Call of the Canyon (22 page)

“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 want 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?”

“Who knows with that boy?” Lindsey sat down
next to her. “He’d never figure out what cabin you meant, so I
think you’re safe. Can you picture Tyson wandering around Salt Fork
looking for you or pounding on cabin doors saying, ‘I know you’re
in there’?”

Kate had to chuckle at that picture. “I
guess you’re right. I feel better, but don’t let me out of your
sight today.” She grabbed Lindsey’s hand. “Come on, let’s join the
others.”

When they got downstairs, no one seemed to
notice they’d been missing. Drew and Jake were playing a basketball
video game. The parents sat around the dining room table, sharing a
bottle of wine. Kate and Lindsey slid onto the couch and pretended
to be interested in the make-believe game the boys were
playing.

“I know you two are up to something.” Drew
turned around after the game was over. “Do tell.”

“No, not really, just chillin’.” Lindsey
acted very nonchalant.

“If you say so. You guys usually share. Is
something going on I need to know?”

“No, it was just girl talk,” Kate said. “We
were getting ready for the game, that’s all.”

“Drew said I can sit with you at the game.”
Jake stuck his tongue out at his sister.

“Can I ever get away from you?” Lindsey said
dramatically, ruffling his hair, but Kate knew she didn’t really
mind. “You’ll have to drive home with Mom and Dad after the game
because we’re going out.”

Jake gave her thumbs up and started another
game.

After dinner everyone headed for the high
school. Kate didn’t know why she felt so nervous, her hands
trembled. She decided to sit on them in the car so no one would
notice but then did a whole body shiver as they walked toward the
gym.

“You cold, Kate?” Drew rubbed her arms.

“Just a bit.” Kate lied through chattering
teeth.

Lindsey must have realized there was more to
it. “This was a tough day for her last year, Drew. I’m glad you’re
here.”

They found a spot higher in the bleachers
than last year and Kate liked the spot much better. Gazing around
the gym, she noticed a very blonde girl talking with all the
cheerleaders on the sideline and realized it was Erin. Of course
she would be there for the game. Kate couldn’t imagine her missing
it. She came home from college every weekend to be with Ty.
Probably didn’t trust him. Jordyn spotted them in the crowd and
waved. Erin turned and gave her an icy stare.

“Ooh, Kate, I don’t think she likes you very
much.” Drew teased and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her
close. “What’s the word you girls like to call each other when
someone acts like that?”

“Bi...” Kate felt Lindsey’s hand over her
mouth as she nodded towards her brother.

“It’s not like I never heard that before!”
Jake smiled at all of them, making everyone burst out laughing.

The boys’ basketball team came running out
onto the court and started warming up. Tyson was captain and star
of the team. He was getting college basketball offers already,
something he didn’t let Drew forget. Tyson would ask Drew if he’d
had any football offers, trying to egg him on. Drew would never
tell him he’d received offers but wasn’t planning on going to any
of those colleges. He had enough money to go wherever he wanted and
not play football. He only played because Coach Dallas begged him
to try out since he needed a quarterback.

“He’s improved his game since last year.”
Drew had to talk directly in Kate’s ear because the noise was so
loud in the gymnasium. “He looks good.” The team was warming up on
the court and Tyson was front and center.

“Didn’t notice.” Kate waved her hand in the
air.

The game started and she concentrated on
Jordyn and the cheer team more than basketball. Jordyn was head
cheerleader and doing a good job directing the girls.

When the game finally ended, to Kate’s
relief, the three friends headed to the locker room doors to wait
for Jordyn. They couldn’t wait to find out who was taking her to
the dance. It didn’t take long until she appeared with a huge smile
on her face.

“Didn’t Brian do well tonight?” She stared
at the trio standing there, looking confused. “Guys, did you hear
me?”

Lindsey had dated Brian last year, although
they were really just friends. They went to Homecoming together and
he played on the team with Tyson.

“He never told me...” Lindsey seemed
surprised.

“That’s because I asked him not to.” Jordyn
took her hand. “I wanted to tell you myself. You dated him last
year and I wanted you to hear it from me. I hope it’s alright that
I’m dating him.”

“Alright? It’s more than alright! I’m so
happy for you!” Lindsey hugged her tightly. “Right, Kates?
...Kate?”

* * * *

“Tyson, what do you think you’re doing? Put
me down.” Kate demanded. She couldn’t believe he’d tricked her into
coming with him. Jordyn was in the middle of telling her story
about Brian when Kate felt a tap on her shoulder. Tyson motioned
for her to step over to the wall to talk. Kate believed it was
harmless enough until he picked her up, threw her over his shoulder
and went outside. No one gave it much thought because people got
out of his way when he announced, “Coming through.” They ignored
her pleas for help or just laughed. What girl wouldn’t want to be
cave-manned out of the school by Tyson Gray?

The last thing she remembered hearing was
Lindsey’s voice calling her name. They had no idea Tyson took her
away.

