Call of the Canyon (16 page)

“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 day.
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?”

“I broke up with Matt,” Jordyn wailed.

“So go back and un-break up with him.” Kate
said with a slight smile. “You didn’t want to, I take it.”

“Yes, I did. I don’t really have feelings
for him anymore. It’s just that you and Drew are so happy. Lindsey
has Charlie in Arizona and now I have...nothing.”

“Don’t say that. You have your whole life
ahead of you. This is just one little blip on the radar.”

Jordyn gave Kate a half-smile. “You always
know the right thing to say. I wish you had tried out for cheer
squad. We’d see so much more of each other.”

“You know why I couldn’t.” Kate confided in
Jordyn all the things Erin did to stop her from being on the team
last year. Erin was part of choosing this year’s members so it
wasn’t even worth trying out. Besides, Kate didn’t want to be on
the squad although she’d never tell Jordyn that.