Waiting for Dusk (29 page)

“Come back and I’ll have lunch ready for the
two of you.” He called after her.

Katie couldn’t run fast enough. She waited
too long for this moment. The Studio came into view. She hoped Drew
was there. Katie didn’t take time to look around or gaze into the
canyon. Her mind was focused on only one thing. Drew. As she got
closer, she saw a familiar figure. The dark hair caught her
attention first. Then those eyes met hers. Katie continued to run,
feeling like she was in a movie. Her feet just kept moving as if
someone else was controlling them. The young man began to run, too,
and she heard her name being called out.

The next thing Katie knew, she was in Drew’s
arms again, and he was swinging her around in the air.

“Drew, Drew, put me down.” She was a little
light-headed and did not want to discuss the concussion with
him.

“I didn’t think I’d see you until later.”

They sat down right where they were to catch
their breath. Their eyes locked, soaking in the essence of each
other. For Katie, all was right with the world for now. She reached
out her hand and placed it on Drew’s cheek.

“It is so good to see you,” she leaned
forward and kissed him.

Drew stood up and pulled Katie to her feet.
“Let me go tell them that I’m taking a long break and I’ll be
back.”

Katie decided to walk back to El Tovar
knowing Drew would catch up with her. Before long, they were both
sitting on the porch of the hotel, talking about their time
apart.

Drew told her about his studies and playing
sports. He was the football team’s quarterback last year but gave
that up after planning on being at the canyon for a longer time
this year. “I couldn’t let my teammates down so I stepped aside.
They asked me to still be on the team and play when I could, not as
quarterback though. Since I missed summer practice and some games I
thought it wasn’t fair but they insisted. It kept me busy so I
wasn’t always thinking of you.

Also I’m planning a trip down the Colorado
soon. I’ve been practicing this summer with the men at base camp.
Thomas and I may go off on Friday for one more short practice run.
Now, what about you? What did you do that you were too busy to
write?”

“Drew, stop teasing. I did write to you,
almost every day. I brought all the letters with me.”

Drew looked lovingly at her, “I can’t wait to
read them.”

“I pretty much did the same as you. I went to
school and did my homework.”

“That can’t be all, come on, I want to hear
more.”

Katie told him about trying out for the
cheerleading squad and how she thought Erin didn’t want her on the
team. She told him all about Jordyn and Lindsey, her best friends.
She explained how she grew up with Tyson and how he was now the
star of the basketball team. “Ty asked me to Homecoming...”

“Homecoming?” Drew said it as if he didn’t
quite understand.

“Yes, it’s a weekend when alumni come back
for a football game and ...”

“I know what Homecoming is. I’m just
surprised you could go out with another man.”

“He’s not a m-man,” Katie stuttered. “He’s a
teenage boy and a friend.”

“He must like you if he asked you to
Homecoming,” Drew seemed agitated.

“But I don’t like him; I only care about him
as a friend. He got a little carried away. He thinks he’s in love
with me. Tyson is immature and very emotional; he will get over
it.”

“Did he try to kiss you?” Andrew took a deep
breath.

“Yes, he did, he did kiss me,” Katie knew
that sounded bad.

Andrew put his head in his hands. “I thought
you loved me, Kate. I thought we had something special.”

“I do...we do,” Katie pulled at his hands.
“Look at me. I’m here. I came all this way for you. I don’t care
about Ty. I thought it was just a casual date to the dance. Please
believe me!”

Drew took Katie into his arms. “I don’t want
to be jealous or have a jealous relationship. I want us to be a
couple forever.”

Katie wanted that too. She was so choked up
she couldn’t answer him. She only could hold on tightly.

“Come on,” Drew took her by the hand and they
went around to the back of the hotel to the kitchen door. “I’m
starving and I’m sure my good friend has lunch ready.”

Thomas came to the door and handed Drew a
pail with a cloth napkin over it. “Enjoy, you two.”

They strolled for awhile talking about
nothing important. Relieved to have her Andrew back, Katie hoped he
understood. She didn’t explain things very well and would like to
start over from the beginning but there wasn’t time. Instead, Katie
told Drew about visiting the ranch in October with her friend,
Lindsey. She wanted to tell him about Anna but didn’t think he
would believe her.

