Most of the men looked a little uncomfortable, but they all nodded and agreed but they really liked this house and it made them feel good to work here.
Charlie had secretly thought the speeches were a bit over the top but noticed several of the men’s postures depicted pride in self-worth, and their wives seemed gratified to be acknowledged. She filed the information away for future reference.
CHAPTER 18 – Bobbie’s Beau
I know you told me your cousin Charlie was going to design and build your house for you, but you cannot mean to say this woman is your cousin Charlie?” sneered Sidney.
“Well,” drawled Joe, “I know you have advanced thinking on so many subjects, and support women's suffrage, so I was sure you would understand that being a female doesn't mean not having a brain. Or is that why your chief cashier is a woman? Because she can't count?”
“But, that's different! That's my sister Sadie! She grew up knowing about accounting.”
“Yes, well, Charlie grew up knowing about building. Her father is the best I've ever known, except Charlie who's even better. I know you admired that chicken coop when I pointed it out to you and she designed that when she was only 12! Oh, here she is now. Charlie come on over and meet Bobbie June's beau.”
Charlie strode on over with Clint by her side. The two of them had just gotten down from the roof where they had been setting the trusses with the help of a crew and a pulley. As she got closer, the banker’s eyes grew rounder as his head tilted back looking up at her.
“It's all right,” she laughed, correctly interpreting the look in his eyes. “My size is from my father's side of the family and I'm related to Bobbie June through my mother.” And your children will be little, just like you, she thought, and then mentally cringed. Sorry, God! But the weasel still looks like he might skedaddle and I was just trying to help.
She continue her assessment of him. Well, he’s not unpleasant to look at except for that scowl. I hope for Bobbie June’s sake he’s not always so unhappy. Although I suspect she might not mind as long as he’s generous with his pin money. And, Lord, I am sorry if that is an ungenerous thought on my part but as much as she can annoy me, I truly do not want to see her unhappy in her marriage.
Joe was doing his best to suppress the snort that so desperately wanted to come out. Knowing Charlie had correctly interpreted Sidney’s reaction, he coughed to control himself.
“Cousin Charlie, may I have the honor to present to you the Vice President of our bank, Mr. Sidney Lawrence Keating, Jr.? His father Mr. Keating, Sr., is the bank’s President, and his sister Sadie Marie is the Chief Teller.”
Turning back to Sidney he continued, “And I am most honored to be able to introduce you to my beautiful cousin, Miss Charlotte Susan Monroe, my Building Contractor, and her foreman Clinton Evans. You probably already know Clint since he grew up on the farm next door and we all went to school together, but he stretched out a bit while you were back east.”
Sidney’s eyes goggled a bit as he took in Clint’s six-foot plus frame. Even in his high-heeled boots, which Joe suspected sported lifts as well, he was still more than a head shorter than the pair facing him.
Charlie graciously sketched a half-curtsey and nodded her head while Clint offered his hand. Training kicked in and Sidney performed a credible bow to the—well, is she a lady? Costume notwithstanding she’s certainly acting like one! And if she is actually a builder she will probably need banking advice.
The other three could practically see the dollar signs whirling in his eyes as Sidney did his best to pretend he was in a ballroom and, rising from his moderate bow, gingerly accepted Clint’s handshake, relieved that the big man was not one with something to prove.
Fortunately for the gravity of the moment, as there were three folks desperately not making eye contact with one another, to avoid the laughter threatening each, Bobbie June chose that moment to join the group.
“My dear Roberta, I have just been meeting your charming cousin.” Sidney turned toward her in relief.
Eyes slightly narrowed at her cousin, she turned a big smile onto Sidney and became graciousness itself.
“Yes, Charlotte agreed to help Joe ready a cabin for his bride-to-be,” she murmured sweetly.
“I have the trap ready if you’d care to come see the progress,” Joe chimed in, gesturing toward the harnessed horse waiting patiently, cropping grass.
“Cindy is back at the house waiting for you,” added Charlie.
“Aren’t you joining us?” Joe asked, a bit anxiously.
Glancing quickly at Charlie for confirmation, Joe replied, “But of course!”
They all climbed onto the conveyance and Joe lightly flicked the reins, heading off on the new track between the main house and Joe’s. The shortcut through the woods could be walked nearly as quickly, but seeing Bobbie June’s footwear, Charlie was glad Joe had thought of using the trap. Besides, she suspected Cindy would appreciate the ride back.
She must be plumb worn out by now, and she was a terrific help! Charlie had relied on her advice for the kitchen design, making notes for the future of some of the suggestions Cindy had offered which, when explained, as Cindy could do, quite clearly, made the space go from somewhat confined to the ultimate in practicality.
As they drew up under the porte-cochère, Bobbie gasped. “You’ve made this place bigger than the main house!”
“Taller,” Charlie agreed. “Joe and Cindy don’t want heat trapped.”
