Ivy sped up as fast as the tug on her tummy allowed. “Momma!”
“Ivy. Oh Ivy. My baby. I’ve finally been reunited with my babies.” She embraced Wisteria. Even from the distance Ivy saw how tightly her arms squeezed Wisty.
It was really going to hurt.
Ivy stepped into her mom’s arms, sticking her butt out a little, avoiding contact between their bellies. “How did you find us, Momma?” she asked while her mom drenched her face in kisses.
She grabbed Ivy’s cheeks. “Your father hasn’t been home to stop me, and Shale had no choice but to let me go.”
Wisteria glanced over her mom’s shoulder. “Where is he? Is he here?”
“No, I came alone. I figured the barbaric killers would kill any man who wandered into their territory. If they had any sense of decency they wouldn’t harm an unarmed woman, though.”
“Momma, they’re kind people,” Wisteria said. “They’ve taken good care of me and Ivy.”
“They better have.” She held both girls at an arm’s length and glanced toward the fire. “Now where’s this man who took my daughter captive?”
Wisteria pointed at Vulcan, where he stood near the fire pit. “He’s right there. His name is Vulcan, Momma, and I love him. Be nice.”
She backed away from Ivy and Wisteria and stomped toward Vulcan. Wisteria was able to keep her pace but Ivy lagged behind.
Her mom stopped directly in front of him, fisting her hands on her hips. The top of her head barely reached his breastbone. She said not a word as she stared. Then she raised her hand and smacked him across the face. His head barely jerked but his teeth clamped together and his jaw twitched.
Wisteria gasped and cupped her mouth. Ivy cringed.
“That is for the pain and heartache you’ve caused this old woman,” Momma scolded.
While he stared into her eyes as if deciding the best way to handle her, she wound her arms around his waist and hugged him soundly. “And that’s for saving my baby from Sledge.”
Ivy glanced at Wisteria, who looked appalled, and didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Did she suspect Vulcan would discipline their mom for her actions? Would he smack her back because of the do unto others rule? Gosh, Ivy hoped not.
He nodded once. “I’m sorry, ma’am, and, you’re welcome.”
Wisteria’s shoulders slouched and Ivy smiled.
“Vulcan,” Wisteria said, taking hold of his hand, “this is my mother Nodda.”
“Yeah, we just met.”
“And, Momma,” Ivy added, stepping beside Bronto, who’d taken a stance when her momma’s hand introduced itself to Vulcan’s cheek, “this is Bronto.”
Her mom looked at Ivy then at Bronto before she stepped forward and examined him closely, starting with his feet. Of all the days he hadn’t worn his furs.
“You,” her momma said when her gaze reached his eyes. “What are you to my daughter?”
He glanced at Ivy, either visually asking for permission to tell the truth or seeking help. She feigned a smile and wrapped her arms around his tummy and back. It at least put a barrier between him and her mom in case she decided to whack him too. “We love one another, Momma,” she replied.
She raised her nose at Ivy, snubbing her. “Is this true?” she asked Bronto directly.
“Yes, Nodda. Ivy speaks the truth. I love your daughter.”
“You treat her well,” she warned, shaking her finger. Then she turned toward Vulcan. “And you too. These are my remaining girls. If you hurt them you will answer to me.” She waved her hand as if to dismiss them. “Your barbarian ways don’t scare me.”
Sure they don’t, Momma. Ivy giggled. She was the woman who impressed fears of the Barbarians into Ivy and Wisteria every chance she could. She’d told them stories about how the barbaric tribe ripped people’s hearts out with their bare hands or burned them alive. Momma, Momma.
“Where will I sleep?” Nodda asked.
Ivy’s mouth dropped. She glanced at Wisteria and snapped it shut. “You’re staying here?”
“Yes. Your father can worry when he returns home to find me gone. It’ll serve him right.”
Tears filled Ivy’s eyes. She interlocked her fingers through Bronto’s and tugged him toward the fire, bypassing her mom. She and Wisty needed to tell her about her husband’s demise, but how? How could they explain she’d never see him again? And they needed to do it soon.
Ivy’s tummy soured. Her mom was the last person she ever wanted to hurt.
As Ivy neared the fire pit she caught a glimpse of Grunt ambling past the huts. She did a double take. Jade was trapped in front of his body by an arm folded around her neck and her eyes bulged as if she were in pain.
“Bronto, Grunt has Jade,” Ivy blurted.
He whipped around and ran but Rocko was already ahead of him.
“Let her go,” Rocko shouted, coming to a halt. He then held up his hands and walked backward as Grunt moved forward. “Bronto, Zypher, Vulcan,” Rocko shouted. “Get over here.”