Call of the Canyon (31 page)

“I get what you mean, Drew, it makes sense.
I see my friends here and they never grow older. It’s like they’re
just waiting here year after year for us, never aging but really
they did. They went on to have lives, families, got older. So it
would be the same for my father. We could visit him but we’d be
part of his history, just some people he remembered from the canyon
back in 1927. We wouldn’t have a place in his future. Although
that’s just a theory...”

“One we hope we never have to test out.”

“And I would try.” Her mom broke in. “I
would come back and try to bring him back to Ohio. You know it’s
not my favorite thing to do, travel back and forth in time.”

“Why, Mom, why does it scare you so
much?”

“I’m always afraid I won’t make it back
home. It always amazes me when I wake up in my own bed, in my house
in Ohio.”

“I didn’t know. I’m so sorry. I trust in the
books and never have a moment of doubt.” Kate rested her head on
Drew’s shoulder. “I love this life,” she whispered as she nodded
off to sleep.

* * * *

The afternoon train was scheduled to arrive
at four p.m. Kate and family were there to greet it. They laughed
and talked more since arriving at the canyon although Kate had to
hide the fact of how weak she felt. She put on a brave face and
clung to Drew for support. They were so sure her dad would step off
the train and when he didn’t it was quite a shock.

“No, he has to be on there.” Her mom tried
to board the train but Drew held her back.

They stood on the platform for the longest
time in disbelief, long after the last passenger left the station.
That was not the ending they expected. If Kate’s dad was on his way
back, it was too late.

“Girls, we’re heading back to the cabin for
a few hours. Then we have to make arrangements to get to the
boardinghouse and send you home.” Drew took them by the arms and
guided them toward the path to the cabin.

“No, I’m not leaving until one minute before
midnight!” Kate screamed but knew he was right.

Kate and Drew went straight to their bedroom
when they returned to the cabin. They were going to hold each other
until it was time to leave. Kate was very tired and had to fight to
stay awake.

“Talk to me, Drew. Tell me how we met,
describe our wedding,” Kate whispered. She could hear his voice in
the distance telling her all the stories of their life together. It
sounded too perfect, too magical. It shouldn’t be a story that
ended this way.

“Kate! Are you awake?” Drew sounded
concerned.

“Yes, of course, I was just enjoying the
stories,” Kate mumbled.

“Can you sit up? You’re not sick, are you?
Something else is wrong. It’s like you’re not all in this
world.”

Kate obediently sat up and smiled at Drew.
“It’s time to go, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is, love.”

They headed out of the bedroom to the main
room in the cabin. Kate’s mom was standing nervously at the door,
ready to go. Somehow Drew had Canyon and Flicka outside the
cabin.

“Flicka.” Kate hugged the horse. “Mom, she’s
gentle. Do you think you can ride her alone?”

“Yes.” She mounted the horse.

Drew pulled Kate up behind him. “Come on,
boy. We’re taking the girls home.”

The boardinghouse came into view before Kate
was ready for it. Dusk had set in and it was almost dark. Dusk had
such a different meaning this time around. It was an ending to all
things she loved. She felt Drew’s heart pounding as she clung to
his chest. He guided the horses into the barn and helped Kate and
then her mom down. Kate stumbled toward the house. Finding her too
weak to walk, Drew picked her up and carried her.

“Kate. My Kate.” He placed her on the porch.
She watched him feel in his pocket for the bracelet. “It’s still
there.” She saw how terrified he was, but didn’t let on as he
picked her up again.

Her mom snuck upstairs and Drew took Kate to
her old room. She grabbed his hand as he set her on the bed and put
the book in her arms.

“Stay with me, please, until I’m gone.” She
barely was able to whisper.

They kissed one last time, one last sweet
kiss that would have to last them a lifetime.

“Drew, go back to New York City. Marry Gia
or whomever you wish. I can’t deny you a life, I only pray you
remember me. I don’t really care what happens to me now.”

“Don’t say that, Kathryn. I would never
marry Gia or anyone else. I’m married to you.”

“You will return as a widower, Drew. That’s
what you say.”

