Call of the Canyon

by Nancy Pennick

  That was a lot to ask, but since Kate knew in a month or so the Martin family would be getting a notice their son died, she saw no harm in agreeing to his terms. She stepped forward. “We’d love to, Mr. Martin.”

  Drew looked shocked and Kate hoped he realized what she was doing. “Father, I will consider it after I talk this over with Kate. She seems agreeable to the idea.”

  Nicolas took her hand. “Please call me Nicolas.” He seemed to be partially sincere and a little grateful. On closer review, Kate thought she saw something sinister in his expression, but brushed it away.

  “Thank you, Mr. Mar...Nicolas. I hope to see you soon.” Kate was thrilled for Drew. That might not be the closure everyone was looking for but it was close enough.

  Sal took their bags and put them in the Cadillac, readying the car for departure. The back side passenger door was open and waiting.

  Nicolas embraced his son and patted him on the back. “You made me a happy man today, son. It will be a good life, you will see. You and Kathryn can turn the guest suite on the third floor into your own apartment. Kathryn can shop every day, buy whatever she wishes to make it your own while you come to work with me.”

  Drew kept a stiff smile on his face, nodding to everything his father said. They said one last good-bye and hurried out to the car. Drew put his finger to his lips as if not to say anything yet and pointed to Sal.

  After he dropped them off at the train station, Kate sat down to wait for the boarding call and noticed someone familiar in the crowd. “Dad, is that you?” She furiously waved her hand in the air.

  He pushed his way through the crowd of people to catch up with them. “Looks like we’ll be on the same train headed back to the canyon.”

  Kate looked at her father and then at Drew with puppy dog eyes. Drew laughed and bent down to whisper in her ear, “It’s your loss,” but then said to her dad, “Please join us in our car for the trip home.”

  “No, I couldn’t do that. It’s your private time and you paid a pretty penny for that car.”

  “I insist, anything to make Kate happy. We have our whole lives ahead of us. I’m sure you caught the train last minute for the trip. Did you enjoy the upper berth of a shared sleeping car?”

  “Okay, you’ve convinced me. I’m sure your car is the lap of luxury.” Her dad sounded appreciative. “How’d everything go today with your parents? Did you get some things accomplished?”

  “Oh, yeah, we did. Kate now has us living with the family. I’m going to NYU and working at the family business after I graduate.”

  “Well, that won’t happen, but I bet it made your father happy.”

  Kate felt a twinge of guilt for lying to Nicolas, but also a burst of happiness they were able to make Drew’s family feel good. “What if we’d said no, Drew?”

  “You’re right. I wanted closure with the family and wanted it done right. You helped me do that.” He looked at his pocket watch. “It’s time, shall we?”

  They all stood and Kate got between the two men in her life, locked arms and headed to board the train. “Can we spend at least one day at the canyon before we go back to Ohio?” she asked.

  “Try and stop us.” They both chimed in at the same time.

  Chapter Sixteen

  It was always a little unnerving to wake up in a different bedroom after time traveling. Kate rubbed her eyes and focused on her bedroom. Yep, I’m back home in Ohio. She rolled over and pulled the quilt over her head because she needed time to think. So much happened in the past few days, she needed time to process. Feeling a pang of melancholy, she realized she missed Maria and Freddie. This is how Drew must feel. Now we can miss them together.

  Kate decided she could grow to love Ilene, Drew’s mom, but had a little difficulty when it came to his father. That could take years. Then there was Gia. Would she have always been in their life, a thorn in her side? Not that Kate worried about Drew and Gia, she worried about what Nicolas would do. If he threw them together enough times... Kate stopped herself. Something hit her, it became so clear. Gia was to her what Tyson was to Drew. Drew was constantly fighting off Tyson’s advances toward his girlfriend and although he trusted Kate, he didn’t trust Tyson. Kate threw off her covers and ran to the guestroom.

  Drew was still in bed so she jumped in next to him. “Drew, are you awake?”

  “I am now,” he laughed.

  “I have been thinking...”

