by Norma Gail
She tilted her head back and smiled in spite of her shyness. “Are you ready for our adventure, my wild, romantic sheep farmer?”
He cleared his throat. “Absolutely. Are you ready, Mrs. MacDonell?”
Reaching up, she pulled his face down to hers. “I’m ready, Mr. MacDonell.”
The carved doors stood open, and both rooms flickered with candlelight. Warmed by the fires, the sweet scent of rose bouquets and white heather filled the room. The down comforter was turned back to reveal creamy, lace-trimmed sheets of the finest satin. Her heart quickened at the idea of lying next to him, but he motioned toward the sitting room couch where he had first proposed. Taking a small box from the table, he lifted out a necklace.
“Oh, Kieran …” He held up a delicate gold cross with two wedding rings entwined in the center.
The deep rumble of his voice came as a whisper. “This will remind us to keep our marriage and our lives centered in our God. And because tonight is about new beginnings …” He reached over and retrieved an elegant wrapped box from the table.
She opened it to find a new Bible with her new name inscribed on the front. “I’ll use it tomorrow morning.”
He loosened his hold while she retrieved a new Bible for him from the dressing room. Her gift also included a poem, written the day before during her prayer time.
After thanking God for His past guidance and future blessings, Kieran said, “Bonny, I promise to give you reason to bless this day as long as I live.”
Placing his arm around her, they climbed the steps, and he closed the doors.
Kieran picked up the poem Bonny had read to him the night before. It smelled of roses, like the petals embedded in the hand-made paper. He read the words once again, overwhelmed by the blessings of God.
Golden Bands
(For Kieran)
Such was my trust
That I gave you to hold
My fragile heart in your hands.
God blessed us so much
He placed us within
A circle of golden bands.
I ever will thank
My dear God above,
So carefully He watched over me.
He gave me to love
Such a precious heart,
No other will ever compete.
Through all of our years
I will have no regret,
If I searched a thousand lands.
So gently you keep
My own tender heart,
Within our golden bands.
He wondered once again at the amazing gift of the woman preparing herself for their honeymoon as he waited. For her to write such words with him in mind was beyond his comprehension. No matter what lay ahead, he felt confident of God’s presence in their wild, romantic adventure, and he committed himself to holding her heart gently, all of their days.
The End
Discussion Questions
1. What is your impression of Bonny Bryant’s reaction to the losses in her life? How does the way she handles loss affect her relationships, her decision-making, and her personal peace?
2. How do the deaths of Kieran’s wife and infant son cripple him? What is necessary for him to move forward with his life?
3. Describe the basic difference in the way Janet and Bonny handle hurt and betrayal. Which are you most like and what can you learn from comparing them?
4. Describe how you see the relationship between Bonny and Kieran. What strengths do they exhibit? What weaknesses?
5. Describe what is taking place in Bonny and Kieran’s minds as they get to know each other better. Are they being honest with themselves? What do you think they would discover if they really examined the motives of their own hearts?
6. Is it possible to have true and lasting love without agreement in spiritual matters? How does Kieran’s decision to deceive Bonny make you feel? If you were Bonny’s friend, how would you advise her?
7. Are the problems in Kieran and Bonny’s relationship insurmountable? What do you think needs to happen for them to have a successful marriage? How do you see Bonny’s struggle over Kieran’s faith? Is she right to be concerned? Are Bonny’s friends right in warning her? What would you do in her place? What would you do if she were your friend?
8. How have you seen lies and anger affect marriages? Why is telling the truth and offering forgiveness so important?
9. How do you see the situation involving Bonny and the two men who love her? What do you see as the answer to the dilemma? What is missing from the situation that could make a big difference?
10. What details give evidence of the changes in Kieran and Bonny’s relationship when Kieran comes to take her to back to Scotland? What proves to them that God was answering prayers all the time?
