Call of the Canyon

by Nancy Pennick

  Although Kate knew it was inevitable, she didn’t want to go back to the present. Things were too perfect in 1927. I’ll enjoy every last moment. I told Anna I would make a great memory for all of us. Anna! It was Kate’s catalyst to get back. Her friend was still there, over eighty years later.

  “A penny for your thoughts.” Drew joined her on the sofa when he returned. “Or it should be more like a dollar in your world.” He held up a bottle of wine like it was his prize possession.

  “I was thinking about Anna. We have her in this world and in the present, too. What a gift she is. I promised to make this weekend special, something she would remember. I hope we did that for her, Drew.”

  “Anna’s a special woman. We’re lucky to have her as a friend.” He gave Kate a quick squeeze. “Dinner’s ready, Mrs. Martin.”

  “As usual, I don’t know how you did that.” Kate stared him down.

  “I have my ways.” He gave her a goofy grin.

  After dinner, Kate and Drew got ready for the trip home. They walked to the barn and saddled up Canyon. Drew would leave the horse at the boardinghouse and Thomas would come for him.

  Everyone at the canyon assumed the couple was going back to school for the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. That holiday would be the last time Kate would return to the canyon with Drew. It made her a little sad. Drew insisted they could come for the whole weekend and stay without being seen. Kate knew better and didn’t want to take any chances. She didn’t want the Thanksgiving holiday series of events to ever play out again. She planned on having Drew return to the present Thanksgiving night. She didn’t want him anywhere near the canyon on the day he died.

  Drew helped Kate settle in her room at the boardinghouse and then went upstairs to one of the guest rooms. She wrapped her arms around the magical book, as she had come to call it. The first time her mother gave her the book to read, she told Kate it was historical romantic fiction. It was more than that now, it was Kate’s life.

  Chapter Twelve

  Time travel could confuse the mind, but Kate was accustomed to it. She knew it was still Sunday in the present and she had a day to recover before she returned to school. Hugging her pillow, she reminisced about the weekend and filed away every memory she could store in her brain, not wanting to forget a single detail.

  Kate reached for her phone, checked the time and pressed the button for Anna’s number. Her hand shook with excitement. She couldn’t wait to hear what Anna had to say. The phone was answered on the first ring.

  “Kathryn, I’m so glad you called.” Anna’s voice sounded just like the young Anna Kate saw this weekend.

  “So, what do you remember? Do you have memories?” Kate could hardly contain herself.

  “Mmm, I don’t know.” Anna hesitated.

  “That’s okay. It was worth a try. I hoped...”

  Anna cut Kate off in mid-sentence. “I was just teasing. Now you’re making me feel bad.”

  “Then tell me everything you remember and don’t leave anything out.”

  “Oh, Kathryn, I woke up this morning with memories so clear and fresh it was like they just happened.” Anna giggled. “I guess they really did, didn’t they? I loved the bridesmaid dresses. Your mother looked so young and beautiful. Jackson was beaming. I didn’t know why at the time. He was your father! Daniel and I danced the night away with you and Andrew by our sides. Lucinda was pouting in a corner most of the night.”

  “Well, she really wasn’t pouting. She didn’t feel well.” Kate defended her aunt. “That was the night she discovered she was pregnant.”

  “Oh, that makes sense. They left early, if I remember correctly. Lucinda did a beautiful job on the decorations, too. So now that you’ve made love, is it all you wanted it to be?”

  “Anna! I can’t believe you’re asking me that. Yes, it was wonderful. Drew is amazing and I love him so much.”

  “Good to hear. You made beautiful memories for everyone. You’re a special girl...woman.”

  “Thank you, so are you.” Kate began to tear up. “I had to say good-bye to Lucinda for the final time although she didn’t know it. She’s planning a huge Christmas party and insisted Drew and I be there. Anna, try and be there for her.” Kate put her hand to her forehead. “What am I saying? This already happened.”

