Deborah's Dilemma

by Caroline Clemmons

  She grinned at him. “You need a secretary.”

  He caressed her back as they gazed at the landscape. “Don’t really want an outsider knowing so much about our family. I hoped when I married my wife might be interested in helping me.”

  “She’d be crazy not to.” Oh, no, there she went blabbing too much. “I did it again, didn’t I? Truly, I don’t mean to be so opinionated, Trey. I guess worrying so about our family has made me lose control of my tongue and thoughts.”

  He gazed into her eyes as he pushed a lock of hair from her face. “I’ve had trouble controlling my thoughts recently, too. I blamed a certain blue-eyed sorceress for putting me under her spell.”

  If only he meant those words. Dared she believe him? Perhaps she would be smart to keep things light.

  “Don’t forget I’m armed, Trey Pearson. Don’t mock me.”

  “I’m not, Deborah Taber. I’m admitting I’m mesmerized by you.”

  Rosario clanged a wooden spoon against a copper platter. “Dinner is now served. Do not let the food get cold.”

  “I guess that was the famous wooden spoon she ruled you with as a boy.”

  Trey grinned. “You can match it to the dents on my skull.”

  He guided Deborah to the large dining room. The table was laden with food, most of which she had never eaten. She glanced at numerous chairs lined against the wall. She quickly counted eight.

  He held a chair for her at the table. “There are more leaves if we have a crowd. There are only eight of us so we haven’t used them today.”

  She took her seat and saw her parents were as awestruck as she was.

  Mama looked from Judith to Marianne. “We appreciate your invitation. After so much disaster recently, this is especially a treat for Herman, Deborah, and me.”

  Judith inclined her head. “For us, also, Olive. Our son is home and yours is recovering. We have much for which to be grateful, don’t we?”

  Trey looked around the table. “And, the newspaper building is still standing. Scott Ferguson is the new mayor and the city council is made up of reasonable men.”

  Herman shook his head. “That was a close call, though. Thank goodness we were warned in time to pull off that coup.” Papa became the newspaperman. “How many acres do you have here?”

  Deuce leaned forward. “We have a league and a labor. Run about five hundred head. Some of the land is in hay and maize we grow for winter feed. Also have a pretty big garden.”

  Judith looked at Mama. “Trey said you and Deborah canned, Olive.”

  “Nothing on a large scale. I especially enjoy having vegetables put up. Doesn’t it feel lovely on a winter day to have your own canned goods available?”

  “Marianne and I agree. We can some fruits and vegetables, dry some fruit, and keep root vegetables and such in the cellar. I feel fortunate indeed that we can provide most of our food from here on the ranch.”

  Deborah looked at the dishes being passed around. “Even though the rice is a different color, I recognize it and beans but nothing else. Will you describe what each of the others is? I’ve never had them before.”

  Trey held a baking dish for her. “These are beef enchiladas. No, take more—at least two. Rosario’s are the best in the world. Oh, man, how I missed them while I was away. I could eat them every single day. The platter coming holds pork tamales.”

  He showed her how to remove the corn husk wrappings and discard them on the small plate provided. “Then, you ladle on some of the meat sauce.”

  She noticed her parents were watching and listening to his instructions closely.

  He smiled at her. “Now, eat. I want to know your opinion.”

  She first tried a bite of the enchilada. “Oh, my goodness. This is delicious but hot.” She reached for her glass and took a sip. “What kind of peppers are in the recipe?”

  Judith laid aside her fork for a moment. “Chili powder, chopped green chilies, a bit of minced jalapeños, and cumin as well as black pepper. Oh, dear, I hope your mouth is not on fire.”

  “I love the taste but I was surprised. Now I’m prepared.” She dug into her food and savored every bite. She didn’t like the rice as much as the other dishes but everything was delicious.

  Deborah tasted the dessert and savored it in her mouth. “Mmm, tell me about the dessert. It’s some kind of pudding, isn’t it?”

