Authors have an entire group of warriors at their backs, and I’m no exception. Without my warriors, this book would never have made it to print. Special thanks to my critique group: Ellie Whitney, Traci Abramson, and Kyla Beecroft. To James, my Scottish connection whose videos during COVID-19 lent authenticity to a scene or two that I had not traversed. Emily Clark, thank you for those writing sprints. To my beta readers: Ellie Whitney, Emily Flynn, and Cassie Shiels. To Steve Cook and Amy Parker, my English friends who updated my British expressions. To my street team, you guys are unsung heroes. Thank you so much for getting the word out.

To my sweetheart, Ladd, who always encourages me, is available when I need to talk through an idea, and tolerates my preoccupation when I’m chasing a deadline. To my children, Angela, David, Carrie, Ashley, and Shawn: you keep me grounded and remind me that real life exists outside my office. To my grandchildren, Connor, Nathanael, Hiram, Evie, Braden, Crew, Mariah, Cohen, Brighton, Jasmin, Zoey, Peyton, Emma, Hayden, Olive, James, and Finn: you bring so much joy to my life. I love you to pieces.

To my editor, Ashley Gebert, who’s always there when I need her, puts up with my electronic issues, and makes my manuscripts shine. To Amy Parker, publicist and marketing extraordinaire—girl, you live too far away! To Christina Marcano, my graphic designer, thank you for the amazing cover. To all the rest of the Covenant family, thank you for the opportunity to do what I love best. To my readers, you make this writing life so worthwhile. Most importantly, thank you to my Heavenly Father and my Savior, Jesus Christ, for opening such amazing doors and bestowing the gift and inspiration to write in the first place.

Scottish Vocabulary Words in Facing the Enemy

AGA: high-end country oven-cooker combo

Anorak: hooded jacket long enough to cover the hips

Aye: yes

Bairn: baby, child

Bampot: mad idiot

Bits and bobs: things or objects of different kinds

Blethering: long-winded, not talking sense

Bonnet: hood of a car

Boot: car trunk

Burn(s): stream or creek

Close: a small narrow alleyway for pedestrians

Codswallop: nonsense

Cracking: excellent

Dirk: small knife

Dreich: dull or gloomy—referring to the famous Scottish weather

Feartie cat eedjit: scaredy-cat idiot

Ghillie: term for a man or boy who acts as an attendant on a fishing, hunting, or deer-stalking expedition

Glaikit: crazy, off your head

HM: His (or Her) Majesty’s

IRN-BRU: Scottish carbonated soft drink

Jumper: sweater

Keen: very enthusiastic

Kirk: church

Laybys: roadway turnouts, pullovers

Let: to rent

Let the car tick over: let the car idle

Lorry: truck, box truck

Och: general interjection of confirmation, affirmation, and often disapproval

Pure barry: great, brilliant, wonderful, nice, or fantastic

Pure dead brilliant: very good

Sgian dubh: small knife worn as part of traditional Scottish Highland dress

Slip road: exit or merging lane

Sorted: get it together, organized

Spanner: wrench