Three weeks passed and the old home place was beginning to look like something again. Clay and Billy worked hard to get it together and strung new fences. Working with the thorny wire was a new experience and costly, but they managed. It took them several weeks to get going on the fencing, but it was nearly finished.
"Where'd you get the idea for the wire fencing?" Billy asked.
"Read about it after the war was over. It's nothing but two wires being strung together, they call it a thorny fence, keeps the cattle away from it, so they don't tear it down. I thought we'd check into it."
Because Billy wanted to get married soon, Clay insisted they had to stop and work on the house, corral, and barn. There was a lot to do. However, Clay was thankful for the work; it didn't allow much time for thinking about Amy.
A month went by with nothing but work, sweat and tears.
It was hot and the work made it hotter. Summer had barely begun and the sun scorched them.
There were still plenty of repairs to be made on the house. They tackled them next.
"How about that old well out there, you think we need to dig deeper, this year?"
"Maybe, but that's a lot of work. You need better equipment than we have. But, maybe we'll get lucky and borrow the tools we need. It would be nice to have water all year round."
"Yeah, we'll check on that later."
They repaired the porch as it was about to cave in, and mended the roof. Then they fixed the outhouse a little nicer.
Another six weeks passed and it was finally ready for putting cattle on it.
The work kept Clay's mind occupied so he welcomed it. Billy wanted to please his new bride to be, so he was just as anxious to get it done.
They hadn't seen anyone from Cross Corners and that suited Clay just fine.
The doc rode out one day and checked on them. He didn't stay long, but inquired of Clay's leg, and complimented them on all the hard work.
"The place is really looking good. But we've hardly seen you in town." Doc turned his head in question.
"Been buying what we need over in Beaverton." Billy said.
"Beaverton, isn't that a little out of your way?"
"Yeah, but it suits us better, Doc." Clay shot him a slight frown.
The doc bid them a good day and was on his way.
Later that day when they stopped to eat a sandwich, Clay looked at Billy seriously. "Can we buy cattle from your boss, Mr. Sanders in Tucson?"
"Yeah, he'll sell us enough for a start. All we would need then is a bull," Billy said.
"Then I reckon we should head to Tucson tomorrow." Clay decided. "I'll check over in Beaverton for a prize bull."
"I heard Ole man Haney, out west of here had a bull he wanted to sell. He's pretty reasonable." Billy told him
"Sounds great to me. Maybe we should look into that when we get back."
Billy agreed.
"I can finally see my girl again." Billy looked off in the distance.
"Heck, if you want, we can bring her back here. By the way what's her name?"
"Becca. Well, I would need to marry her first. She'd never come this far without being married. Her Pa would insist on it."
"And that's as it should be. We could get that done too, if you want. If you are ready. As long as her father approves."
"He does, and I'm more than ready, big brother. I'm crazy about that little gal. The minute I saw her I knew there wouldn't be another one for me." Billy let his words fade away as he realized that was how Clay had felt about Amy. In all this time, they rarely even mentioned Amy. Nevertheless, from the look on his brother's face, he knew he was thinking about her every day.
"Good, then it's settled. We'll head out tomorrow, and get the cattle, and you two can get married while we are there and we'll bring her home. What do you think of that?"
"Sounds good to me." Billy smiled. "Sounds real good."
"Good. I'm going to go scatter some hay for the horses and make sure they got water. I'll be back in a few minutes. Did you curry them today?"
"No…didn't get around to it."
"I'll do it then…"
Billy nodded. "I'll get some supper on."
Clay nodded.
However, as Clay was scattering the hay he heard a buggy pull into the yard. He glanced out and Amy was getting out of the buggy when she spotted him. She looked so beautiful standing there in her gingham dress with the sun still glistening in her hair. His heart leapt…for a moment. Just looking at her was a pure pleasure.
She walked to the barn. Her eyes pinned on him.
"Hello Clay." She said throatily, her eyes going over him thoroughly.
Looking into her beautiful face, he was close to taking her into his arms, but he backed away in time to stop himself. Closing his eyes, he breathed in the sweet smell of her. Just being this close to her was some strange kind of heaven.
