Call of the Canyon (24 page)

“You’re not missing out, Jordyn. The less
drama for you, the better. You had enough for one year.”

“Well, I’d like to hear about someone else’s
drama for a change. You guys have been great to me. I’d like to
return the favor.”

Kate smiled at her. She remembered back to
the same time last year when Jordyn helped with her escape to the
canyon. She never asked questions, just went along with the plan.
At the time, Kate felt guilty for keeping her out of the loop and
told Lindsey she wanted to fill Jordyn in on things. Kate never did
and was glad because the fewer people who knew, the better. It
became a small inner circle of people who could keep the secret
because it protected family and loved ones. It had to stay that
way.

“Brian and I are going out to celebrate no
school tomorrow, want to come?” Jordyn seemed to be searching the
hallways for someone. Right on cue, he showed up.

As the two chatted, Kate finished putting
her books in the locker and started to organize for afternoon
classes. She never answered Jordyn’s question and would have to
disappoint her again by saying they couldn’t come.

“What’s up?” Tyson bounced off the locker
next to Kate’s. “Looking forward to vacation? Any special
plans?”

“I already told you, no special plans.” Kate
pushed the door shut and locked it. She turned to Jordyn. “I’m
ready for lunch.”

“Me, too.” Tyson tagged along. “Hey, Brian,
when did you get in with the clique again? Went from one babe to
another I see.” Kate saw him eying Brian holding Jordyn’s hand.

“Lindsey was only my friend and still is.”
Brian shot back. Tyson and Brian had been friends since middle
school where they’d met trying out for the basketball team. Jordyn
told Kate he didn’t like hearing bad things about his buddy, but
agreed Tyson acted strangely around her.

“The team’s going to have a meeting during
lunch, Brian, come on.” Tyson seemed desperate to pry him away from
the girls.

“I’ll join you later, Jordyn.” Brian waved
and walked off with Tyson.

Jordyn stamped her foot. “Is Tyson going to
start messing with my relationship now? He’s like a jealous girl!”
She looked at Kate and they both began to laugh.

“I’m sure Brian will meet up with us in the
lunchroom.” Kate linked arms with Jordyn and headed for the
cafeteria.

Drew and Lindsey were already at the table
and seemed impatient. Drew had a few football buddies who sat with
them plus the usual group of girls who were casual friends since
grade school. They chatted about nothing and Kate could only see
their mouths moving, not hearing the words. It was a typical day in
the lives of her friends and Kate pretended she fit in, although
she felt disconnected. In another way, it reminded her she was a
normal teenage girl for just a moment.

It didn’t last long when Brian and Tyson
joined the group. Lindsey rolled her eyes at Kate and Kate could
feel Drew’s arm stiffen next to her. She whispered in his ear they
should leave and head for the library. That’s one place Tyson would
never find them. As they made their getaway, Drew looked at her and
said, “Let’s go home.”

“Cut class? You, the perfect student?”

“Yes, I’m sure your dad will call in for us.
We have food poisoning or something.”

“You are evil! Let’s go.”

They headed out the door and went straight
to the parking lot. Drew always drove them to school so they could
easily go home.

“He’s been bothering you today, hasn’t he?”
It was like he was able to read her mind.

“Not really, I didn’t see him until right
before lunch.”

“Well, I believe his strategy was to find
you everywhere you went for the rest of the day. That’s why I want
us out of there.”

“Can you picture Tyson running around the
school trying to find us?” Kate giggled.

“I guess I can see the humor in it.” Drew
smiled.

Kate was glad to see Drew relax and not
worry about her. “I’m able to take care of myself, you know.”

“Yes, I know that. It’s just that he’s
bigger and stronger than you. Just remember that.”

“Let’s not talk about him anymore. We have
more important things to discuss, like our plans for the
weekend.”

“Tomorrow night we leave for the canyon.
We’ll arrive on Thanksgiving Day. I don’t know if that’s a good or
a bad thing.” Drew frowned at her.

“What do you mean by that?”

“We don’t want anyone to see us, Kate. There
could be a lot of people around for the holiday. The fewer who see
us, the better.”

