Ben rode his horse up to Sara's home, dreading passing on the devastating news of Seth. This poor girl had suffered enough he thought, now he had to tell her that her fiancé actually murdered her father for the mine. He was also worried how she would take the news that Joe knew what he had done and had kept it a secret. He hoped their friendship was strong enough to survive, otherwise he knew his son would be desolated.

He took a deep breath and knocked on the door. A very happy Sara answered the door, probably expecting Seth, Ben thought. She was surprised to see Ben standing in the doorway. "Mr Cartwright come in. Is Joe alright?" she asked seeing the distress in his face.

"Sara...there's no easy way to tell you this...please sit down first" Ben instructed her as he guided her to a chair.

"What is it?" Sara asked really beginning to worry about what Ben was about to tell her.

"Sara...Joe went to see Seth this afternoon at the mine and Seth told him that" Ben swallowed, he could really do with a drink right now he thought "He told him that he killed your father...that he didn't die in the mine explosion, well not straight away but that he killed him. Apparently Seth discovered silver in the mine and wanted the mine to himself...I'm not sure why he couldn't just wait till you were married and share in the mine that way...I'm sorry Sara" Ben sighed and looked down.

After a time of absorbing the information and understanding the implications of Ben's news she asked "Why didn't Joe come and tell me?"

"Well, Joe wanted Seth to turn himself in but he didn't want to...they fought and Seth shot Joe in the back" he raised his hand "He's alright Sara; fortunately Adam came along and stopped Seth from shooting Joe again. Seth is in jail and Joe is at home resting...Doc Martin says he's going to be alright" Ben half smiled. "Sara why don't you come home with me and you can see for yourself...I don't think it's a good idea to be left alone" he told her.

Sara stood slowly "I'll need my shawl" she said.

"Take your time Sara, I'll hitch up the buggy" Ben said and he went outside. He had left out the part about Joe knowing from the beginning about Seth killing her father, thinking it was Joe's place to tell her.

She came out and sat next to Ben. Her silence was unnerving but Ben thought it was wiser to not push her to talk. He felt for her, so much to deal with and she had looked so happy when he first arrived. When they arrived at the house, one of the hands was taking off on a horse. Hoss came out with a concerned look on his face.

"Pa its Little Joe...he's running a fever...we've just sent for the doctor" he told his father. "He's calling for you Pa".

"Can you look after Sara and the horses?"

"Yes sir"

Ben ran into the house and ran up the stairs to Joe's room. Adam was bathing his brother down with cool water. "Adam how is he?"

"Not good Pa"

"Pa" Joe called for his father. His voice was breathy and strained.

"Sshh it's alright Joe...I'm here" Ben pushed Joe's wet hair off his forehead. He could feel the heat radiating off his body. His son's breathing was wheezy. "Let's sit him up a bit...might help him breathe better" Ben told his eldest son. Together they raised Joe up and placed more pillows behind his back.

Joe grabbed his father's hand "I'm sorry Pa".

"Joe listen to me...we'll work this out but you have to concentrate on getting better" Ben told his son. He frowned at the fever glazed eyes and the pale face looking at him, searching for forgiveness. Ben knew his son needed something but was too sick to understand too much so he simply said "I love you son". Joe's eyes slowly closed and peacefulness seemed to come over him. His breathing, although wheezy, slowed and his body relaxed. Adam continued to bathe his face and chest.

"He needed to hear that Pa..." Adam told his father.

"I need to check on Sara...you alright Adam?" he asked his eldest son.

"I'm fine Pa...I just hope Joe's going to be fine" he said anxiously.

"He will be son he will be" Ben stated.

Ben made his way down stairs and checked on Sara. "How is he Mr Cartwright?" she asked.

"He's got a good fever going" Ben half smiled as he said it.

"Is there anything I can do?" she asked.

"You just rest Sara...I'm sure Joe's going to be fine...Doc Martin will know what to do" he reassured her.

Ben went back upstairs; Adam was trying to roll Joe onto his side. "What are you doing Adam?"

"I thought we better check on the wound" he told his father. Ben helped his son roll Joe on his side. Adam looked under the bandages. 'It's really red and swollen Pa" he told his father. Ben grimaced at his son's statement and picked up the cloth to continue bathing Joe's head.

When Doc Martin arrived he went straight to Joe's room and took one look at the pale, wheezing man and frowned. He immediately cut away the bandages and examined the wound. "I need some hot water and clean towels" he told Adam. Adam swiftly left the room for the items.

"What do you think Paul?" Ben asked his friend.

"He's fever is pretty high Ben. He's wheezing has me worried...he maybe developing pneumonia" he said grimly. "His wound is infected...I'm going to have to clean it out" he told the concerned father. "Ben I have to be honest with you...we have a real battle ahead of us...Joe's body is struggling to cope with this...there's more going on here" the doctor stated. Ben knew what the doctor didn't know. Knowing his son all too well, he could only imagine the emotional battle going on inside his son's head. They would all have to keep reassuring him.

After cleaning the wound everyone took turns bathing Joe's head and chest with cool water. The fever raged on and his breathing became laboured. Ben decided to try one last thing to bring Joe some inner peace. He sat down and told Sara the whole story, including Joe's turmoil he suffered over the decision to not tell anyone. She told Ben how she knew something was wrong by the way Joe acted around her but didn't know what. Now she knew and knowing Joe so well she too could only imagine the inner battle he was having with himself.

"Would you try talking to him and let him know that you don't blame him or hate him for what he tried to do?" Ben asked her. "I think it will help him find some peace if he knew you were still friends".

"Of course Mr Cartwright...I couldn't hate Joe...I know he was only trying to protect me" she told the very worried father.

She entered his room and was shocked to see just how sick Joe really was and understood why his father had asked her to talk to Joe. She sat down beside his bed and placed her hand on the side of his face. She could feel the heat radiating off his body "Joe...Can you hear me?"

Joe opened his fever glazed eyes and looked at her, turning his head into her hand. "Sara...I'm so sorry".

She could hear the anguish in his words and knew her thoughts of Joe's inner battle were correct. "Joe listen to me...Your father told me everything...I know you were only trying to protect me and I love you for that...Only a true friend would do that...Don't blame yourself for Seth's actions and let go of the guilt Joe...You need to get better...I can't bear to lose you as well".

A tear rolled down Joe's cheek; she had forgiven him and with that he felt a huge weight lifted from his shoulders. His eyes closed and just as before when his father's words had given him some peace, Sara's words gave him the ultimate peace he needed.

It was only a short time later Joe's fever broke and he drifted off into a deep healing sleep. Everyone sighed with relief and knew that Joe both physically and mentally was finally mending. It was the love of his family and friend, which brought him peace and allowed him to finally forgive himself.