Call of the Canyon (21 page)

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.”