Grabbing the remains of a peach cobbler Charlie had made, he went to eat it straight from the dish.
“Don’t you dare, Nathaniel.” Charlie walked up and snatched the fork straight from his fingers. “You put it on a plate like a grown man, for crying out loud.”
It was such a female thing to say, and Nathaniel was obviously taken aback it had come from her. “Yes, ma’am.”
Charlie served up three portions of dessert and all three ended up at one of the tables enjoying the treat near the heat of a stove.
“Your cobbler was mighty fine, Charlie.” Shiny glazed blue eyes looked to her, a wooly head offering an approving nod. “Mighty fine indeed.”
“You should be thanking Ruth.” Charlie chuckled. “The poor woman has taken pains to teach me the feminine arts. Been real patient and kind. Eli is lucky she loves him.”
Nathaniel shrugged and sipped his jar. “No doubt he’ll find a way to muck it up.”
Stacking the plates, Charlie smiled. “After all the work I put into buttering up her daddy, I would be very disappointed if he did.”
“What you been doin’?” Nathaniel asked, cocking his head at the wicked little smirk on her lips.
“
Simply pointing out his better traits to distract from the ones Sheriff Cormac doesn’t approve of.”
“So that’s why the sheriff has been warming up to the idiot.” Nathaniel slapped his knee. “Goddamn. And Eli has no clue does he?”
Leaning back in her chair, she couldn’t help but smile. “Eli can be a little clueless.”
Matthew hummed, nodding a bit, and Charlie was certain she’d seen his lip twitch.
The calm was ruined at the sound of the door banging open.
A worked up Eli stalked towards the table. “You gotta straighten her out, Matthew. She’s a goddamn bad influence.” Eli pointed at Charlie, continuing to rant. “She ain’t got no right corruptin’ Ruth. Teachin’ her things no woman should know.”
“What the hell is wrong with you?” It was the first time Charlie had ever heard Matthew raise his voice.
“She took my Ruth to the woods and taught her to fire a pistol. My girl was bragging how good her aim had been. Claimed Charlie called her a natural! It ain’t right teachin’ my girl to be mannish.”
“Aw hell, Eli,” Charlie muttered, standing to look him dead in the eye. “She’s been begging me to take her shooting since you opened your big mouth and told her I hunt—been pestering the hell out of me for weeks before I finally caved. And I told her a puffed up in the chest boy like you would not approve. She didn’t care.”
Eli got right up in her face. “Men want feminine wives. Not girls who dress like boys, swear like sailors, and brawl. You put ideas in her head, ruinin’ her like you are. What are you going to teach her next? How to throw a punch? Cause you certainly taught her how to slap a man.”
“What, like this?” Charlie slapped him good and hard, rocking his head to the side. “I didn’t teach her that. It just comes natural when a boy is braying like a jackass.” Sharp finger poking Eli in the chest, her lips drew back in a snarl. “Considering the lifestyle you lead and the type of men you deal with, having your woman know how to fire a pistol could keep her alive.”
Deflated, Eli held a hand to a stinging cheek. “It’s the man’s job to protect his wife… She don’t need that nonsense.”
“You ain’t her husband. And even if you were, you can’t be there all the time to watch over her. It’s plain selfish to be more worried about your image then her welfare. And I swear to God, if you leveled at that sweet girl any of the horrible things you just said to me, I will kick your ass till Sunday.”
“That’s enough now, spitfire.” Matthew caught her balling up her fist, and rose from his chair. “Nathaniel, take him the fuck home and knock some sense into him.”
“I’ll knock some sense into him now,” Nathaniel boomed, his hand flashing out to smack Eli upside the head. “You goddamn sumbitch talkin’ like that to Miss Charlie. You lost your fuckin mind?”
Quick as a flash, Eli was dragged out while Charlie stood stock-still, staring at the door.
Eli’s words sunk in.
Humiliated his true opinion of her was so low, she said, “I have never sworn around Ruth, nor has she seen me in trousers. I know my habits are unacceptable for a decent Monroe woman…” Closing her eyes, Charlie let out a shaky breath. “I’ve been careful with her.”
“Hush now. None of what he said matters. Eli’s just upset they quarreled, and he’s lookin’ to shift the blame.” Matthew put a hand on her shoulder. “Ain’t no shame in what you did.”
Then why did she feel so horrible?