Quest Between Two Worlds

By Wanda Reu

Growing up on his familys plantation in Lake Charles, Louisiana, James, the grandson of Bow and Catherine Le Faye, found himself being schooled by the Arabian servant of the Le Faye family. Abu told stories of his beloved Arabia and shared Arabian history and culture with James. The boy vowed to one day go to Arabia and live there.

Where else would one find beautiful Arabian horses that took one flying across the sands of Arabia? He dreamed of beautiful women with long, flowing black hair beckoning to him. Where else might he find Uncle Hadjis oasis, where he and his family lived in tents? James dreamed of Arabia, never realizing the cost of being a part of that country. What made Arabia seem so wonderful to James, and would his quest one day be fulfilled?

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Mar 6, 2015
• ISBN: 9781496973535

Wanda Reu

I was born and raised in the midsection of our country. We lived in a rural area, and my father was a tiller of the land and a guardian of the animals that helped to provide income for our family’s needs. I had the privilege of growing up with a love of reading. By the time I had reached the sixth and seventh grades, it was nothing for me to read one hundred books each winter. Books were my lifeline, my connection with the world. Books took me to exotic places where I found myself dreaming under a large palm tree. I learned about beautiful women and handsome men who lived lives one could only imagine. I remember reading Gone with the Wind and getting caught up in the emotions experienced by Scarlet and Rhett during the time of the Civil War. I shed tears when Scarlet’s Rhett finally told her he’d had enough of her demands. As an adult, I wondered what it would be like to write my own books. I loved historical dramas, mysteries, a bit of humor, and stories of faith. I have also always enjoyed reading children’s stories and have written a number of children’s books. I wondered if people would enjoy reading the books I have written. Therefore, in the years following retirement, I have enjoyed writing all sorts of stories and even poetry. I feel that somehow the ink of an earlier writer has managed to fill my pen. If you pick up this historical drama and find you like it, feel free to let me know. You can reach me at [e-mail].

Book preview

Fifth Generation

Part #1

B OUDREAU BOWREGARD LE Faye was considered an unusual child in that he loved and desired order around him. He wanted his own flowers and plants and spent time cultivating them wherever his mother would permit the rows of blooming flowers. Nothing gave him greater pleasure than to plant flowers and watch them grow.

Not only was Boudreau considered a bit unusual for desiring beauty and order around him, he was also a boy who was filled with kindness and compassion for others. While other boys his age roughhoused, Boudreau planted, cultivated, and cared for small animals that had become injured.

Boudreau had one brother who was younger by two years. Boudreau’s parents named their second son Clemons Snyder. He was called Clem for short. The boys grew up enjoying a close relationship, though they were very different in nature. Clem was more of a follower, whereas Boudreau was definitely opinionated about various aspects of his life and surroundings and displayed leadership capability even at an early age.

When Boudreau celebrated his tenth birthday, his parents gave him a dog. Boudreau had never been sure he wanted a pet, for they always seemed to be so messy. Boudreau had looked forward to his birthday with excited enthusiasm. He visualized all sorts of gifts. When his father carried a large box with a red bow into his room, he was surprised. The box had small holes poked in the top, and it was obvious there was something alive inside. He reached in to lift out the puppy and was rewarded with a lick across his face. From that moment on, Boudreau called the dog Hovie. He became Boudreau’s closest friend.

Clem did not have the same feelings for Hovie that Boudreau had. Clem was more into planning out his lifetime career. He didn’t want to be bothered with going through puppy training school with Hovie, and he told Boudreau, He’s your dog; you take him to training school. Once Hovie grew into an adult foxhound and his training had been completed, Clem did become interested in going hunting with his brother. People in the area became accustomed to seeing the two boys walking out into the fields, carrying their guns. Hovie would be out in front of the two boys, searching out game. Seldom did Boudreau and Clem return without shooting either a squirrel or a rabbit, and on occasion a fox.

Boudreau’s parents, James and Basilah, had spent years establishing their Arabian horse bloodline. Breeding and training the horses became such a full-time occupation that James left the shipyards and managed the business with his wife. Boudreau and Clem often would go down to the stables and watch their parents work the horses, but they left the care of the horses to those who were professionals. James’ sister Jo-Jo had gone into the business with James and Basilah. She had won many awards for showing some of their horses and for participating in the equestrian events. Her name was widely known throughout the southern part of the United States.

When Boudreau was eleven, his grandfather died. Little Boudreau observed the sadness his father was experiencing and asked him about Grandpa Boudreau. James sat down with the boy and said, Boudreau, Grandpa has not been the same without his loving wife, Lucia.

Boudreau said, You mean my grandmother, right?

