Call of the Canyon (23 page)

“I think you’re on his seventh chance.”
Lindsey opened the menu, scanning its contents. “Time to rethink
the chance thing, girl.”

“I did. I ended it tonight. I told him we’re
not friends. It’s like he doesn’t hear me.”

After ordering their drinks, Kate recounted
the scene outside the gym and in the parking lot. “Tyson’s just so
hurt, he’s acting out. I’m not defending him, but at the same time
I feel sorry for him.” She held up both hands. “Still not his
friend, just saying.”

“He knows exactly what he’s doing and it’s
working.” Drew’s hands changed into fists and then he relaxed. Kate
could tell he was uneasy. She watched him sip his soda and stare
out the window. “Hey, do you recognize the SUV pulling into that
parking space?” He nodded his head toward the spot.

As they watched, Tyson jumped out and ran
around to the passenger side. He opened the door and helped Erin
out. They stood by the car, appearing to have an argument and then
he took her by the arm and pulled her toward the restaurant.

“Incoming,” was all Drew said to the
girls.

“I don’t believe it.” Lindsey slammed the
menu shut.

“I think my first instinct was correct.”
Drew tapped his finger on the table. “We were followed. Tyson went
back to school, found Erin and brought her with him so he wouldn’t
look suspicious. It looked like she wants to be anywhere else but
here.”

Lindsey nodded in agreement. “Don’t give him
an eighth chance, Kates.”

“Well, Erin, looky who’s here!” Tyson was a
little too animated as he approached the table. “Mind if we join
you?”

Lindsey looked at him as if he had two
heads. “Not enough room, Ty, sorry.”

“Oh, this will be fine right here.” Ty sat
down at the booth across from them. He made sure he was on the side
where he could look directly at Drew and Kate. “I was just telling
Erin we’re getting together this weekend with you guys. You can tag
along, too, Lindsey. I’m sure you’re bored since your boyfriend
lives in Arizona.”

Lindsey shot him a “shut up, Tyson” look and
continued to play with her pie.

“I know how difficult that is, Lindsey.”
Erin looked sympathetic. “I’m only gone during the week, but it’s
hard to be away from Ty.” She smiled sweetly at him and then
glanced over at Kate. “You’re lucky, Katie. Drew’s always by your
side.”

Kate nodded and continued eating. She wanted
to get out of the restaurant as soon as possible. “Lindsey, are you
going to kill your pie or eat it?” She smiled as Lindsey took out
her aggression on the poor piece of lemon pie.

“Kill it.” Lindsey said very softly in a
monotone voice. Kate knew she didn’t mean the pie and again smiled,
squeezing Drew’s hand.

“Are you going back to school for the
dance?” Erin seemed very interested in knowing their plans.

“No.” Drew waved the waitress over to the
table. “Could we please have our check?”

Kate sipped her tea casually, trying to not
look like she was in a hurry. They finished, got up and left the
restaurant. Drew couldn’t start the car fast enough. “Damn!” he
pounded the steering wheel.

“Drew! I never hear you talk like that.”
Kate was surprised.

“I’m sorry. I’m frustrated, it’s just
that...” He hesitated. “What if something happened to you when I’m
not around? I can’t bear the thought.” He backed the car out of its
spot and drove off into the night.

Chapter Eighteen

Drew spent
the whole weekend with Kate and her family. After talking with her
dad, he was given the green light to stay until they left for the
canyon. Kate’s dad did not like hearing what occurred at the game
and said he was grateful to have Drew in the house.

“Andrew, I heard you’re staying at the cabin
for Thanksgiving and not coming home until Sunday. Do you think
that’s a good idea? You could be seen by someone. I really prefer
if you didn’t go back at all, but I know the call of the canyon can
be irresistible.”

“No one will see us, Jack, I have it all
worked out. I did my research. For some unknown reason, Thomas
doesn’t come back to the cabin Friday night. I think it might have
something to do with Rachel. He heads for the bottom of the canyon
on Saturday after work to greet me upon my return. When I don’t
come back, he stays another day.”

“I forgot about that. Thomas was never there
when I started my search, but I heard he was there through the
weekend waiting for our return.”

