 | MISS GREEN EYES Wildflowers of Texas Series Book 1 Historical Western Romance Annalee Gillespie has had her world shaken. Her father has died, leaving her as the sole owner of the Circle G. But when the will is read, she’s given the shock of her life. She must make the trek up the Chisolm Trail with her foreman, the most irritating man in creation, and complete the tasks given to her, or control of the Circle G falls into another’s hands. Ewan Judge, while capable, smart, and frustratingly handsome, has needled and teased Annalee throughout the years, but somehow she has to learn to get along with him. He is, annoyingly, the best cowboy in Texas. So, she accepts the challenge and finds herself in the midst of more than one enemy. PURCHASE MISS GREEN EYES |
MISS GREEN EYES
She turned toward the gate, took one step then halted in her tracks.
Ewan was bracing his forearms on the fence, watching her.
How long had he been there? If the past twenty minutes hadn’t been private, she was going to tell him exactly what she thought of that.
Setting her jaw, she started briskly toward him.
He straightened as she got closer. When she reached him, he quirked his lips at her. “I know that look. I’m in for it, aren’t I?”
His dry tone irked her, but she refrained from being baited into scolding him over it. “How long have you been here?”
He shrugged. “Just a few minutes. I stayed behind to talk with Jacobs.” He glanced over her shoulder toward the graves. “Came here to pay my respects before heading home.”
Could she believe him? She never knew if he was telling the truth when it came to their…banter. He always seemed to be teasing her through veiled comments and slightly mocking looks. When he’d called her Knobs all those years ago, she’d declared war, and he’d been very willing to charge headlong into battle. Neither had surrendered.
“That’s kind of you,” she replied, though her tone carried a trace of doubt. Not about him wanting to pay his respects, but about how long he’d been there.
He made no comment about her suspicion and silence fell between them.
A breeze came through, pulling at some locks of her hair. She pushed her handkerchief into her skirt pocket and let out a sigh. She looked toward the road, thinking about what her father had charged them with. “So…we’re traveling companions.”
“Seems like it.”
She twitched her lips. “I’m sorry. I’m sure you’d rather not go.” She forced herself to meet his always confident gaze. “There’s nothing in it for you.”
“That’s not true. Apparently there’s some sort of surprise at the end.” He gave a slight grin, then made a dismissive gesture with a hand. “But that doesn’t matter. Your papa asked me to escort you, and I’m gonna do that. You’ll be safe with me, Annalee.”
That she knew. The tales she’d heard about his bravery and strength should be written in one of those dime novels. “I appreciate it. I’d rather not have Peter questioning my decisions for six months, and I’m sure he’ll be uncomfortable doing so.”
“He said as much when I spoke to him.” Ewan removed his hat, and the sun shone off his raven hair. He checked something on the brim of his white Stetson, and continued, “I’m sure this journey isn’t gonna be difficult. Probably the hardest thing will be sleeping on the ground.”
And being in close proximity to him, but she kept the comment tightly reined. “I’ve always wanted to ride the trail. Papa told me it wasn’t necessary, especially since we don’t have to drive cattle as far now that trains reach farther.”
Ewan put his hat back on. “He’s granting you a wish. Hopefully, you’ll enjoy yourself.”
As long as he didn’t bait her, she would. Their interactions the last several days had been more subdued. He hadn’t teased her once. But, then, her father had passed away. It would be disrespectful to irritate her on purpose. Besides, she knew he was grieving, as well. “I’m going to look at this journey as something to treasure. I’m sure you’re right and the tasks will be simple.”
“I’ve been thinking about the seven letters Jacobs had to send,” Ewan said. “There are seven stops along the trail that are in Texas, and after the seventh you’re in Oklahoma. I’m bettin’ our trip stops at Fort Worth.”
She perked up at that. “That’s where Papa and Mama were married.”
Ewan lifted his brow. “Oh, yeah?”
She nodded, excitement filtering through her. “Do you think there would be time for me to visit the church?”
A gentle light entered his eyes. “If not, we’ll make the time.”
Confused by the softness of his expression, she didn’t immediately respond. After a beat, she cleared her throat and said, “Thank you. I wouldn’t want to go all the way up there and not see where they were married.”
“Never know when you’ll be back,” he added.
She nodded, then quickly covered any possible awkward silence with, “I’ll head on home now and start packing.”
He moved to the side so she could push through the gate. “You’ll be all right?” he asked her.
“Of course.” She gave a quick nod of her head in goodbye, then turned away. As she walked to Epona, the animal heard her approach and lifted her head from eating the soft grass near the fence. Once mounted, Annalee spared a look at Ewan who still stood in the same spot.
That gentle expression on his face was gone and had been replaced with the teasing one she knew so well.
“Don’t fall off,” he warned her.
Irritation spiked within her, but she refused to answer back. She lifted her chin, tugged on Epona’s reins then kicked her into a gallop.
