Call of the Canyon (3 page)

Lunch hour couldn’t come soon enough. When
the bell finally rang, Kate dragged Drew to her locker so she could
grab a coat. Not too many people would go outside on a cold day so
she knew they would have the place to themselves.

They slid into seats opposite each other at
a picnic table, holding hands and staring into each other’s
eyes.

“I know it hasn’t been long, but I feel like
I haven’t seen you in months.” Kate wiped a tear from her eye.

“Kate, don’t.” Drew reached across the table
and touched her cheek. “I’m here and I’m not going anywhere.”

“I know.” She grabbed his hand and brought
it to her lips. “Start at the beginning and don’t leave anything
out.”

“Your dad arranged for me to live with
Lindsey’s family.”

“My best friend, Lindsey?”

“Yes, the one and only. Her dad is now my
uncle, caring for me while my parents are in Africa doing
missionary work.”

“That’s the story? They agreed to that?”

“Your dad’s persuasive. Said I was a family
friend who really needed a favor. Beth and David didn’t ask too
many questions...plus they like me.”

Kate felt a giggle bubble up inside and had
to let it out. “Of course, because you’re so charming. My Prince
Charming.”

Drew gave her a wide grin as if to say she
was right. “Your dad gave me a crash course in all things
21
^st
century until I had to scream ‘Enough!’ Want to see
my phone?” He held up the latest model.

“Impressive. I assume you know how to use
it.”

“Sure, it’s easy. And my name? It’s Drew
Kelly. My middle name is Kelly, my mother’s maiden name.”

“So you aren’t Drew Martin anymore.” Kate
felt a little sad.

“No, it will take some getting used to.”

Kate didn’t want Drew to be depressed on
their first day in the present together. She thought it best to
change the subject. “So what do you like better, television or
computers?”

“The camera store.”

“Out of all the new technology, you’re still
drawn to the camera store.”

“The guys that work there are awesome...did
I use that right? Awesome?”

Kate nodded.

“I bought all the latest equipment. They
said come back any time I want.”

“Your first friends are guys who work in a
camera store. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. I do have one
question. If you just got here, what did you use for money?”

Drew closed one eye and tilted his head at
her. “You don’t know how your dad gets his money?”

“I’m asking about you. My dad writes books,
remember?”

“Yeah, but he’s not getting rich off that.”
Drew chuckled. “You really don’t know?”

“I guess not. So you’re going to tell
me.”

“Jack goes to New York City once or twice a
year, right?”

“He has business there, meets with his agent
and publisher.” Kate folded her arms across her chest and leaned
back. “There’s more to it than that?”

“Jack did a little research and found the
Bank of New York was established in the 1800’s. That’s the one he
uses in the past because it’s still operating in the present. He
puts stocks, gold coins, money and jewelry in his safe deposit box
back in 1927 and withdraws it here. He’s lent me a little cash
until I can set up my own.”

“It makes sense. Leave it to my dad to
figure it out.”

“During spring break we’re going to New York
City. I’ll make my first deposit then.”

Kate grew quiet. “You two will be going
back...without me?”

“You have to wait until July. Jack said
that’s the agreement. It makes sense. That’s when your life starts
at the canyon.”

Kate played with her napkin. “You get to
have all the fun. I love the canyon and would go every night if I
could.”

“That’s my girl. I’m glad you love it as
much as I do.”

“I don’t mind you going for a day because
you’ll be back in the morning. It’s like you were never gone. When
you go to New York you have to take the book so you can stay
longer.”

“Yeah, I’m still learning all the secrets of
the book. It allows us to stay longer than one night if we take it
with us. We only get to the Grand Canyon from here. Then it’s
old-fashioned transportation to get us the rest of the way. Jack
says it takes a few days one way so we could be gone a week.”

“I don’t like it.” Kate pouted.

“We won’t be leaving for months.” Drew
touched her bottom lip. “So stop it.”

“I’ll try not to think about it until the
time comes. For now, you still need to meet my friends, especially
Jordyn. She’s definitely a 21st century girl. She’s into clothes,
boys and make-up, but you’ll love her. She’s the planner of the
group and the rest of us follow merrily along. Her moms adopted her
from China.”

