Chapter 8
Later that night, Amelia had gone into her room to get ready for bed when she heard the front door shut. Thinking it was her family she hurries down the stairs but is horrified to see her attacker standing in the middle of the living room.
"So this is where you live" said the man admiring the house. "What do you want?" asked Amelia trying to be brave. The attacker stares at her with admiration making her uncomfortable.
"You better cut that out. My Pa and brothers will be here soon and when they do you better beg for your life" warned Amelia.
"I highly doubt it I kept them busy with that fire" said the man coldly with an evil smirk on his face and evil eyes to match. "Why?" asked Amelia.
The man grins. "To get them out of the house long enough for me to finish what I started". He grabs her and shoves her to the floor. "You're not gonna get away with this my family will hunt you down" said Amelia. The man laughs coldly.
Amelia gets up and looks at him realizing that he was the murderer. "Why did you kill those girls?" asked Amelia sternly. She wasn't gonna let him hurt her like he did to the other girls he prey on and she was determine not to be afraid of him.
"Why does the sun rise? Why do the birds sing? Because they want to" he replied in a dark chilling voice that gave you goose bumps. Amelia was afraid of what the answer to her next question was but she swallowed her fear and takes a deep breath before looking up at the man again.
"Why did you attack me?" she asked in a calm voice. The man smiles a devilish smile and replies "Because you're beautiful and I wanted you". Amelia had chills that ran down her spine. She knew that she had to get away and get help but was too scared to move. "I gonna take a wild guess here that you want to kill me because I'm the only one of your victims that is alive that can identify you" said Amelia firmly.
The attacker claps his hands impressed. "Smart little girl too bad your Pa and brothers aren't here to watch you die".
He punches Amelia is the jaw and falls on her back to the floor. She looks up and sees a pistol point straight at her.
The man laughs loudly and evil. "Goodbye Amelia Cartwright" said the man as he is about to pull the trigger but is alarmed by the sound of horses riding toward the house outside. He looks down at Amelia. "If you tell anyone that I was here I'll come back to kill you and your family". With that said he quickly runs to the kitchen just before Ben and the boys walk in.
They walk in to find Amelia on the floor with a cut on her lip. They quickly rushed over to her. "Mia you alright?" asked Hoss as he helps her up. "Yeah I'm alright" said Amelia. "What happen?" asked Adam concerned.
Amelia turns to them and remembered what the man said he would do if she told them. She didn't want to take the risk, she loved them so much. "I don't want to talk about it I'm going to bed" said Amelia.
Before they could say anything Amelia hurries up the stairs to her bedroom and slams the door shut. Little Joe turns to his Pa worriedly. "What you suppose that was about Pa?" asked Joe worriedly.
"I'm not sure Joe I never seen her act like that before" said Ben who was just as worried as his sons. "I'll go check on her" said Adam.
"Don't press her if she doesn't want to talk about it" said Ben. Adam nods and walks up the stairs. He walks down the hall to Amelia's door and heard her crying. He peers in the room and notices Amelia laying on her bed her face in her pillow.
Amelia lifts her head up and saw Adam walking towards her and sits next to her. "You want to tell me what happen while we were gone?" asked Adam gently.
Amelia looks up at him and shakes her head. "I can't" said Amelia in a sad voice. "Whatever it is we won't be mad we love you we just want to help" said Adam.
"I know that's why I can't tell you" said Amelia as she sits up. Adam takes her hand in his and looks at her. "I know this is hard for you and I'm sorry you have to go through something like this but you're not alone you've got me, Hoss, Joe and Pa" said Adam. Amelia embraces him and starts to cry.
"Oh Adam I've been so scared in my life" wailed Amelia. Adam strokes his sister's hair comfortingly.
He pulls her away to look at her. "What made you so scared?" asked Adam feeling uneasy. "He came here after you left. He tried to kill me. He told me that if I tell any of you he'll come back and kill us all. He killed those girls, Adam and now he's gonna come back and kill me" said Amelia in despaired.
Adam brushes his hand on her hair. "Don't worry everything's gonna be alright no one's gonna hurt you I promise" said Adam soothed.
Amelia gives his a small smile but it soon fades away. Adam sensed that there was something else on her mind.
Amelia looks up at her brother's concern gaze. "Are you ashamed of me for what happen?" asked Amelia in a small almost in a shy voice.
Adam was taken back at the question and realizes how much it bothered her. Tears started to well in his eyes as he takes his sister in his arms.
"I could never be ashamed of you" said Adam as he kisses her on the head and looks down at her. He felt a lump in his throat.
"No matter what happens I would never be ashamed of you. You're my baby sister and I love you and I always will" said Adam as he let some tears to roll down his cheeks. Amelia felt relieved and looks up at him.
"I love you too big brother" said Amelia.
"I was afraid that you wouldn't be able to think or look at me the same way or think that I was some kind of tramp or something" said Amelia.
Adam pulls away from her and looks into her hesitant eyes. "I would never think of you like that way nor would Hoss, Joe and especially not Pa. We will always think of you as nothing more than as our wonderful little sister." said Adam. "And Pa will always think out you as his darling little girl".
"I know that but ever since the attack I don't know anymore. I don't know everything that I knew before feels uncertain now and I don't know what to do" said Amelia skeptically.
"Well I tell you what you do. When you feel any uncertainly about my love for you or about Pa's, Hoss' and Joe's love for you or anything at all you let us know and we'll help you relieve that uncertainly. We'll do whatever we can to help you get through this. You're not alone" comforted Adam as he gets up and tucks her into bed.
"Thanks Adam I love you" said Amelia assured. He leans over and kisses her on the cheek. "I love you too shortcake". He then turns to walk away when Amelia spoke up "Adam can you stay with me until I fall asleep?"
Adam smiles and walks back over to her and sit on a chair beside Amelia's bed. "Of course I will" he said. Amelia smiles faintly as she slowly drifts off asleep.
As soon as he felt that she was safe Adam gets up and walks out of the room and saw Little Joe coming up the stairs and walks over to him.
"How is she?" asked Joe worriedly. "She's asleep" said Adam. "What happen to her lip?" asked Joe curiously.
Adam grabs Joe under his elbow and walks down the stairs to the living room where Hoss and Ben were watching them coming down the stairs.
"Amelia's attacker came here when we were out and tried to kill her. He told her that if she told any of us then he'll come back and kill us all" said explained Adam.
"No wonder why she was so frighten" said Hoss. "Amelia said that he was the one who killed those girls" said Adam.
"We're gonna hafta tell Clem about this" said Joe sternly. Ben thinks for a moment then turns to his youngest son.
"I agree we should tell him about what happen tonight and about those girls but its Amelia's decision whether or not she wants to tell him about the night she was attack" said Ben.
"She's gonna have to talk about it sooner than later" said Hoss.
"It's a very difficult thing for her to talk about right now. She still has a lot to work through and a lot of healing" said Ben.
"Especially all the uncertainly she's feeling" added Adam. Ben looks at him surprised. "What kind of uncertainly?" asked Joe.
"Among other things she feels speculative about our love. All she needs is some reassurance" said Adam. "If that's what she needs then that's what we're gonna do" declared Ben.
Hoss and Joe nod their heads in agreement.