  Trey took another serving of it. “This is caramel flan, and I can’t get enough of it, either. Sometimes, Rosario makes sopapillas instead. The flan cools the heat from the peppers.”

  After dinner, they went back to the great room.

  Judith took Deborah’s hand. “I promised to show you our quilts. Olive, perhaps you would enjoy seeing them as well.”

  She and Mama accompanied Judith and Marianne down a long hall to another part of the house. “Let’s go through here to Trey’s part of the house so I can show you the quilt we made for him just before he returned.”

  Marianne gestured around them. “Each wing of the house is approximately the same. We all share the kitchen, dining room, and great room. Of course, each couple has a private sitting room. This is Trey’s.”

  Deborah was embarrassed to be in his part of the house. “I feel as if I’m intruding.”

  Judith shook her head. “Please don’t. He tolerates Marianne and me invading his privacy for now. Once he’s married, I’m sure that will change.”

  “You see, he has a locking door here for privacy.” She opened a door and indicated Deborah and Mama precede her. They entered a large room with a bed that appeared a foot or more longer than most.

  Judith smoothed her hand over the bed’s covering. “This is the quilt we made him. I shouldn’t brag but didn’t it turn out well?”

  “It’s beautiful. So many tiny diamonds must have taken you so long.” The quilt was in blue and white in a starburst pattern. “This is similar to the Bethlehem Star but you must have designed the pattern yourselves.”

  Marianne smiled and ran a hand over the quilt. “We did and I think it turned out well. Judith and I despaired of ever getting all the pieces quilted.”

  Judith hugged her mother-in-law. “And we’re still friends after we finished it. I think that says a lot about our relationship.”

  Mama examined the quilt more closely. “Indeed it does. My, Deborah, would you look? We’ve never attempted anything this difficult.”

  Judith said, “Oh, but Deborah said you make quilts to give to those less fortunate. I so admire you for that.”

  Mama glanced at her. “I do enjoy quilting but we have all that we need. There are always those less fortunate in the community.”

  Deborah attempted to surreptitiously study the room. She still felt like an intruder. “Where is the heirloom quilt you mentioned?”

  Marianne clapped her hands. “That’s in Wade’s and my wing. Follow me.”

  When they were in the couple’s sitting room, Marianne led them to a spare bedroom. “We followed your suggestion and layered it under a featherbed.”

  She peeled off the coverings to reveal a pink quilt in a small floral print. Rather than being a rectangle, one end had a flap on it.

  “You see that this was intended for a four poster bed. We believe it’s about the time of the American Revolution. Judith, help me show them the older one beneath it.”

  Judith lifted the pastel to reveal a red wool quilt. “As you can see this is solid in color but beautifully stitched. This was before those in the Colonies were allowed to have merino sheep, so the wool is stiff and scratchy.”

  She displayed the other side, which was a mustard color. “Of course, it’s dyed with natural dyes. With two quilted layers, this would have been very warm in a New England winter.”

  Mama tentatively touched the fabric. “And, it would need to be, I’m sure.”

  Deborah examined the stitching on both quilts. “Definitely these are the work of fine seamstresses. Wouldn’t they be pleased to know their work was still treasured?”

&n
bsp; Judith turned back the four poster quilt’s edge. “You can see this was hung at one time. I imagine partly it was used on a wall as insulation. We’ve debated hanging it again.”

  Deborah tilted her head. “They’re very special and a shame they have to be hidden away. I’d be afraid moths would get to the woolen one. Wouldn’t that be awful?”

  Marianne replaced the quilts and layers protecting them. “We don’t have to decide today, but we keep postponing a decision.”

  Deborah spoke mainly to herself, “A glass case would be nice so you could see them but they’d be protected from dirt and insects. Of course you’d still have to protect them from light.”

  Marianne and Judith glanced at one another before Marianne exclaimed, “An excellent solution.”

  The women went back to the great room.

  Trey separated from the men and came toward Deborah. “May I show you the house and grounds?”

  “Thank you, I’d enjoy a tour.”

