Chapter 10
The next day the Cartwright's rode into town. Hoss and Amelia rode up to sheriff's office while Adam and Joe went to the saloon and Ben had gone to the Bank.
They mounted off their horses. "You want me to come with ya?" asked Hoss. "No that's alright Hoss. I think I should do this by myself" said Amelia firmly.
"You're a brave girl Mia and I'm mighty proud of you" said Hoss before giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you for helping me Hoss" she said sincerely grateful. Hoss smiles "If you need me I'll be with Adam and Little Joe". "Ok" she said. Hoss smiles again and walks away after watching her walk into the office.
Clem was pouring himself a cup of coffee when he saw Amelia walking in. he was surprise to see her. He figured it would be awhile until Amelia was ready to be back in Virginia City.
"Amelia didn't expect to see ya in town today. Thought it would be awhile until ya did" said Clem. "I came to talk to ya about the man who attacked me" said Amelia.
She walks over to a chair in front of Clem's desk and sits in front of him. "Go ahead" said Clem.
Amelia starts to tell him about the night of the attack and seeing the attacker all over the Ponderosa. Then she tells him about the man setting a fire on the ranch, breaking into the house and trying to kill her.
After hearing what Amelia told him Clem was impress that she was brave enough to confide in him.
"Amelia I know this wasn't easy for you to come here and tell me this but I want you to know that this doesn't go outside this room and it doesn't go unappreciative" said Clem understandingly.
"Thanks Clem for everything" said Amelia she gets up and walks out of the office. She walks down the sidewalk about to pass an alley that separated between two buildings.
All of a sudden someone grabs her and pulls her into the alley. She screams and tries to break free. The attacker starts to beat her up; punching her in the face and in the stomach.
Amelia starts to fight back and grabs a gun from her attacker and fires it multiple times.
At the saloon everyone heard the gunshots and was frantically rushing out to the street.
The Cartwright's who heard the shots immediately sense something was wrong and ran to where they heard the gunshots.
They run over to the alley and saw Amelia wrestling with a man they didn't recognized. Amelia punches the man in the jaw and he lands on the ground unconscious.
Clem runs over to the Cartwright's and saw the man. He walks over to help him up. "Is this the man who hurt you?" asked Clem. "Yes that's him" said Amelia.
"Who is he?" asked Adam. "His name is John Carter he works at the Livery Stable" said Clem as handcuffs him. He pulls John to his feet and walks him to the jail.
Ben walks over to Amelia who was crying thankful that the nightmare was over.
Ben puts his arm around his little girl. "The nightmare is over darling he's never gonna hurt you ever again" said Ben comfortingly.
Amelia looks up at him and smiles. "I wanna go home" said Amelia. Ben turns to his sons. They walk over to their horses; mounted on and rode out of town.
The End