Chapter 15
Charlie surveyed thebuilding site. It was amazing how quickly the walls were going up now that Knox had been put in charge. The foundations had been dug in double quick time, and now several rows of bricks were already in place, Knox’s team of workers taking to bricklaying like they’d been born to it.
The house, of course, would be nothing grand. Just a simple, two-roomed cottage to house one of the families that Niall had taken in. But it would have brick walls, a hearth and chimney to guard against the bitter winters, and a tile roof. If, of course, Charlie was able to keep up with demand.
Since Knox had built her a bigger kiln and Niall had drafted in several villagers with pottery experience to help her, they’d been able to produce bricks and tiles in much larger quantities. In fact, it had become something of a production line, with different groups working on different things: digging the clay from the riverbank and transporting it to the pottery, cleaning it up prior to molding, putting the clay into the molds ready for firing and then manning the kiln itself.
It had turned into quite the industrial operation and Charlie doubted that was what Niall’s mother had intended when she’d built the pottery originally, but Charlie hoped that she would approve of the use to which it was being put now.
“Do ye have eyes in yer head or what, ye great lummox!” Charlie winced as Knox bellowed at one of his workers. “My half-blind granny could see that line isnae straight! Do it again or I’ll box yer bloody ears!”
Charlie gave the youth in question a sympathetic smile, glad it wasn’t her on the receiving end. Knox might be a master builder but he could definitely do with some work on his people skills.
She looked around. The site that had been chosen for the new cottages was awash with activity: digging, clearing, building, and everyone seemed to want to get involved. She saw men and women, old and young, all doing their bit to get these houses built.
There was an air of joviality about the place and Charlie sighed in contentment. It was good to see after the devastation at the windmill and she knew people had needed something positive to focus on, something to take their mind off what they’d lost. She was pleased to be contributing to that, even if only in a small way.
Shading her eyes, she glanced up towards the windmill. The scaffolding was back up around the structure and people were clambering all over it, shoring up what was left. The repair work had yet to start in earnest as they had to source new sails and Niall was reluctant to do that until the culprit had been found and dealt with.
Somebody cleared their throat and Charlie turned to see Niall standing behind her. There were dark circles under his eyes as though he hadn’t slept well and his hair was a riot of tangles and snarls, giving him a tousled appearance.
Her heart lifted at the sight of him. “Niall! Come look!”
She took his arm and guided him over to where the walls of the house were being built. “The foundations are in and the walls are going up. If it carries on at this speed, they’ll be ready to start putting the roof joists on by the end of the week!” She couldn’t keep the excitement from her voice and practically bounced on her toes as she pointed out how they were laying the bricks and securing them with mortar.
Niall smiled at her enthusiasm. “Who would have thought someone could get so excited about bricks?”
“It’s not the bricks and you know it,” she replied, giving him a mock-scowl. “It’s what they’ll let us create. Honestly, if the workers keep this up, I reckon we can have everyone housed before the autumn.”
His expression softened and something warm shone in his eyes. “Aye. I’ve no doubt we can. Thanks to ye.”
“Not me,” Charlie said, uncomfortable with the praise. “Knox and his team have done all the hard work and everyone you sent to help me at the pottery have made all the bricks. I just showed them what to do.”
“Oh, is that all?” he said with a grin. “And came up with the idea in the first place, and made the plan, and whipped us all into shape to get yer idea off the ground. Ye do yerself a disservice, lass. None of this would have happened without ye.”
Their eyes locked, and Charlie felt her breath hitch. He cleared his throat and looked away, his eyes scanning the bustling activity around them.
“Why are the walls doubled?” he asked after a moment.
Charlie followed the line of his gaze. She’d discussed this design with Knox and finally gotten him to see the merits of her plan. She was borrowing heavily from the future, but if it helped these people, she could live with it.
“They’re cavity walls,” she explained. “An outer and an inner skin with a gap between. It will help keep moisture out and when the gap is filled with straw, will keep the heat in much better as well.”
“I’ve never heard of such a building technique,” Niall replied. “Is this a Cardiff thing?”
“I...um...”No, she thought.It’s a twenty-first century thing.“Something like that.”
“Well, if Knox approves, who am I to argue?”
He gave a small smile but then his countenance changed and he looked away. “Charlotte,” he said quietly. “I’ve something important to discuss with ye.”
“Oh?”