“What if I told you I was from the future?”
Katie baited him.

“I would think you are half crazy but the
other half was quite beautiful.”

“No, really, would you believe me?”

“Yes, I would believe you. Didn’t Jules Verne
write Journey to the Center of the Earth and H.G. Wells, The Time
Machine? Those books are thought provoking.”

“Then you are a student of science fiction?”
Katie hoped that would help him understand.

“Is that what you call it? Well, yes, I am.
Who knows what can happen in life?” Drew sat down on a grassy spot
in the sun. “Are you ready to eat lunch?”

It was a perfect day for Katie. She could not
have imagined it any better. She was so happy to see Drew and so in
love. Schoolgirl crushes came and went and this was not one of
those.

When they were done, the couple walked back
to the barn where Drew kept his horse. The sun was lower in the sky
and he wanted to get Katie back to the boardinghouse.

The ride was wonderful. Katie’s arms were
around Drew’s waist, and she rested her head on his back. The word
perfect kept popping into her head.

They arrived too soon; the ride went so
quickly. Drew jumped off his horse, and Katie slid into his arms.
They kissed for a long time, and Katie did not want him to
stop.

“I have something for you,” Drew went to his
saddle bag and pulled out a long, blue velvet box.

“Here, put these in your bag.” Katie pulled
her letters out from her jacket pocket.

Drew put the letters in the bag, and turned
to Katie. “Since you said you never would take the necklace off, I
got you something different.”

Katie slowly opened the box and inside was a
charm bracelet. Two charms were on it, a crescent shaped moon and a
star. “Oh, Drew, it’s beautiful,” Katie loved the charms he had
chosen.

“The moon is to remind you I’m always here
for you. I added the star because you are my shining star. I would
give you the moon and the stars, if I could. I hope to add more
charms in the future. This is just the beginning,” he kissed her
softly.

“Would you put it on for me?” Katie couldn’t
wait to wear the bracelet. She held out her left arm. Drew clipped
it on, and slid his hand into hers. “What’s this?”

She felt him tap something on her ring
finger. She looked down at her hand and gasped. There on her left
ring finger was the tiny diamond promise ring that Tyson gave her
the night of Homecoming. “I don’t know what that is. I don’t know
how it got there! Drew, you have to believe me!” Tears began to
fill her eyes.

“Believe you? I don’t know what to believe!
You don’t know how that got there? Did that Tyson fellow buy this
for you?”

“Yes, yes, he did.”

“So if he bought you a ring like this and
you’re wearing it on your left hand, it must be pretty serious,”
Andrew yelled.

“No, it’s not like that at all,” Katie was
panicking. She felt like Drew was not listening to her.

“All this time I loved you and you were
playing me for a fool. Was I just a summer fling?” Drew had tears
in his eyes.

“No! I did not play you for a fool. It’s hard
to explain,” Katie stumbled over her words.

“It’s not that hard to explain. You have a
boyfriend back home and one here. Well, this one is leaving.
Good-bye, Kate.” Drew started walking away from her and then turned
back. “I’m setting you free. Do what you need to do. Maybe if I let
you go now, maybe someday...someday you will come back to me.” He
got on his horse and rode away.

“Drew, wait a minute, don’t go!” Katie
sobbed. She fell to the ground wailing.

It was all so confusing, and then she
remembered Tyson was in her room on Tuesday afternoon when she woke
up and was standing by her desk. She had put the ring box in the
top drawer of the desk when he wouldn’t take it back after
Homecoming. He must have found it, and slipped the ring on her
finger when she was asleep.

Finally Katie sat up. She ran to the barn and
saddled up Flicka. She would find Drew and explain. She could fix
this.

Katie stopped at El Tovar, and Thomas said he
hadn’t seen Drew although she knew he had. He was just being a good
friend. She went to all the spots Drew loved and couldn’t find him
anywhere.

As she rode around looking for him, Katie
began to feel a little angry. Drew hadn’t let her explain or finish
what she was saying. Why were men like that? She would let him cool
off for a day or two and then come looking for him again.

