He touched his fingers to her cheek. "See if I can build one wall while tearing down another."

Walking toward the barn, he could smell the scent of freshly cut lumber. She rushed to his side and

slipped her hand into his. "I'll go with you."

"You don't have to," he said.

"Yes, I do. I need you, my brother, and everyone in this town to know that whatever... whatever you

decided regarding Daniel... I'm standing beside you."

Slowly, he nodded. "All right."

Daniel had just carried a piece of lumber to the side of the bam by the lime Clay arrived with Meg beside

him. Daniel placed the board against the frame before meeting Clay's gaze. "Heard they were gonna build you a bam," he said quietly. "Thought I ought to help."

"I'd like to help, too, but I can't hold a nail." Clay jerked Daniel's hammer out of his grasp. "But I can

hold a hammer. I just need to find someone willing to hold the nail for me."

Daniel's gaze darted over to Meg, then came back to Clay. "Reckon I could hold the nail for you."

"I was hoping you'd say that," Clay said. "You realize, of course, that years of pounding on rocks has

given me a powerful swing. I miss the nail, I'll break your hand."

Daniel's Adam's apple slowly slid up and down. "Reckon you know I'm the one who put the knife

through your hand

so I won't hold it against you if you do end up hitting my hand," he said in a quivering voice.

Clay smiled. "I'm glad to hear that." He tilted his head toward the unfinished barn. "Shall we?"

Daniel took a nail out of his pocket, knelt beside the board, and positioned the nail.

"Hold the nail tight and don't move your hand," Clay said.

"Clay," Meg said quietly.

He glanced at her. "Don't distract me, Meg. I need to keep my attention focused on my task because I

know exactly how much courage it look for your brother to come here today."

Clay brought his arm back. Daniel took a deep breath, turned his head toward the board, and closed his

eyes. Meg balled her fists and pressed her lips tightly together to keep from crying out. Clay swung the hammer, and the frame rattled as he drove the nail home.

Daniel stared at the nail that was now halfway embedded in the wood. In disbelief, he looked at Clay. "I

thought..."

"You thought what?" Clay asked.

"I thought you'd hit my hand."

"Why would I do that? I love Meg. I'd like to marry her, but I won't unless you and your father give us

your blessing. Think you could talk your father into giving us his blessing?"

Nodding, Daniel wiped the back of his hand across his moist eyes.

Stepping away from the wall, Clay staggered. Meg and Daniel reached for him at the same time,

grabbing his arms to steady him.

"You tore down your wall," Meg said with tears in her eyes. "Now, let Daniel finish building this one. You need to rest."

"Not yet. I have one more thing to do," Clay said.

Daniel released his hold on Clay, but Meg kept her fingers wrapped around Clay's arm. Clay lifted his

brown gaze to the blue heavens. Then he lowered his gaze to the cornflower blue eyes of the woman he loved.

"Will you marry me?" he asked.

She smiled tenderly. "I'll marry you in the center of town with everyone watching."

Wrapping her arms around his neck, she kissed him long and deeply.

In front of her brother.

In front of her friends.

Her mouth was hot and moist, and he drank of her sweetness.

He felt her breath, as gentle as the wind, caress his face.

He heard her quiet sigh as soft as the leaves rustling in the nearby trees.

And the promise of a night filled with the scent of honeysuckle wafted around him.

Epilogue.

Summer, 1870.

Sitting on the bench. Clay studied the monument.

The dappled moonlight filtered through the abundant leaves and danced along the stone.

He'd regained full use of his hand by the time he was ready to carve the finishing details. Sometimes, his

hand ached, and it still cramped if he worked too long, but the pain was worth the accomplishment.

He'd given Kirk what he'd asked for Meg as she was the last time he gazed upon her... for eternity.

He heard the scattering of leaves and the snap of twigs as someone neared.

"I thought I'd find you here," Meg said softly as she sat beside him.

He draped his arm around her and drew her into the nook of his shoulder. "I like it best at night. I can't

see all the mistakes."

"You're the only one who sees the mistakes. The people around here think it's perfect. That's why they

wanted the monument in a special place where they could come and reflect on the past and remember their sons."

"So you suggested the land surrounding our swimming hole."

"It seemed appropriate, since their sons came here to discuss 'men' things. Besides, we won't be using it

anymore."

He kissed her cheek. "We might if we come back."

"Will we come back?" she asked quietly.

"I don't know, Meg. I got into the habit a few years back of not thinking past today, but I'll need a place to work once I've learned all I can at the university in Germany. Besides, I like Texas granite."

She nuzzled his neck. "I've grown rather fond of it myself."

"And fond of me?" he asked.

"Especially fond of you." She kissed him slow and leisurely to prove her words. Then she nibbled on his ear. "Why don't we finish this at home? My shoulders are beginning to ache."