Deborah's Dilemma

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by Caroline Clemmons

“I wanted everything to be perfect because you’re so kind.”

  “I hope you plan to come to the family meeting in six months.”

  She glanced at Trey. “I’m sorry but I won’t be able to attend that one. You see, I’ll have a baby in five months and I don’t think I’ll be up to traveling this far so soon afterward.”

  Beaming with joy, WW hugged her. “That news is the best birthday present I’ve ever had. I hope you have a boy,” he raised a hand, “*not that I don’t like girls. A girl would be fine, but we need a boy to take over from Trey someday.”

  She kissed WW’s cheek. “Trey wants half a dozen children, so one or two are sure to be boys.”

  WW grabbed Trey’s shoulders. “Thank you, my boy, for choosing the right wife and for making this old man happy. You’ll never know how much I appreciate the two of you coming for my birthday. No wonder you’re my favorite.”

  Trey smiled but appeared embarrassed. “WW, you know I’d do anything for you short of moving here. Perhaps when Deborah is able to come again, we can spend a month.”

  His grandfather’s eyes filled with tears. “I’ll look forward to it, son.”

  Later when she and Trey were in their suite, he helped her with the buttons on her dress. She was grateful Marianne and Judith had guided her in what to bring. She thought at the time they were being extravagant but now she understood the dresses and accessories were necessary to change clothes several times a day.

  “You looked beautiful tonight, my love.” He kissed her shoulder.

  “You were the handsomest man in the room. I’m so grateful you love me.”

  “I feel the same way.” He toed off his shoes. “I hope WW lives long enough to see at least our first child.”

  “I suspect he will be determined. In the meantime, I’m happier than I ever believed possible. Give me your hand, dear.” She pressed his hand to her stomach.

  Their babe kicked. She giggled. “Feels like a boy to me.”

  Awe filled his face. “You mean that’s our child? You can’t imagine how happy that makes me.” He pulled her into his embrace but quickly released her. “Oh, but I imagine it hurts you.” He picked her up and put her on the bed. “Is the kicking painful?”

  “Not yet. Perhaps it will be later. This is all new to me. I was frightened when the baby kicked this morning. Thank goodness the maid noticed my distress. She explained that was good and normal. When we get home I’ll ask Moriah more.”

  “Take care of yourself, Deborah my love. You still owe me seventy-four and a half years.”

  “I look forward to each one, my wonderful husband.”

  Deborah’s Old-Fashioned Southern Lemon Cake

  (Converted for modern cooks)

  Ingredients for Cake, Filling, and Icing

  3 ¼ cups of flour

  1 Tablespoon baking powder

  1/8 teaspoon salt

  1 cup softened butter

  2 Tablespoons softened butter

  2 ¼ cups white sugar

  6 eggs, separated

  1 cup milk

  2 Tablespoons milk

  ¾ teaspoon grated lemon peel

  2 teaspoons lemon juice

  2 ¼ cups white sugar

  2 Tablespoons grated lemon peel

  ½ cup lemon juice

  5 ½ Tablespoons flour

  1 egg, beaten

  2 Tablespoons butter

  ¾ cup sugar

  ¼ cup water

  2 large egg whites

  1 teaspoon lemon juice

  Directions

  Cake:

  Preheat oven to 350° F (175 C). Grease and flour three 9-inch cake pans. In a bowl, whisk together 3 ¼ cups of flour, baking powder, and salt.

  Cream together 1 cup plus 2 Tablespoons softened butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Mix in 2 ¼ cups of sugar until thoroughly blended and fluffy. Beat 6 egg yolks unto butter mixture, one at a time, beating well after each yolk is added. Beat the flour mixture into the butter mixture in thirds, alternating with milk. Mix in ¾ teaspoon grated lemon peel and 2 Tablespoons lemon juice.

  With clean beaters, beat the egg whites to stiff peaks in a bowl. Lightly fold the egg whites into the batter. Use a rubber spatula or wire whisk to fold 1/3 of the beaten egg whites into the batter. Gently run the spatula through the center of the bowl then around the sides of the bowl, repeating until fully incorporated. Add the remaining egg whites, folding just until incorporated. Pour into the 3 prepared pans.

  Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cake comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Allow cakes to cool in pans for 10 minutes then turn out onto a clean rack to finish cooling.

