Attempt to Kill

While the Cartwright's and Roy were still talking a tired Amelia decided to turn in early and says goodnight then walks upstairs to her room.

She walks into her room and is grabbed from behind. Her attacker restraints her arms and covers her mouth.

"Do not scream and I won't hurt you" he hissed against her ear. He lets her go and turns her to face him.

Amelia was aghast to see that her attacker was Bill Donovan. "Why is the sheriff here and what does he want?"

Amelia thinks for a moment trying to figure out what to do. She knew that if he found out that the sheriff was on to him then he would kill her.

"He was asking my father for his support for his re-election" Amelia fibbed bravely. Donovan wasn't buying it and slaps her hard in the face.

"Lie to me again and I'll kill you with this" he threatened as he pulls out the syringe. "Now why was he here? Did he say anything about your kidnappers?" Donovan asked.

Amelia nervously shakes her head. Knowing that she was lying again he slaps her. Amelia look at him frighten as he walks toward her with the syringe still in his hand.

Downstairs the men's conversation stops when they heard a horrid scream coming from Amelia's bedroom. They all bolted up the stairs and barged into the room.

They found an unconscious Amelia laying helplessly on the floor her mouth bloody and a syringe lying beside her. There was a breeze blowing through the open window.

Ben immediately hurries to his daughter and knelt beside her. He cradles her body. "Amelia...darling can you hear me?" he said his voice shaking with fear.

"Who ever it was went out the window" said Hoss he and Adam were expecting the window. Joe hurries over to his father.

"How is she Pa?" asked Joe shaking petrified. "I don't know she seemed to have fainted and hasn't come to yet" said Ben worriedly.

"Was she drugged?" asked Roy. "I don't see any injection marks on her" said Ben relieved. "I'll go get the Doc Ben" offered Roy.

"Thank you Roy" said Ben to his dear friend. Roy nods and hurries out of the room. Adam and Hoss quickly walk over to their family.

"What do you want us to do?" asked Hoss. "I want you two to go out see if you can find anything" said Ben. "Pa whoever he was he's long gone by now" said Adam.

"I know son but it won't hurt to look" insisted Ben. Adam and Hoss walk out of the room. Ben turns to Joe "Let's get her to the bed". Joe was about to lift her when she began to stir.

"Amelia can you hear me?" asked Ben. Amelia slowly opens her eyes and sees her father and brother surrounding her. "You alright?" asked Joe concerned.

Amelia looks at Ben and starts to cry "I was soo scared Papa. I thought he was gonna kill me" she sobbed. Ben gathers her in his arms.

"It's alright darling you're safe now. Your Papa's here" soothed Ben. Once the tears subsided Ben pulls away and looks at her.

"Are you hurt?" asked Ben worried. Amelia shakes her head no. "Can you tell her what happen?" asked Joe. "He tried to drug me and I screamed. He wanted to know why the sheriff was here. I tried to lie and he hit me" said Amelia.

"Do you know who it was?" asked Joe. "It was Bill Donovan" informed Amelia fearfully.

Ben holds her in his arms. "It's alright now baby you're safe" "I'm gonna go find your brothers and let them know that you are alright, thank God" said Ben. He kisses her on the head gets up and walks out of the room.

Joe looks down to her and smiles "Come on sweetheart" he helps he up and walks her over to her bed and sits her down on it.

"You sure you are alright?" he asked. Amelia nods her head. Joe hands her a glass of water. "I never been so scared in my life when I saw you on the floor my heart stopped. For a second I thought you were dead" said Joe.

"Pa was scared too wasn't he?" asked Amelia. "He sure was we all were" said Joe. "I guess it isn't a bad thing to be scared" said Amelia.

"Just like I told you everyone gets scared but you don't have to be afraid to show us. We're family" said Joe.

"What are you afraid of, Joe?" asked Amelia curiously. Joe was surprise by the question but he knew that if he told her what he was afraid of then she would understand that everyone has fears.

"I'm scared of heights. Remember when we all went swimming at the lake last summer?" asked Joe. Amelia nods. "Adam and Hoss would swing on a rope and jump into the water. I never did because I was scared" said Joe.

Amelia was surprise "I thought it was because Pa told you that you weren't big enough?" "That's what I told Adam and Hoss so they wouldn't tease me" said Joe.

"Do they know that it was because you were afraid of heights?" asked Amelia. Joe nods "But they didn't tease me".

"What are Hoss and Adam scared of?" asked Amelia curiously. "Hoss is scared of the dark. When he was your age he used to sleep with the light on" said Joe.

"Gee I thought big brother Hoss wasn't scared of anything" said Amelia. "Well he is and so is older brother Adam" said Joe.

"What is Adam scared of?" asked Amelia. "Your teacher Miss Jones" laughed Joe. Amelia laughs she couldn't imagine Adam being scared of a woman like Miss Jones.

"Is that why whenever she comes here Adam would run and hide in the barn?" asked Amelia giggling. Joe nods his head as he giggled.

"I bet Pa isn't afraid of anything" said Amelia confidently. "That's where you're wrong little sister. Pa has his fears too" said Joe.

"Like what?" asked Amelia fascinated. "Pa is afraid of something bad happening to the Ponderosa but that doesn't compare to his greatest fear" said Joe.

"What's that?" asked Amelia. "Losing any one of us. We're his life you know. If anything were to happen to us Pa would be very sad" said Joe.

"Like he was when our mamas died?" asked Amelia. "Yeah like that" said Joe. Amelia rests her head on Joe's shoulder and sighs.

"I don't ever want Papa to be sad like that" said Amelia. "None of us do" said Joe lifting her up onto his lap and kisses her on the head.

Amelia pulls back and looks at him. "You're the best big brother Joe just like Adam and Hoss" said Amelia.

"And you are the best baby sister and we wouldn't trade you for anything in the world. We love you so much" said Joe.

Amelia smiles "I love you too" she said. Joe hugs her and he could feel her kissing him on the cheek. He smiles and holds her closer. He thanked God for the precious angel he was holding in his arms.

A precious angel that he would always treasured.