"We're almost finished up with digging the cellar out at Matthews," yawned Andrew as he sat down on the edge of the bed to take off his boots and socks, "I bet we can get it done tomorrow and start building up the foundation and chimney." He turned around and smiled at Colleen settling under the covers in bed, leaning on the headboard.

"That's great; Anne is so excited about the wedding. She's hoping that the homestead will be done before the end of the summer so the ceremony can be outside in the meadow." Andrew paused before throwing his shirt in the laundry basket on the floor, he looked confused. Colleen noted his expression, "What it is?"

"Well the house won't be done by then so she doesn't have to start worrying about the plans just yet," laughed Andrew as he climbed on the bed toward Colleen, tucking the hair behind her ear and kissing her neck. It was Colleens turn to look confused. Andrew didn't notice and moved from nipping her neck to kissing her lips. Colleen pushed him away slightly.

"What are you talking about? Not done?"

"Can't we talk about this later?" Andrew smiled and began kissing her again, one hand reaching for the buttons of her nightdress. Colleen placed her hand on top of his, stopping his progress. Andrew sat back on his haunches, "Are you ok darlin'?"

"I don't understand; when is the house going to be done?"

Andrew shrugged, "Not sure, when Matthew has the money to buy the supplies, and the time between his cases. It's probably going to take a year…at least."

"But you have gotten so much done already and it's only been a week." Colleen shook her head in disbelief.

"Colleen," Andrew sat back and leaned against his pillow, "everything we've done so far has been free and we're just picking the stones from the woods." He pulled Colleen to him by the shoulders and kissed the top of her head, "It'll get done when it gets done; the wedding can wait for a little bit."

"I guess," Colleen replied softly, still upset. "Goodnight," Colleen reached up, lightly kissed Andrew's cheek, rolled away from him and into silence. Andrew looked dejectedly at Colleen and blew out the lamp.

Over the next month Matthew and Andrew worked hard on the foundation of the new homestead. Between Matthew's law cases, Andrew's patients, their everyday chores and their significant others, they had only just completed the first portion of the foundation. It was a slow process and they were both committed to doing it right. Their progress was coming to a halt; Matthew was going to Denver for two weeks to attend a conference. Colleen had not mentioned wedding plans to anyone but Anne since the night of her and Andrew's conversation. Anne, predictably, was taking it much worse than Colleen.

"I don't know why we can't just get married before the homestead is built," asked Anne, wiping a tear from her cheek, "We could live at the boarding house, I don't care. I just want to be his wife." Colleen handed Anne her handkerchief. They were sitting alone at Colleen's kitchen table.

"Matthew won't let his wife live in a boarding house. He's far too proud. He'll feel like he failed at being a man or something stupid like that." Colleen dropped her head into her hand. "The only way Matthew will get married is if he can finish that house and the only way he'll finish the house is if enough money somehow appeared in his lap." Colleen's head popped up. "Hold on a minute, I'll be right back."

"Andrew!" He looked up from the wood that he was chopping to see his wife running towards him with her skirts in hand. "Andrew!" She reached him and paused to catch her breath, "You need to take money out of the bank." Andrew dropped his ax against the chopping block.

"Why? What's wrong?" Andrew was concerned, "For what?"

"I'm fine, nothing is wrong," Colleen smiled. "Anne and Matthew can get married if the house is finished, right? He can finish the house if he has the money, so we lend them the money." Andrew frowned and turned away from Colleen. "What? It's a good idea." Andrew began gathering up the chopped wood. He walked it over to the wood pile by the house; Colleen was silent, waiting for a reply. After all the wood was piled up, he started toward the barn. Colleen was fast on his heels. "Andrew." She said sternly, "Why aren't you answering?"

"We aren't giving them any money."

"Don't you want your cousin and best friend to be happy?!" Colleen stood waiting for his reply, hand on cocked hip. "We have the money that your father left you in his will."

"I know we do, that's not the point." Andrew turned angrily towards her. His voice rose, "And of course I want them to be happy! That was a dumb question."

Colleen fumed, "Then enlighten me, what exactly is the point?"

"They need to do this on their own. And if we were in their shoes I would say the same thing."

"So if we weren't married and we didn't have the money to build a house you just wouldn't marry me?" Colleen looked hurt. Her arms crossed over her chest and she leaned heavily against a stall.

"That's not what I said. We would get married after a house was built. Look sweetheart," Andrew paused, he knew that Colleen was upset, "they need to learn to trust each other. Would our marriage be as strong as it is if we had relied on other people for everything?" Colleen hung her head, walked to Andrew and put her arms around his waist. Andrew draped one arm around her and pulled her close.

"I want them to be happy as much as you do…I offered Matthew money. I knew he wouldn't take it but I wanted him to know that I was willing to help." Colleen smiled up at Andrew.

"I just hope the homestead doesn't take too long."