  “Oh, no, what’s the plan now?”

  “Drew, I don’t always have a plan, this is serious. Stop teasing me!” Kate put her hand on his cheek, moving his face toward her. “Look at me. I miss Freddie and Maria. I fell in love with them and didn’t have enough time to get to know them better. I’ll always regret that and now I know how you feel.”

  “Thank you for that.” Drew took her hand and kissed it.

  “Wait, there’s more. I understand how you feel about Tyson after seeing Gia. I’m going to try really hard not to have him in our lives...at all.”

  “That’s going to be a little hard. We see him at school. He lives across the street...”

  “Then I’ll try harder. I love you and want you to feel you’re my number one guy, always.” Kate snuggled up to him.

  “What’s come over you so early in the morning?” Drew pulled back to look at Kate’s face.

  “I guess I woke up earlier than you and had time to think. We have just a few short weeks until we go back to the cabin for Thanksgiving. I want to focus on that. Besides, I haven’t told my mother we won’t be here on that day. We’re supposed to go to Grandma Sandra’s for dinner and have to come up with an excuse.”

  “Knowing you, you’ll think of something.”

  “You have to help.” Kate playfully pushed him away. “You act like I’m always scheming!”

  “Not scheming, never that. You just have a lot going on in that pretty little head of yours. I don’t think you’d ever be content decorating the apartment in New York while I went to work.”

  “No, you’re right. I would take some courses at NYU, too. Would your father let me?” Kate knew she’d have to get Nicolas’ approval.

  “Probably not, but I would pay for it myself. Nothing can stop us.” Drew’s attitude changed from friendly chatter to determination. “He’s made everyone do what he wants for most of my life. Marrying you was the first time I went against him.”

  Kate gasped. That explained the fight between Drew and Nicolas at the wedding. “You always came to the canyon whenever you wanted. Wasn’t that going against him?”

  “No, he let me because he thought it was a boyhood dream that I’d eventually outgrow. This trip showed what he’d planned for me. He wanted me back home now that I was old enough to be useful to him and the business. I would be his puppet, doing his bidding.”

  “That’s a little harsh.”

  “No, call it reality. My eyes were opened during the trip. You helped me with closure and saying good-bye to the family, but I also saw my future if I stayed. One I may not have had enough power to fight against.”

  “Don’t say that. You’re very strong. I’m sure you would’ve found a way.” Kate suddenly had an idea and popped out of bed. “Be right back.” She said over her shoulder as she headed to her room. She looked around on her nightstand for her phone, grabbed it and turned to go back to the guest room when something caught her eye. Her laptop was missing from the desk. That was odd. She didn’t remember using it or taking it anywhere before she left. First things first, she went to see Drew.

  He was dressed and waiting for her. “How do you always manage to do that?” Kate pointed from his shirt down to his pants and back up. He could get dressed or disappear at a moment’s notice.

  He just shrugged. “What’s going on in that mind of yours?”

  “You’ll see.” She quickly dialed Jordyn’s number. “Hey, Jordyn, how ya doing? Yeah, it’s been too long. Listen, I have a big favor to ask you. Would it be okay if Drew and I miss the first basketball game...well,
really all of them? Tyson’s been a pain...”

  Drew grabbed the phone out of Kate’s hand. “Jordyn, don’t listen to her. We’ll be there for all your games. Tyson’s not a problem for me...good talking to you, too. We’ll see you at school.” Drew finished the conversation and handed the phone back to Kate.

  “Drew!” She was exasperated. “I’m trying to do something nice for you.”

  “And what about Jordyn? She needs our support now more than ever. We can’t do that to her.”

  “That’s so sweet. You’re sure you don’t mind? Remember what happened to me at last year’s game.”

  “This year will be different. I’ll be with you. There’s no way you’re falling out of a car this year.”