11. What do you see as the strongest theme of this book?
12. What made the strongest impression on you? Did your thinking change in any way? If so, describe how.
Glossary
A bheanachd – Gaelic, a farewell blessing; goodbye
A charaid – Gaelic, my friend
Alba – Gaelic name for Scotland
A leannan – Gaelic, my sweetheart, lover
Aefauld – Scots, sincere, honest, faithful, single-minded
Aff yer heid – Scots, You’re crazy
A’m sairy – Scots, I’m sorry
A sair fecht – Gaelic, a sad or sorry fact
Awrite – Slang, Hi
Bahooky – Slang, bum, behind
Beannachd – Gaelic, blessed
Beannachd Dè Rìgh Alban – Gaelic, God’s blessing
Beannachd leat – Gaelic, goodbye, singular
Beannachd leibh – Gaelic, goodbye, plural
Ben, Beinn – Gaelic, mountain, or also through, inside, or within
Biddie – a woman
Bidh gaol agam ort gu sìorraidh [bee guhrl akum ohrsht goo sheeree] – Gaelic, I will love you forever
Biscochitos – Spanish, a cookie made with lard and seasoned with anise and cinnamon developed in New Mexico from recipes from the Spanish colonists
Bonnie – Gaelic, pleasing to the eye, pretty, attractive
Boot – Slang, trunk of a car
Bothy – A small shepherd’s hut or rough holiday cottage
Braw – Scots, fine, grand, superb
Bubbly jock – Slang, turkey
Burn – Gaelic, stream
Can I gie ye a haund? – Scots, Can I give you a hand?
Canny – Scots, shrewd, crafty
Cya anon – Scots, goodbye
Ceana – (Kenna) Gaelic, fair one
Ceòl Mór – The “great music,” as opposed to marches, dances, reels, and strathspeys, which are known a as Ceòl Beag, or “little music.” Ceòl Mór for bagpipes goes back at least 400 years.
Ceud mile failte, cuad mile failte – Gaelic, a hundred, thousand welcomes
Cheetie – Scots, cat, kitten
Chile – hot peppers, especially used in New Mexican and Mexican food. Chile is the uncooked variety. They are eaten either green or left on the plant to ripen to red.
Chili – The cooked variety of chile peppers
Claymore – A late medieval (15th-17th century) Scottish great sword, or claidheamh mòr, intended for use with both hands
Co-ghàirdeachas – Gaelic, Congratulations
Colcannon – Gaelic, a dish from boiled cabbage, carrots, turnip and potatoes, seasoned with salt and pepper and served hot.
Come wi’s – Scots, come with me
Come ben the hoose – Scots, welcome, come into the house
Crabbit – Scots, bad-tempered or grumpy
Dafty – Scots, harmless crazy
Dinnae fash yoursel’ – Scots, don’t worry or stress yourself, calm down
Dreich – Scots, dull and rainy
Drookit – Scots, soaking wet
Duine – Gaelic, man
Dunderheid – Scots, fool or idiot
Eejit – Scots, fool, idiot
Enchilada
s – Spanish, a corn tortilla usually filled with meat or cheese, and covered with red or green chili
Empanadas – Spanish, a stuffed bread or pastry, similar to a turnover, filled with spicy meat or fruit and fried
Fàilte - Gaelic, welcome
Fàilte gu Alba – Gaelic, welcome to Scotland
Fàilte don Ghaidhealtachd – Gaelic, welcome to the Highlands
Feasgar math – Gaelic, good afternoon
Forfar bridies - an oval pastry with crimped edges, filled with minced meat and baked until lightly browned
Gaidhlig – the Gaelic language
Gleann – Gaelic, glen, a narrow valley, used in lands that Scots have settled
Go mbeannaí Dia duit – Gaelic, may God bless you
Guid – Scots, good
Guid cheerio the nou! – Scots slang, goodbye
Handsome is as handsome does – a man who is so good looking he thinks he can get away with anything
Haud yer wheesht! – Slang, be quiet or hold your tongue
Heidy – Scots, Headmaster
Hen –Scots, Term of affection for a woman you have a close relationship with
Hotch-potch – a stew made from mutton stock, chopped vegetables and barley to thicken it
IED – Improvised Explosive Device
It’s a sair fecht – Scots, it’s a sad thing
Keeper – a gamekeeper in charge of the wildlife on a large estate; also called a stalker, or ghillie
Kelpie – Water horse, similar to the Loch Ness Monster
Ken – Gaelic, to know
Loch – Gaelic, body of water either a lake or a bay, literally “arm of the sea”
Lochaber - P-Gaelic aber - mouth (Q-Gaelic inver) –“the loch where rivers Lochy & Nevis meet”
Luminarias – Spanish, originally a small bonfire, which has evolved into a candle placed in a paper sack with sand in the bottom, lit on Christmas Eve in New Mexico to light the way of the Christ Child
Mariachi – Spanish, a group of street musicians playing stringed instruments and music which originated in Western Mexico. The music can be instrumental or accompany vocalizations.