Cindy stepped through the doorway and greeted everyone and Charlie did her best to blend in with the background. This was Cindy’s house and Cindy should have the privilege of explaining its features, many of which had been her own idea—or at least a refinement of Charlie’s basic concept. Charlie looked around with pride. There was still a lot to do, but the basic outline was taking shape quite nicely, and she was proud of her work.
CHAPTER 19 – Maid of Honor
As completion of the house neared, Cindy Lou became immersed in her wedding plans. Initially she had invited her sister to be Matron of Honor but had become so fond of Charlie she invited her to be a bridesmaid.
“In fact,” she said, “I would really like you to be my Maid of Honor.”
“I thought your sister was going to stand up for you?”
“She was, but is suffering so badly from biliousness,” she moved her hand in a slight rounding motion over her middle ,“that she asked me to find someone to take her place so she wouldn't embarrass me if she were to get sick at the altar. I told her I wasn't worried about it—but she said she'd be mortified, and she is a bit of a stickler that way.”
Nodding in understanding Charlie queried, “Are you sure? I don't want your wedding party to be a spectacle.” Her own hand floated up to indicate her height.
“Well, I know Joe is asking Clint to be his best man and wants both his brothers as groomsmen. I had intended to have my younger sisters standing up opposite them, because I didn't want to feel compelled to have to include either of Joe's.” She flushed a deep rose.
“Oh, that was terribly un-Christian of me!”
“But, true! I do have to say, however, that Josie has become quite pleasant to be around these days. I think she's finding happiness herself.” Charlie’s smile broadened. “Reverend Stone has been coming around for dinner more frequently these days.”
They both agreed they wished the couple well and that Charlie would pair quite nicely with Clint to no one’s embarrassment.
“Do you think you can spare some time tomorrow to come over and see my dressmaker? I'd like her to make your gown for the occasion as a thank you for making my dream house come true. That will also give you a chance to see to it that beautiful lace you made is placed appropriately on my dress to display it to maximum advantage.”
The next afternoon the dressmaker took one look at Charlie and her lovely green eyes and exclaimed, “I have just the fabric for her! It will complement the blue you used for your sister's gowns and set off her e
xquisite eyes to perfection.” She brought out a bolt of sea green chiffon over which both women exclaimed, agreeing it be perfect.
CHAPTER 20 – A Christening
It seemed to take forever and then, suddenly, the house was finished, standing proudly and smaller but far grander than the homestead down the hill that had started as a small cabin and been added on to randomly over the decades. The new house had many fewer bedrooms, although room for expansion had been built into the plans.
Cindy and Joe had invited Charlie and Clint to join them in a small celebration to christen the new house. Charlie had worn a dress for the occasion and had asked Clint to pick her up in the trap.
As they made the short trip over to the house, Charlie dropped her bombshell. “Now that the job is over, I needn't worry what the men are thinking. So was it you who wrote that letter?”
Clint froze, causing the horse to toss its head and whinny. He then relaxed and started chuckling.
“I suspected you knew all along.” He shook his head.
“I rather hoped there weren't two of us running around Oklahoma and refusing to be courted.”
“Are you upset?”
“No, I'm quite flattered. That was awfully nice, what you wrote. The funny thing is, you were already doing everything the lady told you to do. You treated me like a lady from the first moment you came over to reintroduce yourself. In fact, you did it so when we were children. Not just politely, as a shy boy for a weird, unconventional girl, but like an individual special person. Of course you were much too young for me back then,” she grinned up at him.
“Funny,” he mused, “you never actually treated me like a youngster. I felt as if we were equals—special friends.”
“It was just that you were my foreman and I could not start stepping out with you while the job was in progress. It is hard enough to gain the respect I need from my workforce without throwing something like that in their faces. And if we were to disagree or choose not to continue, how does one handle that? This job wasn’t going to last forever but,” she glanced at him sideways from under her lashes, “I rather hoped you might.”
“I wish you would have talked to me about it so I wouldn't have made such a fool of myself.”
“Clinton Evans, do not ever take up poker. You do not have the ability to completely hide your feelings. I suspect the whole crew knew, but respected you enough to play those games with the flowers. In a way, it made us a tighter working team. And besides, I was also exploring my own feelings. You must realize I had long since put myself on the shelf and had no notion of ever being taken down.”
“So am I understanding correctly that I now have your leave to court you?”
“Why, yes, you have. Although I think my Paw would be honored if you asked him, as well.”
“I'll even ask your brother,” he replied, neglecting to add he had done so before they had left Oklahoma. “He gave me a few hints, too.”
They had arrived and Clint helped her step down from the trap. The front door was standing open and Cindy and Joe were walking toward them through the door. Joe had a bottle of their great-uncle’s whiskey which he brandished to them all.
“Thank you for joining us to christen this house,” he declared.
Jeff and John stepped out behind them. Joe handed the bottle to Cindy and then swept a bow to Charlie.
“My beautiful cousin, Charlotte Susan, it is because of you that we have this house, in this location. After much discussion Cindy Lou and I have decided to call it Tree House after the tree which you used to love to climb as a child, from which our swing now hangs.”
Turning back to his fiancée, he grabbed her free hand and brought it to his lips.
