Call of the Canyon

by Nancy Pennick

  To top it off, Ty was now a model. He was discovered by a player’s mother during an Eastern Conference basketball game. Tyson spent most of his winter weekends in New York City and Erin tagged along a few times. That’s where they got their new looks. Erin was a brunette with blonde highlights, but now sported the total blonde look. She was much slimmer, not that she needed to lose weight.

  Yuk! I need to stop looking at them! Kate was disgusted with herself because she was so preoccupied with them. She stared straight ahead, wishing the game would start. The sooner it began, the sooner she could go home.

  * * * *

  Kate’s dad planned Drew’s first trip back in time for spring break. They would be gone awhile, taking the train from the Grand Canyon to New York City and back. Kate knew they would visit their families while in New York, too. Her father never talked about his, but now that Drew was here, maybe he could find out something. Kate’s mom, Joanna, would not share any information, saying it was up to her dad to tell Kate what he wanted her to know. She longed to go with them, meet her grandparents and future in-laws but everyone agreed it was best if she waited till summer, just like the first time she traveled to the canyon.

  When the day came for them to leave, Kate was beside herself. She was concerned something would happen and she’d never see them again.

  “Katie.” Her father put his arms around her. “Do you trust your old dad? I’ve done this for quite awhile.”

  Kate nodded through her tears. “Be safe. And don’t forget, I want to be called Kate.”

  “Oh, so you can cry and tell me off at the same time.” He laughed and slipped his arm around her, pulling her close. “We’ll be back before you know it.”

  Spring break went by slowly. It seemed like years since the two men left. Kate tried to keep occupied and always had Anna to talk to when she felt alone. Although Anna was one hundred years old, she was Kate’s best friend. They met at the boardinghouse in 1927 and through a surprising chain of events, found each other last year. Anna turned out to be Lindsey’s great-grandmother, living on a ranch in Arizona with Lindsey’s extended family. It still overwhelmed Kate whenever she thought about the day she discovered Anna was still alive.

  Kate slid into her favorite overstuffed yellow chair and grabbed her cell from her pocket to call her. They had so much to discuss and Kate needed Anna’s help.

  “Kathryn! So good to hear from you. How is Andrew? Is he adjusting to his new life?” Kate always loved to hear Anna call her Kathryn. That was her name at the canyon and it always brought back good memories.

  “Well, let’s just say he’s very good at American History. Our teacher, Coach Dallas, loves him and calls him the expert on World War One. He doesn’t know Andrew lived through it. I know he was a small boy but it was a big part of his life. That’s all he heard the adults discussing. Poor Drew called it the Great War and The War to end Wars not knowing there was a World War Two until we told him. At least this course will fill him in on the history he missed out on, although I hear Coach never makes it past the Vietnam War era.”

  “How did Andrew take it? Finding out about the other wars?” Anna was solemn.

  “He was a little shocked at first but he’s a student of history and wasn’t surprised. You still haven’t seen him in person. I need to get the family to Arizona.”

  “I have a good idea, Kathryn. Let’s celebrate your birthday here!” Anna sounded so excited.

  It could work. Kate turned seventeen the beginning of June, right after school was out. Her family, especially her father, wanted to return to Arizona and the Grand Canyon.

  “I love it!” Kate then hesitated. “It’s not fair to Lindsey. She’s your great-granddaughter and you should plan her birthday, not mine.”

  “I already thought about that. Lindsey’s birthday is in March but every summer we have a small party for her. This time we’ll include you and do it up bigger.”

  “Then I’ll be happy to celebrate with you and Lindsey and our families this summer.” Kate felt like she had something to keep her busy until Drew and her father returned home.

  As the conversation ended, Kate heard a knock on her door. “Katie, is it alright if I come in?”

  “Sure, Mom, I was just talking with Anna and she wants us to come out for my birthday in June. We have to start making plans.”