  He whisked her away before any of his family could comment. “I’m afraid my mother and grandmother are taken with you and would monopolize you if they could. I’d planned on doing that myself.”

  Against her will she released a giggle. “What fun to be the focus of attention. Usually, I prefer to remain in the shadows or sidelines but I’m enjoying myself so much today.”

  “I suppose Mama showed you the quilt she and Grandma made.”

  “So impressive and beautiful. Almost too lovely to use.”

  He led her through a doorway and down the long hallway. “Allow me to show you the rest of my wing. Actually, that’s the house’s wing. I’m not a bird so don’t have one personally.”

  She couldn’t suppress another giggle. My stars, she sounded like a smitten young miss. Searching for decorum, she simply couldn’t find hers.

  “This is my parlor, which I don’t suppose I’ve ever used for more than a few minutes at a time. Perhaps I will someday.” He parked on the leather couch, leaned back, and crossed his legs at the ankle. He patted the seat beside him.

  She joined him on the buttery soft leather. “This room is wonderful. In fact, your family’s home is wonderful, Trey. Surely Rosario doesn’t clean it by herself.”

  “No, she’s our cook and we call her our housekeeper. Several young women help her but her word is law.”

  “I gather you still fear her wooden spoon.”

  He rubbed his forehead. “It’s a wonder I’m not permanently concussed.”

  “Hmm, that must mean you got into trouble often.”

  “Often enough.” He pretended to look distressed. “Of course you understand that being the angelic child I was simply meant that I was sometimes falsely accused.”

  She arched an eyebrow. “That’s not the story I heard from your mother about a certain incident with cake and you climbing a tree to avoid punishment.”

  He clasped his heart. “Betrayal by my own mother. What’s a guy to do?”

  Relaxing against the couch, he gestured around him. “So, what do you really think of the room?”

  She gazed around. The room was amazing but bare, as if no one lived here yet. Pale walls reminded her of adobe though she knew they weren’t. Rustic beams crossed the ceiling. The center chandelier constructed from deer antlers seemed appropriate for the area.

  Wide plank floors gleamed from care. Although the pieces of furniture might first appear chosen at random, they fit into the room too well for that to have been true. The feeling of her surroundings was as if the room and furniture welcomed her with a promise of comfort and ease.

  “I was honest when I told you it’s wonderful.”

  “I sense a ‘but’ coming.”

  She half-turned so she could see his face. “I do love this room but since you asked, in my opinion you need… perhaps western paintings, small western sculptures, and a few other decorative touches to make it more homelike.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “Aha, now you’re qualifying your praise.”

  She shook her finger at him. “Trey Pearson, don’t ask questions unless you’re prepared to hear the answers.”

  A grin pulled at his mouth. “You have me there. I suppose the place does need a few things. I won’t worry about it. When I marry, my wife will want to put her touch on each of our rooms.”

  The way he’d looked at her when he mentioned a wife set her pulse pounding. Could he mean her? She couldn’t let her yearning overrule her good sense so she carefully schooled her features.

  “I imagine you’re correct. Your mother and grandmother would help you if you decide to make changes now.”

  He frowned and waved his hand back and forth. “No, no, no, this is my private part of the house. I let them make the quilt so they’d leave me be, but that’s all.”

  She laid a hand at her throat. “No wonder I felt as if we were intruding when we viewed the quilt, even though Judith assured us you wouldn’t care.”

  He laid his arm along the back of the couch. With his free hand, he held hers. “Aw, I certainly didn’t mind them showing you and your mother their handiwork. Only, I prefer they limit their forays into my rooms. I hope you don’t think that’s rude.”

  His touch sent frissons of bliss through her. She was trying hard to be ladylike and adult but she wanted to collapse against him.

  “Well, you’re a grown man and it is your wing. I’m sure they have enough keeping them busy without adding responsibility for your things.”

  “Exactly. It’s not that I mind them being in here, but I want to undertake any changes myself until I marry. Then, my wife and I would discuss them.”

