Call of the Canyon (6 page)

“I kept trying to have you meet him and you
keep avoiding it. Jackson Roberts is Jack Woods, still hard to
believe.”

“I knew he saw me that day!” Then Kate
became more serious. “Thank goodness he didn’t stop me from coming
back to you. You wouldn’t be here today.”

The couple sat silently, holding hands,
looking out at the canyon, their magical, wondrous canyon. This was
the most relaxed Drew looked all day.

* * * *

The birthday party was scheduled the day
before the return to Ohio. Anna filled Kate in on the details. She
invited the Cooks who were friends of the family, and the Hastings
for the big day. Henrietta and Lucy Hasting were Lucinda’s
daughters. Amy, Anna’s daughter-in-law, was their younger sister.
It made them aunts to Anna’s grandchildren. Besides that, they were
Joanna and Kate’s cousins. Anna wanted to make it a big family
gathering for Kathryn because she loved them all so much. She
included Charlie on the guest list for Lindsey. Nothing ever got by
Anna.

Anna ordered two separate cakes for the
party and they were delivered that morning. Because the girls loved
horses, it became the theme for the party. Anna told Kate she had
so much fun planning the party she almost forgot she turned one
hundred last October. When Kathryn was around, she felt like she
was eighteen again.

Upstairs, Lindsey and Kate were trying on
different cowgirl shirts. They couldn’t make up their minds if they
wanted to be cute or sexy cowgirls. Aunt Sue took the girls
shopping for hats and boots as their gift. Boxes were scattered on
the floor, filled with what they bought.

“I can’t believe I have to go home and won’t
see you all summer, Linds!” Kate stuck out her lower lip in a pout.
“You’ve done this for so many summers we never get to hang
out.”

“But look what happened last summer because
you were bored. Your mother gave you the book to read and your
whole life changed. You had an adventure of a lifetime. Come to
think of it, you still are.” Lindsey put her arm around Kate. “I
like my hat better!” She grabbed it out of the box and placed it on
her head.

Lindsey’s hat was basic black with a twist.
A thin leatherette band shaped like a belt with tiny clear
rhinestones, traveled around the crown. Her white shirt, skinny
jeans and black boots completed the outfit. She twirled around in
front of Kate.

“Wow, I hope I look that good when I’m
ready!” Kate fumbled with her shirt trying to tuck it into her
tight blue jeans. She wanted to get a pink cowgirl hat but Drew
told her to not come back with pink, any color but that. As soon as
she got to the store, Kate knew which one she wanted. She picked a
turquoise hat, the color of the Arizona sky. Drew agreed it was
perfect. Her tan boots completed her look. Both Lindsey and she
agreed on white shirts although they picked different styles.
Kate’s was silk twill with a western front and back yokes. She felt
it was simple, yet elegant.

“Ooh, we’re two of the baddest cowgirls on
Circle J ranch!” Lindsey grabbed Kate and they ran down the
stairs.

Everyone at the party was wearing cowboy
hats and boots, some were brand new—like Kate’s mom and dad—and
others were worn with age. Kate loved that Anna was decked out for
the occasion, hat and all. She ran to her and gave her a giant
hug.

“I love it, Anna. It’s so unbelievable you
did all this. Thank you.”

She spotted Thomas Cook coming in the door
with his family and ran to greet them. “Hi, I’m Kate. We met last
October at Anna’s birthday.” Kate put out her hand and tried to be
a little more formal than when they first met.

“Of course, we remember you, Kate. I don’t
get a big ol’ hug this time?” Thomas teased. She hugged him and
then his wife and even Dante, who stayed really stiff during the
hug. “Come on, I want you to meet my boyfriend, Drew Kelly.”

She was ready to run interference if Drew
came on too strong. She saw his eyes light up at the sight of his
old friend, really his old friend’s grandson. Kate motioned to Drew
to come over.

“Drew, this is Thomas Cook. I told you I met
him last year.”

Drew shook hands a little too long, but Kate
didn’t think anyone noticed. Dante went off to find Brandon.
Thomas’ wife talked with Aunt Sue. Kate slipped away letting Drew
have Thomas to himself. She reminded him to take lots of pictures
and hoped he’d get one of Thomas. Then she had a brilliant idea,
she would take one of the two of them as a surprise. It was the
closest thing he had to getting his old friend back.