  “Sounds fun. I’m sure your father will be thrilled with the news. We can go shopping for what we need while the boys are gone. That should keep you busy.” It was like her mother was a mind reader. She smiled and sat cross-legged on the bed across from her daughter. “While I have you alone...there’s something I want to talk about.”

  “Wow, this sounds serious.” Kate sat forward in her chair.

  “Drew’s been here for almost five months now and it’s none of my business but...” Joanna searched for the right words. “We need to have the safe sex talk...again.” She blurted it out, getting right to the point.

  “Oh. My. Gosh. Mom. You didn’t just say that, did you?” Kate giggled. “We talked long ago.”

  “I know but I want to talk again. We could make a doctor appointment and start you on the pill if you’d like.”

  “Let me stop you right there. We don’t need to do that. Drew and I aren’t having sex.”

  “That’s what your father said.” Her mother seemed relieved.

  “Not that I wouldn’t like to...” Kate hid her face.

  “What?”

  “It’s just that Drew’s so old-fashioned. He grew up in a strict household even though it was the Roaring Twenties. His parents instilled all these straight-laced values in him. We’ve had this argument already. I don’t want to talk about it.” Kate crossed her arms in front of her.

  “Seems like you want to talk about it.” Her mom gave her a knowing look.

  “You asked for it.” Kate waved her finger at her. “Here goes. Drew told me he planned to ask me to marry him back at the canyon. He was turning eighteen in January, graduating and would be out on his own. He knew I was too young, even back then, but still wanted to get engaged and wait until I graduated. Well, that never happened because he ended up here. So, no matter the decade, he decided he was still going to propose...and he did after his birthday. He realized it was too soon to ask someone to commit themselves to marriage but wanted to keep his promise. He’s shocked people wait so long to get married these days.”

  Her mom laughed. “Things have changed since his time. Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt, go on.”

  “I’ve been trying to explain people sleep together, even though they have no plans of getting married and tried to convince him we would get married one day, so what’s the harm? He won’t hear of it and refuses to discuss it. ‘We can wait until we’re married’ is his answer. That’s a long time, Mom!”

  “Yes, it is, but if that’s how he feels, you have to respect it.” Joanna smiled at Kate. “I kinda like it...very romantic.”

  “Yeah, that’s what’s frustrating about him!” Kate hit her forehead. “I’m willing to get married after college, but not before. I love him, but refuse to be a teenage bride. So I reluctantly agreed to his terms.”

  “Well, sweetie, there isn’t much left to say. You two seemed to have worked it out.” Her mom got up and stretched. “I’ll leave you alone now. I love you.”

  “Love you, too.”

  * * * *

  On the last morning of spring break, Kate heard a familiar voice.

  “Kate! We’re back!”

  She flew out of bed, opened her door and ran into Drew’s arms. She pulled him into her bedroom and pushed him on the bed, then bounced next to him. “Ooh, you smell so good. I missed you.” She rolled over on her side and Drew grabbed her, brushing his lips against hers.

  “Your bed is so warm. It feels good. It feels like you,” he whispered. Then he sat up. “I got you something.”

  “You did? I didn’t expect anything.” Kate was a little surprised but that was Drew, ever thoughtful.r />
  “Here, see if you like this.” Drew handed her a tiny box.

  Kate’s heart pounded and her throat closed up. Oh no, he’s bought me an engagement ring. I can’t accept it, not yet. Maybe he’ll let me put it away for awhile, at least until college.

  Her hand shook as she lifted the top of the box. Inside was a shiny gold charm. “Oh,” she gasped. “This is beautiful! You’re adding to my bracelet.”

  She grabbed the bracelet Drew gave her off the nightstand. The first two charms on it were a moon and a star because he was her moon and he wanted to give her the stars. She took the tiny charm out of the slot. It was a golden horse.

  “Flicka.” Kate could barely breathe. Andrew heard all the times she mentioned missing the horse.

  “Yes, it’s Flicka. Do you like it?” He looked unsure.

  “Like it? I love it!” Kate flung her arms around him. “Now I need another one, for your horse.” Kate grew quiet. “Drew, you never told me the name of your horse.”