His eyes were clouded over with pain. “I
can’t do that.”

“Yes, you can. If it helps, I will tell you
if I do live, I’ll start dating Tyson again, maybe even marry
him.”

Drew’s eyes flashed with anger.

“There’s the Drew I know. I would never do
that to you, but if it helps you forget me or be mad at me, then
pretend that’s what I’m doing.”

They touched their left hands together, their
wedding bands lightly tapping together. “Our love is across
miles...time.” Kate struggled to stay awake but she could fight it
no more.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Kate sat up
with a start. Her head felt much clearer. She looked around her
beautiful sky blue room and smiled at the butterflies. Her father
had helped her decorate the room just a few years ago. It was his
idea to mount the butterflies on the wall and now it was the last
reminder of him. Like those delicate creatures, Kate’s life would
come to a sudden end after today. It was a short life but a good
one. She smiled as she remembered the past year. She felt like she
already lived a lifetime. It was good she knew everything and
accepted her fate.

Why did she feel so normal then, so alive?
Did that mean her father was right? She survived because she came
back to the present. Kate’s stomach flipped over. Drew could have
come back with her. But she still wasn’t sure. Today was only New
Year’s Eve day. This
could
be her last day. She wouldn’t be
sure until tomorrow. Why then did she feel so full of life?

“Happy New Year!” Kate’s bedroom door flew
open and her dad’s head popped around the doorframe.

“Dad! It’s you! How is this possible?” Kate
jumped up on her bed, bouncing up and down. “No wonder I feel so
good! You weren’t on the trains. How did you make it here? Oh my
gosh, we left Drew behind.” Kate’s joy turned to anguish in a split
second and she began crying hysterically. “Dad, you didn’t know we
were there. Did you see Drew by any chance? If not, it’s too late
for him. He’s in the year 1928!”

Kate’s emotions were all over the place as
she rattled on. She wanted to laugh, cry, scream. She continued
jumping on her bed, bouncing, talking and crying all at the same
time.

“Katie, calm down. One thing at a time.
First let’s get the most important question answered.” Her dad
looked like he was grabbing someone and pulled him into view.

“Drew!” Kate flew off the bed and into his
arms.

“Happy New Year, Mrs. Martin!” Drew picked
her up and swung her around.

“All questions will be answered downstairs.
I’m hungry as a horse. I haven’t eaten in days.” Her father headed
down the stairs.

“I’ll meet you down there.” Drew pointed and
followed him down the stairs.

Kate ran to her mother’s bedroom, sobbing
with joy. “Mom, what happened?”

“I don’t really know. When I woke up, your
father was next to me. I’m just getting over the shock myself. Look
at you! Your color came back and you’re the picture of health.
Let’s get down there. I want your father to tell us everything.”
Her eyes were swollen and red, but her smile told it all.

Kate ran back to her room and threw on some
warm clothes to head downstairs with her mother. As the surprise
wore off, both women began to cry again. Kate’s dad and Drew did
their best to console them but at times they were near tears, too.
Finally, they all settled around the kitchen table to hear the
story.

“Well, first I’ll tell you how I managed to
get back here. Drew told me you received the telegram saying I was
trying to make my way back to the canyon. I made it all the way to
Chicago with some people I met in Pennsylvania. We missed the last
afternoon train that I knew I needed to be on. Because of all the
people stranded in the station, they scheduled one more train that
would get me to the canyon late in the evening. We would have
rioted if they hadn’t done something. So many people were traveling
for days, sleeping on benches and getting nowhere. I finally got in
around eleven p.m. last night...New Year’s Eve night. My heart
pounded out of my chest the whole ride there.” Kate’s dad got up
and headed for the coffee pot.

“I’ll get it. You go sit...and keep
talking.” Kate’s mom ran interference.

Her dad returned to his seat. “I immediately
headed for the boardinghouse as soon as I got off the train. My
only thought was to get back here in time. I had no idea you three
came looking for me. I only sent that telegram on a whim in case
Joanna decided to search for me. If I had known, I definitely would
have stopped at the cabin first. Luckily I ran into Andrew at the
boardinghouse or he wouldn’t be here.”