“They do expect us back for the holiday, you
know, but we’ll sneak out of the boardinghouse and head straight to
the cabin. Not a problem.” She felt he was right. They didn’t want
to change anyone’s Thanksgiving from previous ones. They were going
to create their own holiday not join in with someone else’s.

The excitement started to build. Kate
envisioned herself at the cabin having a romantic Thanksgiving
dinner with Drew. Everything finally seemed right with the
world.

Chapter Nineteen

Kate’s eyes
popped open and she jumped out of bed so quickly she tripped on her
little braided rug and nose-dived right toward her dresser. At the
last minute she caught herself. Chuckling, Kate realized she wasn’t
making a very quiet escape from the boardinghouse.

Opening her door, she slipped into the
hallway, grabbed clothes and rushed back into her room to dress for
the day. She hoped no one would spot her as she tiptoed to the
front door. The air was cool and crisp and the sun was already
rising in the morning sky.

Kate ran for the barn, looking right and
left as she crossed the yard, checking to see if it was safe. Her
heart raced, but not because she was scared of being caught.
Excitement rose inside her as she was about to have her first
Thanksgiving with Drew. They would have two whole days to
themselves, not the four Drew believed they would have. Originally
she planned to have them go back Thanksgiving night, but she knew
it would break his heart. He had no idea Kate planned on staying by
his side all day Friday so he wouldn’t be tempted to visit the
river. She’d wait until that night to tell him they’d have to go
back to Ohio. She was determined to keep him far away from the
canyon until the new year started and he was safe to return.

As she entered the barn, Kate noticed Drew
was not very happy. “Is something wrong?”

“Look who’s here.” Drew grabbed someone by
the arm and pulled him into view.

“Carl! What are you doing here?” Kate
realized why Drew was angry.

“Saddling up Thunder.” Carl answered
nonchalantly.

“You promised to stay away. You said you
understood you couldn’t mess with history,” Kate cried.

“I’m not going to mess with history,” Carl
repeated. “I just need to be here. I need to see Rachel one more
time.”

“No, you don’t.” Drew took a step toward
him. Kate knew how much Drew loved his friend, Thomas, and wouldn’t
stand for anyone coming between Thomas and Rachel.

Carl moved toward him. “Come on, Drew. Try
to stop me.”

“Guys, guys, this is ridiculous. Carl, let’s
talk.” Kate stepped between them, placing her hands on their
chests.

Carl sank down on a bale of hay next to
Thunder’s stall. “Let me try to explain.” His eyes pleaded with
Kate. “The first time I came here, I felt something. There was this
connection, like I belonged. I love it here.”

Kate could relate to that because she felt
the same way. She sat down next to Carl and took his hand. “I know
the feeling.” She looked into his eyes and saw so many conflicting
emotions her heart ached for him.

“My dad’s here and I get along so well with
him even though he has no idea I’m his son. He’s a Swedish
immigrant who came to this country just ten years ago trying to
make a go of it. He’s worked from the bottom up with no help from
anyone. I can relate to that. Dad talks to me man to man. He never
sees color. He has vision and hope for everyone. I miss that. I
want to stay and help him build his dream ranch. I’ll work for room
and board.”

“And you can continue to see Rachel and
sabotage the wedding, I presume.” Drew’s voice shook.

“No, Drew, not at all. I’ll see her one more
time as promised.” Carl rose and grabbed the saddle, slinging it
over Thunder’s back. He looked at Kate. “Trust me?”

“Always.” She stood and wrapped her arms
around Carl. She couldn’t forget that look in his eyes.

Kate turned to Drew and saw Canyon stood
ready and waiting. “I can never figure out how that horse just
magically appears.”

Drew mounted the horse and pulled Kate up
behind him. “Carl, I believe you’re a man of your word. I’m just
putting this out there. Don’t disappoint Kate.”

They rode through the barn door and out into
the morning air. Kate turned her head to look back at Carl and saw
he was already gone.

* * * *

As they neared El Tovar, Drew veered off the
trail and into the woods, heading for the barn around back.

“You’re being quite devious.” Kate whispered
in his ear.

“I don’t want anyone to see us.” He helped
her down and then jumped to the ground. “I arranged for Thomas and
Rachel to go to the Jenkins ranch for Thanksgiving, even though I
won’t be there like in years past. Thomas plans to propose when he
brings Rachel home tonight.”