  He laughed as if embarrassed. “Well, I named him when I was fourteen and it’s kind of corny.”

  “Tell me!” Kate jumped on his lap.

  “Canyon.” Drew covered his face with his hand.

  “I could see a fourteen-year-old boy naming his horse after a place he loved.” Kate uncovered his face. “I need Canyon for my bracelet.” Then she kissed him, for a very long time.

  Chapter Three

  Kate waited impatiently for everyone to come downstairs. Their flight to Arizona left in three hours and she didn’t want to miss it. Drew was coming to the airport with Lindsey’s family. She wanted to be there to greet him. Her parents came into the kitchen, dragging the luggage.

  “Finally! I want to get to the airport and see Drew’s reaction to everything! This is his first plane ride.” Kate was so excited. She could tell her father was just as excited to get going.

  “We’re ready, let’s go!” He grabbed the car keys.

  Kate kept in touch with Drew by phone. “I wish you’d let us pick you up. I want to be the one to introduce you to everything,” She knew it sounded childish but couldn’t help it.

  “I can’t disappoint Jake. He really wanted me to go with them. He reminds me of my brother, Kate, you know that.”

  Jake was ten and Drew’s brother would soon be turning twelve. Kate knew it was hard for him to be separated from his brother even though he loved Jake and Lindsey like siblings.

  “Are you nervous?”

  “A little, but I think I’m more excited. I can’t wait to see Anna and hear all about Daniel. Also, didn’t you say something about a Thomas the third?”

  “Yes, there’s another Thomas.” Kate met him at Anna’s 100th birthday party last year. He told Kate his grandfather’s story.

  Thomas Cook Sr. had been Drew’s best friend at the canyon. His job was the head cook at El Tovar restaurant, the place where Kate worked when she was at the canyon. Kate met Cook the first day and felt an immediate connection to him. Now, she knew why. He was Drew’s best friend.

  Thomas was African-American and had to fight a little harder for what he wanted to do in life. Drew was in his corner and offered to help him any way he could, but Thomas insisted on doing it on his own. His goal was to be a park ranger, which finally happened after he served in World War Two. Drew was happy to hear Thomas had become a ranger and was proud of his friend

  “I’m sure we can arrange to meet with Thomas, but try to hold back. Don’t grab and hug him like I did!” Kate teased. “He looks so much like your Thomas you’ll think it’s him. Remember Thomas has a great-grandson, too. His name is Dante.”

  “Right. Thomas decided to break tradition and named the next generation Dante,” Drew laughed. “Hey, we’re almost at the airport! Pulling in now.”

  “Meet in the long term parking lot. Don’t go in without me,” Kate reminded him. “Tell me what floor you’re on and where you’re parking.”

  The families met up and walked into the airport together. After checking their bags, they stood in line for the security check, reminding Drew of all the do’s and don’ts. He still didn’t quite grasp the concept of why he had to take off his shoes. When they finally made it through the line, Kate could tell Drew was able to calm down and look around. He went directly to the large windows where planes could be spotted taking off and coming in. Jake was right next to him. Drew was like a little kid with his nose pressed up to the glass. Kate let him have his moment.

  Lindsey and Kate sat down at the gate to catch up.

  “Your Grandma J is the best, Lindsey.”

  “She’d be screaming right now if she heard you call her Grandma J.” Lindsey chuckled. “She considers you a peer, even though she’s like a gazillion years older!”

  Lindsey was the only friend who knew the whole truth. She’d been in the loop from the beginning. They’d analyzed Kate’s dreams together and then, eerily at first, began to believe it was real. When Kate found out the truth, she shared with Lindsey and only Lindsey. Then, with their visit to Circle J ranch last fall, Kate found out their families were related through marriage. Kate’s great-great aunt was Lucinda Hasting. Her daughter Amy married Anna’s son, Dan. That made them all cousins. They’d made a family tree to help understand it, but in the end, agreed to say they were all just related. Lindsey and Kate were already best friends and learning they were cousins made it better.

