Magic Ball: the Billionaire in Ranch

20 Perfect Meat and Herbage

“How did you do it?” Nancy bugged him like a child asking for the impossible. “Do you have a green thumb or something?”

“No, he doesn’t,” Thomas bellowed from the other side of the barn. He had a hayfork clutched in his firm hand. Positioning himself, he began transferring it to a cubicle to feed the only adult horse Noah bought when he went hunting for the best foals in town.

He cuddled the horse in his neck as he strokes its nose up and down. “You’ve been a good boy, have you?” the horse neighed in response.

“The vet says he’s recovering well from his leg injury,” Thomas said as he forked more hay, transferring it the horse’s cubicle. “I let him roam the fields when the sun’s out and shining.”

“Your injury must have been awful,” Noah said. The horse looked straight into his eyes as if he was telling Noah that it’s okay now. I’m here, and I’m happy. He ran his fingers through the horse’s mane.

“He’s been eating like a monster ever since he arrived here. They didn’t do him justice. The previous owners didn’t feed him for days.”

Noah scowled. He couldn’t imagine not eating a day. Horses have large appetites, and with a body that big, who wouldn’t starve every minute?

The horse had been gaining back its original weight, and Noah had him checked every week by the veterinarian they hired in the city. He debated whether he should put him inside the Magic Ball too. But then Thomas was the one he specifically assigned to take care of him. He would wonder what the hell was happening if the big guy suddenly vanished into thin air. Good thing Noah managed to sneak some spring water and had the horse drink it from time to time. The grass weeds are also growing pretty fast, which meant Noah can have the cattle, sheep, and even the horses feed through it. He’d have to schedule them by herds, though.

The animals would feed in the eastern field atleast four times a week. The rest is food from the human world just so Noah can conceal the fact that he had been watering the said grass weeds with his magical spring water.

Thomas and Nancy didn’t ask, but they did help with mowing, tedding, raking, and baling hay. After all, high-quality poultry and livestock start with the grade-A food that they eat. As per the instruction of Noah, Wynn would be the one to lead the group of cows in the eastern field to feed for two hours. Thomas would be in charge of the herd of sheep along with Noah’s three dogs. Noah suggested that Cole come with Wynn while Ginger and Mik would go with Thomas.

When he spotted Wynn leading a group of cows to the eastern field, Noah waved as Cole followed behind them like the guard dog that he is. His face turned fast when he caught Noah standing a few feet away. His eyes sparkled as he barked, running to where Noah is, careful enough not to startle the cows passing them. Noah knelt and hugged Cole tight. The dog licked his face, then it went back behind the group, his face a mask when he approached a cow that attempted to stray away from the group.

Noah was impressed.

“What a strict boy,” he commented.

“Mr. Martin!” Wynn waved as he opened the fence that led to the eastern field. Cole urged the cows to go inside. When they were all settled nicely, Wynn closed the fence’s gate and began heading to where Noah is. Cole followed behind him, his tail wagging relentlessly.

“How’re the cattle?” Noah asked as Cole jumped on his lap.

“They’re fantastic. We just had a meat sample from the once we sold at the market three days ago.”

“Oh,” Noah raised his eyebrows. “They sent us samples of our meat?”

“They did. They’re asking if you’d like the way they cut the meat. It’s packaging and stuff. We had it over at the farmhouse.”

“I see. Guess we’d have steak tonight.” He grinned at a glad Wynn.

“The feedback for our meat is quite good, Mr. Martin. We can do this.”

He patted Wynn’s shoulder, “Of course.” His eyes drifted to the herbage the cattle chewed in their mouths.

“Fine food, fine meat,” he murmured, Wynn, nodding his head in agreement.

“That’s high-grade quality herbage. We should be able to produce good meat by then.”

Wynn strode past him. He sat on the fence, “Nancy’s been asking where you found the grass.”

Noah gave a low chuckle, “Can’t tell,” he adjusted the straw hat closer to his eyes. “It’s my ranch’s secret.”

Wynn whistled, “I respect that.”

The Magic Ball lingered in Noah’s mind. They better not drill him for answers—not until he proves their trustworthy enough to not take advantage of him.

The gate to the fence creaked, a curse slipping out of Wynn’s mouth.

Noah was startled a little, but then he composed his face back into a blank.

“What’s the matter?” he said while striding past Wynn and in front of the gate. A cow kept chewing, a piece of grass poking at the side of its mouth. Cole slumped his arms on the fence, his face stern.

Then, he barked, and the cow turned ever so slowly at him. Their faces locked in a stare that had Noah’s brow crease in confusion.

“Cole, get down,” he commanded. Cole faced him and barked as if he’s telling Noah that it’s alright and that he can handle the situation.

Noah stared at them intently as Cole began barking oddly—like he said something to the cow when it answered with a moo sound. The animal conversation went on for atleast fifteen minutes before the cow turned his bulky body and began walking back to his group.

