Belle & Daegan

Rea

She was fifteen, when Daegan moved away for almost an entire year. He had said that he was staying at his mom's for a while.

She missed him so much.

The farm was nothing. She almost never wanted to go, since all her grandparents did was bake, bake, bake. Her grandfather usually did most of the work during the week, so he liked to watch sports on the weekend, which she hated. Belle would spend most of her time with Daegan, but when he was gone, she got bored. They had played games, explored past the farm boundaries, and go visit Martin and Mia. The four of them would gaze at the stars some nights past curfew. They would play with Mia's new puppies, since she was a breeder.

Martin was old enough by then to work on the farm more, and Mia spent more time as a city girl, rarely coming out into the countryside. Martin was seventeen by then, so hanging out with a fifteen-year-old was sometimes annoying. Belle could tell. When she visited him, she could sense the annoyance radiating off him. So she stopped visiting.

Belle had memorized almost all of the recipes of the goodies her grandmother baked, so she got sick of it.

Daegan would've hung out with her, and listened to her stories from the city. He was her age, so he thought more similar than Martin and Mia would to Belle. Daegan was more fun. He loved to make people laugh.

Daegan was sad to leave too.

"I wish I didn't have to go," he said. "It would be dull living with my mom. I like living here."

"I wish you didn't have to go either," said Belle, hugging him. "But come back, won't you? Please come back."

The day of the party wasn't terribly busy. Belle and her friends had finished baking, and then started doing the decorations. Daegan decided to come over and help put up the lanterns on strings. He taped the first end to the barn with duct tape. Belle held up the other end high as she climbed the ladder against the house. She duct-taped the other end too.

Olive and Harissa continued putting up the other string of lanterns, while Belle helped Qwin set out the treats. The sky was growing dark, so the girls lit up the lanterns. They cast a warm orange glow onto the green grass, creating eerie shadows around the six people.

"It's kind of creepy," said Harissa. "We could light candles."

While Olive and Qwin lit candles brought out by Belle, her grandparents came home from another day at the market.

"Wow!" Grandma exclaimed when she saw the pretty evening lights. "It's so beautiful!"

Belle noticed her grandpa going into the barn. She frowned, but shrugged it off while she watched her grandma admiring the place settings.

Daegan had left to get his father to join the party. Belle worried about how his father would behave. She was afraid of him now.

Harissa got out her guitar, ready to play, when Belle's grandpa yelled out from the barn.

"Belle! Tina! Winter's foal is born!"

Belle gasped in happiness. She ran into the barn, past Daegan, who had just come back with his father.

Winter was sprawled out on the ground, a new black foal beside her. The foal whinnied for milk.

"It's a girl," Grandpa said from behind Belle.

Belle couldn't stop smiling. She was always excited about a new addition to their horse family. It was the beginning of a new generation.

Daegan came up beside her. "Wow," he breathed.

"I know," Belle whispered.

"It's so gross."

"Stop it," Belle laughed, elbowing him in the ribs. Daegan laughed.

"What are you guys going to name her?" Harissa asked from behind Belle.

"I think that Belle should name it," Grandpa said.

"Really? Awesome." Belle gazed at it for a second, lost in thought. "I think it should be Rea. After your mom," she said to Daegan.

Daegan stared at her. "That's an excellent name," he said. "She'd like that."