Chapter 6
Ben, the boys, and Clem were sitting in the living room while the doctor was tending to Amelia.
Once the doctor had finish he walks down the stairs entering the living room everyone's heads perked up anxiously worried when they saw him.
"How is she?" asked Ben worriedly. "There's no easy way to say this Ben but Amelia was molested" said the Doctor is a calm tone. Ben was numb. "Are you saying that my daughter was raped?" gasped Ben trying to catch his breath.
The Doc nods full of agony. "I'm afraid so" He felt never felt so helpless and wish that he didn't have to give the horrific news to the family.
Joe bows his head down with tears in his eyes. "I wish there was more I could do. I gave her a sedative to help her sleep. She has a tough road ahead of her but she's a strong girl she'll get through this" said the doctor reassuringly.
"Thank you for Paul" said Ben as he walks over to the door with the doctor. "I'll better be going to I sure hope Amelia is feeling better. I want you to know that if Amelia isn't able to make a statement we won't press her" said Clem. He walks out the door.
The room fell into an emotional silence. "This is entirely my fault" Joe said with a heavy heart full of guilt. "If only I wasn't so caught up in that dang poker game" he gets up and bangs his fist on the table full of frustration.
"I should've been more responsible. I should've picked her up from school like I was supposed to" said Joe his temper flaring. He storms out the door slamming it behind him. Hoss turns to his father. Ben glances to see his sons' worried faces. "Let him cool off"
Later that night Ben walks into Amelia's bedroom and found her safely asleep in her bed. He walks over and sits on a chair beside her bed taking her hand in his.
"I'm so sorry this happen to you darling. You are not gonna go through this alone we're here and we love you and nothing on this earth is going to change that" said Ben with tears in his eyes as he raise his daughter's hand to his gentle lips.
Amelia slowly starts to wake up to see her father sitting beside her. "Papa" said Amelia weakly. "I'm right here baby, you're safe no one is gonna hurt cha" said Ben comforting her.
"I'm so sorry Pa" said Amelia as tears rolled down her cheeks. "Shh...It's alright everything's alright" said Ben soothing her. He gets up once Amelia had drifted back to sleep and kisses her on the head before leaving the room.
The next day Adam, Hoss, and Joe decided to take a day off from work to stay home with Amelia while Ben was in town talking to Clem and running errands. The boys were eating their breakfast at the table when Amelia comes down the stairs.
The boys saw her and stopped eating and walk over to her. "Where's Pa?" asked Amelia. "He had gone to town he'll be back soon" said Adam.
"How you feeling?" asked Joe. "Alright I guess didn't get much sleep last night though" said Amelia. "Do you want some breakfast? Hop sing made French toast" said Hoss.
Amelia shakes her head. "No thanks Hoss I'm not really that hungry. I think I'll go do some chores outside" said Amelia. She walks out the door. The boys exchange concern glances. "Maybe one of us should be with her so she's not alone" said Hoss.
Adam shakes his head. "Let her be if one of us goes out there she'll be even more distant than she is now" said Adam. "Why do you suppose she's so distant from us Adam?" asked Joe concern. "I think she feels like we're ashamed of her because of what happen and because of what happen she probably feels that she ashamed us" said Adam.
"There's gotta be something we can do to show her that we're ain't ashamed of her and that we love her" said Hoss. "We will but as for right now we should give her the space that she needs" said Adam. With that said the boys walk back over to the table and finished eating their breakfast.
Amelia had gone in the barn to check on her horse. "Sorry I haven't come see you 'til now. I hope you're not too upset with me" said Amelia as she groomed her horse. "I wouldn't blame you if you were. There're a lot of people that are probably upset with me" "There's Pa, my brothers, and everyone in town. I never meant for any of this to happen and I certainly never meant for my family to be ashamed of me. I really made a mess out of everything haven't I, Marigold?" said Amelia sadly tears rolling down her cheeks.
"It's my fault that it happen if I just waited for Little Joe instead of going fishing with Josh. I hope my family can forgive me and not be ashamed of me anymore. I hate the idea of disappointing them especially Pa".
Once Amelia had stopped grooming her horse she walks out of the barn. She saw the attacker appear from the side of the barn. He stands there watching her.
Amelia started to feel afraid and started to tremble. She walks across the yard slowly and the attacker creeps up behind her and grabs her. Amelia screams as loud as she can hope that someone in the house heard her.
She saw the door of the house open and was relieved to find Adam walking out to the porch. Before he can see what was going on the attacker throws Amelia to the ground and runs away.
Adam notices his sister on the ground and rushes over to her. He helps her up and puts his hands on her shoulders. "Are you alright? What happen?" asked Adam concerned.
Amelia looks up at him. "I'm alright. My attacker grabbed me" said Amelia. She hugs Adam and starts to cry.
"I thought he was gonna hurt me again Adam. I was so scared!" cried Amelia with tears rolling down her cheeks. "It's alright now everything's gonna be alright. No one's going to hurt you you're safe" said Adam comfortingly as he holds her in his arms. He then walks her back into the house.