Family Meeting and Guilt
At the ranch Joe heard horses riding in the yard and walk out to the yard to see his mounting off their horses.
"Where have you two been?" he asked. "Why did you miss us little brother?" teased Adam. "Me? Heck no but Pa's been wondering where the two of you were" informed Joe.
"We were in town why is there something wrong?" asked Hoss. "No but the doc was here not too long ago" said Joe. Adam and Hoss looked at each other worriedly.
"Is it Amelia? Is she alright?" Hoss inquired the tone in his voice showed how very chafe he was. Before Joe could answer both Adam and Hoss rush into the house and saw their father sitting on a chair by the fireplace drinking his coffee and reading the paper.
Ben looks up startled to see his eldest sons. "How is Amelia Pa?" Hoss asked. "She's upstairs resting" said Ben. Hoss immediately walks upstairs to just on his baby sister.
Ben looks at Adam. "Where were you and Hoss?" asked Ben curiously. "We went to town and talk to Roy about Bill Donovan" said Adam.
Ben looks at him confused "Bill Donovan why?"
"Amelia is certain that he was one of the men that kidnapped her" Adam explained. "Do you have any proof?" asked Joe.
"No that's why we asked Roy to run a check and see if he is wanted" said Adam.
Hoss was sitting beside his sister. He takes her hand and kisses it. Amelia wakes up and looks at him smiling. "Hey Hoss it's about time you came to visit me" she said teasingly.
"How are you feeling?" he asked. "Better...the doc came earlier and said that I'm fully healed" said Amelia.
"So why are you in bed?" Hoss asked curiously. "Because I enjoy having my brothers' waiting on me hand and foot" she teased.
"Well I'm glad you are feeling better sis now I don't have to keep doing your chores for you" he teased back. "I'm sorry that you had to take care of me and do my chores" she said.
"Don't be I'm your big brother and it's my job to take care of you" said Hoss. Amelia smiles at him but she could tell there was something her brother was struggling to say.
Hoss looks up at her and holds her hand once more. "I'm so sorry this happen to you...You deserve to have a normal life and not have to go through what you did. No girl your age or any age for that matter should be shot, kidnapped and left for dead. You deserve the better...the best and nothing but the very best out of life"
"So do you Hoss" she said sweetly. Hoss looks up at her with tears brimming in his eyes. "You are a wonderful man not to mention the world's greatest big brother. The girl who would become Mrs. Hoss Cartwright would be the luckiest girl in the territory"
Hoss smiles tears dripping down his rosy pink cheeks. "I love ya sis" Amelia smiles as he hugs her. "I love ya too brother"