Cut two 2-by-4 pieces of lumber to length with a circular saw. Trim about 4 inches from each end of one of the boards with the saw so that beams from intersecting walls have space to overlap. Cut a 2-by-4 board the same length for the bottom plate. But don't trim off any of the bottom plate.
Frame the wall that the beam, or top plate, will support. Use a hammer to drive 16d nails through each side of each wall stud into the first or lower board of the double top plate -- the board without 4 inches removed from the ends.
Drive a 16d nail through the top of the first board for the double top plate into the stud. Repeat for each stud. Fasten the bottom plate to the studs in the same way.
Take the cap plate, the board that has the 4 inches cut off at the ends, and center it over the board already nailed to the top of the studs. Drive two 10d nails into the board at each end, making sure the nails penetrate the longer board. Hammer one 16d nail into the cap plate at each stud.