  “We know Lucinda will be fine, Kathryn. You have to believe that.” Anna sounded like she was trying to smooth things over. “Lucinda always presented a very confident, strong front to the world, but we both know she was a sensitive soul. Throw in a little stubbornness and that was Lucinda. Nothing could keep her down for long. She’s a survivor.”

  “You knew her quite well. I just wish you two could have repaired your friendship. It still makes me sad.”

  “Don’t be. Remember I had Daniel to worry about. Andrew’s death hit him pretty hard. I had to take care of him. I felt Lucinda moved on with her life and I wasn’t part of it.” Anna was quiet for a moment. “Oh, one more thing, I caught the bouquet!”

  “Yes, you did. I’m so glad you remember. I hope the memories lived up to your expectations.”

  “Any memories with you are great ones. Don’t ever forget that. We could be sitting in a pile of mud.” Anna laughed and Kate joined in. “On that note, I will say good-bye until next time.”

  “I have to study for a test, anyway.” Kate thought it sounded immature after the weekend she just had.

  She lay back on her bed, thinking about her Aunt Lucinda. Anna didn’t give her any information about the biggest, best Christmas party in all of Arizona. Maybe it never happened. Tears filled Kate’s eyes as she suddenly realized she hurt her aunt most of all. She left without leaving a message and never returned. It explains why Lucinda was so tied to the ranch and never left to visit the family in Chicago. The ranch was her refuge and would never betray her as her friends had. She remained loyal to it. People could hurt her, the ranch would not.

  Kate pounded her fists into the mattress. She wished she could make things better. She had tried her best at breakfast to make sure Lucinda knew how much she loved her but it wasn’t enough. Kate was able to make amends with Anna because she found her alive and well in the present but couldn’t do the same with Lucinda. If only there was a way to make it up to her. Kate knew she was fooling herself. There was no way.

  Then she had a brilliant idea...maybe she could call her cousins, Retta and Lucy, and see if they have any recollections of the time their mother and Kathryn spent together. It was a long shot, but the only link to the past she could think of.

  * * * *

  Kate’s hand trembled as she dialed the phone. The only time she called the Hasting ranch was to invite her cousins to her seventeenth birthday party. What would she say to them? Tell me everything you know about your mother and Kathryn’s relationship? How much did your mother hate Kathryn for disappearing and never being there for her again? Kate’s head spun as she tried to piece together what she would say. If Henrietta answered the phone, would it be more difficult to ask her than Lucy? Or the other way around?

  “Hello.” The voice on the other end of the phone was familiar but it was hard to tell if it was Retta or Lucy.

  “Hi, this is Kate, Kate Roberts,” she said meekly into the receiver.

  “Katie, it is so good to hear your voice. Let me find Retta so she knows you called.”

  There was silence for a brief moment and Kate breathed a sigh of relief. At least she knew she would talk to Lucy first and then Retta. She needed a reason why she called because she never called just to talk. While she waited she came up with a great idea.

  “If you don’t mind, I’ll put you on speaker so we can all talk.” Lucy came back on the phone.

  “That’s great.” She liked the idea of talking to both sisters at once.

  “Hi, Katie.” Retta’s voice was in the background. “Wish you’d call more often.”

  “Well, I’m calling to see if you two can visit during the Christmas season. We’d love to have you and
there’s room at the house.” Kate gulped as she said it because she didn’t check with her mother. So much for her great idea.

  “Oh, that’s such a nice gesture.” One of them said, Kate wasn’t sure which one. “We’re going to Sweden this year to be with Kirsten and her family. Aunt Frieda can’t travel anymore, she’s getting too fragile. Although, don’t tell her that.” Both women laughed.

  “Frieda?” Kate was stunned. Frieda was still alive? She’d married Henry’s older brother, Clifford, and they’d moved back to Sweden when Frieda became homesick.

  “Oh, you probably don’t remember us talking about her. There was so much to catch up on when you were here. She married our Uncle Clifford and they had a daughter, our cousin Kirsten.”

  If they only knew Kate met Frieda on many occasions. Hard to believe she was still alive, just like Anna. “Wow, she must be really old.” Kate regretted saying that as soon as it came out of her mouth.