Fall off!
When had she ever?
He was impossible!
She turned toward the gate, took one step then halted in her tracks.
Ewan was bracing his forearms on the fence, watching her.
How long had he been there? If the past twenty minutes hadn’t been private, she was going to tell him exactly what she thought of that.
Setting her jaw, she started briskly toward him.
He straightened as she got closer. When she reached him, he quirked his lips at her. “I know that look. I’m in for it, aren’t I?”
His dry tone irked her, but she refrained from being baited into scolding him over it. “How long have you been here?”
He shrugged. “Just a few minutes. I stayed behind to talk with Jacobs.” He glanced over her shoulder toward the graves. “Came here to pay my respects before heading home.”
Could she believe him? She never knew if he was telling the truth when it came to their…banter. He always seemed to be teasing her through veiled comments and slightly mocking looks. When he’d called her Knobs all those years ago, she’d declared war, and he’d been very willing to charge headlong into battle. Neither had surrendered.
“That’s kind of you,” she replied, though her tone carried a trace of doubt. Not about him wanting to pay his respects, but about how long he’d been there.
He made no comment about her suspicion and silence fell between them.
A breeze came through, pulling at some locks of her hair. She pushed her handkerchief into her skirt pocket and let out a sigh. She looked toward the road, thinking about what her father had charged them with. “So…we’re traveling companions.”
“Seems like it.”
She twitched her lips. “I’m sorry. I’m sure you’d rather not go.” She forced herself to meet his always confident gaze. “There’s nothing in it for you.”
“That’s not true. Apparently there’s some sort of surprise at the end.” He gave a slight grin, then made a dismissive gesture with a hand. “But that doesn’t matter. Your papa asked me to escort you, and I’m gonna do that. You’ll be safe with me, Annalee.”
That she knew. The tales she’d heard about his bravery and strength should be written in one of those dime novels. “I appreciate it. I’d rather not have Peter questioning my decisions for six months, and I’m sure he’ll be uncomfortable doing so.”
“He said as much when I spoke to him.” Ewan removed his hat, and the sun shone off his raven hair. He checked something on the brim of his white Stetson, and continued, “I’m sure this journey isn’t gonna be difficult. Probably the hardest thing will be sleeping on the ground.”
And being in close proximity to him, but she kept the comment tightly reined. “I’ve always wanted to ride the trail. Papa told me it wasn’t necessary, especially since we don’t have to drive cattle as far now that trains reach farther.”
Ewan put his hat back on. “He’s granting you a wish. Hopefully, you’ll enjoy yourself.”
As long as he didn’t bait her, she would. Their interactions the last several days had been more subdued. He hadn’t teased her once. But, then, her father had passed away. It would be disrespectful to irritate her on purpose. Besides, she knew he was grieving, as well. “I’m going to look at this journey as something to treasure. I’m sure you’re right and the tasks will be simple.”
“I’ve been thinking about the seven letters Jacobs had to send,” Ewan said. “There are seven stops along the trail that are in Texas, and after the seventh you’re in Oklahoma. I’m bettin’ our trip stops at Fort Worth.”
She perked up at that. “That’s where Papa and Mama were married.”
Ewan lifted his brow. “Oh, yeah?”
She nodded, excitement filtering through her. “Do you think there would be time for me to visit the church?”
A gentle light entered his eyes. “If not, we’ll make the time.”
Confused by the softness of his expression, she didn’t immediately respond. After a beat, she cleared her throat and said, “Thank you. I wouldn’t want to go all the way up there and not see where they were married.”
“Never know when you’ll be back,” he added.
She nodded, then quickly covered any possible awkward silence with, “I’ll head on home now and start packing.”
He moved to the side so she could push through the gate. “You’ll be all right?” he asked her.
“Of course.” She gave a quick nod of her head in goodbye, then turned away. As she walked to Epona, the animal heard her approach and lifted her head from eating the soft grass near the fence. Once mounted, Annalee spared a look at Ewan who still stood in the same spot.
That gentle expression on his face was gone and had been replaced with the teasing one she knew so well.
“Don’t fall off,” he warned her.
Irritation spiked within her, but she refused to answer back. She lifted her chin, tugged on Epona’s reins then kicked her into a gallop.
Fall off!
When had she ever?
He was impossible!
REVIEWS FOR MISS GREEN EYES
"From the first page of this short, intense western romance author O’Neal shows her gift for describing emotion in succinct detail, keeping the pages turning. Annalee’s profound grief is immediately compounded by shock, followed by—for a few short moments—helplessness and dismay and maybe a touch of fear. Then she spies Ewan at the edge of the cemetery and steel straightens her spine. A phrase, common to modern times, fits quite well: Bring It On. Miss Green Eyes portends a terrific Wildflowers of Texas series and we cannot wait for the next edition. Based on a scale of 1-5, Miss Green Eyes merits a 7."
-- Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews
-- Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews
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