Chapter 7

 The two couples went out to the stables where Allison and Jake were there brushing down the horses after riding. "Hello again, Ardeth...Layla," Allison greeted him.

"This is, Jake my son, and the birthday boy," Allison said introduced them, causing Jake to blush slightly. “He works with Frank.”

"Wow! Mom wasn’t kidding when she said you looked like Frank," Jake said, being nudged by Allison. "Sorry…"

"Jake is just getting used to Frank let alone another look-a-like," Elaina explained for his staring.

"Nice to meet you both. I better take care of my horse," Jake said, turning his e attention back to the animal.

"What horse do you wish to ride, Ardeth?" Frank asked.

"The one I had this morning was very gentle. I will ride Zeus again," Ardeth said.

"Frank, may I make a suggestion?" Elaina asked when they walked in the stables.

"What might that be, Lady?"

"Have Layla get on Zeus first." Elaina made the signal for Zeus lay down while she said it.

"I think that is an excellent suggestion," Frank smiled.

Elaina went in the tack room to get the saddle. She came back throwing it on the horse then let Frank tightened it on Zeus.

"Layla, we think you should get on first, and then Ardeth," Frank said.

"I usually get on first to steady the horse, so he does not move," Ardeth explained.

"Zeus won’t move until commanded," Elaina said while Frank motioned for the horse to go down.

"Now, you can get on and he won’t move until you are ready," Frank said.

"I am afraid when he moves I will fall off," Layla said, backing away from the horse.

"I will get on with you," Ardeth said, holding her.

"I’ll show you it is safe." Elaina got in the saddle, then Frank gave Zeus the signal to get back up. Elaina leaned backward in the saddle while the horse rose up his front legs. When he rose up on his back legs, she leaned forward in the saddle. "See, you just move the opposite of the horse. He does all the work." Zeus went back down and she got off for Layla to try.

"I am still not sure," Layla said, looking at Ardeth.

"Come with me, Layla. I promise you, you won’t fall or be hurt in any way," Frank told her, taking her by the hand, helping her on the horse. "Are you ready?"

"No, I am not ready, but I am willing to try. Allah, minfadlak saidnee," (God, Please help me) Layla said, looking up.

Frank motioned for Elaina to move Zeus. Zeus rose up slower this time, sensing the fear of his rider. Frank held onto her while the horse rose up. Once on all fours, Zeus nickered. Layla giggled with delight at not having fallen off.

"I do believe you enjoyed that ride." Elaina laughed with Layla.

"That was scary at first, but fun too." Layla smiled. "Come, Ardeth, I am ready to ride."

"Would you like to go alone?" Ardeth asked, looking up to her.

"La. I would like you to be with me," Layla said, smiling. "As Elaina said, it is romantic to ride together," she said, quietly.

Frank saddled Black Velvet while Elaina waited. "Frank, I think I’ll ride with you. Sahara should stay with the colt. The team has the other horses in use."

"The thought that it is romantic had nothing to do with your decision?" Frank asked.

"A wee bit." Elaina kissed him on the cheek. "I love you," she whispered to him.

They went riding together for an hour when they returned, Derek and Sarah was waiting for them at the fence. "Hey, have any luck?" Frank asked.

"Come see for yourself," Derek said while they got off the horses.

"Don’t keep us in suspense. Did you open it or not?" Elaina asked, she said taking Sarah’s hand as they walked together.

"Yes. we opened it together. After we did, we walked out of the room and locked the door as you instructed," Sarah said.

"Your curiosity didn’t make you look inside?" Frank asked.

"No. We did as you ordered," Derek answered when Frank unlocked the door to the office.

Ardeth walked over to the opened box and looked inside it. "There is sand in it. There is also a note." Ardeth took the note out and read it to them. "I am sorry I sent you away, but your time had not come yet. I had to keep you and Layla safe. It is signed by Edward."

"Wait a minute! How did he send you here?”

