Chapter 3 

Long Night

Late in the middle of the night the boys were awaken by a horror of screaming coming from Amelia’s room.

Adam quickly gets up and hurries to her room where he found her thrashing in bed screaming and crying. He hurries to her side and tries to wake her up.

“Amelia honey wake up you’re having a nightmare” said Adam. Amelia wakes up and throws her arms around him and cries. Joe and Hoss run in to see that Adam was comforting the frighten girl.

“Is she alright?” asked Hoss concerned. While holding Amelia, Adam turns to them. “Yeah she had a nightmare go back to bed” assured Adam. Joe and Hoss walks back to their rooms.

Adam tries to soothe his sister then pulls her away to look at her. “Wanna tell me about it?” asked Adam. Amelia doesn’t say anything. She was too shook up from the dream.

All she wanted now was to feel safe but most of all she wanted her memory back. “I was alone with no memory and no one was there to help me. It was scary really scary” said Amelia feeling her fear coming back and starts to cry again.

Adam hugs her and calms her down. “It’s alright it was just a dream. You’re safe you’re not alone” soothed Adam rubbing her back. Amelia stops crying and Adam tucks her back into bed.

“Thanks Adam” said Amelia falling asleep. “Goodnight sweetheart” whispered Adam as he leans over to kiss her on the forehead and walks to the door. He turns to look at her before walking out. “I love you” he said in a soft whisper. He walks out of the room.

The next morning the boys were eating breakfast leaving Amelia to sleep in. Adam had just finished telling them about Amelia’s dream. “No wonder she was scared I would be too” said Hoss feeling sympathy for his sister.

“I’ll be glad when Pa gets home. Maybe he can help Amelia” said Joe. Ben walks in as if on cue. The boys got up to greet their father.

“Welcome home Pa we sure did miss you” said Hoss cheerfully. “It’s good to be home. How’s Amelia?” asked Ben. “She has amnesia Pa. she can’t remember anything” informed Adam.

“What did the doctor say?” asked Ben concerned. “He said that she should gain her memory back in a week or two” said Joe. “Where is she?” asked Ben. “Still asleep she was up most of the night” said Hoss.

Ben looks at them getting even more concerned. “Was she sick?”  “No she had a nightmare. She’s fine now” assured Adam. Ben makes his way up the stairs to his daughter’s room.

He saw his precious angel sound asleep. Ben walks over to her and sits down beside her on a chair. Amelia slowly wakes up and jumps up when she saw him and screams.

The boys burst in the room. Amelia climbs out of the bed and runs to Hoss and hugs him. Ben was shocked by Amelia’s reaction and tries not to be hurt by it. “It’s alright Amelia that’s our Pa” reassured Hoss.

Amelia looks at the older man who nods his head as he slowly walks up to her. “I’m sorry Pa” said Amelia nervously. “That’s alright darling I understand” said Ben reassuring her. No longer feeling afraid anymore Amelia hugs him.

Ben who had been terribly worried about his daughter after hearing about her accident was very thankful to have her in his arms. Seeing that everything was alright the boys walk out of the room.

Ben stops hugging his daughter and looks at her. “How are you feeling?” asked Ben. “Alright for someone who has no memory” said Amelia. “I’m sorry it took me so long to get home to you” said Ben sincerely.

“That’s alright Pa the boys have been taking real good care of me” said Amelia. “I don’t doubt that” said Ben proudly thinking of his sons.

Amelia walks over to her bed and sits on it. “Pa can I ask you something?” asked Amelia looking at her father. “Sure darling” said Ben as he sits beside her. “Where’s my mother?” asked Amelia.

Ben takes a deep breath he knew Amelia would be asking about her mother sooner or later with or without amnesia. “Darling your mother is in heaven with your brothers’ mothers” explained Ben.

“Did you love her?” asked Amelia. “Oh yes very much so” said Ben.

“Pa do you think I’m gonna get my memory back?” asked Amelia hopingly.

“I’m sure you will and we’ll all be glad when you do” said Ben encouragingly. Amelia smiles something about this man felt familiar to her. “I just met you and somehow I have this feeling about you that I had felt my whole life but I can’t describe it” said Amelia.

Ben smiles knowing what she was feeling was love for him and it made him feel joy cause  it was the same kind of love he felt for her. “I know what you mean” said Ben putting his arm around her.

“I felt the same way about Joe when I saw him at the doctor’s office. Little Joe told me that it was because we love each other. Do you suppose it’s the same way for Hoss and Adam?” asked Amelia.

Ben nods and smiles “Yes I do you have a wonderful bond with each of your brothers. They love you very much you don’t have to worry about that”

Amelia smiles and hugs him. “I love you Pa” said Amelia which was like music to Ben’s ears. “And I love you darling” said Ben kissing her on the head.