  The two cousins chuckled. “She’s not as old as Anna, sweetie. I think she’s about three years younger. She was very young when she came to this country but you’re right, she is old. We’re not young chickens ourselves. That’s why we want to see her this year. You never know, it could be the last. Trevor and his wife are coming, too, so it should be quite a reunion.”

  “Trevor? Gilbert and Arlene’s adopted son?”

  “Yes, he still lives at the ranch with us, on his family’s side of the house.”

  Kate never got to meet Trevor and hoped one day she would. She wanted to know all the family. She loved the story of how he was a young boy looking for work during the depression. Gilbert figured out he was an orphan and took him in. All of Henry’s brothers were wonderful men, caring for their families and their well-being. Kate felt lucky to have known them all.

  “The next time you come to Arizona, please stay with us. You loved the Kathryn room when you visited last time and you can stay there.”

  Kate felt a shockwave go through her. “Kathryn’s room?”

  “Yes, Mother named it after her close friend, Kathryn. Remember that room you really liked when we took you upstairs to see her wedding gown? Retta and I still laugh about how you twirled around in the room like a little girl. You seemed so familiar with the room, like you’d already been there. Maybe that’s not so far from the truth. We all agree you look like Kathryn in the wedding photo.”

  That was too good to be true. The cousins opened the door for the discussion Kate wanted to have. “So whatever happened to Kathryn? Did you ever meet her?”

  “No we never did. She was gone before we were born.”

  “Gone?”

  “Well, it’s quite tragic really. She got married about a month after Mother did. She was in the wedding with Anna and someone named Joanna. Funny, that’s your mother’s name, too. Anyway, Kathryn married the love of her life, Andrew Martin. Very rich and handsome, I hear.” Lucy giggled and Retta joined in with her.

  Kate played along, but wished they’d keep going. “I’m glad to hear Kathryn married someone she really loved. I’m sure the money didn’t matter.” Kate defended herself and had to smile after she said it.

  “No, it didn’t. Kathryn didn’t know his background when she met him. She had no idea his father was a famous fashion designer from Italy and had one of the largest men’s clothing stores in New York City.” Lucy paused for a moment. “Plus, we think the Martins, formerly the Martinos, were connected to the mob,” she said in almost a whisper.

  “The mob?” Kate knew that wasn’t true but wanted to see what they would say.

  “Come on, it was the 1920s and they were from Italy.” Lucy continued. “It makes sense, doesn’t it?”

  No, no it doesn’t. Kate would defend her father-in-law even though he despised her. His family had been in America long before the twenties and became part of society after establishing a legitimate business. She wanted her cousins to finish the story so she nudged them along. “Maybe, but go on with the story. It’s so interesting.”

  “Kathryn and Andrew spent their first night as a married couple in the Kathryn bedroom. Mother decorated it especially for them, in white and lavender. Kathryn loved lilacs and that was the flower used in her wedding, all the colors...white, purple and lavender. That’s why the room is always done in those shades to this day.”

  Kate was overwhelmed. She had no idea Lucinda made the room over especially for her. There was so much love and care put into that room. she didn’t realize at the time. She should have. She was just there for her wedding. Kate was so disappointed in herself. She’d let Lucinda down again.

  “Katie, are you there?” Lucy’s voice sounded anxious.

  “Yes, I was just processing the story. Please go on.”

  “The next morning Mother and Father had brunch with the newlyweds and sent them on their way. Little did they know that would be the last time they’d ever see them.”

  Kate gasped. “How sad. Did they have a fight?”

  “Oh, no, nothing like that. Mother planned on having a huge Christmas party. She wanted to invite half of Arizona but all she really cared about was that her friends, Andrew and Kathryn, would be there. They never fought or uttered a bad word between them. Kathryn was mother’s best friend, right up until the day she died.”

  Tears filled Kate’s eyes. She was so afraid Lucinda hated her, but it seemed the opposite was true. “Whatever happened to Kathryn?”

