm doing my chores or helping the boys so I wouldn't get my dresses dirty. I thought that was pretty smart of him but I guess she didn't.
"No ma'am I only wear these clothes when I'm working on the ranch with my brothers" I said trying to be polite. "Your father lets you work on the ranch?" she said appalled.
"A woman's place is in the house not on the ranch with men" said the woman. "We don't need a woman to work in the house that's why we have HopSing" I said.
"Who's HopSing?" she asked. "He's our cook and helps maintain the house" I said. "You don't help him?" she asked.
"I help with the house chores but he doesn't let anyone in the kitchen especially my brother Hoss" I said.
I wonder if this was my Aunt Martha and if she was I'm sure her visit was gonna be a long one. "I guess you're my Aunt Martha then huh?" I asked.
"Why yes I am" she said with a fake smile on her face.
I heard the door from the house open and saw Pa walking out with HopSing. "Martha! He exclaimed how wonderful to see you" Pa exclaimed happily.
Though I am sure he wasn't gonna be happy for long while Aunt Martha was here. "Ben how very nice to see you" she said happily though I was sure it was an act.
There was something about Aunt Martha that I didn't like but I wasn't sure what it was. I convince myself that I was just nervous to meet her and felt uncomfortable to have another woman in the house.
I always felt uncomfortable when woman came to visit because I was use to being the only girl in the house but there was something different about this visit.
I look up at Aunt Martha as she was talking to Pa and I had gotten a really bad feeling when I look at her. Pa and the boys knew I had bad feelings before.
They say that I can sense trouble a mile away. Sometimes I can sense when a girl that one of my brothers falls in love with (especially Little Joe) I can sense that they're intentions are not always pure and that sometimes puts me in conflict with my brothers but I am usually right when they realize what the girls true intentions are.
Sometimes they're gold diggers, or times they fall for someone else and other times they just use them for their own pleasures which is why when I am old enough to date (or when Pa says I can date) I'm gonna be real cautious so I won't get my heartbroken like my brothers have many times.
Even though I hate fighting with them I rather fight with them then to see one of them gets hurt and usually when I sense trouble I'm usually right it just depends on the situation.
For this particular situation I hope I am wrong about my Aunt Martha but something tells me that I am not. Pa turns to me. "Amelia can you ride out in the range and find your brothers for me?" he asked.
"Yes sir" I said. I walk over to my horse Sapphire and mounted on. I rode out of the yard and down to the corral where my brothers were breaking in the new horses we just gotten from San Francisco.