CHAPTER 6
Sabrina walked in the dining room carrying a package. She took it over to Frank and gave it to him. "This just came for Elaina, do you know where she went?"
"She'll be back in a minute she went to the little girls' room," Frank whispered.
"Ok. You can give it to her when she gets back," Sabrina told him. "I'm going out with Cody and ride for a while."
"Don't fall in the mud," Frank said as she left. Frank saw that the package was from, Hank their ranch foreman, so he went ahead and started to open it.
"When did that come?" Elaina asked, walking up to him.
"Sab said it was just delivered. It's for you, from Hank."
"Then why are you opening it? That's a Federal offense opening my mail. Shame on you," Elaina said as she took the package from him. She found a note attached to the top of the box after removing the wrapping paper.
"Missy, Found this in the antique shop. Thought you would like to have it. When you turn it over you will see why. Every thing is going smoothly here. Miss you both. Love Hank," Elaina read out loud.
"So open the box. I want to see what he sent you," Frank urged her.
"You sure are nosy," Elaina said, smacking his hands as he tried to look in the box. "Stop it, or I won't open it in front of you," Elaina smirked. Frank backed off and she proceeded to open the box. "This is some kind of hand carved box," Elaina said and turned it over to look at the bottom of it. She found the initials E. D. carved into the bottom.
"That's interesting, and eerie. That never belonged to you, did it?"
"No, I've never seen it before." Elaina inspected the box carefully. "Frank, is it the fact we have guests that speak Arabic causing me to think it or is this Arabic writing around the edge of this?" Elaina showed it to him.
"We do have an expert in the house. We might as well see if it does say something," Frank suggested.
They walked to the office and knocked on the door. "Ardeth, it's Elaina and Frank," She announced. They heard the door unlock and Ardeth opened it.
"Ardeth, we need your help with something," Elaina said coming through the door.
"I will do my best to help you. What is it that you need my help with?" Ardeth asked.
"This. Could you tell me if this says anything? It looks like Arabic." Elaina gave him the box.
Ardeth gave a surprised look that turned into a broad smile. "I do not have to read it. I have seen this box before," Ardeth said turning it over. "It belonged to Uncle Edward. These are his initials."
"How did that get here if it was..?" Frank stopped. He really didn't want to know.
"It has been missing since the camp was overrun by bandits a few months ago," Layla answered. "Edward gave it to Ardeth as a wedding gift. Then a few days later, the camp was overrun by bandits. They stole our food and anything that they thought was valuable."
"So I guess this must have been passed around through the years and it ended up in Montana," Elaina said. "This comes under the heading of everything happens for a reason."
"I do not understand, you think that you were meant to find this?" Ardeth asked confused.
"You are brought here by a storm. This arrives here, turns out to be stolen from you. I think it was meant to be," Elaina explained.
"Is there something special about the box or is it just that your uncle, correction our uncle, made it?" Frank asked.
"It is a puzzle box. Edward said that only he or a true Donovan could open it. I have tried many times to open it and I have never succeeded. It must be that, I am not a Donovan. You should try to open it," Ardeth said handing it to Frank.
"I'm curious, what does the writing say?" Elaina asked being very fascinated by it.
"It says: The sands of the desert will draw you back home from any journey you may take," Ardeth read.
"Interesting, why would he put that on a box?" Elaina wondered. "Are you getting anywhere with that?" She asked watching Frank try to open it.
"Patience isn't one of your virtues but try," Frank said to her.
"You're the only Donovan here other than Sarah, so if you can't get it, we can have her try," Elaina suggested.
"Are you saying that a two year old can do this better than me? I don't think so," Frank scoffed at the idea.
"Well you stick with it. I'm going back to the party. Would you like me to bring you a plate of food? Maria ordered way too much for the party," Elaina said before going out.
"Would it be alright if I went with you?" Layla asked being curious about the party.
"Sure, if any one starts asking questions, I'll get them away from you."
"I would appreciate that," Layla smiled at her. They walked to the dining room and found that no one was in there at the moment. Elaina took a plate and silverware from the stack of dishes and gave it to Layla then got another to fix for Ardeth. "You'll have to tell me what you think Ardeth would eat."
"I have a bit of a problem myself. I am not sure what some of these foods are."
"Tell you the truth. I'm not sure either. Why don't I go see if there is anything in the kitchen I can whip up?" Elaina offered.
"That is not necessary. I am willing to try a little of each dish. My husband will do the same," Layla decided.
"We can do that," Elaina smiled at her as she made a plate of food up for Ardeth. They walked back into the office with the food.
Elaina saw Frank still working with the box. When she came in he stopped and stared at it. "Do you know where Sarah is?"
"I heard her in the game room as we walked by," Elaina said handing Ardeth the plate. "A little of everything, Layla's suggestion," Elaina smiled.