Cole jumped down from the fence. Tongue out and heaving, he sat a foot away in front of Noah. He tilted his head as if asking what’s matter? Why are you looking at me like that?

Wynn and Noah glanced at each other, their mouths slightly open.

“What just happened?” Noah asked, disbelief in his tone. “Did they just communicate with each other?”

Wynn slowly nodded, his eyes following the cattle. “It’s been happening since Cole spent time with them. I knew something was odd when he stood at the end of the group.” He placed his chin underneath his palm, “But I have never witnessed Cole interacting like that!” Wynn exclaimed.

That, Noah thought as he still couldn’t believe what just happened. “Like he’s acting like a real human?” there was terror in Wynn’s voice.

Noah dipped his head and laughed, “Don’t be afraid. I think it’s good that he has intelligence that can be likened to ours.” He reached his palm over Cole’s head. “Atleast you get to train him to do a lot of stuff aside from herding.”

“This is insane,” Wynn jumped off the fence and began heading to where Noah is. “Nancy would freak out!”

Noah started walking back to the farmhouse, the sun already dipping over the mountains ahead of them. The sky glowed a mix of pink and orange hue, the colors painting the fence and the grass beneath his feet.

“Dinner at the farmhouse,” he yelled as Wynn opened the fence, Cole leading the cattle back to the other side of the ranch.

Smoke drifted all over the house as Noah sat comfortably on the same sofa he had at home. He asked the interior designer to get the same one as he finds it cozy enough to sleep in.

Holding the remote in hand, he switched from one channel to another until he landed on a documentary show that features on farming. He settled the remote on the coffee table in front of him when Wynn entered the front door, his eyes closing for a bit as he savored the smell of steak and gravy hovering in the air around them. His palm circled on his stomach, a motion that Noah finds funny whenever Wynn is hungry.

Thomas emerged from an alcove in front of the front door, two beer bottles in hand. He slumped on the space next to Noah, the cushion sinking from his behind. He passed the beer to Noah.

“How’s the meat?” Noah didn’t look at him as he asked.

From the corner of his eyes, Thomas brought the bottle to his lips. He swigs some liquid inside his mouth and lets out a refreshing sigh.

“You won’t believe me, but it’s as good as Japanese black cattle,”

Noah turned to face him because of that statement. “Really?”

Resting his arm on the sofa’s headrest, he nodded slowly, the certainty in his eyes made Noah curious.

“I can say it’s the best beef in town,” Thomas added. “We have done a good job of raising them.”

“You did,” Noah countered, “all I’ve ever done is give your salary and walk around the ranch, wondering when I’ll buy a racing horse.”

Thomas took another swig from his bottle, “We’ll get there, Noah. For now, you’d have to make a profit out of this land.”

Noah couldn’t agree more. It’s what he had been anxious about for days.

He heard the cluttering of plates and utensils on the table. Wynn strode past the living room and headed straight to the kitchen, where Nancy is busy putting gravy over the steak.

Noah heard him ask how many scoops of mash potato will she put on each plate. Nancy answered two. In addition, he told Wynn to start placing the salad on the table. Wynn appeared on the dining room with a bowl full of fresh greens Noah had harvested from his vegetable garden back in the Magic Ball.

“Dinner!” Nancy called as she poked her head from behind the arch that separates the living room and the dining room.

When all of them are settled in their seats, Thomas began to slice his steak. The juice squeezed out of the beef on to the ceramic of his plate.

Noah’s eyes sparkled, “That looks so tasty,” his gaze went to Nancy.

The girl smiled back, “Good food, good meat,” she repeated—Noah had the inkling that would be their motto sometime soon.

“She makes the greatest stakes,” Thomas commented. “I don’t know why she hadn’t found anyone yet.”

“Hey!” Nancy shouted from across him, her cheeks reddening. “Stop saying that—eat your beef.”

Noah picked up his knife and pork and started slicing a piece of the steak in front of him. The medium-rare flesh revealed the inside of the sizzling beef, tasty juices coming out from it. He poured gravy over it and chomped on the big slice he forked. The meat—he can’t even describe how it melts on his tongue. It was soft, effortless to chew. His eyes landed on a smug Thomas who had the words I told you so written all over his face.

Noah had to close his eyes as he savored the taste. Thomas was right all along. It has the same texture as Japanese black cattle beef. Heck, the numerous market places to sell their meat ran through his mind until he decided to swallow it.

“So, so good!” Noah exclaimed, a grin appearing on his mouth.

Nancy tipped her head in response, “You’re welcome.”

“This is top class,” Noah said as he ate a spoon full of mashed potato. “No wonder it got sold pretty quickly.”

Wynn had his cheeks full when he said, “on top of that, you have smart animals around here.”

“What do you mean?” Nancy shot him an incredulous look.

“Oh, you haven’t seen the way the shepherd dogs manage the livestock and poultry around here?”

Nancy shook her head.

Wynn looked her in the eye, “They act so humanly I wouldn’t be surprised if they turn into walking humans one day.”

Noah knew it’s the Magic Ball’s own doing.