Retta and Lucy Hasting came in without Kate
noticing so she rushed up to greet them when she spotted them. “I’m
so happy to see you. I know Mom and Dad came over to see you
earlier in the week. I’m sorry I couldn’t make it.” She pointed to
her outfit. “I was shopping.”

The two older women admired her outfit and
asked the appropriate questions. Kate made small talk but was dying
to drag them over to Drew. It would just have to wait until later.
They were Lucinda and Henry’s daughters. It would be a special
surprise.

Anna pulled Kate aside. “I have a special
birthday present I want to give you.”

“The party’s enough, Anna.”

“I think you’ll like it. I came up with a
solution to your problem.”

“Oh, you have. So this is a different kind
of present.” Kate smiled at her.

“Yes, you should get married here at the
ranch.” Anna seemed proud of herself.

“I’m not getting married. I’m only
seventeen. I’m waiting until I’m done with college. You know that.”
Kate was a little disappointed.

“No, you’re not hearing me. Get married here
at the ranch.”

“Yes, I think I heard you correctly,” Kate
laughed.

“Not
now
, back in 1927. I’m sure I
will help you,” Anna explained.

“Ooh, that
is
different. If Drew
thinks we’re married, then he would...” Kate didn’t finish because
she knew Anna understood. “It’s not like a real marriage. It would
be Kathryn Roberts marrying Andrew Martin in 1927, not Andrew Kelly
in the present.”

“Yes, exactly right. Then if Drew thinks or
feels like you’re married, then...” Anna did not finish either.

“Anna, you’re a genius! I’ll get on this
right away. This was the best birthday ever!”

The day sadly came to an end. Thomas and
Drew promised to keep in touch. The Hasting cousins loved Drew and
said next time everyone should stay with them. Kate found a way to
take the picture of Thomas and Drew showing it to him after
everyone left.

“Thank you, Kate! I love you! Happy
birthday!” Drew handed her his present.

“I love you, too.” Kate took his gift and
then said, “I have a present for you as well. I will marry you
sometime this year.”

“Did I just hear that right?” Drew picked
Kate up, swung her around in the air and gave out the loudest
cowboy whoop that made everyone come running.

“Everything’s fine,” Kate announced. “We’re
just having some western fun!” She knew only certain people could
be in on the final plan and hadn’t told Drew the details.

They went outside so she could open her
present. It was a tiny box. Kate hoped Drew didn’t get the dreaded
ring. Slowly, she opened it and couldn’t believe her eyes. Drew
was, again, the most thoughtful man in the world. “You got me
another horse. Canyon, right?”

“That’s right. Now let’s plan our wedding.”
She eased into his arms and he kissed her softly as the sun set
behind them. Kate couldn’t think of a better way to end her
birthday.

Chapter Four

The trip home
was uneventful, except for the fact Drew wanted to talk about
Thomas and the wedding the whole way home.

“You go first.” Kate told him. She wanted to
save the announcement that they’d get married in 1927, not the
present, until last.

“Thomas is a great guy. He’s so much like
his grandfather. I wish I could tell him. He knew all about me. Did
you know that? He told me how his grandfather had a best friend,
Andrew, who died at a young age. Lost to the river, he said. It’s
hard to hear about your own death.”

Kate slipped her hand into his as he
continued on. “He knew about my cabin and how Thomas and I did
everything together when we could. Thomas worked a lot... oh,
forgot you knew that. The sad thing was my friend blamed himself
for my death. He said he should have gone with or at least stopped
me. I feel bad about that, Kate. It was my own stupidity and
stubbornness. He takes no responsibility for that.”

“No, he doesn’t. You can make it right.”

“I plan on it. He also said Rachel and his
grandfather got married during that Christmas season. Surprised
they married so soon. He was still saving up for the ring, as far
as I can remember.”

“I remember Thomas telling me he was working
that day to get money for the ring. The day I came back to look for
you.”

“Rachel and Thomas end up having three
children, Josie, Thomas, and Deborah. The girls are still living,
only Thomas’ father has passed. I’m still having trouble wrapping
my head around it. It’s strange to know everyone’s future.”