Mar sin leat (singular/informal) Mar sin leibh (plural/polite) – Gaelic, goodbye
Mathair – Gaelic, mother
Merry Yuil – Scots, Merry Christmas
Mhòr or mòr – Gaelic, big
Mizzle – Slang, a misty drizzle
Mo annsachd- Gaelic, my sweetheart
Mo balachan – Gaelic, my boy
Mo bhean – Gaelic, my wife
Mo chridhe – Gaelic, my heart’s desire
Mo duine – Gaelic, my man
Mo gràdh – Gaelic, my love
Mo mhac – Gaelic, my son
Mo nighean – Gaelic, my daughter
Mons Meg - medieval siege cannon, now located at Edinburgh Castle, once able to propel a 400 pound ball 2 miles
Munro – Any mountain taller than 3,000 feet. Some people make it a hobby to see how many they can climb, calling it “Munro bagging”
Nic-chridhe – Gaelic, a term of endearment for a female; my dear lassie, my dear lady
Nippin – Slang, nagging
Nollaig Chridheil – Gaelic, Merry Christmas
Nollaig Chridheil agus bliadhna mhath ur – Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Noo jist haud on – Scots, now hold on, slow down, take your time
Oidhche mhath – Gaelic, goodnight
Peely Wally – Slang, pale and unwell
Piobaireachd – Gaelic, piping
Posole – Spanish, a stew or soup made from kernels of corn which have been soaked in lime and hulled, cooked with pork or beef and seasoned with chili and other spices
Pure dead brilliant – Slang, exceptionally good.
Rickle a bones – Slang, very thin or skinny
Roamin’ in the gloamin’ – Scots, a walk in the evening
Sassanach – Gaelic, Saxons, the English, usually used as a swear word.
Saor Alba – Gaelic, Free Scotland
Sileas – Gaelic, (Shee-lus) – Cecelia
Skleping – Slang, a thrashing
Snaps – Slang, photographs
Stramash – Gaelic, a disturbance, racket or crash
Tha gaol agam ort – (Ha gool akam orsht) - Gaelic, I love you
Tha mo gaol gu bràth – Gaelic, My love is forever
Thole – Scots, put up with, endure
Vigas – Spanish, large wooden beams in the ceiling, in traditional southwestern adobe, or mud brick, structures, they helped to hold up the roof. These days they are usually ornamental.
Wabbit – Slang, tired, worn out
Wellingtons or wellies – high rubber boots often used on farms
Wheesht – Scots, quiet
You look like death on a pirn stick – Slang, You don’t look too well
Table of Contents
Title page
Praise for Land of My Dreams
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Chapter One: Goodbyes
Chapter Two: A New Beginning
Chapter Three: Kieran
Chapter Four: Changes
Chapter Five: Edinburgh
Chapter Six: Kari and Dan
Chapter Seven: Views of Loch Linnhe
Chapter Eight: Thoughts of Home
Chapter Nine: The Farm and Other Things
Chapter Ten: Of Trout and Rainbows
Chapter Eleven: Differences
Chapter Twelve: A Night to Remember
Chapter Thirteen: Faith and Emotions
Chapter Fourteen: Anything But That
Chapter Fifteen: Confessions
Chapter Sixteen: The Nightmare
Chapter Seventeen: Love and Thanksgiving
Chapter Eighteen: Stonehaven Farm
Chapter Nineteen: Conversations, Revelations, and Struggles
Chapter Twenty: Preparations and Dilemmas
Chapter Twenty-one: Beauly
Chapter Twenty-two: Argument and Opportunity
Chapter Twenty-three: Nollaig Chridheil
Chapter Twenty-four: Challenges and Surprises
Chapter Twenty-five: Into the Depths
Chapter Twenty-six: Alone Again
Chapter Twenty-seven: Blackness
Chapter Twenty-eight: The Accident
Chapter Twenty-nine: Re-enter Adam
Chapter Thirty: Crisis
Chapter Thirty-one: The Rivals
Chapter Thirty-two: The Choice
Chapter Thirty-three: Longing
Chapter Thirty-four: My Heart’s Home
Chapter Thirty-five: Right Perspective
Chapter Thirty-six: God’s Perfect Time
Chapter Thirty-seven: Fear
Chapter Thirty-eight: Golden Bands
Discussion Questions
Glossary
