Waiting for Dusk (7 page)

Boring!
she thought. Maybe she could
distract Drew and he wouldn’t want to go to the lecture.

“What about that hike?” Katie asked. “We
still have time, don’t we?”

“Yes, for a short hike. Bright Angel path is
just ahead. We can have a short walk if you like.” He had a canteen
over his shoulder and patted it. “We’ll need water in this
heat.”

Kate hadn’t thought of that. It was a warm
day, and she wore more clothes than when she had come with her
parents. The khaki-color knickers, pants that billowed out and
banded at the knee, were kind of cute in an old-fashioned way. The
matching vest was worn over a white blouse. Finally, brown
knee-high boots finished the look.

Haven’t they heard of shorts and tanks in the
twenties? Katie chuckled.

“A penny for your thoughts.”

“I was just thinking that a short hike would
be just fine.”

They started down the path. Drew took out his
pocket watch. “Fifteen minutes down, then a half hour to
return.”
Katie looked a little surprised. “That long? What about fifteen
down, fifteen back?”

It was Drew’s turn to laugh. “It’s all
uphill, Kate. All uphill.”

Drew paid the gatekeeper a one dollar toll to
use the trail. He explained he was not too fond of having to pay
someone for the right to walk on a trail. The park service was
working on having the path transferred over to them, but the owner
was giving them quite a battle. The land was still part of a mining
claim owned by Ralph Cameron, a U.S. Senator, who was making things
extremely difficult. There was another trail, Kaibab Trail, built
by the park service so people had a free alternative.

“Then let’s use that one.” Kate was all for
supporting Drew’s passion about the park and also longed to tell
him that there was no longer a charge to use Angel Bright.

“That trail has no shade and I want you to be
comfortable. Plus it’s farther away. So as much as I object to the
fee, we’ll use this one.” Drew shook his head. “I’m getting a
little too serious, aren’t I? This is supposed to be your day.”

They laughed, took hold of each other’s hand
and headed off down the path. The trail was a pretty easy walk for
her. There were plenty of switchbacks that were incorporated into
the trail to make the descent easier, but also made the hike longer
to the bottom. Drew explained if they went all the way to the
bottom of the canyon, it would have been several miles of
walking.

When they returned, Kate realized she really
hadn’t looked at the sights but was focused on Drew the whole time.
She listened to his every word, his laugh, his breathing. She
looked at his face, his emerald green eyes, and his lips with just
a little fullness to them. She watched him walk, so sure-footed and
athletic.

“I’m sure you’re ready to sit down and
relax.” Drew passed the canteen to Katie so she could have a drink.
They walked along the rim trail until they reached the Studio.

Drew went inside first, and Katie followed.
There were many people already there. She strolled around looking
at photos and books for sale. Then she searched the room to locate
Drew, and found him talking to a group of people. One man came up,
slapped Drew on the back and shook his hand. The man looked oddly
familiar. In fact he looked like... her father! No, that couldn’t
be right. He looked younger but it was her father. Thankfully, he
couldn’t see her. What would she say to him? What would he say to
her? She decided to leave, and quickly went out the door.

“Kate! Kate!” She heard Drew calling. “Where
are you going?” He caught up to her.

“It was just a little stuffy in there. Would
you mind taking me home? I hope you can get back in time for the
lecture.”

“Of course, I will.” Drew was a perfect
gentleman. Katie wouldn’t mind if he was less of a gentleman.

Drew’s horse was waiting for them at the barn
behind El Tovar. Katie was surprised. “How did that happen?”

“I have friends...” he said mysteriously and
then laughed.

The ride to the boardinghouse was too short.
Katie wanted to stay with Drew but knew she didn’t want to see her
father even though it was a dream. Why couldn’t she control the
dream a little better?

Drew stopped at the far side of the barn. He
slipped off the horse, and Kate jumped into his arms. He pulled her
close and kissed her. Not like the first time when it was a short,
gentle kiss. Right then he kissed her like he would never see her
again, very unlike the kiss in the fairytales she knew as a
child.

“I will see you for lunch tomorrow, my sweet
Kate.” He whispered.

“Yes, yes you will.” Katie barely could
stand.

