A Highlander's Love

Chapter 1

Dear Reader,

If your finding it hard to understand the language in this book don’t fret. The following will help decode the Scottish accent. J I tried not to go overboard. I wanted to make he into ‘e and her into ‘er but I didn’t want my readers to get frustrated with trying to read it that way in their heads.  So I hope you enjoy and don’t hesitate in giving me your feedback. Also this is my first ever book so I’m still learning.

Language Reference

Ye – You

Yer – Your

Nay – No

Wee – little

Barin – Baby

Tae – To

Wi’ – With

Fer – For

Thaer – There

Lad(s) – boy(s)

Lass(’) – Girl(s)

‘Twas – It was

Naw – Now

Tha’ - That

1049 A.D. The Highlands of Scotland

The MacDuffie Castle

Crissy MacDuffie woke tae knocking at her door. Knowing ‘twas only Tira, bringing her something tae eat and a bath, only made her want tae roll back over a fall back tae sleep. She was not ready tae start the day. Fer the last three years of her life, her dad had been talking of marrying her off. Tha’ would be nice and all if she had a say in who she married. But no, she was tae be married off like she was property and tha’ didn’t set well wi’ her. She didn’t want tae marry a man she didn’t know, a complete stranger fer tha’ matter. And more than anything she wanted tae marry a man she loved.

“Come in.” Crissy growled at the interruption of her dreams, as she sat up and put her feet over the edge of her bed. Her back was tae the door but she knew her maid had heard her when she heard the door creak open.

“I’ve brought ye food and some mead and yer bath will be in shortly Mi’Lady.” Tira said. “ Also yer father would like ye tae join him in his solar room.”

Tira set her food on the table by the hearth and turned tae leave.  When Tira opened the door Edwin, one of the many servants her father possessed, was thaer waiting. He had his hand raised about tae knock. Tira simply stepped aside and allowed him tae set the tub on the floor. Edwin almost tripped in his haste to get the tub in the room, bring’n a fresh blush to his face. Three more men followed Edwin. Each wi’ two buckets and they began pouring steaming water in tae the tub.

“Can I get ye anything else Mi’Lady?” Edwin asked avoid’n her eyes as the blush darken across his cheeks. Edwin had always been shy around Crissy. She didn’t understand why. He acted normal around her two younger sisters, Isobel and Rose. Mayhap he had a crush her a bit. Edwin was ten and three and had just started working in the castle four years ago after leaving in the village. His mother and father died of the fever and he and his sister was left orphaned.

“Nay, Edwin ye may go fer naw.” Crissy replied as she turned tae Tira and nodded tae her, signaling she could also go.

She didn’t move until she heard the door shut. Crissy moved from the bed and tae the table where she found tha’ her meal consisted of bacon, bread, and cheese. She ate while wondering what her father wanted tae speak tae her about. No doubt is was about her marrying again. She had been talking her dad out of it fer three years now. She didn’t want tae marry a man she did not know or love. She also didn’t want tae leave her home and move tae some where she didn’t know.