James smiled. Yes, I mean your grandmother. You see, he missed her so much that he really was anxious to go be with her. I can picture him in heaven right now. He and your grandmother would probably be sitting in a porch swing, sipping some lemonade with sprigs of mint and talking about how much they loved and missed their family.

Boudreau said, I wish I could go visit Grandpa and Grandma.

James smiled and said, One day you will, son, but hopefully it won’t be for a long time. We would miss you too much if you were to leave.

Part #2

W HEN BOUDREAU CELEBRATED his thirteenth birthday, his gift was a surprise from the Middle East. Abu and his wife of ten years flew by private plane to spend some time with James, Basilah, and their sons. Abu’s wife was a beautiful young Arabic woman named Aeeshah. James had smiled when he first saw her at the wedding, for she was strikingly beautiful. She reminded James of the descriptions that Abu had given him when he was growing up in regard to the beauty of an Arabic woman. In their first year of marriage, a son was born to them, and within the second year they had a daughter. Their son was named Amir, and the daughter was named Emira.

James was pleased that Abu had found a woman he could love and who would be an asset to him in his reign. Abu’s mother had passed away a few years ago, and now Abu had his own immediate family. Though there was a considerable difference in their age, Abu and Aeeshah were very close.

When Abu and Aeeshah arrived in Lake Charles for the birthday celebration, a limo was waiting to pick them up. It was followed by a pickup truck towing a horse trailer. When the plane landed, two horses were led off from the back by several grooms. One horse was a gift to Boudreau, whereas the other was to be a gift to Clem or Basilah. Abu had decided that since it was Boudreau’s birthday and not Clem’s, he would leave the decision to the parents as to who got the other horse. Both horses were to be an addition to their Arabian bloodline.

When the limo and pickup drove into the lane leading to the plantation, Abu saw a large number of Arabians in the pastures lining each side of the lane. He had always known that Basilah was a top-notch horsewoman, but this was proven once again as he looked over the horses and saw the quality of the bloodline.

The limo pulled up to their home, and Abu stepped out. He helped Aeeshah and the two children out of the vehicle. Amir was looking around, and then he asked, May I walk over to the fence and look at the horses? Abu told him he could do so but to stay away from the fence because the Arabians were high-spirited.

Basilah and James were walking toward the driveway from the stables. Trailing behind them were Boudreau and Clem. When Basilah saw the horse trailer, she looked at Abu and asked, Is someone getting a present today?

Abu laughed and answered, Basilah, you know me too well. The one horse is to be a birthday gift for Boudreau; the other horse is for you to decide the owner.

Basilah smiled, then gave him a hug, and said, Abu, you are too kind to us. Thank you.

The grooms opened the trailer and led the two horses out onto the grass. Both James and Basilah commented on the beauty of the two horses. Basilah looked at Boudreau and asked, Which horse would you like? You may select since this is your birthday.

Part #3

B OUDREAU LOOKED AT the horses and selected one that was deep brown in color. The horse had dark, flashing eyes and a small patch of white in the middle of its forehead. Basilah smiled at his choice. Her son had learned well. He thanked Abu for his birthday gift and was told, Boudreau, there is some history I want to share with you in regard to the Arabians. You see, son, these horses are the most significant thing in life to the Arabs; they are the symbol of our erected fortresses, our everlasting treasures, our finest glory, and our securest way of defense. As such, the Arabs take great interest in horses, and our knowledge has excelled about these animals more than all other nations. We look at these horses and see the real beauty of our country.

James was standing with his arm around Basilah’s waist. He squeezed her waist and chuckled softly at the words Abu spoke to Boudreau. James had always loved to hear Abu speak of his country. He saw the wonder in Boudreau’s and Clem’s eyes as he spoke and thought back to the time when he was a boy taking in all the wonders of Arabia from this humble but great man. James had learned so much from him as he shared the love he had for his country.

Abu said, Boudreau, you have chosen wisely. Now, I am wondering who gets the second horse.

Basilah looked at James. He smiled, knowing that she wanted Clem to have the second horse. She turned to Clem and asked, Son, would you like the second horse?

Clem was overjoyed and said, Oh yes, I would like to have the second horse.

Abu said, This is also a good choice because they are of the same family. I wish both of you great success with your horses. I also hope you will develop a love for the horses that runs as fiercely as in your mother’s veins.

Abu, Aeeshah, and their family stayed for a week with James and Basilah. Again, Abu spoke to James about becoming an ambassador of business for Arabia and serving as a diplomatic agent. Abu asked, James, why don’t you let me appoint you to represent our country to America?

James answered, Abu, I really think you have other people who could handle this position quite well. How are your people going to accept me representing your country when I live here in the States?

Abu asked, If I contacted your government officials and inquired about you serving as a representative for better business relations between our countries, would you be willing to serve in that capacity?