"Shukran. I believe Frank has given up on the puzzle box," Ardeth chuckled.
"So much for him being a true Donovan," Elaina joked. "He doesn't have the patience for such things."
"Do you think the box will get us back to our time?" Layla asked hopeful.
"The writing seems to indicate it might. I'm very curious to find out," Elaina said looking at the box again.
Frank came in with Sarah. "I had to wait for her to finish dancing with Jake," Frank said sitting down with her at the desk.
"Here you go, Princess," Frank said, giving her the box. "See if you can open this for us."
Sarah looked at the box with wonderment in her eyes. "Mine?" She looked back at Frank.
"Sorry but it belongs to Layla and Ardeth. They need our help to get it open," Elaina said and signed to her.
"Ok." Sarah pushed on a section of the box and the other side opened. "Oops," Sarah said thinking she did something wrong.
"You did good." Frank looked into the open compartment but found nothing.
"I remember it opens in more places," Ardeth told them walking over to watch Sarah more closely.
"Can you open it in another spot, Princess."
"I try, Daddy." Sarah went back to the box. After a while she got bored with it and got down and walked over to Elaina. "Go play. Momma?"
"Sure you can play with the box later if you want," Elaina told her letting her out the door.
"Afraid her attention span isn't very long. We could have Derek come in here, he's good at solving puzzles," Elaina suggested.
"If I'm a Donovan and I couldn't open it, I doubt that Derek will be able to." Frank considered.
"I said he was good at puzzles. I'm not claiming anything else," Elaina told him walking out to find Derek.
After much searching Elaina found Derek out with Becky, near the stables. "Derek, could you come inside with me for a few minutes?"
"Something wrong?" Derek asked walking over to his mother.
"No there's nothing wrong exactly. Your father and I could use your help on solving a puzzle," Elaina told him.
"Ok, can Becky come with us?"
"If she wants. It isn't anything top secret," Elaina said starting to walk back.
"Mom-Elaina. If you don't mind I think I'll go talk with Alex and Monica about something," Becky told her.
"Free country, Babe, you can do as you please," Elaina smiled at her.
Derek and Elaina walked to the office where Frank and Ardeth were looking over the box again trying to figure it out. "Hey Dad. Mom said you needed my help with a puzzle?"
"Sarah has it started. We want to get this puzzle box opened to see what is in it exactly."
"Who sent it to you?" Derek asked taking the box and looking at it.
"Hank sent it to your mom," Frank answered.
"What makes you think it opens up more than it is?" Derek wondered.
"We just know that it does, it doesn't matter how we found out," Frank told him.
"I love it when you keep things from me like a kid. I can't help you. If you want it open you a hammer on it." Derek put the box down and went to leave. Elaina met him at the door.
"You get your ass back over there; do as we asked and don't you ever act that way again in front of guests," Elaina told him quietly and sternly.
"What are you not telling me? I'm old enough to understand things. If you keep treating me as a child, I will act like one," Derek told her.
Elaina sighed. "Alright you want to know what is going on? Let me tell you. Ardeth and Layla came from Cairo by way of the storm we had last night. Ardeth is your father's distant cousin but he lives in the year 1934. That puzzle box belongs to him, it was stolen from him and we think it could help them get back to their time era," Elaina explained.
"Now do you understand all of that? If you do explain it to the four of us because we have no idea how it happened," Elaina just stood there and stared at him.
"That's a damn good story. Did you rehearse that or did you make it up on the fly?" Derek laughed, not believing her.
"See, you don't know the truth when you hear it. I could have told you a lie, but I didn't," Elaina said, walking over to Frank.
"It was the truth?" Derek was still not convinced.
"Yes," The four of them answered together.
"Interesting. Let me see the box again," Derek said, taking it from Frank. "What did Sarah do to get this opened?"
"She pressed on the opposite side and it popped open." Frank showed him.
"I'll study it for a few minutes, then I'll try to get it open." Derek went over and sat in a chair facing the window.
"Your son is very headstrong, like his mother," Ardeth said.
"And his father," Elaina stated, smiling." "I resemble that remark," Frank laughed.
"Why don't we leave Derek in here with the box. Would either of you want to go riding?" Elaina asked.
"It would take my mind off of our troubles," Ardeth said. "Layla would you want to go riding? You can ride with me."
"We have plenty of horses you can ride one alone," Frank told her.
"I was thrown from a horse and have feared them a little since. I only ride with Ardeth holding me now," Layla stated.
"That is very romantic. I could see why you'd want to only ride that way." Elaina smiled as Layla blushed.
"Well, Derek if you're going to be a while we'll be out riding. Don't touch anything you find in it just lock the office and come to get us. Understand?" Frank asked.
"Yes, Sir," Derek said still working with the box.
