Chapter 3
Early the next morning Ben was sitting at the table drinking coffee and reading the paper. The boys had already gotten up and left for work.
Amelia walks down the stairs wearing a blue peasant dress that the boys gave her for her fifteenth birthday a couple of months ago. Her hair was neatly brushed and tied back.
She sits at the table beside her father. "Morning Pa" said Amelia as she started to eat her breakfast that consisted of pancakes, sausage, and fruit. "Morning darling" said Ben looking up from his paper happy to see that his daughter had gotten up early and ready to start her day.
"Little Joe is going to take you to school so you best be going" said Ben. "Ok Pa" said Amelia knowing that Joe was a very impatient person who didn't like to be kept waiting. She gets up from the table and walks over to her Pa and kisses him on the cheek. "Have a good day and be sure you come home to do your chores" said Ben. "Don't worry Pa I will" said Amelia. She grabs her books and lunch by the door and walks out of the house.
Little Joe was waiting by their horses. "Will you hurry up I got a lot of things to do in town" said Joe impatiently as Amelia predicted. "Playing poker?" asked Amelia jokingly as she mounts on to her horse.
"Among other things" said Joe not amused. They rode out of the yard in silence.
"Pa isn't gonna be happy when he hears about you playing poker again" said Amelia. Joe looks at her. "Not if you tell him" warned Joe. "Don't worry about me big brother I won't say a word" said Amelia.
Joe was relieved until she spoke again. "Then again I won't have to" said Amelia with a devilish smile. "And why is that?" asked Joe curiously.
"Because Adam and Hoss would be in town today to get that barb wire they need to finish mending the fence they've been working on and how your luck is brother, they'll probably walk in on your poker game" said Amelia feeling cunning.
"You think you're so smart don't you?" Joe asked sarcastically.
Amelia just smiles. They pull up in front of the school house. "I'll be back later to pick you up" said Joe. "Have a good day" and he rides away.
Amelia dismounts off her horse and walks inside the schoolhouse.
Little Joe rode into town and up to the sheriff's office. He mounts off his horse, ties him and walks in.
Clem was sitting behind his desk. "Hi Clem" said Little Joe cheerfully. "Well what brings you to my office Little Joe?" asked Clem with a smile on his face. "Just came to see if you had any leads to the killer?" asked Joe curiously.
"Not yet whoever it is knows how to clean up their tracks" said Clem in a frustrated tone. He looks up at Joe. "How's Amelia doing? I can't imagine on how hard this must be on her" said Clem.
"She's been better. She feels as though she's living in fear and having the need to look over her shoulder. For her sake I hope this all ends soon" said Joe.
"That's what we all want to. The town is in an ugly mood. They're itching to lynch someone" said Clem. "I can imagine" said Joe.
He says goodbye to Clem and walks out of the office. Once outside he walks down to the Saloon.
Later on that day at school Amelia was standing on the steps in front of the school waiting for Little Joe when her friend Josh Smith walks up to her.
Josh had dark brown curly hair and chocolate brown eyes. "I'm gonna go fishing want ta come?" asked Josh anxiously. Amelia smiles flatter that Josh would ask her but shakes her head.
"Sorry Josh I would love to but my Pa wants me home to do my chores" said Amelia. "C'mon it wouldn't take that long I promise" sad Josh.
"I don't know Little Joe is supposed to ride home with me" said Amelia. "I'll ride home with ya after we go fishing. If it would make you feel any better why don't you let Miss Hunter know that you went fishing with me in case Little Joe comes looking for ya" said Josh.
"It beats waiting here for that brother of mine" said Amelia. She walks inside the school then a few minutes later they rode away on their horses.
After having gone fishing they rode up to a fork in the road. The left side was the way to Josh's house and the right would take you to the Ponderosa.
"Thanks for coming fishing with me" said Josh. "I guess I'll see ya tomorrow Amelia". Josh leans over to Amelia and kisses her on the cheek then rides away.
Amelia rides down the opposite direction and through the woods until her horse suddenly stops. "What's wrong Marigold?"
Just then she heard something moving behind some bushes. "Someone there?" asked Amelia nervously. She mounts off her horse and walks over to look at her horse's face.
"Must've been a rabbit or something" said Amelia trying to ease her horse's nerves as well as her own. Someone ambushes her from behind and drags her away.