“My darling I hope we have some children of our own climbing that tree before long.”
She giggled at him. “Joe, keep on like that, and everybody's going to think you've been dipping into this bottle.”
“Well, knowing Uncle Jed's reputation, I suspect much more than a sniff would be enough to turn me over and under my head.”
There was general laughter. Jeff presented a shallow bowl and Joe ceremoniously poured a little of the whiskey into it. The bottle was then corked and set aside and Joe held the bowl for Cindy, who solemnly dipped a few fingers of her right hand into the whiskey and then flicked the droplets at the door.
“In the name of Friendship and Good Fellowship we christen you Tree House.”
He passed the bowl back to Cindy, who held it for him, and he repeated her actions. Cindy then offered the bowl first to Charlie, who solemnly flicked her whiskeyed fingers at the door, followed by Clint, Jeff, and John.
Charlie had sniffed her wet fingers and then tentatively licked as the ceremony continued. Her eyebrows shot up but she remained silent until everyone had completed the ceremony. Cindy was getting ready to pour out the balance of the bowl’s contents out onto the gravel which had been laid under the porte-cochère when Charlie spoke up.
“Have any of you ever tasted our great-uncle's whiskey?” All shook their heads solemnly.
“We were told it was so strong it might melt our tongues.”
“And how long has that particular bottle been sitting around?”
“I just filled it this morning,” said Joe. “There are several barrels in the shed that have been there for years.”
“Well, my father is rather fond of whiskey and over the years he has let me taste on occasion so that I would have an understanding of why a man might wish to drink. This might be the finest whiskey I have ever tasted.”
“I've already put some glasses in the cupboard,” said Cindy, and they all hustled back into the kitchen.
“As none of us drinks regularly, we do not want more than a sip,” cautioned Charlie, “but I think it would be appropriate to toast Great Uncle Jed with one of his finest products.”
A finger of rich amber liquid was poured into each glass and, following Charlie's example, each inhaled the aroma produced by swirling the liquor around in the glass. Then, slowly, tentatively, each took a small sip.”
“Oh, my,” said Jeff to solemn nods all around and they lifted their glasses to Jed.
CHAPTER 21 – Permission to Court
Big Hank and little Hank arrived a few days later, just in time for the wedding celebration. Charlie managed to be there to greet their arrival, but was quickly swept away to join the women in additional preparations.
Of course, as expected, the new house was a bigger topic of conversation, for the gentlemen, than the wedding to be held in two days. Joe and Clint had no trouble persuading Charlie’s father and brother to join them on a quick visit to the jobsite.
Last time they’d been there, a large tree had protected a glade. Now the glade contained a small but elegant house. The individual rooms were spacious but, at least at present, few. Plans had been made, in case the family grew as Uncle Zeb’s had, to add rooms as needed, but for now the house was elegant simplicity, a hallmark of Charlie’s style.
By pre-arrangement, once a quick tour had been accomplished, Joe and Little Hank strolled the grounds while Clint showed Charlie’s father some of the interior details.
Knowing he hadn’t much time with all else going on, Clint got to the point fairly directly.
“Sir, before you left, I asked your leave to court your daughter. I now ask your permission to make her my wife.
“And does she consent to this match?”
“I don’t know if she will. She’s awfully independent; but I plan to be as persuasive as I can.”
Hank looked slowly around the completed house. “This is the finest project she has completed to date and it feels very happy, if a house can be said to have feelings. Her letters home were full of compliments for your work and ideas. I would be pleased to welcome you to my family if you can convince Charlotte to have you.”
“Thank you, sir, I intend to do my best to accomplish that goal. I had hoped you would agree, so took the liberty of securing some of what I understand
may be Great Uncle Zeb’s finest product.” Clint reached into the built in cupboard he’d created and pressed the secret compartment put in at Cindy’s request.
“Because one doesn’t always want children to have access to everything,” she’d said.
The secret cupboard was stocked with the bottled contents of one of the barrels Joe had discovered for the house christening. Joe was in on Clint’s plans and had connived for him to end up in the kitchen on this tour, fully anticipating the success of the mission.
Holding the bottle to the light and examining its color, Hank smiled in approval as the light played through the richly jeweled tones in the afternoon light. Carefully his strong fingers eased the cork from the bottle and he sniffed both shallowly and deeply, and then smiled at Clint, who had set four glasses on the table. A quick knock on the open door heralded the return of the cousins and all drank first to Jed, for the bounty of the harvest he had perfected, and then to Clint in hopes he might succeed in convincing Charlotte to wed him.
CHAPTER 22 – Proposal
It was the next afternoon before they were able to resume their conversation from the house christening. Charlie and Clint were taking a break from last-minute wedding preparations and strolled off across the yard, their feet sending them on the well-accustomed path to Tree House.
Purposefully, he led her to the bench by the front door rather than the large double swing hanging from the tree, and they sat down.
“You have led me a merry chase, my girl,” Clint complained.
“A chase implies I was running. And I certainly was not. I was downright meandering.”
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