  Filling:

  Whisk 2 ¼ cups sugar, 2 Tablespoons of grated lemon peel, ½ cup of lemon juice, 5 ½ Tablespoons of flour, and beaten egg together in a saucepan. Cook the mixture over low heat, whisking constantly until the filling almost comes to a boil. Cook until thickened and smooth, about one minute. Whisk in 2 Tablespoons of butter until melted. Allow filling to cool.

  Assembling:

  Place each cake layer down on a solid work surface. Place one hand lightly on top of the cake. Use a serrated knife to slice the cake in half horizontally with a light sawing motion to create 2 layers from each cake—6 total layers. Brush away crumbs from layers. Place a layer onto a serving dish and spread with 1/6 of the filling. Repeat with all the layers and filling, reserving 1/6 of the filling for the top after the frosting is added.

  Boiled Icing

  In a saucepan gently stir together the ¾ cup sugar and ¼ cup water. Place over medium heat and cover the pan. Let cook for three minutes then remove the lid. Gently swirl the mixture and continue to cook at a low boil until it reaches 235° F on a candy thermometer.

  While the sugar syrup is cooking, whip the 2 large egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment until they hold medium peaks.

  Once the syrup is done, carefully and slowly stream it into the mixer while running it on low speed, trying to avoid both the whisk and the sides of the bowl. Once all of the syrup is in, turn the mixer speed to medium high and beat until the bowl is cool and the frosting holds its shape and is a good, spreadable consistency. Whisk in the 1 teaspoon lemon juice on low speed.

  Spread the icing on the top and sides of the cake. Decoratively arrange the remaining 1/6 of the filling on top of the cake.

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for choosing to read my book out of the millions available. If you’d like to know about my new releases, contests, giveaways, and other events, please sign up for my readers newsletter group at www.carolineclemmons.com. New subscribers receive a Free historical western titled Happy Is The Bride.

  Join me and other readers at Caroline’s Cuties, a Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/277082053015947/ for special excerpts, exchanging ideas, contests, giveaways, recipes, and talking to people about books.

  If you enjoyed this story, please leave a review wherever you purchased the book. You’ll be helping me and prospective readers and I’ll appreciate your effort.

  Those who prefer reading western historical romance will enjoy being a member of the Pioneer Hearts Facebook Group. There you’ll be able to converse with authors and readers about books, contests, new releases, and a myriad of other subjects involving western historical romance. Sign up at https://www.facebook.com/groups/pioneerhearts/

  Read Caroline’s western historical titles:

  Pearson Grove (Sweet)

  Mail-Order Moriah, book 1

  Amanda’s Awakening, book 2

  Blessing, book 2, Widows of Wildcat Ridge, sweet

  Garnet, book 9, Widows of Wildcat Ridge, sweet

  A Bride for Gideon, book 16, Proxy Bride series, sweet

  Mistletoe Mistake, sweet Christmas story set in Montana

  Loving A Rancher Series (sweet)

  Amanda’s Rancher, No. 1

  The Rancher and the Shepherdess, No. 2
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  Murdoch’s Bride, No. 3

  Bride’s Adventure, No. 4

  Snare His Heart, No. 5

  Capture Her Heart, No. 6

  Loving A Rancher, No. 7

  Bride Brigade Series: sweet, set in Texas

  Josephine, Bride Brigade book 1

  Angeline, Bride Brigade book 2

  Cassandra, Bride Brigade book 3

  Ophelia, Bride Brigade book 4

  Rachel, Bride Brigade book 5

  Lorraine, Bride Brigade book 6

  Prudence, Bride Brigade book 7

  The Surprise Brides: Jamie, sensual, released with three other of The Surprise Brides books which are: Gideon by Cynthia Woolf, Caleb by Callie Hutton, and Ethan by Sylvia McDaniel.

