A Christian Woman's Journey Into A Muslim Man's World

By CHRISTINA TORRY

This eBook is based on actual events. Love, deception, greed, crime, pride and a well plotted plan to betray and almost destroy lives at any cost.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Oct 9, 2020
• ISBN: 9781716521386

Book preview

978-1-5246-7559-2

Prologue

Abigail didn’t know about God and only heard about Him from her grandparents. Her grandmother never failed to tell her that God would always be there to listen to her prayers. She always looked forward to the times that her grandfather and grandmother would come to visit every year. They knew how much she loved her horses and would take her to the local tack store to buy treats for them. They also helped her groom the horses and do the daily barn chores during their visits. They always took the time to teach her about God and to encourage her to live for Him. They encouraged her to make the right choices in life.

The time again came for her grandfather and grandmother to leave. She was always sad when this time came. Her grandfather turned to her, as he did on many previous visits, and said, Abigail I am leaving you my shoes to remind you that we will be coming back to see you. Abigail kept his shoes close by in her bedroom so she could look at them every day. The shoes were signposts that gave her hope that she would see her grandparents again.

Chapter One

At the age of five years old, Abigail could ride her father’s Palomino stallion named Zeke all by herself. Zeke knew that Abigail loved him and would be gentle with her each time she took him for a ride. Her love for horses grew stronger every year and mirrored the love her father had for the animals. By the time she was a teenager, the family owned several horses. Abigail and her father lived several miles from a local state park that would host horse shows throughout the show season. Her father would have taken her to the shows, but he was a busy business man with little time to give to entertainment and quality time with his daughter. Abigail’s passion for horses, though, wasn’t going to allow anything to stop her from fulfilling her own dreams of showing horses. On an unforgettable hot summer morning, she packed her saddle bags with horse grooming supplies and rode off to one of the park’s shows on her gelding named Maheer. By the time they arrived to the show grounds, Maheer was drenched in sweat from the hour-long ride. Abigail had brought along some cloths to wipe the lathered sweat from him so that he would be ready to enter his class to show.

When the time came to enter the Western Pleasure class, Abigail looked around at the other horses and riders. The first thing she noticed was their attire. They all had nice outfits and boots that matched their saddle blanket colors. Abigail was nervous. She didn’t have the proper show clothes and was stuck with what she had on: white tennis shoes, jeans, a plaid shirt, and a western hat. She took solace in the fact that her laid back attire reflected the more relaxed aura of the Western Pleasure class, which focuses on the horse’s slow gait and comfortable ride.

Abigail’s hands were sweaty. She was only fourteen years old and was unsure about competing against more experienced show riders and professionally trained horses. As she and Maheer entered the arena with the other riders, she whispered a prayer and spoke some encouraging words to him. She assured him that they were meant to compete and patted him on his muscular neck. Supporters for the other riders clapped and cheered for their teams as she made her way around the arena. This made Abigail even more nervous; she didn’t have any family or friends at the horse show to support her.

Multiple horses and riders circled the ring all at the same time. The judges singled out contestants and asked them to have their horses trot, walk, jog, and otherwise demonstrate proper form. Across the ring, she noticed a young lady with perfect poise and a blue and white sequined top that sparkled like diamonds. She was on a beautiful horse with a calm demeanor whose mane had been banded. Abigail noticed the judges whisper when the girl rode her horse in front of them. Wow, thought Abigail, surely that duo will win. Just then, shouts of adulation came from the stands. The girl held her head high and waved at her supporters, who cheered wildly. There’s no way we can win against her, thought Abigail. Her heart sank, but she held her head high anyway.

Before she knew it, the time had come for the lineup. The judges had made their decisions on the seven entries that competed in that class. They announced the winners starting with fifth place. As long as I get a ribbon, I will be happy, Abigail thought to herself. Beads of sweat gathered on her forehead. So far, there was no ribbon for Abigail and Maheer. Second place, said one judge, goes to Alyssa and Aces. The girl with the sequined top threw her hands in the air in a gesture of frustration and unbelief. Her supporters, though, clapped loudly, and one or two of them uttered a piercing boo.

If she didn’t win, thought Abigail, I wonder who did. All of a sudden, the impossible happened. Congratulations to Abigail and Maheer, the first place winners for this class! announced a judge. Abigail was like a deer in headlights. She could hardly believe it! Tears of joy ran down her cheeks in streams. How could this be? She didn’t have beautiful show clothes, a saddle, or even a blanket! On top of that, she even didn’t get any cheers from the people in the stands. Abigail glanced around. She could tell what the other competitors were thinking by the stunned looks on their faces. How could this young teenage girl and her horse win this class? they wondered. Abigail’s back straightened with thankfulness and pride. We won, Maheer! she told her trusty horse.

The ride home was just as sweet as her unexpected victory. Abigail gazed down at the saddlebags from atop her majestic steed. They sure were heavier than they had been on the ride in. She looked at the trophy as a smile crept across her face. Maheer was happy, too; he was headed home for tasty oats and grains!

Abigail couldn’t wait to tell her father about her accomplishments. He wasn’t surprised. You have a destiny connected with horses, he told her. Abigail loved her horses so much that when it came time for her mares to foal she would sleep in the barn with them. She wasn’t going to miss the birth of her new foals. Abigail’s heart leapt with such joy every time she saw a foal born. The horses were everything to Abigail. She felt happiness and peace when she was with them.

Abigail’s equine veterinarian owned and bred Arabian horses. One day while visiting her father’s farm to vaccinate her horses, Dr. Hayes noticed her zeal and invited Abigail to his farm to see his horses. Excited, she agreed to visit the farm. When she arrived that spring morning, Dr. Hayes took her through the barn and the pastures to look at his Arabians. She noticed how intelligent they were. She was in awe of their beauty and how much they loved people. Abigail spent several hours at Dr. Hayes’ farm that day. One day I will own an Arabian horse, she vowed to herself and Dr. Hayes.

Chapter Two

Many challenges came into Abigail’s life from her friends at school. Since her father was often away on business trips, she found herself wanting to hang out with people that weren’t a very good influence. She began to go to school