She decided to stay home and not come back
for Thanksgiving although she’d love to share it with Molly,
Ruthie, Anna and Mr. and Mrs. Johansson. It was probably better
this way; she’d just want to find Drew the whole time she was here.
It was better to stay away.

The sun started to set and Katie knew she
needed to get back to the boardinghouse but first there was
something important she had to do. She slid off Flicka, tied her up
and ran to the canyon’s rim. She took the ring off her finger, and
threw it as hard as she could into the air. Good-bye, Tyson,
good-bye for good.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Katie woke up with a
start. She flung the blankets back and jumped out of bed. She
looked over at the bed and saw a large lump. Lindsey! Oh my gosh, I
completely forgot about her!

She knew she had to wake her up and get her
out of her bedroom. “Linds, Lindsey, wake up!” Katie shook her.

“Katie, you’re back. Oh, what a night! You
really leave you know. That was weird. I’m still trying to process
it all. Your parents are still on patrol, too. I had to sleep the
whole night under the blankets with my head covered.”

“I’ll make this up to you, I will. You’re the
best friend anyone could have,” Katie sat back down on the bed.
“Now you have to get out.”

Seeing the humor in that statement after all
she went through, Katie picked up her pillow and lightly hit
Lindsey with it. They both started laughing. Lindsey put a call
into Jordyn and made arrangements to be picked up. While Lindsey
got ready, Katie filled her in on what happened.

“So Drew is mad at you. You can take care of
it when you go back,” Lindsey was supportive. “I think giving him a
few days to cool off is a good idea. And what’s up with Tyson? I
knew something was going on when I found him in your room while you
were sleeping. He’s turning into an obsessed stalker!”

Katie may have agreed with her before the
time travel, but didn’t now. She just felt sorry for him. She
remembered how Lucinda felt about Daniel, and this helped her
understand his situation.

Katie slowly opened her door and looked
around. “I think my parents are gone. That’s strange.”

Lindsey threw on her black hood, ran down the
stairs and out the door. Katie saw a note on the kitchen counter.
It said they were out Thanksgiving shopping and would be back in an
hour.

Katie planned to sleep the day away. She
wasn’t in the mood for small talk with her parents. They would let
her sleep because of the accident. She would come down for dinner,
then back to bed. Somehow she would get through the next day with
the family, too. Katie intended on leaving Thanksgiving night and
wasn’t going to try to cover it up. Lindsey did not need to sleep
in her bed again. Her plan was to talk to her father on Thursday
night to finish the conversation they started in the hospital, then
leave for the canyon.

* * * *

Katie got through Wednesday with no problem
as planned. Her parents reacted exactly as she thought they would
and left her alone.

Now Thanksgiving was here and became another
task for her to complete before dusk. She heard voices downstairs
that sounded like Grandma Sandra and Grandpa Mitch. They always
came over early to help with the dinner. Her uncles and families
were coming this year and the house would be filled with people.
That might be a good distraction.

Katie got ready and went downstairs. “Hi,
Grandma, Grandpa.”

“How’s our little angel?” Grandpa Mitch
sounded a little worried.

“I’m fine, Grandpa, really.” Katie liked his
big bear hugs, feeling safe and loved.

The doorbell rang and Katie walked to the
door and opened it. It was Tyson.

“Hi, you got a minute?”

Katie stepped out on the front porch. “I
don’t know if I do. That was pretty sneaky slipping that ring on my
finger.”

“So did it work?”

“Work? You mean have Drew see it and get
angry? Yes, it worked.”

“Good, then he’s out of our lives.”

“No, he isn’t, I’m going to fix this. This
doesn’t change anything.”

“Katie, I love you!” Ty didn’t seem to be
hearing her.

“I know you do and I understand that. You
have to realize I just don’t love you that way. I hope one day we
can be friends again.”

“I hope we can, too,” Tyson rubbed her arms.
“You’re cold. You better get inside. Thanks for putting up with
me.”

Katie went back in the house. Everyone looked
at her, but Katie didn’t say a word. Grandma Sandra walked over and
guided her to the sofa. “You just rest on the couch and we’ll do
all the work this year. Can I get you anything?”