James responded, Abu, I will talk with Basilah once again and see what she would think about me doing this. After we talk about it, I will give you an answer.

That night when James and Basilah retired to their bedroom, they took a small pot of Arabic coffee with them and talked about Abu’s request. Basilah said, I have always felt you would do well in such a position.

James answered, I know you have felt that way, but I didn’t want to be away from you and our boys and the business we have here at the plantation.

Basilah put her arms around him and said, Whatever you decide will be all right with me, for I know your heart will always be with us whether you are here in person or in spirit.

James looked at Basilah and smiled as he kissed her on the nose. He had known she would be supportive. He loved her so much, and this was one of the reasons. She always sought the best for those she loved. She believed that James could be of a benefit to Abu and her country. By three a.m. they had decided that James would accept Abu’s offer.

Part #4

T HE NEXT MORNING, James asked Abu if he would like to go for a ride around the plantation. Abu said, I would like that very much.

The two men walked down to the stables and selected two horses to ride. Soon they were riding across the plantation grounds. Abu looked at James and said, It is always lush and beautiful here. We have so little grass in our country. I love the feel of grass under my feet. The trees are full and graceful and provide shade from the sun. We definitely come from two different parts of the world.

James told Abu he had asked him to come along for a ride so he could talk to him about the ambassador position. He said, Abu, Basilah and I talked about this for several hours last night, and we came to an agreement that I will accept the position. But there is something I feel you should know. I have watched you this week with your family; I see how deeply you love your wife and children, so I think you will fully understand what I am about to tell you. Abu, I want to be of help to you and your country and hopefully to help establish better working relations between our two countries. But in saying that, I want you to know that I do not want to be away from my wife and family all the time.

Abu stroked his beard for a few moments and then said, James, if this is something that your heart is telling you is not good for you and your family, then tell me that you won’t do it. I really would not be able to forgive myself if I were the cause of problems within your family. As you know, your family is like my own family. I have always believed that a house divided against itself cannot stand. Take your time and really weigh this out. I can promise you I will do everything in my power to honor your wishes, but at the onset I would imagine it would be necessary to spend a week of each month in Arabia. If you and Basilah feel that is too much time away, then be honest and forthright with me. My family and I will be leaving this afternoon, and I will await your final answer at home. Give me a call when you have made your final decision.

The men rode the horses back to the stables and climbed down. They were met by two of the grooms, who took the horses, removed their saddles, brushed them down, and returned them to their stalls.

James and Abu walked back to the house and went in to have a cup of tea with their wives. The children were laughing together on the screened-in back porch. Basilah looked at James and asked, Is everything all right?

He smiled, gave her hand a squeeze, and said, Honey, everything is better than fine.

That afternoon Abu, Aeeshah, Amir, and Emira took a limo back to the airport. The pilot and copilot were waiting with the plane fueled and ready to go. They climbed the steps that led aboard the private plane and stepped into the darkened interior. The engines were running, and the plane lifted to the sky to return to their homeland in Arabia.

After they had driven away, Basilah looked at James, and her eyes filled with tears. She said, I know it is silly, but I do wish we lived closer together so we could visit more often. James gathered her in his arms and said, Honey, Abu and I are working on a plan that should help our families spend more time together. I know you miss your own people, and I do miss Abu. I think our children care for Amir and Emira as well. Keep your fingers crossed. With a little luck, this ambassador position may bring together our families as well as our countries.

Part #5

I T SEEMED QUIET after Abu and Aeeshah flew back to Arabia. The boys missed spending time with Amir and Emira. Both Boudreau and Clem had enjoyed talking with Amir and having him teach them some Arabic words. Boudreau told Clem he thought Emira would be beautiful one day. Clem couldn’t see much beauty in girls at his age, but Boudreau laughed and assured him that would change in a few years.

Both Boudreau and Clem loved their new horses, and Basilah was determined they would learn how to ride properly. Basilah suggested that Jo-Jo train both boys to participate in the equestrian events that were held throughout the country. James asked, Boudreau, Clem, does that sound like something you would like to do?

Both the boys had watched Aunt Jo-Jo and had loved attending the events. Boudreau immediately said, Sure, I would like to get involved in that.

Clem thought for a few moments. Then he said, I guess I will do it too, if Boudreau is going to participate. Soon Jo-Jo was working the boys into a schedule of training.

At the end of the first week, Boudreau was to do some jumps with Sadik. Jo-Jo was instructing him as the horse began the jump. When Sadik jumped over the small body of water, Boudreau slid off into the water. He came up sputtering. Clem, who was standing in the ring with his horse, Rihahna, waiting to cover the same ground, laughed loudly.

Boudreau picked himself up and yelled at Clem, You stop your laughing, for you may be next. Clem continued to laugh as he mounted the horse and started the run. When Rihahna got to the body of water, he stopped short and refused to jump, throwing Clem off into the water. By this time Boudreau was holding his sides because he was laughing so hard.

