Call of the Canyon (9 page)

There was a light tap at the door and her
mom peeked in. “Oh, you are awake. I just heard from your father
and they’re about three hours away, thought you’d like to
know.”

“Thanks, Mom. By the way, I didn’t know I
had an uncle.” Kate made the remark sound as casual as she
could.

“You have lots of uncles, honey. That’s a
strange thing to say.” Kate’s mom looked at her with curious
eyes.

“I mean an Uncle Albert.”

“Oh, so you’ve been doing some digging. I
guessed you eventually would.” She walked into the room and sat
down in Kate’s yellow chair.

“Do you want to tell me why good ol’ Uncle
Al kicked grandpa out of the law firm?”

“Your father’s not going to like this, but
you’ll find out, anyway. Your grandfather was in jail.”

“What? He was in jail?” Kate was shocked.
“What did he do?”

“Nothing. He was wrongly accused. Your
father’s been trying for years to prove he’s innocent. Something
always gets in the way.”

“Mom, you’d better start from the beginning
because I’m confused...and don’t leave anything out.”

Her mom ran her hand through her hair like
she was deep in thought. She hesitated and then said, “After your
father graduated from college, he planned to be a writer, as you
know. He wanted to travel the country, write about things he
discovered and share them with his readers. Jackson got a job with
a magazine based in New York City. They paid for his travels. His
brother was more driven, wanting to make the family law firm the
most successful in the state of New York. Albert always tried to
get high profile cases and made sure he won them, regardless if the
clients were guilty or not. The firm became well-known as the place
to go. Very powerful people became linked to Woods and Associates.
Your grandfather didn’t want to go along with the concept, but gave
in to Albert. After all, it was his son.” Her mom sighed and stared
around the room.

“Go on. I can’t wait to hear the rest.”

“Albert argued they needed the publicity in
order to keep current and expand the firm. Robert agreed to let
Albert defend the big cases with conditions. He would have to be on
the legal team, too. They became a very good father/son duo and
their reputation grew. There was this huge murder case. The
defendant was very rich and had connections to the mob world. He
was found guilty but escaped...never to be found. Robert was
accused of assisting in the escape and sentenced to ten years in
jail. Meanwhile, your father had become an author and had just
started to build his career. He returned home to help his mother
clear his father’s name. His brother did nothing to help. Albert
cut ties with the family and distanced himself from his mother,
never to see her again. He continued to run the law firm until his
death.”

“What about Grandpa? What happened to him
after he got out of jail?” Kate was shocked she never heard any of
that before.

“He never got out of prison, Kate. He
contracted pneumonia and wasn’t taken to the infirmary until it was
too late. He died after serving five years of his sentence.”

Kate gasped. “How did Dad take it?”

“He was all the more determined to clear his
father’s name and get him out of jail before he died. When I met
your dad, Robert was in prison for a little over a year. Remember,
it was still 1927 in your father’s mind. He had time to get his
father out of jail. He told me a lot about the situation our first
year together. I encouraged him to find out what happened. If he
knew his father was released from prison, he could stop feeling
guilty for coming to the present.

“Jackson began researching old newspapers
and found out his father died in 1931. Because of that, he’s made
it his life’s work to free his father before then. He’s accumulated
a lot of evidence over the years and passed it along to his mother
when we visit each fall. It seems like it’s never enough to help.
That’s another reason Jackson and Andrew went to New York. Your
father hopes, with his help, to discover a new lead after all this
time.”

“But Dad’s father is still going to die,
isn’t he?”

“He feels like his father may not die if he
wasn’t in prison. He’d get help sooner or may not contract
pneumonia.”

“Then I want to help, too. Tell me something
I can do.” Kate was already planning a strategy in her head.

“That’s very sweet of you. Just be
supportive for now.”

“I have another question. How can Dad pass
along information to his mom without her knowing about time
travel?”

