Call of the Canyon (15 page)

Kate set her glass down. “I like the sound
of that. Now, Mr. Martin, help me out of this dress.”

Drew pulled the dress up and over her head
placing it carefully on a chair. Kate helped him removed his suit
jacket and undid his tie. Slowly she pulled the tie from around his
neck. Then her hands went around his waist and her mouth found his.
She slid her hands back around to the top button of Drew’s shirt.
It was already undone and she went for the next one, slowing
unbuttoning each one. Drew quickly pulled off the shirt and the two
sat down on the bed staring into each other’s eyes. Kate’s head was
spinning but she wanted to remember every moment. They slipped
under the soft, white sheet together and melted into one.

Please, let this all be real
, Kate
thought, as she drifted off to sleep in Drew’s arms.

* * * *

Kate woke to the smell of coffee. Drew sat
at the little table in their room, sipping from a cup and reading
the paper.

“How come you always wake up before me?”

“I need less sleep than you, I guess.” Drew
jumped on the bed. “Come on, get dressed, I have a surprise for
you.”

“Oh, can’t we stay here for awhile? I like
it here.” She pouted.

“We can stay for a while, but then we have
to get going. We’re invited to breakfast at Henry and Lucinda’s
part of the house. I thought you might like that.”

“Yes, I love it.”

“Then we’ll be leaving here.”

“Leaving? I want to stay.”

“Part of the surprise. Trust me?”

“Fine,” Kate padded across the soft carpet
to the bathroom on the other side of the hall. She looked in the
mirror and studied herself. Staring at her image, Kate hoped to see
a more mature, worldly girl. She carefully examined herself, but
didn’t seem any different. Nothing changed.
I don’t look like a
married woman.
Trying to find something out of the ordinary
about herself, Kate finally gave up. She quickly cleaned up and got
ready for the day.

“Drew, I’m ready!” Kate bounced back into
their room and came to a sudden stop at the sight of him. His head
was in his hands and he appeared upset. “Are you alright?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Oh, it’s something and you’re going to tell
me.”

“I don’t want to put a damper on our wedding
weekend.”

“You won’t, I promise.”

“I had the dream last night.”

“On our wedding night?” Kate knew she
promised but was shocked he could dream of dying on such a
night.

“That’s why I didn’t want to tell you.”

“I’m glad you did. It’s just a dream. You
haven’t had it in a while, right? I’m sure it will be less and less
as time goes on.”

“Yes, I guess you’re right. Let’s get
going.” He wasn’t too convincing and Kate decided to discuss it
with him later. After all, it was their honeymoon.

They headed over to Lucinda and Henry’s
home, part of an addition to the original home. Kate was anxious to
see it.

“Kathryn, look at you, now who is glowing?”
Lucinda grabbed her and they twirled around. “You look like...”

“...a married woman.” Henry finished for her
as he shook Drew’s hand. “Congratulations.”

Kate looked at Lucinda as if to ask if Henry
knew about the baby. Lucinda nodded yes.

“Well, congratulations to you, too.” She
hugged Henry.

He seemed startled and pointed to the
couple. “They know?”

Lucinda giggled. “You know I can’t keep
anything from my best friend.”

Guilt filled Kate’s heart as she heard those
words coming from her aunt. Lucinda would feel betrayed yet again
by a friend, like she did with Anna. Kate knew she would disappear
and never return in just a few short weeks. She only hoped Lucinda
would understand and believe Drew’s “death” was the reason Kate
couldn’t stay in Arizona.

Lucinda turned to her. “Maybe you will be
next.”

“Next for what?” Kate wasn’t listening to
the conversation.

“A baby, silly!” Lucinda giggled.

“Oh, that couldn’t happen, I’m on the p...”
Kate caught herself. She almost said pill. How would she ever
explain that?

“Too much information!” Drew saved the day.
“I’m starving!”

“I imagine you are.” Henry said with a wink.
He patted Drew on the back. “This way, my man.”

The morning went by too quickly. As they
said their good-byes, Kate hoped to get a message across to Lucinda
as discreetly as she could.

“Cindy.” Kate used the pet name Lucinda’s
father gave her and now Henry used. “I’m your friend forever. No
matter where we end up or what happens in our lives, know that I
love you. You’re my best friend forever.”

Lucinda covered her mouth with one hand.
“Kathryn, you’re scaring me. Please tell me you two are not leaving
Arizona forever.”

“No, no we’re not, but you never know what
can happen in life.”

“We’re all young. We’re not going
anywhere
. I plan on having the largest Christmas party this
side of the Rockies. You add it to your calendar now.”

Kate took Lucinda’s hand with tears in her
eyes. “I’ll be the first one here and the last to leave, if that’s
what you want.” She didn’t want to go, but saw Drew’s pleading
eyes.

“See you soon.” She whispered in Lucinda’s
ear as they said their good-byes, knowing this would be the last
time Lucinda would remember seeing her.

The couple found their way back to the room,
packed their things and headed out to the waiting car. Drew spoke
with the chauffeur and soon they were driving back toward the
canyon.

“You’re
not
taking me home to Ohio.”
Kate crossed her arms. “I refuse to go.”

Drew let out a hearty laugh. “You can be
really stubborn when you want to be, but don’t waste it on this.
We’re not going home.”

The car continued on and finally came to a
stop behind El Tovar. Drew got out and offered Kate his hand. She
looked quizzically at him.

“We’re here?”

“Yes, we are.”

“Are we eating in the dining room?”

“I thought you would figure it out by now,
Kate.” He headed toward the path leading to his cabin.

“We’re not staying at the Circle H tonight,
are we? We’re going to your cabin.”

“I want you all to myself.” Drew placed his
arm across her shoulders and pulled her close.

As they approached the cabin, Kate thought
it looked different from the last time she saw it. It appeared
bigger but that didn’t make sense.

Drew felt around on the top of the doorframe
for the key, unlocked the door and put the key back. He came over
to Kate and picked her up, kicked the door open with his foot and
carried her inside.

“This is perfect.” Kate exclaimed as Drew
spun her around the great room. She remembered the room well. It
was the only room she ever was in. It all came back to her as she
glanced around. She had sat in a chair, talking to Thomas, and gave
up hope of finding Drew. It was a dark time in her life. Now
everything looked like it was bathed in golden sunlight not the
dreary gray she recalled.

The room was still the same, a sitting area
in front of a huge fireplace with the dining room and kitchen
behind it. Kate assumed the hallway led to the two bedrooms. Drew
walked down that hall, still carrying her.

“I added a bathroom for you plus another
bedroom. I’ll show you my wine cellar later.”

“When did you have time to do this?” Kate
waved her hand around.

“I found time. You don’t always know what
I’m up to.” He kissed her lightly on the lips. “I wanted to make
this more of a home for us. I’m glad you like it.”

“Is this why you wouldn’t let me come here
all summer?” Kate took Drew’s face between her hands and kissed him
back. He gently set her down so she could have a better look
around. “I don’t want to go home. Let’s stay here a few more days.”
She spun around, hugging herself. “Show me everything you did to
the cabin.”

Drew grabbed her hand, guiding her through
the rooms. He was proud to show the many improvements he made.
Beside the room additions, he’d installed steam heat throughout the
home. “This is becoming a house instead of a cabin. Don’t change it
because of me. I love it the way it was.” Kate pulled Drew down
toward her and kissed his cheek.

“It needed some upgrades. I enjoyed doing
it.” Drew headed for some stairs. “This leads to the wine
cellar.”

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.”