  “Excited to see Charlie?” Kate looked at Lindsey.

  “I told you we’re just friends, Kates. He’s going away to college this fall with our cousin, Brandon, remember?” Lindsey pretended to be disgusted, but Kate could tell she really wasn’t.

  “You have the whole summer ahead of you. You can decide if you’re going to be friends or more than that. You know what I think.”

  “That we’re soul mates. I have found my destiny, blah, blah, blah.” Lindsey rolled her eyes. “Not everyone’s like you, believing in dreams and fairytales.” Now it was Kate’s turn to pout. “Aww, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. You know I’m more realistic than you are.”

  “Realistic, my...” Kate stopped. Jake and Drew were coming toward them. “Well, you know what I mean. I needed you and wouldn’t have made it without you.”

  Lindsey and Kate did their ‘sisters till the end’ handshake while the two boys shook their heads.

  The flights and changing planes went well and the families arrived in Flagstaff to a large delegation of the Jenkins family. They were shouting and waving like usual.

  “Get used to it.” Kate told Drew as she squeezed his hand.

  After all the introductions, hugs and high-fives, everyone settled into the caravan of jeeps, trucks, and SUVs, driving off to the ranch.

  “Drew, I know you’ve been at the ranch many times, but the house is different now. They tore it down and rebuilt sometime in the sixties. Anna said they needed more room if her son Dan and his wife Amy were going to have more kids. Sadly, they moved away shortly after the new home was completed.” Kate wasn’t sure if she had told him.

  “Yeah, that’s a little sad. I’ll still recognize the lay of the land, I’m sure. I’m glad Anna has her family with her now.”

  “All the grandchildren are back, except Aunt Beth. Aunt Sue and her children live in the main house with Dan and Anna. Dan’s twin boys, Steve and Scott, built homes on adjacent property. Beth has a piece of land.”

  “From the way Lindsey tells it, it’s hers.” Drew threw his head back and laughed. “She wants to steal the land right out from under her mom.”

  “Her mom won’t mind. She likes Ohio better...for some reason.” Kate shrugged. “Hey, look. We’re here already.”

  The first thing Kate longed to do when they got to the house was run back to see Anna. She wanted to see her alone with Drew and hoped the others didn’t mind. Maybe Anna had already expressed her wishes, because when they parked, Aunt Sue jumped out of the car, opened the door and said to Kate, “You know the way!”

  “Anna!”
Kate turned to the right when she got to the kitchen and headed down the small hallway.

  “Kathryn? Is that you?” Anna came to the door of her little studio apartment. She used her cane to move more quickly. Her tiny hand shook as she raised it to her face. “Andrew, Lord have mercy, it’s you.” She stretched out her arms and embraced him.

  Tears rolled down both Drew and Anna’s faces. They looked at each other for a long time.

  “You haven’t changed a bit.” He told her.

  “And you’re full of bullshit, but I love it.” Anna patted Drew’s chest. “Come on in and sit down. I’m so glad you’re finally here.”

  Anna and Kate sat on the loveseat and Drew sat in a chair next to them.

  “I’ll let you two catch up. If you don’t mind, Anna?” He pointed to her photos on a shelf.

  Kate noticed something caught his eye as he went over to a shelf full of pictures. He reached for one of Daniel as a young man, standing with his horse, reins in hand. She watched him move on to Anna and Daniel’s wedding and then a baby picture of Daniel Jr. The next was Dan Jr. and Amy’s wedding. They were a timeline of Anna’s life.

  “I don’t have to catch you up on much now, do I? Pictures say it all.” Anna grinned. “I’m so glad you’re alive, Andrew. When Daniel and I heard the news about your accident we were beside ourselves. It took a long time to get over your death. We tried to talk Thomas into coming here and work on the ranch, but he said he made you a promise. He wouldn’t give up trying to become a ranger. You helped him get over his fear of heights. Did you know that? He gave you so much credit for what he learned at the canyon. He blamed himself for a very long time for your passing.”