  Patience, Bride of Washington, American Mail-Order Brides Series #42, sweet

  The Kincaid Series: Sensual, set in Texas

  The Most Unsuitable Wife, Kincaids book one

  The Most Unsuitable Husband, Kincaids book two

  The Most Unsuitable Courtship, Kincaids book three

  Gabe Kincaid, Kincaids book four

  Monk’s Bride, Kincaids sweet novella, five

  Stone Mountain (Texas) Series:

  Brazos Bride, Men of Stone Mountain Texas book one, sensual

  Buy the Audiobook here

  High Stakes Bride, Men of Stone Mountain Texas book two, sensual

  Buy the Audiobook here

  Bluebonnet Bride, Men of Stone Mountain Texas book three, sensual

  Tabitha’s Journey, Stone Mountain TX mail-order bride novella, sweet

  Stone Mountain Reunion, a Stone Mountain Texas short story, sweet

  Stone Mountain Christmas, a Stone Mountain Texas Christmas novella, sweet

  Winter Bride, a Stone Mountain Texas romance, sweet

  McClintocks: set in Texas

  The Texan’s Irish Bride, McClintocks book one, sensual

  O’Neill’s Texas Bride, McClintocks book two, sweet

  McClintock’s Reluctant Bride, McClintocks book three

  Daniel McClintock, McClintocks book four, sweet

  Save Your Heart For Me, a mildly sensual romance adventure novella

  Long Way Home, a sweet-ish Civil War adventure romance set in Georgia

  Caroline’s Texas Time Travels

  Out Of The Blue, 1845 Irish lass comes forward to today Texas, sensual

  Texas Lightning, sweet, 1896 woman rancher comes forward to today

  Texas Rainbow, sweet, 1920s flapper comes forward to today

  Texas Storm, sweet, WWII WASP comes forward to today

  Contemporary Western Hearts Facebook Group

  If you prefer contemporary western romance, you’ll enjoy interacting with kindred souls and authors by becoming a member of Contemporary Western Hearts Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/contemporarywesternhearts/

  Caroline’s Contemporary Titles

  Angel For Christmas, sweet Christmas tale of second chances, sweet

  Texas Caprock Tales:

  Be My Guest, mildly sensual with mystery, sensual

  Grant Me The Moon, sweet with mystery,

  Snowfires, sensual, set in Texas

  Home Sweet Texas Home, Texas Home book one, sweet

  Caroline’s Mysteries: (Texas)

  Almost Home, a Link Dixon mystery

  Death In The Garden, a Heather Cameron cozy mystery

  Take Advantage of Bargain Anthologies:

  Mail-Order Tangle: Linked books: Mail-Order Promise by Caroline Clemmons and Mail-Order Ruckus by Jacquie Rogers, set in Texas and Idaho

  Cinderella Treasure Trove, excerpts, blurbs, author bios, and recipes from authors who write books with a new take on a fairy tale. Free

  About Caroline Clemmons

  Through a crazy twist of fate, Caroline Clemmons was born in town instead of on a Texas ranch. To compensate for this illogical error, she writes about handsome cowboys, feisty ranch women, and scheming villains in a tiny office her family calls her pink cave. She and her Hero live in North Central Texas cowboy country where they ride herd on their three rescued indoor cats and dog as well as providing nourishment outdoors for squirrels, birds, and a collection of wild critters who stop by to visit.

  The books she creates in her pink cave have made her a bestselling western author who has won awards. She writes both sweet and sensual romances about the West, both historical and contemporary as well as time travel and mystery. Her series include the Kincaids, McClintocks, Stone Mountain Texas, Bride Brigade, Texas Time Travel, Texas Caprock Tales, Pearson Grove, and Loving A Rancher as well as numerous single titles and contributions to multi-author sets including Pinkerton Matchmaker, Proxy Brides, Widows of Wildcat Ridge, and Bachelors and Babies.

  When she’s not writing, she loves spending time with her family, reading books written by her friends, eating out, browsing antique malls, checking Facebook, and taking the occasional nap. Find her on her blog, website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Google+, and Pinterest.

  Join her and other readers at Caroline’s Cuties, a Facebook readers group for special excerpts, exchanging ideas, contests, giveaways, recipes, and talking to like-minded people about books at https://www.facebook.com/groups/277082053015947/

  Click on her Amazon Author Page for a complete list of her books and follow her there.

  Follow her on BookBub.

  To stay up-to-date with her releases and contests, subscribe to Caroline’s newsletter here and receive a FREE novella of HAPPY IS THE BRIDE, a humorous historical wedding disaster that ends happily—but you knew it would, didn’t you?

  Deborah’s Dilemma

  Pearson Grove Series

  Book 3

  By

  Caroline Clemmons

  Cover design by Skhye Moncrief

  Copyright © 2019 by Caroline Clemmons

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

  Occasionally a character will be named after a reader with the reader’s knowledge and permission. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously. Any other resemblance to actual persons living or dead, businesses, events, or locales is purely coincidental.

 

 

 


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