Vacation Dreams Read Online Free Page A

ear.”
    Arrow nodded approval. “Smudge. That is a good name.”
    All at once, Becky noticed that the key around Arrow’s neck was shining brightly.

    Arrow saw her looking. “Moonglow Meadow will soon be in need of more of the key’s magic,” he explained.
    “Do you have to leave?” Becky whispered anxiously.
    Arrow looked up at her with serious eyes. “Not yet. But if the key glows constantly, I might have to leave suddenly, without saying good-bye.”
    “But you can come back here again afterward, can’t you?”
    Arrow shook his head. “I am afraid that is not possible, Becky. Once I leave here, the magic trail to this place is closed forever. I hope you understand,” he said gently.
    Becky pressed her lips together as she nodded, hoping that this wouldn’t happen too soon. She had barelyrecovered from the fright Arrow had given her when he had wandered off, and she wanted to enjoy every single moment she could with him.

    Sitting back in the warm sunshine, Becky, Arrow, and Leon watched the wild rabbits all around them. The creatures fed and groomed themselves, perfectly at ease.
    Leon gave a muffled cry of delight as some of the kits leaped high in the air and kicked out with their tiny back legs so that they changed direction.
    “Did you see that? Rabbits do that twisting jumping thing when they’re happy. It’s called a binky.”
    Becky felt her interest quickening. She hadn’t seen Arrow do a binky. Maybe magic bunnies showed they were happy in other ways. “How come you know all this stuff?” she asked Leon.

    “I’ve been reading up about wild rabbits. Most people just take them for granted, but they’re really interesting once you start looking more closely.”
    “I didn’t realize that.” Becky was impressed. There was more to hercousin than she’d realized. “Is this the kind of stuff you write about for the online ’zine Uncle Den told me about?”
    “Yep. And tons of other stuff about animals and insects. I’m going to be a wildlife reporter when I’m older.”
    Becky believed him. “I think you’d be great at it.”
    Leon looked pleased but then he frowned. “I don’t think I’ll ever convince Dad about rabbits, though. He’s always complaining that they’re eating his crops and he’s been threatening to do something about it.”
    “Yes. He mentioned that at breakfast, just after you went upstairs,” Becky said.
    “Did he?” Leon asked worriedly. “I wonder what he has in mind.”
    Becky searched her memory. “Hesaid he was going to ‘take action’ or something like that. Maybe he’s going to trap them and then let them free somewhere else?”
    “I wish,” Leon said. A serious look flickered across his face. “There are lots of harsher ways to deal with a rabbit problem. If you ask me, this warren’s in real danger.”

It was late afternoon as Becky, Arrow, and Leon made their way back to the farmhouse. Leon was lagging behind, deep in thought. Becky knew he was worrying about the wild rabbits, as she was.
    Arrow lay in the curve of Becky’s arm, with his fluffy front paws crossed. “What did Leon mean about the warren being in danger?”

    Becky wasn’t exactly sure, but she had a fair idea. She hated telling him, but he would have to find out soon enough.
    “Leon thinks Uncle Den is planning to use ways to…um…cut down the numbers of rabbits. Like getting rid of the warren,” she said gently.
    Arrow looked shocked. “That is terrible!”
    Becky nodded, feeling awful. “Yes, I know.” She couldn’t bear to think of anything bad happening to the wild rabbits, especially Smudge and her kits.
    “There must be something we can do!” Arrow said, his whiskers twitching anxiously.
    Becky racked her brain to come up with a solution as they reached the gap in the hawthorn hedge. She had a sudden flare of hope when she remembered how Arrow and Smudge had stood head to head, as if they might be communicating.
    “Can magic bunnies talk to wild