"Amy." He nodded and turned back to his work. He couldn't look at her too often without wanting to hold her, and kiss her. Turning away from her was so very hard to do. "What are you doing out here so late."
"I was just coming from…from George's." She hung her head.
He nodded, and tried not to wince at the sting that name brought.
He silently scolded himself, he was going to have to get used to it. George would soon be a big part of her life.
"I thought I'd stop off and see the old place again. You two have done a lot to it. It looks good. I'm glad you're fixing it up."
"Yeah, it's an improvement alright."
She didn't say anymore.
He looked at her. "Have you had supper?"
"No…I guess I better get back to town."
"You could stay and eat with us…"
"Who's cooking?" She almost laughed.
"Billy."
"Well…thanks…but I should go…it's late. I need to get home before dark." She looked at him and something told him she wanted to be invited again. That way she could accept his invitation, but he didn't.
"You just got here. Why did you stop off?" Now he stared at her, drinking her in. Wishing so many things…
"I told you…I saw the place and it looks so much better than it did. It's really come to life again; the two of you have been real busy. I guess that explains why you haven't been to town in a while." She said nervously, as she leaned against a stall he was working at.
"We won't be to town often, Amy." Clay said matter-of-factly.
"Why not?" She had to ask.
"Not much need of it."
"But, where are you getting your supplies?" She burst out.
"We have been buying over in Beaverton, lately." He explained.
"Beaverton, but why, that's ten miles out of the way." Her face was scrunched up in a frown. "Because of me?"
Her eyes were wide now.
"No…because of George. There's a lot between us Amy. But for your sake, I'll stay clear."
She stared at him now. "I wish you would tell me…what happened between you two."
"That's best left alone. So when the two of you gonna be married?"
"We haven't set a date yet."
"Do me a favor Amy; don't invite me to the wedding." Clay moved away from her now.
"Clay…there's so many things I want to say. I want to understand why you didn't write, didn't come home."
"I think it's best forgotten under the circumstances. He's your fiancé. And because we don't necessarily get along, it's best to leave it lie. No use giving the town something to gossip about the three of us. And they would gossip."
She hung her head. "Is that how you want it, Clay?"
"Its how it has to be, Amy," he turned to look at her. "I've accepted the fact that you and George are betrothed. I want you to be happy."
In that moment, he saw a sadness he hadn't expected on her face. He shrugged.
"Besides, I've known the banker over in Beaverton for a long time. He'll give us credit if we need it." He changed the subject so she wouldn't feel worse about things.
"There's a bit of gossip now, Clay. Everyone thought you were dead. It's like seeing a ghost….sort of."
She started to say something more, she even reached her hand to his arm, but quickly moved it away when Billy came into the barn.
"I saw the buggy, didn't know who was here." He said as he burst in on them.
Amy hung her head, and smiled. "Good to see you Billy. I heard you are getting married."
"Yes ma'am, and soon. We're going to Tucson to pick up some cattle and bring her back here."
"Oh, when are you leaving?" She asked.
"Tomorrow…"
"I'd love to meet her sometime." Amy said.
"Sure…your welcome here anytime…Amy." Billy glanced at Clay to see if it was all right to say that, but Clay had turned away, almost ignoring them.
"Oh, well, I better be on my way, it's getting dark now." She said she eyed Clay and how he'd moved away from her again.
"Want one of us to run you back to town?" Billy offered.
"No…I'll be fine…thanks…"
"Good seeing you Billy, Clay…."
"Yeah, you too." Clay mumbled.
When she was gone, Billy turned to Clay. "What did she want?"
"Nothing, she just passed by and noticed the place looked a lot better." Clay said.
"That's it?"
"That's it. Except I invited her to eat with us and I don't think she thought you could cook." Clay laughed at his brother.
"Well you just come in and check my chicken fried steak out, big brother." Billy challenged him.
"Hey now, that sounds pretty fancy for a cowboy."
"Darn straight it is…" Billy laughed and they both went inside. "I've learned a few things too these last five years."
However, Billy saw that look of longing on his brother's face as he stared after Amy and the cloud of dust. No one could miss the torture on his face.