“But it’s really their past, Drew.” Kate
could see it from both perspectives. It was funny her dad and Drew
referred to this as the future. She hoped in time, Drew would
embrace living in the present and feel like it was normal.
Obviously, her father hadn’t done that yet. The trip and having
Drew there may help him.

“Now, let’s talk about our wedding. How
about next summer, after we graduate?”

“Well...that’s not exactly what I had in
mind.” Kate looked down at her hands. “I was thinking late summer.
Anna offered for us to get married at the ranch.”

“Really? And you’re okay with that?” Drew’s
expression changed to one of shock.

“Yes, because we’re getting married in
1927.” Kate watched for his reaction. He didn’t say anything for a
few minutes and she couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

“I like it. It’s like we’re married, but
we’re not.” Drew said more to himself than to her.

“Exactly! It’s perfect, isn’t it?” Kate was
glad he understood. “I was thinking we can’t get married before my
great-great aunt Lucinda. She needs her moment at Circle H with
Henry. It has to be after that. Since she got married on September
third, I think mid-September would be a good time for a
wedding...as summer turns to fall.”

“We have some planning to do, don’t we?”
Drew looked as if he was thinking about things, too. “And we’ll
only make love in the past...that would have to be part of the
agreement.”

“Drew! You’re so exasperating! Fine, if
that’s what you want.” Kate thought she could change his mind at a
later date. “We’ll tell my parents when we get home... and Maya and
Carl. Oh, I almost forgot, I have to call Lindsey. She’ll want to
be there...but there’s no way she can come.”

“There might be a way. Let’s think about
it.” Drew looked out the window of the plane. “Looks like we’re
about to land. We’re home, Kate.”

* * * *

Kate and Jordyn made plans to get together
the day after Kate returned from the ranch. Jordyn was coming over
for a girl-talk session. She had a great junior year as far as Kate
could tell, making the basketball cheerleading squad and meeting
her boyfriend, Matt Parker. They met at Kate’s back-to-school pool
party and dated ever since.

Kate was glad to have a distraction because
her dad and Drew left for another New York City trip, this time in
the present. She and her mom would have loved to tag along to
sightsee and shop, but for some reason they could tell it wasn’t
that kind of trip. The two men appreciated their understanding and
headed off without them. Still, it seemed a little mysterious to
Kate. Maybe she read too much into it.

Kate heard her mom’s voice. “Jordyn’s here.
I’m sending her up.”

“It seems like ages since I had you all to
myself!” Kate grabbed Jordyn and hugged her as she entered the
room. Jordyn didn’t seem like her usual bouncy self. “Hey, are you
okay?”

“Yeah, I’m okay. Well, not really.” She
plopped down on the bed. “We better get Lindsey on the phone before
I start spilling my guts.”

Kate quickly speed dialed Lindsey. “Hey,
guys! I’ve been waiting for this call. How’s it going back in
Ohio?”

“Lindsey, Jordyn says she has something to
tell us and doesn’t look too happy.” Kate got right to the
point.

“I’m pregnant!” Jordyn wailed.

“What?” Lindsey’s voice over the phone
sounded like she didn’t quite believe what she heard.

“I can’t say it again. You heard me!” Jordyn
cried.

“Are you sure?” Kate asked.

“Matt and I bought five pregnancy tests at
the drugstore and they all came out positive. He took me to a free
clinic and they confirmed it.”

“How far along...”

“Almost two months.” Jordyn said it like she
couldn’t believe it herself.

“So you and Matt...had...sex.” Kate
struggled with the words.

“That’s how it happens, Katie.” Jordyn let
out a sad half-laugh as she said it.

“When did you start sleeping together...?”
Kate’s head spun with the news.

“The night of Homecoming. We took you home,
remember? You just broke up with Tyson and he left you at the
dance. I was pretty upset about the whole evening. Matt was being
so sweet and it just happened.” Jordyn looked at Kate with tears in
her large brown eyes.

“Do your moms know?” Lindsey’s voice came
over the phone.

“Not yet.”

“Your moms will be great about it.” Kate
patted Jordyn’s knee.

“Yeah, they will be. They’ll probably try to
take over and have the baby for me.” Again Jordyn let out a small
laugh. “They’re so good to me, even taking me back to China to
explore my roots. Now I have to tell them that their little China
doll is pregnant!”