Sabrina walked in the dining room carrying a package. She took it over to Frank and gave it to him. "This just came for Elaina, do you know where she went?"
"She'll be back in a minute she went to the little girls' room," Frank whispered.
"Ok. You can give it to her when she gets back," Sabrina told him. "I'm going out with Cody and ride for a while."
"Don't fall in the mud," Frank said as she left. Frank saw that the package was from, Hank their ranch foreman, so he went ahead and started to open it.
"When did that come?" Elaina asked, walking up to him.
"Sab said it was just delivered. It's for you, from Hank."
"Then why are you opening it? That's a Federal offense opening my mail. Shame on you," Elaina said as she took the package from him. She found a note attached to the top of the box after removing the wrapping paper.
"Missy, Found this in the antique shop. Thought you would like to have it. When you turn it over you will see why. Every thing is going smoothly here. Miss you both. Love Hank," Elaina read out loud.
"So open the box. I want to see what he sent you," Frank urged her.
"You sure are nosy," Elaina said, smacking his hands as he tried to look in the box. "Stop it, or I won't open it in front of you," Elaina smirked. Frank backed off and she proceeded to open the box. "This is some kind of hand carved box," Elaina said and turned it over to look at the bottom of it. She found the initials E. D. carved into the bottom.
"That's interesting, and eerie. That never belonged to you, did it?"
"No, I've never seen it before." Elaina inspected the box carefully. "Frank, is it the fact we have guests that speak Arabic causing me to think it or is this Arabic writing around the edge of this?" Elaina showed it to him.
"We do have an expert in the house. We might as well see if it does say something," Frank suggested.
They walked to the office and knocked on the door. "Ardeth, it's Elaina and Frank," She announced. They heard the door unlock and Ardeth opened it.
"Ardeth, we need your help with something," Elaina said coming through the door.
"I will do my best to help you. What is it that you need my help with?" Ardeth asked.
"This. Could you tell me if this says anything? It looks like Arabic." Elaina gave him the box.
Ardeth gave a surprised look that turned into a broad smile. "I do not have to read it. I have seen this box before," Ardeth said turning it over. "It belonged to Uncle Edward. These are his initials."
"How did that get here if it was..?" Frank stopped. He really didn't want to know.
"It has been missing since the camp was overrun by bandits a few months ago," Layla answered. "Edward gave it to Ardeth as a wedding gift. Then a few days later, the camp was overrun by bandits. They stole our food and anything that they thought was valuable."
"So I guess this must have been passed around through the years and it ended up in Montana," Elaina said. "This comes under the heading of everything happens for a reason."
"I do not understand, you think that you were meant to find this?" Ardeth asked confused.
"You are brought here by a storm. This arrives here, turns out to be stolen from you. I think it was meant to be," Elaina explained.
"Is there something special about the box or is it just that your uncle, correction our uncle, made it?" Frank asked.
"It is a puzzle box. Edward said that only he or a true Donovan could open it. I have tried many times to open it and I have never succeeded. It must be that, I am not a Donovan. You should try to open it," Ardeth said handing it to Frank.
"I'm curious, what does the writing say?" Elaina asked being very fascinated by it.
"It says: The sands of the desert will draw you back home from any journey you may take," Ardeth read.
"Interesting, why would he put that on a box?" Elaina wondered. "Are you getting anywhere with that?" She asked watching Frank try to open it.
"Patience isn't one of your virtues but try," Frank said to her.
"You're the only Donovan here other than Sarah, so if you can't get it, we can have her try," Elaina suggested.
"Are you saying that a two year old can do this better than me? I don't think so," Frank scoffed at the idea.
"Well you stick with it. I'm going back to the party. Would you like me to bring you a plate of food? Maria ordered way too much for the party," Elaina said before going out.
"Would it be alright if I went with you?" Layla asked being curious about the party.
"Sure, if any one starts asking questions, I'll get them away from you."
"I would appreciate that," Layla smiled at her. They walked to the dining room and found that no one was in there at the moment. Elaina took a plate and silverware from the stack of dishes and gave it to Layla then got another to fix for Ardeth. "You'll have to tell me what you think Ardeth would eat."
"I have a bit of a problem myself. I am not sure what some of these foods are."
"Tell you the truth. I'm not sure either. Why don't I go see if there is anything in the kitchen I can whip up?" Elaina offered.
"That is not necessary. I am willing to try a little of each dish. My husband will do the same," Layla decided.
"We can do that," Elaina smiled at her as she made a plate of food up for Ardeth. They walked back into the office with the food.
Elaina saw Frank still working with the box. When she came in he stopped and stared at it. "Do you know where Sarah is?"
"I heard her in the game room as we walked by," Elaina said handing Ardeth the plate. "A little of everything, Layla's suggestion," Elaina smiled.