Drew rode off, and Katie hurried into the
house.

“Hello, you must be Kathryn,” a lovely young
woman greeted her at the door.

“Yes, yes I am.” Katie held out her hand.

“I’m Loretta, Lucinda’s sister.” The woman
turned and walked with Katie inside. “I came out early to help
Lucinda and to get fitted for my dress.”

Katie looked at Loretta and thought there was
something familiar about her. She looked like Lucinda but was a
softer, prettier version. Her hair was more of a light golden
brown.

That must be it
, she thought. She
seems familiar because she’s Lucinda’s sister. Katie felt
comfortable in her company.

“Have you heard they set a date?” Loretta
asked.

“No, no I haven’t. When is the big day?”

“The first Saturday of September.”

“Really?” Katie knew school would have
started. Plus she told Drew she would be gone. Now she had to
figure out how to come back.

Dreams! Who knew they could be so much
work!

Chapter Eleven

Katie heard loud,
muffled sounds. It almost sounded like a fight. The door to her
bedroom was closed, so she tiptoed over to open it.

“I can’t believe you let her do that, Joanna!
She’s too young, too irresponsible. She could get hurt!” It was her
father’s voice.

“She was bored, Jackson. I was trying to
think of something she could do, something that would occupy her
time,” her mother answered.

“Bored? Now you’re starting to sound just
like Katie!” He still sounded angry. Katie thought she better get
downstairs and help her mother out.

“She was only trying to make me feel better,
Dad! I only drove the Mustang around a parking lot! Geesh!” Katie
defended her mother as she bounded into the kitchen.

Jackson swung around. His expression changed
when he saw his daughter. “Pumpkin, come and give your old dad a
kiss.”

Katie ran and hugged him. It was good to see
him. On the other hand, she never heard her parents fight like
that. She was a little disturbed. “So you guys aren’t getting a
divorce or anything like that, are you?”

Jackson laughed. “No, Katie my love. I just
happened to see the mileage on the Mustang and knew it had been
driven. I was surprised to find out it was you. That’s all.”

“It was just around a parking lot.” Katie
rolled her eyes.

“She needed a distraction. You had fun,
didn’t you, Katie?” Her mom looked at her with wide eyes. Katie
knew she was looking for a diversion.

“Dad, school starts in less than two weeks.
Do you think you can give me some more driving lessons now that
you’re home? I should have my driver’s license by now.” Katie
wrapped her arms around his neck, jumped on his back and Jackson
started running around the house with her, finally dumping her on
the sofa. She looked at her mom and gave her the okay hand
signal.

“My two girls, you know how to get the best
of me,” Jackson ran back in the kitchen and gave Joanna a kiss on
the cheek. “Dinner’s on the deck tonight, girls. I’m cooking.”

Katie was happy things were back to normal.
During dinner she planned on asking her parents some questions,
being careful not to reveal too much about her dreams or who she
had met. She ran back upstairs, found her phone and made plans for
the day.

“Ty, I need something to do.”

“Come over and we’ll shoot some baskets.”

“Don’t really want to do that, how about the
mall?” Katie really wanted to shop.

“Okay, but you owe me.”

“Fine, see you in a bit.” She would make it
up to him. Maybe a quick game when they got back.

“I’ll be home in time for dinner,” Katie said
as she ran down the stairs. “Ty is taking me shopping.”

“That boy must really like you to take you
shopping.” Her father grinned as she ran by.

“Oh, Dad,” was all she could say as she went
out the door.

Tyson’s mom sat in the car, waiting to drive
them to the mall.

“Sorry about this,” Tyson whispered. “I
should have my license soon.”

“Don’t we all wish we had our licenses?”
Katie whispered back as she climbed in the car, and to his mother
she said, “Hi, Mrs. Gray. Thanks for taking us.”

Ty and Katie were soon walking around the
mall. Ty was helpful, carrying Katie’s shopping bags and waiting
for her to try on clothes.

“Aren’t you going to buy anything, Ty?” Katie
felt he should have some fun, too.

“No, I’m good. I would like a soda though,
how about a break?”

They walked over to the food court, got
something to drink and sat at a little table off in a corner.