  When he said “wife” he looked at her again as if he meant her. Would that be as wonderful as she’d dreamed? Quit thinking about things that might never be.

  “When did you build this? You’ve been away six years. Surely you didn’t start when you were in your teens.”

  “Not exactly. Deuce and Wade and I staked out my addition before I left. Then, while I was away, I made drawings and sent them home. Wade handled the construction because Deuce is heavily involved in running the ranch.”

  “Did your grandfather choose the furniture?”

  “Naw, I did that from catalogs and Boston stores. You can get almost anything from a catalog. Freight is a killer but having what I wanted was worth the gouge to my bank balance.”

  She grinned at him. “Yes, I can tell you’re starving, poor thing. I can’t tell you how sorry I feel for you. And, I mean literally that I can’t tell you I feel sorry for you.”

  He gently pulled her closer. “How can you treat me so badly? I should come nearer and kiss you. That would make me feel much better.” He scooted so their hips touched.

  He pressed his lips to hers and she melted into his arms. His kiss deepened. The rest of the world disappeared until he pulled away. His eyes were dark with longing.

  “Deuce is calling.” He stood and helped her to her feet. “Guess I should take you back to the main part of the house. Sure hate to think of you leaving.” He held her hand and twined their fingers.

  She was breathless and wondered if she looked thoroughly kissed. She smoothed her hair with her free hand. “I’ve had a lovely afternoon.”

  He leaned near and whispered, “Me too, especially the kisses.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  By Thursday, Trey couldn’t stay away from Deborah any longer. Knowing he was taking a chance on being bushwhacked, he rode into town. He wore a different hat and vest than he’d ever worn in Texas and rode a different horse, which he hoped would confuse a sharpshooter.

  Trey planned to court his girl properly so he went straight to the mercantile to buy a box of candy.

  Scott appeared busy with a customer so Trey poked around the store. No sooner had that customer turned to leave than Vivian Kirby swanned in, looking as if she’d smelled something offensive.

  Scott smiled at her. “How are you, Mrs. Kirby?”

  “As if you care.” She handed Scott a list.


  “Of course I care. I wish the best for everyone I meet.” He loaded one item after another into a large basket.

  There was no doubt when she spotted Trey. “I suppose wealthy young men don’t have to work like everyone else.”

  “I work very hard, ma’am. I took off a few hours but I’ll work late this evening to make up for them.”

  Behind her back, Scott rolled his eyes. “I’m surprised your husband isn’t with you.”

  She turned to look at Scott. “He’s ill, not that it’s any of your business. Losing the election on a write-in vote humiliated him. Since then, he’s been sick as can be and in bed. I hope you’re happy. I assure you that if it weren’t so far to Van Alstyne I’d take my trade there.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that, Mrs. Kirby. I certainly hold no ill will toward anyone on the ballot. Surely there’s something else causing your husband’s illness. Has Dr. Ross been consulted?”

  “We don’t need a meddling doctor from this town. If Norris doesn’t improve soon, I’ll take him to Van Alstyne or McKinney.”

  “Your order is ready. Let my helper carry it to your buggy for you.” He signaled Jimmy Babb, the teen who helped after school and in summer.”

  “I should hope someone would. I can’t carry all that myself.” She turned and stomped out.

  Jimmy hefted the box and followed.

  Trey ambled up to the counter. “Whew, you take a lot of grief, don’t you?”

  “Most customers are friendly and I enjoy them. In general, I like people. How can I help you today?”

  “I’m going courting and need a box of candy.”

  Moriah confided, “Deborah has a sweet tooth. You know we can’t keep chocolates in the summer but we have a nice selection of mints.” From the storeroom, the babbling of their baby sounded happy.

  “Doesn’t seem the same. That the best I can do?”

  Moriah disappeared through the curtain into the storeroom. Trey had heard she had a full nursery set up in the storeroom and upstairs.

  Scott scratched his head. “She might be offended if you take her nuts. Hey, we have these honey-coated dried figs from California in this pretty tin.”