“Funny how the small details of our past
lives have so much meaning now.” Drew shook his head in disbelief.
“I never thought all this was possible when I took off down that
river. My only dream was to get down the Colorado by myself and
return in triumph. So much for that. I died instead.” He pounded
his head. “So arrogant!”

“May I remind you my lovely daughter saved
your life?”

“Yes, I know. Keep reminding me. It’s good
to talk. Thanks, Jack.”

“These conversations are important. I need
to be a good listener, counselor and father figure all rolled in
one. Thank goodness, Joanna has been my therapist all these years
besides wife, mother and professor. I don’t know what I would have
done without her.”

“And you have me, too.” Kate was quietly
listening, appreciating all her father said. He got through those
early years with her mom’s help.

“That’s right. Things have a way of working
out. When secrets come out, it’s like the weight of the world lifts
off your shoulders. I don’t have to pretend anymore.”

“Dad, Drew and I need to make plans for the
weekend and also have two days of school this week. Do you mind if
I steal him away now?” Kate settled into the sofa, pulling Drew
next to her.

“I have to do some finishing touches on my
book, so I’ll leave you alone.” He headed for his office.

“Let’s not even go to school. Let’s head for
the cabin tonight,” Kate teased Drew when they were alone.

“We have to stick to our promise, Kate. We
said we’d stay here until Wednesday night and that’s what we’ll do.
Is that project you’re doing with Tyson done yet? I want him to
have no excuses for coming over.”

“We turn it in tomorrow. What about the
plans we have with Tyson and Erin?” Kate teased as she made air
quotes when she said plans. “I swear I didn’t make any with him. I
was shocked he told Lindsey we’d be doing something together.”
Kate’s phone buzzed and she looked at the screen. “It’s a text from
Linds, hang on.”

Kate’s face turned to a frown and she leapt
from the couch. “Drew, we have to go rescue her! Tyson told her
we’re meeting at the mall cinema for a late movie.”

“What? If he can’t get to you, he’ll use
Lindsey?” He hit his head in disbelief. “Wait, let me call Beth.”
He quickly hit a button and waited. “Aunt Beth, has Lindsey left
yet? Not a problem...no...we just wanted her to go with us.
Fine...yes...goodbye.”

“She left already, didn’t she?” Kate’s eyes
grew wide.

“You go tell your father what happened and
I’ll go get Lindsey. Do not answer this door unless your father is
right behind you. Do you understand?”

“Drew, you’re scaring me.”

“Good, maybe it’s starting to sink in how
serious this is.” He turned and hugged her. “Sorry, didn’t mean to
yell. Please, go get your dad.”

He went down the side hall from the kitchen
and out the door to the garage. Kate ran upstairs to her dad’s
study to find him sitting in front of a blank page on his computer
screen.

“Writer’s block.” He chuckled and leaned
back in his chair. He removed his glasses and looked at her.
“What’s wrong?”

After Kate filled him in, he took her by the
hand like she was a little girl and went downstairs. He turned on
the television like it was a normal Sunday night and sat down.
“Your mother’s over at Maya’s and I’m going to call and ask her to
come home. No, I have a better idea.” Jackson sent a text message
and waited for a reply.

Kate was proud of her dad for finally giving
in and using his cell phone to send messages. He had resisted at
first, although he always liked the idea of having a phone on him
in case of an emergency.

In a few minutes there was a tap on the
sliding glass door that led out to their back deck. Kate jumped a
mile. “It’s Tyson, Dad!” She suddenly felt like she was in some
terrible horror movie.

“Hopefully not.” He got up, pulled the
drapes back to reveal Carl standing on the other side. Her dad
unlocked the door, then the screen, and let him in.

“Reporting for duty, sir.” Carl was half
joking, half serious. “I’ll watch for the perp. Go do what you need
to do.” They traded places and Carl locked the doors behind him.
“Hey, sis, how come you’re always causing trouble wherever you
go?”

Kate threw a pillow at him. “Look who’s
talking! Did my dad tell you everything?”

“In a text?” They both found the humor in
that. “You’ll have to give me all the details.”

Kate spent the next half hour telling Carl
about her weekend, starting at the basketball game right up till
now. “And there you have it.” She threw herself back into the sofa,
exhausted from living it over again. “I ended it last night. I
thought he heard me.”

