Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold by Ellen O'Connell

“Be almost an hour before I’m done here.”Ĭoffee! Warmth and coffee! Add a bit of food to that and it would be as much of heaven as anyone could ask for on this earth.Īs Cord disappeared into the shadowy depths of the barn, Anne scrambled to her feet and hurried outside. There’s coffee.” He picked up a pitchfork and lifted part of her bed. Glancing down at herself, Anne could not control a shudder of self-disgust, but she answered simply, “Yes.” “I suppose you wonder what I’m doing here in your barn?” “Mornin’.” His voice was deep, soft, and as expressionless as his face. The long silence was becoming awkward, so she ventured, “Good morning.” She was reassured by his presence, not frightened. She had first met Cord when they were both only ten years old, and although everyone she knew believed the polite boy had grown into a dangerous man, she could not abandon her childhood impression. Just looking at Cord Bennett made brave men uneasy, but Anne felt herself relaxing. The square jaw and firm-lipped mouth completed a face that was not merely strong, but fierce. The bronze face was all angles and planes, honed to the point of gauntness, with well-arched eyebrows and cheekbones so high they gave the eyes some of their narrowed look. Under the hat his hair was thick, black, and probably almost touched his collar. Her mind filled in the features she could not distinguish in the shadows. In fact, though she was chilled to the bone, meeting those eyes had something to do with the heat she could feel flushing her face and burning steadily downward.

Maybe Cord did have unusual light brown eyes, but Anne did not find them cold. What tells you he’s the devil’s own is there’s nothing behind those eyes. “His daddy had brown eyes, but those eyes of his are yellow, yellow like a wolf’s.” How long had he been standing there, watching her sleep? Unwilling to babble a nervous apology, Anne sat in the hay, returning his silent, steady regard, but she could not stop the voices echoing in her head. In the dim light in the barn it should have been impossible to identify anyone, but Anne recognized him instantly from a glimpse of his eyes under the brim of his hat. A shadowy figure leaned against the wall, watching her.Ĭord Bennett. Anne forced her stiff body into a sitting position then gasped. Maybe, just maybe, she could steal away before anyone saw her. Now the gray light of early dawn might mean having to explain herself to the barn’s owner. Last night this barn had been a welcome refuge from the storm, but she had only intended to wait out the rain. She came fully awake in a dismaying rush. As she curled in a tighter ball, stalks of hay pricked her cheek, and the summer sweet scent rose around her. DAMP AND SHIVERING, ANNE fought against waking, tried to shut out the sounds of nickering horses, lowing cows, and plaintive cats.

Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold by Ellen O'Connell