The brothers were down before their father wanting to see his face that his sons had beaten him down to the table.

"Morning boys, I didn't expect to see you here," Ben said as he came down the stairs.

"Wasn't much use staying out with the Hendricks back," Hoss replied.

Ben's eyebrows raised, "The Hendricks back? Are you sure?"

Joe's face twisted in perplexity, "Yeah, we were with them last night. Frank, Fanny and their new baby."

Ben sat down heavily and appeared deep in thought.

Adam, concerned went over to his father. "Pa is everything all right?"

"Can't be, Adam, can't be." He looked up at his eldest son. "Mr. Miller at the bank just gave this to me yesterday." He took out a letter from his vest pocket. Adam raised his eyebrow as he took the note and looked at his brothers.

He then opened it up and quickly checked the return address. "It's from a lawyer in Philadelphia."

Ben nodded, "That's where the Hendricks were heading. They had family there." At the word "had" Joe and Hoss got up behind their elder brother to read the letter.

"Pa! This can't be right," Hoss exclaimed.

Joe looked at his father confused, "How can they be dead? We talked with them last night."

"…lost at sea." Adam read, and continued; "Mrs. Hendricks was apparently hearing a baby cry for some time while on board. Then all of sudden she appeared calm. She acted normal for several weeks. One stormy night, after screaming she was hearing her baby crying, she jumped overboard. Seeing this, her husband also jumped overboard trying to save her. The storm claimed them both. The captain sent out word, hoping to hear of them and finally heard from a passing vessel that two unknown bodies had washed ashore up the coastline. Although the storm and the sea made the bodies beyond recognition, they were identified by the clothing and jewelry they wore." Adam looked up, "The answer's simple. They were mistaken. It wasn't the Hendricks. The two, no three people we saw were."

Ben raised his eyebrow. "Adam, I was there yesterday. I didn't see the Hendricks."

Adam set his jaw, "They were there, and we all saw them. I'll show you."