The cab stopped before Lizzie's house. Charlie helped her out and flipped the driver a coin, then escorted her into the house. By silent mutual consent, they went to the small parlor that was her private place. Just as silently, Charlie took her in his arms and just held her tenderly for a long time.
"I love you, Charlie. Be happy," she smiled and pulled back to look at him. "And now," she crossed the room to fetch a box which she handed him. "This should help," she winked as she placed the box in his hands.
Charlie carefully opened the box. There, lying on a bed of dark red satin was a blunt ended cylinder covered in the finest leather. It was approximately eight inches long and a little less than two inches in diameter. Fine leather straps were attached to the base and coiled in the box along side the object. Charlie tested the object with his finger. It was firm and slightly flexible. It was the object Charlie had offered to find for Rebecca when she had told him that all she needed was him.
Charlie's ears turned a fascinating shade of red.
"There they go again," she teased. "Think you can figure out how to use it? Or would you like a demonstration?"
"Ah, it is, ah, umm... Oh, Lord. How do you describe one of these things?"
"Interesting?" She did enjoy teasing him.
"It is a... handsome version. I know a number of my men who would love to be as well endowed."
She laughed as she closed the door to the parlor and then returned to his side, taking the object from the box. "Well, Charlie you know anything worth doing is worth doing well. Now, I think you should try to figure out the straps."
Charlie laid out the straps. The phallus itself had a triangular leather base with an adjustable strap that led to another triangle of leather. Two longer adjustable straps sprouted from the plain triangle and clearly attached to the buckles on either side of the upper edge of the phallus base. Charlie examined the arrangement, and then dryly commented, "I have tacked up enough horses to be able to figure this out." He indicated the lowest strap, which was wider and softer than the other two. "This looks like it has a particularly interesting side effect."
"Oh I assure you, it is designed for mutual pleasure."
"I would expect nothing less than the best and most effective of... toys from you, dear."
"Then you shall not be disappointed. Use it in good health, Charlie."
He laughed, a full, open laugh. "My dear, I am sure it is not just my health that will benefit. Although, if Rebecca likes it too much, it may be detrimental to my health."
"Yes, but think of the smile you will have when you go."
"And what a way to go. I hope to be using it for many years to come, my friend."
"I think your heart can take it," she grinned and handed him the box. "I am sure of it."
"You know, my dear, every soldier dreams of dying in the arms of a beautiful woman. It is such an improvement on how most soldiers go." He grinned and accepted the box from her. "I am sure both of us will appreciate this gift to the full measure of its value."
"It seems your nickname is holding very true, Lucky Charlie." She gave him one last hug. "Be safe on your way home."
"I will, my dear. And expect to see the two of us at the beginning of February."
"I will look forward to it."
--*--
Rebecca was mending a pair of Charlie's trousers, which he had ripped while helping a few of his men repair a fence that had been damaged by a high wind. She watched from the window, knowing full well Charlie was not due back for a few days, but wishing him home just the same.
Their time together was so limited; she hated the fact that he had to make this trip. And he had looked so befuddled when she had given him the list prepared by the ladies of the things they would need for the wedding.
She sipped her tea, carefully checking the stitching in her repair. The door to the parlor opened. Elizabeth stepped in looking tired and frazzled. Wordlessly she took the pot in hand, poured a cup and took a seat next to the fire.
"Difficult day, Doctor?"
"Very. Nothing seemed to go right. I believe I would have been more useful if I had remained in bed today. I do swear some days I am not sure if Charlie commands men or ten-year-old boys. I have treated so many sprains and scrapes caused by their acting like children I am ready to have Richard take them to the woodshed with a strap."
Rebecca chuckled as she nipped through the thread with her teeth, then held the trousers for Elizabeth to see. "Charlie is no better. I have sewn up a dozen tears in his trousers and tunics. There are times when he is nothing more than a large boy himself."
"I thought Jocko took care of his wardrobe."
"Yes, well, I have taken to dealing with the domestic issues of caring for Charlie. I do believe Jocko is glad to be rid of the more tiresome chores. It gives him some additional time to spend with the Widow White."
"Oh, so we have another local romance on our hands? Did Jocko take a page from his master’s book?"
Rebecca laughed as she folded the trousers and set aside. "I believe so. Seems to be a lot of it going around at the moment." She looked directly at her friend and raised her eyebrows. "Correct?"
"Are you suggesting Richard and I……" Elizabeth had the grace to blush as she looked away with a wistful smile on her face.
"Elizabeth." She poured another cup of tea. "Would I suggest such a thing?"
"You would, you crazed woman. I was afraid you and Charlie were going to declare a new profession for yourselves on Christmas Eve, with that sprig of mistletoe Charlie was so proud of."
"Oh, Charlie is the matchmaker in the family. Did it work?"
Elizabeth’s blush deepened. "I suppose that would depend on your definition of ‘‘work,’ my dear. If you are asking whether Richard and I are exploring a more meaningful relationship, the answer is yes. If you are asking whether I have altered my level of personal experience in terms of the more physical aspects of an intimate relationship, the answer is no. I suppose I will have to continue to depend on my textbooks and listening to you for a while yet." Elizabeth gave her a very wicked grin.
Rebecca laughed, nearly losing her tea. "And you call me crazed." She paused, wiping the edge of her mouth with a napkin. "My dear, Charlie and Richard would just die if they knew the things we talked about when they are not around."
Elizabeth’s tone was somewhat resigned. "Richard would probably love it. He is such a salacious old wretch."
"Good for Richard. Charlie on the other hand is very shy about these subjects, which is understandable, given the situation. If he had any idea I talked to even you about these things he would find the nearest rock to crawl under."
"Fortunately for you, he does not seem to suffer from the same hesitation or shyness with you." Elizabeth thought for a moment. "You know, I suspect it is not that he is shy about intimacy, but rather he is in the habit of privacy to keep his secret safe. Once he knows it is, I believe he is quite open and forthcoming. I do know he and Whitman talk about things regularly. A sort of odd masculine friendship, there."
"That is an understatement. I am glad there is someone he is comfortable talking with."
"Rebecca, Charlie has few friends, but those he does have he is very open with. I am proud to count myself one of them, actually. Oh, and he did tell me about your little…… problem that first night he went drinking with Whitman."
"Seems you are the Mother Confessor for the Redmond family." Rebecca smiled into her teacup. "How was I supposed to know everything was all right?"
"My dear, how was Charlie supposed to know you were not asleep?" Elizabeth grinned, and then added, "Well, with you two, I certainly have added to my own education. Some of the drawings in my medical books make far more sense after having talked with the two of you." Elizabeth could no longer stifle the giggles that had been threatening for a while.