I stifled a laugh. My suspicion that Batu was constantly being yelled at by someone in his family seemed to be correct. I already knew how fierce his great grandmother was and was pleased to see she'd lost none of her edge. I didn't know why I was so happy to see her, unless it was because of how little I connected to this time. She was a small anchor, one of the first people I met when I landed in a crater.
She was also a reminder of what Carter had done to me, of how Taylor's people had found me in her tent and forced me into the future a few decades.
I really didn't know what to think sometimes.
Not wanting to draw the wrath of the hundred-year-old dynamite of a woman, I trailed her as she walked slowly with the help of a boy around the age of thirteen or so.
Batu soon joined us and swept his great grandmother off her feet to carry her. I heard her grumble at him, and he ignored her.
It was hard for me to come to grips with the idea they had families, love, and somewhat normal lives when I also knew the boys and men around us were headed to war. The duality of this world stumped me, despite witnessing how Batu balanced being dedicated and lethal.
I followed them into a large white ger that appeared to be the same I had stayed in for a night seventy years ago. Pausing in the entrance, I looked around, a little unnerved at being once again where Taylor's people had grabbed me. I didn't see the massive, cloaked and masked figure who threatened to kill me last time I was here. I wanted to think he was dead by now.
But I knew better. He had been in the Old West with me and again in the tent of Ghoajin. He was a time traveler with his own mission, one I wasn't able to identify by his random interference.
"Moonbeam." Ghoajin had seated herself by the fire. She waved for me to join her.
I did so and slid into the space between her and Batu. Family members began scurrying into and out of the tent, laying out food for a large feast around the fire. I turned to speak to Ghoajin only to find the elderly woman nodding off. Taking pity on her, I glanced at Batu.
His eyes were on a woman across the tent, one who was staring back at him briefly until she noticed I was looking at her, too. Young and pretty, I sensed there was or had been something between them.