  Kate recalled last year’s basketball game. Tyson had asked her to go out to dinner after the game. She’d thought it was an innocent date between friends. Then he tried to kiss her and got angry when she wouldn’t return his affection. As she shut the door of his SUV, the seatbelt got caught. Tyson was so busy screaming at her, he didn’t hear her say she needed to open the door to fix it. He pulled out of the parking space as she opened the door. When he realized what happened, he slammed on the brakes causing Kate to fall from the car. She was taken to the hospital with a concussion. Kate put her hands to her head at the thought of it.

  “Are you okay?” Drew put his arms around her.

  “Just having a flashback.” Kate dropped her arms and wrapped them around him. “I know you’ll protect me. We’ll go to the game and come directly home. I don’t want to go to the dance.”

  “There’s a dance?”

  “Haven’t you seen the posters at school? There’s always a big dance for both schools after the game. It’s been a tradition, just like the game. They’ve been doing this since the 1950s.”

  “Then we should go to the dance. I don’t want you to miss out on anything in your senior year.”

  “Only if Jordyn and Lindsey say they’ll go with us.” Kate knew both girls may beg off and she wouldn’t have to go. That night still dredged up awful memories for her.

  “Let’s go downstairs and see how much mom missed us.” Kate grabbed Drew’s hand and they ran down the stairs.

  “Carl!” Kate was so happy to see him standing in the kitchen. “It seems like ages since we were all together.”

  “Well, doesn’t it always feel like that when you’ve been away in another century?” He smiled at her. “Heard you met the in-laws.”

  “Glad to see you back safe and sound.” Her mom nudged the three of them into the family room. “I invited Carl over for breakfast since Maya is at the canyon visiting Carl Sr. That woman sure has been busy these days. I hardly see her. You three catch up while I go see if Jackson’s up and ready to eat.”

  “Carl, you haven’t been back to the canyon, have you?” Kate had to know.

  He couldn’t look her in the eye and she took it as a bad sign. “Carl!”

  “Okay, maybe just once this past week after your wedding. I had to see Rachel and I promised my dad I’d help him finish the sitting room upstairs. He wants a place where Mom can have some quiet time away from the girls.”

  “He doesn’t know you’re his son, does he?” Kate’s stomach was suddenly in knots.

  “Of course not.” He shook his head. “I promised you I wouldn’t tell him.”

  “You promised not to go back after the wedding, too...”

  “I needed to see her, just once more. Drew, you understand. Help me out here.”

  Drew was silent during the conversation. “I’m the last one to judge. I’ve only had a year to adjust to the time travel and the two lives. It’s confusing, especially when there’s a girl involved. Yes, I can understand, but at the same time, I have to strongly object. You could change history and that’s not right.”

  “But what if I was supposed to be part of Rachel’s history and this is the way it should be. I’ve been reasoning it out for weeks.”

  “Good point,” Drew said, “but you know it has to end because in a few weeks Thomas and Rachel will be engaged. They marry by Christmas.”

  Kate could see Carl was more dejected than ever and put her arm around him. “Promise me you won’t go back anymore, big bro.” She rested her head on his shoulder and could feel the tension radiating from him. “I’ll be here for you.”

  Her mom and dad entered the room and the mood changed from somber to jovial. The three travelers told of their journey while everyone pitched in cooking breakfast. Kate poured juice and they sat down at the table.

  “Dad, when did you decide to come with us?” Kate was curious because he never explained.

  “After you left, I looked at your mother and didn’t have to say a word. She just said ‘go’ and I was out of here. Waking up at the boardinghouse makes it a little hard because you have to slip away without being seen and then get to your destination. When I finally arrived at the station, your train was pulling away. I managed to get to the next town and catch a later train that day. I got word to Mother that I was coming and she called the Martins to let them know I’d be at the party.”

  “Why wouldn’t they tell me my father was in New York?” Kate stopped, laughing at herself. Of course, they wouldn’t know Jack Woods was her dad. To them, Jack was more important to Drew than her.

  “When you went upstairs with my sister, my father told me Jack was in New York.” Drew held up his juice glass. “Just in the nick of time, too. Kate needed you.”

  Her mom placed her hand over Kate’s. “Were you upset, sweetie? Now I feel guilty I didn’t go along.”

