Each day, the Cartwrights made a pilgrimage into town, visiting the Sheriff and the telegraph office, hoping in vain for news that never came. They were a familiar sight in town, mingling with other grief-stricken relatives, still searching the streets in the hope that a beloved face might suddenly appear. Reality was beginning to assert itself and they knew that they could not postpone their return to the Ponderosa for much longer. Yet something compelled them to stay in Crescent City.

"I don't like to leave things like this," Hoss said, leaning heavily on the railing outside the telegraph office. "Things seem unfinished and that ain't right. We need to do something – for us as well as for Joe." It was the first time he had mentioned his brother's name since the sinking of the Brother Jonathan and his statement caused Adam and Ben to exchange looks.

"Did you have anything in mind?" Ben asked, keen to encourage Hoss to talk about things. He knew how destructive it was to keep feelings bottled inside you. They could fester away and consume a man with bitterness. Grief had to be faced straight on, no matter how much pain this caused. Only by acknowledging your grief could you begin to live with your loss.

A slow smile curved across Hoss' lips and his took on a faraway look. "Joe was always the restless one, always searching for something, never sitting still. I can't think of him any other way. I close my eyes and he's right here in my heart, grinning from ear to ear, bursting with mischief."

How strange it was to talk about Joe in the past tense. At least ten times a day, Hoss would think of a joke or see something unusual and think "I must tell Joe about that". They had been so close, sharing one another's hopes and dreams from childhood, comforting and supporting each other for as long as he could remember.

"Quicksilver," Adam muttered. Talking about Joe was like pressing a bruise, but he persevered, hoping that one day it would stop hurting quite so much. "Joe was always mercurial and obstinate and strong-willed and…" He took a deep breath, forcing himself to continue, knowing that the first time was always the worst, that afterwards you knew how much pain you had to endure and could steel yourself against it. "And he was my brother. I held him the day he was born and he drove me to distraction, but that was Joe and I loved him."

It was done. He would not have to say the words again, but Adam felt a sense of relief and a small degree of comfort.

"My Joseph. My boy." Ben smiled proudly through his tears. "He's still with us, forever young and carefree. He will always be with us, as long as we remember and love him."

He would have continued, but an agitated woman hurried past and pulled anxiously at the office door.

"Pardon me, ma'am, but they're shut for lunch," Hoss said respectfully.

"They can't be! I've got to send an urgent telegram to Nevada!" Stella blurted out. She staggered, suddenly overwhelmed with giddiness and would have fallen if Hoss had not taken hold of her elbow and ushered her into a seat.

"Thank you." Stella looked up into a pair of guileless blue eyes and, for the first time in hours, felt safe. "I have to send a telegram for Joe – he's so worried."

Instantly, the expression on Hoss' face changed. He bent over and held her wrist in a vice-like grasp. "Joe? You're sending a telegraph to Nevada for Joe?"

"You're frightening the lady, Hoss," Adam cautioned. "And don't jump to conclusions." He favoured Stella with a smile. "You wouldn't have an address for that telegraph?" His heart was thumping wildly in his chest, but he forced his voice to remain calm and steady. "It's just that we're looking for our brother and he's called Joseph Cartwright."

Stella looked across at the older man, who stood staring starkly at her, a wondering realisation dawning in his face and reached out her hand. "He's safe," she said and Ben's world suddenly fell back into place, becoming new, restored and whole.

Finding herself propelled up the street, being literally dragged along between Hoss and Adam, Stella felt a strange sense of freedom and joy. She had not only conquered her fears, but had given a family the most precious gift of all. They ran up the street towards the doctor's, anxious not to waste a second, while Ben went at a slightly more sedate pace to hire a buggy from the livery stables

His heart sang with elation. As he passed the church, he bowed his head briefly, and then looked up towards the sky. My son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found, he thought incredulously, scarcely daring to believe it. Ben waited impatiently until Adam appeared with the doctor and then bowled off at a smart pace, leaving a trail of dust in his wake.

"Remarkable woman, Miss Stella," Doctor Maris remarked conversationally. "You owe her a great debt, Mr Cartwright."

Ben nodded in agreement. "I certainly do. If she hadn't found Joe and then taken him in and helped him, why I hate to think what might have happened."

The doctor turned slightly in his seat. "You owe her more than you realise. I've worked here for three years and this is the first time I've seen Miss Stella set foot across her doorstep. She's been a virtual recluse for years now, too scared to come out of her house. I couldn't believe it when I saw in her my office! It's been over four years since she last came to town, and even then she nearly passed-out with sheer terror." He shook his head in wonder.

"She's a very brave lady," Ben agreed, shocked by the revelation. "I owe her a great deal."

Stella's house lay at the end of a lane, well away from the town and Ben wondered at the lonely existence she must have endured. He leapt out of the buggy and dashed towards the house.

"Joseph? Joseph?"

There was no answer and Ben stood helplessly in the kitchen, wondering what to do next.