“I want to ask you something, Katie. I know
it’s early, and school hasn’t started yet, but I didn’t want to
take any chances. Will you go to Homecoming with me?”

Katie was taken aback. Ty was right. It was a
little early. She hadn’t even thought about school or Homecoming.
She had a wedding to be in first. Plus she already had a
boyfriend...what was she thinking? She nodded her head and then
said, “Of course, I will, Ty. I’d love to go with you.”

Tyson’s mouth slowly grew into a large grin.
He slapped the table and put his arms over his head like he won a
race making Katie feel a little uncomfortable. Then he leaned over
and kissed her cheek. “Thanks, Katie, you know I love you. Do you
want to go dress shopping now?”

Katie assumed he was kidding and playfully
punched him in the arm. His arm was solid. He got more muscle at
basketball camp. She studied him carefully, and began to see him in
a new light. Her girlfriends said he was hot. Maybe she never
noticed because she always saw him as a ten-year-old boy that was
her friend. She needed to start looking at him in a different
way.

Boyfriend? Katie had trouble associating that
word with Tyson. She thought she’d try it out again in her head but
instead thought, Drew. Groaning, she put her head down on the
table.

“Katie, are you alright?”

“Yes, sorry. Just tired. Can we go home now?”
Katie sat up.

“Sure, I’ll let my mom know.” He pulled out
his phone.

They walked to the middle of the mall by the
fountain. Ty took Katie’s hand and had all of her shopping bags in
the other. It felt a little awkward, but she didn’t resist. Her
head was too cloudy, too confused.

“Sorry, kids. Didn’t mean to keep you
waiting.” Mrs. Gray hurried up to them. “I got Tyson’s text when I
was in line.”

“It’s fine, Mom. No worries.”

On the ride home, Katie made small talk with
Mrs. Gray and tried to ignore Tyson moving closer to her in the
backseat. Something didn’t add up and she couldn’t wait to get
home. She wished his mother would drive faster. Kate let out a sigh
of relief as they pulled into the Gray’s drive. As soon as the car
came to a stop, she hopped out.

Katie walked across the street to her house,
waving to both Tyson and his mother. “See you tomorrow; I’ll owe
you a game, Ty!” and quickly went in the house.

No one was around so she ran up the stairs to
her room. She threw her bags in the corner, and sat down in her
overstuffed yellow chair to think. Leaning her head back and
closing her eyes, Katie stated all the reasons why Tyson was a good
guy and would make a good boyfriend. Then she debated with reasons
to keep everything the same. The bottom line was that she liked him
as a friend; she did not like him as a boyfriend.

What was she going to do? Definitely talk to
Lindsey about everything, but it could wait till later. She was
looking forward to dinner. Katie wanted to grill her parents on the
past--their past and hers.

“Dinner,” Katie heard her father call up the
stairs. “We’ll be outside!”

Katie jumped up and headed for the backyard.
“Anything I can carry out?” she said as she slid back the screen
door to go out.

“Take this lemonade.” Her mother handed her a
pitcher. “Homemade. Just how your father likes it.”

They sat down at the table while Jackson
adjusted the umbrella so no one would have sun in their eyes.
“Great to be back with the family,” he said.

“Speaking of family, why does the name
Loretta sound so familiar to me?” Katie played with her salad.

Joanna and Jackson looked quizzically at each
other. Her mom then answered, “That’s the name of your
great-grandmother. You probably forgot. When we did speak of her we
called her Grandma Rett.”

“I remember hearing about her.” Katie tried
not to be too interested. “Didn’t she have a sister?”

“Yes, Lucinda, my Great Aunt Lucinda. I
remember going to her ranch once when I was a young girl. Grandma
Rett, my mom and I flew out there. It was my first time on a plane
and I was so excited. Plus I couldn’t wait to meet Uncle Henry. I
had heard so many rumors about him. I remember hearing the adults
talk about him when they thought the kids were in another room, not
listening. We knew how to listen without getting caught.” Her
mother laughed.

“Well, what did they say about him?”

“He was a very sweet man. He was very
attentive to Lucinda and did everything she wanted. He also was not
very...ah...ah...” It seemed her mother was having a hard time
choosing the right word. “...attractive.”