Jo-Jo said, All right, now that each of you has taken a swim, I think it is time to give these poor horses a break. Go change your clothes. Then come back, and we will talk about what you did wrong.

Together the boys walked to the house to change their clothes. When they opened the door there stood Basilah looking at them. She burst into laughter when she realized what had happened. Boudreau said, Aww, Mom, don’t laugh. This was our first jump.

Basilah said, I know it was your first jump; I’m wondering what will happen when you try it again. Of course, if you have to fall off the horse, it’s probably better you fall in the water than into the brick wall.

Hovie looked up when Boudreau walked into the bedroom. He had been catching a nap curled up on the rug by Boudreau’s bed. He whined as he looked at Boudreau, who was still dripping with water. Boudreau reached down, petted his head, and scratched behind both his ears. Hovie stood up, stretched, and licked Boudreau’s hand. Boudreau said, Hovie, I think I am safer when I am with you. At least you are not throwing me into a pool of water somewhere.

After the boys changed, Clem suggested, Let’s take Hovie and go hunting.

Boudreau answered, Aunt Jo-Jo wanted us to come back so she could tell us what we did wrong.

Clem said, Aw, come on, Boudreau. Let’s ask Mom to tell her we want to go hunting instead.

Boudreau thought about it for a moment and then said, All right we will ask Mom to talk to Aunt Jo-Jo for us.

Part #6

W HEN THE BOYS came back down stairs, they walked to the gun cabinet and lifted out their guns. Basilah saw them and asked, I take it you are going hunting? Does that mean you are taking Hovie with you?

Boudreau answered, Mom, we wanted to go hunting, and we would appreciate it if you would tell Aunt Jo-Jo where we are. We’ll have our discussion about the equestrian jump later. She wants to tell us what we did wrong when we spilled into the water.

Basilah laughed. Just a minute, my beloved sons. Did Aunt Jo-Jo tell you to come back once you put on dry clothes?

Clem said, Yes, she did, but can’t we just do that later?

Basilah answered, You know you could, but I think the gracious thing would be for both of you to go to Aunt Jo-Jo and tell her you want to go hunting. You could ask her if you could discuss your falls later. You must always be gracious. It is expected of you, you know. Boudreau loved that about his mother. She had been born and raised in Arabia, yet she insisted they be reared with the proper manners of the Deep South. She was such a gracious lady. Boudreau thought many of the genteel ladies of the South could learn from his Arabic mother.

Boudreau and Clem walked into the training circle where Jo-Jo was waiting for them. Boudreau explained to her that they wanted to go hunting and they would prefer their discussion wait until a later time. Jo-Jo looked at the two boys who were itching to leave and said, Sure, we can talk about your falls later.

The two boys and Hovie walked across the fields and into the woods. Clem looked at Boudreau and said, That went better than I thought it would. It helps when you talk to Mom or Aunt Jo-Jo. They seem to pay more attention to you when you make requests. They still look at me and see this little kid.

Boudreau laughed at Clem and said, Well, you’re not exactly an adult. After all, you are eleven.

Clem stopped walking and said, You’re not exactly an adult either, for you are only thirteen. Boudreau said, We’ll get there one day, Clem, and then we will probably wish we could be eleven and thirteen all over again.

Hovie sensed game ahead and took off running. Boudreau yelled to Clem, Hurry up! Let’s see what Hovie has found. The two boys were running through the woods when suddenly Boudreau tripped over a limb of a tree that was lying on the ground. He fell flat on his face. Clem, who was trying to catch up with Boudreau, tripped and fell on top of him. Both boys were shocked at falling. Boudreau sat up first, followed by Clem. He looked at Clem and said, Now I understand why Dad told us we are never to have shells in our guns when we are running.

Clem said, I am glad we listened to him.

The boys stood up, brushed the leaves from their clothes, and picked up their guns from the ground. Boudreau said, You know, falling into the water was easier than falling on the hard ground. Imagine what it would have been like to hit the brick wall. Clem groaned when he bent over to pick up his gun. I know one thing, he said. ‘I really didn’t need this second fall."

Up ahead they could hear Hovie baying. He must have cornered some game. Both boys took off in the direction of the sound. Soon they saw that Hovie had found a fox, who was trying desperately to hide himself inside an old hollowed-out tree trunk.

Part #7

B OUDREAU LOADED A shell into his gun and moved closer to the tree trunk. Just as he aimed the gun at the fox, something strange happened. The fox jumped out of the hollowed-out tree trunk and began to roll around on the ground. Boudreau lowered his gun, and Clem said, "That fox sounds like he is in pain. Don’t shoot him, Boudreau; something is wrong with