“It is a long story, to answer it quickly is to just say he is magical,” Ardeth said.

“He’s a sorcerer?” Elaina asked.

Ardeth nodded. “As I said it is a long story.”

"What do we do now? Does he say how we get back? Layla wondered."

"Good question," Elaina said, wondering.

"If the sand is the answer. Touching it may cause you to go back," Derek said.

"You weren’t in here when he read the writing on the box. How do you know what it said?" Frank wondered.

"I asked Alex. She came in to ask you something. When she saw the box and the writing on in she told us what it said."

"I knew she could speak it, I didn’t know she could read it," Elaina said. "I’m wondering if we should be close by when you try. If that bright light hits again and we're too close...we could end up back in 1935 too."

"Maybe we should say our good byes. We are eternally grateful for you helping us," Layla said.

"I think you should change back into your clothes, before trying anything. Derek, could you go get them? I put them in their room earlier," Elaina asked.

"Sure, Mom." Derek left the room.

"I’m going to miss you both," Elaina said, hugging Layla. "I hope the sand takes you back safely."

"Shukran, ("Thank you.") Frank, for welcoming us into your home, even though the circumstances were a bit mysterious," Ardeth said, shaking his hand.

"You’re family. We would never turn away a member of our family," Frank said.

"He can say that now, before he wanted to leave you out in the rain," Elaina joked.

"Forgive her, she uses humor when she has to deal with good byes," Frank told him, giving Ardeth a slight hug.

"We wish we could say we will be back, but I have a feeling that will be impossible," Layla said. "Sarah I will miss our Arabic lessons even though they we short, it was still enjoyable."

"I just hope the box works," Sarah said, through tears.

"Here are the clothes," Derek said, handing over the garments.

"Let’s go, and give them some time to get ready," Frank said motioning them all out.

"It was nice meeting you," Derek said, leaving.

"I wonder if it will work. More important, what if it doesn’t?" Elaina asked when they walked into the game room to watch the others dancing again.

"Everyone looks so happy, but I can’t help but feel sad that they may be leaving," Sarah said, hugging her father.

"They need to get back. We all know that. Somehow, some way we will see them again. I just have a feeling about it," Frank said, holding her watching Derek and Becky dancing.

"Sarah why don’t you and your dad dance for a while it might help you cheer up?"

“Are you sure you don’t want to dance with him first?” Sarah asked.

“No, I can take the next one,” Elaina said, smiling.

"Are you ready, Layla?" Ardeth asked, after they changed their clothes.

"Aywa. ("Yes") What if this does not work? Will we be here forever?" Layla asked in a shaky voice.

"The family history tells us that our first child was born in Cairo. It will work," Ardeth said, confidently kissing her passionately.

"I believe you, Hubee. (My love) I believe anything you say when you kiss me that way," Layla said, blushing.

"Shall we try touching the sand, together? If that does not work, we will pour it on the floor and walk on it," Ardeth suggested.

They placed their hands inside the compartment with the sand, but nothing happened.

"I think we should do as you suggested and pour it on the floor," Layla said.

Ardeth poured the sand on the carpeting. He took Layla by the arm before they walked into the small pile of sand. A bright flash of light surrounded them in the room.

"Frank, look!" Elaina exclaimed, seeing the light flashing in the hallway. They quickly went down the hall to see the light dim under the door of the office. They waited a minute, and then opened the door...Ardeth and Layla were gone. All that was left to their visit was the clothing they had used and a few grains of sand on the carpet.

"I'm so glad it worked," Frank said, looking at the grains of sand. "Too bad we only have our memories that this happened, no tangible proof."

"I wouldn’t say that." Elaina was picking up the clothes. She held up the pendant she had talked to Sarah about. "She left this. I would say for Sarah, since she liked it," she said, with a tear in her eye.

"No one would ever believe what happened. Let’s just keep it to the small group that all ready knows about it," Frank stated.

"I think that would be a good idea for now," Elaina agreed.