“I always said he was a stalker and you had
to watch out for him.” Carl walked to the front window and looked
out into the dark night.

“And I always said you’re the ‘Carl
police.’” Kate shot back. “See anything?”

“Two hairy monsters are approaching.”

“What?”

“Gotcha!”

Another pillow zoomed through the air and
then another. They were laughing so hard they almost missed the
knock on the backdoor.

Kate let her parents in and her mom hugged
her tightly. “You can let go now, Mom.”

“It’s just that it’s so like last year...the
feelings are all coming back,” she cried.

“Mom, I’m fine. See?” Kate held her arms out
from her sides and as she twirled around for her mother’s
inspection she heard the garage door open.

Drew and Lindsey walked in from the kitchen
hallway. “Everyone’s safe!” Drew called out. “I had Lindsey drive
over here to prove she’s all in one piece.”

“Why that little...” Lindsey had to be held
back by Drew as they entered the kitchen. “I ought to go across the
street and punch his lights out! What was he trying to do, pulling
that stunt?” She headed for the front door like she was going to
run across the street and pummel Tyson but something stopped
her.

Lindsey reached for her phone. “What?” She
said curtly into the receiver. “Really, you could have fooled me.”
Then her voice softened. “No, I went home. I didn’t think you were
coming. Yeah, see you in school, bye.” She put her phone back in
her pocket and looked up at the crowd gathered around her. “It was
Tyson. He apologized for being late and wanted to know where I was
because they couldn’t find me. He said he and Erin thought of
inviting me, just me, at the spur of the moment. They know I get
lonely at times.”

The horror movie has ended
and
turned into a PG rated comedy of errors
. “See, he’s not all
bad. I know what you’re all thinking, I’m naïve. Don’t worry, I
still don’t trust him. I’m avoiding him at all costs.” Kate held
her hands up to ward off their stares. She didn’t want to label her
one-time friend as a stalker. It sounded so cold. Still, she was
aware he had changed...and not for the good.

“Good to know. We’ve all learned a lesson
tonight. I think it’s best if you kids keep away from him for
awhile. I’ve wanted to have a chat with his parents but your mom
won’t let me. Let’s call it a night.” Kate’s dad ended things.
“Carl, thanks for coming over.” He shook his hand.

Carl hugged Kate. “Night, sis, don’t be too
trusting. I’m glad you’re coming to your senses, though.”

Her mom walked Lindsey to her car. Kate was
left with Drew and her father. “What? I can tell by your faces you
don’t believe me. I don’t trust him. I’m keeping my distance.”

“We believe you, pumpkin. It’s been a long
night. Let’s get a good night’s rest. I’m sure everything will look
better in the morning.” He put his arm around her and the other
over Drew’s shoulders as they headed up the stairs together.

* * * *

Kate was in countdown mode--two more days
until they left for the cabin and one more day of school. Monday
was uneventful. She managed to dodge Tyson all day. Lindsey seemed
less forgiving of him once she had time to think about what took
place and told Kate they still had to be careful. Lindsey felt
Tyson would head for the state park on Wednesday and stalk the
grounds looking for Drew and Kate. That might be a good thing. It
would keep him away from what was really going to happen.

Kate didn’t know how Erin put up with all
his nonsense or maybe she didn’t know the half of it because she
was away at school. It wasn’t her place to worry about it. Erin was
a big girl and could make her own decisions when it came to Tyson.
Still there was a twinge of sympathy for her.

The last day of school finally arrived. Kate
was relieved to look at her calendar and see Tuesday staring back
at her. Drew would cut all his classes to escort her around school,
even though he was in two of them, so she wanted everything to
remain calm. She reminded him of how well Monday went and now they
only had one day left. Still it seemed Jordyn, Lindsey, Drew and
now Brian were with her at all times. Brian officially became
Jordyn’s new boyfriend the night of the dance. Everyone was happy
for her except Matt Parker. There was no way he could turn into a
Tyson. Kate wiped the idea from her mind.

“Are you alright, Katie?” Jordyn joined her
at her locker.

“Fine, I’m a little tired.”

“After all you’ve been through, I’m not
surprised. How do I miss out on everything?”