“He didn’t tell his mother anything at
first. She was so desperate to get Robert out of jail. Lilly’s a
smart woman and had a sixth sense about her son and what he was up
to. Jackson’s main concern was his mother was left almost penniless
after his father went to jail. He became the breadwinner of the
family during those years. Albert did nothing to help and would
never even take your dad’s calls. Jackson knew he wouldn’t be there
to support Lilly after 1927 so he told her about the time travel.
He left all his royalties from his books to her. She never would
have accepted otherwise. Plus she knows he’s alive and well. Lilly
even knows she has a granddaughter.”

“She knows about me!” Kate started to cry.
“Did I hear you say
you
go to visit every year in the fall?
I thought you said you stayed here and never went back after I was
born.”

“Yes, I did say that. We didn’t want you to
ask any questions. I only go on that trip so it stays consistent.
The funny thing is every time we go back, Lilly already has a
memory of me and of some of the things we talked about in the past.
We only need to tell her new information. I take her pictures of
you. She loves you very much.”

Kate curled up on the bed and cried harder.
“This isn’t fair! I want to meet her. I want to help my
grandfather.”

Her mom came over and sat on the bed. “I
didn’t tell you this to make you sad. I wanted you to understand
why your father’s so intense and so protective of the family.
Everything we do is out of our love for you and each other.” She
rubbed Kate’s back until she calmed down.

Finally able to sit up, Kate thought about
everything she’d learned. “Well, that answers my question.” She
said it to no one in particular. Her mother looked at her
strangely.

Kate decided to wait and discuss her
revelation with Drew or her dad. If her grandmother had memories
then her three friends at the canyon did, too. They already knew
her although she showed up a day late. They had a memory of meeting
her on that first day, whether she was there or not.

All of the sudden, they heard a voice
downstairs. “Where are my girls? We’re home!” It was her dad which
also meant Drew was there.

Kate jumped up, but her mother grabbed her
by the arm to stop her from leaving. “Don’t say anything for now.
Let me talk to your father first.”

“Okay, Mom, I won’t.” She hugged her mother
and the two went downstairs to greet the men in their lives.

When Kate saw Drew she flew into his arms.
“Can he stay over tonight?” She gave her father puppy dog eyes. Her
parents let him sleep in the guest room on most weekends so Kate
knew it really wouldn’t be a problem.

“Yes, but first come over and give your dad
one of those hugs.”

Kate bounced over to her father and hugged
him tightly. “I love you so much, Daddy!”

“What brought that on?”

“Nothing, I just want you to know that.”
Kate grabbed Drew’s hand. “Is it alright if we go and catch
up?”

Her dad wrapped his arm around her mom’s
waist. “Go ahead. I have my own catching up to do. Dinner in an
hour, everyone.”

Kate dragged Drew up the stairs to her room.
“First things, first.” Kate jumped on the bed and pulled him down
next to her. They kissed for a very long time and although Kate did
not want to stop, she had important business to discuss with her
soon-to-be 1927 husband.

“Drew, I know everything. I know why you
went to New York. I want to help. Tell me what you found out.” It
all came out in fast short breaths.

“Kate, calm down. Let me look at you first.
I know we saw each other last night but I still feel like I’ve been
away for a long time.” He held her by her shoulders and then kissed
her forehead. “Now, go ahead, but a little slower, please.”

“My mom just told me about my Grandfather
Woods. I was doing a little research on the internet and she knew
it was just a matter of time before I found out. I don’t know why I
didn’t think of it before. She said Dad took you to New York hoping
to get a fresh point of view on this whole mystery. So tell me, did
you help my dad?”

“Yeah, I think I can help him and your
grandfather.”

Kate threw her arms around him. “I knew it!
I knew you could.”

“Wait a minute. I said I think I can. Here’s
my idea. Albert Woods was a customer at Martin’s Menswear. I think
I can get my dad to put a little pressure on Albert to visit the
family. Jack wants to be able to confront him with the evidence he
has and also find out why he’s turned his back on not just his
father but the whole family. Jack plans a Christmas reunion, hoping
Al will feel nostalgic and want to be with family. Lilly invites
Albert, his wife and sons every year, but he declines.”