He lowered her to the ground and smiled.
“That was fun, right? I just want to talk to you. It’s so noisy in
there you couldn’t hear a thing.”

“Tyson, don’t you remember what happened
last year? I’m still a little freaked out about it and being in
this parking lot standing next to your car doesn’t help.”

“Sorry, you know I didn’t mean to hurt you.
It was an accident. You said so yourself.”

Kate saw that as an opening to try to reason
with him. “You know, Ty, I’m tired of defending you to everyone. I
keep telling them you’re really a nice guy, but I don’t believe it
myself anymore. I can’t trust you or anything you say.”

“Then let me make it up to you. I wanted to
ask if you’re doing anything this week, like maybe visit the Fork
or getting a cabin there. Erin and I would love to join you and
hang out. It would be nice to get away from the parents and really
have some alone time, if you know what I mean.” He gave her a
sickening grin.

Kate was shocked. Nothing she said sunk in.
“I know what you mean and no, we’re not going anywhere. Whatever
gave you that idea?”

“Just a hunch, I know your family always
goes there and you love it, too. Thought you might want to
introduce the place to lover boy.”

“What makes you think I haven’t
already?”

“You slept with him? I can’t believe it. You
were such a prude with me.”

“Tyson, what in the world are you talking
about? We’re discussing the cabin. Plus it’s none of your business
what I do with Drew.”

“So you
have
slept with him.” He
seemed as upset as last year. He grabbed her by the shoulders and
pulled her to him. “Why didn’t things work out between us? It
wasn’t supposed to be like this.”

Kate looked into his sad eyes, seeing just a
small portion of the little boy she once knew and relaxed a bit. He
saw it as a signal to kiss her. As he came closer, she pushed him
away. “Ty, stop it. You need to realize once and for all, I’m with
Drew. We can’t be friends if you keep acting like this. What am I
saying? We’re
not
friends...anymore.”

“If you’d just make plans with me once in a
while and didn’t act like you hated me, I think we could be
friends. I know I’m forcing myself on you. It’s only because I miss
you. How about if you and Drew go to the movies or hang out with
Erin and me this weekend? That might help. We’ll take it slow and
in no time I’ll bet we’re friends again.”

Kate couldn’t believe her ears. She wanted
to get away from him so decided to go along with whatever he said.
“I’m not sure, Ty, I have to ask Drew first.”

“Ask me what?” Drew walked out of the
shadows between two parked cars like he was some kind of superhero.
“Kate, are you alright?”

“Kate, are you alright?” Tyson mimicked.
“Tell him, Katie, that you’re fine.”

She could tell Tyson was getting a little on
edge and wanted to get away from him. She promised Drew that he
would be out of their lives for good and here he was, smack dab in
the middle again. “Drew, I was just telling him what a good game he
had. We couldn’t hear inside so we came out here. Talk to you
later, Ty.”

Kate grabbed Drew’s hand and headed back to
the school. “Don’t say anything. Just wait until we’re far enough
away from him.”

Lindsey stood on the sidewalk outside the
gym with her arms wrapped around herself, trying to stay warm. She
jumped up and down when she saw the couple come out of the parking
lot. “Great bodyguard, I am! How did he manage to get to you this
time?”

“I’ll tell you at the restaurant. I could
use a cup of hot tea.” Kate’s teeth were chattering.

Drew drove slowly. Kate noticed he gripped
the steering wheel with all his might. “I could’ve landed a punch
right in his gut before anyone saw it coming. I’m not saying
anything else until I hear the whole story.”

Lindsey leaned forward from the back seat of
the car. “Right now Tyson is the hot commodity at school so you
made the right choice. Football season’s over and you’re old
news...no offense. People wouldn’t appreciate their best basketball
player getting sidelined.” She patted his shoulder. “Way to
restrain yourself. I’ll let him have it for you after we hear the
details.”

Drew dropped Lindsey and Kate off at the
entrance and parked the car. As the girls came out of the restroom
hallway, Kate saw Drew let out a huge sigh of relief.

“Drew, did you get us a table? Or are you
checking out the pies? I can’t decide between chocolate cream and
apple.” She slid her arm through his and they headed for a
booth.

“I had an uneasy feeling someone followed us
here, but I guess not. Must be my imagination in overdrive.” Drew
let Kate slide in and slipped in next. “When I first walked in, I
didn’t see you and panicked. I know that sounds dumb. I thought
something happened to you. Then I heard your voices and was so
relieved. I plan on staying with you for the rest of the weekend,
never letting you out of my sight.”

“Aww, that’s sweet.” Kate rested her head on
his shoulder. “I’m sure my dad will approve of you sleeping over if
you want.” She wrapped her arms around his muscular one. “I know
I’m too wishy-washy when it comes to Tyson. I’m sorry. I grew up
with him, played with him and know so much about him. I have to
keep reminding myself he’s not that same boy. I keep giving him
second chances, but not tonight.”