  “Just for a moment, no big deal.” She tried to make light of it even though she was so overwhelmed she didn’t think she’d make it through the night, until she heard her father’s voice. “Dad helped me through.”

  Kate filled her mother in on the reception and the dress she was given to wear. Drew had them mesmerized as he told how Kate agreed to all his father’s demands...even living at the townhouse.

  Her mom’s expression changed to one of sadness. “Are you sure you’re alright with that, Drew? Leaving it all behind?”

  He looked around the table at his newfound friend and family. “More than alright. This is a life I never thought I could have. It’s all because of Kate.”

  “Mom, I have something to ask you.” Kate thought of her computer disappearance. “My laptop seems to be missing.”

  “Oh, it’s down here somewhere. Tyson came over when you were gone, needing more information on your project. I brought it down here so I could watch what he was doing. He got what he needed and left.”

  That seemed innocent enough but Kate knew Tyson always had ulterior motives. There wasn’t anything on the computer he could use to his advantage unless... Kate looked at Drew for a moment, hesitant to tell him. She kept a calendar on her laptop with all the events of their lives chronicled on it. There’s no way Ty could have found it while her mom looked over his shoulder. If he did, he would see that Kate wrote in ‘cabin’ for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Even though she used code words, he might go to any lengths to stop them from going. Her heart pounded but she quickly calmed herself. “Well, you were right on top of him the whole time, I’m sure.”

  “Of course, I was, except for a brief moment when I got a phone call from a student.”

  Kate’s heart started pounding again but for all the wrong reasons. This could be the start of trouble.

  Chapter Seventeen

  It was game day and Kate was more excited about the coming Thanksgiving week than the rival basketball game. The only thing she dreaded was breaking the news to her mother about their holiday plans.

  “Mom, we’re not going to be here for the holiday. Drew and I want to have our first Thanksgiving at the cabin together. I promise this will be the only time we’ll do that.” Kate crossed her fingers and hoped for the best.

  “Can’t you do two holidays? One in the past and one in the present?”

  “We don’t wan
t to come back. Please understand. We just want to stay at the canyon for a few days, no interruptions.” Kate hugged her mom and could tell she wasn’t too happy.

  “Fine, but it better be just this year.” Her mom finally gave in. “I guess I can understand.”

  “Thanks, you’re the best.” Kate skipped away, happy with the outcome. One obstacle was complete with one more to go, the dreaded game. Luckily, she didn’t have to go to the dance. Drew insisted on going until Lindsey said she’d rather go out to eat, just the three of them. Jordyn had some mysterious date and would attend with him. Everyone had their plans in place.

  Kate got dressed in school colors, red and white, happy to be in comfortable clothes rather than dressed for the dance. Jeans and a sweatshirt won out over a short dress on that cold November day. Kate passed the time away doing homework and sending text messages to Drew. She loved that he had marked her number as ‘wife’ on his phone and programmed his on her phone to say ‘husband’.

  The Campbells and Drew came for an early dinner before the game. Seemed like history was repeating itself, Lindsey came last year and her parents went with the Campbells to the game. Kate didn’t want history repeating itself for her personally and kept telling herself Drew was by her side and she had nothing to worry about.

  Kate’s dad ushered everyone into the family room. Lindsey grabbed Kate’s arm and pulled her aside. “I need to talk to you now.”

  Kate pointed to the stairs and they quickly snuck up to her bedroom.

  “Tyson is asking me all sort of strange questions about you and Drew. He wants to know if Drew has ever been to Salt Fork and if you two are renting a cabin there for the weekend.”

  Salt Fork State Park had been a favorite of Kate’s family for as long as she could remember. Her father loved to fish and they’d all hike in the woods. There was a wonderful lodge to stay at and sometimes they would rent a cabin.

  Cabin, that word was a red flag for Kate. Tyson had seen her calendar. She hurriedly told Lindsey the laptop story and sank down on her bed. “Do you think he’ll try and stop us?”