When all hope is lost
Joe and Mitch rode up to an abandon cabin a few miles outside the Ponderosa. Joe turns to Mitch as he mounts off his horse.
"You better stay out here and keep an eye out. I'm gonna go inside and see if she's there" said Joe hoping that she was.
"Alright Joe but be careful" advised Mitch.
Joe nods his head and walks in the cabin. He walks into the kitchen and notices dirty dishes on the table and a coffee pot on the stove.
He notices a door and quietly walks over to it and opens it. His heart drops when he sees a helpless little girl unconsciously sitting on the floor leaning on a wooden chair.
Her hands were ties behind her to the leg of the chair and her legs were bounded together. Joe quickly rushes to her and moves the hair away from the angelic face.
He was stunned, relieved and worried when he recognizes the child as his sister. "Please god let her still be alive. Please tell me I'm not too late" he thought to himself.
"Amelia baby can you open your eyes for me?" he asked frighten. Amelia stirs then weakly opens her eyes.
She saw a double vision of a shadowy person standing over her and frightening thinking that it was one of her captors' she flinches away.
Joe was surprise and a little hurt but he knew that she was afraid. After untying her, her comfortingly caresses her arm and tries to soothe her.
"Its ok sweetheart you're safe now" said Joe softly consoling her. Amelia's vision was blurry but it was slowly coming clearer and she recognizes the person in front of her.
"Joe?" she said flimsy from the drug. Joe with tears in his eyes touches her cheek lovingly. "Yeah it's me it's all over. You're safe now baby, no one's gonna hurt ya".
He saw bruises on her face and what look like an injection from a syringe on her arm. He looks at her terrified thinking about what kind of hell she had endured.
Joe cups her cheeks in his hands. "Sweetheart what did they do to you. Are you alright?" he asked. She shakes her head no and starts to tremble and snivels.
Joe immediately takes off his green coat and drapes it over her shoulders. He then pulls her to his chest and holds her close.
"I'm...soo...sorrry...Jooee" she wailed. "Shh...it's alright honey everything is gonna be ok" soothed Joe before kissing her on the head.
Once she had calmed down Little Joe pulls away from her at arm's length and looks at her. "Can you tell me what happen?" asked Joe.
"I was riding home from school and all of a sudden I heard a gunshot. The next thing I knew I was here" said Amelia. "Do you know who kidnapped you?" asked Joe.
"I recognize them but I couldn't put a name to his face. There were five of them I think" said Amelia. She looks at Joe "I'm sorry I can't remember anything else" she said.
"Don't be everything is gonna be fine" said Joe. Amelia smiles for the first time in what seem a long time and Joe smiles back at her.
"I love you big brother"
"I love ya too little sister"
"I'm gonna take a look at your leg. Does it hurt?" asked Joe. Amelia nods her head. Joe moves over to his sister's leg and looks at it.
It wasn't as bad as he thought it would be and thanked god that it was only a flesh-wound. He pulls out his bandana and places it over the wound and uses it as a bandage.
Joe quickly moves back to his sister and tenderly touches her cheek. "You're very lucky baby sister it's only a flesh wound. Once I get you home we'll have Doc Martin look at it ok. You're going to be just fine I promise" said Joe.
"I wanna go home" Amelia whimpered. Joe kisses her on the head. He lifts Amelia up in his arms as he gets up. Mitch walks in.
Amelia frighten grabs onto Joe. Joe looks at Mitch who had a scared look on his face. He then looks back at his sister. "It's alright sweetheart it's just my friend Mitch. You remember Mitch don't cha?" asked Joe soothingly. Amelia nods her head.
"Is she ok?" asked Mitch worriedly. Amelia was his best friend's sister so she was like a sister to him too. He knew how much Joe and the Cartwright's love her and thanked god that they didn't have to endure the pain of losing her.
"I think so just a little shaken up" said Joe walking toward him while carrying his baby sister. Mitch looks at her and saw how droopy her eyes were.
"She doesn't look so good Joe" said Mitch concern. "I know I think it's from whatever kind of drug they gave her" said Joe.
"You get her to the Ponderosa and I'll alert your Pa and the others that we found her" said Mitch. "Thanks" said Joe appreciatively.
Mitch smiles and disappears out the door. Joe looks down at the angelic child who was unconscious. "Everything is gonna be fine. I promise I'm gonna get you home to Pa" said Joe full of emotion.
He couldn't imagine what his sister been through and thanked god that she was alive. "I can't begin to tell you how relieve I am that I found you and that you're ok. I love you so very much and so do Pa, Hoss and Adam. They're gonna be so happy when they see you" chocked Joe kissing her on her face and head as he let his tears roll down his cheek.
He walks out of the cabin and mounts Amelia on Cochise before he does. He then puts one hand around his sister and the other on the reins.
As they rode back home Joe whispered soothing words to his sister and pray to god that his sister would be alright and that she'll be able to get through the turmoil she had suffered.