CHAPTER 6

 

Allison 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.

"Okay. You can give it to her when she gets back," Allison told him. "I’m going dance with my son."

He saw that the package was from Hank, Elaina’s father, so he went ahead and started to open it.

"When did that come?" Elaina asked, walking up to him.

"Allison 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, taking 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

"So, open the box. I want to see what he sent you," Frank urged her.

"You sure are nosy," Elaina said, smacking his hands when he tried to look in the box. "Stop it, or I won’t open it in front of you," she smirked. She proceeded to open the box after Frank backed off. "This is some kind of hand carved box," she said, turning 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?" She showed it to him.

"We do have experts 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, its Elaina, and Frank," she announced. They heard the door unlock with him opening 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?" Ardeth asked.

"This. Could you tell me if this on here for decoration or does it actually say anything? It looks like Arabic." Elaina gave him the box. "I can speak it, but I can’t read it."

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, bandits overran the camp. They stole our food and anything that they thought was valuable."

"So, I guess this must've 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 because 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 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, glancing up at her.

"There are other Donovans in the house. I can get Sarah and Derek if you can’t open it," Elaina suggested.

"Are you saying that they 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?" Elaina asked Ardeth and Layla. "Maria ordered way too much for the party."

"Would it be all right 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."

"These are cheese balls that they have just about devoured. We have baked turkey or orange glazed chicken for the meat. Then there are different fruits and vegetables. If none of this is to your liking I could 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 while she made a plate of food up for Ardeth. After they were through, they walked back into the office with the food.

Frank was still working with the box, having not made much progress. When she came in, he stopped and stared at it. "Do you know where the kids are?"

"They might be out with the horses. No one was in the dining room," Elaina said, handing Ardeth the plate. "A little of everything…Layla’s suggestion." She smiled.

"Shukran. (Thank you) I believe Frank has given up on the puzzle box," Ardeth said, chuckling.

"So much for him being a true Donovan," Elaina joked. "He doesn’t have the patience for such things either."

"Do you think the box will get us back to our time?" Layla asked hopeful.

"The writing seems to indicate it might. I’m 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 Cody," Frank said, sitting down with her at the desk.

“Well, we had just started when you came in,” she stated. “What is so important?”

"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. "What is this?" She looked back at her father.

“It belongs to Layla and Ardeth. They need our help to get it open," Elaina said.

"Okie." Sarah pushed on a section of the box and the other side opened. "I hope that was supposed to happen," Sarah said.

"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?"

"Don’t rush me, Daddy." Sarah sighed and rolled her eyes before she went back to the box. After a while, she was became frustrated. "I’m going out to get Derek, maybe he can do it."

"Okay, tell him to knock because we lock the door to keep the party from bothering us," Elaina told her, letting her out the door.

"Afraid her patience isn’t too long either. Derek is better with puzzles so hopefully he can get it opened up more," Elaina suggested.

 

After much searching, Sarah 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 sister.

"Not until I tell Mom and Dad that Becky is here. Your grounded remember?" Sarah said.

"Don’t you dare tell them. Besides, she was invited just like all the other guests."

"Looks like it doesn’t matter anyway Mom just looked out the window. Not too bright being out in the open if you were trying to hide she was here," Sarah said, starting to walk back.

"Great! Another week added to me. Maybe you should call your Mom and have her pick you up,” Derek suggested.

"Okay, sorry if I got you in more trouble. See you in school Monday,” Becky said before he took after Sarah.

“Don’t you say anything I will explain to Mom while she’s here,” Derek said, grabbing her arm as they went in the back door.

“Derek, do you love me and trust me?”

“Love yes. Trust I’m still working on,” he said with a half smile.

“Then you keep your mouth shut I and I will get you out of this,” Sarah said.

“Mom isn’t going to believe you.”

“Yes, she will. If not I will help you with the dishes all week,” she promised.

Derek and Sarah walked into the office where Frank and Ardeth were looking over the box again trying to figure it out.

Elaina pulled Derek over to the side before Sarah was able to say anything to her. “Why is she here? Did you forget what being grounded means?” she asked.

“Mom, wait a minute. I invited Becky to the party. Derek forgot about it and when I asked him Thursday if she was coming he told me he didn’t invite her. So, I took his cell phone and invited her,” Sarah quickly explained.

“Its true, Mom. I didn’t invite her. Was I supposed to uninvited her with such short notice?” Derek inquired.

“Next time, yes, that is exactly what you do. Do you both understand me on this?” Elaina said, looking sternly at each of them.

“Yes,” they both answered.

“Now, go help your father,” she said to them.

"Hey, Dad. Mom and Sarah said you needed my help."

"Sarah has it started. We want to get this puzzle box opened to see what is in it."

"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 know," Frank told him.

"I love it when you keep things from me like a baby. I can’t help you. If you want it open use 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 like a child, I'll act like one," Derek told her.

“Derek, are you insane!” Sarah yelled.

Frank told her to be quiet and stay out of it. “Elaina, tell him. Sarah all ready knows.”

Elaina sighed. "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 1935. 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 us, because we have no idea how it happened." She just stood there and stared at him.

"That’s a 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," all of them answered together.

"Interesting. Let me see the box again," Derek said, taking it from Frank. "What did you do Sarah to get this opened?"

"I pressed on the opposite side and it popped open,” she said showing him.

"I’ll study it for a few minutes, and then I’ll try to get it open." Derek went over and sat in a chair facing the window.

"Your son is headstrong," Ardeth said.

"Like his father," Elaina stated, smiling.

"I resemble that remark," Frank said, laughing.

"Why don’t we leave them 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 romantic. I could see why you would want to only ride that way." Elaina smiled while Layla blushed.

"Hey, if you two are going to be a while we will be out riding. Don’t touch anything you find in it, just lock the office, and come to get us. Understand?" Frank asked.

"Yes," Derek said, still working with the box while Sarah nodded watching him.