Diamond Duo by Marcia Gruver Page A

get it over and done with. Go on and start.”
    She tried to comply but found she couldn’t speak. She knew her silence might anger him but found it hard to muster the will fora conversation her husband wanted over and done.
    Henry glanced over his shoulder. “Fine. If the cat got your tongue, I’ll start.”
    The words stunned Sarah. Henry King mostly kept his emotions dammed up tight. Getting him talking about his feelings generally took a three-day pout followed by two days of nagging. She guessed he must need peace at the house in the worst possible way.
    Henry cleared his throat. “When I left the house, I had no place in mind to go. Jus’ walked without thinking. When I come to myself, I seen I’d walked all the way to town, but I wasn’t even tired. Felt like I’d done sprouted wings and flew.”
    Henry put a hand back on Dandy’s nose to bring him to a stop and came around to stand at Sarah’s knee. He stared up at her without speaking at first then reached for her hands where they were clasped together over the saddle horn. “I looked up and saw I done walked a beeline to Stilley’s. Then I knew why I came to town.”
    In one quick move, Henry lifted Sarah down from the mule and stood her in front of him. He clung to her hands, and his eyes bored into hers with fierce emotion. “Today I set out to give you something special to show how I feel about you, and I intend to finish the task.” He let go of her hands and reached behind her into the saddlebag.
    When he came up with the package and handed it to her, Sarah frowned at him and then at the tied bundle. “What is this?”
    He stifled a grin. “If you open it, you might see.”
    She held his eyes for three heartbeats then got to work on the twine. Impatient with her slow and careful fingers, Henry reached to tear a hole in the paper. When Sarah lifted the other end, white fabric poured out and settled in his hands like woven snow. She jerked her eyes to her husband’s face. “What you got here, Henry King?”
    His familiar smile warmed her heart. “I ain’t completely daft. . .or blind neither. I seen the way you fingered those bolts at Stilley’s.”
    She wiped her palms on her skirt then held them up to receivethe soft folds. Struggling to believe she really held it in her hands, she lifted the shimmering cloth in his direction. “Why would you buy me a gift after the way I treated you?”
    He wrinkled his brow and gave his head a little shake. “I ain’t stopped loving you, woman. I never will. No matter how you treat me.”
    She cringed and lowered her head. “Why’d you choose white?”
    Henry moved closer and cupped her face in his nimble hand. “I know you like all them bright colors. But I sure like to see you dressed in white.” He traced the line of her jaw with his finger then lifted her head with one knuckle. “It looks so nice against your skin.”
    His words reminded her of their conversation that morning, when he’d spoken of the first day they’d met at Lawetta Draper’s backyard social and the white dress she wore. From the yearning in his eyes, he remembered, too. He nodded at the cloth. “Hope you don’t mind.”
    She reached up on tiptoe and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. “Not one bit.” She opened the paper to tuck his gift inside but paused and rattled the package. “There’s something else down in here.” She tucked the fabric under her arm and then reached in and brought out a smaller parcel. She held it up. “Now what’s this?”
    Henry took it from her hand. “Almost forgot about that.” He tore it open to reveal a small chocolate block.
    Sarah squealed. “Candy, too?” She reached to grab it, but he held it just out of reach.
    “Uh, uh, uh. This one I bought for me.” He peeled back the clear wrapper and took a huge bite. Then he closed his eyes and threw his head back while he chewed and swallowed, his face a mask of pleasure. “Ooo-wheee! If that ain’t the best thing since pure