“So that’s where you went last year when I
couldn’t find you. Thomas wouldn’t tell me!” Kate stamped her foot.
“I could have ended it sooner if I found you.”

“You did find me, with your letters. They
were on my mind on the drive out to Circle J and the day after when
I headed for the bottom of the canyon. I had to start reading them
when I got to base camp. As you know, I never left until Saturday.
You changed history with those letters.”

Tears filled Kate’s eyes. “Yes, I guess I
did, for the better.” She melted into Drew’s arms and hung on
tightly. “I don’t know what I would have done if...”

“Don’t say it.” Drew lifted her chin to look
in her sapphire blue eyes. “I never could have left you.”

The two walked silently hand in hand to the
cabin. Kate leaned against the wall of the house while Drew felt
around on the top of the doorframe for the key to open the door.
“Strange, it’s not here.”

“Oh no! We have to get into that cabin.”
Kate’s eyes grew wide. She didn’t want to go back home.

Drew laughed and produced the key. “Kidding!
Thought I needed to lighten the mood.”

Kate lightly punched Drew in the arm. “I’d
make you get a room at El Tovar because I refuse to go home.”

The smell of turkey overwhelmed her as they
entered the cabin. “Drew, is that what I think it is? Thanksgiving
dinner is already cooking? How do you always manage these things?”

The table was set with beautiful, sparkling
crystal and china with tall, slim orange candles in beautiful
autumn floral holders in the middle. Pumpkins were all around the
fireplace and cornstalks were tied to the front door and porch
posts. “You must have some kind of magical powers.”

“Yep.” Drew kissed her on the forehead and
headed for his wine cellar. “A nice white will go well with
dinner.”

Kate spun around the large room, taking it
all in. She always felt like it was a dream when she was at the
cabin. When she was there, she was Mrs. Andrew Martin...Kate
Martin. She couldn’t say it enough.

Drew appeared with two glasses and the
bottle of wine. He started a fire and they sat on the sofa. “To
us,” Drew held up his glass. “And our first Thanksgiving
together.”

Kate held up her glass and they touched the
top of their glasses. The wine went down smoothly, giving her a
warm feeling all over...or maybe it was because she was sitting
next to Drew. All she knew is that dinner could wait because it was
time for something other than eating Thanksgiving dinner.

“Well, Mrs. Martin, you distracted me long
enough.” Drew slid off the sofa and walked toward the stove.
“You’re lucky I’m good in the kitchen and knew the turkey still had
some cooking time left.”

“You are the master chef,” she teased.

“Why thank you very much.” Drew peered into
the oven as he said it.

“You’re welcome.” Kate wished she had
learned the Swedish version. Carl Sr. tried to teach the girls at
the boardinghouse some of the language, but like all young girls,
they didn’t have the time to really listen or study. Now, she
wished she had. Carl Jr. knew a few phrases but hadn’t practiced
them in the years since his father died. Then it dawned on her that
Carl Jr. was thrilled to see his father again just like she was to
be there at the cabin. He hadn’t seen his father for ten years and
those were difficult times for him. Now he could live and work with
him side by side.

“Drew?” Kate got up and walked to the
kitchen. “Let’s not be so hard on Carl. Let him have this weekend.
I’m sure he’s celebrating the holiday with his dad right now.”

“Won’t Maya be here?” Drew turned away from
the stove.

“Well, if she is, I hope she feels the same
way as I do. Let Carl have his moment.”

“Then that’s what we shall do. Dinner’s
ready.” Drew pulled the turkey from the oven.

Kate made idle chit chat over dinner, but
there was one question she really wanted answered. Now was the time
to ask. “Won’t Thomas be coming home tonight? Will it be the three
of us?”

Drew let out a hearty laugh. “No, my love,
he won’t be here till very late. I forgot to tell you. Last year he
came home in the early morning hours. He won’t even know you’re
here, but if he does, so what? He knows you’re my wife. I think he
rested for a few hours and had an early shift at the restaurant. I
have to be here to talk to him because last year we had our fight
before he left for work. It was the last time we saw each other. We
were told Thomas carried around guilt for the rest of his life. So
this year, I’ll make it right.”