Winners and Losers

In my new release, A Scot to Wed, Mistress Katie Sterling arrives at the MacDuff castle with a faded piece of parchment that she has been told all  her life proved her family had been cheated out of the castle inheritance many years ago.

Laird Evan MacNeil, the new clan laird via the rules of primogeniture, arrives at the same time to get his new clan and estate in order so he can return to his own clan who needs him.

The story is about who wins, and who loses. Or do both of them win?

Here is the interview I conducted with my hero and heroine prior to writing the book. (It’s always good to get to know your characters)

Me: So tell me, Mistress Sterling, why do you think you own the MacDuff lands?

Katie: Many years ago one of my female ancestors was the rightful heir to the MacDuff lands, but because she was in a family way at the time, could not make the trip and one of her male cousins stole the land from her.

Me: I thought only males inherited clans?

Katie: Oh, no.

Evan (interrupting): Now, lass if yer going to bring up again how some clans can be inherited by women, ye will make yerself look silly because this is not one of those clans.

Katie: How do you know this?

Evan: Because I am the rightful heir and I’m a mon.

Me: My laird, I understand it is your plan to hire a land steward and return to your own clan.?

Evan: (grunt)

Me: If you have no interest in the land, why do you not cede to Mistress Sterling’s claim?”

Evan: (drawing himself up to his full height – quite impressive, actually). ‘Tis my duty, lass. I am an honorable mon. I was granted the clan and castle legally and legitimately and will do my duty.

Me: (Fanning myself with my interview sheets – he is very impressive) If you will take your seat, my laird, I would appreciate it since I am getting a crick in my neck from looking up at you.

Evan: (winks at me) and sits back down.

Me: Fans harder

Katie: (waving around her paper) It says right here that my ancestor was cheated out of the land. (She looks over at Laird McNeill and smirks.)

Evan: Now lass, ye ken that faded piece of parchment would n’er hold up in court. Why dinnae you just put it away and I’ll see that ye and yer clan are escorted back to where ye came from.

Katie: (narrowing her eyes at Evan). I am not giving up, my laird. ‘Tis my property and I will stay right here. (She thumps her fist on the table next to her and grimaces.)

Evan: Are ye hurt lass? (Genuine concern in his eyes—I would give this man anything he wanted.)

Katie: (sniffs) Nay. I am not hurt. I only want what is mine.

Evan: (Leans forward, his nose almost touching Miss Sterling’s nose). And I want what is mine

Katie: (she flushes and moves back.) Then we are at a standstill since I have no intention of leaving.

Evan: (crosses his arms over his chest) Neither am I.

Me: (clearing my throat) May I offer a compromise? (They both look skeptically at me.)

Katie and Evan: What?

Me: Let’s give it some time with the two of you here. Perhaps as I write the story we can discover a way you can work things out. I do have some wonderful ideas.

Evan: (grinning) Aye, lass. I like the look in yer eyes. I think yer ideas might be something pleasurable.

Katie: (blushing) Aye, I believe you might have the right of it, my laird. I definitely like the way the author is looking at the two of us. All right. I will give it a try.

Evan: Ye can count on me, too, lass.

I scramble for my laptop. As long as they are both willing to give it a try, I am sure I can come up with a way to work this out. This is a romance book, after all.

I will be giving a $10 Amazon gift card to one person who comments!