Abby raised hers and tried to copy her actions. “Maybe I’ve been given a bow that is supposed to be used by a male?”
Gwen chuckled. “You haven’t. Now keep trying.”
I am she wanted to scream. Instead, with all her might, she pulled hard on the string and let it go. It worked that time. Now all she had to manage was placing an arrow in there and firing it off toward the target. Easy. Yeah, right.
During the past week, Gwen had been showing her all different types of activities that she would have to attempt with the ladies who were to visit for the games. Today’s lesson on archery wasn’t a favorite.
Nor was yesterday’s when she’d had to learn the basics of stitching. The whole castle now knew never to ask her to fix a garment. Abby shook her head at the irrationality of it all, and most of all, how silly it was that she’d been upset at not being able to do the basic chores that were expected of these women.
She was all for women’s liberation, but to know how to sew, even a hem, would be a handy ability, even in her own time. She couldn’t even stitch in a straight line. It was easy to say she wouldn’t win that competition.
“Right, now let’s add an arrow and see how ye go.”
Abby grabbed one from the small leather satchel at her feet and placed it against the bow, threading the nock into the string. She pulled back as far as she could, trying to keep the arrow against the bow and not veering off into the air.
“Use your fingers to guide the arrow and keep it in its correct position before firing. Now look at the bullseye and let go.”
She concentrated on her mark, pulled back, and set the arrow free. It flew through the air and landed a few meters in front of her. “I suck at this. Tell me again why I have to learn archery? Can’t I just hand the ladies a bow?”
Gwen chuckled. “It’ll be fun. And think, no one else in your time can say they took part in a Highland Games in the seventeenth century.”
“That’s true.” Abby grabbed another arrow and tried again. She managed a little farther than the last time, but still she didn’t seem to have the knack for the sport. At this point in time, she didn’t seem to have a knack for much at all. If only they could see what a whizz she was in front of a computer, or how fast she could text. Now there she had skill.
“Will your brother really choose a wife based on how well she does with these different activities? In my time, women do everything that a man can do. There are no limits to our greatness.”
Gwen laughed and turned to look at her. “What do you mean?”
“I mean we do all sorts of things.” Abby lowered her arrow and turned to face Gwen. “Most women will marry for love, not for stature or to increase a family’s connections, although, you know, there are always some who still do that. But most women want someone who’s kind, understanding, supportive, and compassionate, inside the bedroom and out.”
“That’s a lot of qualities.” Gwen grabbed her flask of water and took a sip, holding it out to offer her some.
Abby shook her head, not thirsty at the moment. “I suppose it is, but why would you saddle yourself with someone you don’t know or can’t stand? Women are independent in my time. We work to earn money. We can be anything we want, be it a doctor, lawyer, farmer, or horse wrangler.”
“Your era sounds so wonderful. I’m glad with the passing of time it’s changed for women.”
A sense of pride overwhelmed Abby at Gwen’s words. It was good that women were closer to being equals, no longer a commodity to be bartered with between men. Even so, they still had a long way to go with some things.
Gwen fired an arrow, and it pierced the bullseye on the tree. “I wish Aedan would choose a wife in such a way, but he won’t. Both of our parents are dead, but it wasn’t until after father died that he changed. He used to be so carefree—he loved life and had made the most of every day. I’m not sure why he changed, but he became so serious. It was like overnight he changed into someone even I, sometimes, cannot recognize.”