"Shukran. I believe Frank has given up on the puzzle box," Ardeth chuckled.
"So much for him being a true Donovan," Elaina joked. "He doesn't have the patience for such things."
"Do you think the box will get us back to our time?" Layla asked hopeful.
"The writing seems to indicate it might. I'm very curious to find out," Elaina said looking at the box again.
Frank came in with Sarah. "I had to wait for her to finish dancing with Jake," Frank said sitting down with her at the desk.
"Here you go, Princess," Frank said, giving her the box. "See if you can open this for us."
Sarah looked at the box with wonderment in her eyes. "Mine?" She looked back at Frank.
"Sorry but it belongs to Layla and Ardeth. They need our help to get it open," Elaina said and signed to her.
"Ok." Sarah pushed on a section of the box and the other side opened. "Oops," Sarah said thinking she did something wrong.
"You did good." Frank looked into the open compartment but found nothing.
"I remember it opens in more places," Ardeth told them walking over to watch Sarah more closely.
"Can you open it in another spot, Princess."
"I try, Daddy." Sarah went back to the box. After a while she got bored with it and got down and walked over to Elaina. "Go play. Momma?"
"Sure you can play with the box later if you want," Elaina told her letting her out the door.
"Afraid her attention span isn't very long. We could have Derek come in here, he's good at solving puzzles," Elaina suggested.
"If I'm a Donovan and I couldn't open it, I doubt that Derek will be able to." Frank considered.
"I said he was good at puzzles. I'm not claiming anything else," Elaina told him walking out to find Derek.
After much searching Elaina found Derek out with Becky, near the stables. "Derek, could you come inside with me for a few minutes?"
"Something wrong?" Derek asked walking over to his mother.
"No there's nothing wrong exactly. Your father and I could use your help on solving a puzzle," Elaina told him.
"Ok, can Becky come with us?"
"If she wants. It isn't anything top secret," Elaina said starting to walk back.
"Mom-Elaina. If you don't mind I think I'll go talk with Alex and Monica about something," Becky told her.
"Free country, Babe, you can do as you please," Elaina smiled at her.
Derek and Elaina walked to the office where Frank and Ardeth were looking over the box again trying to figure it out. "Hey Dad. Mom said you needed my help with a puzzle?"
"Sarah has it started. We want to get this puzzle box opened to see what is in it exactly."
"Who sent it to you?" Derek asked taking the box and looking at it.
"Hank sent it to your mom," Frank answered.
"What makes you think it opens up more than it is?" Derek wondered.
"We just know that it does, it doesn't matter how we found out," Frank told him.
"I love it when you keep things from me like a kid. I can't help you. If you want it open you a hammer on it." Derek put the box down and went to leave. Elaina met him at the door.
"You get your ass back over there; do as we asked and don't you ever act that way again in front of guests," Elaina told him quietly and sternly.
"What are you not telling me? I'm old enough to understand things. If you keep treating me as a child, I will act like one," Derek told her.
Elaina sighed. "Alright you want to know what is going on? Let me tell you. Ardeth and Layla came from Cairo by way of the storm we had last night. Ardeth is your father's distant cousin but he lives in the year 1934. That puzzle box belongs to him, it was stolen from him and we think it could help them get back to their time era," Elaina explained.
"Now do you understand all of that? If you do explain it to the four of us because we have no idea how it happened," Elaina just stood there and stared at him.
"That's a damn good story. Did you rehearse that or did you make it up on the fly?" Derek laughed, not believing her.
"See, you don't know the truth when you hear it. I could have told you a lie, but I didn't," Elaina said, walking over to Frank.
"It was the truth?" Derek was still not convinced.
"Yes," The four of them answered together.
"Interesting. Let me see the box again," Derek said, taking it from Frank. "What did Sarah do to get this opened?"
"She pressed on the opposite side and it popped open." Frank showed him.
"I'll study it for a few minutes, then I'll try to get it open." Derek went over and sat in a chair facing the window.
"Your son is very headstrong, like his mother," Ardeth said.
"And his father," Elaina stated, smiling." "I resemble that remark," Frank laughed.
"Why don't we leave Derek in here with the box. Would either of you want to go riding?" Elaina asked.
"It would take my mind off of our troubles," Ardeth said. "Layla would you want to go riding? You can ride with me."
"We have plenty of horses you can ride one alone," Frank told her.
"I was thrown from a horse and have feared them a little since. I only ride with Ardeth holding me now," Layla stated.
"That is very romantic. I could see why you'd want to only ride that way." Elaina smiled as Layla blushed.
"Well, Derek if you're going to be a while we'll be out riding. Don't touch anything you find in it just lock the office and come to get us. Understand?" Frank asked.
"Yes, Sir," Derek said still working with the box.