“The holidays would be lonely without
family.” Sadness overwhelmed Kate as she thought of her grandmother
alone on that day.

“Your father’s always ready to go at a
moment’s notice if Albert accepts. Your dad knows he would miss
Christmas here, but Joanna and Jack have an agreement...this is
more important. So, every year, the week before Christmas, Jack
goes to the canyon, waits for a telegram from his mother and then
returns to Ohio. If the telegram ever said Albert was coming for
Christmas, Jack would be on the first train out of Arizona headed
for New York City.”

“Telegram...?”

“Gosh, Kate, you don’t know what a telegram
is? It’s a message that’s wired to someone long distance using a
telegraph machine. The operator receives the message, writes it
down and it’s delivered to the recipient. That was one of the best
ways to communicate in the olden days.” Drew made air quotes as he
said the word olden.

“Give me a break! I know what a telegram is.
I just had to think about it.” Kate laughed and continued. “So how
can your father make Albert visit his mother? It doesn’t sound like
anything’s worked so far.” Kate didn’t think someone who owned a
clothing store could make Albert do anything.

“My father has lots of clients and knows
many people in New York City, if you know what I mean.” Drew looked
directly at Kate with wide open eyes.

“No, I don’t know what you mean.”

“Let’s say these men are connected.”

“Connected to what?”

“Do I have to spell it out for you, Kate?
The mob.”

“Ooh.” She put her hand on her forehead.
“Your dad is in the mob.”

“No, I didn’t say that. I just said he knows
some people that could help the situation. Plus I think my dad has
sent people to Albert’s firm and
he’s
a client. I just found
that out during our research. Albert might owe him.”

“It’s a small world! Who would have thought
our families would know each other.” Kate saw how it could work
out. “So you need to get back to New York in the past and talk to
your father. While you’re there, could you invite them to our
wedding?”

Drew’s eyes lit up. “You were making plans
while I was gone?”

“Yes, and that’s the next thing we’re going
to talk about.” Kate grabbed her laptop. All her notes and pictures
were on it. She wanted to show Drew everything.

“I picked my colors and flowers.” Kate
clicked on the picture of the purple lilacs.

“I love it and you.” Drew pulled her next to
him. “How could I ever live without you?”

“Drew, I’m not going anywhere. You don’t
have to ever live without me. Hey, did you have another one of
those dreams?”

“Actually, I did while we were in New York.”
Drew’s mood changed to serious. “They’re becoming more frequent
now. I have it about once a week. I think the canyon is calling to
me, Kate. It knows I escaped and wants me back.”

“Drew, stop it. You’re scaring me.”

“It scares me too.” He was silent for a long
time. “I keep trying to figure out how to stop the dreams. There
doesn’t seem to be a way.”

Kate’s phone rang with the Carl music. “I
have to get this. I’m going to tell Carl we’re postponing the trip
until tomorrow. You need some time to unwind.”

“Thanks, babe.” Drew kissed her cheek and
left the room.

“Carl!” Kate tried to sound normal but was
still upset over Drew’s dream.

“What’s wrong?”

She could tell Carl sensed something was not
right. “Nothing, I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not. Spill.”

“It’s not me. It’s Drew.”

“Did he do something to you? If so, I’m
coming over there and...”

“Stop being the Carl police. I don’t know if
I should tell you because it’s his dream...”

“Dream?”

Kate went on to describe the dream to Carl.
“Well, what do you think?”

“It could be a message.”

Kate was surprised by his answer. “A message
about what?”

“That someone needs to die in the river that
day.”

Kate shivered. “Now you’re scaring me! Don’t
say that! It was just a dream!”

“Calm down. I agree, it was just a dream.
Call me tomorrow and we’ll set things up for my trip.”

“Yes, I will. I think we need to get back
there and see that everything’s the same.” Kate hung up her phone
and headed down to join the family.

Everyone was on the deck, talking and
laughing and enjoying the warm summer weather. Looking at the scene
in front of her, Kate thought it was a little too perfect and
shivered again.