“You mean mom.”

“No, she has two moms. They’re a
family.”

“Two moms.” Drew’s face wore a puzzled
expression. He shook his head. “I’ll have to meet them.”

“Good, because you will...soon.” Kate cleaned
up the table and tossed the leftovers in the garbage. “Afternoon
classes await. Ready?” She held out her hand. Drew intertwined his
hand in hers. “This feels so right, Drew. Welcome home.”

Chapter Two

Andrew and
Kate had
The Discussion
, as they called it, many times in
the months since he’d come to the present. Kate wanted to make sure
Drew was comfortable in the choice he made. She wanted him to
verbalize any doubts, any negative feelings he had so he wasn’t
harboring any resentment about the decisions he’d made.

“Kate, you really need to stop dwelling on
the fact that I could’ve stayed at the canyon and gone home to New
York. I’ve made my choice!” Drew’s voice grew louder with each
word. “This is the life I want, you know that. Stop questioning
it...and me.”

Kate covered her face with her hands. “I
just want to make sure. I want you to be happy.” She could feel
tears forming in her eyes.

“I can do just like your father does. Go to
the canyon whenever I miss it. Isn’t that what this blasted book is
for?” He picked up the book and shook it in the air.

“Drew, please, don’t yell. I just keep
imagining how your life could’ve been totally different from this
one.” Kate said through tears.

“Is that all it is?” Drew’s face softened
and he wrapped his arms around her. She felt him relax as she
leaned into his chest. “You’ve made up an entire life for me in
your head...that pretty little head. Don’t cry, I don’t want you to
cry.” He kissed the side of her cheek. “There is no second life.
This is the only one I want...with you. Besides, didn’t I need to
die so I could come to the future to be with you?” Drew took her
hand and brought it to his mouth, kissing it lightly. “My life
stopped at that moment in time and because of that, I didn’t change
history. I didn’t leave a future family behind or have any
storyline past that fateful day.”

“You’re right. I just need to be sure.”

“Anyway, shouldn’t I be in time travel
jail?” Drew playfully wiggled his eyebrows making her laugh. “I
don’t know if the time traveler is supposed to stay forever in the
time period they’re visiting. I should move on or go back to where
I came from, that’s how it’s done in the books.”

“No, you shouldn’t. You’re right where you
need to be.” Kate playfully punched him in the arm. “If anyone
should be in time travel jail, it’s my dad. He’s the biggest
offender.”

“Okay, I’ll share a cell with him.”

“Wait a minute.” Kate wrinkled her nose.
“You two wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for...”

“Carl Sr.,” they both said together.

“He’s the original, the Swedish time
traveler. Who’d have thought?” They both broke into fits of
laughter.

Kate smiled. Humor helped that very serious
situation but she had to admit sometimes their discussions got very
serious. All the time travelers were very careful not to disrupt
history when they returned to 1927. They tried their best to keep
everything the same and not cause any new events to happen. That
was a debatable point and Drew and Kate would take both sides—were
the time travelers really changing history or just observers?

“Don’t forget we’re going to the last
basketball game of the season tonight.” Kate reminded Drew after
they calmed down.

“Do I have to? Haven’t you tortured me
enough with Tyson and his basketball games?”

“I’m just trying to be a good friend. If he
doesn’t feel neglected, he’ll behave himself.”

“Lindsey says you’re too nice to him.”

“You like having Lindsey on your side, don’t
you?” Kate slid onto the couch and pulled Drew beside her.

“She’s filled me in on a lot of things.
She’s like my little sister and Jake’s my brother.”

“You miss them.”

“Maria and Freddie? Yeah, but these two will
do. Not bad replacements.” Drew chuckled.

“Don’t let them hear you say that. Lindsey’s
not anyone’s replacement.”

“I know better. Living with Anna’s
great-granddaughter has been a real treat. I still can’t believe
Anna’s alive. How old is she?”

“One hundred.”

“She’s a feisty one. Still living on the
Circle J ranch.” Drew shook his head. “Who’d a thought. Can’t wait
to see her.”