  “Mother assumed the couple returned to New York City or went back to school until the Thanksgiving holiday. She knew they planned on returning to the canyon and couldn’t wait to see them. Before she could arrange a date, something tragic happened. Andrew died.”

  Kate cringed upon hearing those words. She knew the story, but disliked those two words—Andrew died. “Oh, no,” she said softly. “How?”

  “He was determined to go solo down the Colorado River. The rapids may have got him, no one knows. Mother thought it was too much for Kathryn to take and she went home to Ohio, never to be seen again. Mother tried to find her. Grandfather hired private investigators to track her down. The trail went cold and they finally gave up.”

  “Aunt Lucinda must have been furious with Kathryn. She left her just like she felt everyone else in her life did.” Kate stopped. She gave away too much information and hoped they didn’t notice.

  “Not at all.” Retta jumped into the conversation. “Mother completely understood. She cancelled the Christmas party because she knew no one would be in a celebratory mood. The tragedy was still too raw in the community. So many were affected by it, took years for some to recover.”

  “Like Thomas.” Kate said again without thinking.

  “Yes, like Thomas, but hopefully he got over blaming himself.”

  Kate knew Drew and Thomas fought over Drew’s plan to go to the river alone. That was the last conversation they had. Thomas felt guilty for the rest of his life, if she recalled the story correctly. Drew said he planned to make it right this year. Maybe she could do something. “So why did your mother stay at the ranch and never leave? She never went back to Chicago to see the family, never traveled to Sweden with Henry and you girls, and never went on a vacation. She became a recluse.” Kate sounded so dejected, so guilty over what she did to Lucinda.

  “Oh, my goodness, Katie, you have such a kind heart to care about Mother in that way. She would have gotten a good laugh out of that recluse comment. You know she loved the ranch. It was her home and vacation spot all rolled into one. A recluse? Heavens, no. There were people here all the time. Mother’s Chicago family and Dad’s family had a standing invitation to come anytime. After Aunt Loretta had her children they came less frequently, but still came. It was a little harder as Loretta grew older, but your great-grandmother Loretta, Sandra your grandmother, and your mother managed to come out once.”

  Lucy chimed in. “We all respected mother’s wishes, Katie. She wanted to stay here at the ranch in case Kathryn returned. She never gave up hope that she would see her one da
y. She knew Kathryn would need her and Mother would never forgive herself if she wasn’t here.”

  “That’s quite a story and you had quite a mother.” Kate said quietly although she was still in shock from what she heard. A lump grew in her throat making it difficult to talk.

  “We’ve kept you long enough. Say hello to your mom and dad. Thank them for the invitation.” Retta and Lucy both said their good-byes. Kate stood up, stunned from the conversation. She walked over to the picture of Lucinda’s wedding and hugged it to her chest. I have made you out to be a selfish, self-absorbed person at times. How awful of me to think you would hate me for abandoning you. It was just the reverse, you cared so much you did everything in your power to find me. You thought I would need you more than the other way around.

  Sinking down to the floor, Kate sobbed and sobbed until there were no more tears left to cry.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Walking hand in hand down the high school hallway, Kate wanted to tell the world she was Mrs. Andrew Martin—although the world would think she was a little crazy. She was satisfied everyone assumed she and Drew were totally in love. She didn’t care how nauseating it looked, according to Tyson.

  Kate hardly thought about him these days, although basketball season was approaching. She was sure she’d hear more about him. Erin passed the role of head basketball cheerleader onto Jordyn, thinking it would annoy Kate. Little did she know! Kate was happy for Jordyn especially after all she’d gone through these past months. Kate planned to go to the games to support her friend, not Tyson.

  The first game was the Saturday before Thanksgiving, the annual preseason game against their cross town rival. Kate had plenty of time before she had to think about Tyson and basketball again.

  As they stopped at Kate’s locker, Jordyn ran up looking upset. “Katie, I’m so glad I found you. I need to talk.” Her eyes locked on Drew like she wanted him gone.

  “Drew, I’ll just be a minute.” Kate stepped away with her friend. “What’s wrong?”