Page 70 of Awakened By Time

Chapter 20

The women were gatheredin Jenna’s chamber. The bairns were sleeping and it was a perfect time to get together for tea, sweet cakes and a little gossip.

“Laird Munro and his men are long gone now,” Ashley said.

“Robert sent some of his best men to escort them,” Irene added.

“I’m worried he’ll be back,” Brenna said, chewing on her lip.

“’Tis possible. I dinnae believe he’d present himself at the castle. He’d more likely sneak in,” Irene said.

Brenna couldn’t help it, but she shuddered at this prospect.

“I’m sorry Brenna, I dinnae mean to frighten ye.” Irene reached out to touch her hand. “But ’tis best to be aware of all that could occur.”

“How long will this go on for? Me Da was a fool to make an agreement with him if he didnae intend to follow through with it.”

“You’re here with us now,” Jenna said.

“Aye. Dougall willnae allow anything to happen to ye,” Helene assured her.

“I ken it,” Brenna said. This wasn’t what she wished to speak of today. “I hope ye dinnae mind if we speak of something else. All this talk of Nevil Munro doesnae sit well with me. I was hoping that ye might tell me what ’tis like to live in the future.” She directed this last statement to Ashley.

“We’d love to,” Ashley said. She got up to check on the bairns, who were still sleeping soundly and then returned to her seat. “What do you want to know?”

“If the future is such a wonderful place, why did ye wish to stay here?”

“It is a wonderful place, but our husbands are here and Jenna and I gained a family when we came. We’ve got Irene, Helene, our husbands and now our children. I can’t speak for Jenna, but I know I’m the happiest I’ve ever been, but if you took away all those people and I was here alone, I don’t think I would have stayed.”

“I’d have to agree with Ashley. Love, family - those are the most important things in our lives,” Jenna said.

“In the future, this whole thing between your father and Laird Munro, would be handled completely differently. Most importantly, you’d have a say in what was going to happen to you. You would be your own woman. Independent and able to take care of yourself. You wouldn’t need a man, unless you wanted one.”

“You could even live by yourself if you wanted to,” Sara chimed in. “Like I did.”

“You lived alone?” Brenna was shocked by this announcement. She simply couldn’t imagine living all by herself without a castle full of people. “Were ye afraid?”

“No. Not at all.” Sara looked around at the other women for support.

“Jenna and I both lived on our own. It’s not at all uncommon where we’re from. Women have friends and careers. They don’t feel the need to get married right away.”

“Explain what a career is,” Helene suggested.

“A career is the work you do. You know, if you want to be a doctor, or a lawyer or business owner. People go to school and learn all they can about their chosen profession.”

“A woman can do any of those things?” Brenna was amazed. “I think I’d like it there. I’d like to beindependent,as you call it.”

“Well, if you lived there, you could be,” Jenna said.

“The clothing that women wear is verra different, too.” Helene poured herself more tea. “Would anyone else like some?”

“I would,” Irene said.

“Me, too.” Ashley raised her hand.

“This might be the only thing I’d miss about this time,” Brenna said.

“Surely there’d be other things you’d miss as well,” Jenna said.