Joe turns to me and hugs me. "Everything is gonna be alright" he says to me. I pull away from him and look up at him. "Can you stay with me when I tell Papa?" I asked him even though I knew what his answer would be.
"Of course I will don't worry" Joe said. I smiled feeling relieve that he was gonna support me not that I had any doubt that he wouldn't.
Little Joe and I walk down the stairs and over to our father and brothers. I knew I had to tell Pa about the letter but I'm so afraid that he would be angry and hurt.
I'm really glad that I told Joe and that he was gonna stand by me when I tell Pa. Even though I am scare I knew that Joe would help me tell him.
"I'm sorry for worrying you all" I said. Pa looks at me and asks "What's bothering you sweetheart?"
Joe hands him the letter and I prayed that Pa would let me explain and understand how much that letter hurt me. As my father is reading it and I can see that he is getting furious and it made me nervous.
Ben looks at me and asks "Who gave you this?" I take a deep breath and said "Martha". I can see that Pa is getting livid and I look over at Joe nervously.
"How could you believe this letter" he hollered. I was caught off guard when I realize that his anger was being pointed at me.
"I am so ashamed of you. I am extremely disappointed in you. I thought you knew better than to believe in something like this but I guess I was wrong. You're mother ask me to promise her that I will take care of you before she died and lord knows I tried to keep that promise but it is clear that I made a mistake to promise her that" Pa hollered.
I was horrified that my father would say that to me but I guess I can't really blame him. I look over at my brothers and they were stunned. I never seen them so shock.
"Pa please she didn't want to believe it" I heard Joe say as he tried to jump to my defense. I knew he would and I was grateful to him for that but I could tell that Pa didn't want to hear it.
I felt my heart beating faster and my body shaking. I knew I was gonna cry but I didn't want to do it in front of him. I never been afraid of my father before but now I was.
"I'm sorry!" I cried and the next thing I knew I was running out the door and jumping onto Sapphire. I had to get away; I didn't know where I was going but I knew I was not welcome in my father's home anymore!
"Pa she didn't want to believe the letter honest. We had to convince her to tell you about it but she wouldn't because she was so frighten that she wasn't a Cartwright but she was even more afraid of hurting you if it was true. She never wanted to hurt you, Pa" explained Joe.
Ben was dumbfounded and looks at Adam and Hoss who nodded their heads. Ben starts to feel guilty for what he said to his daughter.
"Poor fools make poor fathers" he said in anger at himself. "I should go talk to her" as he was about to walk toward the door when Hoss stops him.
"Maybe you should wait until she comes home that way you both can calm down" said Hoss. "I suppose you're right son I just can't believe those terrible things I said to her" Ben said in disbelief.
Just then Martha walks in from the kitchen and she notices Ben was worried about something. "Is everything alright?" she asked.
"Everything is fine Martha just some Ponderosa business" Ben replied. "Where's Amelia I wanted to show her pictures of Catherine and me when we were little girls?" asked Martha.
"She went out for a ride Aunt Martha she should be home soon" assured Adam. "This late at night" inquired Martha surprise. "Don't worry Amelia doesn't usually stay out this late like Adam said she'll be home soon" said Hoss.
Martha smiles understandably "I'll guess I'll show them to her tomorrow. I best turn in goodnight" she walks across the room and up the stairs not waiting to hear a response.
Ben and the boys look at each other and watch her go.