Kate gasped and grabbed Drew’s hand. “Dad
would never know we were at the cabin.”

Drew took over. “It all worked out, as you
see. You wanted me to stay with you as long as possible last night.
After you fell asleep and returned here, I just sat in your room
for a while. I was trying to picture my life without you but
couldn’t. I knew I had to leave. It was difficult. Before I left
the boardinghouse, I decided to check on Joanna. When I saw she was
gone, there was no reason to stay anymore. I was coming down the
stairs when the door flew open and Jack walked in. I almost fell
down those stairs!”

“So we went back upstairs, found our books
and here we are!” Jackson was beaming. “Let’s eat!”

“Jackson.” Kate’s mom brought the coffee to
the table. “You’re leaving out the most important part.”

“Yeah, Dad, what happened at Grandma
Lilly’s?”

All eyes were on him. “Well, I’d better
finish the story so I can have my breakfast,” he said nonchalantly.
Then he threw his hands up in the air. “I have all the answers. I
don’t like some of them, but at least I have the answers.”

Her mom walked over and put her arms around
her dad. “That’s called life, sweetheart.” And she kissed him on
the cheek.

“I guess it is. You will probably
not
be surprised to hear that Albert was the one who let the client
escape. He was in on it the whole time. This criminal was being
held behind bars while on trial because they feared he would try to
flee the country. Albert was offered a lot of money to help him
escape. That offer, combined with the fact he knew he would lose
the case one way or the other, was tempting. In a weak moment, he
took the bribe and everything was set into motion. Father found out
just as it was going down, stepped in and took the fall. The client
got away and Father was sent to prison as his accomplice. The
judicial system wanted to make sure someone paid the price. This
criminal was someone they wanted behind bars and had the evidence
to put him there.”

Everyone sat staring at Kate’s dad,
mesmerized by his story. “Did everyone hear me? My father took the
fall!” He pounded on the table and they all jumped.

“That’s what we do for our children.” Her
mom took his hand. “Didn’t we do everything we could for our
child?”

He nodded, rubbing his hand over his face.
“When I went to see Father in prison he said he’d lived his life
and it was a good one. He told me to stop pursuing evidence and
leave things as they were. He didn’t want Albert to suffer for one
mistake. Do you believe that? He willingly went to prison for him.
Then he gave Albert his blessing to run the law firm and wished him
well. Father never expected him to neglect the family, neglect
mother. He kept telling me the sentence was only ten years and he
would be out sooner on good behavior and make everything right. I
didn’t have the heart to tell him he’d never make it out of prison.
I’m slowly preparing mother for that idea.”

“So what was Albert’s excuse for deserting
the family?” Kate’s mom prodded him to continue.

“Al broke down on Christmas Eve when he and
I were alone. He finally confessed everything. He was ashamed and
embarrassed and said he couldn’t look Mother in the eye. He feared
she’d see the truth and be disappointed. So he stayed away. I made
him promise he would be there for her in the years to come, whether
I was around or not. He said he would and I believe him.”

“Did you tell Grandma Lilly the truth?” Kate
held her breath.

“I’m leaving that up to Albert. Hopefully,
he’ll be able to tell her one day. At least I know the truth and my
father dies in jail believing he did the right thing.”

“Albert does have two sons, Jack. They help
make the law firm what it is today.” Drew knew more about the
business than what he told Kate. She was a little surprised by that
fact. “The name’s still on the building, Woods and Associates. Your
father would be proud.”

“Yes, I believe he would. I guess I have to
close that chapter of my life now. It’s not the way I would have
chosen to end it, but it’s the only ending there is.”

“There is one chapter with a happy ending.”
Kate pointed out. “Us!”

“Yes, Kate.” Her dad laughed. “It’s the best
chapter in my life.”

* * * *

Kate couldn’t wait to talk to Anna and
Lindsey. She would call Lindsey first and tell her a simple house
party was all she could handle knowing Lindsey would
understand.

“Kates!” Lindsey sobbed into the phone.
“You’re alive!”

“Of course I am, silly.” Then Kate stopped.
“Anna told you, didn’t she?”