“We’ll figure out a way to get you there.
Until then, we’ve got a lot to do.”

“I know. Get ready for a basketball
game.”

When they entered the gym, Kate quickly
glanced over at the bench and spotted her former best friend. She
couldn’t believe how he’d changed...and not for the better. Tyson,
whom she’d known since she was eight, became a basketball star
overnight. That was his childhood dream and he’d fulfilled it, but
something happened to him along the way. In the summer, he said
he’d fallen in love with her and ruined their relationship by
practically forcing her to feel the same way.

Look at him, tall, tan and blond, lighter
than his natural dishwater color and now he has the whitest teeth
you ever saw. Tyson, you sold out. This is not the Ty I know.

Sitting next to him was Erin, his longtime
girlfriend. Tyson and Erin were the golden couple at school. They’d
put her through so much. Now they sat there, blonde and spray
tanned, Erin hanging onto him like she was afraid to let go. She
should be under the basket with Jordyn and the other cheerleaders
practicing before the game. It was all too sickening for Kate to
deal with. Somehow Tyson kept popping up in her life. He still came
over to confide in her, since he lived right across the street. At
least he stopped telling her he loved her and would leave Erin if
she just gave the word. That’s what made her feel sick, the
phoniness of that relationship.

To top it off, Ty was now a model. He was
discovered by a player’s mother during an Eastern Conference
basketball game. Tyson spent most of his winter weekends in New
York City and Erin tagged along a few times. That’s where they got
their new looks. Erin was a brunette with blonde highlights, but
now sported the total blonde look. She was much slimmer, not that
she needed to lose weight.

Yuk! I need to stop looking at them!
Kate was disgusted with herself because she was so preoccupied with
them. She stared straight ahead, wishing the game would start. The
sooner it began, the sooner she could go home.

* * * *

Kate’s dad planned Drew’s first trip back in
time for spring break. They would be gone awhile, taking the train
from the Grand Canyon to New York City and back. Kate knew they
would visit their families while in New York, too. Her father never
talked about his, but now that Drew was here, maybe he could find
out something. Kate’s mom, Joanna, would not share any information,
saying it was up to her dad to tell Kate what he wanted her to
know. She longed to go with them, meet her grandparents and future
in-laws but everyone agreed it was best if she waited till summer,
just like the first time she traveled to the canyon.

When the day came for them to leave, Kate
was beside herself. She was concerned something would happen and
she’d never see them again.

“Katie.” Her father put his arms around her.
“Do you trust your old dad? I’ve done this for quite awhile.”

Kate nodded through her tears. “Be safe. And
don’t forget, I want to be called Kate.”

“Oh, so you can cry and tell me off at the
same time.” He laughed and slipped his arm around her, pulling her
close. “We’ll be back before you know it.”

Spring break went by slowly. It seemed like
years since the two men left. Kate tried to keep occupied and
always had Anna to talk to when she felt alone. Although Anna was
one hundred years old, she was Kate’s best friend. They met at the
boardinghouse in 1927 and through a surprising chain of events,
found each other last year. Anna turned out to be Lindsey’s
great-grandmother, living on a ranch in Arizona with Lindsey’s
extended family. It still overwhelmed Kate whenever she thought
about the day she discovered Anna was still alive.

Kate slid into her favorite overstuffed
yellow chair and grabbed her cell from her pocket to call her. They
had so much to discuss and Kate needed Anna’s help.

“Kathryn! So good to hear from you. How is
Andrew? Is he adjusting to his new life?” Kate always loved to hear
Anna call her Kathryn. That was her name at the canyon and it
always brought back good memories.

“Well, let’s just say he’s very good at
American History. Our teacher, Coach Dallas, loves him and calls
him the expert on World War One. He doesn’t know Andrew lived
through it. I know he was a small boy but it was a big part of his
life. That’s all he heard the adults discussing. Poor Drew called
it the Great War and The War to end Wars not knowing there was a
World War Two until we told him. At least this course will fill him
in on the history he missed out on, although I hear Coach never
makes it past the Vietnam War era.”